"Are you going to audition for the school play?" Alice appeared like a cheery jack-in-the-box, springing herself at Jessica who had been trying to make her way to class after lunch.

Jessica stopped to put a hand over her fast beating heart, fearing that she was going to end up with a heart attack one of these days and it would all be because of these damn vampires.

Jessica could not escape the Cullens. She knew Forks and their high school was small but she couldn't get away from the pale assholes. Any time she felt that she was safe and free, one of the Cullens would pop up like a jumpscare from a bad horror movie. She didn't know how her life had turned out this way – feeling hunted by a family of vampires and not even in the way she thought it was typically going to go.

They wanted to be her friend (except for Edward but that wasn't surprising.) Emmett and Alice were the worst. They did not care how fast Jessica tried to run away or if she hid in a stall in the girl's bathroom, they would find her and catch her. Even that creep Jasper smiled at her.

Rosalie was her biggest ally in trying to get her siblings off Jessica's back. The blonde provided Jessica with opportunities to flee on a regular basis and had at one time thrown a rock at Jasper's stupid face with a force that would've murdered a human. Rosalie Hale was Jessica's hero because she was the only one that understood Jessica wanted nothing to do with her fucked up family. Jessica had no plans to join their coven/cult/family, thank you very much.

Alice blocked Jessica's path, preventing her from escaping. Jessica glanced behind her and sure enough Jasper 'Creep' Hale was leaned against a row of lockers and backing up his sister-girlfriend-whatever.

Jessica scowled at him and resisted the familiar urge to give him the middle finger. She turned back to Alice and who was still patiently waiting for a reply to her question.

"There's no school play this year," Jessica told her. "They cut the budget to provide new equipment for the football team."

Jessica had been half-relieved and half-disappointed to not be able to put that on her college applications. School plays would be good at making her appear better-rounded even if it was appearing in a terrible rendition of Oklahoma or The Crucible.

"The school recently received a generous donation so that's no longer an issue," Alice said with a bright smile.

Jessica's blue eyes narrowed at the shorter girl. "Was this generous donor blonde and a doctor?"

"My father has always been a patron of the arts and he agreed that the cancellation of the school play was a travesty."

"What are you planning?" Jessica asked, bluntly. "And what does the school play have to do with it?"

Alice batted her long eyelashes like an innocent doe. "Who says I'm planning anything?"

Jessica shook her head. "I'm going to be late for class. Do not drag me into whatever this is."

"The auditions will be held at the gym after classes!" Alice chirped as Jessica walked way. "School plays are good for college applications!"

Alice was definitely planning something. And whatever it was, Jessica was staying far away from it.

"Where are you going, Jess?"

Jessica nearly screamed as Emmett appeared as she was running towards the parking lot towards Lauren's car. She didn't answer him and continued to sprint. Emmett didn't follow her. She reached Lauren's grey car but the blonde was nowhere in sight.

Jessica looked around but none of her friends were around. Some students were leaving but the parking lot wasn't as crowded as usual.

"Your friends are at the gym!" Emmett called out. "For the auditions, remember?"

Oh, fuck.

Jessica had forgotten that her friends might want to audition for the school play. They had all been part of the ensemble since freshman year and Jessica couldn't tell them not to audition without a good reason. She couldn't tell them about the Cullens' vampire secret without causing Alice's vision of a fiery death for all of them to come true. And while Jessica had felt so alone being the only human around that knew about vampires and superpowers (aside from Bella but Jessica wasn't going to get into that), she wasn't taking a chance on the lives of the people she loved and cared about.

Emmett came over, his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. "Let's get to the gym. We don't want to be late."

Jessica glared at him. "I don't know what nefarious scheme you and Alice have cooked up but I'm not eating any of that crazy soup. I've told you both many times, I'm not joining your creepy boy band."

Emmett rolled his golden eyes. "It's not a boy band."

"I'm still not joining," she countered. "And if you're so hung up on getting your loner brother a girlfriend, Bella is dying to…well, die anyway. Why aren't you hounding her instead?"

He raised his dark eyebrows at her. "What happened to you being determined to keep her from danger?"

"I tried that and Bella has the self-preservation of a wafer biscuit. I'm retired from being her keeper. I did my time."

"Speaking as someone who's always had siblings, quitting from caring about them is easier said than done."

Jessica crossed her arms over her chest, stubbornly. "Watch me."

"Bella's at the audition."

"Fuck you," the words came out of Jessica before she could stifle them. She turned and began walking briskly towards the school gym.

Emmett followed behind, chuckling in amusement.

Romeo and Juliet, really?

Of all the plays they could've chosen, of course it would be that one. Bella was excited as she could be. It was not a surprise that Bella liked Shakespeare and seemed to be giving it her all during her audition. It was as good as it could get for teenagers.

Jessica sat between Alice and Emmett, the banes of her existence who prevented her from bolting from the gym screaming at the top of her lungs. Alice had signed her up for the part of Juliet and Jessica read over the copy of the script she had to recite. She had zero prep time. This was going to be a disaster.

"Don't be nervous," Alice reassured her. "You'll get the part."

Jessica did not look up from the script. "I've told you not tell me about the future."

"I know but I'm excited. Just thinking about all the costumes I get to make, it makes me all giddy."

"You're in charge of the costumes?"

"I'm an accomplished seamstress. My mother taught me…I think. Memories of my past tend to be a bit blurry."

Emmett blew a raspberry. "That venom does a number on you. I lost a good chunk of my memories when I was turned too."

"The electric shock treatments from the asylum didn't help," Alice mused. "At least they put me in a permanently good mood."

Jessica blinked.

This family was unhinged. How did they blend into human society with how bananas they all were?

"Is Rosalie not auditioning?" Alice asked. "She loves the theater."

"She decided to sit this one out. She didn't want to be in the play if Edward's in it."

Of course Edward Cullen was auditioning. Why wouldn't he? He had never cared about joining any school activities before but Bella had inspired him to try all sorts of things. Jessica missed her normal, boring life before Bella Swan moved into town.

A few girls auditioned for Juliet even Lauren who didn't quite manage to look as lovesick as she tried to be for the role. Angela was hoping for a supporting role. Jessica was the last one to audition and took a deep breath before making her way to the front of the crowd. Emmett and Alice gave her enthusiastic thumbs up and she ignored them.

Edward and Bella were sitting together. She ignored them too.

She took another deep breath and began reciting Juliet's lines. Her voice was a little shaky but she did okay. She wasn't a natural actress but Jessica always tried her best. If she didn't get this role, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

The boys auditioned next and both Mike and Edward were up for the role of Romeo. Mike was a little unsure of how to deliver the lines but he got through it with confidence. On the other hand, Edward's audition was so good, it captivated the crowd. He delivered the lines with the ease of a seasoned stage actor.

"He's done this before, hasn't he?" Jessica asked his siblings. "How many schools have you gone to?"

"Lost count a long time ago," Emmett answered. "And yes, Edward has done theater before."

"That is an unfair advantage. He shouldn't be chosen."

"Oh but he will," Alice chimed, knowingly.

Jessica glared at the cast list.

Of course Edward Cullen was going to be Romeo. Mike and the other boys didn't stand a chance. Mike was cast as Tybalt instead which he didn't mind. And Tyler was going to be Paris.

Emmett had auditioned for and got the role of Mercutio. Lauren and Angela were Lady Capulet and Lady Montague respectively. Eric was Lord Montague. And Bella was going to be Juliet.

Jessica turned away from the cast list. Alice looped her arm with Jessica's as they walked down the hallway.

"You said I would get the part," Jessica pointed out, trying to ignore the sting of disappointment in her chest.

She didn't want to act opposite Edward freaking Cullen but being passed over for something had never been a pleasant thing for her.

"My visions aren't always right," Alice told her. "Something must've changed the future and my powers don't work on Bella so I couldn't see this coming. I'm sorry."

Alice did genuinely look apologetic which softened Jessica to her.

"It's not your fault and I didn't want to have to kiss your brother anyway," Jessica declared. "Besides, playing the Nurse could be fun."

And she could see the irony of playing a character that helped the couple get together instead of trying to tear them apart. At least Bella was happy.