10 years old:

"That's great Alexandra, you're a natural!" Adam exclaimed.

It was his first time working with Alexandra Miller and to say he was surprised was an understatement. As a children's photographer he was used to slightly awkward models who didn't really know how to move in front of the camera, Alexandra, well she was something else.

He had, of course, heard the rumours about her extreme talent but they hadn't done her justice. The camera loved her! She also knew how to move and which expressions to make so he didn't need to tell her what to do.

Right now she was laying on a king-sized bed only wearing a purple silky nightgown and a pair of black stilettos. Her long and curly black hair fell messily around her head and shoulders and a small smirk adorned her face. Yet, that wasn't what made her pose catchy what really made her enticing was her eyes. They shone with mischief, promising sweet words whispered on a cold winter day and nights filled with desire.

Adam knew a child wasn't supposed to be able to make eyes like that, but who was he to complain if it made for a good picture?

"Yes that's it, Alexandra, would you please switch outfit?"

She rolled onto her stomach and stood up, only to be swarmed by the makeup and clothes team.

Adam decided that he could take a break while his model changed her clothes. Sitting down in the nearest chair he happily took a sip of water.

"She's something else, isn't she?"

The question caught him by surprise.

"Well yes she really is," he agreed.

Caroline Miller sat down in the chair next to him, "well everybody loves Alex. She just does that to people." A small sad smile graced the blonde's face.

"But don't let her fool you."

She suddenly seemed years older.

"What do you mean?" Adam really didn't understand what she meant by that. No matter what, Alexandra was but a child. Caroline just looked at him and laughed. Not a nice laugh, no it was filled with emptiness and bitterness.

"She's not a child."

Adam only became more confused by this, how could a ten year old not be a child?

"I see you don't believe me. I understand," Caroline absently nodded her head in understanding, "it took me a while to figure it out, four years actually. She is way too damaged to be a child: She holds too much hatred, has experienced too much. That's why she still calls me miss Miller even though I'm the closest thing she has to a parent figure. She simply can't trust me since she fears I'll betray her trust."

By now Adam understood what Caroline was telling him.

"I still love her," he looked at her in surprise, "more than anything. I'll never betray her even if I can never truly stand by her side." He didn't know what to say so they sat in silence.

"I'm ready," a husky voice called from across the room. Adam got up and readied the camera. When Alexandra laid down on the bed once more he couldn't help but gasp. Gone was the self-assured seductress from just moments ago. In her place sat an angelic looking 10 year old girl. She was dressed up in a long white lace gown and her lips were painted in a glossy baby pink.

"Okay, Alexandra, give me an innocent look," he demanded. She quietly obeyed, pouting slightly and widening her eyes to make them look innocent.

.

.

Alexandra wasn't stupid, she knew how to pose for pictures, how to hide her true colours. Nobody wanted to look at a pained child: They wanted her to look sexy or innocent or coy or wild, but never troubled and angry. And so she posed, smiled, laughed, smirked… But never cried.

She also knew the pictures would be perfect since it felt like a second nature to put on the masks now. She knew she looked like a curious child right now, but in reality, she was bored out of her mind, this whole shoot bored her, this world of fashion was so meaningless. She knew she was something more than a sexy photo. Her powers proved it too. She was special, she could make people do things they didn't want to. She could make them do anything just by projecting an image of what she wanted them to do onto them.

But that wasn't all.

If she wanted to be alone she could turn invisible if she wanted to hurt someone she could do it without even touching them and if she wanted to she could make people forget things. As far as she knew the average person wasn't able to do those things.

10 years old:

"Alex!" she kept walking, "Alexandra, wait, just wait would ya?" a heavy hand fell down on her shoulder. She turned around. There stood Ethan Walker. He was a male model working for another agency, only a few years older than her. They had only met once before, but she already knew that he was a snotty brat. That, however, wasn't the reason she looked at him with distaste. Oh no that wasn't the reason, the real reason was that he for some reason meant it had been appropriate for him to hug her.

"What do you want Walker?"

His breathy pants lessened.

"Aww, come on baby, you can't stay mad at me for long!" He plastered on a confident smirk, which she was sure would make women of all ages coo over him. But not her.

"I'm. Not. Your. Baby. Walker." Now he looked scared, good…

"Now get away from me you fucking creep," she whispered in a controlled voice. Her eyes betrayed her, though, showing the extent of her anger.

"O-okay," he looked terrified by now.

Alexandra turned around once more and kept walking.

"Wasn't that a bit unnecessary?" Miss Miller looked appalled.

"It was necessary," and fun she added quietly, smirking on the inside, "he touched me miss Miller, nobody touches me. Not even you."

Caroline Miller sighed for what must've been the millionth time since she found Alexandra Potter on a bench four years ago.

"It was but an innocent hug Alex, I think you overreacted."

Alexandra stopped abruptly. Did Caroline side with Ethan Walker? Miss Miller was hers and she didn't share her toys!

Caroline stopped too, confusedly looking back at Alexandra. Why had she stopped? Then she saw Alex's eyes: Filled with insecurity and unshed tears.

"Do-do you hate me, Caroline?" She gasped, never before had Alex called her by her first name. And suddenly she felt bad about reprimanding Alexandra. She was supposed to be the person who should always stay by Alex's side, even when other people didn't, and she had just sided with an unimportant bloke she had only meet once.

Her eyes softened.

"Am I evil Caroline? Do you think I was wrong to be angry?" Caroline Miller quickly nodded her head, no, Alex wasn't wrong to be angry. That child had a reasonable excuse for being afraid of other people's touch. After all, her uncle and aunt hadn't exactly given her any reason to not avoid physical contact.

"I'm so sorry Alex, of course, you're right, he never should have touched you."

Alexandra allowed a bright smile to spread across her face. It was simply marvellous how much a little word could do. Just by calling Miller by her first name she had ensured her loyalty! Human beings really were weak creatures.

"I knew I could trust you, Caroline, you will always be there when I need you, won't you?"

Miller once again nodded her head feverishly. Of course, she would be there.

As they continued to walk Caroline swelled with pride: Alex had called her by her first name. She couldn't help but think that she was closer to knowing the real Alexandra than before. In reality, though she was no closer than before.