"Your 'gift' Is that what you call it?"

"What do you call it?"

"My own private freak show."

- Claire, The Haitian, (Godsend)

Part Three:

"So what brings you to Forks?" He tilts his head to the side.

I've been asked this question a lot by now so the answer falls off my lips easily. "My dad got a promotion to manager at the mill here."

Edward nods. He probably already knew this. Still, he asked. He is just being polite after all. You can't very well be lab partners and not say anything to each other. Though, for a while there I did consider it.

Well, for now I probably should take the high road. It is only polite to ask a question in return. "So what brought you to Forks?" I ask.

"My father Carlisle got a job offer here. He's a doctor."

I nod. I already knew this. It was common knowledge. There didn't seem to be much privacy in Forks, every body knew every body, one of those small town things. It wasn't exactly the most reassuring thing for a person like me.

I felt like I should say something more but had no idea as to what. And I was not going to start talking about the weather. I am not that lame.

Edward turned away back into his listless state. He didn't seem to want to continue the conversation as having met the required amount of small talk. He wasn't exactly what I would describe as warm, inviting or social. Now he could go back to whatever he thought about.

Whatever, like I really want to talk to him too; Mr. I-think-the-parking-lot-is-a-race-course. I don't know what his problem is but I'm sure it is hard to pronounce.

Edward stares at me for a moment, a slight frown barely detectable against his hard features. Then he turns to look back out the window, again.

Okay, I admit, I was trying to figure him out. He does seem rather peculiar.

What type of guy was he? He was undoubtedly smart, by the looks of his car and clothes, rich, and grudgingly, I have to admit, gorgeous. That was obvious. He could use these to his advantage. He could be very popular.

Was there some scandal involving him, a black mark? Some how this didn't seem like the case. I would have definitely already heard about it from Jessica. The Cullens just seemed above it, high school that is.

They'd walk gracefully down the school halls I had observed, not even bothering to look at their peers as they passed by. I don't think I've seen them talk or in any way try to associate with their fellow students. Not because they're shunned but like because they shun the entire student body. I'm sure there would be many people who would like to hang with them, maybe...

From the girls who stare wistfully as Rosalie passes by, longing to be even a fraction as beautiful as she (which, okay I kind of get. Who wants a friend that looks like a goddess? They would make you feel inferior all the time plus relating to goddess would be kind of hard).

To the girls who stare at Alice who is different, more subtle kind of beautiful and her perfect choice of wardrobe. Or to any of the three Cullen guys which any girl in school would love to be asked out by. Not that they're available…

Oh never mind.

Edward seemed like he just didn't care about school at all if him always perfectly answering questions in class say otherwise. It was just purgatory to him or something. He seemed very careful, yet reckless at the same time. Like when he would drive way too fast. I was still kind of annoyed by that. But then, I suppose that is kind of obvious.

I didn't get him at all. But that was okay. I had my own problems to concentrate on, besides the ones listed on this worksheet. I glanced at Edward. His sheet was already completely filled with his elegant handwriting and he was still off staring out the window again. Was it so hard for him to at least pretend that he was interested in the lesson?

I swiftly filled out the blank space next to the question then the next. I'm the second one finished. The beginning of a smile took my face. Edward wasn't the only one good at biology.

"Dude!" Mike flicked his head to the side for it the get the brunt of the attack; the attack being Eric's french fries. Mike retaliated with one of his chips.

"Oh my God, you are so immature." Lauren gave an exaggerated eye role and turned to make doe eyes at Tyler. Tyler looked like he was itching to join in but cast a nervous glance at Lauren. Jessica was unabashedly urging Mike on. I scooted down to the less rowdy end of the lunch table joining Angela. She grinned at me seeing my look.

"High school, the modern jungle..." She trailed one of her fries through her ketchup then took a bite. She looked off, her eyes unfocused, thoughtful. "Hmm, that would be an interesting essay, comparisons of high school to the wild."

"What class would you write it for?" I ask, curious.

"Psychology." She answers.

I'm impressed. That is a class that normally only senior take. It's a hard class to get into.

"What about you? What's your favorite subject?"

"Biology." I don't hesitate.

Angela doesn't say anything. Her eyes move across the cafeteria to rest on the Cullen's table. A couple of preppy freshmen girls walk past clustered together, their faces red and smiles covering their faces. One of them makes a show of dropping something. She pretends to be mortified and bends down to retrieve her stuff casting glances up at the Cullen table which is right there.

It is so obvious it was staged. Her friends don't move to help her. They just stand a few feet away giggling. The Cullens ignore their antics. When the girl realizes that Edward hasn't even looked at her (I'm assuming she is hoping Edward notices but I could be wrong) and isn't going to help her pick her things up she quickly stuffs her things in her bags in a huff and races off to join her friends. Edward leaves the cafeteria a minute later. He probably tired of being stared at.

I immediately think back to my freshmen year with Jackie. Oh God I hope I wasn't anything like them…

Angela looks back at me. "Biology huh?"

I flush. "I like Biology. It's interesting." I state firmly. It is the truth, I tell myself in my mind.

"Yeah, well, I wouldn't blame you if you were more interested in certain specimens over the algae." Angela takes a sip of water, almost effectively covering her smile.

I feel like scowling darkly. I want to scream out that I'm not like every other girl in this place. I have no interest in Edward Cullen. But saying that would make her assume I really do. So I don't say anything and nibble at my lunch pretending I hadn't even caught her drift.

Somebody else was giving up a little more attention than I'd like. "You know what my favorite subject is?" Mike asks, not waiting for an answer as he joins us, having vanquished Eric. "Lunch!" He smiles at his own joke then stuffs a handful of Eric's lost fries into his mouth. Jessica has joins us because Mike has. She watches him with pride in her eyes. Angela and I smile at each other and try to hide them behind our hands.

A guy with brown hair and glasses hesitates with his lunch tray from the seat across from Angela. Cheeks a little red he sits down hastily mumbling hello. Angela's eyes flick up to see who it is then to cast her eyes back down to her hands; a faint blush coloring her cheeks. She speaks even more softly than usual in reply.

I just smile knowingly looking between them. I look from Mike and Jessica, to Lauren and Tyler to Eric who is absorbed in his game boy. I excuse myself and leave the cafeteria early. I decide to pick up my books at my locker. I don't mind getting to class early. I could get started on my Biology homework.

I wander down the empty halls. I enjoy the solitude. It is nice, the quiet, to be alone with my thoughts. I really have changed quite a lot over the past year.

That's when I hear it, the tinkling of a piano drift through the air, soft and whimsical. It perfectly fits my mood. I try to place the song but I cannot. I haven't heard it before I'm sure. It is enchanting. Who in this school could play like a virtuoso?

I'm drawn to it. I follow the music down the hall. I stop in front of the open door to the music room. I want to know who it is who plays so amazing. But I don't want to disturb them. I decide to just peek in.

A breeze whips by, blowing my hair in my face. Startled, I take a step back, tucking my hair behind my ears. No one is in the hall. It certainly wasn't a fan or open window. I notice the music has ceased. I walk into the room, but there is no one there. Strange, I think. I turn to leave for gym, glancing over my shoulder at the empty piano bench.

Okay, so gym wasn't too bad; mostly because of my ability. Because of it my body is near perfection. I have perfect hearing, sight, taste, touch, smell; well as perfect as it can get for a human. My muscles are toned and I don't tire easily. I don't get sick, not even acne.

Really, it was amazing, but also scary. Sure I was pretty much guaranteed an A in P.E. but still… My being a freak again… I was never going to be normal.

"Were…you…some kind of…health freak?" Jessica puffed beside me, her face red.

Jessica, you have no freaking idea. I didn't bother to answer, letting her comment slide. Jessica was struggling to keep up. I was only just beginning to feel the burn in the back of my legs.

Today our coach had us running two laps around the field in our gym outfits, which consisted of t-shirts and shorts, in the rain. So, yeah, I was kind of in lead with the jocks. I made sure not to pass them though no matter how much I wanted to get back inside.

Forks high school was home of the Spartans. The baseball players were practicing in an enclosed field one over. On one half of the field the soccer team was practicing and on the other half the cheerleaders.

Of course my eyes were naturally drawn to them. First thing I though was: how the heck did they stand to be out in this weather in such short skirts? I mean back in Texas it was warm so different story…

Also well, it just brought a lot of it back I guess, from my time in Odessa. I stared wistfully at them as I run past. Life was so much simpler back then, no hiding in the shadows. It was like looking into a mirror reflecting back an old life, a time past, something that could no longer be.

Their ridiculous chants echoed across the field, filling my head. They formed a human pyramid, Lauren climbing to the top. Of course she'd be a cheerleader. I should have known.

As I turned away I heard a shriek. As I looked back I saw the girls in a heap on the ground. Slowly they got up, brushed themselves off, all but one. One member of the squad bent over Lauren to help her up. Lauren's moan reached all the way to us as we watched her clutch her arm to her side.

I of course had stopped running at this point. Jessica had stopped as well so as not to run into me. She looked to where I was and her mouth opened. I figured it was safe bet that the whole school was going to know about this by next period. Oh the drama of it all. I didn't particularly like Lauren but I could still feel sympathetic towards her fall.

The other members of the squad helped Lauren off the field. Our P.E. teacher shouted from across the field close to the front of school, signaling us and the rest of the class to finish up our laps. Well, we might as well. Not really anything we could do to help. It was up to the school nurse now. I broke out into a steady jog. Jessica groaned and followed.

I felt a burst of adrenaline. Running had always made me feel free; that if I just kept running eventually my problems would be ripped from my skin, being left behind, clearing my mind. With the adrenaline coursing through my veins I raced to the head of the pack. I relaxed into a steady rhythm. As we passed by the P.E teacher he glanced at his watch.

Chest heaving I took a swig of my water bottle. Jessica arrived several moments later. She braced herself against the wall stretching. "P.E...is stupid." She took another deep breath. I passed her a water bottle as we headed for the showers.

"Ms. Butler? Might I have a moment?" The teacher puts his hand on my shoulder and I turn around surprised.

"Yes?" What could he want?

"Have you ever thought about competing?" The teacher has this spark of excitement in his eye.

"Excuse me?" I ask warily. I notice Jessica is waiting for me outside the locker room doors staring at us curiously.

"Join the Forks high school track team and compete of course! I coach it during the season. You've got some great potential if you got some training. You have a nice stride and keep an even, fast pace. You might make a nice long distance runner. What do you say?"

I pretend to consider for a moment. "I'm sorry. Running just really isn't my thing."

"Is it the extra time? It wouldn't take too much. You could even end up winning a scholarship you know." He holds this tidbit out, trying to bribe me.

Okay, first of all my competing would not be fair to the others; the ones who work hard to get where they are without the help from a power, though really I don't know how much of it is my power and how much of it is me.

Second, what if I did and won? These things tend to end up in the local paper, especially with towns this small with not much else to write a story about. I didn't need my name, even if part of it was fake, or my picture floating around out there. They could find me. And lastly I would stand out just that much more to my fellow classmates.

"Thanks for the offer, but no thanks." I turn back around and head off.

I hear him call behind me. "Well, at least think about it!"

"Think about what?" Jessica asks, confused as she follows me inside.

"Nothing," I say.

I promise myself next time I'll be behind the jocks.

A/N: Yes, the Forks athletic teams are actually know as the Spartans. I looked it up online. Yay for research!