Thanks to "Joreyna" for being my unofficial betareader. Without you, this would not even close to fantastical. Thank you reviewers. Hope you enjoy.

Monday. Alice shook me from my stare out her window at seven. "Time to get ready."

"Must I do this? I could stay here…I don't have to go out there."

"Just don't get close to them and you won't hurt anyone. We're still new to them and many of them have been ogling us with curiosity. You will refresh that curiosity, so we must take care not to speak to anyone."

"What's the point of going to school if I can't speak to anyone?"

She placed a finger on her cheek and thought for a moment. "Alright, you can talk to people but after a while you're not going to want to. They are a very dull lot, these people."

"I can decide that for myself."

But I already believed her. Just watching the people while shopping could have put me to sleep and nothing could do that.

I let Alice dress me. Grey t-shirt, purple pea coat, black skinny jeans, and black galoshes. She turned my hair into a messy wave and applied eyeliner. "Rosalie never lets me touch her."

"I'm glad to be entertaining."

"I just have too much fun dressing you up."

"I see that."

She snickered to herself as we left down the stairs where the others waited, Rosalie in her flawless red, Emmet in his perfect white sweater, and Edward in his grey sweater and black jacket. We did not look like freshmen.

Rosalie and Emmet went off together to Rosalie's red convertible while Alice, Jasper, Edward and I all gathered into his silver Volvo. As soon as the car hummed on, the music started, filling out the empty space. I sat in front with Edward as we zoomed along. I was on nerves, not paying any attention to the things Alice was rambling about or the random questions Edward was diverting at me.

"Lilly?"

I startled alive to look at them.

"We're here." Edward pointed out to the school. He walked around the car and opened the door for me. He didn't need to do that as it was drawing attention from the few people walking from their cars.

"I'm a gentleman, I can't help it."

"Is that what you call it?" Alice giggled.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." Edward bit out.

I clutched my vintage leather bag in nervousness. I felt like a new freshman though I didn't look it. I looked down at the ground before facing the school again. That was the first time I realized I didn't have a heart that beat like the people that walked past me. I couldn't pump blood normally. I was dead. A frozen replica of what I had been. Edward's hand was on my shoulder and Alice took my hand. Together we walked with Rosalie and Emmet behind us, basking in the looks our peers gave them. I was a mere curiosity, but Rosalie was their goddess and Edward was the God that ruled them. Emmet was beautiful, but from the look on the girl's faces, they all found Edward more handsome.

What did they think of me? Was I something of a wonder to them as well? I had their pale skin, black eyes, swift movements but…

"You are their new specimen for gossip." Edward answered my thoughts too fast for humans to hear.

"As we knew she would be." Jasper sighed, taking Alice closer to him by the waist.

"Come, let's get her enrolled." Edward grumbled, leading the way towards the front office.

The front office ladies swooned over him, listening to anything and everything he said. Whatever it was that Edward wanted, he was granted. How could he have such power over them? If I asked for ice for an injury they would probably ignore me. But, I would never get an injury. In fact, I doubted I would ever visit the front office again. Edward took a hold of my arm behind me and guided me forward out into the rain that poured down, locking my hair into a never ending battle of wet and dry. To our first period we went when I noticed that Edward had put us into the same classes together.

"You didn't have to do that."

"I didn't do it for you."

I hadn't expected such an answer and took offense.

He noticed it and went to correct himself. "I did it for my own peace of mind. I couldn't have your thoughts spilling over into endless questions only to drive me insane."

I agreed that that would be terrible but it still wouldn't stop my mind from churning.

"Yes, it will. You have no idea what it's like reading your mind."

"At least you have a reason to go insane. I'm going to piss my pants if someone comes up to me and wishes to strike up a conversation."

"One, you can't piss yourself. Two, no one will dare come up and talk to you."

"Why not?"

"They're scared."

"Of you or me?"

"Both."

I wasn't going to try speaking to them if they were scared of me. Who wouldn't be? I was even afraid. There was this demon inside of me that wanted them all but…but I wouldn't allow it; their small heartbeats flapping inside of their bodies taunting me with each little flutter when they inhaled.

A tall girl with curly blonde hair passed me biting into a granola bar. It suddenly filled me with sadness that she could eat normal food, and I wanted to drink her blood for my own nourishment.

Edward's grip on my arm tightened as we entered the fluorescent lit classroom with stares that could pierce the soul. We hung our jackets up and both made our way to the front where the teacher stood watching us. She was the normal mom-teacher with short hair, no makeup, and worn glasses that she fidgeted with. I handed her my schedule and she nodded silently.

"Is this your sister?" She asked, eyeing me over with wonder.

"Yes, Mrs. Morgan, this is my sister."

She took a breath. She bent over to the desk on her left and signed the paper. She handed it back to me, giving me the once over before waving me off. "Right, well, take a seat wherever you like."

I liked the teacher already. She seemed like the type who was too tired to give a damn. I sat in a chair next to Edward and stared dully at the chalk board, unmoving like a statue. Edward pinched my leg making me jump somewhat.

"You have to act like your alive or they will become suspicious."

My head creaked around at him with a slightly open mouth. Had he said that out loud or was that—

"In your head."

How was that even possible?

"Stop worrying about the possibilities and go along with it."

I didn't say anything. Would I know how? Of course I would…just think something.

"Bunnies."

Edward shot me a look and shook his head. Luckily the people had stopped staring and weren't watching this weird debacle.

"Why didn't you do this earlier? Why now while around people?"

"I'll admit that I wanted to make you go insane with voices in your head but I just couldn't."

"I'm so glad my innocence is amusing to you."

"Don't get so mad. I didn't continue with my plan, so be grateful for that." A pause.

The teacher's voice droned on until I spoke up. "What will we tell people if they ask where I came from?"

"They won't ask."

I accepted the answer and began to doodle on my paper. Edward watched me, surprised that I could actually draw. "I learned it at the institute. Drawing has always been in my family."

"What was the institute like?"

"A jail. I would often stare at the walls, watching the spiders crawl down across the wall, twitching ever so slightly to see if I would smash them. But I couldn't because they were my only friends."

He was silent, waiting for me to continue.

"They put me in sector seven to see if I was of any use to them…a weapon almost. But I wouldn't allow them to touch me…I killed a man who tried. So they put me in an art class to give me something to do."

"Why were you there?"

He knew. I didn't have to tell him it was because I had run from home after I graduated. That I didn't want to be with my parents. That they had saved me from death and taken me in only to torture me with white walls and fighting courses. I was a lot like Alice, but I wasn't being punished. I was being taught to kill. And I still had no idea why.

"Edward?"

"Yes?"

"Where do we come from?"

Edward shifted in his chair as the teacher looked back at us with questioning. Not one word was spoken since we sat down. Our notes were already jotted down and if she asked us what she was talking about, we would answer perfectly. There was nothing she could do to make us pay attention because it seemed like we were.

"I think we are a mistake. Have you read Anne Rice's novels?"

"Yes…"

"The father, the mother and the demon spirit Amel."

"I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now. Where are they if it's true? Where are the ancient ones?"

He sighed so softly only I could hear it. "Volterra."

"Aro."

A nod. "And Marcus and Caius."

I couldn't ask any more because the bell rang. Off to second period we went, accompanied by Alice and Jasper. We all melted into the same class period.

"Where are—"

Edward placed his chilled finger on my lips. "In the mind."

We took a seat after I had handed the schedule to the teacher to sign who told me I could sit anywhere. "Where are Rosalie and Emmet?"

"They couldn't pass for freshmen so they enrolled as sophomores."

"They like it that way?"

"They enjoy their space." That time it was Alice.

"I take it we can all speak in our minds then?"

"No. Just Edward and I…and now you."

"Why is that?"

They shrugged. I sat silent for awhile, listening to the heartbeats and the incessant droning of the teacher. Aro's name popped into my head again. What was this creature like? Was he the father? Was he my father?

"Stop with the questions." Edward scowled at me.

I scowled back. "I can't help it if I'm a thinker. If you don't like it, stay out of my head."

"It's not my fault. Your thoughts overpower everyone else's."

I folded my arms. "Fine. Then I won't think."

Edward shifted his eyes to Alice's. "I bet three hundred dollars that she can't keep quiet for five minutes."

Alice thought for a moment, squinting her eyes and looking up to her left. "I give her three minutes. Deal."

I was pissed at them but I kept my mind quiet.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

A sniffle.

A grunt.

Cough. Cough.

Two minutes.

"I hate both of you."

They erupted in laughter but it was too quick for anyone to notice. It was a silent buzz that made only a few people cock their heads to hear. Jasper even laughed. Alice must have told him the bet while I was concentrating on not thinking.

The next two periods were a drag. Edward and Alice knew I didn't hate them but they apologized for making a bet. Though, Alice wasn't too unhappy about it as she was handed three hundred dollars after class. Why Edward would carry that much money with him to school was beyond me and was a bit ridiculous.

We all sat down together at lunch, the stares burning us to prisms.

"How long have you been enrolled here?"

"About six weeks. But we still send them shivers."

"Jessica still finds me her sex god." Edward glowered at no one but the wall, obviously hearing what she was thinking, probably picturing it too as she said it.

Alice and I glanced at each other before I allowed my eyes to travel to Jessica. She was short with curly brown hair and completely normal. I wondered what sort of couple Edward and Jessica would make before Edward kicked me. It didn't hurt but it certainly pulled my attention from the pictures in my head.

"Don't you ever think about that again." He grumbled it out loud, but it was a velvet whisper that not even the air could hear. I was enjoying my new sense of speed and ability hear things miles away when I wanted.

I stifled my laughter. He was so serious about it that it made me laugh even more, this time just loud enough to draw attention. My laugh was like a mellow fountain, bubbly and gurgling with a light intrigue.

"You just had to laugh." Edward scowled, his eyebrows knitting together.

"I couldn't help it."

"Now half of the male population of this school is in love with you. Even Mr. Banner."

We both shivered at that, but I admitted to myself that I liked the attention. No one had ever looked at me before and now that I had this new found beauty, I could possibly work it to my advantage. Were all vampires like that? So beautiful that no one could compare? I wanted to see someone with skin problems and a terrible haircut become a vampire. That would be a sight. How would they ever allure food? Or even find a companion. It was disgusting how high I thought of myself but truly; all the rumors were true. Every immortal was fantastical in their own way and looks mattered. I shifted my gaze to nothing as the pictures of an ugly vampire swirled in my head. We all were staring off at different things, having no need to look at one another. It was natural for us, I guessed.

The rain splashed against the roof of our classrooms yet again and I had the unfortunate dilemma of my hair sticking to my face.

"Could you possibly do anything else to attract attention?"

"What?!" I practically yelled at him. "All I'm doing is walking to my next class."

"Yes but with your hair clinging to your face, you look as if you just came from a shampoo commercial."

"And you, oh god-like creature, look as if you came from a model shoot where buckets of ice water were poured over you."

"That is oddly specific."

"But you know I didn't think about it before I said it."

He was quiet at that and so the day progressed. Just as it progressed it ended and off we went on our merry way.

"Tell me more about the Volturi." I ordered when we were sitting by the piano, Edward gently gliding his pale long fingers over the keys without actually touching them.

"No."

"Why not?"

"It's like giving candy to a child."

I sighed with agitation. "Is that all that I am to you and Esme? A child?"

"Yes."

He was in his no nonsense state. It was probably the most annoying trait about him, but then again, could I ever be annoyed with him? What, with his gold flecked eyes, bruised circles underneath his eyes, pale skin of an English aristocrat, and messy auburn hair?

"You have that too. Only your hair is the color of bark and in messy waves." He glanced up briefly, too fast for unsuspecting eyes. "Is it true that your eyes turn purple over time?"

I shrugged. "I was told my mother had it…but I don't remember my mother."

"What happened to her?"

I gulped, not really wanting to share this information as it scared me. "She was murdered."

"You think she was bitten." It was a statement.

I nodded slowly. "I have always known that they—we—exist." I inhaled deeply to talk in the faint wood polish that no one but us could notice. "I think that she was a failed attempt. That someone was going to use her as a weapon but she wasn't strong enough and died."

He smiled at me. "You're quite easy to talk to. I thought that you would only ask me questions and then never speak to me again."

"What can I say? I can't keep you from my mind so what's the point in not telling you what I was going to think anyway?"

He chuckled. "True, true. But you could ask me to stay out."

"But my thoughts are screaming at you, and I'm afraid it would be cruel to think things and not allow you to ask me about them."

"You are something else."

"So I've been told."

We were quiet, listening to the notes coming from the piano. He was multi talented. Speaking to me, listening to my mind, and playing the piano at the same time. A musical prodigy of the olden days.

"Are you calling me old?"

"Yes." I laughed that time, unafraid to let its full force come out. Carlisle popped his head over the banister to see who had caused it and smiled with a pleasant wave. He disappeared into his office to leave us alone again.

I stood to leave, not really knowing what else I could do. "Normally I would eat to fill the time. But, seeing as that is out of the question, I'll just go grab paper and a pencil and sketch you."

His eyebrow rose. "Draw me?"

"You're the only fascinating thing at the moment and with this light and your skin you would be an unearthly picture."

"You find me fascinating?" He smiled dubiously.

"Only slightly."

He barked out a laugh, but waved me off to go find paper and a pencil. I was back downstairs in only moments, grinning to myself at my speed, and nestled myself in my chair and began to draw him. I detailed his chin first, filling out the contours of his cheek bones, and then to the eyes. They were the hardest detail, but I was able to finish it with a skill I hadn't possessed before. Next came his tousled hair. That was easier than the chin. I drew him playing the piano, caught in an endless motion of time. Once I was finished, I let him stare at it for a few hours, amazed at the way in which I had captured him.

Esme came down the stairs, took one look at it, left, and came back with a frame. She forced me to sign my name and date on the bottom right corner before skillfully placing it in the black frame to hang on a wall where everyone could see it.

And everyone did see it. Rosalie studied it like an ancient artifact with Emmet mildly amused by the way the light protruded from his skin. Alice commented on it saying she liked him better in the picture than in person. Jasper agreed. Edward gave them both a deathly stare. And Carlisle wanted a copy to place with his other belongings.

"Lilly Cullen, our little artist." Emmet smirked as he rustled my hair.

I felt whole again. My past couldn't hurt me even if it tried and if Aro came to take me I would resist with all my might because, in all honesty, I loved my new family. I wanted to stay with them forever and there was only one thing that could take me away from them; my undying need for independence which had been dormant since my immortal birth. And yet I feared it would arise soon enough and devour me whole. I would be torn between wanting to stay and wanting to leave as was always my case. But this time, I would make an effort not to run, even if it killed me.