I'm aware of my stupidity...

Stage One: Manipulation

Her eyes were glossed over, glazed with only what the four others could describe as determination. The male brunette shook his head, brutally knowing his answer before she could convince him otherwise. There was no set determination. Sixteen observant years in this career and the time had been nothing but an influence on his intelligence. Sight was meant to be taken delicately, to be softly analyzing the situation at hand. Details were to be exact, punctual without default or question of what has been seen. Yet he'd never seen something so strange. The countless teenagers that had been victim to his critical sight. He could decipher when and if someone was trying to win them over with sympathy, or if they were logically expecting to be ready to woe them with tales of how they have grown. This was very strange even to his eyes, and he tried to ignore the shiver when the teen let her own sweep over the panel. Silently nodding to each one of them. He frowned when the other three simply smiled.

He did nothing of such when her eyes landed on his freezing over as she continued to stare at. Her head tilted and he frowned when he couldn't quite understand the look in her eyes. Yes they were cold, but they seemed to be simply analyzing her. Nothing more. When his own eyes narrowed in concentration the teenager didn't flinch, instead he felt an almost increase to his growing discomfort from holding her stare. He looked away. Frightened that she had broken him to the point where he didn't even feel comfortable with the five guards standing behind her. It was as if she knew he could see through her, knowing that they both knew whatever would spew out of her mouth would be nothing but mere lies. He only hoped that she hadn't seen the flicker of curiosity flash through his brown irises as they swept across the room to see if anyone else noticed the encounter. No one noticed.

"Intricate words will not persuade the council in our decision regarding your release Miss. West. You will have the floor as long as you need. Once you are done we will come to a decision. Might we inform you it must be unanimous." Her watched as she flipped her gaze to the woman sitting next to him.

"I never planned on using big words to persuade you. Though that does sound appeasing now..." His eyes widened when a snicker to his right, and laughter from the left hits his ears.

The girls tactic was still a mystery to him, but he could never imagine the dry humour was a trait the young girl possessed. The sentence was spoken with such a cold tone he couldn't find the answer as to why his colleagues decided it was at all amusing.

"Giving you my life speech wouldn't sound too appealing to either of you. Frankly I don't think I should bother with all of the things you hear on a daily basis. I killed my babysitter and I was ten. Signs of a murder. I know. Dispute the apparent bruises I had from her, it still doesn't amount to the pain I know she felt."

He nodded instead choosing to analyze the other three council members reactions to her blunt behaviour. They seemed to be already engrossed, and shocked by her straight forward approach. He frowned.

"I'm told by many I have no emotions nor do I possess a soul to distinguish such. The specialist have informed me that apparently I have no conscious. But I have to disagree. If I have not morals or conscious then surely I would have lashed out by now. The treatment or lack of the guards showing us that they think we have no signs of humanity. I would have tried something by now. It's suspicious that I haven't. It's been five years. If what they say is true and I am a sociopath then — "

Right there. Her jaw twitched and he had seen the slip up. The word was said with indifference but her knew better. Nothing could escape his superb sight her was keen on finding the minor details everyone else overlooked. This time was no different. Spotting her slip he smirked but kept his outward appearance indifferent. She spared him a lingering glance that held nothing and showed him none of what she was thinking. He frowned.

"It's up for you to decide ultimately and for now I can say that a few days ago I would say that if I were to denied then I'd be upset. But then again I can see if I have really grown if the council can see me for to be able to actually try to fit in with other people."

Ignoring the directions as to were she will be taken while they come to a decision, he frowned as she stood, and was quietly escorted out of the room. The speech was very short and took to little time for his liking. Far to little time was taken. Yes while they had time to plan their speech, he couldn't shake the dissatisfaction creeping in the bottom of his stomach. He could feel that she hadn't utilized her time. Yet somehow it seemed as though she was plotting. Like this was the first time she had recited the words. Like she was silently creating the scene in the moment. Going over the different scenarios if she didn't choose her words carefully. There was something he hadn't seen, something that was lurking inside that teenage girls mind. His thoughts were momentarily interrupted by the conversation flowing from the other three.

"There's something strange about her," He spoke firmly gaining their attention. Scanning over the information sheet one more time to justify his words.

"Isn't their something wrong with every child that walks through that door. It's the reason they are in here, because they are different. While the feeling can never be shaken when you look into the eyes of one of them, we can not judge one individual because of the feeling we get alone. We've dealt with numerous teenagers and the guy feeling has been ignored. Not yet have we seen one of the the same child twice after we've released them."

Closing his eyes in frustration. He could feel the anger intensify when the fresh memory of the coldest eyes burned into his vision.

"Yes, but have we dealt with a sociopath of this level? You've read the papers, it's as though she mimics emotions I can feel it. This is not a normal case. No one of that mind set can possibly change within five years," He paused breathing a shaky breath.

"That's preposterous to even believe. I would rather lose my job than let her roam the streets."

"Jade..."

The piano notes faulted and the dark haired teen took in a long drag of breath, trying to calm the harmful thoughts that surged far too quickly. Taking in the hesitation wavering in between the nearly silent fear emitting from the older woman, she blinked. There was a lagging moment of near deafening silence and she chose not to let her eyes fall to the brunette that was staring at her with wide watchful eyes. This has been a near routine for the both of them in the past six months. Her mother would constantly loom over her shoulder, and interrupt the moment she knows Jade would normally lose control of her thoughts. It would all result the same. With Jade hanging onto the every ounce of control, before her mother would unknowingly promptly leave seconds before she convinced herself the glare of her words kept at bay wouldn't be a surprise if they were released.

"Yes." She muttered lowly.

Casey smiled slightly at the calm voice. She was positive Jade had changed for the better. While her slick tongue hadn't been affected by the time, her attitude had. It made her grateful that the years fought to get her daughter back had not been spent in vain. The last six months had been what she could only describe as blissful for her. It was as though she finally had her daughter she knew was their all along. Like any other teenager she had her moments, but Casey was positive that the slight moments of temper flares were normal. Everyone had them, and she was thoroughly convinced that the constant argument Jade put fourth everyday was true.

"The school called,"

Of course she had been hesitant when she had first heard of the performing arts school. School in general had not been something she deemed a very good idea, though she knew that her daughter needed to be around people her age...Or simply put people. It's not something to be taken lightly seeing as she had only been in contact with minimal amount of crowds when she left the house, but mixing her into a student body made her hesitant on the subject. The lessons seemed to be very useful seeing as she would have to audition some level of talent to get into this school. Maybe this could be a result of hers. This being something that could consume most of the time Jade had. Casey thinks that it would be good for the both of them.

"They took a look at your papers. Your audition is scheduled next Saturday afternoon."

Standing from the bench the teen met her mothers eyes purposely ignoring the small shiver that was visible from the brunette. Instead of sending her a forced smile, she set her jaw careful not to let the woman see the action. Giving a curt nod she nearly let her eyes fall, but the discomfort her mother refused to voice made her ache to know the breaking point. Twenty-two seconds is what she counted. Analyzing the woman who was intent on avoiding her gaze she stood silent. Sighing she started towards the wide entrance, mindful of the slight flinch her mother gave from the close proximity of which she had initiated.

"Very disappointing," She whispered to herself, retreating from the room with a purpose.

There was not enough information...She would have to do more research.

I'm nearly finished with the next chapter to ''Alone Together' That is if you read that one...

Write Ya Later ;)