Stranger

Chapter 14: Jane

"Oh." Jane wasn't exactly sure how to respond to that because, in all honesty, she had gone through life without wanting anything, really. Her parents were together and very much in love—though her father did go away on business a lot—and they ran their own successful company that produced parts for a variety of different things, including cars and computers. She always had a roof over her head, a very big roof attached to a small mansion in Newport Beach with a beautiful view of the ocean, and food on her table with whatever she wanted to eat, actually, because she was quite picky. Her bedroom was as big as this one, but both her bathroom and closet were bigger than the ones she had here. And when her parents found out about her abilities, instead of punishing her, abandoning her, or taking her to some kind of psychologist, they seemed to love her more than they already did.

She had no idea what Sophie was going through, and in all likelihood, never would. She also wouldn't patronize Sophie by pretending she did know. There was nothing left for Jane to do but change the subject.

"What are you, Sophie?" she asked once the three were back in the bedroom. "If you don't mind me asking, of course. I'm a mental, myself, an animus. I can read minds."

"I'm a shifter," Ellie said. "I change into a swan."

"Oh, um, well I'm ... I'm a physical," Sophie said then pushed her brow down. "I think that's what it's called. At least that's what Ethan said."

"Shut. Up!" Ellie exclaimed. She turned to Jane. "That is so cool! I mean, we've learned about physicals in history, but I never thought in my entire life I'd ever meet one!"

"Really?" Sophie asked, clearly puzzled. "I just, I don't know. I've always sort of felt like I was a freak."

"We've all been there," Ellie said with a smile. "My parents barely even acknowledge my existence anymore."

"Because you're a shifter?" Sophie took a seat on the foot of her new bed.

"Because I'm Ignis," Ellie said, sitting on her bed across from Sophie. Jane leaned on one of the bed's columns that held up the curtains. "My entire family, and I mean generations upon generations, have been in Aqua. My twin brother's in Aqua. There's this huge rivalry between Ignis and Aqua. It's like everyone from Aqua hates everyone from Ignis and vice versa. There are even rumors that Will and Depogare—that's Aqua's RH director—have some unresolved tension between them. Anyway, I ended being placed in Ignis because I was late; I was born on the 26 of July rather than the 19 and my twin was born on the 25. My parents pay for me to be here and everything, and they get me things I need, but other than that, they just ... don't care."

Jane placed what she hoped was a comforting hand on Ellie's shoulder. "You'll meet a lot of people here whose parents have just abandoned them here, so Ethan lets them live at the school all year round," she explained. "It's a place that allows peculiars to come together and not feel different."

Sophie smiled, revealing straight, white teeth—well, not entirely straight, and they could use a thorough brushing. "I'm glad," she said, "to be here. I'm sure I'm going to love it here."

"You will," Ellie assured her.

"Dinner's in an hour," Jane said after glancing at the clock on the wall, just above the bathroom door. "Sophie, why don't you take a shower and clean up? I have some extra clothes for you to wear until you get your own. I think they'll fit. Hang on ..." She headed back into the closet and grabbed some jeans and a T-shirt, as well as a bra and some underwear. When she was satisfied with the outfit, she walked back to her two roommates and handed Sophie the clothes. Before the red head could protest, Jane said, "Those should do for now. I have some extra pajamas for you to use tonight too."

"I can't," Sophie said. "I'm not sure ..." She stopped and locked eyes with Jane. "It really means a lot that you're doing this for me. You don't even know me."

"You're one of us, Sophie," Jane stated. "That's all that matters." Suddenly uncomfortable with where the conversation was leading, she cleared her throat. "When you're done, we'll go get you some food."

"The food is delicious," Ellie put in.

Jane smirked. "Ellie would know," she retorted. "Though you wouldn't guess, seeing as she's so skinny."

"Oh, shut up," Ellie said.

Sophie laughed at the easy bickering between the two, clutching the clothes tightly to her chest. "Thank you," she said. "Again. I know I'm going to like it here." She turned and headed to the bathroom.

***

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