A/N: Hey guys, so I know this chapter is on the shorter side, but I've been in a writing slump for a while. I had to write a short story for class that we're sending to a writing contest at our town library, and that's been taking up a lot of my time. I will be posting the story sometime later today though, so you guys will get to read it. Sorry for the time gap between this chapter and the last, I just couldn't get my brain to produce any good ideas. There have been some exciting events in my life the past few weeks and my brain went on shutdown mode. Stupid brain. But anyways, I will most likely post another chapter today if I can get my brain to start working again. Thanks for being so patient with me!

When Tess and the rest of them sparkled into Atlantis, it was different from what she imagined in the books. The only way to explain it was what the books said, but it was weird seeing it in person. She saw the dome and the sparkling buildings and it was all overwhelming. She had no idea what to think. It was surreal. After she got over her stupor she caught up with the rest of her group. She forgot momentarily what it was like to be the new girl and found people gawking at her. She decided to just look at the ground and ignore the whispers.

Another one?

What damage will it cause this time?

Is she another malfunction?

"So, you, my mom, Sophie and I will go off on our own and the guys will go somewhere else on their own" Biana said. Tess wasn't really looking forward to shopping with Della AND Biana, but she figured she could stay with Sophie. Tess looked at her and gave a look like please stay with me and she nodded. Sophie caught up with Tess and transmitted to her:

I know how to handle these kinds of situations

And for the sake of it, Tess tried to transmit back

Thanks

Sophie flinched when she sent the words. She had no idea it would work.

Let's keep this a secret for now. Please? Tess transmitted. Sophie nodded.

She had a feeling that this is how it would be for a while. Finding out she can do weird things everyday. This was seriously going to get annoying. She felt her head get hot and started to freak out. She summoned a gust of wind so she wouldn't accidentally sneeze fire. She read a book where one of the characters had fire powers, and he would often spontaneously combust when he was excited or mad. That had scared her. It made her cover her nose whenever she went in public. Now she's with her species and she still has the urge to cover her nose.

"Hey, are you okay?" Dex asked from behind her, making her jump and feel rolls of fire on her ngue. "Sorry" he said as he followed her pace. The fire in her mouth cleared away and she smiled.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that I can hear what everyone is saying" Tess told him. Dex rolled his eyes.

"They're all just stupid and scared of nothing" Dex said. Tess smiled again. "Thank you" she said.

"No problem. Oh, and I started to make this thing a while ago, but it stumped me. Can you maybe look at it?" he asked. He took out a small purple metal. She took it from his hands and felt the energy course from her fingers and through her whole body. Dex was a seriously powerful and it would take a lot of observation to figure out how the contraption works. They might have to look at it together and compare theories and-

"So, do you think you could help?" Dex asked, smiling and looking at her directly in the eyes. She couldn't handle it and had to turn away. 

"Um, maybe we should trade theories and thoughts during a technopathy discussion. I can't figure it out on the spot" she said. Dex nodded and took the crystal back. Tess noticed Sophie looking at them from next to her. Tess rolled her eyes again. 

"Okay guys, we're almost there. You guys can go off on your own way. I'll take the girls somewhere else" Della said. Tess caught up with the rest of the girls and willed for this to not be as terrible as she thought it was going to be. She made eye contact with Sophie for a split second and knew that Sophie would help her. She's never liked shopping with her human family. They always made her feel self conscious and out of place. Her family never really accepted the person that she is and wanted her to be like them and not dress like she was "depressed" all the time. She wasn't depressed, she just didn't like being noticed very often. Whenever she said that her parents would tell her that it sounded fake coming from someone who dyed their hair to be all flashy. She was secretly relieved to be away from her family. They never accepted her for who she was. She doubted anyone here would accept her if they knew who she really was. 

"So, where do you want to go first?" Biana asked, distracting her from her suffocating thoughts. Maybe shopping with Biana would help get rid of all of the stress. Before she could answer she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Alden's smiling face. Tess didn't know what to do other than just stare at him. 

"I need to take Tess to Quinlin for a probing before she goes anywhere" Alden said. Tess silently thanked him in her head for the excuse not to go right away. Della nodded and Alden asked her to follow him. Tess followed uncomfortably. 

"So, do you think Quinlin will be able to see my thoughts?" Tess asked. 

"I don't think so. He couldn't see Sophie's thoughts so If you're even more powerful than her, I doubt he would even be able to feel anything. But I guess we'll find out. His office isn't far from here. We will be quick in and quick out" Alden said. Tess let out the breath she'd been holding. She didn't need anyone seeing her thoughts. She had too many secrets that could get herself exiled or even killed. She didn't need to be arrested on her first day. 

"Hey, you nervous?" Keefe said beside her, making her jump. She had no idea he was there or how he got there. 

"No, why would you think that?" Tess asked, trying to sound as confident as possible. "And why are you here? I'm getting probed" She added. 

"Well, Sophie had Fitz when she was probed, so you get the Keefster" he said, smirking. 

"Okay. You allow this, Alden?" Tess asked. Alden nodded. She sighed. "Fine. I guess you'll get to see what's in my head if he's able to get in" she added. Keefe smirked again. Despite his not being a telepath, he looked like he was trying to read her mind. 

"So, you'll be starting as a level four, right?" Keefe asked. 

"I should be, right Alden?" Tess asked. 

"Yes. I've talked to Magnate Leto about all of the arrangements. You will be starting as a level four with Sophie, Biana, and Dex. Your uniform will be at Everglen by the end of the day" Alden said. That gave Tess a thought. 

"Okay, thanks. So, have you figured out anything about the adoption?" she asked. Alden gave her a smile. 

"Well, I wasn't going to say anything yet, but the adoption is final. You will be going to Havenfield tonight with Sophie" he said. Keefe high fived her and she tried to contain her excitement. 

"Seriously? That's awesome! Thank you so much!" she said. So much for containing her excitement.

"Yes, well, we're at Quinlin's office, get ready to be probed" he replied. 

"Oh, this is gonna be good" Keefe said. Tess rolled her eyes at him and prayed that he wouldn't get into her mind as they walked through the door.