Disclaimer: I do not own I am Number Four. This is the property of Pittacus Lore (James Frey and Jobie Hughes)

A/N: Looks who's back! Thank god for summer! I just finished my first year of university and now I can start writing again. Thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews, favorites, and alerts. I can feel the love.

Subtle pt 2

The screen door snapped open and slammed shut as Marina left the tiny cabin and its tense atmosphere behind. Her nose was immediately assaulted by the salty clean air of the Pacific Ocean as she stomped towards the cliff's edge. Tall untamed dry grass brushed her bare legs as she approached. Random bits of gravel nipped at the bottom of her unprotected feet but the pain barely registered in her busy mind. Only one thought repeated in her head like a broken record. What kind of person would leave an eleven year old alone to fend for himself?

At the edge, Marina finally paused, staring passively at the fifty feet drop. The violent waves pound against the edge, attempting to reach her and pull her in only to fall short. Marina lowered herself down, allowing her feet to dangle from the edge, feeling the salty spray against the balls of her feet. Usually, the ocean would have a calming effect on Marina but today it was just as violent as her mind. But her anger slowly subsided, leaving a dreading feeling behind, the feeling she was trying so hard to ignore.

What if Adelina left me? Marina closed her dark eyes as the thought flickered across her mind and sat there, taunting her. It grew, expanding like a deadly virus. Where would I be? Would I survive? It scared her to the core. She shivered despite the warm sun heating her bare back between the straps of her yellow tank top. Marina took a deep breath, curling her fingers around the dry grass and attempted to reason herself out of these dangerous thoughts.

Adelina didn't leave me. She thought, trying to conjure up the smiling image of her Cepan. Adelina stood in her mind with loose clothes that the sisters at Santa Teresa convent wore. Her brown hair was tucked in a bun, clean and tidy. Adeline in her mind was smiling and saying something. Yes, Adelina didn't leave me. But that was all a lie. Adelina did leave her, not physically but mentally, Marina was on her own when she checked out. The smiling image in Marina's mind shifted into a cold emotionless one. Adelina stared at her with soft gray eyes. Her mouth moved but Marina already knew the words: stop believing in fairy tales.

"Marina!" Her eyes flashed open and she turned, nearly slipping over the edge. A strong hand reached forward, grabbing her forearm. She dangled over the edge, feeling the cool water drenching her feet. "Shit, are you ok?" She glanced up and was met with blue eyes staring down at her. His voice was unstrained despite holding her entire weight with only one arm.

"I'm fine…" Marina replied as she grabbed the edge, pulling herself up and close to John's face. The boy shifted back but kept a firm grip around her wrist. "I would thank you for the help but you kind of caused the problem." John flinched and stepped back, awkwardly running his hand through his blond locks. she grinned at how nervous John was by their close proximity but his grip was still firm.

"Sorry about that." He answered and glancing her with concern blue eyes. "You seemed pretty raddled when Logan told us about his Cepan."

"Jeez, Six never mentioned you were so pushy." Marina teased as she stepped closer, trying to hide the uneasy feeling in her stomach with confidence. John quickly released her wrist and stepped away, running his fingers through his tangled blond locks. He chuckled nervously and glanced at her as he walked towards the tree beside the edge. Marina could still see the tension in his shoulders as he peeked at her, probably measuring her mental state. "I'm fine, John. Really, I'm not suicidal." A smile tugged at his lips, changing his whole image.

The miserable sad boy who sat in the kitchen an hour ago transformed before Marina's eyes to a confident Loric young man. The smile brightened up John's face, accenting his high cheekbones and kissable lips. His blond bangs fell into his face, nearly hiding his deep blue eyes. Marina finally noticed how tall John was as he stood beside her, easily a head or two. He was very handsome and her heart sped up half a beat when he smiled revealing his white teeth. Calm down girl, she chastised herself as she stepped away from John and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. You don't have to get so excited with every Loric boy.

"Yes ma'am." He replied, tipping an invisible hat, coaxing a smile from Marina as he leaned against the tree. She sat down, resting her head against the bark, breathing in and calming her nerves. John pulled an apple out of his pocket and floated it in front of her eyes. "Breakfast or a peace offering?" He allowed the apple to drop into her lap but Marina tried floating it with her telekinesis as it bobbed up and down in the air before falling into her hands. "Good to know you're not a random human Six grabbed off the streets."

"Oh hush," Marina retaliated, biting into the juicy apple. She moaned, not realizing how hungry she was.

"And that's why you don't skip breakfast." John said as he gently poked her hip with his toes. She slapped his naked leg that was revealed from his shorts. Jeez, why are guys so warm? She thought as she finished her apple in silence. Marina wouldn't say it but she was glad that John came out here to keep her company. Despite only meeting him yesterday, she felt at peace with him.

"So, what's the plan, Captain?" She asked, taking in his profile. From her lower angle, she could see John's bright smile waned. He tucked his hands into his cargo shorts and sighed. Again, John's demeanor switched to a cooler closed off expression.

"I think Six or Nine would enjoy that title." John teased her as he pulled out his cell phone, playing with the screen lock. "We're not exactly sure, to tell you the truth. Six hates staying in one place for an extended period of time. Nine is pretty much the opposite. We were in Chicago for a while until we got a tip that one of us were in California. I left them when Six looked like she was going to stab Nine in the eye." Marina grinned; glad she wasn't the only one who acknowledged the animosity between Six and Nine. "But Logan can't just pack up and disappear." That was the core of their problem. Unlike John, Marina, Nine and Six, Logan cultivated relationships with the people in his sea-side town. That was the only way an eleven year old could survive after his only guardian left. Logan charmed the owner of the local market, owned by the same person who allowed him to live in their cottage. "Everyone in town loves him. They were suspicious when Nine and I were asking about Logan. He has quite a fan club too."

"Fan club?" Marina echoed as she twirled her apple stem. She bit back her lip to refrain from any further comments. Any of the Loric guys could have their own fan club. Why are all Loric guys gifted with natural hotness? Marina thought as she peeked at John again. All the guys had the similar build with broad shoulders, tall figure and narrow waist. John looked the youngest out of the trio of boys with his shorter stature of an even six feet and light complexion. His arms were stronger than the others, Marina could tell by the defined shape of his biceps as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. She continued staring despite knowing she shouldn't. John barely noticed her scrutinizing and smiled down at her. Once again, her mind just blanked out at his smile. "Um…"

"Marina! John!" The two teens quickly turned to see Ella jogging towards them with Bernie at her heels. Behind the cheerful thirteen year old, Nine and Six slowly approached them, whispering rapidly to each other. Even with Marina's super hearing, she couldn't catch their words but their body language spoke volumes. Six was leaning close though, close enough that if Nine wanted too, he could bend down and shut her up with his lips. John must have noticed too because his fists clenched and unclenched but he quickly disguised his action by offering Marina a hand up which she took. Bernie eagerly barked as he ran ahead and rubbed his furry body against John's legs, begging for a butt rub. John ignored his furry friend and focused on the approaching figures. Now Marina's sensitive ears easily caught the end of their secret conversation.

"Look, I don't care if you hate me, Six. I can live with that but don't lose sight of the goal." Six glared at him as he grabbed her forearm, holding her to a stop. "Remember what we're fighting for. Remember those we've lost. You don't have to like me. I just need you to trust me." The seething girl glared at him and tried to grab his shirt collar but Nine turned, releasing her arm to face John, Marina and Ella. "We're staying here for a bit now. That's our only choice." Six sighed and shoved her clenched fists into the pockets of her jogging jacket.

"So, what do we do now?" Ella asked as she sat down and pulled Bernie into her lap, hugging the panting beagle. Marina smoothed down her friend's hair and waited for Nine's answer. There was an unspoken agreement that Nine was the leader of their ragtag group. Maybe it has something to do with his brooding looks. Marina thought as she sat down again. Nine was sitting on the grass, resting his arms over his knees, staring into space. Six walked past him and leaned against the tree beside John, unconsciously brushing her hand against his. John visibly relaxed at Six's touch as he smiled at the girl. "Nine?"

The empty look in Nine's onyx eyes quickly disappeared at the sound of Ella's voice. The boy looked up. His scowl twisted from a grim look to a charming smile. Marina blinked, not believing her own eyes. He looked like a normal sixteen year old when he smiled like that; a very attractive sixteen year old with a rough haircut and piercing eyes but a sixteen year old nonetheless. It calmed Marina, knowing that Nine wasn't as confident as he pretended to be.

"There's not much we can do. Training is one obviously. Mar and John still need to fully grasp their Legacies. Logan acknowledged our existence but I doubt he's going to drop everything and follow us blindly. I wouldn't. And the cherry on top is Six still wants to jam her dagger into my eye." Nine turned his charismatic yet mocking smile towards Six who rolled her eyes at him.

"Shut up, Nine or I might just do it." Six replied as she crossed her arms and matched his smile with a glare.

"Is that a threat or a promise?" Despite her hostility with the black-haired boy, Six couldn't stop her lips from curling up at his comment, even though she wanted to frown. Marina quickly noted how pretty Six looked when she smiled. It erased all the worried lines that wrinkled her forehead and tension seemed to leave her body. She looked almost at ease as she stood beside John even when she was glaring at Nine. "We'll see later today. I promise I'll go easy."

"Not necessary." She replied, biting back a full grin.

"Where are Logan and Crayton?" John quickly interjected, drawing the teens' staring contest towards him. Marina noticed how uncomfortable John was with Nine and Six's odd brand of flirting. "Shouldn't they be here with us?"

"Logan's boss requested to meet Crayton since he's the 'adult' here. They're heading to town right now." Nine answered as he pushed himself up and brushed the grass that clung to his sweatpants off. "We'll follow whatever cover story Crayton makes up. It's late and we're already behind on our morning routine. Come on, John." John nodded his head and stood up to follow Nine only to have Six grabbed his arm.

"Six?" John asked, looking at her with confused eyes. Nine stopped, arching his eyebrow at the girl and shoving his hands into his pocket.

"Are you stealing my training partners now, Six? What am I suppose to do with you, girl?" Nine accused as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Sharing is caring, Nine." Six replied coolly as she kept a firm grip on John's arm. "I just need to speak with John. Please." Nine tilted his head but shrugged his shoulders and walked off. "Ella, Marina, go train with Nine." Ella nodded her head and smiled brightly at the two before running after the boy with Bernie racing after her. Marina stood up too, slowly following Nine but keeping an eye on John and Six. There was definitely something between them. She could tell by the way Six held John's wrist, the first contact since last night and John's desperate looks.

"Hey Space Cadet, get your head out of the clouds and hurry up!" Nine shouted, pulling Marina's attention away from John and Six. He stood there with a knowing look before turning away, heading towards the beach. Where do you get these nicknames? Marina shouted in her head as she jogged after him, vowing to drive her fist into the back of his head.

"God… I've missed you." Marina turned her head, catching Six's whisper. She could see Six stepping closer to John, wrapping her arms around John's waist and burying her face into his shoulder. John curled his arm around her shoulders, holding her equally as tight.

A/N2: Sorry for the lack of Logan. He will show up in the second half. I just wanted to establish Marina's relationships with the other Lorics, mainly John, Nine and Six. Subtle is mostly following Marina's thoughts while telling Logan's story. I will update as soon as I can but watch out for a chaptered fic I started with Suki17, one of my close friends. Reviews please!