Chapter Eleven

The next couple of days went by quickly. Bella spent every waking moment with Edward learning more about him, while Jazz, Quinn and I were checking the barrier, helping Carlisle to find out who was in this town killing. I had a lot of things going on aside from that, I had orders to fill, a couple special requests from one of my cousins and I was working on a big batch of those pain-relieved potions just in case any more friends on the Rez turned.

Sam was still angry with the Elders for making him and Leah break up, he didn't come home for months. Allison was beside herself not knowing what to do so I ended up tracking him down myself and we had a long talk, he finally calmed down enough. I gave him a shiny new makeover, as per Elise's instructions as a healer for the pack.  A wolf makeover included a fancy haircut, and a symbol magically burned into their skin... It connected the pack.

It was interesting how much work my great aunt and my father put in, to help the pack.

Anyway Sam was home, but now Jared Cameron was acting strangely and honestly I was getting a little bummed out, I mean first Sam and now Jared... soon it would be everyone I knew on the Rez.

I had a huge headache, dealing with the Rez, the emotions and ignoring questions from the group, mainly Jessica... and Leah's broken heart.

It was finally Friday which meant it was the weekend and I was so thankful, thanking the Goddess.

I couldn't get away from witch duties but I could break free from the loud thoughts and strong emotions and just breathe.

We had just got out of school and went straight home.

It was a nice sunny rare day so I took advantage of it.

I was sitting out on the front porch with a glass of iced tea and one of my books on healing, there was a cover on it so no one could see the title. Beside me there was a timer, ticking. I was waiting for it to go off.

Bella was in the driveway washing her truck.  We just hung around.

"Can all witches heal people?" Bella asked quietly.

I looked up at her, pausing in my reading.

"No." I told her shaking my head. "At least none that are around here.... My grandmother said there used to be thousands of them back when our founder Agatha was around... but they were all wipped out."

"You mean like the witch trials?" She asked in surprise.

"I don't really know, it's possible." I told her shrugging. "I only know that my great aunt Elise was a healer, but her daughter never got the gift instead my dad got it."

She nodded slowly trying to process it all.

"All magic has a limit, so does my healing ability." I added gently. "If the wound is really deep I can only help ease the pain with the potions, herbs and teas I make."

"Like those potions you give to Edward's family?" She asked

I nodded.

"I can't heal the dead either or any evil beings and healing takes a lot of my energy." I told her making her nod.

"That's cool."

I smiled at her notcing Charlie was pulling into the driveway.  Bella and I stopped talking about witch stuff.

Charlie got out, walking past us into the house, he gave me a small pat on the shoulder and headed inside, not really saying anything.

Sensing someone watching, I could feel a calm aura and had a feeling of who it was.

I went back to reading when I heard a big bang and glanced up seeing Edward jump down from the roof of the truck.

I shrugged and looked back at my book

"Could you at least act human?" Bella asked chuckling pulling her headphones out of her ears. "We've got neighbors."

"That's like asking me not to practice witchcraft." I told her glancing up at them, they looked at me and Bella nodded in agreement. "The neighbors haven't caught on yet... We have our ways of not getting caught."

Edward nodded in agreement with me, smirking. He walked around Bela and leaned against the driver's side door.

""I'm gonna take you to my place tomorrow." Edward told her skipping a beat. He leaned forward and fixed the dent in the truck.

"Thanks." Bella told him while I just stared at him.

"Uh Edward you think that's a good idea?" I asked making him turn to me. 'What about Rose?'

'She'll get over it'

"Wait, like with your family?" Bella asked drawing our attention, she pushed lose hair back.

"Yeah." He said nodding looking at me. "And you're coming too, Alice said so."

I stared at him for a moment before giving a small smile knowing Alice.

"What if they don't like me?" Bella asked nervously making Edward and I share a look before chuckling at her in sync.

'Oh Bella'

"So, you're worried, not because you'll be in a house full of vampires." Edward asked her. "But because you think they won't approve of you?"

"I'm glad I amuse you two." Bella told us.

"Sorry Bells." I told her chuckling a little more, clearing my throat before I sensed something and stood up, Edward seemed to notice too and turned towards the road.

Bella seemed to notice too.

"What is it?"

"Edward you should go." I told him knowingly seeing Bella's face. "It's complicated."

"Another secret you can't tell me?" She asked.

I nodded at her.

"It goes against the rules of outing other communities." I told her gently. "I'll tell you more later but for now Edward needs to go and we need to put on our poker faces."

I gave her a look, she tilted her head at me for a second before glancing at Edward. He gave her a small nod in agreement.

"I'll see you both tomorrow." He told us and sped away to his car and drove off just as Billy's truck passed, Edward slowed down and looked up at him. Edward sped down the street.

I bit my lip knowing Billy was not gonna like this, I saw his face when he and Jacob pulled in.

I shrugged it off, sitting my book down and jumped up.

"Jake!" I exclaimed happily, moving to the passenger side.  "Billy."

"Hey Angel!" Jacob greeted just as loud, pushing the door open and hopped out.

He tackled me in a hug making me grin. We hugged for a few seconds til he pulled back and grabbed Billy's chair out of the back.

I opened the driver's door helping my bestie to get his dad out.

"Thank you." Billy told me making me smile.

"Did you guys come to visit your truck?" Bella asked.

"Looks good." Jacob said smiling and checked out the truck. "You guys got that dent out."

"Actually, we came to visit your flat-screen." Billy told us making me smile bigger . "First Mariners game of the season."

I love baseball, it was one of my favorite sports. I played with the Cullens whenever a really good rain storm would blow through. My entire family used to get together with theirs, Cullens vs Lovelace.  Now our games weren't as simple as the one on tv but it was still thrilling.

"I hear it's gonna be exciting." I told him earning a nod. "I've been cooking and baking since I got home."

"Sounds good." Billy said practically licking his lips, nodding. "And Jacob was bugging me about wanting to see Elena even though you hang out nearly every weekend."

My eyes glanced at Jacob for a second, who looked at me just as embarrassed. I just smiled at him, feeling nothing but sisterly love for my best friend.

"Great, Dad. Thanks." Jake muttered sarcastically, I could tell he was a bit more embarrassed by this than I was.

"Just keepin' it real son." Billy told him clearly enjoying this.

Bella just looked at us, as Charlie walked over carrying two six packs of beer. The awkwardness went away.

"Well done, Chief." Billy told him, nodding his head in approval of his selection before holding up a brown paper bag from his lap. "Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry." He handed it to Jacob before holding up another bag. "Sue made a tofu one for you, it's all yours."

I smiled at him, taking it.

"Ooh thank you." I told him, feeling my mouth water.

Billy took the beer from Charlie and placed in the lap and started making their way towards the house with Charlie.

Jake, Bella and I followed silently, behind stepping into walk beside each other. He bumped his shoulder against mine lightly, and I just smiled at him softly.

"Any luck with the Waylon case?" Billy asked drawing my attention.

"Well, I don't think it was an animal that killed him." Charlie told him admittedly; his voice was a bit tough.

"Never thought it was." Billy said simply.

I knew what he was talking about, but Charlie wasn't catching on, he pulled Billy's chair back to the bottom of the stairs.

"Spread the word out at the Rez huh?" Charlie told him. "Keep the kids out of the woods."

"Will do." Billy muttered as Charlie pulled him up the stairs, his eyes flickered from mine to Bella's and back. "Don't want no one else getting hurt, do we?"

I kept my face blank of any emotions, staring at him,  seeing the disappointed look on his face. I was probably going to get an earful from the elders later but I didn't care.

The Lovelace family will always be neutral when it came to the treaty even though we were part of it, I sensed Jacob looking at me, I looked back at him calmy.

Once Billy and Charlie were inside. They settled themselves into the living room while I went to change my clothes putting on my La Push hoodie and a pair of jeans and headed back downstairs, into the kitchen to take a tray of chocolate chip brownie type cookies from the oven and sat them on the counter to cool.

I made a bunch of appetizers and desserts, your basic game day menu, along with what Billy brought, we had plenty.

Bella feeling the stare of Billy decided to stay in her room, made an excuse she had homework.

"Want some help?" Jake asked coming in.

I was plating food and turned to him, nodding and handed him a couple plates.

"Take those too Billy and Charlie." I told him without stopping.

Grabbing a couple cans of 7up from the fridge, I placed them in my pockets and plated two more plates, walking into the living room.

Charlie and Billy were already digging into their plates, making me smile. I loved when people loved my cooking.

"Here." I said handing Jake his plate and a soda before plopping down beside him.

"Thank you." He said smiling at me.

We turned to the screen.

The next couple of hours were spent with the four of us screaming loudly at the screen, more food, drinks, all kinds of other game snacks, beer and more yelling.

---

Couple more hours passed, ending with the Mariners winning and me washing dishes and putting things away.

Jake helped by drying and then Charlie and I walked them out to their truck, Jake helped Billy back in the passenger seat and put the wheelchair in the back.

I followed.

"Did you hear about Sam and Leah?" He asked.

I sighed.

"Yeah, She calls me every night crying." I told him frowning. "But I'm sure she'll be okay eventually."

"Just never thought Sam would be the type to do things like that." Jake added closing the tail gate. "The kids on the rez think he's on drugs or something and now Jared's acting like he did before the change."

I had to keep a blank face so I wouldn't give away any secrets. It was hard lying to him but the secrets weren't mine to tell.

"You should get going, Billy looks like he's ready to crash."  I told him knowing Billy had drank beer and might be a little tipsy. Jake smiled and pulled me into a hug.

Pulling back, I headed over to Charlie and stood with him waving to the guys, and watched them back out and head off before heading into the house.

Charlie threw an arm over my shoulder and gave my arm a pat.

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Since I knew where the Cullen house was, I decided to take Bella over. I didn't want another incident like yesterday.

Anyway I pulled up to the house, parking in a special spot that was saved for me.

Since I knew where the Cullen house was, I drove the wrangler over and pulled up to the house.

"They live here?" Bella asked getting out of the car. She looked stunned.

I followed smiling at her and closed my door.

"You'll get used to it." I told her lightly, leading her to the door, and opened the door walking in. "If you think this is amazing you should see the Lovelace Gardens."

"Can we just walk in?" Bella asked.

"Vampires Bella." I said reminding her. "They knew we were here the moment the jeep turned on the driveway." I shrugged. "Plus you got Edward who can read minds mine more pointedly, Jasper who can feel your emotions and Alice... Aside from them, I come here a lot so they're used to me popping in."

"Guess I still have a lot to learn." She said quietly. "Vampires and witches both."

I removed my jacket and sat it on a bench near the door, gesturing to Bella to do the same and placed our jackets together.

I turned and waved my hand, closing the door without touching it earning a look from Bella.

"Telekinesis." I told her shrugging. "It's the one place we don't have to hide."

"So you've actually known the Cullen's for a long time?" She asked.

"It's kind of a hard thing to understand but my grandmother Esther met Carlisle like centuries ago and the two of them formed a close friendship." I told her nodding, grabbing her hand and led her up some stairs. "Our families have always considered each other as family."

The Cullen house was an amazing place aside from the old Lovelace house. Large windows and everything was white and decorated perfectly.

This was Esme's favorite thing to do with all of the houses they owned was decorate.

"This place is incredible." Bella told me looking the place over some more. "So light and open, you know?"

"What did you expect Bells?" I asked in amusement. "Coffins and dungeons and moats?"

"No, not the moats." She told me.

I giggled at her.

"Makes me think you were expecting me to have green warts." I retorted making her smile at me playfully.

I took her to where the kitchen was and heard music playing and clanging.

"I thought Edward told them not to do this." I muttered grinning. "I knew he would lose going against Alice,  Witch two, Edward zero.."

"What do you mean?" Bella asked.

"Someone's arm wrestling Emmett." I sang song smirking.

We entered the kitchen where Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie and Emmett were.

Carlisle, Esme and Emmett were preparing food while Rosalie held a bowl of salad, Emmett was cutting up.

Carlisle and Esme had proud parent smiles on their faces, sensing the playful mode. While Emmett had his usual mischievous grin on his face, Rose had a blank look but her thoughts were annoyed and Edward stared at me.

I knew they had all heard me since I got out of the jeep.

"Ready when you are." Emmett told Edward.

Edward gave him a sharp look, before playing it off in amusement. I smiled at them.

Edward came forward meeting us at the door, shaking it off.

"Thanks for doing this, Ellie." Edward told me.

"No problem." I told him shrugging. "No offense but it's best if you stay clear of my house for a while..."

I gave him a firm look, he nodded knowing what I meant.

He took her hand, Esme came forward to us and pulled me into a motherly hug which I didn't know I needed, I just smiled at her and pulled back slightly.

"Welcome, we're making Italiano for you." Esme said looking over at Bella with a warm smile. "Elena mentioned it was one of your favorites."

"Oh." Bella said awkwardly.

I just smiled knowing Esme's personality.

"Bella this is Esme, my mother for all intents and purposes." Edward said introduced.

In the background I saw Emmett wave a big knife and smiled, I gave him a stern look.

"Emmett knife down." I told him playfully, earning chuckles from everyone even Rosalie, I rolled my eyes in amusement knowing Emmett was really just a big teddy bear but the way he was waving his knife, he looked well scary.

Esme and Bella greeted each other in Italian while I went over and stood by Emmett cutting up tofu chicken and stole a piece.

"Mm this is good." I muttered happily.

Carlisle gave me a friendly smile while he turned to Bella.

"I hope you're both hungry." Esme added smiling over at me. "I only get the chance to use this kitchen when Elena's over, so I hope you won't mind vegetarian."

"Yeah, of course not Elena makes it at home too." Bella told her politely.

"She already ate." Edward informed her.

I saw Esme look a little disappointed and glared slightly at Edward.

'Don't you kill Esme's attempt; she's being supportive the best she can, you have a mother supporting you, you know what I'd do to have that.'

Edward's eyes flickered to me, reading my thought and saw the look on my face and sighed.

'sorry....you're right.'

Suddenly there was a sound of glass breaking, I looked over seeing that Rosalie had broken the expensive bowl.

'Oh Goddess'

"Perfect." Rosalie snapped angrily.

My eyes went over to her.

"Yeah, it's just because I know you guys, I know you guys don't eat." Bella said stuttering.

"Of course, that was very considerate of you." Esme told her, trying to make her feel better and shot Rosalie a look.

"Ignore Rosalie." Edward told Bella. "I do."

"Yeah let's keep pretending this isn't dangerous for all of us and Elena." Rosalie said glaring at Edward.

"I would never, ever tell anyone." Bella told her.

"She knows that." Carlisle told her reassuringly.

"The problem is you two have gone public now, so..." Emmett trailed off.

"Emmett." I muttered sighing knowingly earning looks from all of them and a confused one from Bella.

"No." Rosalie told me sternly, turning to stare at us all before landing on Bella. "She should know...the entire family, Elena your own cousin will be implicated if this ends badly."

"....Badly?" Bella repeated looking at me, I couldn't look at her and looked down at the chicken, the tension was uncomfortable. "Oh badly, like, where I would become a...meal."

That made me chuckle, covering my mouth finally looking up at her. Seeing all of them except Rosalie grinning and laughing.

Rosalie let out an exasperated sigh and stormed out of the kitchen. I looked at Emmett, who looked back at me before shrugging.

"I can promise you won't have to worry about that part." I told my cousin, smirking a little. "At least not here."

I saw Carlisle and Esme giving me small smiles of approval.

Suddenly Alice came swinging in from the balcony holding a bouquet of flowers, Jasper was behind her.

"Elena!" She exclaimed hugging me, a little too tightly.

"Alice, can't breathe." I told her making her let go and giggled. "You and your hugs."

She just shrugged and smiled, bouncing over to Bella and kissed her cheek, handing her the wild flowers.

"Hi Bella." She greeted.

Alice smiled at her Jasper stayed where he was beside me, staring at my cousin.

"I'm Alice." Alice added with a wide smile. "Ooh you do smell good."

"Alice." Edward and I said in sync, we shared a look.

"It's alright." Alice told us. "Bella and I are going to be great friends, just like Elena and I are."

Bella held her hand out to Jasper.

"And you're Jasper right?" Bella asked. "Elena mentioned you a few times."

"Pleasure to meet you." Jasper told her looking pained, he shied away from her hand.

"You'll have to excuse Jasper." Carlisle told Bella. "He's our newest vegetarian."

"It's okay, you won't hurt her Jasper." Alice told her mate.

I glanced at him, seeing an unsure look on his face.

"Speaking of which I brought a fresh batch calming potions." I added giving Jasper a look. He turned from Bella to me and gave a small nod of appreciation.

Edward took Bella's hand.

"I'll give you a tour of the house." Edward told her.

"I'll see you soon." Alice told her with full meaning.

Edward shot her a look and guided her upstairs, I stared at Bella's backside.

"Elena come help me finish would you?" Esme asked flashing me a kind, motherly smile. "I know you'll eat my food."

Taking in a deep breath, I slowly moved over to the counter where Emmett was and slid into a stool.

"Of course." I said feeling a wave of sudden emotions "The last couple of days have been a roller coaster I haven't eaten much of anything except some blueberries from my garden."

Esme handed me a new bowl from the cupboard and I got to work making a new salad while she cleaned up the mess Rose made.

Esme, Carlisle, Emmett and I got to cooking together, it made me think of being in the kitchen with Mum and Grams again.  Mum would be cooking while Grams whipped up her special potions and teas.

That's what I felt every time I was around the Cullens, even though they shared nothing except being vampires and Carlisle saving them, they weren't really related but they were a family.

A few minutes later Esme set a plate of food in front of me along with a fork and knife and a glass of ice tea.

I was very relaxed and had a feeling Jasper had a lot to do with it.

Picking up the fork, I swirled the pasta around the teeth before placing it in my mouth, I moaned in happiness, looking at Esme. "This is amazing."

I shoved more food into my mouth making them all laugh at me.

"Are you feeling better now?" Alice asked.

"I am a little." I said nodding my head, taking a sip of the tea and glanced at Jasper knowingly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Jasper said smirking at me.

"I'll finish this and then go get your stuff." I added making him nod.

"So when's this arm wrestling thing supposed to happen?" Emmett asked.

I looked at him, chuckling.

"You have to ask Edward that one.." I told him finishing up my meal and held back another contented moan.

After I was all done, Esme took the plate from me and I walked outside to the jeep to grab a decent sized wooden box full of the stuff Carlisle ordered double the calming potions for Jasper.

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New Chapter

4/15/2024

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