Chapter Six

Early the next morning hours before my alarm went off, just like planned. I got up, got dressed and made sure breakfast was on the table with directions, I'm sure Bella could figure it out and a note letting Charlie know that I was going to school early and sent a message to the girls letting them know.

Making sure I had everything done, I glanced around making sure no one was watching before teleporting out landing on the front step of the Cullen's home.

I smiled up at the big beautiful white house before walking in.

Walking up the stairs I headed into the kitchen finding Esme at the counter drinking from a coffee mug. I knew it wasn't actually coffee. Everyone already knew I was there, they're used to me popping in. She looked up smiling at me.

"Morning Ellie."

"Morning." I said smiling moving to slid onto a stool in front of the counter.

Carlisle entered spotting me, giving me a fatherly pat on the shoulder.

"You're here awfully early." He said moving to kiss Esme's cheek.

"Are you hungry?" Esme asked moving to the microwave and pulled a plate of tofu eggs and bacon out.  "I had a feeling you'd stop by."

"Ooh thanks." I told her grinning; she handed me the plate. "While I love any excuse to eat the food you make."  I ate quietly, smiling in delight at the seasoned taste. Esme smiled at me. "I actually popped in for a reason, I would have came last night but things are tense at the house."

"We understand." Carlisle told me giving me a knowing look. "You're here about Edward."

I nodded taking another bite.

"We know from what Alice has told us; your cousin is a very rare girl...Edward couldn't read her thoughts." Carlisle added making me look at him, tilting my head thinking it through. "Do you know anything about it?"

"I've never tried reading Bella's mind so I wouldn't know." I told him honestly finishing up my yummy meal and politely got up to wash the plate off, setting it in the drain rack. "We haven't seen each other since we were kids."

"Ellie! You're here!" A voice said cutting me off, I looked over spotting Alice and Jasper. Alice came over giving me a tight hug.

"Alice....breathing becoming necessary." I told her.

She pulled back, scanning over my outfit and smiled big.

"Love the skirt."

"Of course you do." I told her grinning. "You picked it out."

She gave me a laugh that sounded like a fairy.

I smirked at her before turning to Jasper, he gave me a small smile.

"Oh..." I mumbled remembering something and dug in my pocket pulling out a vial. "Almost forgot.... This is yours." I handed it to Jas. "It's on the house."

"Thank you."

He took it from me, turning away from everyone politely, drinking it all in one and turned back to us. He already looked more at ease.

"Figured you might need it after yesterday." I told him making him nod. "I had to mediate an extra hour this morning."

"C'mon guys let's go." Emmett said his feet thundered on the stairs; he came into where we were with Rosalie. Esme gave him a stern look that he understood. "Sorry Mom, I didn't break them."

"Yeah, this time." I said jokingly making them laugh.

"So did you hear." Rosalie said drawing my attention. "Edward went to stay with the Denali's all thanks to your cousin."

"We were just talking about that." Carlisle told her giving her a firm look. "Let's not argue about it, Edward will come back when he's ready and we'll talk about it then."

Rosalie sighed and nodded.

"Jazz, Quinn and I will keep an eye on Bella" I added crossing my arms. "And I swear we're not going to say anything, not about you anyway I'd never do that but we are debating on rather or not to tell Bella the witch secret."

Carlisle looked at me.

"Are you sure that's a smart idea?." Carlisle asked making me look at him

"No." I told him firmly. "I won't say anything unless I have to but if she does find out then its cause it's her fate to know and I can't interfere. Witches can't mess with a person's fate."

He nodded.

"You should all get going before you're late." Esme told us.

"Ellie's riding with me." Rosalie said without question, she grabbed my hand and pulled to into the garage to the cars, piling into Rose's red convertible and headed off.

I grinned at her.

Rosalie wasn't so bad, she just had a sharp tongue and once you got through her cold tough exterior, she was a good friend

It also helped I knew about their past human lives thanks to my wonderful gift of telepathy. I knew things about them and would never tell anyone, not even my girls.

---

Few minutes later we arrived at the school, giving them a small smile before getting out unnoticed and went over to the field where Quinn and everyone was. Jazz, Jess, Angela, Mike and Eric were kicking a soccer ball around the field.

Tyler was beside us chewing on some licorice.

None of them noticed that I came with the Cullens. Even though we were close friends and they were my claimed family, I had to pretend we didn't know each other, I wasn't allowed to socialize with them too much in public or it would draw attention.

Quinn was telling me about a dream she had about someone being attacked, usually that meant something was going to happen the downfall is we never knew when. I had a bad feeling something big was coming our way. Between Alice's vision and now Quinn's dream Bella's fate was definitely sealed.

My eyes found my cousin, she was sitting on top of a table little ways from us.

Seeing the look on her face as she watched arriving students, I knew who she was looking for. I raised an eyebrow glancing over to the parking lot where Emmett, Rose, Alice and Jasper were still sitting in Rose's car.

I looked back at my cousin and sighed shaking my head, I thought back to what Carlisle said about Edward not being able to read her mind. Staring at my cousin, I tried to see if I could. The only thing, I could hear was a sort of static like from a tv channel...my eyes narrowed.

I tried again until I was snapped out of by Tyler.

He shouted out at Bella who turned looking at us. He waved her over, throwing his snack at her, but she just turned back.

I sighed deciding to let it go and turned to Tyler, snatching licorice from his hand.

"Don't be wasting food." I told him sternly.

He just chuckled at me.

Quinn and I shared a look.

We watched the gang play until the bell rang and we headed into our classes followed by lunch where Bella was staring at the Cullen table with Emmett, Rose, Alice and Jasper only. I could see their annoyed auras and I started getting a little angry too.

When Bella got her mind hooked on something she got really mean and aggressive about it and it made me mad.

Then in biology, Bella walked in and stopped looking at her empty desk mates' side and looked angry.

---

The day went by like any other school day before I knew it, it was time to head home.

I waved to the girls and stalking over to the jeep and headed down to a tiny grocery store that was in the middle of Forks and La Push. There were two grocery stores but I liked this one. This was small and rustic and more suited to me plus it was a small business and I always liked helping.

Parking the jeep, I hopped out and headed inside. There was a little bell that jingled when we walked in.

There was a woman with dark hair, russet skin and a native touch, and a warm smile on her face at the counter. She was the store owner, cashier and one of my best friend's mother... another bonus. Said best friend a young boy around my age was stocking shelves, his hair was mid length and he had a boyish puppy dog face. He saw me and grinned, coming over to me.

"Elena" She greeted with a smile. "Good to see you."

"You too Mrs. Call." I said smiling, turning to the guy. "Em."

"What's up Angel?" Embry asked bumping his fist against mine, I grinned fist bumping him.

"School... home the usual." I told him.

Em and I made small talk as I grabbed one of those baskets I could carry and headed down the aisles searching for a few things I would need on my list.  Finishing up I headed back to the counter, the basket was a little over full.

Tiffany was Embry's mother, she owned this tiny store which was another reason I came here.

"Is your cousin fitting in okay at your house?"

"She's getting there." I told her kindly. "She's not a big fan of the rain, not sure why, I love it here."

"Well honey, you've lived here since you were born." She told me smiling. "I remember when I first moved here, I hated it too."

Mrs. Call rung me up and we continued the small talk. Embry grabbed the bag before I could making me smile at my bestie. We walked out to the jeep together, he placed the bag in the back of the jeep.

"Thanks Em." I told him smiling.

"No problem, are you coming by this weekend?" He asked closing my trunk door.

"Jake's supposed to do his monthly check on my jeep so most likely." I told him sighing heavily. "And honestly I could use some guy time out of that house...." He nodded in understanding. "I should get going still got dinner and homework to do."

I bump fisted him again and slid into the jeep, backing out and took off.

---

Once home I got started on making a stew dinner, I made a single pot for myself.

While dinner was cooking, I made sure my homework was done and chores were finished.

Charlie was working a lot more now that Bella was here and Bella was sulking in her room, the entire house was silent and I didn't like the feeling. It was times like this I felt alone, I missed my parents and my grandparents. The Lovelace house was never quiet, there was always people coming in and out of the door at all hours.

I sighed moving into the living room with a tv tray, I sat my dinner on the tray and flipped on the TV, flipping on a random cartoon to fill the quiet void. Cartoons are good for any age.

After watching some tv and finishing my dinner, I cleaned up the kitchen and put away leftovers and headed upstairs.

Making sure everything was done and ready for tomorrow, I took a quick hot shower and got ready for bed. I laid in bed with my fur baby curled up and studied my spell book for a while until I fell asleep.

---

Edward still wasn't anywhere to be seen the next couple of days, Carlisle and the others gave me updates. Bella has been driving me crazy, I couldn't read her mind but all her emotional auras were getting annoying.

She had a few run ins with Alice and Rose, which the latter has told me I needed to keep a leash on her. She was becoming a part of my little group and they helped take her mind off them but as long as Edward could stay away a little longer, the more Bella will forget him.

---

A week later just before school, after hanging out with the boys the entire weekend, I had taken Bella's truck and was just now pulling back in.

It was pouring down rain, the yard was full of rain puddles, some frozen. Bella was coming out of the house.

I hopped out of the truck and could have sworn I could sense someone watching us. Looking around I didn't see anyone, but I felt it. Whoever it was had a strong aura, powerful and a little dark.

Before I could get any further, I heard something fall and whipped my head around seeing Bella had fallen on her ass, I walked over closer to her and helped her up.

"You okay Bella?" I asked frowning.

"Ice doesn't help the uncoordinated." Bella said nodding. "I'm okay."

"That's why I got Jake to hook you up with some new tires." I told her gesturing to the orange truck and handed her keys back to her. "He was already putting some on the jeep, so I thought why not."

"You got me new tires?" She asked frowning in surprise. "No one's ever done that before."

I looked at her in confusion.

"I mean.... thanks." She said hugging me.

I smiled pulling back.

"We're family." I told her gently. "Just cause your older doesn't mean anything whatever you need, I'm here to help."

She nodded.

"Okay well I need to get going." I said heading to the jeep. "I'll see you at school." I remembered something and turned back. "Oh yeah Charlie's going to be late tonight, he had to go down to Mason County, so it's going to be a fend for yourself dinner tonight."

"Mason?" She asked making me nod.

"A security guard got killed by some kind of animal." I told her shrugging.

"An animal?

"You're not in Phoenix anymore Bella." I told her lightly glancing around again. "Just be careful."

I got in the jeep before she could say anymore and started the jeep up, backing up and headed off to the high school.

---

Walking into class with Eric, I brushed water off myself and fixed my hair making sure I was still decent.

"And yeah, prom committee is a chick thing but I gotta cover it for the paper anyway and they need a guy to help choose the musi-"

"Dude chill." I told him holding my hand up to stop his mouth from running a hundred mph. "I already have the playlist picked and Jazz is handling tickets and everything else and Quinn is making sure it's going smoothly, trust your sister."

Mike came up behind me.

"Come on, give it up for the rain." He said shaking his baseball cap, the water fell onto my head, I winced, the water was really cold normally I wouldn't mind but this water hit a spot. I glared at him.

"Mike! Cold!"

He looked at me, and then his cap realizing what he did.

"Sorry." He said chuckling nervously.

I rolled my eyes choosing to ignore it and moved on to sitting at my desk. I noticed Edward sitting in his seat and gave him a look over. I raised an eyebrow.

'You're back? couldn't have let me know? First you go crazy thanks to my cousin, don't tell anything, disappear, leave me to deal with everyone 's anger including Rose.... and then don't even tell me you're back? Glad to know how I rate.'

'Sorry come by this weekend we need to talk'

He gave me a light unnoticed smirk as I passed nodding at him, sitting beside Jazz. I saw Bella coming in looking unhappy at the weather, she headed towards her seat and froze. She looked directly at Edward.

'Oh Bella'

I sighed.

She straightened up with a confident attitude and strode over to the table, dropping her books down.

Edward looked up at her.

"Hello."

Bella looked stunned but if you knew Edward, he was a direct and precise one.

"I didn't have a chance to introduce myself last week, my name is Edward Cullen." Edward spoke softly. "You're Elena's cousin Bella?"

He glanced at me for a minute, I stared back.

"I'm....yes." Bella said in shock.

She quickly sat down and be moved abruptly to the edge of his seat.

I was starting to see why we were related: we have the same temper when we're annoyed.

"Onion root tip cells!" Mr. Molina told us all; he went around placing two petri dishes to every table. "That's what's on your slide, separate and label them into the phases of mitosis. The first partners to get it right, win.... the golden onion!"

He held up a spray-painted onion acting all giddy with excitement. We all just stared at him, he looked disappointed.

"Come on, people. Tick tock."

Jazz and I worked together, I could hear Bella and Edward making small talk but ignored them.

"Enjoying the rain?" I heard Edward ask and snorted.

I covered myself and the grin on my face.

'smooth'

Edward glared at me, and I smirked back at him.

----

The rest of the period went on, the bell rang Bella won the prize, she carried the golden onion out. I walked out with the girls, we glanced at Bella talking with Edward and just walked on.

"What do you think about that?" Jazz asked looking towards the two.

We stopped at our lockers to get rid of school stuff and take home what we needed, I grabbed my bag and closed my door.

"I trust Edward." I told them, we walked out of the doors into the parking lot. "Bella however she's hardheaded when she wants to be, I worry she's going to get into trouble."

The rain had stopped but the parking lot was full of water and patches of black ice.

"But you're going to tell her soon." Quinn said looking at my cousin who was parked next to my jeep.

"I mean I've been thinking about it, especially with things that happen in this town." I told them shrugging. "Like this morning, that dark aura and feeling like someone was watching me... and there's that whole animal thing that's been messing around."

"It could just be a real animal." Jazz said quietly. "Nothing's gotten pass the barrier, if it had we would know."

"You know it's never just an animal." I said quietly making them nod. I glanced over at where Edward was standing by his silver Volvo with his siblings. They were staring at Edward, who stared at Bella. "If I tell her, she could find out about other secrets in this town." I turned back to the girls. "But you know what would happen if she knew about them, the rules are different for them than it is for us. Our families have always been close, I don't want to see anything happen to them."

Quinn placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Not to mention the last thing we need is Bella getting caught up in all this and getting herself hurt or worse killed.  She might have her moments but she's still my cousin."

"We know." Jazz told me quietly. "But if you decide you want to tell her or you don't... then it's okay with us... You know fate isn't something we can stop."

I nodded smiling at them lightly, we headed over to the jeep.

The girls pulled me into a group hug and then waved walking off in separate directions. I stopped alongside Bella who turned to me, with a stern expression.

"I think there's something off with Edward." She told us.

"What?" I asked in confusion turning to look at the Cullens who were staring at us, I turned back to my cousin.

"His eyes...they like changed." She said staring at me.

"I'm sure it was nothing." I told her calmly. "Lighting in this schools sucks."

"I don't buy that." She told me snippily. "I think there's something weird about him and that you know what it is."

I frowned at her.

"Okay you know what I have had enough of this whole thing." I snapped a little loudly, not enough to draw attention by loud enough.  "All of your auras are stressing me out, I can't take it anymore! I told you to stay away from them... sooo do me a favor and stay the hell away."

Bella stared at me in surprise at the tone of my voice, and I felt bad but it needed to be said. I was getting fed up.

I opened my mouth to say something else when a loud high pitched screeching sound caught my attention. I turned around spotting Tyler's large black van.

The van had hit a patch of ice and was heading towards Bella's truck with us standing right there. I stared in shock at the incoming.

"ELENA!"

I heard a loud voice echo through my mind snapping me out of it and turned to Bella.  I grabbed her wrist, moving in front of my cousin a little, ready to teleport us out. My heart was thumping in anticipation and fear at what I was about to do. Suddenly there was a blur of white and a loud crunch and the van was jerked away from us in a sudden stop.

Everyone was yelling our names and running over to us.

I saw Edward crouching slightly by the bed of the truck with his hand out, there was a deep dent in the van's body. I knew he had saved us. I turned panicking, checking my cousin over for wounds.

She looked like she was in shock. Everything had happened way to fast that I just remembered Edward was with us too.

'Edward go..Go!.' I thought quickly.

He nodded once and got back over to the others who were glaring at him, but I could see them also stare at me worriedly.

I turned to Bella.

"Bells you okay?" I asked quietly.

She was staring in Edward's direction.

"Someone mind calling Charlie?" I asked wrapping my arm around Bella.

"Got it, do what you have to." Jazz told me knowingly. I nodded.

"Thanks Jazz." I muttered leading Bella to the jeep, glancing over at the Cullen's still watching.

---

At the hospital both Bella and Tyler were okay.

Tyler was getting looked at nearby, he had a mild head wound.

Charlie came bursting through the double doors, his face filed with terror. The last time I was in a hospital was the day my parents died so I was a little nervous.

Bella was sitting on a gurney as one of the ER doctors looked in her eyes with a pen light. I stood beside my cousin with my arms crossed.

"Bella! Elena! Are you alright?" He asked glancing between us pulling me into a tight hug.

"We're fine uncle Charlie." I told him pulling back.

"What the hell happened?"

"I'm so sorry girls." Tyler told her leaning forward to look at her. "I tried to stop."

"It's okay Tyler." Bella told him.

"It sure as hell is not okay." Charlie said angrily.

"Dad, it's not his fault-"

"We nearly lost you both." Charlie said sternly cutting her off.

"But you didn't." Bella told him trying to make it better.

Charlie didn't say anything just glared at Tyler.

"You can kiss your license goodbye."

The doors to the room opened and a doctor came in. The doctor was Carlisle, he was young looking with his movie star flawless skin and a kind face, but he looked tired, and purple shading underneath them.  I sighed a little in relief seeing him. Something about Carlisle made things better.

"I heard the Chief's daughter was here." He spoke in a quiet light tone, he glanced at me with a light smile. "Elena."

"Dr. Cullen." I greeted smiling back.

"I've got this one, Jackie." He said turning to the ER doctor who handed him the chart and walked out. Carlisle reviewed the chart and then felt the back of Bella's head. "You have a nice knot growing back there, but your X-rays show no indication of concussion."

Hearing this Tyler popped up again looking a little relieved.

"I'm so sorry Bella, I'm really-"

Charlie had enough of him and pulled the curtain between us.

"It would have been a lot worse if Edward hadn't knocked us out of the way." Bella said making me look at her.

Carlisle and I shared an unnoticed look.

"Edward?" Charlie asked confused, he glanced at Carlisle. "You're boy?"

Carlisle quickly looked back at the chart, while I looked down for a minute.

"Yeah, Lena you were there, wasn't it amazing how fast he got to us." She said drawing my attention, I could sense the intuition in her tone.

"Because he and I were talking when you came up to me in the parking lot remember?" I asked making her frown. "The jeep and truck were parked next to each other... He was complaining about Alice and her shopping... the last time we went she dragged him with us... that girl can shop till you drop." I smiled thinking of my fashion guru shrugged earning a small smile of praise from Carlisle.

"But as long as you're safe that's all that matters." Carlisle told her.

"I need to use the bathroom." I muttered quietly and turned walking out to get away from the tension and Bella's stare. It wasn't my first time lying to protect the secrets in this town but my cousin was making my head explode.

---

I actually did go to the bathroom, when I walked out, I found Rosalie going at it with Edward and walked up to them. Rosalie was furious and Edward was standing his ground. I scooted up beside them, Carlisle was playing intermediary.

"How is she?" Edward asked looking at me.

"She's stubborn." I told him shrugging and crossed my arms. "I can't read her mind but I can see her aura, she knows something isn't right."

"This is all your fault." Rosalie told him hissing. "You put all of us at risk."

"What was I supposed to do let her die?" Edward retorted guesting to me with his hands. "What about Elena? She could have died too, or been exposed... what do you think they'd do to her? Knowing she's a witch?"

Rosalie shut up at that.

"Look Edward" I told him sighing and ran a hand through my hair. "I'm thankful for what you did but I know her, she's not going to let this go, eventually she will find out and when she does it's not just about you. It's all of us including me and my coven."

I sensed someone listening and looked behind me seeing Bella watching from around a corner. She looked from Edward to me surprised I was talking with them and back to Edward.

"Let's take this in my office." Carlisle told us placing his hand on my shoulder in a fatherly way and walked away.

Rosalie and I shared a look before following him.

We continued talking about it until I had to head home with Bella and Charlie, Bella kept staring at me.

---

Later that night I had a long phone call with Quinn and Jazz and we came to a decision together, since the girls were part of my coven anything that involves magic or witch things we always decided things together. Even if I was the leader.

While Charlie went back to work, I made a spaghetti dinner and sat the table.

Bella and I ate dinner then I went upstairs to grab something. I grabbed my spell book out of it's secret spot, I kept it wrapped up in a cloth when I wasn't reading it.

I went back downstairs to Bella doing dishes, she heard me coming and turned to me.

"What's up."

I gave her a look and sat at the table.

"Well Quinn, Jazz and I have been talking." I told her gesturing for her to join me and sat my book on the table. "There's something I would like to tell you."

Taking the cloth off, the book was bounded in leather with the Lovelace on the title. It was more than just a spell book. This was the history of every Lovelace member in the family.

"Does this have to do with why you were all buddy, buddy with the Cullens today?" She asked annoyed.

"I can't tell you anything about them but I can tell you mine." I told her glancing at the book. "My father was a warlock and I'm a witch."

"You serious?" She asked making me frown, nodding. She stared at me in shock.

"My Grams and her older sister moved here when Forks was growing, most witches or warlocks are immortal and my family just happened to be one of them." I added watching her, trying to read her auras. "It's a little complicated to understand... but my dad's side of the family has a lot of history here. Some helped build Forks."

"Was Aunt Lacy?"

"No Mom was mortal but she knew what we were." I added thinking of my parents lightly. "She loved being part of our world... She and Dad loved each other more than anything."

"So your a witch?", She asked sounding it out.

I nodded.

"Jazz and Quinn are also witches and part of my tiny coven, our families have always been close." I told her. "But Eric and Jessica are not, the rest of my friends aren't so you can never tell them, it's a rule we're not supposed to tell anyone about our sisterhood or coven and you can't tell Charlie either."

"So then why are you telling me this?" She asked looking at the book.

"I don't like keeping this secret." I told her honestly. "The girls and I have been sensing something since you came to town, I don't know why but you should know if you're going to live in town."

She stared at me tilting her head, processing what I was saying and slowly nodded.

We continued talking through the night and I answered as many questions as possible I could, avoiding any that were related to my favorite family.

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4/10/2024