New Neighbors

After Anna Belle got Blaine to bring some old cook books she had when she was human, she quickly read through them and knew what she wanted to make. A list was made for what they needed, and soon enough, she and Edward were walking around a supermarket in a town not far from Forks, but far enough so no one would recognize them.

Edward had gone shopping with Bella a couple of times, so the items didn't look too unusual to him. Anna Belle and Edward shopped in virtual silence. Anna Belle told him what she needed the same way she was currently communicating with everyone. Except for one problem, he stood in the produce section at a loss How was he suppose to know what was good and what wasn't. Anna Belle came from another section and laughed at him.

“Don't laugh, it's not funny. When I was human, we didn't have stores like this. Remember that.” He pointed out.

Anna Belle shook her head as she started picking though fruits and vegetables while Edward watched in fascination. He watched as she gently squeezed certain items and smelled others. She soon had everything from the produce section and they were moving on to the meat section. “Bella is a bit of a vegetarian.” Edward looked at the meat while Anna Belle went to the poultry section.

“Can I help you kids out?” The butcher asked as he came up to he counter where they stood.

“Yes, can we get two....” Edward started then Anna Belle hit him on the arm and held up 4 fingers. “She's one girl Anna Belle.” She insisted at that point. “Fine. Four pounds of chicken breasts please.” The butcher nodded going to package up the meat. Edward then realized why Anna Belle wanted him to get so much. “Charlie, I forgot about him.”

Soon enough they were done and the groceries were packed into the car. Edward watched Anna Belle, intrigued with the girl. She was dependent upon him to speak for her, it made him feel good, but then again, it made him feel boxed in. He would have to be away from Bella, for a while anyway, at least until the girl could talk on her own. He wondered if he would be able to handle it much longer.

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Bella had spent the days while the Cullens were gone sitting with her other friends at lunch. But since they got back, she was back at their table sitting with them and their prop lunches. Alice used her speed at times to switch out the food Bella was done eating for what they hadn't touched. “Mike is going to come up to the table. Oh, and Tyler.” Alice warned suddenly. Bella looked up to find Mike and Tyler standing up from their table and starting towards them.

“Hey...um, we were wondering how Anna Belle is doing, and when she is going to be back.” Mike's voice held a bit of fear in it as he watched Rosalie glare at him harshly.

“Well, our father said she may be out another week because of what she has. I guess we shouldn't have insisted on our trip since she was so weak.” Alice gave the answer she thought Mike would want to hear.

“Oh. Well, um, some of us have her in our classes and we have all gotten together and made copies of our notes if you would give them to her?” Tyler pulled out a big wrapped package causing Rosalie to snort.

“Oh, that was so sweet. I will make sure she gets it.” Alice beamed a smile at Tyler who became flustered.

“Um, thanks.” Tyler and Mike both turned around to go back to the table.

Rosalie snorted again. “Gift wrapping class notes, how lame.” She groaned.

“I think it's cute.” Alice smiled. “Anna Belle will love the gesture. We have to get her caught up with her classes. This will make it easier.” Alice nodded as Jasper took it, shaking his head.

“Humans are so odd sometimes.” He stated simply as he put the package with his books. “No offense, Bella.”

Bella laughed softly at Jasper. “None taken ,Jasper. None taken.” Soon enough the bell rang for lunch to be over and they were all off to their respective classes.

“See you after school Bella.” Alice gave a more perky tone to her voice as she watched the girl walk off. Jasper looked at Alice tilting his head watching her.

“What is going on, Alice? Your emotions have been rather high since about third period. What's changed?” Jasper asked, walking his wife to her next class.

Alice squealed with delight. “Edward sent me a text, saying to bring Bella home with us.” Jasper had to grab Alice's arms to try and calm her down.

“All right. Calm down, Alice. My goodness, we need to get through the rest of the day of classes all right. Besides, you don't want Bella to find out do you?” Jasper knew she didn't want that so he knew it would be the best way to get her to calm down.

“Fine! Yes, you're right. I don't want her to know.” Alice smiled as she calmed down. “I will be fine now, I promise.” Alice assured him with a smile before turning to walk away to class.

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Anna Belle and Edward returned home with the food and a few other things. Esme was waiting for their arrival on the front porch. Blaine had gone off to hunt before Bella came to the house.

“My goodness, did you leave anything there?” Esme laughed at the amount of groceries.

“Charlie needs to eat too. At least, that's the idea.” Edward looked at Esme with a smile. “It was her idea.”

“It's how she always has been, wanting to take care of other people.” Blaine came up behind Edward, Esme, and Anna Belle as they emptied the car of the bags. “Which is probably why she wants to cook for Bella, as well as this 'Charlie'.”

“Charlie is the Chief of Police here in Forks and he is Bella's father. He's the one who contacted Carlisle about her.” Esme smiled as she brushed her hand gently down Anna Belle's face. “He brought her to us.”

“I would very much like to meet this Charlie, to meet the man who helped to save my Anna Belle.” Blaine grabbed a few bags with the others.

Edward rushed a package into the house to make sure the others didn't see it. Esme laughed softly. “Looks like someone got Bella got a gift.” she said, looking to Anna Belle in hopes of getting some kind of confirmation of the idea, but she laughed as Anna Belle simply gave her an innocent look. “It also looks like another one of my children can keep secrets from me.” She hugged the girl happily before they gathered up the rest of the bags and joined Edward in the house.

They walked into the kitchen to find Edward had already emptied the bags he had brought in. “Are you done questioning Anna Belle about what I rushed in here with?” He raised an eyebrow as he watched Esme.

Esme simply laughed at Edward patting his cheek as they went about unpacking everything. “So, what are we making for Bella? You never said Anna Belle. You just opened some books and started writing some things down and had Edward take you to the store.” Esme looked at everything on the counter. Anna Belle went to get the book she had found the recipes in earlier. She opened the book to one recipe 'Wilted Spinach Salad' biting her lower lip as everyone looked at it. “She will like that. She likes spinach. What is the main dish?”

A quick flip through the book came to 'Chicken and Mushrooms'. “Another good one, Bella loves mushrooms.” Edward smiled as he read Anna Belle's mind as she turned the pages to a side dish 'Mushroom Risotto.' “This is truly amazing that you chose dishes with mushrooms. Very good.” Anna Belle smiled up at him, glad she had done so well, when she turned to the dessert, 'Down Home Berry Cobbler.'

“Looks like it's 'stuff the human night' tonight.” Esme joked softly as Anna Belle looked down embarrassed. “Well, lets get moving if we want all of this done by the time Bella gets here after school.”

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Jacob sat through his classes, barely paying any attention to anything. His mind was on other things. Mostly the fact that the pack was going to be helping the Cullens, something he wasn't happy about. Luckily, lunch came soon enough and he sat with Quil and Embry during it.

“Hey, what's up with the whole silent fury thing today?” Quil asked, digging in to his huge lunch.

Jacob and Sam hadn't phased since making the deal with the Cullens to help them. To keep the others from knowing, for now. But it was beginning to wear on Jacob. “We are helping the Cullens protect a girl.” He blurted out suddenly.

Embry and Quil both choked. But Quil was the first to recover. “We are what? Why? Has Sam lost his mind?”

“We are protecting a vampire from the person who made her a vampire. As for Sam, I don't know. Why? Again, I really don't know, but my dad thinks it's a good idea too, which is sick.” Jacob growled the words out, making his friends jump slightly.

“Yeah, helping the Cullens, that's so not right.” Embry looked at Jacob shaking his head.

“We have little choice in this matter. We all know this. We just have to grin and bare it until they come to their senses.” Quil pointed out the fact that made the other two groan.

The three of them continued to talk through lunch. Agreeing they needed to meet this Anna Belle themselves, without Sam around. But how?

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Anna Belle, Esme, Edward, and Blaine were putting the finishing touches on the meal, knowing soon that Bella would be there. They were waiting for some things to finish cooking when Blaine gave some good news.

“I'm in the process of buying that garage I mentioned about. We should be closing the deal tomorrow. Grand opening by the end of the week.” He smiled looking over at Anna Belle who bounced up and down happily. “Which means....I need an extra mechanic.”

“Don't you think you should wait for her to get her voice back?” Edward watched Blaine closely.

“Of course, but I would like to know now if she would want to work for me again.” Blaine simply explained as Esme's head went up.

“Someone's here.” Esme smiled happily as she bounced to the front door opening to find Alice's car and Emmett's jeep pulling up.

Bella was out of Alice's car and up the stairs as quickly as humanly possible, as Esme held her arms out to the girl to hug her. “Oh I'm so glad Carlisle and Edward have lifted this silly staying away thing, even if it really was for only one day.”

“So am I.” Esme returned the hug of her human daughter before turning to lead everyone in to the house. The smells that drifted through the house shocked Bella and the other vampires.

“Who cooked?” Rosalie asked, shocked. It didn't smell like an experiment, like the house did at times when Esme tried to cook for Bella.

“It was Anna Belle's idea, and she directed us.” Esme explained as they entered the house. Anna Belle was smiling as she came into the living room from the kitchen. Edward was right behind her.

To everyone's surprise, Bella let go of Esme and went to hug Anna Belle first, leaving Edward staring shocked, as well as everyone else, except for Blaine. Instead, he laughed at Edward. “Oh thank you, Anna Belle. This was sweet, but you didn't have to.”

“She insisted she do it. Come let us get you fed before things get warm or cold.” Edward smiled as they all took Bella into the dining room. The table was set with Esme's finest china, silver, and crystal glasses. What was shocking was the 9 place settings. Bella looked up at Edward, who had taken her under his shoulder to lead her to the room. “Again, Anna Belle insisted.” He smiled down at her as he sat her at a place while Anna Belle went to get the salad.

No one noticed the car pulling up, since they were focused on Bella right now. But the ringing of the door bell made them all look up in shock, Alice's face blank with the vision.

AN

At long last here is Ch17. Hmmmmm cute huh always doing something for the human. Oooo and wonder who is at the door?????????? Gotta wait to the next chapter to find that out.