New Neighbors

Bella woke the next day to her normal wake up call. The cool touch of Edwards lips upon her cheek. She smiled as she woke up, opening her brown eyes to gaze into Edwards dark gold eyes. “Good morning.” She was glad they stopped fighting.

“Good morning, love.” Edward's voice soft and husky as he greeted her for the morning, moving so that Bella had room to stretch. “I should get going to get my car. You are riding with me to school, right?” His eyes almost pleading with her.

“Yes, I am. Go get your car so I can get ready.” She teased him before he kissed her forehead and leaving through the window. She got up and started getting ready for school, pulling on Edward's favorite blue shirt and a pair of jeans. She went down stairs 10 minutes later to find Charlie drinking a cup of coffee. “Morning, Dad.”

“Morning, Bella.” He said, not even looking up from his paper while Bella made herself a bowl of cereal. “I really like that new girl. She seems sweet.”

“She is Dad, she is really nice.” Bella started eating her food when the doorbell rang.

Charlie jumped up thinking it was Anna Belle who was driving her again this morning. “I'll get it, finish eating.” He rushed to the front door. He opened it and groaned. “Morning, Edward.” His voice was filled with his disappointment at finding Edward at his door. He stretched to try and see if maybe Anna Belle was behind him.

“Good morning, Chief Swan. Is Bella ready?” Edward didn't even flinch at Charlie's tone, being used to it already.

“She is just finishing breakfast.” Charlie stepped back, letting Edward in, who went straight into the kitchen to find Bella washing her bowl out.

“Good morning, Bella.” He nodded towards her, as though he hadn't just left her twenty minutes ago.

“Good morning, Edward.” She turned to him after she was finished. “We should get going.” She said softly as she walked up to Edward to take his hand and lead him back to the front door. “See you later, Dad.”

“All right.” Charlie simply said from upstairs his voice different from when he bounced up.

Edward helped Bella with her coat on, took her bag for her, and walked her out to his car. “Guess he wasn't expecting me this morning.”

“No, I don't think he was, not after Anna Belle yesterday. I told you he likes her a lot.” Bella reminded him as he opened the passenger door for her. Once she was in, he handed her bag to her. After closing her door, he was off to the other side to get in and drive off. “I wonder if we should invite her to ride with us.”

Edward looked at Bella before hitting the gas to pull out of the drive and down the street somewhat. “Let us figure her out first Bella, please?” Edward begged softly.

Bella simply sighed for a moment. “Fine. We can do that for now, but I am telling you she is fine.” She stated before becoming quiet, signaling that she was stopping all talk. Luckily, her house was close to the school. He pulled in next to Rosalie's convertible. They were waiting for Edward before getting out of the car. Edward got out and went over to help Bella out, as his family got out of the convertible-- watching the parking lot for Anna Belle's car.

The first bell soon rang and they looked at one another. “She isn't here.” Jasper said. “We got here very early. So, she didn't arrive early to not be seen by anyone.”

Bella looked at everyone, not liking this at all. “Something is wrong, I have a feeling.” She looked at everyone, especially Alice, who shook her head. She was denying any visions of Anna Belle, when in fact all she saw was the same muddled future for the girl. “We had better get to class before we get in trouble.” Like a single organism the group turned and started into the school. “Edward, I'm really worried. Last night when she realized the time, she was scared. Really scared.”

Edward sighed softly. “I will keep my ears open, find out what I can from the administration.”

“I want to go check on her after school, Edward.” Bella announced quickly before they had to part to go to their own classes.

“Bella, no. That's too dangerous, the others in the house are human blood drinkers. I won't
put you in that type of danger.” Edward looked down at her. “Please, leave this to us.”

Bella sighed softly. “All right, fine.” She twirled around to head to class.

Most of the talk all day was about Anna Belle's sudden absence from school. Even Jessica was worried. She took a deep breath before walking up to the Cullen's table to talk to Bella. “Bella, you don't think something happened because she came home late, do you? I mean, she looked so worried even though it was early when we went home.”

“I don't think so, Jessica, but we don't know what her family is like. Maybe after a few days I can ask my dad to do one of those wellness checks if we don't hear anything.” That was a perfect idea, then she could come along too. Edward couldn't refuse that.

“Good. I hope she is just sick.” Jessica stated before going back to the table with the others.

The Cullen's all looked at Bella oddly. “What? It's a good idea.” Everyone just went back to their own things.

Soon enough, two days went by with no word from Anna Belle. Worry was settling in. The lunch table was more active than ever. “The administrators are getting worried. Evidently the call about Anna Belle not being in school, was made by a woman. She simply said she wouldn't be here on the answering machine. When they tried calling the phone number listed in her file, no one answered.” Edward informed everyone in a hushed voice at the table.

“What do you see of Anna Belle, Alice?” Bella asked, trying to keep the panic from her voice.

“I don't know, the visions are all muddled together and changing rapidly. It's hard to even try to keep up.” Alice's normally chipper perky voice was filled with panic and worry. “We have to do something though, something bad is going to happen, I can feel it. I just can't see it.”

Rosalie stayed unusually quiet, not trying to turn the conversation on to her. But everyone could tell she was affected in some way by this when she was suddenly rushing from the room without a word. Emmett sighed. “See you guys later.” He was up and running after Rosalie.

“She has been acting strange ever since Anna Belle came to town.” Jasper said, looking at the others. “Her emotions haven't been normal.”

“None of our emotions have been normal, Jasper. I think we should put my idea to work. Get my father to do a wellness check, at least to see Anna Belle. To make sure she is safe and fine.” Bella stressed to the others.

Edward sighed. “We will talk it over with Carlisle, see what he says. This may be a good idea, then again it may be a bad one. We could force them to leave, which will be a disaster.” Edward got up and left the lunch room to make a phone call to Carlisle to see if he could be home when they got home from school.

Alice looked to Jasper who nodded. She instantly took Edwards seat. “Bella, Jasper knows something about Anna Belle's situation, least a small part of it. But he didn't want anyone else to know yet. He wanted to watch her first see how she reacts to stuff, but since she hasn't been here, we can't wait. I can't tell you what it is, but we will tell everyone today, I promise.” She said quickly before moving back to her seat. Edward returned just in time for lunch to be over ending all conversations until later.

The rest of the school day was torture for everyone. Time seemed to tick by slowly. Once the bell rang, Edward practically picked Bella up and carried her to his car. The Cullen's were in a hurry. Their cars were the first two out of the parking lot. Soon enough, they were seated at the dining room table--which was more used as a conference table for the family. Carlisle sat at the head with Esme by his right hand side. She was holding his hand as the rest filed in, each taking what seemed to be assigned seats. Edward sat next to Bella near the end of the table.

“I guess we can forgo explaining the reason for this meeting. We all know what it's about. Our main concern is, what should we do? After all, this is another coven we are speaking of.” Carlisle started looking at everyone. Jasper sighed. He was suddenly up and out of the room, leaving Alice to explain his sudden departure.

“Jasper spent some time the other night looking through his journals. He felt something seemed familiar about the girl Anna Belle Collins. He did find something, but he didn't want to say anything until we...well got to watch the girl some more. Unfortunately, that didn't work. Waiting might have put the girl into deeper danger, I fear.” Alice looked around at the others. “Her future; it keeps changing. I've never had this happen. It's constant, no real pattern to it.” She finished as Jasper came in with his journal. He handed it to Carlisle, open to what he found, before taking his place next to Alice. Carlisle made quick work of reading.

“What does it say, Carlisle?” Rosalie leaned forward, her eyes wide open.

“I think Jasper should be the one to tell you. After all, it's from his past.” Carlisle sighed, closing the book and sliding it back to Jasper.

Jasper looked at everyone before sighing. “Three sisters took an interest in me. One of them, she had these two vampires she kept, as slaves almost. It's how she kept them well, tied to her basically, that I remember.” His hand turned upwards and Alice grabbed it instantly. “She essentially kept them weak by use of venom. As we all know, if we bite one another, it weakens us by the added venom. She did this on purpose--to the point where they were almost human. Even their eyes were a totally different color. A combination of red and their original eye color.”

Everyone looked at Jasper, stunned at the fact that he kept this from them. Carlisle nodded to him. “Finish.”

Jasper took a deep burning breath--due to Bella's presence--and continued. “They were odd, distant from some people. Others, they just bubbled to life. They were almost like children, excited and happy over simple things. But eventually, the years of extra venom took its toll and they would get violently ill. At times, it wasn't pretty.”

“Did they survive, at least?” Bella asked, the one question she figured everyone wanted to know the answer to.

Jasper looked down. “Once she grew tired of them, she killed them. I can't answer that question for I don't know the answer to it.” His voice was lower.

“I had an idea a few days ago, the day she suddenly didn't come in. If she didn't come back to school and there wasn't any word on her, Charlie can go over and do a wellness check. Edward said the school was thinking of calling him to ask him to do that anyway, since he's the chief of police.” Bella looked around at the people at the table, hoping they would agree it was a good idea.

“Did they call, Edward?” Carlisle asked.

“Yes. Chief Swan said he would consider it. I think with Bella's urging, she can get him to agree to go check on her.” Edward replied.

“Then that's what we'll do. We need her in the open, that's our first priority.” Carlisle stated as Edward got up, pulling Bella up with him. He needed to get her to the police station as quickly as possible to talk to her father. He gently pulled her out of the room.

“What do we do about Anna Belle?” Alice demanded before Bella and Edward were gone.

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“Edward, what are you all planning on doing with Anna Belle?” Bella demanded as they sped back to town and to the police station.

“It will be taken care of, thats all you need to know for now. Bella, don't worry about it please. Remember, you have to be convincing to your father.” He said as they pulled in to the police station.

Bella nodded before they got out of the car and she rushed up to the doors with Edward right behind her. She didn't even have to say anything to the girl behind the counter as she rushed for her dads office. She got to his office and was breathing heavily. “Bella, what is wrong? Why are you barging in here like this?”

“Dad, it's Anna Belle. No one has heard from her for days, seen her at school or even around at all. You have to go over there and make sure she's all right. Everyone at school is worried.” Bella's worry was true enough, especially after hearing what she had at the Cullen's house.

“Well, you and your friends at school aren't the only ones. The school called asking that I go over to the house and check on the girl. Apparently, the call to pull her out of school was from a strange woman and no one has been able to reach anyone at the phone number they have on file for the girl.” Charlie stated as he stood up, getting his gun belt down and strapping it on. He didn't like to have it on while in the office. “Don't go to the house until I call you, Bella. I don't want you in harms way if something goes wrong. You make sure of this Edward.”

“Of course, Chief Swan. I will make sure she is safe.” Edward promised as Charlie left the station informing the others where he was going.

“I hope everything is all right.” Bella softly said.

“I'm sure it will be.” Edward said before Bella's stomach growled. “Sounds like I need to feed my human.” He joked, as he walked Bella out to the car and drove her to the dinner to eat.

********************************

Charlie pulled in to the driveway of the new neighbor's. He got out of the car, putting his cap on before walking up to the front door.

Morgan sensed the human approaching and rushed to tell Alexander. “There is a human coming to the door!” She informed him. He nodded and there was a mad dash for contacts. That way, when the doorbell rang, their eyes looked almost human. Morgan answered the door, looking up at Charlie. “Is there something I can do for you officer?” She purred watching him with a smile upon her face.

“Yes, I would like to speak with the guardian of Anna Belle Collins. The school called me and asked that I come by. I need to check up on her since she hasn't been in school.” Charlie said straight forward not falling for her flirtations.

Alexander stepped up behind Morgan looking over Charlie. “I am her guardian, officer, Alexander Collins. This is my other sister Morgan Collins. Anna Belle is our youngest sister.”

“Ah well, it's nice to meet you. I am Chief Charlie Swan of the Forks Police Department. As I said, the school asked that I come by check on Anna Belle. Especially, since she suddenly stopped coming to school the other day, just a day after she started.” Charlie informed him.

“Yes, she has been ill. We were told by the doctor to keep her home, so she has been in bed the last few days.” Alexander stated quickly.

“Would that be Dr. Cullen who saw her?” Charlie replied back, not liking the quick answer.

“Um, no. It was a doctor outside of town.” Alexander's eyes narrowed at Charlie.

“Well, I am required to see the girl first hand to make sure she's all right. Can you please call her to the door?” Charlie watched Alexander closely and his reactions.

“Well, she's resting and the doctor said......” Alexander stated.

“Mr. Collins! I am the chief of police here, at the urging of the school. If you do not produce Anna Belle Collins, I am in my full right to come in and look around the house for her. Now, I will ask you again, to please call her to the door.” Charlie's voice holding more authority to it.

“Yes, of course. Loreen, please get Anna Belle.” Alexander called out. A few minutes later Anna Belle stood behind Alexander. Morgan moved away from the door letting Alexander fill the doorway before he pulled Anna Belle before him.

Charlie looked over Anna Belle and immediately didn't like what he saw. This wasn't the same girl he had seen the other day. This girl looked weak, scared and all together not the chipper, bubbly girl he met on his front porch. “Hello again, Anna Belle. It seems that everyone at school has been missing you. Bella included. Haven't been feeling well?”

“No sir.” Her voice was pitched very low, almost inaudible and lacked the musical quality that it normally held. She started fidgeting before looking up at him with her full eyes. They were a lack luster green, not at all the shade of greenish-gold from the other day.

Charlie took all of this in to his mind, storing it. When he looked down at her hands, which were oddly still. He noted the sleeve on one side was slightly ridden up, revealing the bottom of an odd-looking scar. “Well, I hope you are well enough to go to school tomorrow.” He looked at Alexander who held Anna Belle's arms tightly as though afraid of what she would do.

“Of course, she will be going back tomorrow. She is missing it already. She feels bad that she had to stop so suddenly, just because of a silly illness.” Alexander smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

“Very good then. Thank you for your cooperation.” Charlie smiled at them and looked at Anna Belle. “Glad to see you're all right. Bella will be glad to see you in school tomorrow.” He watched Anna Belle nod with no emotion in her face before turning and going back to his cruiser. He started it up and headed back to the station. Once there, he went straight to his phone and dialed a number. “Hi, is Carlisle there? This is Chief Charlie Swan.”

********************************

Once Charlie Swan was gone and the door was closed, Alexander snapped, throwing Anna Belle away from him. Her back and head hit a door frame--causing small cracks--but her eyes remained open and lifeless.

“I told you this was a bad idea Alexander. We should run, get out of here now.” Morgan turned to Alexander who was now stalking the room.

Alexander shook his head. “No, that cop will not let this go. If we suddenly run, there will be something out on us. We will have to play to their game for just a little bit until we can make a move with out any problems following us.” He stopped and looked at Anna Belle who stood like a doll against the door frame. “They want Anna Belle to go to school. We will send her to school as she is. She will be just fine.”

“What about the student body?” Loreen asked curious.

Alexander's face broke out into a wicked smile. “What about them?”



A/N

Hehehehehe hope you guys like this one. Wonder why Charlie called Carlise??? Just gotta wait and read my next chapter. Wonder what the answer to Alice's question is???? Again gotta wait hehe.

And AceSpades there is a reason behind Rosalie's reactions to Anna Belle hope this chapter kinda shed a little light on it especially if you link a few things together.