Surprise! Happy Valentine's Day! I'm sorry it's been so long since I've last posted a chapter. I started school and with work and all my extracurricular it's hard for me to find the time to write. Plus I had this huge writer's block with this story I have been trying to get over it! I finally did! Thank you all for reading and I really hope you'll enjoy this chapter!

I awake to the warm smells of good home cooking by my Aunt Aria. I take note that my shoes had been slipped off and moved near the window and my sunglasses were on the nightstand in front of me. Someone must of checked up and me while I was sleeping. I'm shocked I didn't wake up. Usually I'm a really light sleeper.

"ELAINEEEEEE!" Vinny chants as he opens the door, it's like he knew I was awake. Stupid might-as-well be-twins connection. I groan in response and turn away from him. I knew it was the wrong move because right as I hear ,"VIN SMASH!" he leaps into the air. Thankfully I roll out of the way just in time for him to smack right onto the mattress. I didn't think clearly though and rolled off the bed hitting the floor with a loud thud.

"What is it Vinny?" I sit up facing away from him and pull my hair back into a messy pony tail. I can feel the side of my arm already aching. I rub it in effort to sooth the growing pain.

"Some guy is here to see you!" Vinny says practically jumping up and down. A guy? Coming to see me? I pull myself to my feet and check out my arm. There's probably going to be a bruise…lovely.

"Oh god, you look terrible!" Vinny crosses the room and starts going through my closet.

"I was asleep Vinny….this isn't a movie where I wake up looking like a goddess. Please forgive me for being average." I roll my eyes and place my hands onto my hips giving him the 'Are you kidding me?' look.

"You aren't average! That's like saying I'm average. WE my cousin are sexy." Vinny pulls out one of the more feminine shirts I own and tosses it at me. "Put this on!"

"Vinny, I'm fine." I roll my eyes and toss the shirt onto my bed.

"You look like a bum!"

"I thought you said I was beautiful?"

"Not with those rags on Belly!"

I grimace in response to my old nickname. That has to be the worst nickname every given to anyone. Belly? Out of all things that's what has stuck…Belly. "Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"Exisiting." I roll my eyes and pull off the thick black and red flannel from my bed post and slip it on. It's a bit big on me but it's warm. I know Vinny won't put up an argument because it used to be my mother's after my father had given it to her on their first date.

"Oh Bells, don't be so mean….you'll get premature wrinkles. Then people will see you as my mother!"

"I might as well be." I chuckle a little and Vinny laughs.

"There we go! Have I told you how pretty you are when you smile?" Vinny says ushering me through the door. I roll my eyes again. I swear if he wasn't my cousin he'd be in love with me. Either way, we both agreed once we reach our sexy sixties we're spending the rest of our lives together. Did I mention we were 13 when we made that promise? I was a stupid 13 year old.

I weave my way through the house and go into the foyer. I stop seeing Stiles standing there casually talking with my dad. "Isabella, this is the Sheriffs—"

"I know, we have a few classes together." Why was Stiles at my house? Seriously, didn't I just see him a few hours ago?

"Stiles said you'd dropped some papers and brought them by for you, isn't that sweet?" My aunt said looking at me sweetly. I assume she was already planning our wedding, but she's got the wrong girl beside him. Not only that but I'm a pretty defective as a 'proper woman'.

"Oh shoot, I left those out in the car. I'll go get them!" Stiles said. Good, run while you can before they invite you to stay for dinner. I should probably exit with you or be questioned until you return brave warrior.

"I'll go with you." I nodded and ushered him out the door before anyone else could say anything. "Sorry, my family-"

"No worries, they really are friendly. My dad says your dad is really cool and all so…yeah." He says and I follow him to a baby blue jeep.

"Really? Never took you for a baby blue kind of guy." I cocked my eyebrow and chuckled. Out of all of the colors in the whole world he picked blue. Now, not just blue but baby blue.

"Do not hate on Eleanor. She's had my back since day one and has never failed me." Eleanor?

"You should probably knock on some wood." I laughed. Eleanor? Eleanor? What is up with all of these E names?! Does anyone here know any names from another letter? How about L, that's a nice letter. She looked more like a Ruth to me. Then again, I really love the name Ruth.

"Pfft, I don't need that." Stiles opened his car door and handed me some papers. "Derek said you dropped these…but by the time he went after you, you were gone." I rolled my eyes at the very sound of his name and of course I was gone; I tore out of there like a bat out of hell.

"He was probably making out with his girlfriend?" Seeing as though he was play tonsil hockey with blondie in the hallway right in front of me.

"Derek doesn't have a girlfriend…" Stiles said defensively.

"I'm sorry his playmate…which by the way isn't that illegal?"

"Age of consent"

"Whatever, it's still creepy. He's like 24."

"Does stop you eh?" Stiles said and I punched him in the chest and grabbed the papers.

"Mind your own business." Then we both kind of looked at each other and laughed. I had to admit a part of me did feel connected to Stiles. Maybe it's because we've both lost our mothers. After a minute I caught his eye contact and smiled at him, "Thanks for the papers…and well thank him too I guess."

"I'll send your love." Stiles said and smiled back. "See you tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." I nodded and smiled before going back into my house. Did I just make a friend? Were we friends? I mean with Eden it was a no brainer, but with Stiles… Okay, I'm sure we're friends. I know we are.

"Is that your boyfriend?" I'm face to face with Vinny as I open the door.

"He was so cute! I should have invited him to stay for dinner." Aria is right by his side grinning ear to ear. I look around for my father but realized he's retreated to the den.

"Isabella? Are you listening to me?" My aunt grabs me by my chin and turns my face so I'm looking at her in the eyes.

"Yes Aunt Aria…." I sigh and pull my head back putting space between us. I move past them in efforts to make it to the kitchen for a bottle of water.

"So…." Vinny started in, I knew what was happening. It was too late to stop it too. It was time for a round of 20 questions.

"What's his name?"

"How old is he?"

"Is he single?"

"What's his favorite color?"

"Did he ask you out?"

"What's his sign?"

"Is he a virgin?"

I break through the wall of eager Italians by yelling, "Eh! Will you please stop asking me questions and let me speak?" I look back and forth between the both of them. They both stand there shocked, I don't yell to often but when I do…..it grabs attention.

"His name is Stiles, as we already covered when he was here. He is my age and in a few of my classes. Stiles doesn't like me, he's interested in Eden. Who is this very nice and sweet girl you guys will probably meet soon because she's my friend…I'm guessing anyways. I don't know any of the other answers. Oh! He's not my boyfriend either." I turn away and reach into the fridge grabbing a bottle of water.

"Well, that's glum. I'd figure you'd at least have a boyfriend by now." Vinny says and sighs.

"Not everyone got the famous family charm you did Vin."

My aunt slaps my hand with a wooden spoon and points at me. "Hey! Do not talk about yourself like that! You are wonderful!"

"Just a bit rough around the edges! " Vinny grabs my water bottle and taps my nose before he skips away. I think about chasing him down but I'm already tired. That, and the fact I'm insanely lazy. I turn around and grab another bottle.

"Isabella, I'm concerned for you." My aunt says looking at me. I bring my eyes up to meet hers. Unlike mine hers are a soft green. It wasn't only that though, when you made eye contact with her. ..you felt like you couldn't look away.

"Everything is fine." I smile and open up the water bottle taking a long drink.

"I moved here to keep you safe. You never know what could happen Isabella. With your father's condition…"

"I've dealt with it for years. I know how to handle it. Everything is all set up….just in case."

"That's good, and I'm proud of you but this is serious. You can't handle this on your own."

I turn away from her and pull on an apron. Aria is saying something but I've stopped listening. I see the cutting board and make my way over to it. While I'm here I might as well help out. Lord knows if we're going to have this talk again I'm going to need something to focus on. I begin hopping up bell papers.

"Isabella, don't shut me out…please."

I keep my eyes down and focus on the bell pepper. "I'm not…."

"Well, will you please talk to me?"

"I don't see why I need to." I begin copping and she places her hand over the top of mine.

"We do need to talk Isabella." No…we don't need to talk.

"Talk about what Aria? What is there to talk about? I know my dad's sick and he can't help what he does. I know what I need to do when he has an episode or who to call if I can't handle it. I can handle it though. You're treating me like I'm a baby. I've dealt with this since I was a child. You're the one who's making a big deal out of everything."

"Your cousin and I didn't move out here only to help your father but to help you. Isabella, you've never been one to have any friends or go out and have fun. Your childhood robbed from you. You've spent your whole life either at school, playing volleyball, doing homework, or taking care of your father. I blame myself for that. When you and my brother needed me the most I bailed on you two. That's hurt me for the longest time."

"A-" I try to speak but she talks over me.

"No, no. Let me finish. So when you two left New York it felt like a burden had been lifted from our shoulders. After the fifth day we began missing you two. Then by the week we couldn't take it anymore. I suggested to Vinny we could move out here….and here we are. I'm here now Isabella. I want you to live your last year of high school like it was your first. You already have made friends, and you seem so much happier. Just…let me take care of your father."

"I really appreciate it but in a month the people I know now will forget I even existed. They always do. They get better, more popular friends and we stop talking. It's just how the cookie crumbles. As for my father's situation, I love him very much. I don't mind taking care of him because we look out for each other. When you left, that's all we had. It didn't take long to figure out that's all we need." I put down the knife and rip off my apron.

"Don't shut me out Isabella." She picks up my apron from the counter and goes to hang it up neatly.

"I'm not shutting you out! I told you how it is. You didn't need to come here to cure a guilt you had about leaving us. I'm fine with the way things are right now. Everything has been going great. We've been here almost two weeks and dad hasn't even come close to a episode. We are fine as we are right now. No one asked you to baby us."

"Isabella…I-" Aria starts but I cut her off. I don't want to go on anymore.

"Please, no more. I'm done talking about this." I grab my bottle of water and begin walking away.

"What about college Isabella? What happens then? What happens if you're in class and he has an episode? What happens then? What if you have children? Will they fear their grandpa? What's your plan Isabella?" I pause and look down at the floor.

"I'll cross those roads when I get there." I grip my water bottle tightly.

"I think it's time he knew." She says in a low voice.

"It's too soon." I shake my head and bite my lip.

"It's 9 years too late if you ask me." I look up and see Vinny standing in front of me. His tall figure blocking one of my exits.

"It's not that simple Vincent." I say sharply.

"Let me tell him…" I hear Aria say.

"No." I whip my head around and look at her. "He is MY father. He is MY responsibility. He's not ready to know yet and he won't until I say so. If you tell him…if either of you say one word to him I will leave and never come back. Don't forget, I know how to make myself disappear." I pause and look back and forth between the two of them. They both look shocked and hurt. Aria is on the point of near tears. I swallow down the last bit of self control I have and begin walking out.

"Bell-" Vinny starts and I look over my shoulder to look at them.

"Don't wear out your welcome too soon." I turn back around and keep walking. They call after me but I ignore them. When I reach the room and I rush inside and shut the door. Tears begin to fill my eyes and I look up towards the ceiling. Now is not the time to be weak or cry. I've reach my limit for today, which is one. I hear a crumple in my pocket and l remember the papers Stiles gave to me. Quickly, I pull them out of my back pocket up fold them. Government homework...doodle...doodle... economics... Then comes something irregular. A piece of notebook paper with something written on it. I pull it to the front of my small stack and read it.

I'm an idiot, let me make it up to you. (Then something was scribbled out so much there was a tear in the paper)

-Derek

P.S I'm- (another scribbled out area) Erica is not my girlfriend.

-Derek Hale

I chuckle a the fact he'd sign the note twice. I could tell it was quickly jotted down but at least he took enough time to scribble out some things. Not that I cared though. He was just being nice to me for putting a dent in my baby. Probably scared i'll press charges and him and under aged playmate will get busted. There's no way he'd be actually...nope. I don't have time for this. Not at all. I crumple up the note and throw it into my wastepaper basket. Either way it didn't matter. Derek Hale was nothing special, just a guy who hit me with his car and wanted to apologetic for deciding to play tonsil hockey with blondie because I bored him that much. That's it.

Please note that there must be a million and one errors in this but it seriously is 3:30 AM. So I apologize for them. They should be fixed within the next day or two. I've been on hiatus for awhile but I got inspiration to write. Sorry it isn't too long but it's better than nothing. I hope this burst last's for awhile. I'd really love to get more chapters out for you guys! Please review and feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

Stay wonderful, Ellie.