Hello all!

I'm back! Or rather, we're back! Yes, that's right… this story is co-written with wiccanvampire17 and we are finally really working together.

We're working out how we are going to do that, but for now just know that some chapters will be written by me and others by wiccanvampire17.

Also, just to let you know, there's an AN below that is ULTRA important and also, this chapter was written mostly by wiccanvampire17 but I added bits to give you more of a feel as to what Bella's thinking and how that's translating into what she's saying. There was mostly dialogue – which was very good – but I thought it needed something more. :D

One last thing before I shut up for now and let you read… please note that I will be re-writing some of the earlier chapters from their first date. I think they need to be expanded and fleshed out. They'll stay up her and when I post the next chapter, I'll also repost one of those chapters – or rather, replace it – but you won't get an email to notify you of that. None of the ideas will essentially be changed, all that's happening is they'll be fleshed out to give more feeling to the chapters.

Ok… officially shutting up now!

I panicked for a moment.

Oh my god… what should I do? What should I say? Should I tell her the truth? I wasn't sure if that would help because I knew what she was going to say. She'd say something along the lines of "Bella, you can't do this" or "Bella, what are you thinking?"

But… I needed some sort of advice. Even if it wouldn't work, it might help me make my decision.

So, I told her.

"Mom, I met this guy," I trailed off, biting my lip. Mum was going to freak, I was sure of it. "I really like him… and you'll never guess who it is, but…" I took a deep breath and then shot forward, the words coming out so fast I wasn't sure if she'd even be able to understand me. "But he loves me and I don't know what t-to do. I mean… I can't l-lie to him… he deserves to know… what-what do I do?"

By the end of my explanation, I was basically sobbing. It was just so hard. All of this was just so hard. Then there was the possibility that if I told him, he'd react badly and run away screaming bloody murder or something. And… for some reason, I felt like I already knew him – which was ridiculous because I'd never met him before – but I just… I don't know. I was just so confused.

I heard mum gasp on the other line before she said, "Oh dear… I didn't think I'd have to have this conversation yet."

I wiped my eyes and nose on my sleeve, too upset to really care how gross that was. "What… what do you mean?"

She sighed softly, "I thought we'd have this conversation in a couple of years… you know… after college."

I huffed, annoyed. "Mum, please stop being so cryptic and just say what you mean."

She was quiet for a few minutes. "Well… ok honey, do you love him?"

My eyes snapped open and I sniffed, blinking. Did I love him? "I… I don't know, really. I know that I have strong feelings for him but I don't know if I love him yet."

She seemed more confident after hearing that. "Right. That's good; as long as you don't love him."

I sighed, frowning. "Mum, that's really not what I need to hear right now."

She made an indignant noise from the back of her throat. "Still… it would be harder for you if you did love him. It's definitely not a good idea to date this man. Dating leads to revealing our secret and that leads to… well, you know how that ends. Badly. You're left completely alone, feeling nothing but hurt and depression." She paused for a moment, "what's this boy's name, anyway?"
I sniffled and bit my lip nervously. "Edward Masen."
There was silence on the other line and then I could hear her faintly ask, "Who?"
"Edward Masen?" I repeated loudly, confused. What was the problem? I thought bitterly, I know he's famous and all but come. On.

"The actor?" She asked in a flat tone, a little hesitant.

I cleared my throat, frowning. "Yes?" The simply word came out as a question because I was so confused.

She sighed heavily and a moment later I could hear the rustling of papers or something in the background followed by a muttered, low curse.

I, however, was confused. What was she acting so strangely?

And then… I don't know… there was just something about this conversation… something… familiar. A strange sense of déjà vu was settling over me and I didn't understand it at all.

And then, mum was speaking angrily in my ear, getting louder and louder with each sentence. "Now, I really don't think ou should be dating a famous actor! What if he panicked when you told him and our secret got out? He's famous after all and a man! They'd bring the witch trials back… Oh, for heavens sake Bella! You'll put us in danger… and then, of course, if he doesn't accept who you are? You'll be devastated! Just look what happened between your father and me when I told him," she ranted exasperatedly. "It didn't work out, did it?"

I was starting to get angrily at mum. She was reacting ridiculously and it just made no sense! Why would she react like this? "Mom, you left dad, taking me away from him as well, when I was a few months old! He has always loved you, and if you actually saw him, you would know he's never gotten over you! Besides, he's completely fine with me being a witch, so why would he react like that to you? Oh, and by the way, he's already guessed that my power comes from you."

"How does your father know about our power?" She shrieked, obviously panicking.

I sighed and shook my head, beyond aggravated with her. "When you finally let him visit me when I was five, he guessed that I was different when I floated a cookie from the cookie jar by accident. I didn't even know I was doing it… all I remember was really wanting a cookie and then it was floating towards me. Dad saw it. He was surprised at first and then he smiled and laughed and said 'my baby has a gift' before scooping me up in his arms.

Mum, however, didn't react to it so well. "God, you stupid girl! I knew I should have kept you away from him permanently," she growled out, more to herself then to me. "I am not having this conversation with you over the phone, Isabella," she said, huffing.

The hand that wasn't holding the phone balled up into a fist as my anger steam rocketed. "Well guess what! We are having this conversation over the phone and we are going to sort this out right now. Because it seems to me that you only think about yourself and that you didn't stop to think about Dad before leaving him. You didn't even think about how it was for me and Dad when you separated us and kept us apart. Do you know that you've completely ruined our relationship?" I ranted, throwing my hand up in the air in exasperation. "Do you know how awkward it is for us now? And it's all because of you… you did that!"

Mum didn't back down. "I left him for a reason, Isabella! You cannot trust men – especially after you tell them you're a witch! The one and only reason that I was even with your father in the first place was so I could pass on the power to you!"

That shocked me… I was silent for a moment before I started shouting. "You used him? How could you? He loves you – he always has – and you were using him the whole time? For what? For his sperm? So you could continue our line? How could you be so selfish? I-did you even think about Dad when you did all this? No, of course you didn't because you only think about yourself! God, I'm disgusted with you! How can you call yourself a white witch, a good mother and – at the time – a good wife?"

"How dare you speak to me like this? I am you mother!" She screeched into the phone and I nearly growled I was so angry.

"Yeah, well you're not a good one!" Not giving her the chance to say anything more, I hung up.

Sighing, I dropped my head into my hands, feeling completely drained. All of this seemed so familiar… I had that déjà vu feeling again. Had I done this before? Nah, I thought, shaking my head, stupid feelings weighing on me. Stress makes you hallucinate at times.

Now, back to the real problem, what to do?

Ok… so. If you haven't heard about it already, then you are about to. After some deliberation, I've decided to come up with an updating schedule for all my current WIPs. It's long overdue and hopefully it'll help me get organised!

This is how it works. The longer the story's chapter usually is, the longer between reviews.

Drabbles are updated multiple times a day.

Stories with from there up to 2000+ words – such as this story and I'm a Girl with Power – update once a week.

Stories from 2000-5000 words – Femme Fatale, Nine Years – update every two weeks.

And stories with chapters exceeding 5000 words – namely, A Choice – update every three weeks.

This story will update every Friday.

:D

Please review

bexie25

PS See you next week!