HLAG

Chapter 9

I pull up outside my house having no idea how the hell I am going to deal with Alice. I know banning her from seeing Bella will not work, it'll just increase her chances of getting into bigger trouble.

After Alice called last night, I called my dad who was upset, but said he would let her in. He said if it was okay with me, he was going to leave to go talk to my mother. We all knew talking to Alice was going to have to wait till morning. We didn't want Jennifer around knowing it was going to be a fight.

My mom on the other hand, was on the war path. Yet again I had to talk her out of making a rash decision. She would only be happy if she could put Alice in a tower till she was an adult.

I walk into my home to find Alice sitting with Jennifer and my dad looking glum.

"Princess, how are you this morning?" I ask giving her a morning hug.

"Good," she signs with a smile on her face.

"I'm going to help dad with breakfast." I walk away from the girls and head to the kitchen, closing the door behind me.

"She said she doesn't want to go home," Dad says right away. I love my sister dearly, but I have enough on my plate right now.

"I told her it was unfair to stay here with you, Jenny's still settling in. She's adamant about not going home." He stops talking and takes a deep breath. "There's a part of me that says fine, she can do it her way and see how far she can get without us, but she's our baby and our only girl." I shake my head in understanding, but I have seen what making this choice can lead to.

"I know, Edward, that's what stopping me," he says as if he can read my mind. "But what can we do?" he snorts humorlessly. "They say boys are easier to raise, and right now, the way Alice is acting, she's making that point well made. I would take you two boys and all of your friends over what she is putting us through."

"What about school, how is she doing with that?"

"Her teachers are saying her work is slipping, she's barely making a C average and to top that off she's quit cheerleading! We haven't seen Lauren or Jessica since Bella's been around. Even Jacob's not coming by any more. When we called, he said Alice and he had a fight and he hasn't talked to her since."

"What?" I say in surprise. Jacob and Alice have been friends since they were in diapers, they made mud pies together when they were younger. I always thought Jacob harbored feelings for Alice, so something big must have happened for him to back right off.

"She's cut everyone off. She's spending all her time with Bella. I feel that when Bella gets sick of hanging around with Alice and drops her, Alice is not going to deal with it well..." my dad trails off and stops talking.

"How about Alice stays here tonight, and tomorrow. I'll bring her home Sunday night?" My dad looks like he's about to argue, but I hold my hand up.

"It will give you and mom some rest, and it sounds as if you need it. Then, when everything seems to chill a little, we can plan to get her old friends back in her life."

My dad chuckles again. "It's been a while since I took her out for dinner," he says almost if he was talking to himself.

"There you go then," I reply right away.

He looks at me then to the door. "Go, I got this." He bobs his head and walks out. I sigh as my father says his good byes.

"You're letting me stay!?" Alice almost sings out.

"Later," I tell her. This conversation will need to be done one on one.

I am barely keeping my eyes open as we eat breakfast, my exhaustion is getting to me. "Jenny," I say as she puts away her dish. "Go and get ready, so I can drop you at my mom's."

Right away Jennifer's face falls making my heart break. I know I will have to find her a new babysitter, and that's going to hurt my mom, but I need to do what makes Jennifer comfortable.

"She can stay with me. I could take her swimming," Alice says.

I look at Alice shaking my head, but turn my head to Jennifer when I hear her tapping on the table.

"Oh please? Can I go?" she signs quickly. "Please, we could even stay here and play... please let me stay with Alice?"

As she signs her plead, her eyes are so bright.

I let out a sigh. "Go and get your stuff ready, I'll be right up."

She runs off and I turn to Alice, as she's getting ready to open her mouth, but I cut her off.

"Don't want to hear it. What you did last night was beyond stupid. Mom almost had a break down!" Alice snorts and I sit down putting on my serious face.

"You are acting like a little selfish bitch." I know I'm being harsh, but I don't know what else to do. "You keep telling me that Bella isn't a bad person and no one is giving her a fair shot, so show me the truth, by acting like a decent human. You're staying here under my rules, and then Sunday, I'm taking you home and you will say sorry to mom. You have no choice." Alice crosses her arms over her chest, but keeps her mouth shut.

"I will in turn allow you to spend time with Bella today, but I don't want her swearing or smoking around Jenny. Tonight when I leave for work, she can come over, but only her." Alice narrows her eyes at me.

"What are you up to?"

"Nothing, Alice, we are not all devious. This is giving you a chance to prove she is a good person. I may trust you with my daughter, but if you fuck this up and Jenny gets hurt, I will never forgive you and as far as Bella, she will wish she was in jail!"

Alice just keeps looking at me before she drops her eyes and squirms in her seat. "Edward," she says, but stops. "I'm not that great at caring for people, but Bella is. Please trust me when I say she is an amazing girl with such a large heart. Just open your eyes and you'll see the awesome person I have seen. You will fall in love with her just like I have."

I snort walking away to help Jennifer get ready. It takes just under a half hour for both girls to get ready and leave for the swimming pool. As I lay in my bed, my mind brings back Jennifer's face and eyes as she pleaded with me. Just maybe Jennifer can save Alice from the wrong path, and in turn, she may break down Jennifer's wall.

~HLAG~

I wake after a restless sleep. My brain just didn't want to switch off. It kept playing images of me finding Jennifer in her home, then Bella would appear in the cold domineer she had when she was in the cell. No matter how much I pleaded, she wouldn't tell me where Jennifer had gone.

I get washed and head down the stairs. Before I get there, Jennifer's laughter reaches my ear making me instantly feel more relaxed.

"No laughing, this is how you make lasagna." I tilt my head wondering who is the Italian woman speaking. "You put the two shits place them down." Jennifer starts to laugh loudly and I can picture her on the floor laughing her head off.

"What?" the Italy woman says as I started to open the kitchen door.

"Yes, that's what I said, two shits." My smile that I had on my face drops when I see there seems to be only Alice, Jennifer and Bella in the room.

Bella's eyes go to mine and she drops them right away looking back at Jennifer who is leaning into Alice as she laughs. "It's two Sh-ee-t-s," Alice says slowly.

"That's what I said, no?" Alice and Jennifer shake their heads at her.

"No matter, now we add another layer, come, Jenny, you can do this, si?"

I sit down at the table as my stomach starts to rumble. I don't blame it, the food smells divine.

"Now all it needs is to go in the oven, for forty minutes, and you will have a magnifico lasagna." Bella kisses the tips of her fingers and takes her hand a way humming a little.

"Okay, Jenny, this has been fun. Make sure D takes that out when it's done." Jen nods, but looks a little sad.

"Can't you stay?" Jennifer signs to her.

"Not this time. Maybe D will let me come over when he's at work or something and we can have dinner together." Jennifer bobs her head and Bella hugs her, kissing the top of her head.

"See you later, Alice," Bella says. As she walks away. I look at the door, as she never once spoke to me.

I only take my eyes off the door when I feel Jennifer pulling at my arm.

"We made everything! Even the sauce, it was fun," she tells me with her sparkling eyes.

I look around the kitchen to find it is clean even though it was just cooked in.

"Bella cleans up after each part, she has a thing about cleaning, she's a little OCD about it." Maybe my sister is a mind reader.

~HLAG~

The lasagna was even better than I imaged. In fact, it was the best homemade meal I have had in a long time.

"Alice make sure she's in bed at nine, read her a story, but not The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. We are reading that one together," I say as I get my jacket on.

Alice bobs her head at me. "She'll be fine, we'll be fine."

I let out a sigh, but place a smile on my face as Jennifer comes running toward me.

She holds out a dish and I take it from her with a frown. "Open it," she signs giggling.

I open it and the smell hits me right away.

"Where was this hiding?" I ask taking a small piece of the cake to taste.

"It was a surprise. Bella helped me make it, from a big book her aunty had, do you like it?"

I bob my head at her. "Yes, it's very good," I tell her trying hard not to show the surprise I feel.

"Sue has been teaching Bella these last few years how to cook," Alice says and I turn to her and give her a curt nod.

"I have to go, but it's my last night. We can spend all tomorrow together, Princess." I kiss Jennifer's head before heading out the door. This is the shift I hate the most, because I miss out on so much time with Jennifer.

~HLAG~

Mike and I have just been driving around since it's been surprisingly quiet tonight.

"Mike, do you mind if I drop in to make sure Alice and Jenny are okay? It shouldn't be more than five minutes."

"Yeah, sure that's okay. You can drop me at Vicky's," he says with a grin and a wiggle of his eyebrows.

I don't say anything to him, but I start to drive toward where Vicky stays. "You should come out with us one night. Vicky has a load of single friends that are looking for some loving," Mike adds on almost like it was an afterthought.

"Maybe," I say as I try to hide my lack of motivation from my voice.

"I'm telling you, some of them are fine, really fine." He closes his eyes, before he starts to hum.

"You better not let Vicky hear you talk like that, she will kick your ass." Mike laughs, but nods.

I give him a wave and drive a little fast toward my own home seeing that it's almost nine. I want to get there so I can say goodnight to Jenny.

When I walk through the door, I am sadden to see Alice is sitting there flicking through the TV channels.

"She sleeping already?" My eyes go back to my watch to see if I miss read it.

Alice frowns and then looks a little worried. "Alice don't say you left her alone," I say as I move quickly up the stairs and toward her room.

But I stop in my tracks when I hear her heart filled laugh. I look in Jennifer's room to see Bella is again brushing her long hair.

"How are you settling in at school?" Bella asks.

Jennifer shrugs. "Ms. Denali doesn't like me signing and says I need to talk."

I frown a little; Jennifer never said anything to me about this.

"What did D say when you told him?" Bella asks right away. I was able to still read Jennifer's hands through the mirror.

Jennifer shakes her head and Bella moves to kneel in front of her.

"You have to tell him."

Jennifer looks down, but Bella gently pushes her head back up. "There's nothing to worry about and you have done nothing wrong. But your teacher has no right trying to force you to speak to her in her class when you're not ready to talk. She should be speaking with him if she has any concerns." Bella stops and lets out a sigh. "You have nothing to worry about with talking to D. He will be there for you. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will make him leave you." Bella hugs Jenny tight as she speaks.

"But, he will put my bum in jail if I don't get you to bed, so come on." Jennifer chuckles and runs to the bed. I take a few seconds before I walk in.

"Hi." Bella looks at me a little surprised.

"Just came to tuck you in." I move to Jennifer and Bella jumps up.

"Good night, Jenny," she says and walks away.

"Have you had a good night?"

"The best, can Bella watch me again?" she signs, but looks a little sleepy.

"We'll see. Close your eyes, honey, and I'll see you in the morning." I get to the door of her room and look back to see her eyes flutter close.

I walk down the stairs finding Alice alone. "Where's Bella?" I ask her.

"She went home." I nod moving quickly to my back door. I can just make her out as she climbs the fence.

"Bella!" I yell, but she keeps moving. "Bella!" I yell again running.

She turns, but doesn't say anything to me. "What's with the silent treatment?" I ask her, but again she remains quiet.

"Doesn't matter," I say knowing she's still pissed and therefore doesn't get why I did what I did.

"Jenny and Alice both like you and both want to spent time with you, so this is your chance. I let you come by, spend time with them, but if you hurt them, or let them down, then that's it, all bets are off. I will make your life hell." She just looks at me as if I insulted her.

"For what it's worth, thank you for telling her to speak to me, and dinner was really good."

"After years of your mother's cooking, anything would taste good." I smile and chuckle nodding.

"You're probably right about that." I stop talking and just look at her.

"Let's just put the last few weeks behind us and start a fresh," I say offering an olive branch.

"Hi, I am Edward Cullen," I carry on sticking out my hand

"Bella Swan," she says taking it.

As I shake her hand, I feel myself fill with hope. Maybe I can save this girl and make her see the error of her ways.