A/N: Well I finally got my laptop to work and now I'm diligently trying to upload as much as possible. So here it is-the next installment of "The New Girl", and also the most I've ever written in one chapter. Enjoy!!

Reviews: Charmediscool: Thank you for reading the story! I can understand why you would feel sympathetic towards Gwen, but this is just a difficult time for her. I promise she will get through it.

JanaRose: To my greatest fan-I'm so happy you like the fic & seem so dedicated to reading it! This will pretty much be the rising action in Gwen's suspiciousness. Hopefully everyone will understand her motives and realize her actions. Keep up the reviewing! :)

Chapter 6

Gwen came home that night much later than she had anticipated, having spent the rest of the afternoon absorbed in her research. She quickly snuck in the back door through the kitchen, hoping none of her cousins would notice.

She was very, very wrong. Upon entering the dining room she saw Prue, Piper, and Phoebe sitting there with a mix of angry and relieved expressions.

"Good Evening Gwen", greeted Prue sarcastically while standing up and pacing around the room.

"Um, hey everyone", Gwen replied cautiously before taking a seat.

"So, lets get right down to it", started Phoebe. "Where were you this afternoon? I waited for you after school and you never turned up. So after about an hour of wondering and worrying, I talked to some of your teachers. One of them, I believe it was your last period teacher, said you never showed up for class today. Well of course I panicked, called Piper and Prue, and we've been searching and scrying for you ever since." She let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head at the young teen.

"Gwen, we're not trying to blame you for anything, but you have to understand that you are still in danger. Cronon is still out there, not to mention hundreds of other demons who would love to get their hands on a Halliwell, as well as a witch. We just want to make sure you're safe. That's our top priority", finished Piper quietly.

" I know. I get it, I really do. It's just...I needed to do some stuff today and I'm sorry I worried you", Gwen said, searching to see if they would accept her vague excuse.

"Ok, so you wanna tell us where you were today and what was so important that you had to skip your first day of class?" asked Prue. At Gwen's silence she went on. "Fine, everyone has their secrets. We just don't want yours to get you suspended or killed. Please be more careful from now on. And if you need to go out and do something, at least let one of us know, so you don't give us an early heart attack. Deal?"

"Deal. I promise I won't cut class or stay out late without telling you. So what's my punishment?" the young witch asked dejectedly.

Phoebe smiled before answering. "Punishment? We're not going to punish you Gwen. You made one mistake, albeit one mistake that made us frantic and could've gotten you killed. But, we'll understand if you will. We're all still settling, therefore allowances must be made."

When Gwen grinned and nodded, Phoebe took her cold hands in her own and said "Listen I know we're not that close-yet, but we all want you to know that we're here for you. Day and night, 24/7. We're great listeners so if there's anything you need to talk about, just come and find one of us." She kissed her forehead affectionately, and then led her upstairs.

In the late hours of that very same night, the floorboards creaked as Gwen quietly made her way up the attic stairs. She hadn't compiled quiet enough research to defeat Cronon, and knew her only other option was to consult the Book of Shadows, despite her earlier resistance. Glancing around the circular room, she spotted the Book in the far right corner on a wooden pedestal. Cautiously and nervously, Gwen put her hands on top of it, hoping it wouldn't magically fly out of her grasp. When no sign of detection appeared, she quickly began flipping through it until she finally came upon the page dedicated to Cronon. Apparently some of the previous Halliwell witches had cursed the demon, causing him to do no harm. Recently, however he had been freed, and sought only to seek revenge by eliminating her entire family's line. There was no vanquishing potion; only one to curse him again.

I can just combine the cursing potion with a common vanquishing potion. That should be enough. But damn, these look really complicated. I hope it works...

Gwen furrowed her brow as she read over the ingredients. Many of them were out of date and some she had never even heard of before. Oh well, I'll just improvise. Her stubbornness and determination took over as she started copying down everything she would need. Once she finished, she closed the book and walked down the stairs to the second floor.

However, Gwen was unaware of Piper's presence, who, at that precise moment, was making her way from the kitchen up to her room. Leo's frequent absences were really affecting her lately, and she was finding it increasingly difficult to fall asleep at night.

Suddenly, she heard a squeak on the attic stairs.

Cautiously, Piper stood wondering if maybe she should wake up her sisters, but then decided she would surely make too much noise and alert the intruder of her company. She waited; ready to freeze or blow up anything that came into her view. That is, until Gwendy came before her.

The classic "deer in headlights" look shown on Gwen's face as she stared at Piper in shock.

Startled by her cousin, Piper asked, "Gwen, what are doing?"

"Ummm, well... I was just...I needed something from the attic", she finished quickly.

Piper arched an eyebrow and gazed suspiciously at Gwen. Noticing the small article in her hands, she inquired, "You needed a piece of paper?"

"No!" yelped Gwen tucking the list in the back of her P.J. pants. "I wanted a blanket and I couldn't find one."

"Hall closet", supplied Piper, gesturing in its direction.

"Oh well. Haha, guess I looked in the wrong place then. Uh, thanks. I'll just go get one now." Gwen took out a blanket and proceeded into her room. "Goodnight Piper", she said quietly.

The elder witch knew there was definitely something Gwen was hiding from all of them. Hoping it would explain this afternoon's and evening's absence, she walked into the attic and looked around for anything peculiar. Suspecting the worst, she opened up the Book of Shadows for some clue that the young girl had been here. After a few minutes the wind magically picked up and the book landed on the page containing Cronon's description.

So that's it. I hope I'm totally wrong in this, thought Piper. But someone up there must want me to know what she's up to.