Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or anything associated with it but I do lay claim to my original characters Ella and Adrian.

AN: I wanted to get this second chapter out to you this week, It's taken longer because I couldn't get the ending quite right. Also I tried to post this three times and it didn't work so now I'm having to retype the entire chapter to upload it. ~Hannah

Chapter Nineteen - Grounded by Love

I was grounded for the part I played in the fight. I hated being grounded. Being confined to the walls of school and then the walls of home had me jumping around like a rabid raccoon. I couldn't stand it. The bruise on my cheek was still visible as were the cuts made by Lauren's rings. I hated that bitch and her words. Why did she feel so entitled? What drove her to be such a bully? Often enough it was the small things, a failed grade, jealousy over something or another and sometimes it was more serious like trouble at home. With Lauren I reckoned she was just a bad penny.

Still I knew I had deserved the grounding I had. I should have just ignored Lauren's taunts and walked away. I could have happily walked away without issue but I knew Lauren would keep on at me, keep grinding away at me until I cracked. Perhaps I cracked on purpose. Maybe I'd wanted to silence her. Lauren was a pest and an out of control teenage. I'd put the fear into her with my fist and I wasn't completely sorry for it.

Bella had of course been horrified by my actions. She'd only seem me exhibit such anger twice before but this was particularly horrible. I was ashamed that I had worried my so much and caused her to anguish over the events. My sister didn't deserve my anger tendencies. I could handle Dad's anger towards the fight but I couldn't handle my sisters. She had let rip into me the moment we got home and had proceeded to ignore me for several days now. That hurt the most, I hated when we were at odds with each other and longed for the moment she decided I'd suffered enough.

True to his word, Dad did allow my school projects to be continued but I hadn't had a chance to do my outdoor portrait of Jasper as it contradicted the laws Dad had written me.

I'd ended up hurling myself at Jasper the first moment I saw him back at school. I had of course been suspended for a week for my part in the fight but was now back again. I hadn't realised at the time how harmful my actions could have been to the Cullen's. Upon seeing Jasper and the rest of the Cullen's I couldn't help but feel guilty for the blood that had been spilt and what would have happened had someone lost it.

I had immediately thought of Jasper because I knew my anger had drawn him to the scene in the first place and with a head full of anger and a nose full of blood, who knew what would have happened if he'd lost it. I was so proud of him for keeping his cool and not losing his head but that didn't stop me from carrying a large amount of guilt on my shoulders. I should not have risen to Lauren's taunts. I should have walked away when I had the chance.

Jasper of course didn't blame me but it didn't matter for I blamed myself.

I was becoming a quiet subdued version of myself. I couldn't lie and say Lauren's words hadn't affected me because of course they had. People could argue that Lauren had been spouting rubbish but I'd been hearing a variation of her words for years. Lauren, like Renee, was incredibly good at hitting my weak spots.

I wasn't in a depression, not like when Edward and his family had been ignoring me. I was just floating between worlds. My mind had almost turned against me in its efforts to drive me mad remembering what Lauren had said. I didn't really know how to feel or what to say so I'd relied on the old favourite of pretending that everything was fine and dandy.

I had of course, been avoiding Edward. Dad liked Edward, thought he was good for me and so encouraged our music practices but though I went along with them I didn't feel like I was all there. I started to feel the whispers follow me and doubted my own feelings. Why was Edward friends with me? Would he really have preferred my sister? Did I really mean nothing to him? Was I just a filler for his family? Would they drop me at a moment's notice? Was I really that ugly? With a clear mind I wouldn't have even paid those questions a moment's notice but I knew I wasn't in my own mind because I had been effected and more effected that I'd let anyone believe.

"You aren't concentrating."

"Sorry Edward, let's start from the beginning then."

"Are you alright Ella?"

"Of course I am. I was just daydreaming. I'm sorry I wasn't one hundred percent concentrated on the project Edward."

"It doesn't matter. I think we are both tired and we've been starring at music notes for a long while now. I'm sure a fresh pair of eyes will work better. Well pick this up next week ok?"

I nodded. Things were awkward. I knew they were awkward and I knew Edward knew they were awkward. We were walking on broken eggshells. It wasn't just the kiss but everything. We didn't know how to move forwards or backwards or move in any direction really. I couldn't blame Edward for wanting to get out of my house. It was true that we were struggling with our music project. Neither of us could find the creativity to compose something as we were both caught up in our own struggles. I knew I shouldn't shut Edward out but I couldn't help it.

The weekend would do me good. With only two weeks since the incident and one of them spent away from school the gossip mill hadn't really settled. Lauren hadn't returned to school yet through her own injuries or at the request of her parent's I wasn't sure but her missing bitchness had definitely impacted on the school.

Without the proper facts everyone was jumping to conclusions. Not that I cared much for gossip but I didn't enjoy the whispers that followed my every move. I would have enjoyed sharing a girly evening with Bella as I felt I needed the comfort that only she could provide yet I knew she was busy. She was always busy now if not with Adrian then with school work. It was silly to think that I'd ever lose my sister but that was how I felt at the moment.

Sitting in my room was like a dream come true with people's current moods. Dad was no longer raging in his anger but he still looked at me with disgruntled disappointment. Dad had never seen me in a fight and didn't know of the fights I had previously been in. He thought I was the daughter he didn't have to worry about too much because I had my head on straight. I knew he was re-evaluating that view now and hoped the consequences weren't too severe.

I loved my Dad to the ends of the earth and back again and while I might not always like the decisions he made for me I would abide them for the sake of his sanity.

There was a surprise waiting for me in my room in the form of ice cream, cookies and a concerned looking Rose. I didn't say anything about her unexpected arrival but took the deliciously unhealthy treats in thanks and motioned her to sit on my bed with me.

Rose filled a spot in my hear that had been empty for some time. I didn't know Rose's story, I didn't know any of the Cullen's stories as to how they became vampires but I knew that Rose, like Esme, craved children. It was strange that Rose filled that Motherly void for me because to the rest of the world we were nearly the same age. I would never call Rose Mother but the bond that we shared was as close to that as I could get.

I realised what my connection to Rose could cost me should the Cullen's ever leave but I couldn't stop the feelings of my heart. I connected to Rose, and my life felt a little brighter with her in it.

"What's up? You've been unusually chirpy since the fight with Lauren and I know something is happening underneath your positive surface."

Studying Rose was like looking at a piece of expensive artwork. She was very beautiful and I knew she was a little vain about it but her heart was in the right place. Rose reminded me of a butterfly in her beauty but she had such a deep heart that any human would be envious of it.

Nothing go past Rose when she was looking for it and she'd clearly been studying me in the past couple of days to have seen what I was hiding from others. I'd even tried to school my emotions so I wouldn't clue Jasper into what I was really feeling. I started to eat the ice cream before I replied. Mostly because I was stalling but also because I loved ice cream and if I didn't eat it, it would only melt.

"Lauren is a bitch and I should have ignored her but I'd be lying if I said her words hadn't affected me."

"You know her words don't mean anything though?"

"In the grand scheme of things Lauren means nothing but when the same things are repeated over and over again it becomes hard to ignore the. I guess I just snapped. Usually I have better control on my anger but I knew I could fight Lauren in a way I've never been able to fight Renee."

"Your Mum really messed you up didn't she?"

"Renee wasn't ready to have children but she had prepared herself for Bella's arrival. It wasn't her fault that there were two of us as I was always hiding behind Bella' on the scans. I was a small baby and I don't think I was expected to live but Renee wasn't prepared for two babies. Bella came out and was heralded as Renee's pride and joy where I was the forgotten second, the one that wasn't planned and the one that didn't fit with Renee's plans."

"Yet she took both of you in the divorce?"

"Bella would have never left without me. Renee wanted Bella so she had to have me as well. I learnt from a very early age that Renee didn't care for me as she cared for Bella. I was never good enough, could never do anything to please Renee and was constantly beaten down by her. I learnt never to show off my accomplishments, never to speak in her presence and above all that I should be more like my sister. That kind of talk wears on you after a while."

"You don't need to be like your sister because you're Ella and Ella's a fine person."

I smiled at Rose. It was hard to talk about my childhood. I knew I had had it better than some people but it had still been lacking. I envied Bella in a way I would never tell her. I'd never had a genuine response from Renee, no Mother's love, hug or praise. It had shaped me as a person, maybe I did have a thicker skin because of it but I still yearned for this things I'd missed out on.

"Bella became my Mother when we were young. She taught me how to tie my shoes and helped me with my letters and numbers. If I did well at school or was proud about something I'd accomplished I would tell Bella and she would give me the praise I desired. That helped and I spoke to Dad on the phone nearly every day. Sometimes I had to call in secret but it was nice to know that I had one parent that loved me for me."

"It must have been hard."

"It was and is. Renee never stopped telling me that I was an unwanted disappointment. That no matter how hard I tried I would never be good enough and I would never be Bella. I have been told time and time again that I am not work the effort, that no one would notice a wallflower like me and that I would be hard pressed to find someone to love me. Renee made it very clear that my passion for music and art wasn't something she liked and if I continued to pursue it that she would not fund my collage career. Lauren sung the same tune as Renee but the words seemed harsher because they were said by a peer."

"You're a wonderful person Ella."

"I have so much determination to be great and to achieve everything I desire and I would have that burning need if Renee had been a good Mother to me. Yet at the same time I long for the closeness Bella has with her. I've never felt the love of a Mother, or had a Mother's hug. I've never seen Renee's eyes light up in pride over something I've done or hear her express how happy she is for me and my accomplishments. I feel like life has cheated me in some ways."

The more I talked the more I felt my emotions consume me. I could feel the familiar panic well up inside me but I tried to hold onto the ground. I didn't want to have a panic attack over the past but if it was coming then I was powerless to stop it. I felt Rose grab hold of my hands and pull me close to her.

"I don't think I'm a bad person but sometimes I wonder what went wrong. Was it a mistake that I was born? Did something go wrong for me to be so hated by my own Mother? Should I try harder? Should I make myself more like Bella and would it even make a difference? Should I have fought harder to stay with Dad? Should I have reported Renee's neglect towards me? What's worse, is deep down, I wonder if I deserve all I've been give. Am I just incapable of being loved? Is it my fault that my life is like this? Are all the insults thrown at me really true?"

I was full on crying now. The attack had happened and I knew I needed to ride it out. Saying all those questions out loud just bought the attack on with force. I'd never told anyone the fears I had not even Bella knew. I'd kept them locked away from all eyes. Some days I struggled with who I was while other days I could mask the pain from the world. I was stronger because of how I'd been raised but sometimes I wondered if my upbringing had merely hampered the growth of who I could really be.

Rose had bought me into her arms and into a tight hug. It meant more to me than a hug from Dad or Bella. I couldn't really explain it but it was like I was coming home. I felt safe in Rose's arms like nothing could harm me. I knew that Rose wasn't the sort of person to bring me down or crush my dreams. She as whispering sweet words in my ear and comforting me while I had my attack. I knew this was what I been missing in life. I knew this was what a Mother's comfort should feel like. I knew this wasn't normal but I knew I wasn't normal. If I could take anything away from this experience I would. Consequences be damned I didn't care if others didn't understand the bond I shared with Rose. Her input in my life gave me something I hadn't experienced before and I would hold onto that as long as I could.

Rose made me feel loved. She made me feel safe. The Cullen's had given me so much already but this was something I never thought I'd get in all my years on earth. I'd be foolish to turn away from it just because it wasn't normal.

Waking up I couldn't even remember falling asleep but noticing the empty ice cream pot on my bedside table I assumed Rose had tucked me in after I'd fallen asleep. I felt well rested and noted I had no headache wich was rare for a morning after an attack.

I shuffled downstairs while wiping sleep dust from my eyes and walked into the kitchen to find my Dad and Alice in a heated argument. I wasn't sure what universe I had walked into but I seriously considering fleeing before I could be noticed. However, I walked into a kitchen chair without realising it and thus interrupted the argument and alerted the two to my presence.

"Did we wake you?" asked Dad.

"No but what's going on here?"

"Alice has just shown me what a great manipulator she is. It's a good thing I like her," said Dad.

"Huh?"

"What your Dad means is that he's agreed you've been punished enough and is lifting your grounding. Which mans you are free to join me for a treasure hunt."

"Have I entered an alternate universe?" I questioned.

"No you haven't! Now go upstairs and get dressed into something nice please. I'll make you breakfast and we can go in twenty minutes."

Alice even pushed me a little and though I looked at Dad for some help he left me high and dry, laughing as he excused himself from the kitchen. Knowing that it was useless to argue with Alice I simply ran up the stairs and hopped in the shower. I hoped she would make me a big breakfast as I was staving and not best pleased that I had to wait for food. She had said I had to dress nice but with Alice that could mean anything so I decided to just wear something comfy. I quickly threw on my pale pink acid jeans, my brown timberlands and a white top with three-quarter length purple sleeves. I packed a cream jumper in my bag in case it got cold along with a few other necessities. Alice hadn't told me to pack a bag but I felt it was worth it when dealing with her. You never knew what was going to happen when Alice was involved.

Breakfast was almost thrown at me as a plate of pancakes flew past my eyes and almost hit the floor. I was able to stop the plate just in time though I'm not entirely sure how and my hand hurt from the impact. No sooner had the last piece of pancake entered my mouth was I shooed upstairs to clean my teeth and then shooed from the house and manhandled into the front seat of Alice's car.

"Ok what's happening and where are we going?"

Alice looked a bit irritated that I wasn't just going along with things but otherwise responded to my question.

"We're going to my house and you're competing in a treasure hunt."

"Why?"

"Because it's Saturday and it'll be fun."

"Who else is competing?"

"No one, it's just you."

"Then what's the point?"

"You get to win the prize."

"What's the prize?"

"You'll find out if you reach the end of the treasure hunt."

I glared at Alice though she simply smiled in return. I hated when Alice spoke in riddles and refused to tell me what was going on. I hated walking into something blind but apparently I wasn't going to get any answers fro her and reminded myself that the Cullen's would never put me in harms way.

We arrived at the Cullen's in record time, mostly thanks to Alice's speeding and frankly I was glad when the car came to a stop. Alice it seemed, was rather impatient today and opened my car door before I'd even put my hand on the car handle.

"You're going to nail this Ella."

"If you say so," I replied.

I was doubtful about what was happening. Alice simply smiled, handed me a piece of paper, motioned to the house and then sped away using her vampire speed. Something told me this was going to be a long day. The Cullen house stood seemingly empty. It was unnerving. The paper in my hands read: 'Go through the house and into the garden, past where you posed for Jasper and to the far right corner of the garden where the trees stand close together. When you see the red string you'll be at the start of the hunt.'

Rolling my eyes at the stupid bit of paper I was inclined to do as it said. My suspicion of the house being empty was confirmed the moment I entered. I knew vampires could be quiet but I also knew with certainty that the house was empty. It was like being in an abandoned showroom. I made my way through the house quickly and was soon standing in the garden. Walking the path that the paper indicated I could almost hear Alice's laughter inside my head and wondered just what it was I was walking into. I saw the red string as I neared the trees but I rather thought it looked more like red wool than string. There was another note attached to the tree next to the string, it read: 'Here you stand at the start of your journey. Left or right nobody knows. Will you get lost or will your course stay true. Follow the string till you get to the hovel. The clue you'll find will let you know which string to follow next.'

Amused, I fingered the string as I followed the path. I was usually terrible with directions and had never ventured unaccompanied into the woods before. It would be a miracle if I didn't get lost. At least I'd been correct when I'd thought to pack a bag, I just wished I'd known more about what was going to happen and had been sensible enough to pack some food and drink. As it was I'd pack neither and apart from my jumper and first aid kit (a necessity around vampires) I didn't think what I'd packed would be much help.

I reached the end of the red string and arrived at the hovel soon enough. Perhaps this boded well for me and meant that the hunt wouldn't be as long as I first thought. Looking around I could see three different coloured strings shooting off in different parts of the woods. I assumed the note I found hidden beneath the moss in the hovel would guide me in choosing which string to follow next.

'I eat, I live, I breathe, I live, I drink, I die. What am I?'

My first thought was annoyance that the riddle wasn't as easy as I wanted to be but I tried to think of what answer could correspond with the colours I could see: red, green and yellow. Each colour stared at me, standing out between the trees like a glaringly obvious sign of which direction to head next. Frankly I didn't know how this riddle could correlate to a colour and skimming my eyes over the other two riddles, neither did they. I started to think someone was playing a trick on me with the riddles and trying to get me confused as hell was part of the game.

'I eat, I live, I breathe, I live, I drink, I die. What am I?' I muttered the verse under my breath as I tried to work out what it meant. 'Of course, it's fire!'

Fire, great. That was no help really other than fire was red. Did that mean that the red string wasn't the one to follow and that if I did follow it then it would lead me to fire? It seemed far fetched but I went with it. Moving onto the next riddle I resisted the urge to roll my eyes for this made even less sense - colour wise - than the last. I could almost picture Jasper and Emmett as being the ones to come up with the riddles and promised to slap them at the next available opportunity.

'I am a seed with three letters in my name. Take away the last two and I still sound the same. What am I? I thought about it for a moment. 'That's easy, a pea.'

What a ridiculous riddle and answer that was. I couldn't follow the green string for it would apparently lead me to peas. Really who thought of these questions? That left me in the frame of mind that it was the yellow string that I needed to follow but I decided to solve the last riddle just to make sure.

'My favourite colours are yellow and white, and I love stripes and dashed lines. What am I?'

This was perhaps the easiest for me to solve as I had seen plenty of stripes and dashed lines with Bella's sometimes crazy driving. The answer to the final riddle was 'road' and that made me certain that the yellow string was the string to follow. What else would lead me in the right direction than following a road?

I headed off with the yellow string and felt like someone was watching me. There was a childish giggle in the air and I couldn't work out if it was the wind or not.

My feet were beginning to hurt yet I couldn't have been in the forest for more than an hour at most. This yellow ribbon seemed to be going all over the place, sending me backwards and forwards and sometimes over and under string I'd already passed. I was beginning to feel like I had picked the wrong path when I finally found myself in a clearing and realised the yellow string had come to an end.

There were four pathways that I could see but each path was guarded. A Cullen stood blocking each pathway. Rose of the far left, Emmett next to her, Jasper on the first right and Alice on the furthest. I wanted to hit the smug faces off the lot of them. I had hoped the clearing would be the last of the hunt but it appeared it was still going and I was still no closer to working out what was happening.

"Anyone going to tell me what this is about?"

Though the four in front of me were silent I could hear someone coming up behind me. I turned to greet them and couldn't help but wonder what on earth Angela was doing here.

"They roped you into this as well huh?"

She smiled at me. This was infuriating. I wanted answers but I was getting none.

"You are stranded on a desert island Ella and each path represents an item you may take with you. You can only take one item as you can only take one path. Chose the wrong path and we'll meet again later on. Chose the correct path and you'll find your way to the treasure."

"You guys have really gone all out on this treasure hunt haven't you? Was your week really going that slowly?"

My sarcasm was in full force but wouldn't you be a little snarky if you were in my position?

"Each Cullen will now name an item and it is your choice what to pick," said Angela.

Right. Engage brain, I can do this.

"Your one item would be a solar electric generator," said Alice.

"Your one item would be a fire starter," said Jasper.

"Your one item would be a satellite television will all the viewing material you could want," said Emmett.

"Your one item would be a book," said Rose.

Though I pondered each answer given I had already made up my mind.

"Would I get to chose the book?"

Angela and Rose shared a glance before Rose nodded her head.

"If I was stranded on a desert island my one item would be a book."

"What book would you chose?" asked Angela.

"How to build a raft."

Emmett laughed at my answer and his laughter was infectious. Soon we were all sharing a giggle.

Rose stepped away from the path she was blocking.

"You may proceed," she said.

It was a little unnerving to walk from the clearing knowing that five pairs of eyes were following me but I tried to walk like I had no fear in my heart. There was no string to follow this time but the path was very clear. I'd have to be an idiot to get lost on it. The path changed direction many times giving me no clue as to where I was going. I knew however, when I was coming to the end of the hunt because I started to hear music and I could see sparkling lights appearing from ahead.

It seemed I had reached the end of the treasure hunt but I couldn't understand what my prize was. It was like someone had recreated a bed fort outside. Blankets lined the forest floor, twinkling lights hung from trees and a canopy of white sheets hung from above. There was an old record player perched atop a wooden table that played the comforting notes of Glenn Miller's 'Moonlight Serenade.' How they knew that was my favourite song was beyond me. There was food laid out on a table next to some beanbag style chairs. On a log table there were two champagne glasses but no signs of a drink or another person.

I wasn't one for big gestures but could feel myself being very touched by this.

Someone had come up behind me but I didn't realise this until hands were placed on the tops of my arms and I jumped in fright. My heart was beating wildly but I was too anxious to turn around and see who it was. I kept reminding myself that the Cullen's wouldn't harm me. Despite what I felt, I knew I wasn't in any danger.

There was movement near my ear and again I was startled.

"I see you finally found me. Are you pleased with your treasure?"

"Edward?" I whispered.

I was spun in the hands that had captured me till I was staring up at his beautiful face.

"You're my treasure? I don't understand."

He smiled and I felt like I had melted.

"I had to do something drastic to let you know how I felt. You wouldn't give me a chance to explain."

"Edward we shouldn't."

"Zip that mouth and listen to me."

Ashamed of my behaviour I did as Edward asked. I couldn't believe how hard my heart was beating against my ribcage. Had everyone really come together to get this outcome? Did no one understand my reluctance?

"Do you see this?" he asked.

I looked down at his left wrist and to where he was pointing. I wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't pointed it out. It just looked like he'd drawn a small plus sign on the inside of his wrist. What was special about that?

"I see it but I don't understand why that's important."

"This mark appears on a vampires skin when they find the one they'll be with forever more. It's not pen, it's not a tattoo but it is permanent."

Again I didn't know what this meant for me. Why was he telling me that he'd met his mate? Didn't he realise how strongly I cared for him?

"When the mark appears on a vampires skin it means they've come in contact with their one. It also means the mark will appear on the inside of the right wrist of their destined partner."

"You're telling me you've found your match? Is it someone we know?"

"I feel like you're being deliberately stupid Ella. Have you never looked at your own wrists?"

Frustrated with how things were going I just wanted him to tell me who his mate was so I could get through my heartbreak and move on with my life. I was irritated with his remark about my stupidity but I checked my wrists regardless. Imagine my surprise when I found a little plus sign on the inside of my right wrist. Honestly I think my heart stopped and my brain fought for an answer that denied the truth. It couldn't be could it, all this fanfare for this answer? Was I now going to deny the answer that I had wanted all along? How could they all conspire to draw this out when they knew how I felt about Edward. Suddenly I was angry at the other players in this game. It never dawned on me that they had tried to tell me yet I hadn't listened because I was too focused on having feelings for Edward in the first place.

"You wouldn't have listened. You didn't listen when we tried to tell you," said Edward as he answered my unsaid thoughts.

"We're meant for each other?" I asked.

"Without being completely cheesy, yes. I did try to tell you Ella."

"When?"

"When we kissed but you ran before I could explain."

"Oh."

"I'm not saying this will be easy because it won't."

"I'm human," I said stating the obvious.

"Yes."

"I'd like to stay human for the time being."

Edward smiled, "of course."

He looked relieved by what I'd said.

"So you and me huh?"

"You and me," he said.

He leaned in to kiss me but I pulled away.

"You know I've been walking for ages and I'm awfully hungry. Just look at all this food just begging to be eaten."

Though I'd moved from his embrace I didn't get very far before I was back in his arms and with a growl he kissed me with all his worth. I couldn't help but think this had been a pretty special treasure hunt after all.

Up Next: Chapter Twenty - Banking on Him

I'm striving for a completely unique Edward pairing. I'm also trying to stay away from many of the usual clichés. This story has already become more than what I thought it would be. I have the overall plan mapped out in my head but keep adding new bits. I don't know how long it will be. Originally I was going to post everything in one story but depending on where I finish book one I might have to separate the complete story into parts. I don't know yet. Thanks for sticking with me, I'm so happy that people are reading this. Any questions let me know ~Hannah

P.S. The riddles are supposed to be completely random and ridiculous. Emmett was responsible for them!