Chapter 7

I shot up in bed like the bullet out a gun. My breathing was ragged and I was panting heavily.

Had it all been dream?

I broke down into quiet tears, wrapping my arms around myself as I fought for breath. After finding no comfort, I settled for rocking myself back and forth like a small child, willing my depression to leave.

I heard the door creak open and soft thuds carry themselves over to my fragile form. Charlie.

He had probably been woken up by my not-so-quiet-anymore sobs. Hopefully I could make it up to him in the morn–

Wait. The hands that wiped my hair away from my wet cheeks were gentle and definitely feminine. As was the arm that curled around my shaking shoulders and pulled me to an equally female chest.

Peaking up out of my lashes, I saw one of the figures from my dream. But if she's here then it had to have been real…

"Shhh, it's okay," Phoebe cooed, "it was just a dream."

I let out a breathy laugh.

"No," I shook my head, "it wasn't. You're here." I smiled as brightly as I could, and as she realised what I meant, she gave me a beautiful one in return.

"Yeah, sweetie, I'm here. And so are Paige and Piper; and we're going to protect you for however long is needed. That's a promise."

I woke for the second time that morning to sunlight filtering through the curtains of the Halliwell Manor's guestroom. Piper had signed it to me yesterday after they had explained everything to me; I had expressed my worry about Charlie and they had called to inform him that I was 'staying round a friend's house' for the rest of the weekend.

Today was Sunday, meaning that I would have to go back home. I wasn't looking forward to it. During the miniscule time that I had been here, I had grown to love it; the magic, the sisters, the freedom.

The four of us had talked for hours yesterday. Mostly about being a witch and what that life entails. I have to say, I was intrigued. It sounded like so much fun! Minus the fact that demons and warlocks would be trying to kill me nearly every week.

I had even asked them about the whole 'mini-earthquake' thing and they looked a bit shocked but told me that it was probably just me coming into my powers. I spent some of the day exploring the Manor; it's huge! They have loads of family pictures too – I looked at them for ages.

Surprisingly, I had yet to meet the neurotic whitelighter from the future, Chris Perry. The sisters were wary of him, that much was obvious, but I could tell that he wasn't all bad if he had come to save Wyatt from turning evil.

Speaking of that little guy, he is so cute! Definitely takes after his mummy and daddy. Leo is cool too, I met him after he orbed in unexpectedly. Scared the life out of me, but I calmed down in the end.

"Bella! Come down for breakfast!" I heard Piper call from the kitchen.

She's really nice, very motherly – the result of being both a mum and the oldest sister. They'd told me about Prue as well. Not much, coz it was still a sensitive subject for them, just the basics like how she died, what her power was, what she was like, and other witch-related stuff. She sounds awesome. Too bad I won't get to meet her…

"Bella," a soft voice said from the doorway. I looked up to see Phoebe.

After her empathy power told her that I was feeling beyond upset and she had come to check on me, we had become closer. We stayed up for about two hours before going to bed again.

I smiled at her and followed her down the stairs. When we entered the kitchen I saw Piper feeding Wyatt in his chair. I got to admit, the toddler has grown on me. He was grinning adorably so I grinned back.

Paige was also there, sitting at the table as she ate her breakfast. I sat down across from her and we started talking. She was really nice, and I felt safer near her knowing that she was my current whitelighter and was there to help me.

"Hey, Phoebs," Piper looked at her. "You still upset over Jason?"

"Ugh, I don't even want to talk about it." She crossed her arms on the table and put her head in them.

"Speaking of guys," said Paige, as she got up, "I'm going to go call Richard."

"I thought you couldn't get in contact with him," Phoebe commented.

"Yeah, well, it's worth a shot," Paige half-smiled and left, mobile in hand.

The rest of us carried on eating, talking about everyday things, but were interrupted when my own mobile rang. I glanced at the screen and saw Charlie's name. Excusing myself from the table, I walked out into the hall for some privacy.

"Hey, Dad," I greeted him.

"Hi, Bells. Just wondering when you were thinking of coming home."

"Oh, right. Well, I'm having a blast here so it might be late. Don't worry though; I'll be back on time for bed. I know that you hate me going to school when I've had no sleep."

"Bella," I heard him chuckle, "do you know what the date even is?"

"Uh, of course I do."

"You sure, honey?"

Panicking, I quickly tried to remember when his birthday was – not even close to now. And both Renee and Phil's have been and gone.

"Yeah," I replied in the end, "I pretty sure. Why?"

"Bells, you have a week's break before you finish your junior year."

"Really?" I choked out, shocked that I hadn't realised.

"Would I lie to you?"

"Hmm… I don't know, I'm gonna have to think about that," I joked.

"Hardy har, har," he said sarcastically, but I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Well," I got serious again, "considering that there's no school; do you think I could stay round here for a few more days?"

I crossed my fingers and squeezed my eyes shut as there was a long silence.

"I guess so," came the rough response.

"Thanks, Dad!" I almost squealed in excitement.

"Now, hold on, Bella. You might want to ask your friend's parents first."

What I wanted to say is: 'My friend's parents? Uh, I think one of them is a parent – not to mention that their parents are dead.'

But instead, I just replied with: "Okay, I'll go ask now."

Holding the mobile tight against my shirt, I near ran into the kitchen and explained the situation in a rush.

"Sure, Bella," Piper accepted. "I'm fine with you staying here as long as you want."

"Yeah," intercepted Phoebe, "I like having you around. Plus, it is safer for you seeing as your Paige's charge and all."

"Thanks," I smiled at them both and then ran back to the hall.

"They said it was fine," I told Charlie once I was alone.

"All right then, Bells. I'll see you whenever you come back; you – please – call me everyday."

"Of course, Dad." I grinned to myself. "I wouldn't expect anything different."

I was sitting on the couch in the Manor, reading through the Book of Shadows which Phoebe suggested I should research. No one was home; Piper and Wyatt were at his nursery, Paige was trying to find Richard, Leo was God knows where, and Phoebe had left to visit the magical herb store quickly. Apparently, the Charmed Ones were fresh out of some ingredient that I couldn't, for the life of me, pronounce.

I heard some tinkling noise, like wind chimes, coming from the other room. It reminded me of when Paige orbed to save me from Victoria. Absentmindedly, I shuddered at the thought of the redheaded vampire, and got up from the couch.

Placing the Book carefully on the coffee table, I went to investigate the noise.

Standing in the kitchen, searching through some cupboards, was a tall man. He was facing away from me, so all I could see was that he had brown hair and a few muscles – kind of like Jasper… No, wait! No thinking about the Cullen's, Bella!

And just as I was scolding myself, the man turned around. Plain brown eyes met a pair of stunning green, and all I could think was, CRAP! I look terrible!