A/N Twilight is the property of Stephanie Meyer. Anya Simms is all mine.

Chapter 21 – The Van

JPOV

Tues Jan 25th/05

It was Tuesday morning, and I was leaning against the Volvo in the school parking lot, watching as students filed into the building, laughing and chatting without a care in the world. My eyes drifted to Eddie Boy, who was standing a few spaces away, his face set in that all-too-familiar brooding expression. He'd only just returned from his midnight flit to Alaska, early yesterday, and he was all tension.

Anya had been on my mind all weekend. Our conversation from Friday kept replaying in my head, her voice—sometimes playful, sometimes serious—still echoing in my thoughts. I'd been tempted to press her about what was coming, about "the playbook" but I knew better. Anya was careful, and firmly set boundaries in place for a reason I wasn't too sure I understood but a part of me had faith that she knew what she was doing Still, I could tell from all what she had left unsaid that whatever it was, it had her worried, and that made me uneasy.

I was also annoyed about how she insisted on keeping me at arm's length until her Aunt Flo left. When I went to question her what she meant by that she merely muttered 'special kind of stupid' and then I realized – oh. Right. Menstruation. She did know that that wasn't a kink of mine, right? She was at school on Monday but when I saw her arrive and walk up the main steps, she gave a subtle shake of her head and Alice whispered "Give her another day, Jazz. She's just being cautious, kay?"

I didn't want a nibble, again, not my kink.

The sound of screeching tires pulled me out of my thoughts, and I turned just in time to see Tyler Crowley's van skidding out of control across the icy pavement. Time seemed to slow as the van careened toward Bella Swan, who was frozen in place, wide-eyed and terrified. And then, in a blur of movement, Edward was there.

I watched as he lunged toward Bella, his hand slamming into the side of the van, stopping it just inches from her body. The metal crumpled under the force of his grip, the sound of it groaning under pressure reverberating through the air. Bella's expression was a mix of shock and confusion as she stared up at Edward, who was breathing heavily, his eyes wild.

What the hell? Are you fucking kidding me?

Stunned silence, followed by noise and people running and screaming towards Eddie Boy and the Duck trying to figure out what the hell they'd just seen.

But I wasn't focused on the pandemonium. My mind was elsewhere, replaying Anya's words from Friday night. There are things coming. Things that are going to test everyone. She hadn't been wrong. But shit were her words an understatement. Fucker had just made a choice that could unravel everything we'd worked to keep hidden.

Damnit Anya!She'd known this was coming. Or at least, she'd had a pretty good idea. And instead of warning me outright, she'd let me figure it out in real-time, knowing that anything more might've influenced my actions—or Edward's.

I kept my distance, letting the scene play out as teachers began to usher students away, trying to contain the situation. My eyes locked on my brother, who was now arguing quietly with Bella, trying to convince her that what she'd seen wasn't what it seemed. But Bella wasn't backing down, her confusion giving way to a stubborn determination.

So, this is how it starts, I thought, a mix of resignation and curiosity settling over me. Eddie boy was drawn to Bella, but now... now things were going to get complicated. And I had no doubt Anya was watching this unfold in her own way, probably with that knowing smile of hers. I pulled out my phone, half-expecting a text from Anya, some playful remark about how the playbook was going according to plan. But there was nothing. Just silence.

I slipped the phone back into my pocket, glancing one last time at Edward and Bella before slipping into the driver's seat. I would be ditching school today. No thanks to that fucker and his split-second decision-making skills.

The drive to the hospital was tense. Edward was in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead, jaw clenched. The rest of us—Alice, Emmett, Rosalie and I—exchanged glances, but no one said a word. Edward had made his move, and now we were all left to deal with the fallout.

I kept my thoughts guarded, knowing Edward would be listening in for any hint of judgment or concern. But it was hard to keep everything locked down, especially when my mind kept drifting back to Anya. She'd known something was coming, and now that it had, I couldn't help but wonder what else she might be keeping to herself.

You should've told me, I thought, half-hoping Edward would catch it, but there was nothing from him—just that brooding silence.

Great, the one time I want you in my head and you're too wrapped up in how you exposed the family. Fucker.

We pulled up to the hospital, and Carlisle was already outside waiting, his expression composed. Filing out of the car, Eddie boy immediately went to him, speaking in low, urgent tones. Carlisle listened, nodding, before glancing over at me and the others.

Alice moved to Edward's side, her face a mask of calm. "Bella's not backing down," she said quietly. "She's already asking questions."

Edward let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I'm aware. I'll handle it."

Handle it. I almost snorted at the thought. Edward was many things, but subtle wasn't one of them. This situation was already spiraling, and his tension was mingled with unease and frustration. Great...just what we need.

We followed Carlisle inside, and I kept my thoughts focused, trying to piece together the situation while keeping Edward from picking up on too much. But even with my best efforts, I knew he was catching snippets—little flashes of my conversations with Anya, her warnings, her playful hints that something big was coming.

"Jasper," Edward said suddenly, his voice low but sharp. "What are you thinking?"

I met his gaze, keeping my expression neutral. "Just trying to make sense of this. You made a choice, and now we're dealing with it."

His eyes narrowed slightly, searching my face for any sign of doubt or reproach. "And what did Anya say?"

Well, she said a lot of things I thought. But I doubt Eddie boy wanted to know about Aunt Flo. "Not much," I said, careful to keep my tone even. "Just that things were going to get complicated. And she wasn't wrong."

Edward's eyes flashed with something—irritation, maybe, or frustration at being left out what he no doubt thought were important conversations. But before he could press further, Carlisle spoke up, his voice calm and authoritative. "We need to focus on the immediate situation," he said, glancing between us. "Edward, I'll handle Bella's medical examination. The rest of you, try to keep a low profile. We can't afford to draw any more attention to ourselves."

Edward gave a curt nod, clearly still on edge, but he didn't argue. He followed Carlisle into the examination room, leaving the rest of us standing in the hallway.

Alice moved closer to me, her eyes searching mine. "What are you going to do, Jazz?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "About Anya or about Bella? No fucking clue. I could..." What would I do? Typically, in a situation like this, the family exposed it was my job to clean up the mess. But the way Edward had exposed us so publicly I didn't want to. I didn't want him to fuck with my ability to spend time with Anya. I needed a different plan.

Rosalie startled me from my thoughts when she hissed, "The girl hit her head today. So maybe that injury turns out to be more serious than it looked. Every mortal goes to sleep with the chance of never waking up."

Are you fucking kidding me? I turned to my sister and hissed back, "Seriously? You planning on volunteering to be executioner?"

Rosalie wasn't about to back down on this, "Yeah Jazz, it's bad enough Anya knows about us, but Bella? This insignificant human girl? Gimme one good reason why I shouldn't?"

I started at her and all I could feel from her was jealousy. Rosalie was jealous. Oh, for fucks sakes, seventy years on and she's still pissed off that Edward never found her attractive. You have got to be shitting me.

Thankfully Alice came to my rescue and quietly shared that she saw Bella joining our family. Rosalie didn't like the sound of that at which point her husband felt it best to remove her from the hospital before she exposed us any further than Edward did.

Damn this day sucked. And all Anya had to say is that things were coming, and it would test everyone. Understatement if there ever was one.

With just Alice and I in the hall, Alice brought me back to the original question of what I was going to do and softly reminded me, "Just be careful, okay? Anya's... she's different. I can't see her clearly, but I can tell she's important."

"I know," I replied, my voice low. "Believe me, I know." That emotional cocktail was so addictive and knowing she wanted more from me. Well, who am I to discourage that? Although Rosalie committing murder might put a damper on that.

The minutes ticked by slowly as we waited in the hallway. Emmett eventually returned, without Rosalie, having dropped her off at home and tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but it fell flat, his usual bravado dampened by the seriousness of the situation.

Finally, Eddie Boy emerged from the examination room, his expression grim but composed. "She's fine," he said, his voice tight. "A few bruises, but nothing serious."

"Did she buy your explanation?" Emmett asked, leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets.

Edward hesitated, his eyes flicking to me for a split second before he responded. "For now. But she's not satisfied. She knows something's off, and she's not going to let it go."

Of course, she won't, I thought, trying to keep my frustration at bay. Bella was stubborn. It didn't take an empath or a mind reader to figure that out.

We made our way out of the hospital, heading back to the car in silence. Edward was still brooding, his thoughts a tangled mess that I could sense even without trying. And through it all, I kept thinking about Anya—about how she'd been right, about how much she seemed to know, and about what might come next. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.

And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Anya and I were going to have to figure this out together, no matter how complicated it got.

Is it wrong of me to like that idea? To want to spend more time with her?

By the time I arrived at Anya's house, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting Forks in that familiar, heavy darkness. I paused at my favourite oak tree, taking a moment to gather my thoughts. Her house was lit from within, a warm glow spilling through the windows. I could sense her inside, a mix of anticipation and something else—resignation, maybe—hovering in the air.

I approached the front door, taking a deep unnecessary breath before knocking softly. I didn't have to wait long. The door swung open, and there she was, standing in the doorway with an expression that told me she had been expecting this visit all along. Dressed in jeans, a Guns 'N Roses t-shirt this time and her hair up with chopsticks. Barefoot too. Do her feet never get cold?

"Hey, Tex," she said, her voice calm, almost too calm. "Come on in."

I stepped inside, the warmth of the house immediately wrapping around me. She led the way to her home office, her steps quiet on the hardwood floor. I followed, closing the door behind me as we entered the room. Her MP3 player was on the corner of the desk, the faint sounds of music still playing through the earbuds. She settled into her chair, giving me a pointed look as she lightly tapped her fingers across the polished mahogany of her desk. "So," she began, her tone laced with knowing, "I take it you want to talk about today?"

I leaned against the edge of the desk, my fingers itching to reach out and touch hers. "Yeah. I do."

Anya sighed, running a hand through her hair, the chopsticks falling out and she placed them on the desk. "I figured. Your siblings' conspicuous absence from school along with a few other members of the study body was a dead giveaway. You know I'll have to give them detention for this, right? Or is Carlisle going to expect me to let this slide?"

I studied her for a moment, trying to read her expression, but as usual, she was hard to pin down. "You knew this was coming," I said quietly, ignoring her question, offering a statement of my own.

She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the papers on her desk. "In a way, yeah. I didn't remember the specifics, but I knew things were about to reveal themselves as it were."

"Reveal themselves is an understatement," I muttered, the frustration from earlier still lingering. "Edward's put us all in a difficult position, and I can't help but think you knew something like this would happen."

Anya looked up at me, her eyes meeting mine with a mix of seriousness and something softer, something that made me want to trust her despite everything. "I knew things would escalate," she admitted. "But I didn't want to interfere too much. This is your world, Jasper. Your reality. I'm just... the casual reader, not an editor."

"And what about the playbook?" I asked, my voice quieter now, more curious than accusatory. "How much of this do you already know?"

Anya arched an eyebrow, her tone probing as she responded, "Jasper, you truly are that special kind of stupid. What did I tell your family at lunch?"

Her words were pointed, but not unkind, like she expected me to fill in the blanks without her spelling it out. I closed my eyes, thinking back to that lunch, to the way she'd spoken so carefully, almost playfully, about books.

Books. Series. Shit. It hit me then—this wasn't just one playbook. There was a whole series. I opened my eyes, staring at her as the realization sank in. "How long does this go on?"

Anya shrugged; her expression thoughtful but tinged with something that looked like weariness. "Four in total, over two years," she said. "But I only read the first two and a half."

I stared at her, the weight of that answer settling over me. Two years. That was a long time to be dealing with whatever this world had in store for us. Does that mean Rosalie doesn't go on a murderous rampage? And even then, she hadn't made it through the entire series. "So... there's a lot you don't know?"

"Plenty," she admitted, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "I never finished it, so I don't know how everything ends. But I know enough to understand the general trajectory—and that it's not going to be easy."

I let out a slow breath, trying to wrap my head around the implications. "And what happens next? What about that half of the third book you didn't finish? Or, even the final book?"

Her gaze flickered with something—a mix of uncertainty and truthfulness. "That's where things get really messy. But I don't know all the details, just the broad strokes." She paused and silently mouthed "Frankly it was a little boring". Louder, "And I'm not sure how much I should share... or how much you want to know."

I want to know everything! So, we can prepare! I kept that to myself and instead nodded slowly, absorbing her words. The idea of living through a story already written, with only fragments of information to guide us, was daunting. But Anya had been honest with me, as much as she could be. Although her unspoken comment about things being boring I wasn't sure how to interpret. I suppose that's one way to interpret Edward. The fucker was annoying at times. And it eased my mind that Rosalie wouldn't follow through on her threat to kill The Duck – she was known for her theatrics. And there was also the fact I didn't want to manipulate Anya's emotions and have her tell me everything she knew. It felt deceitful. And while Anya might be not sharing everything she knew, she wasn't deceitful or malicious. If anything, she seemed morally conflicted which I found weirdly admirable. Not many humans are.

"Four books," I eventually repeated, more to myself than to her. "We're in for a ride, aren't we?"

Anya looked at me, rising from her chair and I could feel it—the mirth rippling through her, the way she was trying to suppress a laugh.

"Anya!" I said, half-exasperated, half-amused. "What now?"

She stepped closer, and before I could react, she gently placed her hands on my arms—the first time she'd ever been bold enough to touch me. The warmth of her hands seeped through my jacket and shirt, startled me slightly. She looked me square in the face, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and said, "Well, there's also the movies."

I blinked, trying to process what she'd just said, the absurdity of it catching me off guard. "Movies?" I managed, my mind racing to catch up with this new revelation.

But before I could grasp what she meant—or how to respond—Anya leaned in and kissed me.

It was sudden, unexpected, and completely disarming. Her lips were soft, warm against mine, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to stop. All the tension, the uncertainty, the worry—it all melted away in that single, electrifying moment.

I didn't know how to react, only that every nerve in my body was alive with the sensation of her touch, her kiss. My hands instinctively moved to her waist, pulling her closer as I deepened the kiss, letting myself get lost in the feeling of her against me.

When she finally pulled back, breathless, the room feeling suddenly too small, too close. Anya looked up at me, her eyes bright and full of something that made my chest tighten.

"Well," she said softly, teasingly, "I guess that's one way to distract you from the playbook."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You have a unique way of making your point, Anya."

She didn't laugh or pull away. Instead, she continued to look at me, her eyes searching mine as her hands slowly ran up my arms, as if she was marveling at something she hadn't quite figured out yet. Her touch was gentle, almost reverent, and despite the stillness of my body, it sent a frisson of excitement through me—a sensation I hadn't felt in a long time.

"Let's just say," she began, her voice soft but teasing, "your creator did have a few moments of spice scattered in the brooding. And like I said, Team Jasper to the end."

Spice being code for sex? She fantasized about having sex with me? In spite of these wildly divergent thoughts, her words struck a chord. The way she said it—as if she was truly choosing me, despite everything—made something stir in the core of my being. I reached up, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, my hand lingering there as I looked at her. God she's beautiful. Skin so soft.

"Team Jasper, huh?" I drawled softly, "I'm beginning to like the sound of that."

Anya's smile widened, and I could feel her familiar baseline swirling with mischief. "Good. Because I mean it, Tex."

I leaned in, pressing my forehead against hers, the closeness between us feeling right in a way I hadn't expected. "And I'm starting to think I might be Team Anya," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. God, she's perfect.

Her smile softened, her hands moving to rest on my shoulders as she looked up at me. "I think I can live with that."

With that, she quickly leaned in and kissed me again—brief but full of warmth—before pulling back and smacking me lightly on the arm. "Now shoo, before I cave and have my wicked way with you."

Oh, darlin' any time! I chuckled, my hands resting softly on her waist. But then her expression shifted, growing more serious as she looked into my eyes. "Go home, Jasper. You're needed there."

She wasn't wrong. There was a shitstorm waiting for me at home. And for once, I wasn't the cause of it.

"Alright," I said, my voice soft as I stepped back, giving her a final look. "But don't think this is over, Anya."

She smiled again, before playfully telling me, "I know, Tex. Now get going."

With a final glance, I turned and headed for the door, the warmth of her kiss still lingering on my lips. The run back to the house was quiet, the night air cool against my skin as I raced through the trees. My mind was still reeling from what had just happened at Anya's—she kissed me—twice. The memory of it lingered, warm and electric, and her emotions were beginning to leak out attraction. Her emotional cocktail was simply getting better and the buzz – shit, I really didn't want to come home. And the closer I got to the house, the more the reality of the situation crept back in. Edward's actions today had set things in motion, and I knew that by now, the rest of the family would be discussing the fallout. As much as I wanted to hold onto the warmth of Anya's kiss, I had to focus on what was coming next.

Fucker. I knew he'd mess this up for me. She did say she wanted to have her wicked away with me. And what did she mean about spice between the brooding? Is it code for sex? Does Eddie boy have SEX?

Shit thanks Anya, that image is burned into my brain!

I paused at the end of the drive, looking up at the house and mentally prepared myself for this. I shook out any images of Eddie boy finally becoming a man. Ugh. The moment I stepped through the door, I could sense the tension in the air—a heavy, palpable weight that settled over everything. Edward was pacing in the living room, frustration etched into every line of his face. Alice was perched on the arm of the couch, her expression distant, a tell-tale sign she was lost in her visions, while Emmett and Rosalie stood nearby, their conversation halting the moment I walked in.

"Jazz man," Emmett called out, his voice breaking the silence. "How's our favourite truth-teller?" He shot me a grin, clearly referring to Anya, who'd managed to win him over with her no-nonsense attitude during that lunch with the family.

I gave a slight shrug, trying to keep things light. "She's... Anya," I replied. Warm, full bodied and smells delicious.

Edward's gaze snapped to mine, his frustration morphing into a sharp curiosity. He was catching snippets of my thoughts, of my evening with Anya. But I was careful, keeping my mind focused on the here and now. There were bigger issues at play—like the fact that Bella wasn't the only human who knew our secret.

Carlisle entered the living room at that moment and cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "We need to discuss what happened today," he began, his voice calm but serious. "Edward's actions have put us in a difficult position, and we need to decide how to move forward."

No shit Sherlock. As if we didn't know that the moment Eddie boy stepped between Bella and the van.

I felt the annoyance prickling under my skin, sharper than usual. My brother's frustration palpable – I could feel the conflicting emotions rolling off of him—the fear, the guilt, the confusion. No doubt all of those emotions were ricocheting in his brain as he cycled through Bella, Anya and the risk he put all of us in when he decided to play hero. Yeah, I'm confused by that one as well, never seen Eddie Boy actively saving a human. That was more Carlisle's department.

"We can't ignore that Bella's asking questions," Alice said, her voice calm but serious. "She's not going to let this go easily."

"Neither would Anya," Emmett said, folding his arms and leaning against the wall. "She's not afraid to tell it like it is. We've got two humans in the mix now, and one of them thinks we're fictional characters in some book series."

I shot Emmett a glare. "Yes, she thinks that" I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "But she also knows that we don't see ourselves as fictional characters—that we are, well... real. And this is our life."

I paused, realizing the irony. Life. Existence. Whatever. A life I wasn't living right now because all I could think about was Anya. All I wanted was to be alone with the memory of those sweet kisses, replaying it over and over, not dealing with this mess. Instead, I had to be here, mediating between Edward's guilt trip and Anya's enigmatic warnings. The frustration welled up in me, and I ran a hand through my hair, trying to keep my emotions in check.

"Anya is careful about what she shares," I said, my voice tightening with irritation. "She's careful about what she knows. But she's made it clear that we need to act as if she's not here. That this is our world, our reality."

The family all looked at me as if I had two heads.

Fuck, why couldn't they understand that? Why couldn't they just leave Anya out of this and let her do her own thing? She was so damn careful.

My fingers twitched with the urge to break something, to release some of the tension building inside me. I glanced at Alice, hoping she'd catch the desperate plea in my eyes. She understood the burden of knowing more than you could say. Maybe she could get through to Fucker and make him see sense. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, there was a flicker of understanding. She nodded, a small, almost imperceptible gesture that said she got it. Thank God – I needed an ally in this as Fucker continued his downward spiral seething with the need for answers, with the need to control everything slipping out of his hands.

"Look," I said, a bite of impatience slipping into my voice. "Anya's not here to meddle. She's here to observe, to see how this all plays out. She respects that we're living this. She's a reader, not an editor. And if she doesn't want to interfere, then that's her choice."

Edward's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. To be doubly certain I shot out some compliance his way. I needed him to leave Anya alone. If I can learn to live with Anya not sharing all that she knows than so, can he.

Carlisle nodded, his calm, decisive tone cutting through the tension. "We'll respect her boundaries," he said, "but that doesn't change the fact that Bella's curiosity is growing. We need to be prepared for what she may do or ask."

Rosalie never brought up killing Bella so that was a relief.

We also never came up with a proactive solution beyond "wait and see". I couldn't help but think that perhaps my creator wasn't a military genius because that's a shit plan. Shitty, shitty, shitty. Maybe that's why I didn't get much of a backstory, they knew nothing about war.

When I finally headed to my room, the events of the day still weighed heavily on my mind. Anya had kissed me, had told me to go home because I was needed here. And she was right—there was work to be done, decisions to be made. Which apparently was 'wait and see' which honestly could have been done without me being present.

I was lost in thought when I heard the soft knock at my door. Alice stepped in without waiting for an invitation, her gaze meeting mine with a knowing look. She didn't say anything, just tilted her head slightly toward the window, the silent suggestion clear: Let's go for a hunt.

She didn't need to ask me twice, grateful for the chance to clear my head and get some distance from the house—and from Eddie boy's relentless brooding. We slipped out into the night, moving swiftly through the trees, the cool air rushing past us as we put miles between ourselves and home.

Once we were far enough away, Alice slowed her pace, coming to a stop in a small clearing. She turned to face me, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "So," she began, her voice light with amusement, "you want to tell me about Anya kissing you?"

I shot her a look, but there was no real annoyance behind it. "You saw that, did you?"

Alice laughed softly, the sound melodic in the stillness of the forest. "Didn't need to. I could tell something was different the moment you walked into the house. You were... lighter, somehow. And that's not something I see often with you."

I let out a breath I didn't need, running a hand through my hair. "She surprised me," I admitted. "I wasn't expecting it."

Alice's smile softened, a hint of something more serious in her expression. "It's not just the kiss that's got you tied up in knots, though, is it? It's everything else—what she knows, what she's not telling you."

I nodded, knowing she could see right through me. "Yeah. She's careful, but I can't help wondering what else she's holding back. She's giving us space to make our own choices, but... it's hard not to think about what she's not saying."

Alice moved closer, her gaze steady and understanding. "You're right to be cautious, Jazz. But you also need to trust her. She's here for a reason, and I don't think it's to steer us wrong. Despite what Edward might believe."

There was a moment of silence between us. Alice was right—Anya had been nothing but honest with us, as much as she could be. But there was still that nagging feeling that I was missing something crucial.

"So," Alice said, her tone shifting back to teasing, "how was it?"

I paused, taken off guard by the sudden change in her tone. "How was what?"

She grinned, nudging me playfully. "The kiss, Jazz. How was the kiss?"

I couldn't help but laugh, the sound low and a little sheepish. "It was... unexpected. But not unwelcome."

Alice arched an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this. "You sure you're not falling for this one?"

I hesitated for a moment, then let out a soft breath. "Anya said she's 'Team Jasper' to the end."

"Team Jasper?"

I gave a slight nod, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "She talked about how fans of the books are divided into different camps. There's Team Edward... and, well, she refused to say who the other team is, but she said she's in a very small minority of Team Jasper."

Alice's eyes sparkled with amusement, but there was something more—something almost tender—in the way she looked at me. "So, she's been on your side from the start, huh?"

"Yeah," I said quietly, the weight of those words sinking in. "Even before she met any of us, she was rooting for me. For... the possibility of us."

Alice nodded thoughtfully, "That's... kind of amazing, actually. It means she sees something in you that a lot of people overlook."

"Maybe," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "But it's strange, you know? To think that someone out there—someone real—was rooting for me a fictional character – all along."

Alice gave me a warm smile, her hand reaching out to gently squeeze my arm. "Jasper, you're just as real as Anya is. And you deserve to have someone in your corner, which by the sounds of things, is exactly what Anya is."

I looked at her, thankful for her honesty. "She is. But it's still hard to wrap my head around it, knowing how much she already knows... about everything."

"She's here for you," Alice said softly, her tone reassuring. "And she's not going anywhere. Maybe it's time you started believing that."

I nodded, feeling the tension easy out of my body. "Maybe you're right."

Alice's smile widened, her usual playfulness returning. "Of course, I'm right. Now, let's go hunt before I start thinking about who that other team might be." She gave me a teasing wink.

I chuckled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Let's go."