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YOU WOULD THINK THAT Magnolia was walking around naked with how many people were staring at her as she walked down the school hallways. Of course, rumours had spread about how the Cullens returned and Bella and her involvement. Their trip to Italy didn't go unnoticed and Magnolia found herself, hood up and head down, avoiding the eyes of all the staring students.

She sighed as she reached her locker, where Elton was waiting for her. He didn't mind the stares, he had gotten used to them a long time ago. "Morning," She mumbled as she fumbled with her lock.

"Sleep well?" He asked casually. He could see how terrible she looked — purple bags under her eyes, skin pale and sickly looking. She looked up at him and glared. Elton nodded. "I was just asking, Maggie. Your dad is really working you to the bone, huh?"

"You have no idea," Magnolia groaned as she pulled a math textbook from her locker. "I feel like a prisoner." She stuffed the book angrily into her backpack.

Elton frowned. "But it's just until graduation, right?" He jumped as she loudly slammed the locker shut. She paused, shoulders heaving.

"Sorry," She apologized softly. "Yes. I'm free after graduation. But that doesn't make this any better," She rubbed a tired hand down her face. "He's giving me a break for the weekend, so I will be sleeping like a bear the entire time."

Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, Elton pulled her into his side and began walking. "You earned that," He smiled down at her. "All this work will be worth it in the end."

Magnolia shook her head. She knew he was right, but it didn't make her feel any better. And the hardest part about it all was that she couldn't tell Elton the entire truth. Sure, she could talk to Bella, but after Volterra, something was off with them. "What class do you have?" She asked quietly, glancing around the hall.

Elton groaned. "Gym. The bane of my existence." Their walking slowed as the hallway crammed full of students. Shoulder to shoulder, students shoved their way through.

"Have fun," She snickered. "I got Chem. See you at lunch?" Elton nodded. They hugged just as the bell rang and headed their separate ways.

Some good changes came in the new semester. Elton sat comfortably with Magnolia at the lunch table with Eric, Mike, Angela, and Jessica. "Stop! That's dumb, Mike," Jessica whined as Mike continued to throw idea after idea for the girls' valedictorian speech.

Mike shook his head. "Come on! That was great!"

Magnolia snorted as she took a bite of pasta. She shot Elton a wide grin, which he easily returned. She was glad he was enjoying himself with new friends. "Hey! Just in time!" Eric smiled wide as Edward and Bella walked up to the table. Bella smiled as she sat next to Magnolia, squeezing her arm gently.

"Okay, okay, how about this?" Mike looked back up from his notepad. "My fellow students — Good, right? — we are the future. Anything is possible if you just believe. Blah blah blah!" He tossed his pen at Jessica. "And you got yourself a speech!"

The girl rolled her eyes. "Cute. No, this'll be my speech when I want everyone to throw diplomas at my head."

Magnolia couldn't help her laugh. "Harsh, Jess." Mike perked up, smiling wide at her. Magnolia's smile dropped. When the boys of the school learned of her new single life, they wouldn't stop flirting — she was close to throwing the next one who winked at her across the room.

Jessica rolled her eyes, throwing the now crumbled speech at Mike's head. "Come on!" Mike groaned. "It was great."

Eric patted his friend's arm. "It was, dude. Jess, you're like the bread and butter of valedictorians, you need a great speech."

Angela took his arm gently. "And that is why you're not valedictorian." She kissed his cheek softly.

Magnolia felt her stomach clench. There were happy couples all around her, she just couldn't escape love. "Jess doesn't need cliches," Bella piped up. "Speech is gonna be epic."

"Damn right," Magnolia nodded, giving Bella a little fist bump.

Jessie smirked. "Epic? It'll change lives," Magnolia was sure she was letting the valedictorian thing go to her head.

"Hi!" The small voice of Alice Cullen tore the conversation away from Jessica. Magnolia looked up to see Jasper standing awkwardly standing behind the girl and not because of all the fresh human blood. Alice sat down next to Edward, and Jasper next to her. No matter how hard she tried, Magnolia couldn't look away from him. "I've decided to throw a party!"

"After all, how many times are we gonna graduate high school?" Jasper smirked at the vampires at the table. That smirk fell, however, when his eyes met Magnolia.

"A party? At your place?" Angela questioned, sounding excited. No one other than Bella and Magnolia has been to the infamous Cullen house.

Jessica paused as the realization hit her. "I've never seen your house."

"No ones ever seen their house," Eric leaned over.

"Bella and I have," Magnolia smirked. "You'll love it, Jess." The human girl's face lit up with excitement.

Edward huffed. "Another party, Alice?"

"It'll be fun," Alice pressed.

Bella chuckled. "Yeah, that's what you said last time."

Magnolia and Jasper tensed as their eyes connected. She wished Bella hadn't commented about the last party the Cullen's held. As she stared, she could see through the corner of her eye Alice, beginning to zone out. A vision. Jasper felt it, looking over to his best friend and Edward focused in on her mind. "Hey, Angela," Bella pulled the attention away from Alice.

Magnolia couldn't look away. She watched as Alice's face grew more concerned as the vision continued. When it stopped, Jasper leaned closer as Alice whispered to him. Then, Magnolia saw the look on Edward's face — he wasn't even trying to hide his concern. Something bad was happening.

After school, as she walked to her father's car, she nearly fell over from shock when she saw him there, talking with Alice and Jasper. "Hey..." She hesitantly greeted her father, who wrapped her in a quick hug. Her eyes flickered to Jasper, who wasn't subtle in his staring. "What's going on? Is this about your vision, Alice?"

The small vampire nodded. "It's Victoria," She spoke gravely.

"What?" Magnolia's eyes widened. "You mean that red-headed vampire? James's mate?"

Alice huffed. "Yes, that one. She's been trying to kill Bella since the beginning of the school year. She's making a move tonight."

Magnolia's stomach dropped and her hands balled into fists. "Where's Bella? Is she safe?" Her eyes darted around the parking lot for Edward's car.

"Edward is taking her to Florida to see her mother," Jasper's voice took her off guard. "She'll be safe, Magnolia."

She turned to him, face blank, but inside her emotions were raging, and he could feel all of them. "So, are we helping?" She looked at her dad, who was looking as stoic as ever. "We have to help."

"Magnolia..." Her dad sighed. There was hesitancy in his voice.

Magnolia groaned, and immaturely stomped her foot. "Dad, you've been training me non-stop for a month! A month! I should use my powers for what they're for — hunting vampires."

She stood her ground, arms crossed. She stared him dead in the eye, not backing down. After a moment, Timothy looked away and sighed. "You're right, it's what I've been training you for."

"So I can help?" She pressed, wanting a solid answer.

Once more, her father sighed. "Yes, Magnolia. You can help."

Magnolia, Jacob, and Paul watched as Sam and Timothy discussed the plan quietly. "Are they ever gonna tell us what we're doing exactly?"

Paul smirked. "Oh, me and Jake already know. You know — the pack," He pointed to his brain smugly. "You'll know in due time, pup."

Magnolia chose not to comment on the stupid nickname. She huffed, shaking her head. "I'm just gonna go ask. This is stupid," She took only a few steps before a ruff hand grabbed her wrist. "Hey! What the hell?"

Paul didn't loosen his grip on her wrist. He shook his head softly. "Maggie...they'll tell you. Just let them talk."

Her glare slowly shrank and she sighed deeply. "Fine, fine. Just...let me go!" She ruffly pulled her hand away and crossed her arms, moving to stand closer to Jacob. He didn't say anything, just smiled and shrugged.

Just like Paul said, not even minutes later, her father and Sam walked over. "We've cooperated with the cold ones to catch the one they call Victoria," Sam explained. "They stay on their side and us on ours. Alice has given us a location to wait," He quickly glanced at Paul. "Magnolia and Timothy can switch sides as they please, they'll find ways to keep up." He smirked at Timothy.

"What do we do if we don't catch her?" Magnolia piped up. She knew Victoria was fast, faster than normal for a vampire.

Paul let out a bark of laughter. "Have faith, little pup! She's no match for me..." Sam coughed, shaking his head. "Us. She's no match for us." He chuckled.

Magnolia ignored him, shaking her head. "Well, I should get ready. Can't run in jeans."

AUTHORS NOTE

Welcome to Enchantments, the sequel to Magic! I am so excited about this for multiple reasons! The story will go way more in-depth about the history of Sorcerers, a new layout (THANK GOD I HATED THE OLD ONE) and an overall better plot! I hope you all enjoy this story as much as you did Magic!

sign-off gif by Raichia