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October

•

Halloween was three days away, and it was Magnolia's time to shine. Halloween was her favourite holiday, and every year her family would go all out with decorations. This year, the task was given to her. Elton was dragged out all day with her going from store to store, and by three in the afternoon, the small family Honda Civic was filled to the brim with anything and everything Halloween.

"This is crazy, Maggie!" Elton shouted as she steadied the latter Magnolia was standing on. She clipped on the final light and sighed happily.

"I'm all done! Coming down now!" She shimmied effortlessly down the latter, landing with a soft thump. "Finest work I've done in years," She smiled widely, stepping back to get a full view of the house. "What do you think?"

Elton stepped back with her, looking the house up and down. "It's...something alright." From every corner spiderwebs and bats hung, the garage door was covered by a giant spider sticker, pumpkin lights hung from the eavestrough, and longing the steps up to the doorway were four carved pumpkins.

Magnolia clapped happily. "It's beautiful!" She smiled at her masterpiece. "Hey, since Halloween is soon, do you think Bella would want to come over? Like our own little party while we hand out candy," Elton grimaced. Magnolia's face dropped. "What? What is it?"

"I mean...Bella? Really? You think she's in the mood for this?"

Magnolia sighed, looking down at the grass. "I don't know. I just want her to be happy again. I don't want her wallowing over Edward. You don't see me wallowing over Ja-" She stopped herself as tears prickled behind her eyes. Just by saying his name caused her so much pain and anger.

Elton sighed. "Let's get inside, huh? Watch some scary movies. That always cheers you up."

"Yeah...that sounds nice." He took her hand, leading her back into the house.

November

•

"I think I should go see her," Magnolia abruptly sat up from her bed. Elton glanced up at her from the floor, giving her a quizzical look. "It's been a month since we've talked, Elton. I'm worried about her."

Closing his sketchbook, Elton turned to face her fully. "Don't you think she would've called you if she wanted to talk?"

Magnolia huffed, crossing her arms like a pouting toddler. She knew he was right, but she couldn't help the nagging in her brain. She needed to see Bella. "What if I go with some cookies? Charlie can have some too, so it's not obvious I'm there for Bella."

Elton let out a loud belly laugh. "Really, Maggie?" He wiped a tear from his eye. "That will make it even more obvious. If you're gonna go, just go. Be upfront."

"Oh," Magnolia turned red, embarrassed. "I guess you're right. I'll go now then." Shaking off her embarrassment, she slipped her shoes back on, and swiftly down the stairs with Elton chasing after her.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" He questioned as she ruffly swung her jacket on. "I won't go with you."

Magnolia laughed. "I didn't expect you to," She grabbed her new car keys off of the hook. "Tell mom and dad I went out to grab groceries. Thanks so much, love you!" She called as she rushed out the door.

Unlocking the door to her new blue Volkswagen Beetle, she didn't bother to buckled up as she sped out off to Bella's house, and within a few minutes, she was there. Bella's Chevy and Charlie's police car were parked in the driveway. 'Good...they're both home,' She thought as she parked on the side of the road. Her hand hesitated on the door handle for a moment, as Elton's words crossed her mind. What if Bella really didn't want to see her. Would Charlie turn her away?

There was no time for second-guessing. She was here, Magnolia couldn't turn back now. She pushed the door open, and stepped out, jogging around her car up to the front door. With a strong and fast knock, she waited. "Coming!" Charlie's gruff voice called. Magnolia cringed; he sounded bad. The door swung open. "What do you-oh! Magnolia. What a surprise." He looked even worse like he hadn't slept in a week. His hair was a mess and the bags under his eyes looked more like bruises.

"Hi Charlie," Magnolia smiled shyly. "Could I uh...come in?"

Charlie looked taken aback but he nodded. "O-Of course," He stepped back, moving out of the way to allow Magnolia inside. He shut the door softly behind her. "I assume you're here for Bella," He mumbled. "I know you're worried about her but she just doesn't want to talk to anyone. Even me."

Magnolia sighed. She could tell this was tearing Charlie up. "Could I at least give it shot? It's been a month, Charlie."

Charlie huffed, closing his eyes. Magnolia could tell he was debating with himself, he mumbled softly, moving his head around. "Should I? Would Bella be mad? I don't know..." Magnolia stood patiently, not rushing his decision; this was hard enough on Charlie. It was like he lost his daughter. Finally, after about a minute of processing, Charlie opened his eyes and nodded. "Go see her. She needs a friend right now."

Magnolia let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. "Thank you, Charlie," She smiled and rushed up the stairs. Her heart of pounding. Once again, Elton's words haunted her. She shook them off. She had to do this. Knocking softly on Bella's bedroom door, she called out. "Bella? It's Magnolia. I'm coming in."

She didn't wait for Bella's protest and made her way into the bedroom. She shut the door softly behind her. The room was perfectly clean, no clothes on the floor, the bedsheets cleanly made. Bella sat on a chair by her window, staring wide-eyed at Magnolia. Her dishevelled look scared Magnolia for a moment. Her hair was fine, so were her clothes, but it was her eyes, that truly scared Magnolia.

They weren't the normal brown Magnolia had remembered, the nice warm chocolate colour with hints of hazel throughout. Now they were dark; black. Similar to the eyes of a frightened doe in headlights. They held no emotion, they were just black voids. "Bells...I wanted to see you. Charlie let me up."

Bella's face suddenly turned hard. Her voice was hoarse and quiet when she spoke like she hadn't said a word in weeks. "I appreciate Magnolia," Ouch...no nickname. Magnolia cringed. "But I'd like it if you left. I'd rather be alone. I'm sure you completely understand." Bella's words didn't even sound like her, it was like a robot was programmed to say those things.

Magnolia moved further into the room. "I do understand, Bella. But I know more anyone that in times like these you need a friend. I would be like you right now if I'd hadn't been for Elton. Now I want to be that for you," She walked as she spoke, stopping at Bella's bed and sitting on the edge. "Please. Let me help." Her blue eyes drifted to the walk near Bella's desk. She remembered there being pictures of Alice, Edward and her. Those Cullen pictures were gone, but one remained of Magnolia. She smiled sadly.

Bella looked distraught at Magnolia's words. "How...how are you able to smile? They're gone forever. I'm not even sure they were real." Her eyes watered, but no tears fell.

"I can smile because," Magnolia paused. Why did she smile? Well, she knew that; Elton and her parents. "Because I have people who care about me. People who help me. I want to be that for you, Bells."

Bella shook her head. "I-I can't. I'm a burden. He never loved me...it was all in my head." She started breathing faster, and she turned to bye window, suddenly becoming silent as she watched the world go by.

Magnolia was shocked. How could Bella let him do this to her? No, how could Edward do this to her? He told her he didn't love her. Magnolia didn't get anything from Jasper. "I won't let him ruin my life because he decided to leave," Magnolia mumbled sadly. "Why are you?" A tear slipped from her eyes. "I'm sorry this happened to you, Bella."
It was clear Bella was done talking. Magnolia left the house sadly. She had picked up groceries like she had told Elton to tell her parents and returned home with a heavy heart.

December

•

Christmas morning was always quiet for Magnolia's family. That's not to say they didn't enjoy Christmas, her father loves it, but after twelve years of Magnolia waking up at 7:00 each morning, her parents made it a rule to get them up after nine.

With that in mind, Magnolia was up in her room for two hours, doing whatever to pass the time; read, watch cars go by, look out at the snowflakes. She chuckled to herself as she watched them fall. The snow was fluffy this year, and it created beautiful blankets along the tree branches.

A sudden knock at her door caused Magnolia to jump. "Come in!" She called, turning her attention away from the winter wonderland.

The door swung open, and there Elton stood, corny Christmas pyjamas and all. He wore a big goofy grin. "Merry Christmas, Maggie!"

"E-Elton?!" She spluttered, holding back her laughter the best that she could. "Look at you!"

He stepped in, beaming. His smile touched from ear to ear. Magnolia had never seen him this happy before. "You like it? Ariana got it for me."

"Hell yeah I like it," She got up and walked over to him. "I hope she got me a matching pair."

Elton's smirk grew even larger, if possible. "Guess what?" He laughed as he pulled out an identical pair of pyjamas, handing them to Magnolia.

"No way!" She grabbed them immediately. "Give me a sec, I'll put them on." She hastily shut her door, stripping her regular set of pyjamas to the Christmas ones. She reopened the door, now matching with Elton, in clothes and smile.

They were both like children again, jumping up and down and hugging each other, both completely happy. "So glad you like them, kids." Ariana has said when she was awoken by the squealing.

The events that followed were similar to this. Elton and Magnolia felt like they were in first grade again, ripping open present after present, eating the cookies Ariana had made, and finally putting on jackets and making snow angels. "Mines way better." Magnolia laughed as she and Elton stood above their creations.

"No way!" Elton rolled his eyes. "My angel is clearly better."

"In your dreams." Magnolia nudged him, sending him falling into the fluffy snow below, and as Elton pulled her down with him and she laughed, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing; someone.