September, 2009

GRAMS'S HOUSE

Aella Bennett stood in her Grandmother's sitting room; eyes closed softly.

"Breathe in deeply," her Grandmother coached, standing opposite her, eyes not leaving her granddaughter. "Imagine the shape, the color, the size. And once that is locked in your mind, feel yourself lifting it, only a little, still breathing slowly, and letting it hover there for a few minutes."

When Sheila Bennett glanced over her shoulder, hoping to see her old broken down Bronco hovering slightly off the ground, she was even more surprised to see the car almost level with the garage roof.

Quickly turning back to her granddaughter, she tried not to let the alarm in her body travel to her voice. "And now feel yourself pulling back the air gently and letting the car land on the ground so soft it would never realize anything had moved."

Sheila smiled brightly as she watched the Bronco return to the ground as Aella successfully executed what she had instructed her to do.

"Brilliant! Now open your eyes and relax," Sheila laughed as Aella opened her eyes excitedly. "Did it work? Did I do it?"

"You did it," Sheila nodded excitedly, pulling Aella into her arms and hugging her tightly. "All the way to the top of the garage roof!" She pulled Aella back, looking into her granddaughter's green eyes, "You, my dear, are a very powerful Wicca. You need to appreciate the powers that have been bestowed onto you!"

"I will Grams," Aella nodded, grinning brightly. "The roof?"

"The roof!" Sheila chuckled, pulling away and making her way to the kitchen, Aella following her. "I panicked for a second, then realized; if she got it up there, she could get it down again."

"You have so much faith in me, Grams."

"I have faith in you because your Father, he made it very clear you were dedicated to learning and appreciating the same powers he and your mother had." Sheila smiled at her over her shoulder as she fixed some Green Tea for them. "Unlike myself and your cousin, you are both an Elemental Wicca and Traditional Witch; your powers are entwined around you at all times! The Air, Earth, Water, and Fire elements; you can find wherever you are."

She brought the steaming teapot over to the table as Aella set their dedicated teacups in front of their owners.

As Sheila poured the tea, they sat down, breathing in the calming Green Tea scent as she held it up to her mouth, Aella coyly looked to her Grandmother before taking a sip. "Speaking of cousins with magic..."

"Don't beat around the bush Aella Bennett, it's not your style and certainly not dignified!" Sheila smirked, sipping her own tea.

Aella laughed, "When are you going to finally tell B, that's she's a witch?"

"Don't look at me like that, child!" Sheila warned, setting her cup down. "I wanted to tell Bonnie since she was old enough to understand the power she has inside, but that fool she lives with said no!"

"So? Will you?" Aella asked, "Even if she still lives with, the said, fool."

"She's at that age where she should decide big decisions like this herself," Sheila explained, taking another sip of her tea. "So the next time she comes, I will tell her. How? I'm not sure, but she will know of her history and the things she will be able to do."

"Good!" Aella nodded, finishing off her tea. "About time, I can talk about these powers with my cousin and best friends!"

"Who will you tell first?"

"I did think about Caroline," Aella admitted then shrugged her shoulders. "But it was Elena's dad that opened my eyes about the supernatural phenomena."

GILBERT HOUSEHOLD, 2006

14-year-old Aella Bennett stood in the Gilbert's kitchen, stirring her coffee, and her Grandmother sat in the sitting room with Mr. Gilbert, Elena, and Jeremy. They were discussing Sheila's plan for Aella; now, she was living with her.

Mrs. Gilbert was in the kitchen with her, stood with her back to Aella as she stirred the potatoes bubbling on the stove.

She watched the milk mix with the black coffee as she stirred, appreciating the peace she was currently in. It had been two weeks since the funeral of her parents. People were still sending their sympathy cards and delivering tearfully prepared casseroles.

Aella knew her parents had been vital to their community. Nevertheless, the outpouring of love for the young deceased couple was shocking to her. It made her proud to be their daughter.

Calvin and Natasha Bennett were the best parents any child could have. Calvin married Natasha, an Elemental Wicca, immediately after graduating at 21-years-old. Calvin was lucky to be given a position at Samphire Clinic, a Private Doctors clinic. The clinic was owned by Natasha's Father, Stewart Samphire, and over a hundred others scattered all over America.

When Aella was 8-years-old, her loveable, rosy-cheeked Grandfather passed away in his sleep. Natasha, at only 30-years-old, knew she wouldn't be able to handle the company, raise a child, and still enjoy her job. So she chose to make the company stocks available to the public. Astutely, Natasha was able to purchase 45% of the capital and became a silent owner, with a majority vote, allowing others to handle the business. That stock now belonged to her daughter; Aella inherited her Grandfather and Mother's fortune that she would receive on her 30th birthday. Aella would never have to worry about money. That had always been parents' wishes should they ever pass; they wanted her to live safely with no money worries if they couldn't be there.

Aella could feel her magic flowing through her veins, begging to be used. She hadn't used her magic since her parent's deaths; the memories of using magic with her parents too painful to remember. Yet her magic was a part of her, they flowed through her veins and were desperate to be used. The begged her to be used.

Glancing up at Miranda, who was now stirring the gravy, Aella looked across the table to where the sugar lay too far from her reach, but not far enough for her magic. Gesturing with her right hand, the sugar slid across the table directly into Aella's hand.

" I saw that. "

Aella looked up in surprise at the face of a very amused Mr. Gilbert.

SHEILA'S HOUSEHOLD, 2009

"That man and his wife were God's Angels when they offered you a space in their home," Sheila smiled, stroking Aella's hand. "I could have had you here easily, but the Gilbert's knew you needed a Mother and a Father, plus people your own age close to you. I'm further out than any of your friends, which would have been difficult. And they helped so much raising you to be an even more beautiful independent young woman than I, nor your parents could ever imagine."

Aella blinked back the tears nodding at her Grandmother's words, "They did help me become pretty awesome."

"Pretty awesome?" Sheila shook her head, blinking away her own tears. "You're a Bennett; you, my dear, are totally awesome!"

Aella smiled brightly, giggling loudly, "I get it from my Grams."

GILBERT HOUSEHOLD

"Hello, hello, hello!" Aella greeted Jenna as she walked into the Gilbert House kitchen.

"Someone had a good afternoon with Grams," Jenna laughed, looking up from her magazine.

"It was!" Aella declared, pulling the cloth bag hanging from her hand onto the worktop. "Grams made us all lunch for tomorrow, including you."

"Your grandmother is a godsend!"

"Yeah, she is," She agreed, moving the boxes to the refrigerator. "She knew you'd be busy preparing for your presentation to make us kids lunch."

"Shit!"

Aella looked around the fridge door laughing as Jenna ran out of the kitchen. A few moments later, she returned with her arms full of folders, "You totally forgot about your presentation!"

"How the hell are you more organized than I am!? Jenna demanded, setting the folders out to organize them.

Aella shrugged to herself, searching the fridge for something to munch on, "When your parents die a few weeks after your 14th birthday, you kind of have to grow up a lot."

When the kitchen became very quiet, Aella stuck her head out again, chewing on some raw carrots to see Jenna walking towards her, arms open, and eyes full of tears. Jenna grabbed Aella, pulling her into her arms and rubbing the teens back, "You're a good girl, Lia. Your parents and my sister and brother-in-law did a good job."

"Thanks, Jenna," Aella awkwardly patted her on the back. "You're doing a good job too."

Jenna scoffed, pulling away while discretely brushing her tears away. She returned to her college folders, looking at them in disgust before sitting down with a huff as Aella walked away, laughing and heading upstairs.

Just as Aella was about to enter her room, she could see the legs of Jeremy Gilbert tapping away as he lay on his bed. She gently opened his door and walked in, smiling as he shuffled over, without her asking, to make space for her.

She could recognize the disgustingly familiar smell of weed on Jeremy as she lay down but ignored in favor of having a pleasant, relaxing time with her adopted little brother.

Again, without asking, Jeremy pulled out the earbud from his left ear and held it out to her as she stuck it into her ear and was welcomed to the familiar tones of Green Day. Tapping her foot to the same beat as Jeremy's, she mouthed words to one of her favorite Green Day songs, Boulevard Of Broken Dreams.

This was how Aella bonded with Jeremy; music, space, and allowing him to open to her - not forcing him like she'd seen Elena and Jenna try to do. This didn't work with Jeremy at all; in fact, it turned him towards pills and weed just to forget everything.

It was a familiar feeling for Aella.

Aella only had one rule for Jeremy if she was to be just a friend and not an overbearing presence: No drugs used in her proximity. Surprisingly, he complied, not realizing as Aella and him 'chilled' he craved pills and weed less and less.

When Aella noticed the worn picture of her, Elena, him, and their parents in his right hand, she realized that he was struggling. It made sense why she could smell the odor of weed in the room. So, without a word, she rested her open hand on her leg. It was only seconds until the familiar warm hand of Jeremy's covered her own and squeezed it tightly. Of course, she squeezed back.

But typical Aella couldn't take the silence for too long and just blurted out, "So I'm pretty sure I saw our Drivers Ed teacher totally starkers in his car jamming to Hannah Montana on the way home..."

She glanced over at Jeremy; her eyes met his as a scoff tumbled out of his mouth, followed by a loud laugh that made Aella feel pretty damn good.

"You did not!"

"Oh, I so did. Billie Joe Armstrong!"

"Bitch!"

"Jerk!"

THE NEXT DAY

As she wrote in her diary, Elena smiled to herself, the familiar sounds of Jeremy and Aella laughing aloud as they argued while getting ready for school. It was the only thing normal about their first day back at school.

.................................................

Dear diary,

Today will be different. It has to be. I will smile, and it will be believable. My smile will say, 'I'm fine, thank you.' 'Yes, I feel much better.' I will no longer be the sad little girl who lost her parents. I will start fresh, be someone new.

Jeremy is smiling again and seems to be back to normal more days than not, I know that is due to Aella. We are so lucky to have our own Aella, I'm pretty sure we would all be arguing like cats and dogs if she wasn't here. She knows exactly how we feel except she has lost two sets of parents while Jeremy and I have lost one. If she can smile, laugh, and act crazy like she always has well, so can I.

.................................................

"Lia! Give me back my shirt!" Jeremy yelled, followed by Aella's laugh, and Elena giggled to herself again.

.................................................

I will be strong for Aella, for Jeremy, for Jenna, for Mom and Dad. I will make them proud.

.................................................

"Morning!"

Elena looked up to see one of her best friends leaning on her door frame, hair and shirt slightly damp and smiling brightly, "Morning, Jeremy get his shirt back?"

Aella scowled, shaking her pajama top, "Dirty traitor surprised me while I was brushing my teeth."

"We have to leave soon," Elena looked her best friend up and down. "Why are you not dressed?"

"Who have I got to impress?" Aella shrugged.

Elena playfully wiggled her brows, "Tyler?"

"Ugh!" Aella stuck out her tongue in disgust. "Never in a million years! Tyler Lockwood! More like, Tyler Douchewood!"

They both giggled as Aella walked back to her room to finally get ready.

.................................................

.................................................

Five minutes later, the two Gilbert's and the lone Bennett ran down the stairs eager for the black treasure that was coffee. Aella, who was packing her bag head down suddenly, stumbled into someone's back, looking up she saw the Gilbert siblings stood in shock, mouths wide open.

Aella stood on her toes, glancing over their conjoined shoulders to see the cause of their shock. Letting out a loud laugh, she pushed through the two at the sight of Jenna Sommers, not only dressed for her presentation but casually leaned against the counter drinking her coffee. Her college work in its bag ready to go, three coffee cups filled with coffee, and three brown lunch bags waiting to be taken.

Picking up her personalized Aella cup, she held up her hand to Jenna and high fived the prepared Aunt feeling totally stoked for her.

Gulping down the coffee, Aella placed the cup in the sink and pushed through the still shocked/confused Gilbert siblings. Shouting back, she finally knocked them out of their daze, "Off to pick up, C! Have a good presentation, Jenna. See you later!"

She could faintly hear Jeremy ask Jenna if she was 'well' as she threw on her denim jacket.

FORBES' HOUSEHOLD

"Hi, Forberinos!" Aella called out as she walked into the house without knocking.

Caroline stuck her head out her bedroom door, staring Aella down, "I thought we banned you from watching Full House!"

" Good morning Aella, how are you this fine day?" Aella smirked, walking into the Forbes kitchen and pulling out her own personalized mug and pouring herself another coffee. She had her own cups at all her friend's houses. "Plus, yes, I am banned. Quoting is not watching!"

"We'll amend the contract!" She heard Caroline growl back.

"Morning, Aella!" Sheriff Forbes smiled, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Oh!" Aella laughed to herself, spinning to face the Sheriff placing her hands on her fake belt and lifting her lips, Elvis style, and in her best John Wayne accent said, "Howdy Sheriff!" And tipped her imaginary hat off to her.

Liz laughed out loud, a typical action when around Aella Bennett, "Never change, honey."

"Mom!" Caroline exclaimed, walking into the kitchen, pulling Aella's cup from her hand, and taking a sip before giving it her back. "Yes, change! She needs to get a boyfriend! Our BFF pact specifically states that we cannot marry without the other dating to avoid that awkward third wheel!"

"I do not need to change!" Aella scowled, taking a sip of her coffee when some spilled from her mouth onto her white shirt, "Shit!"

"Need I say more, Mom?" Caroline presented as Aella wafted her shirt, protecting her chest. She sighed to herself, walking to her room, ignoring her Mom's smile that was threatening to appear at Aella's actions, "I'll get you one of mine."

AELLA'S CAR

"I LOVE this top!" Aella smiled over at Caroline as she drove them to school.

Caroline frowned over at her, which quickly changed to a smile as Aella pulled a silly face at her best friend while she waited at a stop sign.

"Now," Aella said as she accelerated her car. "What will we not say to Elena today?"

Caroline grumbled, pulling out her phone and pulling up the text Aella had sent her last night, "Do not hug Elena like you would at a funeral. Do not ask how she is or anyone else how she is. Don't second guess her and especially DO NOT call her; Poor thing, orphan or lonely girl. God! Am I so predictable?"

"Yes!" Aella exclaimed, laughing as Caroline threw her phone back in her bag. "Those are exactly the same things you did and said to me when we first met! How the hell did you become my best friend?!"

"Because, I'm Caroline Forbes," she smirked at Aella. "I'm fabulous!"

"Calm down, Sharpay," Aella chuckled at her. "I don't have my jazz hands ready."