With his new friend gone and Ethan left standing alone with Elle, he had no choice, but to look up at the gorgeous blonde. She wore a simple white sundress, light denim vest, sky blue heels, and a crystal headband in her free flowing hair, giving her that innocent girl next door look. She also had applied a black liner under her eyes that made the electric blues pop and her lips were glossed with a pretty pink that made them appear very kissable. Ethan wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips. Were they soft? Would they taste sweet? Would Elle even want to be kissed by him?

"So. . . What'd you want to talk about?" Ethan broke out of his thoughts when he realized the blonde was staring at him expectantly.

"Oh, I don't know. . . Maybe how you reacted last night?" She spoke with a feisty tone that Ethan didn't expect, and that slightly turned him on.

"Yeah. . . About that. I'm sorry I reacted like I did. . ." He apologized and began thinking of ways to explain his temper. He couldn't exactly come straight out and say it was because of the secret he kept, but he couldn't exactly tell her a bull crap lie either. "I guess I just was worried about that guy taking advantage of you. Especially with you being new to town."

He knew his excuse was lame before the words even left his mouth, but Elle seemed to buy it as she replied, "Ethan, I can take care of myself. You had nothing to worry about. Back home, I took defense lessons."

Ethan scratched the back of his neck, the tribal tattoo on his right bicep being in perfect view for Elle. "Well, I'm sorry for going all psycho on you."

Elle just smiled, then boldly reached out and traced her fingers along the tattoo. "What's this tattoo? I noticed Carrington has one too."

Ethan froze when Elle's fingers brushed against his skin, a sudden electric current going between the two.

Yanking her hand back gently, Elle let out a giggle. "Sorry. I guess static electricity can occur even on a concrete driveway."

"Yeah. I guess so." Ethan chuckled nervously, knowing it was much more than static electricity. As soon as his dad got home that day, he would need to talk to him about that and what happened at the party.

"So. . ." Elle didn't know where to take the conversation from there, fiddling with her thumbs nervously. Luckily, though, her brother came walking out of their house and onto Ethan's driveway, two tall glasses of lemonade in his hands.

"Figured you two would be thirsty considering how hot it is out here." William remarked, shielding his eyes from the blaring sunshine.

"Thanks, Will, but you can have it. I'm about to head down to the local mall." Elle announced, then with an innocent smile she asked, "Oh and uh, could I use your car?"

William rolled his eyes, but pulled the keys from his pocket and handed them over to his sister. Unlike other siblings, he knew he could trust Elle with the very expensive black Audi R8 that sat parked over in their own driveway.

Every time Elle used the vehicle, she always filled the tank up, made sure it was scratch free, and even went as far as taking the sports car through a car wash before bringing it home. So he knew it was in good hands.

"Thanks, bubby! I'll bring it back before dark!" Elle giggled like a little girl, rushing back over to their house and disappearing inside.

She reappeared a few moments later, a large white messenger bag slung over her shoulders and her hair now pulled up into a ponytail, a wide smile on her face as she climbed into the Audi.

"Is she always that cheerful?" Ethan asked as the blonde pulled out of the driveway.

"Believe it or not, yes." William replied, chuckling to himself, downing the glass of lemonade he had brought for his sister in two seconds. Then, gesturing to the car the two males were working on, he asked, "Ready to get back to work?"

Ethan just nodded, crawling back under the car, grateful to have his now racing mind distracted from thoughts of Elle.

* * *

A variety of aromas filled Elle's nostrils as she pulled the Audi to a stop in the parking lot located behind the string of stores Roseville had labeled as a mall. Echoes of the mall goers voices sounded in her ear, followed by the sound of other vehicles shutting off. All around, store signs shown dimly against the sunshine lit sky and signified what each one was, customers beginning to enter them with smiles on their faces.

A smile of her own began to form on Elle's face as she climbed out of the Audi and locked it, her messenger bag slung across her shoulders. She began walking towards the first store that caught her eye, a little designer boutique with cute halter dresses on display in the window.

A couple hours later, Elle returned to the Audi, arms full of bags from several different stores. After she had left the boutique, she had found a store that sold school supplies, and then a store that sold handbags and accessories, and then she'd found a shoe store. Her shopping had just taken off from there, Elle pretty much purchasing an item for every occasion imaginable.

"Elle Lewis?" A soft, feminine voice asked when her back was turned and Elle was putting her bags away.

"Um, who's asking?" Elle spun around and faced the average height, platinum blonde haired, hazel-eyed female standing before her. On her lank body, she wore a pair of dark leggings, purple t-shirt, and purple tennis shoes. She had an innocent expression on her face, but something felt off about her.

"I'm Helaina. My mother is related to your mother's." She replied in that soft voice of her's.

"Oh. Who's your mother?" Elle asked, casually leaning back against the Audi.

"Julianna Lennix."

At the mention of her aunt's name, Elle stood up straight, her interest being peaked. "My aunt is your mother? You're my cousin?"

"Well, not exactly. But in a way yes." The platinum blonde was being cryptic and it was starting to weird Elle out. "Julianna kind of took me under her wing fairly recent and has treated me like a daughter."

"Oh. That's why my mom never mentioned you. She hasn't had contact with her sister in many years." Elle frowned, tucking a strand of her golden hair behind her ear.

"I know. Julianna is pretty upset about that. She spends many a night thinking of her twin." Helaina dropped her eyes to her feet, frowning herself.

"Really?" Elle felt saddened by what the female told her. She couldn't imagine not being in contact with William. That would be like never having a brother at all.

"Yes. My mother wishes to recconect with her family, but your mom refuses to have anything to do with her."

A thought popped into Elle's head then. "Maybe I could recconect the family. Maybe I could connect with Aunt Julianna?"

"Really? I think that's an excellent idea!" Helaina suddenly became animated with excitement and shuffled from foot to foot. "I'll go call her now and we can meet her."

Elle's eyes widened. She didn't exactly mean she would meet her Aunt right then and there. On the other hand, if she didn't do it then, she'd probably never get the chance to.

"Okay. I just gotta send my brother a text letting him know what I'm doing." Elle started pulling her cell out of her messenger bag, but Helaina gripped her hand, stopping her.

"There's no time. I've already told Julianna and she's here now." The platinum blonde's expression grew serious all of a sudden.

Wait! When did the girl ever pull out her phone and make a call?

"Come on, Elle. She's waiting nearby for you." The female began dragging her towards the back of a store building, never letting go of the other blonde's hand, her grip tightening slightly.

"Um. . . But I'm in my brother's vehicle. I have to tell him." Elle tried breaking free of Helaina's grip, but only caused the strange female to dig her French-tip manicured nails into her wrist.

"You're meeting your Aunt." The platinum blonde's perfect, white teeth, clenched together in a threatening grimace. "Right now."

"Hey, you're hurting me. Let go!"

"You're going to meet your Aunt. . ." Helaina muttered under her breath over and over again.

Elle's flight or fight response immediately kicked in and she did everything she could to break free, scratching her own French-tipped nails against the female's arm.

Helaina didn't flitch even an inch, allowing the blood to drip down onto the ground and leave a red-hued trail behind them.

What the hell? Was this girl in some kind of trance?

"Helaina, let go of me!" Elle shouted, hoping to catch one of the many other shopper's attention, but every one seemed too distracted with putting their purchased items away or going into yet another store.

Panic began settling into her stomach and caused her anxiety to go into overdrive as Elle was led away from the mall completely and towards an wooded area that had tall oak trees, appearing like they're many years old. Where was the stranger taking her? Why was the stranger taking her anywhere? What was happening?

Get it together, Elle! You're a witch, remember? She reminded herself and an idea sparked in her mind. If she did it right, she could use an immobility spell and escape from the strange blonde.

Just as she was beginning to summon up enough courage to cast the spell, Helaina stopped in her tracks in front of a large black truck with dark tinted windows.

Reaching for the door handle on the side of the truck, Helaina released Elle, a sigh of relief escaping the other girl's mouth.

You're finally free! Now use your magic and immobilize this bitch.

Elle closed her eyes and took a deep breath, beginning to chant.

When she saw Helaina's hand freeze and her body go rigid, she jumped into action and started running as fast as she could in the direction they came from.

Reaching the backside of the mall, she ran even faster, hearing footsteps pounding against the pavement behind her. She figured it was Helaina since the spell she'd used had only been temporary, but she didn't take chance in finding out as she reached the Audi parked in the same spot she'd left it.

She jumped into the car, slamming the door behind her and locking the doors, never bothering to buckle herself up. She then proceeded to pull out of the parking lot, her heart beating.

Once she was safely on the road, her heart rate started returning to normal and she was able to concentrate.

What the hell happened back there?

Who was that Helaina girl really?

Why was she trying to force Elle to see her aunt?

What the hell was going on?

Elle's mind was whirling with these thoughts when another car slammed into the passenger side of the vehicle, the blonde's head slamming into the steering wheel and the Audi spinning out of control.