SEVEN. ROSALIE'S GIFT

Almost a month had passed since Eli had started working at Newton's Olympic Outfitters. It was easy work, and she'd picked up enough hours to please her bank account and leave her without much spare time. That was how she liked it; to be kept busy. It also meant she was able to talk to Mike a whole lot more, as well as Bella. It was strange, befriending a girl who she had so many ties to, yet didn't know. Bella had felt the same, and they had bonded over the weird concept of their parents once having been a couple. 

Bella, however, hadn't shown up at work that day. Her birthday had been the day before, so Eli had expected as much, though Mike had turned up and said she hadn't been at school either. So, Eli stood at the counter, fixing the pricing gun when the front bell rang. The dark haired girl glanced up to see the one and only Rosalie Hale step inside, appearing completely out of place in her designer clothing. Her lips were downturned and her golden eyes were cold, before they caught sight of the employee. She then cleared her throat and stepped forward. "Eli."

"Hey, Rosalie," Eli smiled politely, a little confused at her sudden appearance. She'd only seen the girl twice since their roadside encounter, and they had been fleeting, though memorable. The first, when Eli had picked Mike up from school one afternoon and they'd waved to each other, and the second was when they'd been in the same bookstore, though Eli had been in a rush and Rosalie had been with a gigantic dude-bro who had grinned in her direction and made light conversation until he was ushered away. "What brings you here?"

"You, actually," Rosalie smiled a little awkwardly. She reached into her handbag and pulled out a little box with a white ribbon tied on the top. "My family is leaving Forks for a while...and since I've got a lot of stuff I don't need, I thought I'd pass it along. Less baggage for the move, you know?"

Eli furrowed her eyebrows. "...Sure."

Rosalie cleared her throat, before reaching over and patting Eli on the shoulder. "Bye, Eli."

"Um, bye?" Eli didn't really know what to say, so she only lifted her hand in a wave. Rosalie nodded once, before backing out of the store once more and disappearing. Eli frowned, before picking up the box and opening it. She didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't the keys to a Mustang with the note "No givebacks. That truck of yours is garbage anyway." attached to it. Her jaw dropped, and she practically dove over the counter to run outside, naturally to return the gift. She couldn't accept a car. 

But Rosalie was nowhere in sight. And, to make matters worse, the front tires on her brother's truck had been flattened. Eli spluttered a little, looking around, before her gaze fell on a navy blue Mustang with a license plate that read ELISTUT1. "Oh my God."

"Shit, Eli," Mike blurted from behind her, clearly having seen her rush out of the shop. She couldn't get any words out in response. "Where'd you get this?"

"I-" 

Mike took the box from her hands and read the note, seeing the name in the bottom corner. "No way. Rosalie Hale got you this?!"

"Sh-" Eli reached back to grab his hand, as if he were conclusive evidence that she was, in fact, not dreaming. "I need to give this back to her."

"Why?" Mike scoffed, holding her hand tight and dragging her towards the vehicle, his eyes wide and in clear awe. "She's loaded, she won't miss it! And now you've finally got something better than that piece of shit that you've been driving."

Eli couldn't find it in her to disagree. "But it's a car, Mike. That's not something to give away to a person you've spoken to a few times."

"Dude, if you don't want it, I'll take it off your hands," Mike shrugged, clearly not having any time for her humility. "This is sick. All of sudden I want to be friends with the Cullens."

Eli couldn't help but chuckle at his words. "Too late. Rosalie said that they're moving."

Mike looked back with a slacked jaw. "What?"

"They're leaving town," Eli responded, handing her keys over so that he could unlock the car and take a look inside. "Rosalie came in minutes ago and told me when she gave me the present. That's why I ran out, I had to catch her but she'd practically vanished. They're gone, dude."

"Shit," Mike ran his hand down his face, opening the door to sit in the front seat. His other hand sat on the steering wheel, the majority of his attention still directed towards the car. "That means Edward's gone."

Eli's eyes widened in realisation. "Bella."

★☆

"I'll stop by her house," Eli muttered at the end of her shift, grabbing her new keys and pocketing her old ones, seeing as the tow truck had taken her spare. Turned out that Rosalie had put in a booking earlier in the day, paying all expenses for the vehicle to be repaired and brought back to the Kamai household. "To make sure she's okay."

Mike nodded a few times, scratching the back of his head as he put the phone down once again. "She's still not answering her cell, and Chief Swan's got guys out looking for her. Make sure she's alright, would you? For me? I'd go with you but my Dad's got me on closing."

"Yeah, no problem," Eli nodded a few times, before spinning on her heel and rushing out the door. "I'll see you later!"

She got into the front seat of her new car and exhaled softly. The seats were far more comfortable than the truck, and it didn't smell like spilled energy drinks. What a weird day. 

It took her around twenty minutes to get to the Swan residence, and by the time she did, she was one of around fifteen cars parked around the house. The girl shut off the vehicle and jumped out, running towards the house, still in her work uniform. She saw a group of men surrounding Chief Swan's police car. She saw Harry and Sue Clearwater, as well as Jacob and Billy. Jacob seemed to notice her coming, and he met her in the middle, wrapping his arms around her. "Hey, Tiny."

"Have they found her?" Eli asked without hesitation, and Jacob shook his head solemnly, pulling her towards the others. She embraced the Clearwaters, though she didn't introduce herself to Chief Swan, knowing it probably wasn't the best time. 

"I'm gonna try the Cullens again," the Chief picked up his phone, so Eli piped up. 

"The Cullens have left town," she said, drawing attention to herself. She flushed a little under the expectant stares. "I'm not sure why, but they left earlier today. They're gone, Chief."

"Good riddance," Harry muttered, and Eli nudged him a little. 

"Where'd they go?" Chief Swan asked, wiping his brow anxiously, before looking back at Eli. "And who are you?"

"Eli Stutfield," she smiled slightly awkwardly. "I work with Bella."

The Chief nodded, though Eli knew he probably didn't hear a word she said due to his stress levels. She didn't mind. Harry seemed to notice this as well, and he placed his hand on the father's shoulder. "We'll find her, Charlie."

"Thanks, Harry."

Jacob turned his head to see Sam Uley carrying Bella out of the forest across the road from the house. He tensed considerably, his eyes wide. "Charlie."

The Chief and the others he was surrounded by turned around to see Sam. Charlie broke into a run instantly, not hesitating in taking his daughter into his own arms, thanking the Uley man. Eli squeezed Jacob's hand, not noticing how he and Sam shared an intense stare. "Thank God she's okay. I wonder what happened?"

Jacob turned his head towards her and placed his chin atop her head. "That Cullen guy did something. I could bet you everything I own that he did this to her."

Eli didn't exactly know how to respond. 

"Eli, you alright?" Sam called out her name, and she looked over Jacob's shoulder to see her brotherly figure jogging towards them. Jacob let go of her and quickly departed, but she didn't question it. She knew that he was anxious around the man, as were Embry and Quil. He pulled her into a hug, before subtly sniffing her. "You've been around the Cullens, haven't you?"

Eli pushed away and crossed her arms. "No."

Sam huffed, his nostrils flaring. "Eli, you can't be around them. They're dangerous."

"They're gone," she retorted. "They've left town, Sam. And it's none of your concern, anyway."

"Of course it's my concern," Sam's voice rose a little, but Eli didn't move a muscle. "Eli, you're like family to me. I don't want you getting hurt-"

"I'm not made of porcelain," Eli snapped. Sam straightened his shoulders, his jaw tightening slightly. "I'm gonna go check on Bella. I'll see you at home."

With that, she walked off, not sparing another look at the man who tried to act like some kind of paternal figure. No one could match to her father, no one could even try. Her brother was shit, her mother didn't care, and no matter how hard he tried, Sam was far too controlling for her liking. She loved him, of course, but she could see that he couldn't get his head around the fact that he couldn't tell her what to do. Not like Nick or Grace could, anyway.

★☆

"You said you work with her?" Chief Swan asked as he gestured for Eli to take a seat on the couch. Eli nodded, taking Jacob's hand once more. It gave her comfort, being around someone who acted as her equal rather than her superior. "What was your name again?"

"Eli," she responded softly. "Eli Stutfield."

"Grace Kamai's girl," Harry piped up, and Chief Swan's eyes widened a little. Eli shuffled around awkwardly, swallowing and looking away. "She moved back into town a few months ago, been living in the Reservation. From what I heard she got friendly with another one of them Cullen kids."

Why did everyone keep bringing that up?

"I met Rosalie a few times," she shut Harry down quickly, before looking back at Chief Swan. "If Bella needs anything, anything at all, I'm here. She seems pretty spooked from what I could tell, so if she needs a friend, or you need someone to cook, clean, or talk to, Chief Swan, you've got me."

"Thanks, kid," Chief Swan smiled a little in her direction, before reaching his hand out for her to shake. "Call me Charlie."

Eli felt a little lighter as she shook Charlie's hand. She didn't know what it was; perhaps the validation of being respected by one of the adults in her life. Just a guess.

★☆