+++++

Magnolia was thrown to the floor once again, breathing heavily, what seemed like gallons of sweat dripping down her face and body. "Again!" Her mother's stern voice sounded from above her. Magnolia huffed angrily, and got up, as much as her legs were protesting for her not to. "Good, good. Always get up again, never surrender to your enemy."

Ariana held out her hand, easily lighting a blue flame within her palm. "Now try it again. You won't be going to bed until you've mastered it."

Magnolia groaned, wiping her forehead, feeling the intense heat from her mother's flame. "Mom, it's 9:00. I have school tomorrow, Bella's tour is tomorrow." Ariana shook her head, shooting the flame out past her daughter's head, it hit the wall with a loud bang, extinguishing with a whoosh. "What the hell, mom?!"

"The fire can't hurt you. Now try it again! Make your ancestors proud!" She yelled. Ariana noticed anger seemed to activate Magnolia's powers, so if she could unlock that, her daughter could reach her full potential.

"Don't yell at me! I'm doing my best mom I-"

"Your best isn't good enough!"

Magnolia felt her anger start to bubble within her. She clenched her hands tightly, glaring harshly at her mother. How dare she tell her own daughter, who's never even tried to conjure magic, that she isn't good enough? Magnolia was trying too hard to please her parents, to be the best sorceress she could be. She trained in combat, she's read all the ancient texts, but the first real lesson she has in magic, her mom degrades her?

The heat of fire returned, but this time it felt hotter, it was closer to Magnolia. She glanced down, and nearly fell over. Within her hand, Magnolia held a raging blue flame. She looked up at her mother, who was standing proudly across from her. "Sweetie, you're doing amazing. Look at you, I'm so-"

A ball of flame flew past her, and onto the wall behind her, narrowly missing her face. "Can I go to bed now?" Magnolia crossed her arms, glaring. Ariana chuckled, nodding her head, and watched her daughter sleepily march up the stairs.

Magnolia sighed as she slammed herself onto her bed. Her legs ached harshly, as she carefully moved her sore body underneath the covers, but once the blanket was on top of her, and a soft pillow held her head, Magnolia instantly fell asleep.

+++++

Weeks had passed, and Magnolia's training was becoming even harder, each task more and more gruelling. Not only could she produce a fire so hot it could instantly turn a vampire to ash, but she also could use what her parents call spells, with which a sorcerer makes certain hand gestures in a row causing a type of power to be used, like a shield that they can use to protect themselves and others, or a sword-like beam of light straight from their hand.

But due to the constant and intense training, Magnolia had no time for friends, especially Elton. Every day to and from school, she'd get a drive from Bella, she ate lunch with her too, or sometimes Alice and Rosalie. Then right when she got home the training would start again.

Magnolia sat in history class, growing increasingly more tired the more Mrs. Lynch spoke. "I'll be assigning a group project, and I'll be picking the partners." The class collectively groaned. Magnolia zoned out when the groups started to be listed off, staring outside at the cold rain hitting the leaves of trees. "Jasper and Magnolia." The girls' eyes shot up, looking at the teacher in shock. There was no way she had said Jasper was her partner.

"Well, it looks like we'll be spending a lot more time together." His deep voice cut through Magnolia's shock, the evince of a smirk in his tone. Magnolia lazily turned her gaze onto him, and sighed, a pit forming in her stomach. She mustered the best smile that she could, and turned back around, listening to the rest of the lesson.

The groups had gotten together, and one by one were sent to the library to find books on their topic. Magnolia dreaded this, not wanting to be alone with Jasper quite yet, but I guess she had to speak to him about that day at some point. When it was their turn, Magnolia and Jasper raised from their seats, and awkwardly shuffled through the desks to the classroom door.

In the hallway, they didn't speak to one another, the only sound was of their shoes hitting the floor as they walked. Magnolia didn't need Jasper's powers to know how awkward it was between them. This caused a frown to come to her face, remembering when they used to be friends—good friends, and when Magnolia didn't acknowledge her growing feelings towards him. She coughed, clearing her throat of a tickle, causing his head to snap in her direction. She shyly smiled at him and looked forward.

"You know, today is the most you've smiled at me in almost a month. It's nice." He smiled genuinely at her, feeling his dead heart beat just a little faster.

Magnolia's eyes widened at his comment. "Oh," She looked down at her feet to hide her growing smile. "I guess you're less of an ass, at the moment." She winked, then blushed after realizing what she did. Jasper laughed loudly and shook his head.

"Well, I'll try to be less of an...an ass, if that means you'll talk to me again," He winked back, copying Magnolia's action. She laughed, and looked away from him, walking into the library. They separated without a word, grabbing around three books each, re-conjoining at the front. Jasper smiled, moving his head in the direction of the door. "Lead the way, ma'am."

Magnolia pressed her lips in a thin line, and nodded, walking out ahead of him and back to the class, not speaking another word to him.

Lunch arrived fairly quickly. Magnolia gladly sat down with Bella, spilling all that had happened this morning. "Maggie, this sounds like a good thing. You're talking again, and he's being considerate of your feelings."

Magnolia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger. "I don't know, Bells. I guess it is a good thing in hindsight, but I just have this thought in the back of my head, like what if I get too comfortable and open up? Then it's too much for him and he stops talking to me. I'm kind of a mess, he wouldn't want...this." She gestured to herself, laughing in self-pity.

"Don't say that, Maggie!" Bella and Magnolia jumped at the sudden new voice. They looked left to see Alice standing with a frown, arms crossed. "You're a beautiful mess. Do not put yourself down like that." Magnolia tilted her head at Alice's most likely unintentional backhanded compliment. Being in the presence of a Cullen, caused Bella to shut herself down, staring down at her food, shutting out the continuing talk between Magnolia and Alice. She couldn't stand to be around them like that now, after her and Edward's first interaction in biology.

"Thank you? But, um it's none of your concern Alice, it's fine really." Magnolia awkwardly spewed, not wanting to spill her feelings to the petite girl, which would most likely result in Alice telling Jasper all about it. Although, Magnolia loved the girl talks she and Alice used to have.

"I think it is my concern since it's my family," She smiled, seeing Magnolia give up on holding on to her feelings. "Shall we go somewhere private?" Alice suggested.

Magnolia looked over at Bella, whose head was still down. "Bells, Alice would like to talk with me real quick. Do you mind if I leave for a bit? I'm sure Jessica and Angela will be here soon." Bella looked up, frowning at the two girls. She nodded, mumbling an 'of course' and sending them on their way.

Alice took Magnolia's hand, dragging her through the crowd of kids, into the library, where sat Rosalie, clearly waiting for them at a table. Magnolia sighed. "I thought you said just you, Alice." Rosalie looked over, rolling her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Nice to see you too, Magnolia." Her voice held no malice or any hints of insult, just heavily layered sarcasm, but that's just Rosalie.

Magnolia shook her head, chuckling and sat down across from the blonde-haired female. Alice sat next to Rosalie, folding her hands on top of the table. "Alright, time for a serious talk," As much as Alice tried to sound tuff, Magnolia could not take her seriously, due to the girl's light and happy tone of voice. "What is going on between you and Jasper? For weeks you barely say a word to him, but now I'm told you were flirting with him?"

"Flirting?!" Magnolia spluttered. "I was not flirting, I might have winked but it wasn't intentional and it was more of a joke." She crossed her arms, her lower lip pushed out in a pout.

Rosalie sighed. "Jasper told us what had happened during history. He thought since we were your friends and girls we would know what was going on," She lent over the table, placing her hand out for Magnolia to take. Magnolia shook her head, not wanting comfort from Rosalie of all people, but after seeing the iconic glare of Rosalie Hale, she quickly placed her hand on top of hers. "Tell us what happened, honey."

Magnolia sighed, knowing she was trapped and had to spill what happened.