DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything Twilight. All the characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. I just own the plot.

Chapter One

All my life I've been told true beauty is what's on the inside. As I stared in the mirror I could only hope that was true. Every time I looked at my face I only saw the scar above my left eyebrow. It had faded over time and was relatively small but it was forever embedded in me.

I continue to look at my naked body surrounded by steam from the shower I had just taken. The bruises were fading from his last binge, as were the cuts. Eventually they would become scars and after time they will disappear forever. My hips came into view next but those cuts and scars were caused by me. I did that to myself and I have no one to blame. Those wounds will stay in this hollow body for the rest of my life.

Disgusted, I turned away from the mirror and went to my bedroom to dress for school. Sometimes it was hard to cover up the flaws but living in rainy Forks, Washington made it easier. I put on my usual long sleeve and jeans attire and limped down the steps. I didn't have to fake a perfect walk until I went out in public. I was sore this time. I grabbed my keys and walked down my drive way and then I saw him.

Edward Cullen. He was getting the mail dressed in dark jeans and a fitted navy sweater. He was so beautiful it hurt to look at him.

"Bella," Alice's high pitched voice sounded through the air, "Happy Birthday!"

Edward's sister was just a stunning as he was. She had spikey black hair and piercing eyes that could leave you speechless with one glance. They had been my neighbors for eight years today. The Cullen's moved to town on my birthday when I turned nine years old. Edward and Alice saw me playing in my driveway and came over because they wanted to play too. I didn't have any friends because I kept quiet around people so I wouldn't get in trouble by him. I learned young. They were in need of friends too, being that they just moved here from Chicago and knew no one. Alice, Edward, and I became best friends. Little did they know that they would become my saviors for the next eight years. Actually they still have no idea how much they saved me. Are saving me.

Well, anymore it's just Alice and I. Sophomore year Edward become less gangly and more handsome. He was soon swept into the popular crowd, the basketball team, and of course all that comes with being a hot jock. He was still friendly though, we just weren't close. I don't think he actually meant to ignore me in public, but that's just how it goes when you are unnoticed and eat lunch alone most of the time. He was pressured by his popular crowd to stay away so that's what he did. I don't blame him.

"Happy birthday Bella." His voice was so silky smooth it made me blush. I looked up and he was giving me a sweet smile and then Alice jumped on me. She was squealing about birthday presents and the movie night we were having later since it was Friday. She let me go and Edward gave me a small hug, to which I savored and kept on repeat all day long. They drove me to school in Edward's Volvo and then when we pulled up parted ways.

The day went by fast as I kept myself away from any crowds that would make snide comments at me or laugh as I walked by. I shouldn't complain because anywhere was better than the hell that was home. But too soon the final bell rang. I wasn't sure if Edward was giving me a ride home since Alice had to peer tutor last mod and would be driving herself home, so I decided to walk. This way I wouldn't have to see the girls hanging all over him as he walked to his car in the jock row of the parking lot. After all these years and all I wanted was him. I shouldn't though. So I pushed those thoughts away.

The walk wasn't so bad, only about 15 minutes on foot, maybe 25 for my clumsy and sore body. I only had walked for three minutes when the previous night's activities started crashing over my mind. The words he had said were on repeat.

"It's an early birthday present Bells. You're just asking for it."

For the first time in a while I let the tears spill over. You are not wanted Bella. You are used. You aren't really loved. No one could actually love this broken thing that you are. No matter how hard you try to keep up a mask it will never work.

I forgot the time and place, Just the fact that I was a seventeen year old girl that was unloved and all alone on her birthday.

"Hey Bella, why did you leave school? I thought I was driving you home today."

That voice. Silky smooth and recognizable anywhere. Crap. I couldn't turn to look at him or his Volvo. I wiped away the tears running down my face, took a deep breath, and then said, "Uh, I wanted to walk."

"Come on Bella, it's your birthday. Let me take you home. I know it's like completely out of my way but I think I could swing it." I could practically hear the smirk grow on his face.

"I'm good Edward. It's not that far."

"Bella."

"Edward."

"Belllllaaaaa," his glorious voice sang out as a single tear escaped my eye for the second time today.

I turned toward his car creeping along side me knowing he would do this until we got home and jumped in. He saw the tear before I could swipe it away.

"Hey, I'm really sorry. Shit. Um, I'm sorry, what did I do?" He actually sounded worried.

Stop it Bella. He's just being a human being. He isn't really worried about it.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it. Let's just get home."

He drove in silence and I stared out the window. He stopped at the bottom of my drive way, I got out, and he drove to his garage behind his house, without saying anything. I couldn't go home, not yet. So I went to the only place I ever felt safe. The tree house, in the woods between my house and the Cullens.

Edward's dad, Carlisle, built it for us when we were 10. We would spend nights out here talking, reading, playing truth or dare.

I was just about to enter the woods when I heard my name.

"Bella, I thought you were going home."

"Yeah, I will sometime."

I couldn't contain the sadness in my voice. Or the hope. One day I will have a place I can truly call and feel like home.

"Are you going to the tree house?"

"Yes."

"Me too. Care if I join you?"

"I guess not."