Disclaimer
I do not own most of the characters in this story. They are the property of Stephanie Meyer. (Twilight *drools*). I also got inspiration from 'Welcome to the real world' by Mk Marie and 'Decision's Fate' by Lemonade Ninja. Both of these are fan fiction stories (Just in case you didn't guess!).
Authors note
This story may offend some people, so I am just warning you now.
Chapter One: Bella's POV
I walked down the halls of Forks high randomly thinking about how much I hated my calculus teacher. I had just finished a calculus lesson so I guessed it wasn't that random. I was really looking forward to lunch. I entered the cafeteria and saw Alice, Edward, Jessica, Mike, Angela, Ben and Eric sitting at our table.
It was our first day back for the third quarter of the school year. It wasn't like I hadn't seen anyone during break but it was good to see them again.
I remembered when I used to sit with Edward, Alice and their other adopted siblings. Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper were a year older and they were in college now. The older Cullen siblings must have been scary. Everyone else had avoided Edward and Alice until they left. Conversation was still uneasy but it was there.
I took a seat at the table across from Alice.
"Hey Bella?" Alice said. Her tone sounded like she was playing with an idea. It was probably an idea I wouldn't like.
"Yes, Alice." I replied cautiously.
"You need to go shopping." She said eyeing my clothes. I rolled my eyes. Only Alice would talk about shopping this way.
"No I don't." I replied immediately. I knew where this was going.
"Yes you do. You're going to Port Angeles with me tonight." She said determined, a scowl appearing on her face.
"Alice." Edward warned from where he sat beside me at the lunch table. He didn't want me to be dragged into one of Alice's schemes. I looked to him in thanks.
Edward gave me a smile to show he had received my unspoken thanks and I couldn't help but blush. Edward was indisputably the most beautiful and handsome man on the planet and he liked me. I still couldn't get my head around it.
"Edward, she has to go shopping. I'll hurt your Volvo if you even dream of stopping me." Alice threatened knowing exactly how much Edward loved his Volvo.
"I'll get another one." Edward answered calmly. The Cullen's were rich so he probably could. I knew he loved his Volvo though and the calm was all on the surface. I was overjoyed he didn't give in.
"I'll hurt your Volvo and tell Bella stories from when you were ten." Alice said adding to her threat.
"Urgh, forget it. I'll go. So long as we get dinner and I get to go to a bookstore." I said giving in. Alice always got her way, I should stop giving in so easily but their arguments got out of hand and I hated seeing them argue even if it wasn't serious.
"Yay!" Alice said clapping at her victory. I shook my head. Edward squeezed my hand trying to reassure me. I gave him a tense smile to which he returned a more genuine smile.
I listened to the conversation going on at the rest of the table. The rest of our friends seemed to ignore the conversation preferring to talk amongst each other.
It wasn't long before the bell went and I had to go to class. I got to my locker and checked my schedule. I had biology, which was my only lesson with Edward. At least I could enjoy some part of this day. I grabbed my books and headed to class.
I took a seat next to Edward. It had been the only seat available when I arrived in Forks just over a year ago. Edward and I knew each other a lot better since then.
"You don't have to go shopping just because Alice wants you to." Edward said as I opened my book. The teacher wasn't here yet so we had time to talk.
"Yes I did. I don't want to hear about when you were five." I teased. Edward raised an eyebrow.
"You know I don't." I assured him. Edward laughed.
"So that's the only reason you gave in?" Edward asked dubiously.
"Sure it is. You know Alice she always gets her way. I hate to think of what would've happened if I didn't just go." I said in mock horror.
"I'm sure it would've been terrifying." Edward snorted.
The teacher came in at that point and the conversation had to stop.
I saw Edward scribble something on a piece of paper out of the corner of my eye. I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked down to see what he had written.
I love you B xoxo
I smiled and sent him back a note.
I love you too E xoxo
He told me everyday but I still loved to hear it. To gaze upon the perfection that was Edward and to know he was mine. It gave me satisfaction. My heart swelled in my chest and pumped a ragged rhythm. It always did that when I thought about Edward.
I did manage to learn something that lesson although I'm not sure what. I just hoped Edward was paying more attention than I was. He always did better than me at everything. I wasn't jealous. It just seemed perfectly reasonable someone as beautiful and handsome as Edward would be perfect at everything.
Edward dropped me off at my house to get my purse and then went to take Alice home. He drove both Alice and I to and from school.
I lived with my dad, Charlie; my parents were divorced, so I left him a note saying where I was and whom I was going with. He was the police chief of Forks and I didn't want him to worry. Who knows what he could do.
Once I'd written the note I went upstairs. I grabbed the handbag I hardly ever used and put my purse and phone in it. I took a quick look at my reflection in the mirror and then decided there was no point changing anything now. I went downstairs just in time to hear a honk from the driveway. I knew it would be Alice.
I shut and locked the door behind me and then went to join Alice in her Porsche. Alice had some girly music turned up to what I am sure is max volume. I soon as I shut the door she took of. I buckled my seatbelt. I knew Alice drove crazily fast just like Edward and the other Cullen siblings who had been adopted by Carlisle and Esme. I somehow felt better driving with Edward than Alice.
Alice could barely contain herself the whole way there. She was bouncing in her seat. I knew I shouldn't have given in so easily. I had been on shopping trips with Alice before and knew perfectly well how overboard she went.
She found a parking space and dragged me into the mall. She seemed to find some interesting shops and kept trying to shove clothes on me. I tried to get out of it by saying I couldn't pay for it but she just offered to buy them for me. By the fourth shop I caved. I let her buy me a pair of jeans a shirt. I figured I should get something from going through all this torture.
It was getting late though and I wanted to go to a bookshop. I knew one near here so I told her I would meet her at the restaurant at a certain time. She grudgingly agreed and I went on my way.
I was walked along the footpath humming to myself. I had finally found a way to escape Alice's torture. My victory gave me a high. Along with my victory I got to go to one of my favourite places in the world, a bookshop. It didn't take me long to find the one that I wanted. I often came here when I needed books. The library in Forks had a very limited supply of books.
The bell rang as I stepped into the store. The old lady behind the counter gave me a quick smile and went back to what she was doing. I searched through all the books on display. I didn't know what book I wanted. I searched through the classics. They made up most of my collection at home.
I found a copy of Pride and Prejudice. I had a collection of Jane Austen novels at home but this wasn't one of them. I decided that I would buy it. I continued to search the books now holding the copy of Pride and Prejudice in my hands. I couldn't find any that I liked so I gave in and went to the counter to purchase the book.
The old lady at the counter was extremely helpful. She talked about Jane Austen when she saw my choice. I didn't mind. It was welcome conversation. Anything that kept me out of Alice's tortuous grip.
Eventually the conversation came to an end and I left the bookstore. I briefly thought about which way to go. I was sure the restaurant was the other side of the bookshop. I decided to go that way. It was getting dark but I had my phone on me if I needed to call Alice and ask for directions. I hated my bad sense of direction.
I walked along the footpath thinking of ways to get home earlier. I didn't want to stay out here any longer than necessary. I did however slowly notice that I had left the shopping district of Port Angeles. It looked like I was in an industrial area. There were huge warehouses along the side of the road. I was getting worried. Surely the restaurant wasn't this far out.
I pulled out my phone to call Alice. I gave up when I saw that I didn't have any reception. That would be right. Ah well more time to myself I thought smugly. I was starting too scared by how far out I was though.
I tried to head back. The problem was I didn't know how I got here in the first place. I turned down one street and saw a group of three men loitering around. I didn't want to go near them so I looked for a way out.
"Hey sugar." One of the balls called out. I could tell they were heavily drunk.
I saw a side street and almost bolted for it. I didn't want to go anywhere near those men. They didn't look any older than twenty (AN: By the way the legal age limit in Australia is 18 so it was really weird writing that as it would be legal in Australia). I wondered how they could be drunk.
I tried not to race for the side street in my attempt to avoid them. They would probably notice and try to follow me.
"Don't be like that." Another of the men said as he sae me turn to go down the side street.
I looked at the men. One was tall and lanky with dark hair. The second was an average hight and he looked slightly more muscular with lighter hair. The third was short and with huge muscles and dark hair. He was particularly intimidating.
I didn't pause in my step and continued down the side street. I needed to get away from those men. I turned down another street and saw one of the men appear at the bottom. I went in the same direction they were going so that I could stay away from them. I wondered where the other man had gone.
I turned down a street at the end and hoped the man would stop following me, or that I could get cell phone reception and call Alice.
I had my handbag on my shoulder and I considered surrendering it or using it as a weapon. I wished I'd studied self-defence. I didn't know what I was going to do if they attacked. Something told me that these men were worse than thieves. It was a good thing there was only one now.
I turned round the corner and immediately felt the blood leave my face. The man had wanted me to go this way. There up the other end of the street was the other two men from the group.
"Hey there you are." Called the small yet muscly man past me to the lanky man that had been following me.
"Yeah. Didn't take as long as I thought. Had to take a slight detour though." The lanky man replied. He took a swig from the beer bottle in his hand. They didn't slur their words but I could tell each one of them was heavily drunk.
They came closer and I dropped my handbag to clasp it in my hand. I felt my heart beat race as they came closer. I didn't know what to do. I was trapped. I thought of self defence but I was so clumsy I would probably inflict more pain on myself.
"You shouldn't be walking the streets at night!" The muscly guy continued speaking to the lanky guy behind me.
"You sound like my mother." The guy laughed.
My pulse throbbed in my head. What was I going to do? I pulled my phone out again. I had service. I called Alice. It started ringing and I heard Alice's "Hello?" Before I fell backwards. One of the men had gotten close enough to punch me while I wasn't paying attention.
I fell backward into the taller man and he shoved against me. It had started. The more intimidating man and the light haired man caught me and held me up. I struggled to get out of their hold but they held me tight. The taller man landed a punch in my gut. I collapsed and they let me fall.
"She's useless." The more light haired man laughed. He then smashed his beer bottle on the top of my head. I smelled blood and everything started going blurry. Somehow I managed to hear my phone ring. I tried to find it to answer it but I didn't get very far before two of the men stopped me.
"So who gets her?" I heard the voice of the taller man ask. I tried to free myself from their grip and fight back but I was losing a lot of blood.
"Stop moving. The men are talking." The more intimidating of the bunch ordered and punched me in the face again.
"It's your birthday Mark." The man spoke again but I couldn't see properly now.
"Okay then." The guy who was Mark answered cheerfully.
I felt them rip my clothes and I tried to struggle harder but I was losing consciousness.
I felt the pain though when the now inevitable happened. I heard a blood-curdling scream fill the night. It took me a while to realise that it was mine. I didn't stop. Someone had to come. There had to be someone out there.
I felt a hand slapping my face and some mumbled words. My eyes were becoming long tunnels.
Then I heard a car came through. I wanted to scream for it to help me. I couldn't find my voice. I had lost it after the scream. Two of the men got scared and ran.
I felt two hands grasp the side of my face and for once they didn't slap or punch. I saw a face. It was the face of the taller man, Mark. He had ice blue eyes that were nearly grey now I saw now that I was closer. He had short messy dark hair. I didn't know if that was just because he was drunk or not. I didn't care.
"See you round." He said and he raced off with the others.
The tunnels that made up my eyes were getting smaller. I didn't know if the car had stopped. I was just glad that they had scared off the men. I wanted to reach for my phone but I couldn't find my arms and legs. I just watched as the tunnels grew smaller and smaller.
I knew I lay on the hard concrete but I couldn't feel it. I allowed the blackness to consume me. It didn't obliterate me and for that I was thankful.
I woke up and there were bright lights. I heard Charlie's voice talking to someone. I felt a hand squeeze mine. It was a male's hand and I immediately freed myself from its grip and shrunk away.
"Bella?" Edward's velvet voice asked in concern. I realised the hand was his. That didn't mean I was safe. No men were safe. The pain throughout my body was a reminder of that.
"Where am I?" I asked. I looked over to where I heard Charlie and Edward's voice come from. I could see them now.
"You're in Port Angeles hospital." Edward answered concern on his brow.
"What happened?" I asked remembering clearly my interpretation of the 'incident' but what had happened after that? It had felt like no one would come.
"Alice got a call from you but when it was cut off she heard odd noises and tried ringing you again. When you didn't answer she came looking for you. She figured you had gone to the other side of Port Angeles and had gotten lost. She found you and called the ambulance and Charlie. They said you had severe head trauma and internal bleeding." Edward answered looking to me for confirmation.
"So Alice found me?" I clarified.
"Yes, she heard your scream." Edward nodded still sounding concerned and watching me warily.
How had I ever doubted him? My body remembered the incident too clearly to take his hand confidently but I did take it regretting letting it go. I had probably hurt him and I really needed him right now to remind me that not all men were bad.
"Bella, are you okay?" Charlie asked appearing behind Edward who sat on a chair beside my bed.
"Yes dad. I'm fine." I answered. It was a lie but only a small one. My head throbbed a bit and my 'female parts' were sore but other than that I really was okay.
"Thank goodness. Alice said when she found you that you're clothes had been ripped." Charlie said subtly asking what had happened. I didn't want to talk about it. I could remember the events all too clearly.
"Yeah." I said. Dad patted the back of my hand. I was sure he would've stroked my hair if I hadn't had severe head trauma.
I closed my eyes and Mark's face appeared behind my eyelids. I didn't want to go to sleep. While I was being haunted by the all too recent memory anyway I changed my mind and decided I probably should tell dad. So they could track the guys down.
"One of their names was Mark. He had dark hair and blue eyes." I murmured.
I even remembered his last words to me but I wouldn't let Charlie know that much.
Charlie nodded and wrote it down on a piece of paper beside my bed.
"How many were there?" Edward asked.
"Three." I answered meekly. Edward and Charlie looked to each other and I sighed heavily before speaking again trying to re-find my voice.
"Mark was the only one who… it was his birthday. They were drunk but they didn't look any older than twenty." I said my voice inflectionless. Edward and Charlie both looked disgusted.
"How long have I been in here?" I asked. t felt like I had been sleeping for days.
"It's Thursday." Edward answered. His eyes flicked up to the TV that was on the news.
"Four days ago now local girl Isabella Swan was attacked in Port Angeles." The announcer announced. I guess they didn't have much information yet. I heard Charlie's phone ring.
"They've been calling to see if you're awake. They want more information nosy journalists." Edward frowned.
"You should probably give it to them though if it will help catch them." I said. I didn't really think about it. I didn't want to. I wanted to forget everything. I wished I had gotten Amnesia because it was all I could think about, haunting me.
I looked as the door opened and my mum came through the door. I didn't realise she had come up. I felt really bad now making her leave Phil.
"Mum, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Honey. You had severe head trauma and internal bleeding. Did you think I would stay in Jacksonville while you were so hurt?" She said. She was obviously happy I was awake. I could hear it in her voice as well as worry.
"How long have you been awake?" Mum asked taking Charlie's place behind Edward. Charlie had gone off to take the phone call.
"Not long. I was just talking to Charlie and Edward about some things." I answered my voice trailing off. I was determined to block the memory of recent events and forget his face as it was imprinted in my head.
Mum looked to Edward who nodded.
"I should call Alice." Edward said leaving his chair and the room to call Alice.
"I was so worried honey. And Charlie says small towns are safer." Mum scoffed taking Edward's seat.
"Yeah." Was all I could say. Mum patted my hand like Charlie. She too was afraid to touch my head.
I talked to mum and a little while later Edward came back in with Alice. I wanted to jump up and hug her but the throbbing in my head told me that it wouldn't be a very good idea to do that. I settled for a very enthusiastic "Alice!" to which Alice smiled and sat on the edge of my bed.
Alice was my absolute saviour so I was overjoyed to see her. Without her who knows what could have happened?
"It's good to see you're better." Alice sighed in relief. She had obviously been very worried about me.
"A very big thanks to you. I heard a car but I blacked out before I could find out if it saw me." I answered.
"I still can't believe I let you go out on your own. It was lucky that I heard your scream. I saw two of them men run but one stayed behind. He looked like he was saying something to you." Alice said.
I nodded reluctantly. I didn't want the others to know but Alice saw it happen it anyway.
"He said 'See you round'." I answered with a sigh. Everyone frowned at that thought. I didn't want to see him round either.
"You looked so hurt. You were curled into a ball. And you're clothes were torn." She said turning to Edward and mum as she finished.
"Yeah, Bella told us what happened. I'll tell you later." Edward answered.
"Okay. I can wait. I am just so glad to see you're okay." Alice gushed happy to hear it later knowing she was saving me pain. Little did she know her efforts were redundant. Everything was a trigger.
Autor's Note
If you see any mistakes that I have missed or just wanted to comment on something... Review!