I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you

November Rain – Guns N' Roses.

Chapter 2 – I know it's hard to keep an open heart.

"Alice, please stop with this beauty shit. It will never work, and I will always hate it."

"Bella, as the younger sister of your best friend, I get to abuse you with as much 'beauty shit' as I can," Alice replied. "Now shut up or I'll burn your face."

"Is this torture really necessary?" I asked. "I'm spending the day in your basement with you, Edward, Emmett, and even Jazz and Rose. It's not the fucking Oscars!"

"Oh, shut up. I know what I'm doing."

I sat in Edward's little sister's bathroom – which, might I add, is the size of my room – while she 'primped' me.

Lord, save me now.

It'd been a year to the date that I met Edward, who then introduced me to his family. His parents – Esme and Carlisle, a beautiful, caring couple – and his siblings, Emmett and Alice.

Alice was Edward's twin, but younger by a couple of minutes; she enjoyed being the youngest. Her black hair was cut short and stuck out around her beautiful face, and she was small in stature, but big in excitement. She was dating a senior named Jasper.

Jasper was quite taller than Alice, with blond curly hair, and, when he was being charming, had a Southern drawl that made girls throw underwear at him. He was quiet and reserved, but sensed when you were upset. He was easy to talk to, and great to get along with.

Emmett was the school's quarterback, and had the body of The Hulk. To most people, he was intimidating and scary; to me he was a big teddy bear. A freshman once watched us with wide eyes as he said something to me and I punched his arm in return. He laughed it off, but I think the kid expected him to go ape shit and throw a few tables around. He was dating Jasper's sister, Rosalie.

Rose was the kind of person you expected to see on a runway, and not in Forks. Her blonde hair flowed in shimmering waves down to the small of her back, her face was clear of any imperfections, and her ice blue eyes sparkled. She looked like the Queen Bitch, and she was, to people she didn't like, but to her friends, she was the sweetest person ever.

Since Tanya was head cheerleader – before she was with Edward – she'd tried to get with Emmett. I wasn't there – I was in Phoenix – but I'd heard the story quite a few times.

It was lunch, and the Cullens and Hales sat together at their normal table. Tanya sauntered over to Emmett, while Edward and Rose watched her every move. Like every other freshman, he'd fallen prey to the Crush-On-Tanya-Club.

"Hey, Em, baby, can't wait till practice tonight," she purred.

"Why?" Emmett asked with a mouth full of food.

Tanya cringed slightly, but his gross habits didn't put her off her goal.

"I can show you a 'special' move I've been working on," she said with a wink, trailing her hand down his arm.

Rosalie watched with eagle eyes, and finally saw an opportunity to strike.

She grabbed her hand and pretty much crushed it with her grip.

"Listen, slut, Emmett does not care for your 'special' moves," Rosalie spat, pouring venom into every syllable. "But if you care about ever moving again, I'd move your fake ass away from us, and never touch Emmett again? Capiche?"

"I-I-I u-u-understand. S-s-sorry," Tanya stammered.

The second Rose let go, she scattered to attended to her bruised arm and ego.

If only Edward realized then that Tanya was bad news, my life would be perfect.

Alice finished her Bella Barbie and I grudgingly admitted I looked good.

We made our way down to the basement – the entertainment centre – and found Rose laying with her head on Emmett's lap, Emmett stuffing his face with food, and Edward and Jazz playing a game.

"Bella! Finally! Team up with me to kick Jazz' asssss..." Edward trailed off when he looked at me.

Thank you, Alice.

"Dayum, B looks H-O-T. Nice work, Pixie," Emmett said. Rosalie head butted him whilst Alice and I slapped him round the back of his head. "Ow! Damn, you girls are feisty!" Edward and Jasper both hit him then.

I tried to look pissed off, but I couldn't help but laugh at the hurt expression Emmett was trying to display.

"Anyway, Edward, what were you trying to say?" I asked mischievously.

"I think it was 'Can you please grab the other controller to help me succeed in beating Jasper at this game?' Or something like that," Rose piped up.

I laughed as I picked up the xBox controller.

"Black Ops?" I asked

"How about All Stars?" Jasper said.

Emmett lunged for the other controller as Edward put the disc in.

Rose and Alice were sitting on the sofa, deep in conversation but they kept looking at me, and then Edward.

Those girls are up to something… don't wanna know about it!

We all picked our characters – I chose The Miz, which the boys ripped on me for. Say what you want, The Miz is awesome.

Edward and I obliterated Emmett and Jasper. Emmett wasn't too happy he got beat by a girl – I twisted his ear for that.

Emmett went upstairs for more food – that kid was an animal – and Jasper shuffled over to Alice.

"You're very quiet today, what's up?" I asked Edward. He had barely said a word, unless it was in reference to the game.

"I, uh, haven't known what to say," he stammered.

"Anything?"

"Y- you look beautiful, Bella. I mean, you do anyway, but Alice has managed to magnify that. I, uh… yeah."

My heart did little flip-flops as my cheeks flushed.

"Thank you. She cornered me as I stepped in the house. I couldn't get away from the damn elf."

"I heard that!" the elf in question yelled.

Edward chuckled and put his arm around me in an awkward half hug.

I put my head on his shoulder and we sat there on the floor. I was quite content to sit here forever, but Edward's phone had other ideas. I felt it vibrate in his pocket.

With a sigh he pulled it out, and sighed again when he read the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Hey baby!"

Yuck.

"I think that's my cue to leave. See you tomorrow," I said, feeling my mood plummet.

"Hang on," he said into the phone. "Bell, you don't have to leave, stay a while longer."

"I can't. Charlie will be home soon, he'll wonder where I am." My excuse was pitiful – Charlie knew exactly where I was, and he didn't expect me back till late.

From the flash in his eyes I knew that he knew I was lying.

"Bye!" I said and made a quick escape.

"Tanya, its Sunday. You know that. What do you want?" I heard him hiss angrily.

It helped my mood a little, but not by a great deal.

I'd cry about it later, I told myself, knowing I'd do exactly that.

Blown away by the amount of emails telling me folks are putting this on alerts. I love you all!

xNimC is an epic beta and xxBob360 is an epic pre-reader.