Chapter 2

I jolted awake to the alarm clock, but unlike yesterday, I wasn't annoyed. I actually looked forward to going to school. There was a chilly draft coming into my room.

"That's strange," I said as I noticed that my window was open. "I could have sworn that I shut it last night."

I looked out the window and I felt as if somebody was watching me. I should have felt paranoid or scared, but instead I felt an eerily calmness of peace and security as if I knew that I was being protected. Protected by what, I didn't know, but for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel alone.

I grabbed my set of clothes and headed into the bathroom to take a shower. I got ready for the day and then proceeded to head downstairs where the smell of bacon and pancakes awaited me.

"Hey Bells, have a seat, breakfast will be ready in a little bit," Charlie stated as I walked into our kitchen."

"You cooked," I said eyeing the food with suspicion.

"Don't worry Bells, Leah did the cooking and I supervised."

"Come on Bella, do you really think that I would let Charlie cook for us?" Leah asked as she came around the corner and sat down at the table.

"That's good Charlie, because even though I love you, I wouldn't touch your food if my life depended on it."

"Me either," Charlie stated and then we all laughed.

We sat down at the breakfast table and had breakfast as a family. It was good to see Charlie, he had been working a lot of double shifts and I hadn't seen him in a while.

After breakfast, I got up and began to clear the table. "You don't have time for that Bells, I got it. You girls are going to be late for school if you don't get a move on."

I grabbed my keys, and Leah and I headed out the door. Jimmy was extra sweet to me today; he started up right away and didn't give me any attitude. I had a feeling that today was going to be a good day.

Leah and I walked into Mr. Peterson's Science class. Jake had saved Leah and me a seat by him. I scanned the room and was disappointed when I realized that Edward wasn't there. My disappointment hit me hard; he said he would be here. I was hurt and hoped that his absence had nothing to do with me. He was so different last night, not cold and distant the way that he had been before, and I foolishly let myself believe that Edward had gotten over whatever it was about me that set him off.

Leah and I sat down next to Jacob and I tried to listen to Mr. Peterson's lesson, but my thoughts turned to Edward. I wondered where he was and what he was doing. I convinced my self that he was sick, and that was why he was gone and that tomorrow he would be here and everything would be better. My thoughts quickly turned into fantasies about being alone with Edward, as Mr. Peterson, rambled on monotonously in the background. In my fantasy, I would bring Edward some soup and he would answer the door in nothing but a towel. His hair would be spiked and the water drops would glisten off of his ripped chest. In that moment, he would be so happy to see me that he would pick me up and spin me around, until we would topple over from dizziness. I found myself on top of Edward and we were so close, I leaned in to give him a kiss.

"Bella? Did you hear what I asked you?" Mr. Peterson asked, bringing me back to reality as I heard kids snickering around me.

"What? I'm sorry, could you repeat the question?" I asked, feeling mortified. I hoped that the class didn't know or that I hadn't said anything to give the impression that my mind was on Edward, and not on whatever, it was that Mr. Peterson was trying to teach us.

"I asked you if you could explain what the difference between an atom and a nucleus was for the class."

"I'm sorry, I don't know. " I explained as even more giggles came from the background.

"Can anyone else explain for Miss Bella, what the difference is?" Jessica raised her hand and began to answer the question, as I slumped down in my chair.

"Bella, are you feeling okay? You look all flushed and disoriented," Leah whispered.

"Yeah, I'm just having a hard time concentrating today," I whispered back.

"Bella, I saved you a seat," Alice informed me as soon as I walked into Math class. "Don't worry about Edward, you'll see him soon," Alice whispered to me as soon as I took my seat.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm positive that you will see Edward tonight."

I liked Alice, but she was hard to figure out sometimes, but then again so was Edward. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Edward was having an off day and thought it best that he stay home."

"What?"

"You were going to ask me why Edward wasn't at school, right?"

"Yeah, but how did you know I was going to ask that."

"I know things. It's part of my charm." Alice stated and then flashed one of her smiles, as if she was posing for the cover of some fashion magazine.

I was glad that school was over and I got in my jogging clothes. I decided that I would jog around the lake, hoping that Alice had been right and that Edward would show up. I felt a need to see him, to see if he was okay. My Edward obsession was throwing me off of my routine. Normally I wouldn't go jogging until I finished my homework. I sat down to do it, but I couldn't focus and found my thoughts turning to Edward. The sooner I went jogging, the sooner the possibility that I would see Edward, and if I didn't see him then hopefully I could concentrate on my work ahead of me knowing that Alice had been wrong.

I was done jogging and still no Edward. I was debating on whether or not I should take another lap around the lake when a car pulled into the parking lot. I stayed hoping that Edward was here. I was wrong. Three boys got out of the car and I could smell the alcohol coming off of them. When the last boy got out of the car he brought out a bottle of Vodka and handed it to one of the other boys.

"What do you want to do tonight, Eddie? I'm bored," I heard one of the boys ask.

"Don't worry, I have a feeling that our night is about to become more interesting," one of the other boys, possibly Eddie, said as he motioned in my direction.

I began to get uncomfortable; they were all glaring at me like I was their dinner. I turned around and started jogging in the other direction.

"Hey what's your name?" I could hear one of them asking as I tried my best to ignore them. "You're not scared of us are you?"

I turned around to face them. "No, I'm just tired, and want to get home."

"Oh, it's early out and we could have a lot of fun together,"

"I think I'll pass."

"Eddie, she thinks she's too good for us."

"No, I don't I'm just tired. It has been a long night and I need to get going," I said and then I turned around and started jogging again.

They were following behind me so I picked up the pace into a full run. I got to the other parking lot on the other side of the lake when the same car pulled up blocking my entrance. I realized then that the third boy hadn't followed me. He must have gotten back in the car. I started to panic realizing that my exit was blocked. I felt trapped like helpless prey that was just about to be caught by the hunters.

The other boys had caught up to me now. I turned around to face them, "what do you want from me?"

"Oh honey, we just want to show you a good time. We'll make you feel better, we promise."

"Just leave me alone."

"I can't do that, I promised my boys a good night tonight and I always keep my promises. You wouldn't want to make me look bad," Eddie said as he brushed his hand against my cheek.

"Go to hell," I said.

I tried to break out of the circle that they had formed around me. One of the boys grabbed me so I elbowed his side and tried my best to get out of his tight grip. I couldn't get away he was too strong, there were too many of them. I fought as hard as I could but it wasn't enough. They wrestled me to the ground and I was screaming as loud as I could, hoping that there would be somebody else there. It was cold out and it had begun to snow, so I feared that there would be no one around to hear my screams.

Two of the boys held my arms down while Eddie took off one of his gloves and shoved it in my mouth.

"That will keep you quiet, don't worry. I'll be gentle," he said as he begun to unbutton his pants.

I kept fighting as he lowered himself on me. I panicked as he reached his hands and begun to unbutton my pants. "I got it from here boys, let go of her arms, I want to hold her down. It adds a certain amount of excitement, don't you think."

The boys let go of my arms and there had been a second of freedom. Eddie had managed to grab one of my hands and pin it down, but I swung with the other hand towards his face. I jammed my fingers into his eye as hard as I could. Eddie let out a cry of pain and rolled off of me, releasing my other hand. I sat up trying to get to my feet, but one of the other boys came and pushed me back down onto the ground. The last thing I remembered about that night was hearing a loud thud, searing pain and then darkness.