AN: Hi everybody! I'm having a blast writing this story... original outline included 15 chapters... now it's looking like 50 LOL

Many thanks to my beta TwilightTTS for the support and amazing help. You rock my friend! She also reminded me about a certain disclaimer...

i don't owe anything Twilight... sad day

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BPOV Chapter 3

Looking back at my mother's reaction, I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised.

My mother has always been the one to keep up appearances. Ever since my dad retired, we've lived on a more limited income, using his pension and some income from some of his businesses. I can tell his health has taken a toll; not that my mom or my brother cared. You could say I resemble my mother the most: a brunette, slim, pretty enough. She tends to keep her hair in an updo, but I've always preferred to wear it down. I know this annoys her. She even picks my wardrobe. Dresses me up like a little doll, or better yet, the perfect housewife. She seems to continue to spend outrageous amounts of money on the latest fashions, and on my irresponsible brother when he is partying with his friends. I know I'm very lucky to live the life that I do, but I've never cared for those things. Unlike my mother, I hate putting on a fake smile during social events and parade myself. I know she hopes someone from a respectable family catches my eye, and then I'll live my life as she wishes hers to be. I know she's going to be the hardest to convince about James, but I won't let her push me around. She's so used to getting her way, but I refuse to be bought. Perhaps that's why she favors my brother, Jasper.

I have never met a more irresponsible man. It surprises me how different he is from my father, and my dad certainly takes notice of that. It's interesting how my mom doesn't care for his appearance as much as she does for me. I roll my eyes at the thought. His blonde curls are always in front of his face. I know he does it to annoy my dad, and I raise my eyebrow, realising we're more similar than I thought. I hate how my brother and my father fight, especially knowing how much this affects my dad. Of course my mom always takes my brother's side, and then my dad gives in to her. That's what I'm most afraid of. I know my dad wants me to be happy and loved, but if my mom makes him believe my happiness lies somewhere else…

I shudder at the thought.

I look to my side and smile at my aunt, Charlotte. She's a bit fuller on her waist but she has the same kind eyes as my father, and it makes me love her even more. She has loved my brother and I as if we were her very own children. She's my father's sister, and has never been married. People tend to pity her, but I admire her. She never found someone who she loved enough to marry. She had her share of men interested in taking her as their bride, but she never caved. She wanted to find the right man for her. I know I would do the same. I can't imagine going to bed next to a man you don't love.

"Isabella!" I heard my mom yell.

I make eye contact with my aunt and she rolls her eyes. I chuckle and shake my head. I stand up and look towards my mother.

My heart starts racing when I see her looking at me. She looks livid.

"How could you!?" She whisper yells at me. I know she knows. I don't know how she knows about James, but I know she is having the worst reaction, more so than I imagined.

"Renee, what's going on?" My aunt asks, because apparently I'm frozen in place.

"Charlotte, leave the room. My daughter and I need to talk in private." Her eyes pierce mine and her eyes are full of hatred. I feel my eyes water and I take a deep breath.

"But, Renee"

"I said leave!" My mother doesn't let my aunt finish.

My aunt reaches out towards me and rubs my arm. She frowns as she looks at me but sighs and heads towards her room. Before I have time to react I feel a sting on my cheek. I reach out toward the chair I was sitting and sit down. I'm not sure what shocks me the most, the sting or her reaction. It's worse than James and I expected.

"You slut!" My mother whisper yells. She reaches for one of my arms and I feel her nails dig into my skin. "Do you have any idea what you've done. Your brother saw you talking to that… piece of trash. Do you not think about what people will say about your indiscretions!? Our reputation is everything to this family,and you go out there and tarnish it like a whore! Can you imagine what your father would say if he found out?! Do you want to kill him?!" She finishes as she continues to pull on my arm. I feel as the tears roll down my face and I'm completely terrified of her.

"Mom, you need to calm down. You hit me for Christ sake. You have no right." I try to free my arm, but all I get is a shove towards the chair and she starts to pace back and forth in front of me.

"You better hope your father doesn't find out about this." She whispers yells again. And as if on queue, I hear my dad calling out for my mom.

"Renee, have you seen my medication?" My dad asks as he closes his office door.

"Clean up your face and keep your mouth shut." My mom snaps at me. "Honey, it's in your drawer, let me get it for you." She responds to my dad as she rushes to meet him. I wipe off my face and take a deep breath. My shock has worn off and my frustration and anger has taken its place. She knows I hate seeing my father upset, and also knows I won't say anything about her behavior.

"Bella, honey!" I hear my dad call out.

"Yes, dad?" I try to keep the shakiness out of my voice.

"Will you be a dear and ask your brother to come see me? I need to talk to him." He asks in a kind voice. I can tell he doesn't notice my state of anger or my mother shooting daggers at me with her stare.

"Yes, daddy." I respond and feel my eyes water. I love him so much, and I don't know if I can do this for James and I.

I rush out of the room before I start sobbing. I reach my room and shut it behind me as my knees give out and I fall to the ground. James was right. We have to run away. My mother will keeps us apart, and I know I could never hurt my father.

I get up and wipe angrily my tears. Jasper. I want to kill him. He probably did this to get a favor from my mom. I tear up again because as much as I love my brother I know he loves money as much as my mom. I shake my head as I tear up again because I can't even tell my aunt. She'll want to kill my mom for hitting me, and it will make it all the more worse.

I look at the clock and it's almost time to meet James. I have to tell him what happened and we'll have to come up with a plan to make this work.

I rush to get ready and clean up my face. I look at the mirror and see my brown eyes and how bloodshot they are; I also notice my cheek slightly pink. I close my eyes and take a breath. Now I'm pissed. I sniff and clean my face. I try to make a braid but I give up and brush out my hair. I look at my outfit and look for any stains after crying so much. My beige blouse has a few dots on my chest and decide I'm tired of my mother picking my clothes. I change quickly into a summer dress. It's slightly more revealing than my mom would approve and I love it. It has thin spaghetti straps holding the top portion, leaving my chest more exposed than I'm used to. I twirl as I notice how it fits tight around my waist, and I love how it flares out. It feels liberating. I smile at myself because I know in my heart I'll do whatever it takes to fight for my love.

I rush out of my room and head over to my brother's room. I knock on his door. Loud.

"Whaaaaat," he opens the door and draws out the word. God, he's such a jerk.

"You're the fucking worst. Thanks for ratting me out." I frown at him.

"Isabella, I see your language is matching your behavior out on the street." He chuckles. I take a deep breath and tear up because I feel so damn alone.

"Izzy, I'm sorry. I'm just teasing." He looks at me and I almost believe him. I roll my eyes and wipe off my stupid tears.

"My dad needs to see you." I tell him defeated, and walked towards the hall leading to the back door exit of the house.

"Izzy, I really am sorry." He says frowning. He takes a breath and says, "I needed the money…"

"You're impossible!" I don't even let him finish as I rush out of the house. I feel my tears roll down my face and I can't stop them. I run towards our meeting spot and as I get near I realize how dark is getting. I take a deep breath and wipe my face for the million time today. I can't let James see me like this.

After a few minutes I feel myself calm down and walk towards where James should be waiting. I see his silhouette, with his back towards me and take a ragged breath. He's worth it. That's all I can think as I rush toward him. For a minute I forget about my dad, my brother and the sting on my cheek. I slow down and reach out towards him. I hug him from behind, and breath him in. I'm home.

I feel his hands on my arms, caressing my skin and feel my heart race. He tries to turn around and I hug his waist trying to keep him close. I look up and my voice dies out in my throat.

This is not James.

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AN: Leave me some love! Wonder who she hugged... see ya next week ;)