AN: Thank you all so much for the love! This is my 1st Twilight story, and it turns out Twilight shippers are awesome :)

TRIGGER WARNING: We get Bella's story in this chapter, so it's going to be rough. Graphic depictions of rape. Homophobic slurs. Skip the italics if you don't want to read.

Italics = flashback

Chapter 3:

"And when my fiance and his friends were done, they left me bleeding on the street. Luckily I was found before I bled to death." Bella thought that the voice and story sounded familiar, but it wasn't possible. Taking a deep breath and daring to look across the room at the woman speaking, Bella almost fell over in shock. Sitting in a plain metal folding chair was Rosalie Hale. Her beautiful golden eyes were filled with tears she could never shed.

Bella gasped at the depth of pain and understanding reflected in Rosalie's eyes. Of course, this drew attention to the struggling brunette. She felt as if the whole room was suddenly staring at her, and for once she was right.

"Perhaps you would be comfortable introducing yourself and telling us why you're here today?" asked Janet.

"Oh... well, I'm Bella. And I'm here for the same reason everyone else is I guess." she paused, looking at the most beautiful Cullen. "I went away to college last year. Everything was going pretty good for once. I was dating this great girl, and we were happy."

Bella could feel the intensity of Rosalie's inhuman stare and looking up saw the innumerable questions in her eyes. She looked down at her lap for a moment before going on.

"I was a little worried when I started dating a girl, I wasn't sure how everyone on campus would respond. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. We were generally accepted, or at least tolerated. I guess that made us complacent."

Bella couldn't risk looking at Rose again, instead she looked at Janet and was given a nod to continue. She took a shaky breath, "One night after studying in the library I walked my girlfriend back to her dorm. As we were approaching the building a group of guys surrounded us...

"Hello ladies! Fancy meeting two dikes like you on a beautiful night like this one."

Bella snapped her head up and shoved Amber behind her. "We're not looking for any trouble."

"Either are we. We're looking to show you what you're missing." he delivered the line with a look that was supposed to be sexy. It was actually revolting.

Bella could feel Amber clinging to her hoodie. Her stomach was churning. She knew she had to be strong for them both. "We're not missing anything. Just let us go."

She watched as the leader of the pack grabbed himself roughly through his jeans. "No, this is what you're missing. Should we show them guys?"

The group of boys laughed around them, groping themselves in solidarity. The invisible bubble of space between Bella and her nightmare was popped as she and Amber were torn apart and restrained. Amber went limp in her captors arms, Bella could see her body shaking.

"This one's no fun," he complained. "She already gave in." The pout could be heard in his words.

"Well, no worries bro. This one is feisty enough for both of them." The beast licked a trickle of blood from his mouth. Bella had thrown her head back when she was grabbed from behind, and had managed to split his lip. "Why don't we make yours watch, while we teach this one a lesson?" A gruesome grin crossed his face.

Without ceremony the girls were dragged into the woods surrounding the dormitory. Once again they formed their circle with Bella and Amber in the middle. One of the guys grabbed Amber while another threw Bella down on the ground. Two boys pinned her arms down while a third ripped her pants off. Their leader unzipped his pants and took out his already erect member.

"Now you dyke bitch, let me show you what a real man is made of! You're gonna pay for splitting my lip." he practically growled.

Bella was thrashing wildly, but was severely out numbered. She could hear Amber crying and whimpering, begging them to stop. Her cries fell on willingly deaf ears. All the men were laughing as their leader pounced, wrenching Bella's legs apart and forcing himself inside of her to the hilt. Bella felt the moment her hymen tore, but that one small pain soon got lost in the multitude.

She cried, she screamed "No!", she wailed and sobbed. She fought until she had nothing left. Only after she felt like she was ripped in two did he finally stop. Amber had gone silent, from what Bella could see she was practically catatonic. Her face was gripped in one hand, being forced to watch Bella's assault. His other hand was roughly groping Amber's breasts through her sweater.

Shuddering in pain, Bella thought she would die when he said "Alright, whose next? You know these carpet munchers need more than one ride to understand."

"They all began taking turns, after the third was finished I could hear sirens in the distance. The guy holding my girlfriend punched her in the stomach and the face, then dropped her and ran off. The rest of them took off after they had pulled up their pants. We were found a few minutes later by campus security. Someone had heard the screaming and called for help. Too bad it was already far too late."

Bella stopped speaking, she was gently rocking back and forth, tears were streaming down her face. She hadn't told the story since giving her statement to the police. She almost forgot how terrible her ordeal had been. Almost, but not quite. Bella took a deep breath through her nose, and was assaulted with the smell of cinnamon and roses. Looking up she found Rosalie sitting in the chair next to her.

Rose lifted up one arm, silently asking Bella if she wanted some comfort. Hesitant at first she leaned in and pressed her warm body against the cold one being offered to her. She rested her head against the strong shoulder below her, and began to breathe normally when she felt Rose rubbing gentle circles on her back. She wrapped her arms around Rosalie's stomach, squeezing tightly knowing she couldn't hurt her.

Rose placed a light kiss on the top of her head. Bella didn't know how long they stayed like that, curled up on uncomfortable metal folding chairs. She did know that she hadn't felt so safe in a very long time. Not even Jake's arms held this level of comfort for her. Eventually she sat up, disturbing their embrace. She was surprised that when she looked around every one but Janet was gone.

"Thank you for sharing that Bella. I can't imagine how difficult it was to recount such a hateful crime." said the older woman.

Not having any words left, Bella could only nod and turn the corners of her mouth up in a ghost of a smile.

"Bella, can I take you home? I really don't want you to drive right now. I'll run back and get your truck tonight."

Bella was beyond grateful for the offer, and for the fact that Rosalie was giving her a choice not making a decision for her.

"Please. And thank you Rose."

Rosalie helped her down the stairs and into her cherry red sports car. "I know you have questions Bella. I do too. But it can all wait until you're ready. I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise?" she asked shyly.

"I promise. I will never abandon you again." the blonde replied fiercely.

The ride back to Forks was made in companionable silence. At some point during the ride Bella's hand had sought Rosalie's. Their fingers intertwined comfortably while resting on the center console.

AN: Thanks for reading. This chapter was tough. Next up, Rose & Bella building a friendship and answering some questions for each other.