Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or anything to do with it... Or do I?

No, I don't.


(BPOV)

"Bella, is that… is that an iron?" Rose asked in a shaky voice. I nodded my head, the twisted smirk still residing on my face. They were so damn…ignorant. Rose walked over to me and lifted my shirt up, looking at my back. I heard their breath hitch at the exact same time, both being quiet as they examined my back. I just stood there and waited for their next move.

"I'm getting mom." Rose finally stated, walking towards the door.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, why?" I stepped in front of her, stopping her from bothering Esme.

"Hmm, to ask her if she can take us to the fucking park." She replied sarcastically, trying to step around me.

"Oh, whatever, I'm taking care of them. They're healing just fine. No need to run off and bother everyone." I reasoned, still in only a pair of jeans and a bra. She looked at me incredulously, but didn't say anything. Then her eyes looked over me again, except, this time, she was looking at the front of me, and could clearly see the horrible bruise on my chest, the quite obviously broken rib poking softly against the purplish-black flesh. She looked like she was going to get sick.

"Oh. My. God." Her voice cracked as she walked back towards me. Shit. I hadn't gotten the courage to try to reset the bone yet, and I really didn't have any defenses against Rosalie's attempt to bother her mom with my injuries. Rose walked around me to call her mother upstairs, and I didn't try to stop her. I looked at Alice, who had tears in her eyes and what looked like a piteous look on her face as she stared at me. "I don't want your pity." I mumbled/growled. This entire situation was rather irksome.

Esme walked in behind Rose and looked at me in a shocked silence for a few seconds, and I waited impatiently as she composed herself. "Are…are you okay?" She asked dumbly. Yeah, just great, though this bone stabbing against my skin is a little unpleasant. Instead of saying what I wanted to say, I answered the question the way she meant it. "Yeah, I mean, it's not too bad." I answered truthfully. Of course, it was only the truth because I might of taken a Vicodin pill from the stash that I had stolen from the Davids'. Maybe.

She looked at me like I was crazy. "Honestly, I'm calling Carlisle." She said, whipping her phone out, typing in the numbers and holding the device to her ear before I comprehended what she had said.

"He-hey, let's not be hasty now, he can fix me up when he gets home, no need to bother him at work." I was unsure of myself, I was standing up against an authority figure, and from past experiences, I knew that this was not a good idea. She didn't even look at me, Carlisle had answered and she was now telling him it might be in his best interest to get here as soon as possible. I didn't allow my annoyance to shine through like it oh so desperately wanted to.

Alice ran to my room and got me a pair of pajamas, and I went to the bathroom, changing out of the jeans I had been wearing and pulled on the pants, I also washed my face to get all of the make up off before pulling the shirt over my head. I got to the door and heard whispering, though it all stopped once I opened the door, the only remnants of what they had been talking about being the sympathetic looks on their faces as I stepped out. I looked away and grimaced, I still didn't trust these people, and their sympathy was making me anxious. Alice's door opened and Carlisle stepped in, medical bag in hand.

"Sorry it took so long. What's the matter?" He demanded, looking worried. Esme looked at me pointedly and I took this as a hint to take my shirt off, which is exactly what I did. He looked at my ribs with raised eyebrows and surprised eyes. "Everyone out." He ordered, voice all business. I swallowed hard at the thought of being in a bedroom, alone, with a man. My breathing grew a little bit faster. He told me to lay on the bed, and my eyes widened, my mouth grew dry, and I shook my head, inching back and away from him. Understanding crossed his features, quickly followed by that damned sympathy making it's appearance for about the fourth time today. "I just have to reset your rib, I'll leave the door open if you want?" He made an attempt at comforting me as my breaths got shorter and faster, I nodded, telling myself over and over again that he was just going to reset my rib.

He put his fingers on the bone, the other hand on my ribs, I held my breath, and then he pushed. I gripped the bed sheets and clenched my teeth to hold back my scream, partly from pain, partly from memories. He then started to bandage it, but when he got to my back stopped for a bit before getting more supplies and working on the burn, and cuts, not saying a word as I tried to steady my breathing, and trying to push out everything and anything that popped into my head. I was completely bandaged in 427 seconds, and his hands were off of me, and handing me my shirt the second he was finished, for which, I was grateful. I slipped my shirt on as quickly as I could in all of the tight bandaging.

Carlisle told me it would probably be a good idea to rest for a little while and sent me to my room to lay down. Instead, I grabbed my math book and sat on my bed to finish up my schoolwork for the day. It took me an hour and a half to finish the horrifyingly useless mechanism that is Algebra. I looked at the clock, 2:47. I sighed, I had nothing else to do. I opted for trying to sleep. I actually almost fell asleep, but, of course, someone knocked on my door, "Bella? Would you mind coming down to the living room for a family meeting?" I heard Alice's voice waft through the door.

I walked over and opened the door, Alice smiled at me slightly and walked with me down the stairs. Once we made it to the living room, I noticed everyone was there, each had worry etched onto their features. I rolled my eyes. Oh, honestly.

"Guys, really, I'm fine." I assured them exasperatedly.

"Bella, who did this to you?" Esme asked. With this question I did the classic palm-forehead move. If ignorance was bliss, these people were orgasmic.

I let out a humorless laugh. "This? James and Victoria did this as a way for me to always remember them. This," I showed them the branded 'A' on my right calf. "Is a way for me to remember the Andersons'. And this," I showed them the five 'D's carved into the inside of my upper left arm. "is my reminder of my days at the David's. And these," I showed them the three cigarette burns on the inside of my left arm. "are from Juvie." I stopped abruptly, not wanting to tell them about my reminder, reminders, of the Johnson's.

"I don't understand, why would someone do that to a child? And such a good one at that?" Esme asked nobody.

I gave a shrug. "Anger is addictive." Was all I said, not wanting to even broach the subject of my being a 'good child'. Yeah. Right. "Look, why do you even care?" I demanded, fed up with this one big, happy family charade they were trying to play off on me.

"Because we love you." Alice whispered.

I laughed. Hard. And it hurt my ribs, and it burned my back, but I went on with it. "Please," I sighed. "Love isn't my thing. It's not for me." I told them, backing away and getting ready to retreat to my room. Rose caught my arm.

"Bella, we realize that you have been hurt, but that's no reason to think those things of yourself." She tried to reason an invalid point.

I licked my lips and took in a short breath. "Let me ask you something, Rose. Let's say you were to get a kid, lets just say this kid is twelve years old, if you were to get this kid, and tell him everyday for two years you loved him and you said it with just so much passion, he had to know it was true. Now, lets say you were to ask this kid if he was loved, what would he say?" I inquired, a hard look covering my face.

"Yes." She said with a confused look.

"Yes, he would. Because you had pounded this into his mind for so long, he would know it had to be true. Now, if you did the exact same thing, except told him he was a monster unworthy of anyone's love, what would he say if you asked him the same question?" I asked her. She didn't give a response, and I didn't wait for one. I walked up to my room as quickly as I could and closed the door gently.

I sat on my bed and thought back on what I had said, immediately reprimanding myself. What the hell was coming over me? I was over-stepping my bounds by a long shot and I was just setting myself up for some serious shit when their mean gene kicked in. I wondered if an apology might lessen the blow, when things caught up with others and I found the calm and collected doctor's fist connecting with my jaw. Apologizing was my thing. I could kiss some serious ass, when need be.

So that's how I found myself, standing in the doorway of the living room again, calculating my chances of out-running seven people, three of which were grown men. They didn't look good. "Excuse me, please." They all looked up. "But I wanted to apologize, I took my anger out on the wrong people and you didn't deserve an ounce of it. I was out of place. I don't expect or deserve to be forgiven, but you deserve an apology." I apologized. I heard someone standup from the couch, and looked up, hoping I really wasn't going to have to try and outrun someone as built as Emmett. I saw Esme walking towards me, not a trace of anger on her face as she enveloped me in a light hug. My body stiffened, but I don't think she noticed it.

"Oh, honey, of course we forgive you." She said sweetly. I was confused at first, before settling with the fact that there must be a nuclear power plant or something of the sort nearby, causing this strangeness. That, or I was still hanging onto the theory that they were waiting for their little celebrities to be out of the house.

I thanked them and Emmett got up and gave me yet another hug. Calm down, he won't pull anything yet. Not yet. Not yet. I chanted over and over again in my head to keep myself from hyperventilating again.

"Well, it's already 5:30, who want's to order pizza?" Carlisle cut in, ending the mildly awkward silence. I wondered if I was the only one that noticed that everything always got awkward after the big guy hugged me. Probably. I realized how hungry I was, I hadn't eaten since last night, but I was used to not eating for a day or two, so I knew I would be fine. Unfortunately, my stomach didn't like how lightly I was taking this, because it growled at me. I blushed when Emmett laughed.

"Jeez, Bells." Another cringe. "When was the last time you ate?" My blush deepened.

"Last night." I answered, knowing it would ruin the moment, being proven right by the silence that followed my admittance.

"Why?" Edward questioned curiously. It was the first time I had heard him talk and actually listened to him, and his voice was lovely. Smooth and dulcet, not too deep, or too high. All I could think about was how I just knew he was a great singer.

"Well, with the past homes I've been in, I wasn't allowed to eat their food." I explained in a whisper, causing frowns to etch themselves onto everyone's faces.

"Well, we're not like those past homes, you can make yourself at home here." Carlisle assured after a moment of silence. "What kind of pizza do you guys want to order?" He asked everyone, lightening the mood.

"Meat lovers!" All of the boys yelled at the same time.

"A garden pizza." Alice said, Rosalie nodding with her.

"I just want a cheese pizza." Esme chimed in before they both looked at me.

"Um, whatever is fine." I shrugged, not wanting to be difficult.

"Okay, so two large meat lovers, one large garden pizza, and a large cheese, right?" Everyone nodded. Carlisle got the phone and walked out of the living room to a quieter place, Esme following. The other two couples broke off to spend some time alone, which just left me and Edward. He motioned me over to the couch and I sat about two feet away from him.

"Why do you prefer to be home-schooled?" He wondered.

I thought about it for a second before answering him. "Well, I really don't like the idea of being in a place filled with people for seven or eight hours. Plus, I don't like the public schooling system." I explained.

He nodded. "Alright, what are your top three favorite bands, least to greatest?" Whoa, way to change subjects abruptly, huh?

"Well, it changes often, but right now it would be Weezer, Desolate, Paramore, from least to greatest. What about you?" I didn't really understand how I was able to talk to him, why I felt comfortable with him, but I did, I literally had to force myself to keep my distance.

"You have a pretty good taste in music, let's see, leaving Desolate out, just because that's too obvious, mine would be Northstar, Taking Back Sunday, well, in their older days, and Bright Eyes."

I felt my eyes go wide. "You listen to Northstar? Wait, let me rephrase that, you have actually heard of Northstar? What's your favorite song?" I was amazed, I'd never met anyone who had even the slightest clue who Northstar was.

"Broken Parachute. What about you? What's your favorite song?" He asked, he kind of seemed like he didn't believe me. I wouldn't blame him, I wouldn't of believed him either.

"Like A.M. Radio, would have to be my favorite." I decided. "Alright, what's your favorite book?" I inquired, eyebrow raised. This conversation would not be allowed to proceed if he said anything along the lines of 'Books suck, I hate reading.'

"Oh, that one's easy, The Haunted by Palahniuk." He said, not seeming to take much time to think about his answer at all. "What about you?"

"I finished that book last month, it would have to be my favorite Chuck Palahniuk book, though Choke was a close second. Anyways, my favorite book would be Going Bovine by Bray." We had both turned ourselves on the couch so that we could look at each other while talking.

"Have you read Fight Club?" He asked.

"Yes, but I watched the movie first, so there was no surprise at the end and I kind of knew what was going to happen. It was obviously better than the movie, just not my favorite." I shrugged. He looked like he was going to reply, but the doorbell rang, signaling that dinner was here.

Edward and I got up to go sit at the table as I heard doors opening upstairs. Carlisle came in just as we entered with the pizzas in hand. He set them on the counter while Edward got two Pepsi's out of the fridge, I grabbed a paper plate and put one slice of cheese pizza on it while Edward put four of the meat lovers. He pulled a chair out for me before seating himself in the one next to me. Someone makes friends quickly. Not that I was really complaining.

Everyone else had started to file into the kitchen and grab themselves some food and a drink. Dinner passed quickly, Edward and I talking with each other through most of it. "What's your favorite movie?" He asked before taking a sip of his Pepsi.

"I have a few favorites. My favorite Disney movie would be Alice in Wonderland, my favorite comedy is Pineapple Express, and my favorite non-comedy is Donnie Darko. What about you?"

"My favorite Disney movie is Alice in Wonderland, too. Also a good book. My favorite comedy would be Grandma's Boy, and my favorite non-comedy is Fight Club." He smiled a crooked smile.

(EPOV)

After dinner, Emmett got bored and bet Jasper he would be able to take him down. Jasper, as always, took the bet and we all followed them outside. This happened at least once a month, and it got to be pretty interesting. Carlisle went out in the yard with them to referee.

"Okay boys, you know the rules. No punching. No kicking. And No biting." He said, looking at Emmett on the last one. Last fight Emmett broke skin on Jasper after biting his arm while being held down. "Both of your opponents shoulders must be touching the ground for three seconds for the win. On the count of three. One." He backed away from them. "Two. Three!"

They ran at each other, Emmett had Jasper on the ground almost immediately, but Jasper had managed to squirm out of it and ran a good ten feet to the other side. I already knew what he was doing, but Emmett had no idea. Emmett grinned and ran full force at him, but right before Emmett reached him, he moved to the side and stuck his foot out. Emmett fell to the ground with a loud thump, and Jasper pinned him. I heard the most beautiful sound I had ever heard, I looked to my right to see that Bella was laughing. I couldn't help but smile, too. I loved it, and decided right then that I would make it my job to hear it as often as possible.


AN: There! Now the Cullens know of allof her scars now...right? Ha, no my dear readers. Not even close. There are quite a few left. So, I'm kind of loving Sarcastic Bella, though her hiding behind it is not exactly a good thing. Edward and Bella have started talking, but this doesn't mean she is trusting them quite yet. She is not allowing any of her hopes get high. Please Review! I love them more than I love making fun of people with a WTF blanket. I- I mean snuggie.
;]