It's hard being around Edward now. I would be rambling stupid things to him, and he would smile—probably thinking I was crazy or something. He smiled, I blush, he looks at me in the eyes, and I get lost in his golden orbs. You know, they should make dazzling illegal.

Another thing is bothering me: Can I tell Edward what…happened to me? I'm scared of opening up to people. "What would they think?" would always be in my mind. I know I could open up to Alice, but…I just don't know if I'm strong enough.

But I might as well talk to Edward, or else I'll go to…counseling. I don't ever want that. I'm not crazy. I'm just…frightened.

"Mmm…that smells good, Bells," Charlie said, as he walked into the kitchen.

"It's almost done," I told him. I was making spaghetti.

Charlie sat down on one of the kitchen chairs. His eyes looked like he was observing me. That made me a little self-conscious.

"So…Bella," he said casually. "How are things with Edward?"

That question caught me off guard. I know Charlie was okay with Edward, but he's still suspicious about him. He thinks Edward would hurt me again. How could Edward hurt me if we're not even going to date? And every time I think of Edward the same question pops into my mind: "Does Edward still love me?"

So, I ignored his question.

I turned off the stove, and started to pour the sauce on the noodles. I started to mix the sauce with the noodles. I grabbed a plate for Charlie and put some noodles for him.

"Here." I set the plate in front of him and the fork.

Charlie took a sniff of it and sighed in contentment. "Your mother must have taught you a lot."

"Yeah. Including Food Network," I muttered. I left the kitchen to go upstairs as usual.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Charlie called.

"Later," I called back.

Just as I was about to set a foot on the stairs, the phone rang. I want some sleep! I screamed in my head. I was grouchy today. Maybe it's because I was so confused about a certain gorgeous vampire.

I picked up the phone from the receiver and answered it. "Hello?" I said dully.

"Hi, Bella!" Alice chirped.

That made my day. I smiled. "Hi, Alice."

"What are you doing right now at this fine moment?" she asked jokingly.

"Fine moment?" I snorted. "Yeah, right. I'm dead bored and confused."

"Somebody's PMSing," she sang. "And why are you confused?"

I didn't answer that. "Um…homework."

I could practically hear her rolling her eyes. "Liar, liar, pants on fire! You're a smart person! You never have problems with homework!"

"Except math," I countered.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Bella. Anyways, want to have a sleepover?" she asked enthusiastically.

"It's a school night."

"Don't worry—I'll talk to Charlie. We have school, too, you know."

"We?"

"Duh! Edward and me!"

I mentally sighed dreamily at his name. I'm becoming a stupid schoolgirl.

"Oh. Um, so how long will the sleepover be?"

"Whenever, whatever, I don't really care—as long as you're there, best friend!" I almost awed when she said that.

I giggled, "Okay. I'll get my things ready."

"All done!" she sang. "I snuck into your window. Edward was right—it is easy to climb up your window."

"You snuck into my bedroom?" I asked incredulous. "Did you burn anything?"

"Um…" She sounded nervous.

"Alice—"

"Gotta go, Bells, bye! I'll be there in about…five or ten minutes or less! Get ready! And wear something that Alice would like!" she shouted quickly, and then I heard a click.

"Something Alice would like," I mumbled.

"Who was that?" Charlie asked. "Alice?"

I nodded. "She wants to have a sleepover."

He nodded. "That's good, Bella—good for your health."

I nodded, and went to go change into something…Alice would like.

I opened my closet, and observed my clothing. They were all t-shirts and jeans. And they were all faded. Alice would get mad at me if I wore something that's off-the-rack. So, I decided to wear that blue tank top Renee gave me last time she came here and regular jeans. I grabbed my tennis shoes, and bolted out the door.

"Bye, Bella!" Charlie yelled as I went out the door.

"Bye," I mumbled, but he didn't hear me. I saw Edward's Volvo.

Wait a minute… Is Edward in there?

My heart was racing at the thought of his name. Get a grip of yourself, Bella! I shouted in my mind.

The door opened showing…Edward. I gulped. In a second, he was in front of me.

"Hello," he greeted softly, smiling.

"Hi."

I walked quickly towards the Volvo. Alice lied! Edward was in front of the passenger door before me, as usual, and opened it for me.

I blushed, and got in.

He walked gracefully—he was like a blur—around the car and got in. He drove out of the driveway smoothly, and when he was out of my neighborhood, he started going over a hundred miles per hour.

I stared at my hands, not knowing what to say to this god-like vampire beside me. I looked at him from the corner of my eye. He was smiling. I noticed he was wearing cotton, black jacket and a blue t-shirt, with black jeans. It was like he was going to a photo shoot for casual attire.

"How are you today, Bella?" Edward asked conversationally.

"Um…fine," I answered lamely. "What about you?"

"I'm doing quite well, actually." I saw his eyes narrow a bit.

"Quite?"

"Perceptive, as usual." He smiled at me, and then he sighed. "Alice has been blocking me."

"Why?"

"I have no idea. It is very irritating. She just said, 'You will find out in time,'" he mimicked her voice.

Unintentionally, I laughed out loud.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "What is so funny to you, Bella?"

I spoke between laughs. "Alice's…voice…doesn't…match…you!"

He stared at me for a moment before laughing as well. His musical laugh is so…musical. This gorgeous guy right here is making me sound so stupid. Edward's making me…me—and without even doing anything!

"Laughing is the best medicine, Bella," he said softly. "And it will cure anything."

I thought about that. That is true. Laughing makes me feel great—but not as much as this guy right here.

I looked out the window, smiling huge. I didn't notice that we arrived already. Alice came dancing towards us. Edward opened the door for me. I smiled at him.

"Hey, Bella!" Alice chirped.

I glared at her. "Hello."

She ignored my glares, and walked gracefully to the Cullen household.

"Why the glares?" Edward asked.

I shook my head.

"Hey, Bells!" Emmett boomed.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Hi, Emmett."

Alice was beside me again. She leaned over to me and whispered, "Let's go to my room. We need to talk."

I nodded.

She went to her room with me trailing behind. What did she want?

I went inside Alice's room and sat on her comfy bed.

"Alice, why did you lie?" I asked.

"We'll get to that later, Bella. Right now, you need to do something."

"What? Is there something wrong?"

She shook her head. "Nothing's wrong. You just need to get some answers. Last time, when you were here, you talked to Edward, am I right?"

I nodded.

"You see, Bella, I know that you guys didn't really talk. You didn't get all of the answers. Like, for instance, if Edward still loves you." She stared at me.

I bit my lip, and looked down.

"Don't worry, Bella, Edward went out hunting. So you don't really need to worry about him listening. He went with Jasper and Rosalie," she informed me.

"I love him, Alice," I whispered. "I really do…"

"Then go get him. You can't just sit here and keep on having these questions in your head. That's bad for your mental health." She sat next to me. "And…you need to tell him what happened to you."

I looked at her with wide eyes. "You know?"

"No, I don't. I've been asking Carlisle, but he wants you to tell Edward first. I'll find out eventually, though. But I have a pretty good idea on what happened to you. Edward's so oblivious."

I bit my lip again.

"Bella…you can't stay like this. You need to really talk to Edward. Ask him all these questions that are haunting your head. Shout at him if you have to! Vent your feelings out. You need to let it all out. And if you do, you'll be…Bella. My best friend." She looked like she was about to cry.

"I…I'm sorry, Alice. I want to hug you, really. But…I can't. I'm…scared. I…" I was sobbing. "I don't want to get hurt again…"

"Someone hurt you?" she asked incredulous.

I looked away from her. "You're close, Alice, very close."

"Do you know who?"

"I…never saw his face…"

"His? Oh, Bella, if Edward hears this, he'll go on rampage!" Alice cried.

"Why would he? Why would he care?"

"Bella…," she whispered. "I would tell you, but I think you need to hear it from him. It's for the best."

And then, after everything Alice told me, I knew that I could trust her.

"Alice, I won't tell you what happened to me…but I'll show you." I got up, and turned around facing the wall. I lifted up my tank top midway. I heard her gasp.

"Bella! Wha—what happened?! Bella…!" She was horrified. "Where did these bruises come from?! Aren't they supposed to be healed by now?! Charlie said that that tragic thing that happened to you happened weeks ago! They're supposed to be…" She trailed off.

I pulled down my shirt. "I don't know. Dr. Gerandy—the doctor that treated me—doesn't know, either."

"But—but how come you don't look like you're in pain?!"

"I hold in the pain or ignore it. It's smarting right now." I winced.

"Bella, we need to talk to Carlisle, right now!" she shouted.

I widened my eyes. "No!"

"We have to, Bells! Since Carlisle already knows, you can just… Carlisle!"

"Alice—no!" I shouted, but Carlisle was already there.

"Yes, Alice, what's wrong?" he asked, looking at me.

"Here!" Alice cried. She yanked my shirt up midway, showing the bruises.

Carlisle gasped. "Oh, my… Bella, aren't these supposed to be healed by now?"

I shrugged, not affected by the tense atmosphere.

"Bella, I need to get this treated right away!" Carlisle said. He held out a hand. "Come on, Bella."

I took a step away from his hand. He's not going to touch me.

"I won't hurt you," he said softly.

I gasped. That dreadful memory is coming back! I started crying.

"He—he said that!" I sobbed. "Don't touch me!"

"Bella, we won't hurt you," Alice said genuinely. "Bella, please!"

"Don't touch me!" I shouted.

Carlisle walked towards me. "Bella—"

"I said to not touch me!" Why aren't they listening to me?

"Bella, dear, we can help you," I heard Esme say.

I saw Alice talking at hyper speed on the phone. "…now! She needs help! Get your freaking butt over here, Edward!"

Edward…

"Edward…," I whispered.

Alice slammed the phone shut, almost breaking it into pieces. "He's coming, Bella. He's coming for you…," Alice said. "We won't hurt you."

"Edward…," I whispered again before slipping into darkness.

-x-

It was dark.

Did I die or something? Where's Edward? Edward…?

"…fainted from all these things that are happening to her. She was very frightened," I heard a voice saying—Carlisle, probably.

"Did you tell Charlie?" a velvet voice asked. Edward…

"No. I don't want to put this on him. It would be better if we didn't tell him, Edward." I heard rustling sounds. "I'll leave you two alone. Alice?"

"She should be conscious by now. She hears us," she said. I could tell from her voice that she was smiling.

"Why are you blocking me, Alice?" Edward asked irritated.

"Let's go, Alice," Carlisle said.

"Have fun, Edward," Alice sang. Then the door closed.

I heard Edward sigh.

"I'm sorry for doing this to you, Bella," he whispered. "I'm so sorry." He closed his eyes.

I opened my eyes, showing Edward. He looked in pain. I didn't want that.

I made a slight sound to show him I was awake. His eyes snapped open, and he looked at me.

"Bella," he whispered. "Bella, Bella…"

I smiled at him.

My savior is here.

-x-

Gah! Sorry for the late update. I had homework, a big project—literally—and I was really sick! I also had writer's block. I hate it! Thanks to everyone who was so supportive and patient!

I have another story in mind, but I won't post it up till I'm done with this story.

Review please!

Monica-san