Chapter 4

Edward's POV

I was trying to find Alice when I saw Bella in a tree. I watched her as she hung lights over some of the branches. She really was beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

I saw as she was working her way back down. She tripped on a limb, and started falling. I ran over to where she was tumbling to the ground, and caught her.

She seemed surprised she didn't hit the ground, and looked up at me.

I set her on her feet, and kept my hands on her waist to make sure she wouldn't fall over. Well, that was the reason I told myself.

As soon as I made sure she could stand up without falling, I took my hands slowly from her.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets.

"Thanks, Edward." She said quietly. She had the most amazing voice It sounded like bells ringing. I wonder what she sounded like when she sang.

We went into the house, and found Alice in the kitchen, looking at the food.

Bella went to go help Esme with it, and I pulled Alice into another room.

"Alice, I was wondering...." I started.

"What?" She asked.

"Well, does Bella have a boyfriend that you know of?" I asked.

She smiled. "Oh, I knew you liked her!" She exclaimed.

"Shhh! She will hear you!" I whispered.

"Well, Bella does have a boyfriend," Her face fell slightly. "But I think he hurts her, and I can tell she doesn't love him." I frowned.

"Wait, he hurts her?" I asked. I couldn't handle that. Bella was beautiful, and she shouldn't be put through that.

"Well, I think so. Did you see that cut on her cheek?" She asked. All I remember seeing was her beautiful face, and perfect features. I do remember her touching her cheek. Oh, I did see her cut.

I nodded. "Well, she claims she fell, but she also has a bruise. I don't that was the case." She said quietly.

"It's really sad, because she won't break up with him. I think she's afraid to." Alice whispered mostly to herself. I was not just going to sit around, and watch her get hurt.

I sighed, and then Bella walked in. "Alice, Esme wants your help." She said. Alice nodded, and rushed off towards the kitchen.

Bella turned to follow her, but I grabbed her arm. She turned around, and looked at me. I saw her wince slightly. I immediately let go of her arm.

"Bella, can I talk to you?" I asked.

"Sure," She said, and leaned against the wall.

"Alice was telling me about that cut on your cheek." I began.

She touched it, and winced again. "I fell." She stuttered.

"Bella, you don't think we really believe that, do you? I asked.

"Well, it's true. I fell." She said, looking down.

"You are a really terrible liar." I said.

She looked angry. "Well, what do you want me to tell you? That my boyfriend beats me?! And he pushed me onto the floor, and that's how that happened?!" She yelled. I gasped.

She slapped her hand over her mouth. " I... I...." She stuttered, and I saw tears streaking down her face. She let out a sob, and ran upstairs.

Alice came walking in quickly. "I heard that." She whispered. I just nodded. I can't believe Alice was right, but she usually was.

"You should go talk to her." Alice whispered. I nodded, and jogged up the stairs two at a time.

I came up there, and I heard sobs coming from Alice's bedroom. I knocked on the door.

"What?" She asked.

"Can I come in?" I asked.

"Sure." She said quietly. I opened the door slowly, and saw her crying on the floor, curled up in a ball.

She shouldn't be crying. It was wrong for an angel to cry.

"Oh, Bella." I whispered. I knelt down beside her, and hugged her.

She surprised me by climbing into my lap, and clutching onto my shirt.

I let her sob into my shirt, and I rubbed her back. I tried to soothe her, and it didn't seem to be working. After a while, she finally stopped crying, and wiped her eyes.

"I shouldn't have said that." She said, her face was still buried in my shirt.

"Well, Bella, I wanted to know." I said.

"It doesn't matter." She replied. "If he finds out that you know, he will hurt me." She whispered.

"Not while I'm around." She turned around so that she was facing the other way.

She held onto my arms, which were wrapped around her. She sniffed.

"Alice told me that she doesn't think you love him, either." I whispered.

She seemed reluctant to answer me. "Bella, you can tell me." I said.

She laid her head on my chest. "I don't love him, but I can't leave him. He will hurt me. I have to wait for him to leave me, but he just... won't." She said.

"You don't have to, Bella. As long as you have someone there to protect you...." I trailed off.

It dawned on me that I was actually holding her in my lap, with my arms wrapped around her. She didn't seem to mind, but I couldn't be sure she liked me yet.

"But, I idon't/I have anyone to protect me." She whispered, tears in her voice.

"You have me." I whispered as quiet as a breath, but I knew she heard me. Her breathing hitched.

She turned around, and looked me in the eyes. This was my chance, and I knew it.

I debated for a second on what to do. Tell her that I liked her? No, that was too cheesey.

I acted before I had even made up my mind. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers.

She seemed surprised at first, and I heard her gasp, but she didn't pull away. She started kissing me back, and she moved her hands to where they were around my neck.

I tightened my grip on her waist, and I felt her tangle her hands in my hair.

I pulled away from her soft lips to let her breathe. We were both gasping for air.

I moved my lips to her jaw, and I heard her breathing hitch again. I pulled back, and looked her in the eyes. They were sparkling.

I pulled her lips back to mine, and she seemed just as eager.

All of a sudden, she gasped, and pulled away. She looked at me, and crawled about six feet away. She started crying again, and she curled up into a ball.

I moved over to her, and put my hand on her shoulder. "Bella." I whispered.

"Jacob's going to kill me." She sobbed.

"I won't let it happen, Bella. I'm here. I'm here." I said quietly. I rubbed her back.

She stopped crying, and sniffed. She sat up and looked at me. "Really?" She asked.

"Yes." I said, and took her into my arms.