A/N hey everybody!!! thanks so much for the reviews/story alert adds/favorite story adds and whatnot. You guys rock!!! and so to show how grateful I am to have great readers, here's chapter 3 of Prayer!!!!!!!!!!

DISCLAIMER: I wasn't born Stephenie Meyer so yeah.

Chapter 3: ROTFL

The rest of the period dragged. Calculus usually did nothing to hold my interest, but today was even worse because I had Edward Masen in my head. How could I, Bella Swan, ever fall for a counselor? Yes, he was hot and, yes, he had the most captivating eyes, but he worked at my school and I was taken. Taken by the worst man alive, but still taken. Break up with James. I can't, he'll hit me. You've had worse. Think about Monday. If that's bad then imagine what he'll do when I break up with him. Get a restraining order put on him. That won't stop him! Go to Forks with Charlie. He'll just follow me there!! And Charlie isn't in Forks anymore.

The argument betweenme and my mind ( I know it sounds weird) continued like this until the end of school. I didn't notice anything around me so it surprised me when I felt someone shake me.

"Earth to Bella! Are you there Bells?" someone kept asking me.

"Yeah, yeah. What do you want?" I asked Delilah realizing she was the one who was shaking me. "Stop shaking me, it's annoying."

"Sorry but I had to get your attention somehow. So, did you hear me? Are you coming with me?"

"Coming where? What did you say?"

"I've never seen you so out of it Bella. I asked if you wanted to come with to Alice's house tomorrow. She invited me to a sleepover and she told me to ask you if you want to come since she doesn't have any classes with you," Delilah repeated.

"Alice Cullen? The new girl from Washington?" I asked in disbelief. Alice had come here a month ago and was quiet and kept to herself a lot.

"Yeah, the same girl. I know it's hard to believe, but she sits with me in first and we talk. She's really nice and she's not like people describe her. Come on, Bella-wa, don't make me alone to a stranger's house. What kind of friend are you if you would just abandon me like that?" D argued, using my nickname from the second grade. She knew I couldn't say no when she used that name.

"Well..." I started.

"Yeah?" She looked so excited and I couldn't disappoint such a face.

"I guess I could go since you put it that way. But I'd have to ask Renee first," I added in a rush.

"YAY!! I just know that your mom can't possibly say no. Oh, Alice said the sleepover was a weekend thing so bring outfits for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. She'll drive us to school and we leave to her house right after school tomorrow, so bring your stuff!!!" Delilah practically shouted in my ear.

"Okay, okay!!! I'll be ready. I'm leaving before I go deaf. Bye Deli-wa," I said with a wave and walked towards my truck. Delilah walked towards the auditorium since she had play practice today. I turned the truck on and drove home.

I got home pretty quickly and walked in the front door after parking my truck. I forgot that Phil was probably waiting for me, prepared to give me a lesson.. so I was unprepared to face his ambush.

"Bella, get over here. I need to have a talk to you," he said in a calm voice. Phil was deadliest when he was calm, especially after being humiliated. I walked to the living room where he was waiting for me on the couch and stopped at the doorway, ready to make a run for it if necessary.

"What do you want?" I said bluntly.

"I wanted to talk about last night. I am sorry about the. . . incident and I realize that I shouldn't have slapped you."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing from Phil. This was impossible, he never apologized. Instead, he looked at me with disgust and hate. I stared at him with my mouth hanging open. I struggled for words but found none. After a long awkward silence, I found what I wanted to say.

"You're shitting me right? There's no effing way that you of all people would apologize for what you've done to me. You've hit me, degraded me! You took my mother away from me!!! She never would have done anything to hurt dad and then you came along and she crushed his heart!!!! You're the reason I'm purple, black, and blue all over!!!! The reason why my life is in RUINS!!!! I HATE YOU, PHIL AND I COULD NEVER IN MY LIFE FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!!!!" I screamed at him. I didn't realize I was crying until the end of speech. Phil looked hurt. Well, that was a nice change. Let him feel hurt. Let him feel what it's like to be hated and despised.

I ran up to my room and locked the door. I started sobbing for real and I never cried so hard in my life. I wished for my dad to be here, to hold me in his arms and tell me that it was going to be all right. I wished that my mother had not cheated and that that I could live with dad instead. And, more than anything, I wished that Edward Masen could be here right now, comforting me and promising to never let me go.

It was then that I knew it. I did like Edward. More than I had been willing to admit to anyone, even myself. I had only met him today and already I was obsessing over him. God, I was pathetic. The first guy to talk to me that wasn't James or Phil and I was crushing on him. Why oh why did I have to be so. . .so. . . ugh, there wasn't a word that I could use to describe how lame I was. I curled up in a ball and lay on the ground by my door, not even bothering to get up and lay on the bed. I didn't have the energy to do homework and was willing to get in major trouble with all of my teachers. It was only 5 in the afternoon and yet, I felt so exhausted. I wished for unconsciousness and it was granted. I only had strength to do one last thing. Pray.

Please deliver me from all of this suffering and give me strength to go on. I know that someone out there is watching me, whether it be God or something else. Please, please let Edward be the one to rescue me from my life. Please.

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I woke up stiff from sleeping on the floor in a cramped position. I briefly wondered why I decided to crash on the floor when the previous day resurfaced. I cringed at the remembered rage and sorrow that I had gone through and quickly expelled it from my mind. I got up and went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. When I came out, I checked my alarm clock and it read four thirty in the morning. I guess crashing early meant getting up earlier than ever. I got ready for school since I didn't feel like going back to sleep. I dressed in a light pink mid-thigh skirt and gray leggings to hide my bruises. My favorite white eyelet lace short sleeved shirt and white low top Converse were a must and so were my pink elbow length gloves with little skulls.

I looked at myself in the mirror and was pleased with my outfit that covered my bruised skin and still looked in season. Then, I remembered the sleepover this weekend and that I forgot to ask Renee. Oh well, I would just leave her a note saying I was with Delilah and that I would be back Monday after school. That would be enough. I packed my outfits unsure of what we would be doing and my pj's along with my toiletries and put the bag by the door so that I wouldn't forget it when I left. I ate some cereal and started my homework. I was too chicken to get in trouble with the teachers so I guess getting up really early was a pro for me.

When I finished, it was 7:03 and time for me to get to school. Neither my mom nor Phil had gotten up yet, so that was good. I left the note for my mom on the fridge and picked my backpack and overnight bag off the floor. I got in my truck and drove to school. Delilah was already there with someone I didn't recognize. When I parked, both of them came running over to me and Delilah opened the door for me. The unknown girl was bouncing up and down. She was short and petite. Her hair was black and in spikes that pointed in every direction. Her eyes were a rare honey brown color and were filled with excitement. I realized that this was probably Alice Cullen, the girl that had invited me to her house this weekend.

"Hey, Delilah. And you must be Alice. I'm so thankful for the invitation. You just saved me from a weekend full of boredom," I thanked her.

"Oh, no problem. You saved me from going to a boring family reunion with my brother and his girlfriend, so we're even. The weird thing is that it's not even my family, it's my brother's girlfriend's family so I don't know why I would go," Alice said.

"So, what are we doing for the rest of the weekend?" I asked.

Delilah answered this time. "Well, I got us tickets to go see the movie premiere tonight and that's pretty much all I know. The little pixie here won't tell me what else we'll be doing," she said, nudging Alice as if trying to convince her to tell us.

"Nope, I won't tell you guys. You can't convince me to tell and that's that. So the rest will be a surprise," Alice said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. I laughed at her tone and soon everyone was laughing.

"So, since we all see that Alice isn't going to spill her plans, why don't we just -" A familiar voice called out my name and I stopped what I was saying.

"Bella! Did you miss me, babe?" James asked as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. I was scared. I thought he wasn't coming today. I'd been hoping that he wasn't coming today so that I could be in peace.

"James, hi. I thought that you wouldn't come today," I said in a weak voice. I was counting on his absence so that I could talk to Edward and get to know him. Wow, Bella. Real nice. Your boyfriend is here after being gone and all you can think about is Edward, the counselor. Way to be faithful.

"I was, but I missed you so much I couldn't take," he said, now suspicious. I couldn't afford to make him suspicious now. "Aren't you gonna introduce me to your new friend?"

"Uh, sure. Alice, this is James, my boyfriend. James, this is Alice," I introduced. I had a problem saying that James was my boyfriend. I didn't think of him in that way anymore. Not since the first beating. I thought of him as my oppressor, holding me back and keeping me down.

"Well, me and Delilah are just gonna give you guys some space. Come on, D, lets go," Alice said. I didn't want to have alone time with him. I looked at both of my friends, trying to show them my fear of James. They didn't get it.

"Bye, Bella. . . James," Delilah and Alice said. Then they walked away.

"So, babe, what did you do while I was gone? Anything interesting happen?" James asked as soon as my friends were out of hearing range. "Did you hook up with any guys?"

"James I would never do that. I wouldn't hurt you like that. And I came back yesterday so I wouldn't know if anything happened," I said in a hurry.

"Really? I heard that there's a new counselor. Did you meet him? Flirt with him?"

"Of course not! He's older than me! Why would I hit on a older guy? Like I said before, I would never hurt you like that."

"Well, you know, I wouldn't be the one hurt if I found out you were cheating on me. So just keep that in mind," James threatened me yet again. "Bye, babe. See you in lunch." he kissed me on the lips and walked away. I wiped my mouth, disgusted that he could still touch me like that. I was frightened of what would wait for me during lunch and more than ever, wished that Edward would protect me.

I sighed; it was only a wish and, as I should know the best, wishes never come true. I walked towards my first period. I walked in the door and once again, crashed into Edward coming out of the classroom. I landed on my butt.

"Why do we keep meeting like this? You know, if you want to talk to me, you could just leave a note in my box. Or yell my name from across the cafeteria. Whatever works for you," Edward said in an amused tone. "Here, take my hand."

"Thanks." I took his hand and he lifted me from the ground. "And I'll be sure to remember that the next time I have to talk to you."

"Okay now get to class," he said, acting like the principal.

"Well, I would, but you're blocking the door. You know, if you want to talk to me, you don't need to block the door to my class. Just summon me to your office."

Edward did the unthinkable and blushed. Not just like a little pink, but a full on blush, the kind I usually had. "Well, um, I might just take you up in that offer. See you later Bella. And sorry for blocking the door. Again." he walked around me and almost ran away. I giggled. I walked in the door and rushed to my seat just as Mr. Levengood started his lecture. I honestly tried to pay attention, but I couldn't help but think of Edward. He looked so amazingly cute with that blush. Focus, Bella. Pay attention. The last thing you need is to be sent to the counselor's office. But, then again, Edward is the counselor, so it wouldn't be so -

"Ms. Swan!" Mr. L shouted at me.

"What?!" I shouted back. Major oops. His face was red and he looked like he was about to kill me.

"To the counselor's office!! Take your stuff and don't come back here!! Get the homework from someone else!!" I obediently got my stuff and walked out the door to Edward's office. Well, this is what I wanted, right?

I came up to his door and knocked.

"Come in."

I cracked the door open and stuck my head through. Edward looked at me in astonishment. "Bella?"

I moved the rest of my body inside the office and closed the door. I stood there looking anywhere but at him. His office was small and neat. Well, except for his desk. It was covered in post-its and files. His laptop was open and on. He must have been working on something before I came. There was a picture frame on the desk and I assumed it was a picture of his family. Or girlfriend. The last possibility hurt. Of course Edward had a girlfriend. He was beautiful, smart, funny. What else could I expect?

"Um, Bella, why are you here? What did you do?" he was in counselor mode now.

"Well, I wasn't paying attention in class and the teacher was apparently calling me, but I wasn't listening, so he started shouting at me and I forgot where I was so I shouted back. I swear that's all that happened and he said that I had to stay here because he didn't want me back in the class." I was blushing really bad when I finished and Edward was trying to hold back his laughter. "It's not funny! I've never been sent out of the class!!"

"Of. . . . course. . . it's not. . . funny!" he said in between laughs.

"Then why are laughing?!?!" I was beginning to feel hurt. What did I do that was so funny?

"Because you look so guilty!!" He was crying now; he had a weird sense of humor.

"You know what?! I'll be leaving now! Goodbye Edward!"

"Wait, don't go. I'll stop now and besides, you have nowhere to go," he said. He composed himself and looked at me. I must of looked hilarious to him, standing there with my hand reaching for the door knob, because he started laughing again.

"Are you done laughing at me now?" I asked after a good ten minutes watching him laugh at me.

"Yeah. Sorry about that. So, what do we do now?"

"I don't know. You're the adult here. Though you act like a five year old."

"Ouch, that hurt. Maybe I should give you detention for insulting a staff member." he had an evil look in his eye that I didn't like one bit.

"You wouldn't," I challenged, eyes narrowed.

"Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't," he simply said. He put his feet on the desk and leaned back on his chair with his hands behind his head, "It all depends on your behavior this period."

"What do you want, Edward? I've got nothing," I surrendered.

"Get me a coffee from the teacher's lounge. Three sugars, please," he asked me sweetly. I could see he was about to burst laughing. To push him over the edge, I curtsied. "As you wish, your majesty."

That did it. He fell off his chair, laughing so hard he had a hard time breathing.

"Don't. . . .worry. . . .about. . . . the coffee. . . just. . .help me. . . . up!!!"he begged. I held my hand out and he took it. I lifted him from the floor.

"There now I don't have to do anything for you. We're even," I told him.

"Fine, we're even. Well, looks like our time is up Ms. Swan. I hope we don't have to repeat this in the future." The bell rang just as he finished. He had perfect timing.

"Oh don't worry, Mr. Masen. This won't be repeated. Good day, sir," I said, copying his formal tone. With a goodbye wave, I left his office and headed towards second period with a big smile on my face. Huh, I guess Delilah was right about no one leaving Edward's office without a smile and new friend.

A/N yeah I finished chapter three! W00t-w00t!! ok I know that technically, it's Saturday in the story but just work with me here. I'll change Bella's absence from three to two days, so chapter two and the beginning of this chappie is on Thursday. So the rest of this chapter is on Friday. I realized that in the middle of writing this chapter so I didn't want to have to start all over and keep you guys waiting. So please don't kill me if you're confused ! The sleep-over is next chapter!! won't that be fun? I've gots some surprises for yall *grins mischievously * please REVIEW!!! more reviews=faster update!!!