So… when I first started writing this chapter, it went a completely different turn and felt it was going the wrong path. So I deleted it all and started over. Hopefully I made the right choice.

DISCLAIMER: SM OWNS ALL TWILIGHT/SAGA

Heartless by The Fray (Cover)

Chapter 6: Betrayal

"Bella!" I pulled her in and closed the door. "What are you doing out there? Did you walk here?" I raised my voice a little. She just looked at me with a shock expression and blushed.

"I…. I'm so-sorry" Her teeth chattered from being so cold. She looked up, her big brown eyes shined through the tangled mess of hair around her face and she still looked radiant… but she kept eye contact with me for just a few seconds before looking away. "My car… I…" was all she could get out before stopping herself to calm down.

"Bella" I heard Alice gasp. When Bella saw her, she instantly froze with wide eyes. Bella's jaw tightened and that was when I noticed the right side of her face. It was covered in a black and blue bruise. It hadn't been my imagination.

"Alice, take Bella to your room and get her some dry clothes please" I told Alice.

Alice nodded, still in shock that Bella was here.

"Come on Bella, I'll get you taken care of" she reached for Bella's hand.

Bella saw her reach for her and stood stiffly on my side, hiding.

"Bella?" Alice asked; hurt laced in her voice. I narrowed my eyes at Alice and wondered why Bella reacted this way to her.

I wrapped my arm around Bella's shoulder and told her it was okay to go with her. But Bella still wouldn't budge, she just stood there shivering, refusing to look at me.

I needed her to change into dry clothes before she got sick. Bella freaking out over Alice being here was not helping my cause.

Esme came into the den to see what was taking us so long and immediately noticed Bella at my side.

"Oh dear!" Esme ran for the linen closet and took out a few towels for Bella.

I took the towels from Esme and wrapped them around Bella's shivering form before taking her by hand. I took her upstairs to my room while Alice went up to her room to retrieve some clothes for Bella to change into.

Bella looked around my room silently, clutching the towel tightly.

"I'll be right back" I told her. She turned to look me for just a second to nod her head. I closed the door behind me and met Alice outside of the room.

"Is she okay?" Alice asked; handing me the clothes.

"I don't know" I responded before walking back to my room. Seeing Bella in this condition sent chills down my spine and I had to get to the bottom of what was going on. Once I opened the door, I noticed Bella was looking at my shelf full of CD's but her mind seemed to be somewhere completely different. I wanted to get inside her head and know what was going on.

"Bella" I said softly. She jumped a little and turned towards me.

"This is some of Alice's clothes… I'm not sure if they'll fit. If not, I'm sure I can find something for you to wear."

She timidly took the clothes from my hands. Bella felt the material in her hands and creased her brows at the clothes. She placed them down and looked at me, but still with no eye contact.

"Do you have anything cotton?" She asked softly

As I creased my own eyebrows at her in confusion, I went to my dresser and pulled out an old t-shirt that would probably fit her and some cotton pajama pants. I handed her the clothes and she seemed to have relaxed as she gave me a small smile.

"There's a bathroom right there that you can change in. I'll be right outside" I told her before walking out. I closed the door behind me and walked towards Alice's room to give her back the clothes Bella refused to wear. There was nothing wrong with them. Though Alice could have given her some of her comfortable shorts and t-shirt… but she had to drag out a stretchy top and silk shorts.

Alice was sitting on her bed while her knee bounced up and down. She saw me at the door and stood up; walking towards me.

"Is she alright? What happened?" She asked with worry.

"She's okay" I sighed "She wanted cotton… so I gave her some of my things" I handed her back the clothes.

"Oh" she whispered, looking down at her clothes with a frown.

"She may have an allergic reaction to certain materials Alice… don't be offended" I told her.

"It's okay" she sighed "What is she doing here anyways?" she asked me curiously.

"She was the person that was coming over…. We're lab partners and we needed to work on a project." I explained.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked with a bit of hurt.

"Well… you wouldn't talk to me so I didn't think you wanted to listen," I huffed.

"Why do you get to be friends with her?" she asked angrily.

"Jesus Alice!" I yelled "This is just a school thing alright? I need to get back and see if she is alright." I turned around and left.

When I reached the door, I knocked on it lightly.

"Bella?" I asked "Are you alright?"

I waited for an answer but didn't hear anything. So I knocked a little bit louder this time.

"Bella?" I asked louder.

"I'm okay" was all I could hear since she was so quiet.

"Do you need anything else?" I asked and then stepped back when she opened the door. She was dressed in the T-Shirt that I haven't worn since middle school but thankful that I kept it. The pajama pants were a little big but she was able to use the draw strings to tighten them up. I stared a little more than I needed to before looking back at her.

"No" she whispered and stepped aside.

I walked into the room and shut the door behind me.

She sat at the end of the couch in my room and pulled on the material of the t-shirt. I wasn't sure she would be comfortable if I sat beside her, so I sat at the end of the bed, facing her.

"Are you alright Bella?" I asked. She looked up but kept her eye contact to the minimum.

"I'm f-fine" She murmured.

"What happened?" I asked as I lightly touched her bruised cheek. She flinched slightly but melted into my hand.

"Volleyball" she huffed in annoyance.

"Volleyball? How in the heck-"I stared at her face for confirmation "oh" I finally understood.

"I'm a bit clumsy…" she explained "and adding flying balls in the mix… it doesn't…" She tried to explain while shaking her head.

"Did you not know how to use your hands" I chuckled softly "I mean… that is the point of the game, to hit the ball with your hands… not your face"

"I know that" She narrowed her eyes at me angrily "I'm not stupid" and then leaned away from my hand.

"I never said you were" I lowered my hands to my lap. I really did not mean to offend her.

"Doesn't matter" she looked away from my gaze. I witnessed a tear fall down her cheek but had to resist the urge to wipe it away. I didn't want her cry.

"I came here to tell you about my ideas on the project"

"And you couldn't have told me that over the phone? Really Bella… driving in the rain was not the smart thing to do" I chastised "Wait… where is your truck? I didn't see it outside… please tell me you didn't walk here"

"Well… I don't have a cell phone" she looked embarrassed for that "and my truck… I ran out of gas. It's not far from your house… just down the street" she explained "But… the project…"

"Go on" I told her

"Butterflies" she whispered I almost did not hear her.

"What?" I asked

"Butterflies" she whispered more strongly "We can teach the kids about the life cycle of the butterfly"

"Butterflies?" I asked her confirmation. She nodded her head and blushed

"If you think it's stupid… we can do something else…"

"No, no, no. It's not stupid, not at all." I reassured her. "I think it's a great idea"

For the first time, Bella smiled at me. I could have sworn that my heart swelled even bigger seeing her smile. It was absolutely breathtaking. I was really turning into a girl… but she brought out that side of me… with just a fucking smile.

"Okay" she blushed "Well… I should get going" Before I knew it, she was standing up and grabbing her wet clothes.

"Wait" I stopped her from leaving. "Why don't I put those in the dryer and you eat something warm" I told her.

"I couldn't impose-"She cringed

"None sense" I said and reached for her clothes "Let's go down stairs and eat Chili. We can talk a bit more about our project… and I'll give you a ride home. You don't need to be in the rain and I'll make sure you have a ride to school in the morning… and get your truck back to you"

"Okay… "She agreed but it was hesitant "but I need to be home by nine" She told me as we walked out of the room and headed down stairs.

When we reached the bottom, I noticed Alice waiting nervously. Bella's jaw tensed once again and winced with pain from her bruise.

"Bella… I wanted to apologize for what that girl did… I wish I was there when it happened" Alice apologized softly.

"It wasn't your fa-fault" Bella looked down at her hands as she spoke quietly.

"I should have had your back" Alice smiled "you don't have to worry about them anymore Bella, I'll make sure of that"

"You do-don't have to do that… not for me" Bella's snapped her head up and looked at Alice.

"Well, either way, we are going to be good friends… I just know it" Alice grinned. I smiled at Alice and looked back at Bella for reassurance.

"Th-thanks" Bella nodded and smiled up at me.

"I'm starving" I said a bit loudly but I wanted to break the tension "So, I don't know about you two but I'm eating some moms' famous chili"

The two girls giggled softly and followed me to the dining room.

Esme had fresh cornbread on the table and a bowl of Chili for Bella. To my left when I sat down was Carlisle. Great

"Edward" Carlisle smiled "Who's Alice's friend?" he asked as he pointed towards Alice and Bella talking quietly to each other

"That's our friend, Bella" I told him.

Carlisle looked shocked with this new information and turned his attention back to Bella. He looked like he was going to ask why she was wearing my clothes but Esme glared at him to eat. Of course, Carlisle could never refuse Esme, so he continued to eat. I wanted to laugh at the situation but I felt the presence of Bella right beside me as she sat down nervously.

"Mom, Dad," Alice jumped jittery in her seat next to Bella "I want you to meet mine and Edward's friend, Bella Swan" I rolled my eyes at Alice's formalities… but that was just Alice.

"It is nice to meet you Bella" Esme smiled. "I'm so happy that our kids have a friend visiting them"

"It's a pleasure to meet you both Dr. and Mrs. Cullen" Bella said shyly

"Please call me Esme, dear. Every time I hear Mrs. Cullen I think my mother-in-law is in the room" she chuckled

"And please call me Carlisle" Carlisle said kindly "So what are you kids doing on this horrible rainy evening?"

Before I could even get a word out, Alice's excitement took over. But I couldn't complain, Alice was her old self again… and I wouldn't want it any other way.

"Bella and Edward are lab partners" Alice smirked "so they are going to be spending a lot of time together"

Evil little pixie

"We are working on a project for an elementary school" I explained. This felt weird… talking to Esme and Carlisle about my school work. It was just strange.

"What is the project about?" Esme asked with interest

"The life cycle of a butterfly" Bella blushed as she told them. I felt an involuntary smile come up at hearing Bella's voice. I completely adored her shyness. Of course, Alice noticed.

"That is so great!" Alice remarked "I have always loved butterflies and studying about them would be awesome"

"That's sweet" Esme told Bella.

"Butterflies?" Carlisle asked with a condescending laugh "I take it Edward wasn't the master mind of that idea?"

Everyone shifted uncomfortably in their chairs while I just gave him a warning glare. He was just pissing me off.

"What?" Carlisle asked "I'm just saying that is something I would not have thought Edward would do his project over. I'm sure there are more… interesting ideas-"He had to be kidding me. I felt sorry for Bella, especially being the first time she had met my father… and I also regretted inviting her over to this mess.

"Well" I started "I do not see a problem with this idea. It would be very interesting for children to learn and for your information; Bella seems to know her stuff about them after seeing her sketches. So why not? Huh?"

As soon as those words left my mouth, I instantly regretted them. I just blurted out the one thing that could have been sacred to Bella… and revealing that I snooped in her notebook. I refused to look at Bella, afraid of what she would say to me.

"I – I need to get home" Bella's voice trembled "Thank you for dinner Dr. and Mrs. Cullen." She stood up from the table and walked over towards the door.

"Bella!" I called out to her, leaving everyone stunned at the table. "Let me drive you home"

Bella stiffened at her spot and turned around, giving me a cold stare, yet not directly to my eyes.

"Fine" she straightened her back and turned around to go out the door.

I grabbed my keys and my coat before following her out. I didn't even care to let everyone know where I was going.

On the way to her house, Bella was silent.

Never once did she say a word to me about what I said back at my house. I had just let out that I looked at Bella's notebook and invaded her privacy.

When we reached her house, I pulled out the umbrella that I was thankful I had and ran to her side. No one was home and I felt worried about leaving Bella all by herself.

"Bella… about what happened-"I began as we reached her front door.

"Please… don't" She said coldly "Just… don't"

I nodded my head in understanding and sighed.

"For what it's worth… I'm sorry." I told her. Bella kept her eyes on my shirt, ringing it through her fingers.

"I'll make sure you have your clothes back by tomorrow at school. Thank you for the ride home." She said calmly… almost too calm.

"Bella-"I whispered

"Good night, Edward. Drive home safely." She nodded before opening up the front door and slipped inside.

The porch was hardly enough to keep the water from pouring through the roof, as I stood there letting the rain pound into the umbrella harshly.

I waited a few moments before walking away and noticed the far right window glow orange. I knew what I was about to do was wrong, but I couldn't help myself.

I walked over to her window and saw Bella grab a notebook that sat on top of her bed. She opened the book to the first page and let her fingers linger on the words that were elegantly scripted. What was so important about this notebook to her?

I felt like I was intruding and turned around to my car.

As I drove home, I realized two things.

One, I haven't even known Bella for a week

Two, I have never felt this strongly about someone in my life… not even Irina.

Soo…

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