The last thing I remembered was climbing into his car, nothing else. Opening my eyes, I found myself in my familiar bedroom. Sitting up, instantly the first thing I thought of was Edward. Where was he? I scanned my room, finding a note on the pillow next to me.

Bella,

I had a wonderful time with you last night. You were out cold so I carried you in, I hope you don't mind. I didn't want to wake you, you're so beautiful when you sleep. I'm heading home for the night, come over and see me when you wake up. Thanks again for a wonderful night, love you.

Edward.

I read the note again, his handwriting was beautiful, just like everything else about him. I smelled the paper, it smelled like him too. He wanted me to come over his house, now. I got out of bed, heading for the shower to get ready.

0000

It didn't take me long to get ready and get in my car. The longest part of my morning was thinking about what I should wear. I wanted to impress him and also be ready for whatever we might do. Our little hike yesterday was amazing, but it also made me think that he might plan other things like that, so I always had to be ready.

I turned on the radio, hoping it would distract me enough to calm down so I could think straight. I hummed the tune, the music reaching my heart. I don't remember ever being this happy in my life. Ever since I met this amazing boy, I couldn't seem to feel sadness anymore.

A small red light flashed on my dashboard, low on gas. I sighed, now I needed gas, more time I was going to need to stay away from Edward. The faster I got this over with, the fast I would get to be with my Edward.

I pulled into the nearest gas station, hopping out of the car and skipping into the small store. "20 regular on pump 2 please." The small man behind the counter took the bill I handed him and pressed some numbers in on the computer as I left the store, heading back to my good old truck.

The gas seemed to leave the pump in slow motion. I wanted nothing more than to be with Edward right now. I sighed as the numbers slowly clicked up, could it go any slower? Finally the nozzle clicked off and I pushed the hose back into the holder. I jumped into the driver seat and turned the car on all at once, faster than I ever had before.

My truck roared to life and I had never been so happy to hear the unsteady sound of it's engine. I took off back down the road, heading for his house again. I thought back to the other night when I had followed him back to his house.

What if I couldn't find it? I didn't even have a phone number to reach him at. It wasn't like I wouldn't see him again, I would see him tomorrow in school. That wasn't it though, I didn't want him to think I didn't come because I didn't want to, also...I didn't think I could go that long without seeing him.

I sighed deeply, looking around, trying as hard as I could to see something that was familiar. I couldn't stop thinking back to last night. Every word he said, every time we touched, everything was simply amazing. I saw his arms for the first time, he let me see what he considered the most private and personal part of his body, his arms. Not just his arms, but the release for his pain, he let me into his world, how he took care of his pain and heart ache.

Even though I didn't agree with how he helped himself, I couldn't help but feel honored that he trusted me enough to let me see that. I smiled slightly when I remembered him calling himself a cry baby. How could he make jokes about such a thing? I frowned slightly, not only remembering the joke, but also the tears. His quiet sobs, me holding him as he wept. I cringed at the memory.

The pieces were starting to come together, slowly. He cried almost silently, considering himself a 'cry baby' for doing even that. When I cried, he got anxious. Crying, that was something, another piece to this 10,000 piece jigsaw that was Edward Cullen.

I searched around again, this time a street sign caught my eye, Clinton. That was his street! I almost passed it, making a fast U-turn and heading down the road quickly. I wasn't sure of his house number, but I knew what his house looked like, all I had to do was keep going until I saw the house I remembered.

My head flashed left and right, taking in each house as I went by slowly. Than I saw it, the blue house from yesterday, his house. There was only one car in the driveway, the familiar silver Volvo that could only belong to one person.

My heart sped up as I pulled over in front of his house. I skipped up to the front door, taking one last deep breath before knocking on the front door. I waited, shifting my weight from my left foot to my right foot. No answer. My heart sank slightly as I knocked again, harder than last time. Nothing.

I felt tears sting my eyes, why would he tell me to come over, and than not be here? I turned and headed back down his steps, maybe something else just came up, maybe he could come over later. I opened the door to my truck, the hinges moaning in complaint to my actions. I put my foot on the step to hop in, but something stopped me.

Something wasn't right, Edward wouldn't just leave without at least leaving a note on his front door. I turned, looking back at the house. Something was wrong, I could feel it. I headed back to the steps of the house, trying knocking on the door one more time.

I waited, wishing he would just come to the door and take me in his arms. He didn't. I put my face against the small window in the door, nothing in the house moved. I felt my heart speed up more, but not in anticipation, but in panic. Where was my Edward?

I thought back to his words yesterday, he had said that when he went out his bedroom window, it took him straight into the backyard. His room had to be in the back of the house, and their was only one floor. I headed around the back of the house, sprinting by the time I was half way there.

"Where are you Edward?" I whispered to myself, fear consuming me. I reached the back of the house, looking in the first window. A bathroom, I tried the window, locked. I tried the next one, it was locked and led into the kitchen. The last window was open except for a screen, I could see it from here. I took a deep breath and looked in.

The room was a mess, everything was thrown all over. I wasn't interested in the room though, what I was interested was the boy on the bed. He was laying on his side facing away from me. "Edward, let me in." I was sure he already knew I was here, the house was small, he had to hear me knock. I wasn't insulted by him not answering, something was obviously wrong. Slowly he rolled over, his eyes were the way they were the day I met him, and it scared me. "Go away Bella."

"No Edward, please let me in." He rolled back over, "No, leave." I was ready to beg him, but I came up with a different idea. I pushed against the screen that was holding me back from him, I wouldn't let this thin screen keep me away from my Edward, especially when he needed me. "I will break through this if you don't let me in right now." He didn't move and I couldn't take it anymore. I ripped through the screen, reaching my hand in and unlocking it before opening it. I climbed in slowly, closing it and locking it behind me.

"Edward, what's wrong?" I sat down on the side of his bed, reaching my hand to gently rub his back. He said nothing, but turned to me, than I saw it. His jaw, it was covered with a dark shadow, a bruise. I felt angry and sadness rush into me at the same time. I would kill who ever hurt him.

"Edward...why?" I found myself at a lost for words again, just like the night before. His haunted eyes met mine, "Does it matter Bella, honestly, does it?" How could he say that, yes it mattered, he mattered to me. "Yes it matters, because you matter." He laughed without humor, rolling his eyes before rolling back over. "And why do you care?" How could I not care was the question. I was mad, mad at him for thinking he didn't matter, thinking I didn't care, I was mad at his step-father for hurting him, and above all, I was mad at myself for not stopping this, and I couldn't help myself.

"Because I love you Edward." Both of us froze and I held my breath. Slowly he turned to look at me, our eyes meeting. "You...love me?" I knew he knew that already, but I had never voiced my feelings out loud before, to anyone. All I could do was nod, not taking my eyes away from his. He was silent for a few minutes, just searching my eyes and I was afraid I had said to much, afraid that he didn't feel the same way. Just when I was going to break eye contact, he said it. "I love you too, Bella, I really do." We both blushed at the same time and I looked at the floor. His hand found my chin, bringing my face back up to meet his.

His beautiful face was inches from mine and I felt my breath catch. "Are you sure Bella, you love me?" His gentle fingers pushed a strand of hair from my face and behind my ear. I smiled slightly, nodding. He returned my smile as he leaned in closer. His hands shook slightly as he ran them slowly down my sides, turning his head slightly to the right as he leaned even closer. Our lips met gently at first before his became more firm on mine, our kiss becoming more intense.

My hands found his hair and his held my waist. His tongue pressed against my lips and I opened my mouth slowly. This was not only my first kiss, but his too, I took courage from that. Both of us closed our eyes and I felt him squeeze me tighter as his tongue entered my mouth hesitantly. When our tongues met, I was sure I was in heaven. We both groaned slightly, it was a beautiful sound.

It was at that moment that I knew for sure I was in love with him. It was that moment that I knew where I wanted to be, where I always wanted to be. I wanted to be with him, I was in love with him. I knew I would never want anyone else.

--

a/n: I hope you liked this chapter, a little drama, a little kissing, a little everything. I cleaned up the other chapters and added and deleted things, editing it all. I also renamed all the chapters more creative names that I thought fit each chapter, if you have any better names for them, let me know. I am really loving writing this story, I didn't think I was going to enjoy writing this since I am not a big fan of all-human fictions, but it is actually alot of fun. Thanks for all the reviews, it means alot. Since I am enjoying this, there should be more tomorrow. Reviews!