To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

-Anonymous

Edward POV

"Dude, are you okay?" Jasper asked me at lunch. I tore my eyes from Bella reluctantly and looked at him.

"Yeah. I'm fine," I mumbled.

He patted my back. "We'll talk later," he said only loud enough for me to hear. Tyler eyed us both suspiciously, feeling out of the loop. I can give a shit less how he feels.

I looked back at Bella again. She was picking at her food, and I'd only seen her take two very small bites. She looked like she was fighting back tears. But she always looked that way.

All too soon, she caught my staring and looked at me. Her brown eyes that I have always admired pooled with depths of sadness. I didn't tear my eyes from her—I couldn't. It was she that broke away from the staring match we were having. Then, the bell rang. Biology was my next class.

We had to look at onions or whatever; regardless I could give a shit less.

"Prophase," she mumbled. It felt so good to hear her voice yet it hurt so much to hear how sad it was.

I tried not to stare at her so the only thing I could do was look into the microscope pretending to make sure she was right. I had no idea what prophase exactly looked like but either way I'd agree with her.

After nervously scribbling nothing on paper for some time, I was desperately searching for something to say. All I could think of was something so stupid sounding, but so true.

"Bella, I really would like to talk to you sometime."

She didn't respond. She acted as if I wasn't even there. I wondered if she even heard me. Judging by the frustrated contortion on her face, she heard me loud and clear.

She began to search for the last slide and that's when I saw it. The bruising around her arm was dark. I felt my heart ache at the sight. I didn't want to get in her business, because things were clearly so fucked up between us, and I wouldn't have…if the bruises weren't clearly someone else's doing. Because an injury on Bella is nothing new, being the clumsy girl she is. But I could see that someone had held onto her wrist in a forcing manner. And that hurt my heart like hell. I found myself wanting to know what happened. More than anything, I wanted to bash the fucker's head in who did it. Even though I had no idea who that is. I wanted to take her in my arms afterwards and tell her that I'm never going to leave her. That I would be with her until the day I die. But of course, she wouldn't want to hear that.

The best I could do to help her without her knowing is tell Charlie. He's a cop, he could probably figure out who did it. I wonder if he's already seen them…

"Where'd you get that?" I managed to say.

"I don't have to explain anything to you," she snapped at me. She didn't look scared. Just sad. Unbelieveably sad.

She was right. I'd been absent from her life for 3 years now. I shouldn't expect her to just open up to me right now. Especially about a subject so touchy.

But I couldn't help it. This was all too serious. I'm more than willing to push all of our problems aside to get her help and keep her safe. Hell, as much as I'd hate to, I'd even let us go back to the way we are if it meant that she'd let me make sure she didn't get a bruise like that again.

"Bella, what happened?" I sounded so persistent, and I didn't mean to sound angry or anything. But I had to know. I really wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if I didn't.

She walked right out of the room, closing me out just when I thought she might let me in. I followed after her. I don't care if I was annoying her. That wasn't important right now.

"Bella, please. Tell me. I need to know."

She came to a halt and turned around. The tears trailed down her face and my fingers twitched at the urge to wipe them away.

"Why? Its not like you care about me anymore."

With that, she was gone. I'd decided to give it up for the moment. But like hell if I was not going to let this go.

Did she seriously think that I didn't care about her anymore? God, I don't think I've ever cared more for her in my entire life, and that's saying something.

I went back to class and Jasper met me in the parking lot. He gives me a ride almost every day now. Ever since I'd gotten into a minor car accident in tenth grade, my father has grown a little paranoid. And I have too, but not for me, for my Volvo. It was a little damaged, and I did not want to see it damaged again. It cost me seven fucking hundred dollars in repairs. For a fucking minor accident!

"So. Tell me what's got you in the clouds so much."

I inhaled a deep breath of fresh rainy air. "Bella," I mumbled. That's all I had to say. Jasper knew how I felt about her.

"I'm sorry, dude. That's too bad."

"Yeah. Except for now its nothing to do with our friendship. Jasper, she had fucking bruises on her wrist. From someone." I knew how angry I sounded. And I knew that I had to remain composed.

"Shit. Who do you think—"

"I don't know, man…I don't know what to do…"

"You need to keep trying, that's all I can say. I don't know what else to tell you."

"Yeah. Thanks, man. Means a lot."

"No problem. If you want, I can try to talk to her about it…"

"No," I said, my head snapping up. "She even talk to me and when she does its nothing pleasant. She'll go fucking down on your ass, you know that."

"I know. Just making sure that there's really nothing I can do."

"There isn't," I muttered, staring out the window.

"Maybe…"

I waited for Jasper to speak, but he seemed to have changed his mind. "Maybe what?" I desperately asked, hoping for any better ideas than I had right now.

"You could always try her window. Climb the tree. It'll show her you aren't giving up."

My eyes widened. "I-I don't really know about that. I mean, I'll scare the shit out of her. She'll be so pissed at me…I…what if she thinks that I just—man I just don't know…"

"I think it'll work. Not right away or anything. But still, in time."

Jasper was really wise. I just wish Bella could see that.

"Well, here we are. See ya later, man. Call if you need anything," Jasper said, patting my back.

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

Fuck. What was I going to do?

I can't really tell you how long I sat at her window. But she never came into her room. I began worried. But I didn't have anything to worry about because both Charlie's and Bella's vehicles were here.

I went back to my room and scrawled across a paper. The only thing I could do is write her a note. At least she'd know I still cared without having to freak out at the sight of me in her window. Yeah, that's a good idea. Go slow…

I made my way back to her window, and stuck the envelope that shielded it from the rain between the small crack.

That would have to do for now.

A/N: So, you like? Let me know.

xoxo, B.