Hey, I hope you guys liked the last chapter! I just want to say sorry that it has taken me so long to actually update. Life's been hectic lately, so I haven't had time to actually sit down and get into the right frame of mind to write, so if you don't like this one be honest and tell me.

This chapter is the longest one yet because it has a lot of drama packed into one. Plus part of Bella's past is revealed- so that's good.

Disclaimer: I don't own twilight or any of its characters

I listened to this song a lot when I was writing this and it helped but I'm not sure if it fits the mood of the overall chapter. Nevertheless the song is great in my poin of view and had to be used. It's Quasimodo by Lifehouse.

Enjoy!

Chapter 7

Bella's POV

I ran. I ran because I was afraid, afraid him and the way that he made me feel.

The second I noticed him in the room, my rebellious heart was pounding against my chest as though it was rushing out to him and I refuse to feel like that again.

I was hungry. Hungry for happiness, someone to laugh with, and someone who was powerful yet delicate and whilst I wished it was Edward who could provide me these things; it wasn't going to be because everyone who ever attempted to get close to me saw that I was incapable of love and returning it. Or at least that was what he said to me.

You can be right
And I'll be real
Oh, and it still won't be a pain
That you will have to feel
Cause I don't need your approval
To find my worth

Thankfully he didn't follow me as I walked out and made my way to the library, to sit and go over the encounter countless times in my head even though they all ended the same way; me walking out of the room as he attempted to stop me with his words.

"Trying to soothe his curiosity", I considered. It seemed to be the only reasonable explanation; I was still the new girl, who much to everyone's irritation, didn't give away a lot about herself.

As he caught me with his arms, I felt a foreign sensation run through me but what made it even more obscure was how cold his skin was. It was like ice and whilst it was so cold, it was also burning hot at the same time. I'm sure it was cold outside but we weren't outside anymore.

He was also extraordinarily fast. When I tripped over he was leaning against the door but not even a second later he was right next to me, like a ghost. I'm over-analyzing again, I mused at how ridiculous I would sound to others if they could hear my thoughts.

The bell rung as the sound reverberated in the library which now withheld a couple more students who were either busily sat in the corner trying to finish their homework or projects that were due in today.

I silently prayed that I wouldn't have to deal with Edward until Biology, that way I had at least a couple of hours to get my act straight instead of acting like a mumbling idiot as I did this morning. I picked my bag off the floor whilst pushing the chair back from the table and stood up, making my way to English.

I'm trapped inside of my own mind
Afraid to open my eyes cause of what I'd find and I
Don't wanna live like this anymore

I looked out for him as I walked down the crowded corridors, so that I could hide myself if he was there which to my relief he wasn't. Pulling the door by the handle, I stepped into my favourite class and took my seat next to Alice, who to my surprise quickly turned to face me as I sat down with a worried expression on her face that was somewhat pitiful.

"Hello Bella", she said in musical voice that had a tender softness to it. Those were the first words that she had ever said to me.

"Hi?" I said unsurely. Why was she talking to me?

"Ok" she started before taking a deep breath and pinching the bridge of her nose, deep in thought "I know this is weird and that you probably feel confused as to why I'm suddenly talking to you because I didn't before, which by the way wasn't my fault, I wanted to but never mind. Bella you should go home at lunch" she finished in one breath and waited with anxious eyes. She spoke so quickly that I had to completely concentrate on each word to understand what she was saying. She was asking me to go home?

"What?" I asked confused. Who was she to tell me what to do, I thought; suddenly getting irritated. She ignored me for a whole month and when she does finally decide to talk to me she's telling me to go home?

"Bella, trust me. It's for the best", she alleged as she looked at me with an intense gaze and I noticed that her usual happy, open face was now darkened.

"I don't understand. You can't just ignore me for a second and then suddenly ask me to go home, so no. I won't do anything unless you tell me why" I replied seriously and nervously chuckling as I did. I wasn't going to back down on this.

"I can't Bella, believe me, but trust me when I say that if you don't go something bad will happen" She replied and her words rang the truth I ignored.

Does it scare you that I can
Be something different than you
Would it make you feel
More comfortable if I wasn't
Well you can't control me
And you can't take away from me who I am

"The problem is I don't trust you because I hardly know you and if you can't tell me why I have to go home, then I can't do what you ask; simple as." I retorted back as the teacher walked into the class and instructed for everyone to turn to chapter 5 of Jane Eyre but we still continued our high-voltage stare contest.

"Bella-"

"Miss Cullen, if you're not going to concentrate then I would recommend that you leave right now", He said in a formal and typical teacher fashion.

"Sorry, sir", she replied and turned around to face the board. She didn't try to speak to me again during the lesson. Not once, but as much as I tried to pay attention to the lesson, her voice kept recurring in my head ruining my concentration.

Nevertheless before she left, after the shrill of the bell had rung, notifying everyone that the lesson was over, she turned her head softly and in a caring voice said:

"I wish you believed me"

Those words stayed with me through all my lessons, like an inescapable truth of things to come but I stubbornly refused believe that what she had to say was true, despite a part of me questioning whether she was right and that she really was trying to help me. But if she was, then what was this bad thing that was to happen?

The thought soared my mind as Lunch hour slowly approached and whilst my gut told me to leave, I didn't.

Then again, people always say, go with your gut instincts.

Walking into the cafeteria, I spotted Angela and Ben already sat down at our usual table, so I made my way to them only to bump into Jessica's shoulders as I tried to walk past her.

"Sorry", I said timidly even though it was just as much her fault as it was mine, if not more.

"Yeah, I'm sure you are", she replied ignorantly as Lauren beside her laughed.

"What is your problem Jessica?" I said releasing a sigh "I've apologized haven't I?"

"My problem? My problem is that you knew how much I liked him and yet you still let him follow you round like a lost puppy even though you didn't even want him. Now he won't even speak to me because he thinks that I'm this horrible, malicious person when in reality it's you", she said venomously. So this was about Mike, God help me. I felt like grabbing my head in my hands and escaping this ridiculous conversation that was to be had but instead I took a deep breath to calm my nerves before I spoke calmly:

"Jessica, I told Mike right from the start that nothing was going to happen between us and do you really think I want him following me around? Or that I liked it? I honestly tried to get him off my back a million times. He's a great guy and I do like him, as a friend, so I wouldn't do that to him" I paused to see her roll her eyes in disbelief. I was getting nowhere. "I'm just going to go, you don't believe me anyway and I really don't want to argue", I was already getting a headache and I could see numbers of people starring in our direction, suffocating me.

"I have a better idea! How about you own up to what you did, instead of running home to your mummy, but Oh! Wait, she doesn't even care that much about you to even be there for you when you get home and wait a minute…….yes I can pretty much say the same about your dad"

"You….just…shut up", I heaved and they were the only words I could utter because I knew my fences were coming down if she was going to press it any further, as tears welled in my eyes. I tried to walk past her towards my truck but she quick stepped in front of me stopping me in my tracks.

"What, are you going to cry?" she pouted as though she was mirroring my face and glanced over her shoulder at Lauren as she grinned. "Is she seriously going to cry?" she snorted.

"Come on, stop it guys, it's not funny anymore" I heard from behind me as Angela placed a supportive hand on my shoulder to pull me back and as much as I wanted to my legs were frozen and disobeying my wishes.

"Come on, cry for us little girl!" she chanted and I could hear laughter in the background.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about" I replied viciously, as my anger rose up with each word she said and my breathing quickened causing me to get slightly light headed.

"Really? Because Forks is an awfully small town, you know. Everyone knows each other's businesses here. We all know about your parents break up and how you both drove him away from Forks, the one place he actually loved"

"You don't know anything" I replied and I felt my whole world turn hazy around me.

"Did I say the only place? I'm sorry I meant the only thing he loved" she added passively.

"Stop"

"It must be great feeling knowing that even the only two people, who are supposed to love you unconditionally, don't", she continued with a wicked smile.

"Stop it"

"Why? Because you don't want to let people see the back stabbing, two-faced cow that you are? Or are you waiting for your mum to come rescue her cry baby daughter"

"Please" I pleaded; my voice huskier than it was before.

"Jess, you need to stop this right now!" Angela chimed in.

"Oh, don't worry Angela. I'm sure mummy is gonna make everything better now for the little rich girl that got everything she ever wanted!"

In that moment, something triggered inside of me. That was my tipping point. I couldn't take it anymore, I couldn't even breathe and I felt like screaming.

There goes my pain
There goes my chains
Did you see them falling
Because this feeling
There has no meaning
There goes the world
Off of my shoulders
There goes the world
Off of my back
There it goes

"She's dead! Alright Jessica, she's dead. She died, 4 months ago from cancer but not before she couldn't walk or talk or even recognize me, so does that make you happy? Does that make you feel any better? That her death is with me everyday like a non-stop reminder, that I was the one who had to turn of the ventilator because my father was too destroyed to even come there, not even once during the whole time she was in hospital. Do you wanna hear about what sound she made before she took that last breath? Because I can still hear it in my head, exactly how it sounded. Tell me, does that make you happy Jessica? Are you glad my life isn't perfect? That it isn't this fantasy life that you thought I was living?" I said as my voice broke at the end.

"Bella, I-" she started apologetically.

"Save it for someone who cares Jessica, I don't want to hear your pity or whatever you're going to throw at me. Just leave me the hell alone" I whispered before pushing my way to the crowd that had circled around us and made my way to my truck. Alice was right, I really should have left.

************************************

Edwards POV

Alice had another vision; she was playing it in her head as she rushed towards me at lunchtime. I had been working in the library because my previous lesson had been cancelled and time had flown by before I realised it.

I only saw Bella's face before she blocked her mind.

There goes the world
Off of my shoulders
There goes the world
Off of my back

"Alice, what's going on?"

"You need to go now, before it's too late. Bella's going to be at her truck in about……. 2 minutes and she's going to need you"

"But what happened, why did she look so upset? I don't understand" I asked somewhat panicked, whilst Alice contemplated in her mind whether she should tell me and when she did, I didn't even hesitate in running down the corridor towards the car park where my angel was waiting.

I didn't know what to think, I knew she was upset about something but I never thought that she'd gone through that. I tried to control my walk so it matched a human's but it was hard when my heart was already a step before me, waiting for my body to catch up.

I finally made it to the car park and looked around for her car, spotting it in the far end, I ran with human speed before slowing down when I was inches away from her car.

Heart-wrung tears rushed down her face as she hit the wheel furiously and took her anger out on the lifeless material. It was almost déjà vu. She looked exactly the way she did that night after the crash as I approached her car and upon gently hitting her window just now, her reaction mirrored it too.

Have you ever felt
Like your only comfort was your cage
You're not alone
I've felt the same as you

She looked at me with a pained face and I just wanted her in my arms to comfort her in my stone built, cold body. As if that would comfort her, I thought sarcastically.

"Please just go away", she pleaded in a torturous tone from the car before looking away, as her face bathed in tears and slid of the curves of her face.

I continued staring. The girl in front of me was so broken and so alone in this universe that a set of persistent questions sprung to mind. Why wasn't her father here? Was he really that selfish? Did she really not have anyone?

We were alike in more ways than I thought. If there was anything I could understand was feeling alone. I had my family of course; Carlisle and Esme, the most devoted and compassionate people I had ever met; Jasper and Alice who at first seem an unexpected match were the most caring and understanding. Plus Emmet and Rosaline, who had decided to use this year to explore the world instead of carrying on with our usual charade and whilst I had the best people I could ever could hope of coming across never mind calling them as my own family, I still felt alone because there would be times where you can just tell they want to be alone and I understood it but couldn't help but be envious of it.

She looked up tentatively at me again, her eyes locking with mine briefly before resting her arms on the sides of the wheel and hiding her face in between them; to bury herself from me so I that I couldn't see the tears fall anymore. For once in all my existence, I felt powerless.

"Please go-", she begged almost silently.

I contemplated what I should do. Alice had said that she needed me but what was I to do? I was the last person she probably wanted to be comforted by, never mind the fact that it would be dangerous. Could I do it? Her scent was still potent despite her being shielded from me in the vehicle. If I was to be closer, it would surely be harder to resist the finest blood, the finest wine I had ever come across.

Her whimpering was still evident, if not louder than before. I felt a strange feeling overcome me the moment I heard her last sob, I can't describe it but it was much stronger than the thirst which I held for her. So much stronger and it was drawing me closer to her; so much stronger that it scared me.

Minutes had passed before I comprehended the time and realised how sick I was of having to think about everything and having to analyze every fine detail so that I wouldn't make the tiniest mistake, so for once I let my heart do what it said was right instead of my mind, even though every muscle was begging me to quit; fearing the outcome.

There goes my pain
There goes my chains
Did you see them falling
Because this feeling
There has no meaning

I pulled the door open gently by its handle and she lifted her wet face from her arms, clearly startled but I pushed that thought away from my head. I took a hesitant step towards her slowly to reassure her that I wasn't going to hurt her. Well at least not yet.

She looked at me with an unclear expression whilst her persistent tears drowned themselves into her blouse and when I was sure that I could control myself, for now anyway, I soothingly pulled my arms around her.

Her entire body tensed for a second under mine and rejection spread through me but she surprised me by throwing her arms around my neck and pulling me closer as her salty tears wet my shirt and I tried to not look pained as her tempting scent slammed into me.

Even though I'd have rather have her to tell me about how hated me, tell me how she'd rather die alone, than being stuck here with me, I couldn't deny that with her in arms it felt right. My life felt complete, as though it had meaning; that I was somehow destined to be here. To help her, this frail creature through what she is going through, whilst it was going to be torture for me in the process, having to reawaken the demon in me every time I got close to her. But I would willingly endure it if it meant that she wouldn't be in pain anymore. Her pain was like my own.

I was shocked by her accepting me so easily, therefore I did the only thing that I felt was needed; whispering comforting words to her until she calmed down while my cold hands gently rubbed up and down her back. It seemed to have worked for her loud sobs ceased to quieter and calmer ones whilst her shoulders shook less violently; perhaps my human instincts were not so lost after all. That was until I heard a voice calling my name in the distance.

"What the hell is Cullen doing?"

I suddenly jerked my head toward the source of the voice, where Eric was stood with numerous other people starring at us in the nearby cafeteria but in clear view of us. Was I doing this wrong? I thought this is what humans did to comfort each other?

"Does he like her or something?"

"Bella was supposed to be mine!"

"Seems like Cullen is human after all, he has feelings. Who knew?"

"They look sweet together; maybe this is what she needs. Poor Bella, it must be horrible to go through what she did" Angela thought, much to my confusion. Why did everyone immediately assume that just because I am the only one who has taken a step into comforting her, I now have this romantic connection with her? I simply cared for her.

"How did I not know? God! I'm so horrible. What's wrong with me? I just kept on pushing and pushing even though I knew she was upset. Damn it! I couldn't keep my mouth shut could I? I have to apologize….but I don't think she will forgive me. I wouldn't forgive me if I was her…..What have I done?" Jessica thought as she sat in a corner burying her head in her hands as I tried my hardest to not feel anger towards her, whilst some immature idiots stood around laughing at the whole ordeal.

Cause everyone is looking
Everyone is laughing
But I think everyone feels the same
Everybody wants to feel okay
Everybody wants to
Everybody wants to feel

I focused my attention back to Bella, who still had her face buried in my chest and her arms which were now around my waist tight embrace. I was amazed to see how quickly she had gone from being completely hysterical to being quiet and still.

"Bella" I said softly trying to keep my voice eminently polite, as she pulled herself away from me, refusing to meet my eyes and staring down at her lap in embarrassment. "I'm going to take you home now, is that okay?" I asked and she responded with a slow nod as she looked away with her tired eyes.

I lowered the hand that was placed around her shoulders to under her knees and with little effort I picked her up from the driver's seat and onto the passenger's before pulling the seatbelt around her and starting the engine. I tried to keep myself in control by focusing on other matters instead of how desirable her blood was. I had to think my way around the thirst. The burn that filled my entire throat was insufferable but to even think for a fraction of second about taking her life, that was excruciating beyond imagination.

Neither of us spoke throughout the whole ride; I tried to concentrate on the task at hand, driving, while Bella stared lifelessly out of the window. As I reached her house, her heartbeat turned unsteady even though her face didn't show any difference. Pulling in her drive, I turned off the engine and turned towards her, focusing on any other part of her than the tempting pulse point on her neck.

"Are you okay?" I asked as gently as I could. A ridiculous question to ask but I really didn't know what else to say. However her thoughts seemed to be elsewhere for she didn't answer my question directly instead, after a few seconds that she used to collect her thoughts, she delicately said:

"I'm sorry" she started with a quivering voice "I shouldn't have done that, it wasn't fair on you and I don't know what came over me" she continued as I stared at her confused "you didn't have to drive me but thank you, Do you want to call someone to come collect you? Or should I call a taxi for you or…I don't know" she finished with a voice which was now steadier as though she was oblivious to everything that happened in school.

"Bella, you just told the whole school your mother died and you're worried about how I'm going to get home?" I asked rhetorically, this girl was impossible. "If there is anything to worry about, it's whether you are okay"

"I'm fine" she said in a weak voice; her traitor.

Have you ever felt like your secrets give you away
You're not alone
I've been there too

"Your voice just gave you away. Have you even eaten?" I asked fretfully "Because you look very pale to me, I think your sugar levels might be down-"

"I'm fine, look do you want me to call a taxi for you?" she exhaustedly repeated before changing the subject.

"I can walk"

"There's snow and ice everywhere, you'll be freezing" she said in a concerned voice and I wanted to laugh at her conclusion. Enduring the cold is inherent to us, resisting her blood on the other hand is a different story, besides didn't she know that vampires are made of ice?

"I'll be fine"

"Now you're starting to sound like me. So what is it that you don't want to tell me?" She asked curiously and I felt myself suddenly freeze. How had the conversation turned to this?

"That I don't mind the cold, what about you?" I concluded before turning the conversation back to her. We didn't need to talk about that.

"That it's none of your business" she replied in anger before she calmed herself "I'll see you in school", she added with a sigh as she opened the door to leave but I saw that she was going to slip the moment her feet came into contact with the icy ground as her hands instinctively expanded to her sides looking for anything to hold onto but came to grab nothing but air.

I ran out of the door and was on the floor to catch her as she collided with my chest instead of the ground and I commanded myself to immediately stop breathing as her scent encircled every fibre of my body.

"How did you do that?" she asked gasping for breath and blowing its sweet scent in my face but this time I quickly pulled myself away from her before I could lose control and set her straight on her feet.

"Do what?" I asked trying to sound indifferent to the whole incident. Why had I done it? It was an impulsive and irrational thing to do and now I was to suffer the consequences.

"You were still in the car when I stepped out, how did you…how? I don't…you. You were right there"

"Bella, what are you talking about? I got out of the car when you did and I saw that you were going to slip so I slid myself on the floor to get to you quicker. I think you may be confused" I said but my silken lies went unheard.

"No, you weren't" she surely and shaking her head in emphasis as stubbornness clouded her chocolate eyes. "I saw you, you were in the car, I didn't even hear the car door open until I actually slipped, I know you're going to say I'm crazy but I know what I saw"

"You didn't see anything Bella, you're just exhausted and confused" I assured.

There goes the world
Off of my shoulders
There goes the world
Off of my back

"No" she whispered, deep in thought "For once I'm not confused. There's something about you. I don't know what it is, but you're different to everyone else. I feel it but I can't explain it. You have this aura around you and you have this constant guard, so that no one gets close to you because you're afraid they're going to find out what this thing is" she described frantically, as though everything had clicked in her mind simultaneously.

"I have no idea what you're talking about" I replied passively "I have to go" I zipped up my jacket unnecessarily and began walking away before her sweet voice stopped me in my tracks and caused me to turn around.

"I'm going to find out what it is you know. I mean it's only fair, you now know everything about me"

"I really wish you wouldn't" I whispered and began walking inhumanly slow until I was out of the public eye and then ran with inhuman speed towards our house. Once again mad at Alice, I stormed through and past the grand entrance doors. Why didn't she stop this? She must have seen it and she could have prevented it.

She already knew I wanted to speak to her because as I entered through the living room doors, I saw her turn the television off and turn towards me from the black leather sofa but surprisingly she didn't speak as though she was waiting for me to start.

"Well?" I anticipated as she immediately blocked her thoughts once I attempted to read them.

"Well, what?" she asked confused, as if she didn't already know.

"Bella?" I needlessly offered.

"Oh! Right yeah. It needed to happen" she said as though it was nothing. How could she?

"It needed to happen" I mimicked raising my voice slightly "do you realise how much pain she had to go through and you could've prevented it"

"It needed to happen because if it didn't, you wouldn't have found out about her past and I wasn't even sure it was going to happen because Jessica kept changing her mind. She didn't want to hurt Bella but the words that Mike said to her broke her heart and she was angry and irrational. By the way, I did try and persuade Bella to leave as well but you know how stubborn she is"

Cause I don't want it
I don't want it

"But even then, I'd rather not have known then put her through all that"

"I think we have bigger problems than arguing about what has already happened Edward"

"Why? What is it?" I asked, waiting with anxious eyes.

"Bella's future keeps on disappearing" she replied as I saw her visions unfold in her thoughts before it drew into waves of darkness……

Alright I've done my part, now its time for you to do yours. So tell me what you thought because believe me when I say that it motivates you to write better and faster. R&R

I've not responded to reviews in a while so here it goes:

Y/Yidan- Thanks for your review. I'm glad that you liked the last chapter and it was favourite so far, so that's good. I loved writing the last chapter even though I am like Bella in the sense that I really can't read music. So I have no music reading knowledge in me whatsoever but I'm happy to know that you thought I did. lol. And Edward's POV was back because I just can't resist rummaging through his head. Plus your guess was right, it did have something to do with Renee but what was with the bruises that Carlisle discovered?

FRK921- Thanks for reviewing! Creepy huh? Who did you think was watching them? lol. You'll find out soon enough, don't worry. Hope you liked the new chapter.

Rae2404- Hey, thanks for your review.I'm glad to know that people are enjoying this story because I enjoy writing it! I loved the whole piano thing too and I would have loved for him to play it for her but as you pointed out it was a bit too soon and the timing has to be right so I hope this chapter wasn't weird for you considering how close they got. Nevertheless, this doesn't mean that they are going to be best of friends straight after this because it shouldn't be rushed into as it would unrealistic.

Twilight Addict- Thanks for your review! I still get overwhelmed when people tell me my story is good because I just never think that it is, so its nice to know when readers appreciate it. and you thought it was a werewolf? Maybe it is, maybe its not. You have to read on to find out!

Hallie- Thanks a bunch for your review. I love reading them and I hope you like the new chapter! Sorry if it took while to publish by the way.

Major Grai- Thanks for reviewing. Glad you liked the last chapter, hopefully the same can be said about this one. lol. Well they are heading for friendship, sort of- kind of , now but that might not be for long for more reasons than one. lol. We shall see.

TRDancer- Thanks for your review! Every time I post a new chapter, I'm a wreck because I feel like its rubbish but when I get reviews like yours I feel better knowing that I must have done something right. lol. So thanks again.

ange87- Thank you for reviewing because a lot of people just read it and not bother reviewing, so I don't know whether I'm doing this right but even though your reviews are short, it still means a lot. Hope you liked the new chapter.

Big thanks to everyone else who has read this story or story alerted, favourited it etc. ;)