Chapter 8

Bella.

Since Ben for fitted school the next day Edward couldn't come over until that night. I text him at nine when Ben was down and Katie was close. I had just got her down when a soft knock on the door makes my heart jump into my throat and the blood in my veins pound unnaturally. I nearly trip over myself to open the door, ready to apologize. His appearance shocks me-it doesn't look like he's slept at all and is still in the clothes I last saw him in. He's clutching flowers and I don't hesitate to pull him inside and wrap my arms around him at tightly as I can.

''I'm so sorry Bell.'' His hands rest on my hips, the flowers still held in one of them.

''You don't need to be, I shouldn't have sent you away. I just needed to think for a while. I wasn't angry at you.''

''I'm angry at me. I should have said more to him.''

''No, it's okay.'' I sigh out. ''I just-I was too hurt, I'm sorry.''

I pull back and take the flowers, leaving them on the table and telling him thanks before grabbing his hand and bringing him into the living room. He sits down and pulls me onto his lap, it's nice and I'm relieved he's not angry at me at least.

''So you really don't believe what he said?''

''Hell no.'' His arms tighten around me. ''I love you and I know you, he know's shit about anything and shouldn't have said anything like that. I don't know where it came from, I really don't.''

''He thinks I'm a horrible mother.'' My voice turns to a whisper. ''And a slut.''

''Don't say that.'' He frowns. ''He doesn't, your not. You are the best mother, how many people could basically raise two children alone? Most people would be driven up the wall from it but you power through and he doesn't know about your relationship with James.''

''Yeah.'' We had only been recently divorced but hadn't been in love in a long time. ''I love you.''

''How's Ben doing?''

I shrug. ''Fine, his arm hurts but that's to be expected. He wants to go to school tomorrow.''

He snorts. ''Most kids would take time off, not go back.''

''Exactly, I think he just likes school.'' I pause. ''You okay? You're acting off?''

''Yes, I'm fine.'' He smiles tightly. ''Promise.''

''I know what a lie is Edward, what's wrong?''

I sit up properly but he doesn't let me go or get a good enough angle to look at him. ''It's nothing. You're observation skills need to tone down a bit.''

''So I have noticed something?''

He sighs. ''Someone sent me a note earlier.''

''Em okay...from who?''

''I don't know.''

''Edward? What happened?''

''I think-I think it was from Aro.''

I see red and sit up to twist in his arms. ''That son of a bitch! What did he say?''

He's flushed red-either from pain or embarrassment-when he reaches into his pocket for his phone where he gets up a picture of the note. I read it quickly, the blood draining from my face. ''Just don't tell anyone, I'll see you soon.''

''Just don't tell anyone.'' He looks away, breathing in deeply as if to keep himself together. ''He used to...always say that.''

''And he sent this to your house?''

He nods slowly but I feel him trembling under me. ''He knows where I live.''

''You're staying here.'' I say instantly. ''You can't go back.''

''I told the police, they think it's him too-since from the case before it was documented he always said that but it mightn't hold up in court. He-they don't know where he is.''

I've somehow ended up straddling his lap with his head pressed to my chest while my hands run through his hair. ''You'll be safe here, he won't know where you are.''

''What if he finds out? I can't risk that.''

''He won't, I know he won't.'' I try to console. ''I'd rather have you stay here, what he did was barbaric Edward. Wasn't there like forty five boys that came forward over the years? He might have sent them one too.''

He shakes his head. ''If he has, they haven't reported it.''

''Is there something you're not telling me?'' I freeze my movements-because I know there is.

''I was the one who reported him-the first one.'' He sighs. ''I can't stay here in case.''

''I'm not letting you go back.'' I hold onto him tighter. ''I'll tell Ben tomorrow, it'll be okay.''

''Bella I'm not putting you out like that-''

''I'd rather have you safe here, he doesn't know where I am, please? He affects you so badly, I know he does.''

''When I was fourteen I tried to kill myself twice.'' He starts, conforming my suspicions. ''Because of him.''

''Oh my god, when?'' The thought upsets me-thinking of how low you had to be feeling to do that, and how this, this absolute barbaric scum of the earth made him feel like this-while he's walking free, Edward's forced back into a damn corner of fear.

''My family know but I've never told anyone the full thing. I tied a rope to the outside door handle of my room and had the rope over the door. No one ever really came upstairs in the day-but Alice did for some reason. I can't know why or how, but she saw the rope. I tried to hang myself but she had enough sense to put the chair I had kicked away back under my feet and cut the rope once she found a scissors. Emmett was the only other one home; he was eighteen and heard her call and came to help. I was okay but never fine. I tried again a few months later with pills. I'd only swallowed over half of them by the time my mother caught me and brought me to hospital. It was-I saw what it was doing to her and knew I had to stop.''

''So you hadn't thought of it again?''

''I hadn't tried again, I thought about it a lot.''

''I'd love to kill him.'' I grit out, clinging to him tighter. ''Anyone who did what he did doesn't deserve to walk free and taunt you more then his fucking memory already is!''

''There's nothing you can do.'' His voice is so hollow-so emotionless, but full of pain, and it starts to hurt me and make the anger bubble up inside me again.

''If I ever see him-''

''Run. Fast and far.''

''Okay, will you stay here then?''

He stares down at me for a while, contemplating. ''You really sure?''

I nod-knowing it was a big thing, we would be basically living together and I'd have to tell Ben, but it was worth it for his safety and both our piece of minds. I knew it was.

Are people still interested in this story? Doesn't seem so...anyway, thank you for reading! ;)xxx

-BATTM