A/N: Hey, I'm back! Sorry I did post yesterday, but I already warned you that daily postings cannot happen during the school week. I was thinking of posting yesterday, but decided to hold off since I needed to study for a huge science test (which I wrote first thing this morning). Not to mention my poor father has a sinus infection and has been home from work, curled up in bed, needing care. Sigh, I hope I don't catch anything :S

So, I'm happy everyone who reviewed liked the argument between Bella and Edward. I just decided to mix it up a little with the DRAMA. A couple of you have made suggestions, and I will take them into consideration, but I'm not guaranteeing anything, so if you are unsatisfied with this chapter, than I'm sorry.

Enough with my babbling, on with Chapter NINE!

Disclaimer: I own nothing… which makes me sad :(

"Bella, listen-"

"GO!" I yelled, still not facing him.

I heard him hesitate for a second or two, before turning around and quickly leaving my room. I listened to him as he went down the stairs and out the front door without saying anything to Charlie. When I finally heard the purr of his Volvo driving away, I sank down on the floor of my bedroom, and cried.

Chapter 9: Jingle Bells

The music was blaring loudly in my room as I worked on a couple of essays and writing compositions for my English class at the university. I know it sounds weird, but sometimes, music helped me think clearly and get my creative juices flowing… not that I needed a ton of creativity for an essay.

I nodded my head to the music, my fingers rapidly typing words onto the document on my computer screen. I very faintly heard the front door bell ring downstairs. I didn't move an inch from my spot. Renee would get it.

I heard nothing for a few minutes, although hearing something besides the music was a little hard. I suspected whoever was at the door was just some annoying sales man trying to sell Renee the newest Triple X 5000 version of something or other. I was lightly chuckling to myself, remembering times when Renee would slam the door in their faces before they could utter a word, when I heard it.

WHAM!

Jolting up out of my chair, I went over to my CD player and turned off the music. I was already walking down the upstairs hallway, ready to see what the hell Renee dropped to make that noise, when I heard a voice.

Not just any voice. His voice.

I couldn't clearly make out the words, but it was his voice. I knew it anywhere. Oh God, did he do something to make that loud noise earlier? I heard Renee say something in decipherable, but by the tone of her voice she sounded pleading, like she was begging him to do something. What? I quietly walked down the stairs, careful not to make a sound, trying to get within better hearing range of the conversation. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket, just incase I needed to dial 9-1-1.

"… telling you Renee. You can't just leave me! What about Bella? Doesn't she need a father?!"

"You were never her father, Phil. You hurt her!"

"Only when she deserved it! It was nothing! If you leave me, I can't guarantee I won't do more…"

"Don't touch my baby! Please, leave her out of this! Just… leave!"

"Not until you come back to me."

"No!"

"Fine then… if you won't come back to me…"

I heard a loud thump and Renee screamed. Oh my God, he was hurting her! I whipped open my phone and dialed 9-1-1 faster than lightning. The police could deal with this. He hurt my mother!

"Hello, please state your emergency."

"Please! My mother's ex-boyfriend is at my house and he is hurting my mom!" I whispered the whole time, but the shakiness of my voice betrayed my panic. I couldn't hear anything coming from the kitchen, where they were, anymore. What was he doing?!

"I'm tracking down your location. Don't worry, we'll be there soon, honey. Calm down."

Before I would answer, the phone was snatched out of my hand and thrown across the room. I froze in place, my breathing coming out ragged and laboured with fear. My mind was screaming with shouts of escape, my instincts told me to run for it, but I was frozen in place.

"I thought you were smarter than to pull a stunt like that, Isabella." He said smoothly, a sly smile on his face.

"Well, since the cops will be showing up soon, I'd better make this quick." He said, more to himself than anybody else.

"Bella! Get out of here! Now!" I just realized Renee was there as my eyes snapped towards the sound of her voice. Phil was tightly grasping one of her arms as she tried to squirm away.

I looked back to Phil who was reaching into his jacket for something. I gasped and my eyes widened immensely when he pulled out a knife. I very sharp knife.

I'd always thought it was so stupid when people on TV were about to be hit by cars, and didn't move out of the way. They simply stared at the oncoming car, and I didn't know how they could just stand there and let it hit them. Right then, I knew why. Paralysis. Paralyzed by fear, not only for my life, but for Renee's. I knew I was probably going to die then too, and that thought didn't exactly excite me, but I was worried for my mom.

Renee started shouting at the sight of the knife.

"Bella! Run, leave!!!" I couldn't run though. Not only because I was frozen, but because there was no where to go. I was at the bottom of the stairs, with Phil blocking my path. The only direction to go would be back upstairs, and unless I was going to jump off the roof of the house, there was no escape.

Phil rolled his eyes. "Oh will you shut up." He muttered before plunging the knife into her chest, so fast, I barely caught the action. Renee was frozen, her only movement was her trembling. I stared at her in shock, then at Phil, who looked smug.

That's when the screaming began.

I screamed loud and long as I stood up and was going to at least try to get Phil away from Renee, who's blood was spilling and pooling on the ground, but he swiftly punched me in the face, sending me reeling. I tried to get up, but the pain plus the smell of my own blood and Renee's were making me weak. I could barely lift my head.

This wasn't happening, it couldn't be happening.

I lifted my head a bit just in time to see Phil stab my mother again… and again and again. He finally let go of her, letting her limp body hit the ground I felt a huge gut-wrenching pain in my heart as I head the soft thud her body made when coming in contact with the floor.

"That's what you get for thinking you can leave me, bitch…" he snarled.

This was all a dream.

Phil turned around and advanced towards me. I held my arms out in front of my face in weak defense as he grabbed me by the hair and started dragging me towards the stairs. I started screaming again, but he punched me across the jaw, breaking the skin and drawing out more blood.

"Shut up!" he yelled. When we passed by Renee's body, I saw her eyes were still open, completely lifeless as she lay in a large puddle of her own blood. Instead of screaming, sobs shook my body. I knew she was dead, but my mind wouldn't believe it. I kept wishing she would all of the sudden wake up and save me. But of course, that didn't happen. This isn't TV, people.

I didn't exactly know why he brought me to the top of the stairs, but he did. I soon got my explanation though.

"You, Isabella, are going to commit 'suicide'. You would have felt so guilty after killing your own mother that you then killed yourself."

Tears poured down my cheeks, stinging when they hit my bleeding jaw. I hated this man. I hated him with everything in me. I opened my mouth to scream again, not caring if he punched me, but then stopped as I heard the police sirens getting closer and closer…

Phil swore before looking at me. He obviously had a more elaborate set up of my death in his mind, but was pressed for time.

Finally seeming to come to a decision, he said, "Adios kid. Oh and if you somehow survive this, don't tell anyone anything. If you tell anyone, I will torture and kill everyone you care about." He said the last part menacingly, like the words alone were lethal. I knew he meant the threat.

My eyes widened and I gave one last scream as he threw me down the stairs and the world went black.

* * *

Gasping, I shot up in bed and frantically looked at my surroundings. My room, Charlie's house, Forks… safe. I fingered my face to only feel smooth skin and sweat from thrashing around I supposed, instead of the blood and split skin I was anticipating.

Reassured that it was only a dream, I fell back on my pillows, still breathing heavily. I looked at my clock. 3:05 AM again. Damn, that was just too creepy…

The nightmare was different this time though. In fact, it wasn't a dream, it was a flashback to that day. I shuddered and buried my face in my pillow. That horrible day… the empty, lifeless look in Renee's eyes still haunted me.

Phil. He haunted me too.

Phil started out alright. He was Renee's boyfriend of five months. Renee was smitten with him and his charm that they started dating right away. He didn't seem to mind that she had a kid, a major turn off when it came to many single men. I didn't actually meet him until a month into their relationship. He was introduced, and although he was nice, something always seemed off about him. I didn't say anything though since Renee was happy. I didn't want to ruin it for her.

Then, after their three month mark, everything changed. Phil was practically spending all of his time over at our house. He even stayed a while and watched TV while drinking beer if Renee wasn't home and it was just me. I didn't exactly feel comfortable and close with him, but he wasn't too bad.

He had his own key to the house and came and went as he pleased. He basically unofficially lived with us. After their three month anniversary, he took it upon himself to act like my father. Needless to say I was pissed and told him I already had a father.

That's when the hitting started. He started getting violent. I was a clumsy person, so Renee didn't really think much of the bruises that would appear every once in a while on my arms or legs. I wanted to tell her so badly, but every time I tried, I chickened out. She was so in love with Phil, I was convinced she wouldn't believe me. He only hit me in private and whenever Renee was present, he treated me like gold.

Then Renee accidently walked into the house, just as Phil was slapping me and needless to say, she screamed at him and threw him out, refusing to see him anymore.

After a week or so, he came back, demanding Renee in that psycho way of his to come back to him. She refused and you know what happened from there. I always knew Phil was possessive, but never in my wildest dreams did I think he was capable of murder.

The night it happened, the police banged on the front door for a minute or two since it was locked, demanding for whomever to come out. This gave Phil the opportunity to slip out the back door I guess and away to wherever. When the cops did manage to the knock the door down, he was gone, leaving only Renee's dead body lying in a pool of her own blood, and me, sprawled, unconscious, at the bottom of the stairs, a small pool of blood surrounding my own head.

I survived, and when the investigators questioned me about who did this, I lied and said I didn't remember anything. The doctor unknowingly helped me out when he said I may have suffered memory loss with the huge blow to the head I received. I didn't have any memory loss, but I faked it in order to protect mainly Charlie from Phil. He said if I told anyone, he would hunt down anyone I loved, and I knew Charlie would be his first target. Not only did I love him, but Phil had always been jealous of the fact that Charlie was my real father and he was not.

I didn't even know if Phil knew I survived, but he probably did. I shivered at the thought of him trying to find me. Turning over, I tried to go back to sleep, but I knew I wouldn't be able to. Especially since I didn't do as Phil said.

I told someone. Edward.

It was a mistake, and I didn't tell him the whole story, but that didn't matter. What did matter was that I told him, even if by accident, and I knew as soon as the words slipped from my mouth that I blew it.

Not only did I endanger my life and his, but I pretty much ruined any friendship between Edward and me. He knew so little and yet he knew too much. I would have to stay away from him completely from now on. Only being around him if I absolutely had to.

And pray to God, he didn't tell anyone else.

* * *

Three days.

That's how long it had been since my itty bitty argument with Edward. Three days since we had spoken to each other. Three days since I had said something that I really shouldn't have. He hadn't called me, texted me, or tried to contact me in any way in three days.

This was what I wanted… right?

I wanted distance, I wanted to avoid him, and I didn't want to be best friends with him anymore. So why did I feel so depressed. I mean, back at Seattle University we weren't exactly best friends; I stayed away from that. But we still saw each other and spoke, even if only small talk, every day.

I hadn't spoken to any of the other Cullens or Rosalie either. Of course, I didn't expect to hear from Jasper since he was down south. Despite the fact that this was the distance I had been wanting, I didn't like it. I missed them. Even Jasper. I know. Gasp.

Jacob came over for a couple of hours the day before. We just talked about a lot of different things and I really liked spending time with him. He was a great guy.

So now I was sitting at my kitchen table at 9 in the morning staring off into space with a mug of hot chocolate, or by now, cold chocolate while I contemplated these thoughts. It was Christmas Eve today, and Charlie was out doing something with Billy down by La Push. I was dreading the seconds as they ticked by, bringing me closer to 7 PM, when Charlie and I would have to go to the Cullen Christmas Party. I would have no choice but to see Edward there. My heart may have been yearning to see him, but my mind sure as hell wasn't. I wondered if it was possible to get drunk off of eggnog, because if so, I was definitely doing so tonight.

My doom and gloom was interrupted though by the sound of… sleigh bells?

What the hell?...

I wondered down the hall and opened the front door to see…

Alice, Emmett, and Rosalie sitting in a sleigh… pulled by two real horses?!?

"Hey Bella!" Alice called.

I walked out of the house, still in my slippers, across the snowy driveway, and towards the horses standing on my street, pulling a freaking sleigh with the wackiest people in the world inside.

"Holy sh-" I started, but was cut off by Emmett.

"Language, Bella! We do not want to ruin Christmas Eve, now do we?"

I rolled my eyes and said, "What are you guys doing here? And where's…" my voice shook the tiniest bit. "… Edward?"

Alice sighed and shook her head. "Locked up in his room wallowing away in guilt at whatever he said to you."

"Wait, what?" Edward? Guilt? What he said to me was out of place, but I hadn't really given his words a second thought since then. I was busy worrying over what I said. Wait, did he say anything to any of them?...

"Um, did Edward tell you about the argument?"

"No. By the time Em and I got home from dropping Rose off in Port Angeles, he was in his room. Apparently stormed in with barely a greeting to Mom and Dad. When I asked him what was wrong, he just said that he hurt you and that he felt like a monster. Wouldn't be the first time," Alice flipped her spiky hair in an offhand matter. "He wouldn't tell me what happened exactly, so I'm guessing it was a fight. And since he is still in his room, guilt-ridden, I'm going to take another wild guess and say it was a bad one."

I nodded, not meeting any of there eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Rosalie asked kindly.

"No", I answered quickly. Too quickly. Alice looked at me suspiciously, but, for once, didn't push it any farther. She was probably afraid I was going to run away from her like I did on movie night.

"Well, Jingle Bells," Emmett said jokingly, trying to bring back the holiday cheery mood, "go get dressed and we shall bring you out on an enchanted sleigh ride. We shall dash through the snow!"

I chuckled, I really did miss these guys. "How the hell did you manage to get a sleigh and horses?" I asked, genuinely curious. Where did they get these things and… animals?

"You're forgetting we're super rich, Bella" Alice replied, wiggling her eyebrows. "Let's just say, we have our connections…"

"Okay then.."

I dressed and put on warm boots, a coat, scarf, and mittens. I hopped onto the sleigh, sitting between Rose and Alice as Emmett drove us around. As we rose through the neighbourhood, people looked interested and amused, and little kids squealed at the sight of "horsies".

Alice, being as sweet as she was, decided to hang out with me to cheer me up after my little falling out with Edward. She was great. She knew that mine and Edward's words to each other were really bugging me, so after the sleigh ride would be over, she decided to watch a couple of movies with me, Rose, and Em while eating Christmas cookies, and later helping me get ready for the party. Well, the last one wasn't really that exciting for me, but whatever.

"What movies did you bring?" I asked Alice as we rode around town.

She reached down to the floor of the sleigh and into a bag. She pulled out two DVDs and showed them to me. I smiled in response to my favourites.

Romeo and Juliet, the two best versions (in my opinion).

"Romeo + Juliet, because we all can't get enough of Leo." Alice giggled and Emmett gagged from the driver's seat. "And the 1968 version, since I know you think that one's the best."

"Eww, do we have to watch the older one?" Emmett whined.

"Why not?" I asked, slightly annoyed. It was the best version!

"Because… it shows the dude's ass in it, and I don't want to see that."

"Oh! The guy who looks like Zac Efron?" Rosalie asked, turning to me. I was about to reply, but was cut off again by Emmett.

"What?! His ass looks like Zac Efron's?!"

"What?! No!" Alice giggled and Rosalie and I contained our own laughter. "And how the hell would we know what Zac Efron's ass looks like?"

"And even if we did," Rosalie piped in, "what the hell would individualize his ass so much from everyone else's so that we'd be able to recognize it on someone else?"

"I don't know", Emmett scoffed, "Maybe one of his butt cheeks are more-"

"OKAY! That's quite enough discussion on Zac Efron's and the Dude-who-looks-like-Zac-Efron's butts."

"I agree." Alice said.

It was silent for a moment, the only sound coming from the sleigh bells ringing. Then we all burst into hysterical laughter over the absolutely absurd conversation we were having. Then I felt it. This was it. The "whole" feeling I had been missing the past three days when I didn't speak to any of them. No matter how many times I tried to push them away, they always wormed their way back into my heart, and… I was glad they did.

A/N: OKAY! Phew! ……. Hit or Miss?

Anyway, I am uber excited because my bestest friend and I ordered our tickets online yesterday to go see Twilight on opening day! WOOT!!! JUST ONE MORE WEEK!!! The tickets are for 4 PM so I have to be out, like WHOOSH, right after school in order to get there on time and get half-decent seats. I can't wait! Of course the movie will be no where near as good as the book, but I'm hoping it will be good… and full of Edward-love! The only down side to next Friday is the fact that right after the movie, my mom wants to take me out to get my flu shot at the clinic. Nice way to ruin the fun, Mom. Ah, but I digress.

Haha, that conversation in this chapter, the one about Zac Efron and his butt was actually almost the exact conversation I had with my friends last week. Almost word for word. Yeah, my memory is that good. Teehee, and seriously, the guy who plays Romeo in the 1968 version of the film DOES look like Zac Efron! My friend's and I always refer to him as "Zac Efron's grandfather". Ah, good times. Goooood times.

And one quick reminder: Next chapter is the special EPOV chapter!!!

So… REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!!!

Peace out.