Sorry this is a day late! I had my company holiday party yesterday (yeah, on a Sunday night- no bueno) and didn't get the chance to send this out.

Authors note: To those who don't like my story or writing, I write because I like to and not because I have to. If you don't like my story, please feel free to not read it. It's really that simple. Negative reviews and hate aren't needed, constructive criticism is welcomed. Last time I checked there were over 100k Twilight stories on this site alone.

And on another note, I hope everyone had a great week! I got all of my Christmas shopping done and everything is wrapped and under the tree. For once I didn't procrastinate and wait until the last minute.

You get to hear about that night from Edward's point of view.

P.S. I don't own twilight, just some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.


EPOV

She was shaking in my arms as Jasper drove us home that night. I could feel the hiccups overtake her body as she silently cried into my beating chest. My anger level kept rising as I thought back to all of the appalling things that could have happened if I wouldn't have showed up in time. But I didn't, and I had saved her. Although, I felt that I couldn't really take the credit for that. Even if I had managed to step in a little earlier, I knew that there would be emotional scars for a very long time. She would always second-guess her decisions and would never trust easily. It made me sad that this asshole took something from her, if even just her trust in humanity. Sometimes I felt as if fate played tricks on me. Maybe it was God, but I never knew. The one person I had tried to stay away from all night ended up needing me the most. This small girl in my arms deserved so much more than all of this.

I knew that we would have to talk to our parents that night and explain everything. They understood that Jasper and I were in college and did stupid things when we were away from parental view. However the fact that we had let Alice's friend get into any danger was no one's fault but our own. Well I guess it was really my responsibility since Jasper had been slightly preoccupied. With my sister. I still wasn't over it, but rather than getting even angrier, I decided I would deal with them later.

As we walked into my house that night, I knew that I would eventually have to put her down, but I wasn't ready yet. I didn't want to ever let go, the fear that something else might damage her already fragile state. However Charlie didn't really give me a choice in the matter. He took his daughter immediately into his arms to cradle her close. Charlie had always been a little domineering and frightening, but right now he was just a father hurting for his daughter. He was upset that he hadn't been there to protect her and I knew the fear I felt for her was greatly intensified in his eyes.

The adults made us all go into the family room so that we could go over the events that took place over the course of the night. Carlisle and Esme sat side by side on the love-seat and held hands. Meanwhile Bella sat carefully wedged in between me and her father- she wouldn't let go of my hand, while Alice started rambling. She started telling the night's tale from the beginning and never stopped to take a breath, although I wasn't really paying attention. I was too focused on the quivering body perched next to me. I was all too aware of how her breath would hitch slightly when she tried to calm herself down. How she was slightly leaning into my body as if I could provide shelter from harm. I couldn't even imagine the horrible thoughts that were racing through her head right now.

I didn't understand what was causing me to feel such intense feelings towards Bella. In all honesty it scared me. Here was this random girl whom I had just met and I already felt so incredibly connected to her. I wasn't such a callous bastard that I wouldn't try and help anyone else in the same situation, but when I saw that it was Bella under his prying hands I completely lost it. How dare he put his hands on her body or his mouth on her lips. They were now deep red in color as if he had purposely bruised them for everyone to see. She still had my button down on, on top of her torn shirt but I knew that there were slight bruises along the ridge of her neck as well. I knew that this disheveled version of Bella would haunt me in my dreams.

I had been so completely wrapped up in my anger and thoughts that I had missed Alice's explanation come to an end. Besides my insistence that Bella should press charges, I had stayed silent through the entire explanation. Bella wanted to forget anything had happened but I didn't think Charlie would allow that to happen. Maybe give her a few days to realize the severity of the situation. There were just too many ideas and scenarios running through my head. All of the sudden I was being jostled slightly and Charlie was reaching a hand out to help Bella stand up from the couch. He then reached out his unoccupied hand to shake mine in gratitude.

"Edward, I will never be able to repay you for saving my little girl tonight. If you hadn't of been there…" he trailed off not wanting to finish the sentence. I just shook my head in confirmation and let him know that I was glad that I was able to help. When Bella tried to remove my shirt from her shoulders I stopped her before the first button was undone.

"Keep it for now. You can always give it back to me next time we see each other. Or you can always give it Alice when you're done with it." I flashed her a quick semi-smile to reassure her. I was lucky if she would ever want to see me again. Before the nights turn of events I had been nothing but a complete asshole towards her and just because I saved her from that monster didn't mean that she wanted anything to do me. I knew that I would be returning to campus on Sunday and that I probably wouldn't be seeing her before then. My stomach dropped and I hated feeling alone all of the sudden. I didn't like the thought of not seeing her again. I didn't understand this control that she had over me or why I had such strong feelings for her, especially at such an inopportune time.


Sure enough I wasn't able to see Bella before I departed for school. My parents had been all over us that night. Asking a ton of questions and trying to figure out where in the hell I had been when this was all taking place. As if I didn't feel bad enough.

I quickly submerged myself into my studies and tried to spend the least amount of time possible at the apartment I shared with Jasper. After Bella had left our house that night, I had excused myself to my room and stayed holed up until we headed back to campus. Jasper had continuously tried to talk to me and Alice had been blowing up my phone for a week now. I just needed time to figure everything out. I just felt slightly betrayed that they had hidden this huge secret from me for over 4 months. Besides that, I was still harboring issues with what had transpired with Bella. In reality I was just trying to keep myself as busy as possible so that I didn't have time to sit around and think about how my life had changed in one night.

I wondered how she was holding up. I didn't want to give in and ask Alice seeing as how I was still slightly angry with her. Luckily I got my answer a few days later.


*Knock, Knock, Knock*

"Edward? You in there? Hellooo? C'mon man, I know you're in there. I heard you come in this morning. Edward! Stop! You can't just keep ignoring us like we don't exist. You know we didn't do anything to intentionally hurt you and yet you're making it seem like we killed your dog."

Silence.

"You have a package from Bellaaa…." I opened the door quickly and snatched the box from Jasper's hands. Slamming the door shut, I walked over to my bed and sat with my back up against the headboard. Popping open the top of the cardboard box, I instantly reached for the letter that was sitting on top.

Dear Edward,

I don't really know where to begin. I truly don't know how to say thank you. As I sit here and write you this letter I know that there aren't enough words to express my gratitude. You saved my life. I know that you feel guilty, like there was something that you could've done, but don't. It wasn't your fault and it wasn't my fault either. Sometimes we don't have answers to everything and we don't know why people do the things that they do. If anything, this past week has taught me that I can't live in the past and need to start taking small steps forward.

Alice also mentioned that you are still ignoring her and Jasper and I wish that you wouldn't. Sometimes when people are in love, they do stupid things. I know that you are feeling hurt and betrayed but you of all people know that neither one of them would ever purposely hurt you. They love you and truthfully, Alice is driving me crazy. Please answer the girl's phone call.

I hope that you aren't angry that I sent you this letter. I reached out to Esme and told her that I wanted to send you a thank you of sorts and asked her for some ideas. I really hope you don't mind. She mentioned that you love oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and so I decided to make you some. Although I am a complete klutz and can't even walk in a straight line, I can proudly say that I am an awesome baker!

This made me laugh a little. Even in the short time that I had been around Bella, I had noticed how clumsy she was. At the mention of cookies, I looked down into the cardboard package and opened up the metal tin inside. Sure enough there were 2-dozen cookies nestled in between sheets of tissue paper. Popping one in my mouth, I moaned in delight and went back to Bella's letter.

Charlie let me take a week off from school because people were just being so mean. I just don't understand it. Times like this make me want to count down the hours until I am away from all the pettiness that comes with high school. Sometimes I feel like my life should be a reality show- or maybe not. I don't think I want a camera catching all of my many uncoordinated falls.

Luckily your sister was there to bring me my assignments and stuff from my missed classes. Friday night I went out with Alice, Jasper, and Emmett. We went to see that new movie in Port Angeles. You know, the one about the vampires? I thought Emmett was going to kill us afterwards, haha! He started yelling something about his man-card. It was just really nice to get out of my house and feel like a normal teenager again. Emmett makes for great comic relief. He always seemed to know when I needed to smile.

Was Bella starting to have feelings for Emmett? He was there and I was so far away.

I'm not really sure why I'm even telling you all of this. You probably didn't even want to hear from me after everything that happened. But like I already said, I just wanted to say thank you for everything that you did for me that night. Also, enclosed is the shirt you let me borrow. But don't worry; I washed it so it's clean.

Edward, I will never be able to wholly apologize the way I'd like to. So until I see you again, all I can say is thank you. Also if at all possible, please keep this between the two of us. I'd really rather Alice not make a big deal out of this. I know she mentioned something about you coming into town soon and if you'd let me, I'd like to be able to take you to dinner. I think Charlie might even join. He asked me to mention it. If this is all weird to you I completely understand. I guess I will stop rambling now- thanks for listening. Hope your classes are going well. Give Jasper a 'hello' for me.

Sincerely yours,

Bella

Taking the folded shirt from under the metal tin, I brought it up to my face. It smelled of clean spring air and what I could remember of Bella's hair. I smiled in realization. She said she wanted to see me again.


A/N: Hopefully this gave you access into Edwards mind. Did y'all like his POV?