Whoops, I update a day or so later than I said I would. But I updated. And this is also a nice long chapter for you :) So I hope you enjoy it, and I will try and update in the next few days again.

x

"You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality."

- Ayn Rand (1905-1982)

Bella's POV

The rest of the night's events were blurred in my mind.

I vaguely remember being repeatedly sick over and over again, whilst Rose, Alice and I all cried. I remember Jasper inquiring what was wrong, and Emmett holding Rosalie back, while she tried to slap and hit Mike. I remember Alice telling me that she will talk to Edward when she gets home and that she will get him to come and see me or call me at the very least. I remember Rosalie muttering that she will kill Mike on Monday at school, and that she is going to tell everyone what he did to me, and also to Angela those few weeks ago. But the one thing that haunted me the most was Edward's face when he walked into the room. It wasn't something I would ever forget. That expression was worse than the first time it happened. It was probably due to the fact that this was the second time he caught me being 'unfaithful'.

Somehow, I had managed to get myself home and up into my room without my Father asking any questions about where I had been or who I had been with.

If only he knew the truth...

The first thing I did when I got into my room was strip down to my underwear and put my pyjama's on, then I climbed into my bed sobbing uncontrollably again. I curled into a ball and wrapped my arms around my legs, trying not to think about who had been the last person to touch them.

Oh Edward, Edward, Edward. He was the only person I could think of at that moment. Oh, why God? Why does fate have to work in opposite ways to me? Did I do something wrong?

I rushed out of bed and flew to the bathroom as I felt bile rise in my throat again, and I only made it to the toilet in time, throwing up whilst the vomit burnt my throat, making it raw. When I finished, I cried again, looking at my hands, watching them shake and tremble. I wiped my tears away and stood up facing the mirror. As I washed my hands, I couldn't take my eyes of my reflected image. My eyes were haunted and my make-up had run, two big lines of mascara streaks running down my cheeks. There were flecks of smudged eyeliner around my eyes and my hair was all over the place.

I turned away, disgusted and turned on the shower. Whilst letting the water heat up, I brushed my teeth, removing any traces of bile that may be caught in my mouth and also the taste it left. I brushed as well as I could, until I could only taste the mint of the toothpaste. I undressed and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away any traces of him. I scrubbed every inch of my skin as well as I could, as if doing that would make me forget what happened, but unfortunately, it didn't.

I stepped out the shower and wrapping a towel around my wet body, I looked in the mirror again. I did look better after a good wash, but I couldn't look at my own eyes, they scared me too much. I quickly got back into my pyjamas and crept downstairs, glad to find that my dad had already gone to bed. Well, that is going to make my job easier.

I took the phone off of the table and dialled a number that I remembered from two years ago.

"Hello, welcome to America Airlines, how may I help you?" A kind female voice asked from the other end of the phone line.

"Hi, I would like to book a single journey to Phoenix," I whispered.

----~~~~----

The next morning I swung my duffel bag over my shoulder, as I walked downstairs. On the hall table, I noticed that there was a notepad and pen.

I dumped my bag on the floor and tore off a piece of paper, and hastily scribbled a note down for my Father. It read:

Dad,

I know that I promised you and mum that I would stay here in Forks and be safe. However, I'm sorry, but I cannot take being here anymore. It brings back bad memories that I would rather forget. It is nothing to do with you of course, but events that have happened at school. I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I promise I will come and visit when things get better. Maybe someday in the far future I will tell you what happened, but for now I think it would be best to go back to Phoenix.

Love, Bella x

I folded the note in half and put Dad on front of it and left it on the coffee table in the sitting room, where I knew he would find it as that is the first room he walks into when he gets in from work. I made for the front door, but after a moment's hesitation I walked back to the notepad and ripped off more paper, this time however, it was addressed for Edward.

After I finished writing it, I folded it in half and placed it in an envelope, sealing it so that my Father won't read it. After writing Edward's name on the front of it, I placed it next to my first note and left my house without a backwards glance.

A taxi was waiting for me and I climbed into it, looking forward to the sun that will engulf me in a few hours.

----~~~~----

"Hey Bella, would you like to dance?" Mike asked me. At the moment I was perched on Edward's lap, his arm wrapped securely around my waist while the other held a bottle of vodka.

"Uh, I'm OK. Thanks anyway Mike," I replied, glancing nervously at Edward. He tended to get jealous very easily when he was drunk.

"Aw, come on Bella, just one dance?" Mike pleaded.

"No Mike, I-"

"Bella, just dance with him," Edward snapped, "It's not going to kill you."

Unwillingly and pissed off, I got up, remembering to give Edward the finger before I let Mike tug me towards the dance floor. I clenched my fists together. Sometimes I just wanted to punch Edward, and this was one of them. He knew how much I detested Mike, and yet he couldn't even come to my defence when I needed him the most. I didn't want to spend the next song with Mike's arms around him, smelling his body odour and his drunken breath.

A new song began pounding through the speakers, and Mike put his hands on my waist and began swaying to the beat. I copied him, pretending that I was having a good time. Regardless of how much I hated him, I still didn't want to hurt his feelings.

When the song finished, I turned to go back to Edward and have a go at him, but Mike grabbed my hand, pulling me back.

"Let's go and get a drink?" Mike suggested, and before I had a chance to reply, he was pulling me towards the kitchen. He grabbed two beers and handed one to me. I opened it and gulped down half a can of the frothy warn liquid in one go and yet again, as I turned to leave Mike, he grabbed my arm and asked me to go and find Jessica with him.

Reluctantly I agreed. I wanted to talk to my best friend as well, and seeing as we were both searching for her, why not do it together? We entered room after room, asking around for Jessica, but no such luck.

There was one door left on the second floor that we hadn't tried yet, and Mike pushed it open, flooding the darkness with light.

We entered, calling Jess's name, but no answer. So I turned to exit the room, but Mike slammed the door shut and pressed me into the wall.

"What are you doi-" I began, but Mike forced his lips against mine, cutting off the rest of my question.

I tried shoving against his shoulders, but he pressed against me harder. No! I'm dating Edward and he is dating Jessica. He cannot do this to me.

"Stop resisting Bella," he growled so that I almost felt scared of him. "You can't deny the chemistry between us."

I repressed a snort. The only chemistry between us was my disliking of him.

"Get away or I swear to God that when Edward comes, I will personally make sure he rips off your head."

But Mike took me by surprise and instead of listening to my threats like most normal people would; he threw me to the floor and pinned me down.

"Don't argue back to me." His tone made him sound angry.

"Mike, what are you doing?" I asked, beginning to feel afraid as his hands slithered between us down to my jeans. He shook his head and told me to shut up as he undid my jeans and pulled them down as best as he could. I screamed out, realising what he was about to do, but he smacked a hand over my mouth preventing anyone from seeking us. He used his other hand to undo his belt and then his trousers and he pulled them down, along with his boxers.

Soon there was only the thin material of my underwear separating us, and soon that was gone as well.

I cried out as best as I could while Mike stole me. Each thrust pained me even more, and I struggled against him, just thinking to myself, if only Edward hadn't told me to go and dance with Mike. My brain was all confused, I couldn't think straight, and I could feel my stomach turning over as Mike held me down tightly. There was sure to be bruises the next morning when I woke up.

When I felt Mike beginning to slow down, the door open and both of our heads turned to see Jessica silhouetted in the doorway.

"You little slut!" Jess hissed as she turned on the light switch. Mike got away from me and redressed himself, as did I, wiping the tears that were streaming down my face.

"Jess what's wrong?" Edward said as he entered the room along with a few others.

Both Jess and I were shaking- her from anger, but me from pure terror.

"I just saw Bella and Mike, shagging on my bedroom floor," she cried.

"No, Jess, That isn't what-"

"Yes we were and what are you going to do about it?" Mike hissed.

The only person I had eyes for at the moment was Edward, and the look on his face ranged from hurt, to anger and then to hatred.

"And I'm not the only one she has been having sex with. Isn't that right Tyler?" Mike said, asking his best friend who had just entered the room along with several others to see what the commotion was all about.

"Yes, it is. We did it around mine the other week."Tyler replied, backing up his friend. Mike was blatantly trying to cover his tracks by making out that I was the slut.

"No-" I whispered, but Edward cut me off.

"Go, you slag. I never want to see your face ever again." He shouted, and I winced.

"Edward believe me, I'm your girlfriend," I begged.

"I don't have a girlfriend," Edward said coldly.

"Like I don't have a best friend," Jess injected.

Sobbing, I ran from the house, hearing Mike's bellowing laughter chase after me...

"Miss, wake up. We've landed." Someone was shaking me, rousing me from my nightmare.

"Oh. Right. Thank you," I said distractedly, whilst I gathered my hand luggage. My nightmare was the memory of when I first got raped. I couldn't remember the whole details about how terrified, frightened and ill I felt at the time, but I could clearly remember all the words said to me.

I exited the plane deep in my thoughts, and I also collected my luggage still in thoughts. If it wasn't for my friend Chloe shouting my name, I probably would've just stood here staring into space.

"Bella! Over here!" She yelled, I turned to her and began running to her and she did the same, I dropped my bag just before we jumped into a hug, her olive complexion contrasting against my pale milky one and her eyes feigning excitement that I was here again. I had called Chloe when I was at the airport back in Washington, asking her to pick me up.

"Hey, you look different." She noted.

"Thanks," I said dryly.

"Oh, not in a bad way," she said, immediately trying to suck up to me again.

"I know, though it probably is a bad change," I muttered as we headed towards her convertible.

We spent the journey to my house catching up- though I never told her about me nearly being raped. I just told her that I was fed up of the rain and couldn't stand it in Forks anymore and that I wanted a change. She seemed, however, appeased by my answer and didn't pursue it any further.

When we turned into my street, the first thing I saw was my red truck, sitting in all of its glory in the driveway, gathering dust. I smiled when I saw it, I hadn't realised how much I missed it.

Chloe pulled up in front of my house and we both got out of my car just as my Mother came rushing out of the house, clutching the phone.

"Bella! What on earth were you thinking?! I sent you to Forks for a reason. We agreed that it would be the best for you there so you can, you know, recover. You shouldn't have run off like that. Your Father has been worried sick, not to mention me. Anything could have happened to you..." Halfway through her rant, Renee seemed to have noticed Chloe was with me, as she put a forced smile on her face.

"Hello Chloe. I haven't seen you for a while." My Mother said, her voice hinting that she wanted Chloe to leave.

"Well, I must get going," Chloe said, backing towards her car. "It was nice seeing you again Mrs Dwyer, bye Bella," she added before getting in her car and driving away. Renee waved and kept a smile on her face until Chloe was out of eye shot.

"Bella, we are going to call your Father and have a serious talk," she said sternly. I sighed, and followed her into the house while she dialled Charlie's number. He must have picked up on the first ring, as just after Renee put the phone to her ear she began speaking.

"Charlie. Yes, she is here with me." There was a pause while my dad said something then Renee spoke again. "Yes, I'll put you on speakerphone."

"Bella?" Charlie asked through the phone speaker.

"I'm right here Dad," I said wearily.

"Bella, I want you back on a plane to Fork immediately!" he ordered so loudly that I jumped.

"Charlie, why don't we talk about it calmly," my mum said, trying to reason with him.

"Please, can I just stay here? Can you give me one last chance," I pleaded as I began crying again. I didn't want to have to go back to Forks; I couldn't face him for a second time.

Renee watched me, appraising me and then sighed. "I guess that one more chance won't do any harm," she said. "Is that OK with you Charlie?"

There was a moments silence whilst Charlie contemplated. "Fine," he huffed. "But if there is any more funny stuff Bella, I'm warning you now, you will be on a plane straight back here," he warned.

I felt so happy that I almost laughed. I never had to return to Forks again! "Thanks mum," I kissed her on the cheek. "And thanks dad!" I shouted in the direction of the phone, and I grabbed my bag and ran upstairs, revelling in my new happiness, as I tried to forget all things that made tied me to Forks.

Edward's POV

"Edward, wake up!" Someone hissed above me. I opened my eyes and blinked a few times, making sure I was awake.

"Alice, what do you want?" I mumbled. "It's ten in the morning," I complained.

"You have to talk to Bella," she said shaking me, attempting to get me out of bed.

"I don't want to talk to her Alice. You know what she did," I replied coldly.

"No Edward, you don't understand. It's not what you think. Please," she begged, I could see tears in her eyes as she tried to get me to see reason.

"Alice..." I moaned.

"Please Edward, everything will make sense," she promised and tears began trickling down her cheek.

I hated it when my sister cried.

"OK, fine Alice, I will go and see her. But I'm not promising anything." I was still fuming from last night, and I didn't know if I was going to be able to keep my cool whilst talking to her.

Alice smiled watery at me and exited my room, leaving me to get dressed. Once I was showered, fully clothed and had eaten, I left the house, keys in hand and drove to Bella's house. I pulled up in front of the grass. Her car was in the driveway, as was her Father's, which meant I would probably have to drive with her somewhere, so that her Father doesn't eavesdrop.

I knocked on the door twice, waiting patiently until someone answered it.

"Hello Chief Swan," I said politely.

"Hello Edward, come in." I followed him into the house, looking for any sign of Bella.

"Is it possible to have a word with Bella?" I asked.

"She's gone."

"Gone? When will she be back then?" I frowned; her car was outside so where on earth had she gotten too.

"Phoenix, so I doubt when she will come home."

"Oh, sorry for your time. I guess I should leave now." I turned to leave but Charlie called me back.

"Bella left this for you," he said and held out a white sealed envelope.

"Thank you Chief Swan and it was good to see you again."

"You too Edward, and please, call me Charlie. How many times do I have to tell you that?" I laughed and left the house. Once I was inside my car, I opened the envelope and a note from Bella fell out. I opened it, and once I read it, I set it down and began thinking. What happened then if she never cheated on me?

But the sad thing was; I never worked it out.

Dear Edward,

If you're reading this, then I am probably in Phoenix by now, which means I probably won't see you ever again. But I couldn't leave without saying what I have been trying to tell you for weeks.

I never cheated on you Edward. I would never ever do something like that, I wouldn't even think of doing it.

But if you think about it closely, I'm sure that you can figure out what happened to me.

I love you.

Bella x

Annddd I stared another story :S

The Ashes like Snow

Full Summary: Two families, one world and a constant battle of violence and death. It isn't safe for anyone, you speak out and you are assassinated. If you have been seen with the suspected enemy, you will be hung, you harbour fugitives, you and your whole family will be shot. This is the way the world we live in works. Bella has never known any different. She is at the core of the Swan's, one of the two battling families, but when she finds herself in a terrifying situation, will she find that what she has always been taught, isn't always true.

It is rated M, so go an check it out. But don't worry this story is still my main priority until it is finished, which should happen in the next few weeks.

And also go and vote on the poll on my profile. It is 'I am thinking of doing an imprint story, what cannon shall I do?' Seth is in the lead at the moment and Embry is last, so go and vote if you want to change that.

Follow me on twitter. I get lonely when I write most of the time, and I like talking to people :D The link is on my profile.

Remember to review :)

x