I know that you probably hate me. I could make up so many excuses, but the truth is that life just got in the way. I'm sorry that the update took so long and that it is so short, but I just wanted to get something out to you. I have no idea when the next update will be, but hopefully soon!

Previously:

"Why is she only talking to you now?" Alice whined.

"I don't know." And I really and truly didn't. Even after learning about her past, Bella Swan was still a mystery.

BPOV

I tossed and turned that night. What Tyler had said bothered me more than I cared to admit to Edward. I couldn't get what he said out of my mind…

I was surprisingly hungry. I normally never ate anything of substance but I was craving something other than water for a change. I felt the heat of a body behind me, and for a second I thought that it was Edward. When I turned and saw Tyler I tried not to look too disappointed. I attempted to seem disinterested, but unfortunately he had caught me staring.

"Hey Swan, how are you doing?"

I was going to just ignore him, but I thought that it might seem a bit rude so I gave a slight shrug of my shoulders and continued to face forward.

Apparently this didn't placate him because he leaned into me and put his mouth near my ear. "I heard that you're giving it to Cullen good. Won't you give some to me?"

I gave a slight shake of my head and tried to get away from him.

"What are you too good to talk to me? You would be so lucky to have my cock. It is way better than Cullen's, I'll prove it."

That is when Edward came to my rescue. I didn't want Edward to know that people around the school thought that we were together like that because then he wouldn't want to be near me anymore. I couldn't live with that because he is the only person that I can be near now. I'm not sure why I chose him to tell my story to, but now that he was the only person that could remotely understand, he was the only person that I wanted to talk to.

I could see the hurt in Alice's eyes when I didn't talk to her, but I couldn't.

I tossed and turned all night. I was waiting for Edward to text me, but he never did. I thought I had been pretty obvious that I wanted to talk to him. I may have put too much trust in him.

The next day I decided that I wouldn't bother him. If he wanted to talk to me he would have.

I feel bad for just a moment because it almost seems like I'm playing mind games like most of the other girls that he is used to. But the thing is; I'm different. He must understand that, right?

I saw him from across the parking lot, and I couldn't help but take in his beautiful form. I could see his hair standing up in disarray from all the way over here, and it made me smile a small smile.

It would be so easy to fall for Edward. I can see why all of the girls talk about him in the locker rooms and constantly dress to impress him. I wish my life was simpler and that my problems were as meager as what to wear to impress a boy like Edward. That would be something I would talk to my mother about, but I can't.

It doesn't matter anyway; Edward would never like somebody like me, even if I wasn't broken. I would take his friendship. I hope he considered us friends now. He smiled every time that I spoke to him, and never interrupted me. It was as though he wanted to hear everything I said, and take all that he could get. If I talked more, he wouldn't need to do that.

I would be lying if I didn't admit that I like the attention that he was giving me. Other than Alice and Rose, I haven't had much recently. I never felt the need for it.

Edward and I have been through so much in a small amount of time. He saved me from God knows what, and he brought a small amount of closure to me. If he hadn't been there I wouldn't have been able to hear my attacker speak. I have spent years mourning the loss of the most important person in my life. I had thought that his reappearance would make me go through a downward spiral. I think my father had a similar idea, because he has been paying me a bit more attention. However, it had an opposite effect. Knowing that the man that is the cause of my mourning is forever gone is a bit of a relief to me. I had secretly wondered in the back of my mind if he would ever come back. I'm just lucky that Edward was there when he did.

The beginning of my morning was pretty uneventful. I walked to and from my classes quickly so that I would avoid running into Edward. At lunch I was unsure of where I should sit so I sat in the bathroom.

When the first bell rang signaling for the students to start heading to their next class I began to make my way to Biology. As soon as I stepped into the hallway I was tripped. Normally I would attribute it to my clumsiness, but I know that I didn't do this on my own.

"Oh look! So eager to get on your knees for me, huh Swan?"

I looked away. There were more people in the hallway, and I tried to stand up and avoid eye contact.

That is when Tyler roughly grabbed my chin and pulled me toward him. I tensed all over. I closed my eyes tight and bit my lip.

Suddenly, Tyler was pulled off of me and I opened my eyes to see none other than Edward shoving him roughly against a wall.

"She has been through enough asshole!"

Tyler tried to not seem scared, but his eyes gave him away.

"Don't ever talk to her again! Don't even look in her direction! Got it asshole?"

He gave him a final shove before Tyler slid free and quickly walked away. There were stares, but soon our small crowed left.

When we were alone he groaned and gave the wall a hard punch with his hand.

I gave a gasp of surprise and stepped toward him.

"I'm doing a pretty shitty job of protecting you huh?"

I just shook my head and examined his hand. We both winced as I turned it over, him from the pain and me from sight.

It was a bright red, but not quite bleeding.

"You don't deserve this Bella."

I wasn't exactly sure what he was talking about, but I tried to lead him toward the nurse's office. He wouldn't budge.

He took my face in his hands and stared into my eyes. His green orbs seemed to be searching for my soul. I'm not sure if he found anything, but he said something that I never thought he would. "Why didn't you text me last night?"

I opened my mouth, and then closed it. I had been wondering the same thing.

"I was waiting for you," I mumbled softly.

He gave a small chuckle and rolled his eyes. He muttered, "Of course."

"Let's get some ice so we can head back to Biology."

I took his good hand and practically dragged him. When we were on our walk back to the class he stopped in the middle of the hall, and I turned to face him.

"Hey Bella, why do you only talk to me?"

I squeezed the hand that I was holding and tugged on his arm so he would lean down.

My mouth nearly brushed against the shell of his ear as I whispered, "Shh, it's a secret."

I made sure that we got to class this time.

As we sat down at our lab table we held hands under the table. It made me happy that we could comfort each other without anyone else knowing.

I thought back to his question in the hallway. Why did I only talk to him? I knew the answer, but I wasn't willing to admit to him how dependent of him I was becoming.

What do you think of their progression? Too fast? Too slow? Let me know!