Chapter 9

BPOV

I knew in my heart that I couldn't hold this grudge against him anymore. I needed him my friend back. So I listened when he ranted and finally knew he was truly sorry about what happened back then. He needed me to forgive him, so I did.

We hugged for what seemed like forever in the threshold of my door. I had my cheek pressed up against his chest just listening to his heartbeat. I had missed him so much. I didn't realize how much until I was in his arms. Maybe I could get back the friends we use to be at six years old in our adult lives now.

"I'm sorry I was mad at you for so long. I just missed you so much and I felt so alone when you left. I'm not angry with you, not anymore." I whispered, still not looking at him. I felt him tighten his old on me.

"I know, Bella. I always thought of you. You'll always be my best friend. I love you". He told me. Then my tears just kept coming after I told him I loved him too. We stayed out there for a little while longer he comforted me. Eventually, we moved from the doorway to my sofa in my apartment. I closed and locked the door as he walked slowly from the doorway to the sofa, looking around the room as he went.

My apartment was really simple. I had a red sofa and red loveseat with a flat screen and dark wood coffee table in the living room. My kitchen was just the left and was a decent size with updated appliances. To the right down the hall were a bathroom and two bedrooms. I had some pictures with the girls on the coffee table and one of us hanging on the wall. Some of me with the few vacation trips I went on with the girls. It was simple, yet cozy to me.

"Nice place. It's very you" he complimented and smiled at me.

"Thank you. Make yourself at home. You want something to drink? Water, soda, wine, or juice?" I asked him. I don't know why but I was suddenly nervous.

"No, thank you." He said while taking a seat on the sofa. "Relax, Bella. I am just as nervous as you are. It's been a long time. We need to talk. Just to get our feelings out about what happened years ago. Then you can tell me what you've been up to since then. I'll do the same." He explained.

I nodded and sat next to him with my feet tucked under me. I bit my lip, nervous about telling him what happened after he left. I don't want him to feel guilty.

"Why don't you start? Tell me about what happened after you left up until I saw you when I dropped off Ella." I asked him. I just wanted him to go first because I was interested in his life after he got adopted and because I needed to get my wits about me so I could tell him my story.

"Alright, well after the Cullen's adopted me I had to get use to not getting treated like some slave like we were at the foster home. Esme took care of me, made me breakfast every morning. Carlisle looked out for me. He taught me how to play sports, bought me books, helped with my homework. I went to a good school got good grades. I met Jasper and Emmett in grade school. Emmet and Jasper are blood brothers. They are the sons of Esme's sister Carmen and Eleazar. They died in a car accident so Carlisle and Esme adopted them making them my brothers. We looked out for each other. In high school I played baseball all through high school I was really good. I only had one serious girlfriend and we ended it when we went our separate ways for college. I went to Dartmouth and became a pediatrician. That's pretty much it. I never had a best friend after you, Bella. I had friends, yes, but I no one took the place of my best friend. That's always gonna be you.

I didn't know what to say. I was envious of Edward and the life he got to have after being adopted by the Cullen's. I always dreamed of doing having parents and siblings that loved me and treated me as their own.

"Edward, I'm glad you got that kind of life especially after what we endured in that awful place." I told him. I smiled at him and grabbed his hand. Edward just looked at me deep in thought.

"Bella, what happened after I left?" he asked. I didn't know if I should tell him this. So I didn't the only think I could to prevent from saying what I went through in that place. I stalled him.

"Edward, it doesn't matter. We found each other now let's" he cut me off.

"No, Bella it matters to me. I want to know what happened to you. That place was horrible when we both were there. I heard you never got adopted and that you think no one wanted you. Tell me please." He begged me. I looked into his eyes and saw he just wanted to know me. Not because he wanted to get rid of his guilt but because he was my best friend and wanted to know me.

I sighed. "Ok, well at first things stayed the same. Ms. Green made us, the kids, do most of the house work while she sat on her ass. She fed us cereal for breakfast; we ate TV dinners for dinner and then went to bed at eight. She didn't give us lunch or a break from cleaning the house. You know what all that was like. Things really started to change when I turned sixteen. There were only three kids there Angela, Jared, and myself. We all went to high school. We sort of stuck together there since no one really understood our situation. We became friends.

Ms. Green still had us doing all the work except the only difference now is that she gave us an hour before bed to do our homework. Ms. Green started to sneak her boyfriend Jacob or Jake in after we went to bed. You know it's not allowed to have a boyfriend or someone else near the kids without telling CPS. Well she didn't which is why she was sneaking him in. One night I was going to the bathroom and saw him sneak into the window right by the bathroom in the hallway. It was my first time knowing about him so I tried to go into the bathroom to lock the door. Thinking he was a burglar but he blocked the door. He pushed me in and closed and locked the door. He kept telling me he saw me around the house and that I was teasing him. I didn't know he was around the house during the day. He was freaking me out so I started to cry. I was about to scream but he covered my mouth. He got really close to me I could smell the alcohol on his breath. He kept saying how beautiful I was. He kept saying I was firm, tight and pretty. I tried to move out of his reach but he knocked me down on the floor. He got on top of me he pulled my nightgown up and my panties down. I was crying and screaming behind his hand. I kept squirming to get away from him but I could move. He raped me. The next morning I ran to tell Ms. Green about what happened and she didn't believe she kept saying that she would handle it.

All she did was get me transferred to a different foster home. She told me she didn't want the little slut that screwed her boyfriend in her house. The new house I got sent to was like a prison. They had bunk beds in a big room, barely any privacy in the bathroom, and a huge hall for meals. I stayed there for three years before they set me up in a cheap apartment with some furniture. I went to a community college to become a social worker. Once I got my degree and certification I got a job where I reunited with Angela. I met Rose and Alice on my interview. We clicked instantly and after a few paychecks I moved into a better apartment in Rose and Alice's building. I've been working with CPS for three years now. Alice and Rose know about my past before you ask. Alice helped me find a good therapist to get through what happened with Jake. I got through it with Rose and Alice's help. I only had one boyfriend in college and it was nothing serious. That pretty much sums me up".

I looked up at Edward and he has his head in his hands. I touched his back and started to rub it not knowing if I should say something.

"Edward" I said tentatively. He raised his head and I saw his bright green eyes had tears in them. "Oh, Edward. Don't cry or blame yourself. This isn't your fault." I hated that he was blaming himself for this I never wanted him to do that.

"But it is. If I had been there that never would have happened. I would have protected you like I did when we were six. I wasn't there to help you and I will always feel guilty for that. I'm so sorry, Bella. I'm sorry I left. I wish I never got adopted. I shouldn't have gone without you." He cried. I just held him and let him hold me.

"No, Edward. Don't say that. You were meant to be adopted and be a doctor. I bet you saved many kids lives and if you had stayed that probably would not have happened. I would have loved to have my friend but you weren't destined to stay there. What happened with Jake was just an unfortunate event. Whether you were there or not doesn't mean it wouldn't have happened." I told him. I held him and eventually once he calmed down he moved his head from my shoulder to my lap and I ran my fingers through his bronze locks.

"I won't leave you again, Bella. You're my best friend and I love you. I'm not going anywhere." Edward said.

"I love you too, Edward." I leaned down and kissed his forehead. I saw his eyes close and he squeezed my hand.

I had my best friend back. I was never gonna let go now. This was a new beginning for us now.