And here we go with Chapter 10! Love the feed back that I receive, but I'm encouraging you...hell I'm begging you...please leave a review!! I want to get up to at least 40, if not more, before I post another chapter. Pretty please??? I'll send you cookies!!!

Many thank you's to all of my readers! Enjoy!

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We arrived at the house quicker than I had hoped. Damn. Emmett turned off the Jeep and gripped the wheel in both hands. He stared straight ahead, as if trying to see something far away.

"Is he here?" I asked.

"Oh yeah. He's here." he answered. "And he doesn't sound happy."

"What? Why?" I immediately began to panic. "Shit! He knows, doesn't he? I told you he would! Goddammit!" I slammed my fist on the seat.

"No! Christ, would you stop freaking out?" Emmett let go of the wheel and turned in his seat to face me. "He's just pissed because no one tried to find him to 'pick you up'." He used finger quotes to emphasize the last part. He smiled when I breathed a sigh of relief and caressed my cheek. I blushed. I was enjoying this way too much.

"You know we're going to have put on a show," I took his hand from my face and held it in my own. "We can't be acting like this in front of him."

"I know," he pouted. "I just wish we didn't have to."

"So do I. But I can't hurt him, Em," I looked at him sadly. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

"And I can't let that happen," he lifted my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. He squeezed it gently before letting me go. "So for the time being, I hate you, and you can't stand the sight of me."

"Right," I half-smiled. "Let's go."

I kicked open the door, hopped down and slammed it as hard as I could. I knew full-well they could hear me, so I played it up as much as I could. I stormed up the stairs and put on my best fed-up face. Emmett waited a few moments, then launched himself out of the Jeep.

I threw the door open.

"…well if you couldn't find me, you should have sent someone else!" Edward was shouting from the living room. "He's the last person she wants to see!"

"You got that right!" I yelled as I entered the argument. Edward was berating Jasper, who was calmly standing on the other side of the coffee table, his arms folded across his chest. Edward stopped when I entered the room. His face immediately brightened and he rushed to my side.

"Bella!" he took me in his arms in a fierce embrace. "I'm so glad you're here."

"Yeah," I feebly returned the hug. "You can thank Speed Racer over there for getting us here so fast. He almost killed me."

"You're just lucky I didn't get hungry on the way," Emmett chuckled as he sauntered in. "Or you wouldn't have made it at all."

"Bite me," I spat.

"If you insist," he snapped his teeth in my direction.

"Don't threaten her!" Edward growled. He turned to face his brother and kept one arm protectively around my waist.

"Relax, Prudence," Emmett waved Edward off, who scowled at the insult. "I won't touch her. She's all yours." He strode past and gave me an imperceptible wink. Jasper poorly muffled his laughter with a cough.

"What are you laughing at?" Edward demanded.

"Nothing!" Jasper held up his hands. "Not a damn thing." He joined Emmett on the couch and flicked the television over to the History Channel. Emmett snatched the remote from his hand and flipped on ESPN. Jasper just scowled. I choked down my giggle and looked up at Edward.

"We need to talk," I said. "Can we go upstairs?"

"Certainly," he responded. He kept an arm around me as we walked toward the grand staircase. We hadn't even ascended when I heard Emmett chuckling again in the living room.

"Now behave you two!" he called. "Don't forget, there are other people in this house!"

"Shit head." Edward muttered.

"I heard that!" Emmett hollered.

"Come on," I pulled on Edward's hand and we continued the rest of the way up the stairs and into his room. I shut the door behind us and rested my hand against it. So far so good. He believed our story, and I thought Emmett and I played off hating each other pretty well. I wondered how long it could last.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Edward said, sliding his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder. "I underestimated your perceptiveness."

"Hmm," was all I could mutter.

"Please, Bella," he murmured. "Forgive me."

I wriggled free of his grasp and turned to face him. He looked genuinely apologetic and I was finding it hard to stay mad at him.

"No," I sighed. " I'm the one who should be seeking forgiveness. I haven't told you anything about me, and I really should have right from the start."

"Whatever it is, it won't change my feelings for you," he pulled me into his arms and held me close. I swallowed my guilt and returned the embrace. He released me and guided us to the couch. I then recounted to him everything I had confessed to Emmett the night before. He listened intently, his adoring eyes never leaving mine.

"…and then I ended up here," I finished. He remained silent and continued to stare at me. I gulped nervously.

"Oh, Bella…" he reached out and caressed my face. " You shouldn't feel guilty over his death. It wasn't your fault."

"No, but the suicide attempt and the drinking was," I sighed. "I couldn't be honest because I was embarrassed. My past mortifies me."

"If you only knew half the things I've done," he smiled, "You wouldn't feel the least bit upset."

"But you never told me," I frowned. "You haven't told me anything."

"I know, and I promise you I will," he shook his head when I opened my mouth to protest. "In due time."

"But I just told you everything! How is that fair?" I demanded.

"It isn't. But if I told you all there is to know about me, we would be here for three days. I will tell you, my Bella. Just not now." he responded. He took me in his arms again when I grimaced. He held me for a moment, then let me go. His brow was furrowed.

"What's the matter?" I asked. Uh oh. Could he sense my guilt?

"I can smell him," Edward grumbled.

"What? Who?" I sniffed my hair. I didn't smell anything.

"Emmett," he growled.

Shit!

"Emmett?" I cocked my head innocently.

"Yes. Why is he all over you?"

What was I going to tell him?

"Um…"

Think, Bella, think!

"Oh, that," I swallowed hard. "When he…uh…showed up at my house this morning, he sort of… well he had to…um…"

"Well what?" he snarled. "What did he do to you?!"

"Nothing!! He didn't do anything!" I said quickly. "He just had to physically carry me to his truck because I refused to go with him!"

"What do you mean physically?" he bared his teeth.

"I mean he picked me up off my porch and plopped me into his Jeep," I shrugged.

"Did he hurt you?!" He grabbed my shoulders and turned me from side to side, checking for injuries. "I swear it, I'll kill him!"

"No!" I placed my hands over his. "Edward, stop!" He ceased his inspection and looked at me. "I'm fine, really!"

"Are you sure?" he narrowed his eyes at me.

"Positive," I nodded and forced a smile .

"All right," he said tentatively. "But if he ever touches you again I will not hesitate to kill him."

"Edward…" I trailed off.

"I mean it," his expression softened. He took my face in his hands. "You are my world, Isabella. And I will do anything to protect you."

He sealed his promise with a kiss. I closed my eyes as the tears threatened. I could never let him hurt Emmett, but if I tried to stop him it would all fall apart. He'd know my true feelings: that while I still loved him, I was falling for someone else. That someone being the one I was supposed to loathe. He couldn't know. I just couldn't let that happen. So I swallowed my guilt and returned the kiss as eagerly as I could.

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