EJ's POV

When the girls finally got back from shopping, I hoped it would be my chance to talk to Ellie. She came in almost buried in shopping bags.

"Wow, do you need help?" I asked taking some from her. The other girls walked in empty handed. "You could have helped her," I said with my eyebrows raised.

"We tried," ness said defensively throwing her hands up as to surrender.

"Yeah," Alice agreed, "she wouldn't let us." I turned my attention to Ellie as we walked. She shrugged.

"They were so kind as to take me shopping and buy me things; I should be kind enough to carry the bags," she reasoned. I looked at her with amusement. She was so selfless…

"Where do you want these?" Ellie shouted to our family. Our family, I liked the sound of that. I smiled stupidly.

"Just set them in my room. I'll sort them and put them away!" Alice called as she ran off, probably to find uncle Jasper.

We walked side by side through the spacious hallway as we stole glances at each other like fifth graders and their crush. It was truly ridiculous. We had the minds of adults but the emotions of teens and eight year olds; it was so confusing at times. We finally made it to Alice's room though and dropped the bags on the floor next to her bed. Ellie looked at me with a shy smile.

"So, thank you for helping me, EJ. You didn't have to do that," she said moving a hair that kept falling in her face.

"It was no problem," I replied nonchalantly.

She moved the hair again just have it fall right back into its place. She looked around as we stood in an awkward silence. Finally after she messed with it a couple times, I stepped towards her and slid the estranged hair behind her ear. As I did this, however, my fingertips slid across her cheek. You could literally say it was like electric flew from my fingertips. She reacted immediately.

She stepped closer as well so that we were only an inch apart and my hand trailed her jaw line. I cupped her face in my hands and I leaned in closer. She sort of stretched onto her tip-toes so she was even closer to me as well. She maneuvered her arms so that they were draped over my shoulders. I could feel her breath on my face as we moved in closer, our lips brushing up against each other's.

"What's going on here?" Emmett demanded with Alice at his side and Jasper and Rosalie to the other. Ellie broke away from me immediately, her face flushing with embarrassment. She looked at me quickly then back at them.

"Uh, we were just, uh…" She scattered for an explanation. She blinked a few times rapidly and bolted from the room, running to her room that was just down the hall. We all heard her door shut softly. I sighed, a little annoyed at my aunts and uncles for the interruption.

I just glared at them as they looked at me innocently.

Ellie's POV

I shut my door softly and flung myself on my bed with my hands covering my red face. That was so embarrassing! They had to walk in at that moment? Wow….

I was strangely pleased they had interrupted us. I can get close to him now, not with Thomas lurking around. He would use anyone he could to hurt me. Before he wasn't so ad since, until now, I didn't have anyone to care about to get hurt. I took a deep breath through my nose and removed my hands from my face. I sat up and ran my hand through my hair.

I got up and looked into my full length mirror and pulled my shirt up to reveal the gauze that was wrapped around my ribs. I removed them slowly and just stared as the ugly yellow and odd colored marks were uncovered. I remembered every injury that Thomas had ever inflicted on me. These reminded me of the last day I saw him.

"Isabelle?" he called from outside my door. I gasped and moved away from it.

"Y-yes?" I called back.

"Let me in!" he ordered as he banged his fist on the door. I jumped in surprise. I knew better then to ignore a direct order. I unlocked the door and he waltzed in.

"Why did you lock the door on me, babe?" he asked in a hiss. I don't think he ever talked to me with kindness. Ever….

"I- I need to undress to change," I explained moving away from him. He caught my arm and pulled me back to him.

"That's fine with me," he laughed. Disgusting…. I ripped my hand away from him, angry at his dirty thoughts of me like I was some dirty prostitute.

"Don't touch me again," I said narrowing my eyes. His eyes darkened. I realized too late my mistake.

After the thrashing, he pinned me under him as he ripped my shirt off my body.

"Stop!" I screamed as loudly as I could. He covered my mouth with his nasty hand and used the other to pound viciously into my side, breaking my ribs. I kept screaming although it was muffled. My father appeared at my door. Tears leaked from my eyes as I thought he was here to save me.

"Thomas, get off of her. You did not ask my permission," he said uncaringly. Thomas did as he was instructed and with his weight off of me, I rolled off the side of my bed he had thrown me on.

"Ahh!" I screamed as I hit the ground.

"Shut up!" Father ordered and directed his attention to Thomas.

"I must be going now anyway. Teach your daughter not to jump people when they walk in a room," Thomas said as he left in a hurry. Was he insinuating I came on to him?!

"You filthy whore!" my father yelled as he grabbed me by my hair.

"No, father, it's not true!" I pleaded. He slammed me against my window, shattering it and reaking the wall around it.

"Silence, you little slut! I'll teach you to embarrass me!"

I shook my head free of the memory. I knew only one thing. They can't get hurt over me.

Thanks to all my reviewers! I got 4 this chapter... That's awesome! What should happen? What do you think?