Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the Twilight characters!

Bella's POV:

3 Days Later

I was sitting at the table in the kitchen; the last few days have been so empty I haven't known what to do with myself. Today was my first day back at school; of course everyone would know what happened. I couldn't seem to concentrate to worry enough about them though. My thoughts kept leading back to Edward, how he said those three words so convincingly. My heart twisted painfully, I'm not sure what will happen when we see each other, and I'm not sure what I want to happen either. He was always there for me, he saved my life, and surely I could trust him, couldn't I?

I arrived at school twenty minutes early to avoid sideways glances. I sat in my seat and waited for the bell to ring. The students started to file in, every once in awhile glancing back at me. I kept my eyes on my notebook the entire class, but I could still feel their stares.

Lunch came and I felt my stomach knot up, would Edward try to talk to me, or go back to ignoring me?

I walked to my usual lone table feeling people talking about me as I past. I sat down and started picking apart my food keeping my eyes on the stale roll the entire time.

"You know there are starving kids in China that would kill for a meal like that."

I could feel the corners of my mouth twitch as I looked up to see Edward smiling his crooked smile.

"Do you mind if I sit down?" he asked.

I waved my hand to the chair and he sat across from me. He slid a portfolio across the table to me. "You are going to need to put your name on the cover there" he said. I looked at him confused. "Last week the teacher assigned us a group project, I finished the writing portion over the weekend, but it's not due until next month"

"You didn't need to do that Edward, I'm perfectly capable of doing an assignment."

He grinned at me. "Oh I didn't finish all of it; we still need to build the other half."

We ate in silence the rest of lunch, every so often glancing at each other, then headed to Biology together.

After the bell rang to leave, Edward turned to me "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then" he said and turned to leave. I got myself together and went to catch up to him but he was already talking to Mike Newton.

"So . . .you and Bella? Never knew you were into the weird ones Cullen." Edward shot Mike a dirty look. "Don't get me wrong she's pretty and all, just not all there, I hear she killed her mom back in Arizona and went to a loony bin. . ."

Mike's statement was cut off by Edward shoving him into the locker. "Don't you ever talk about her like that again." Edwards voice was soft, but it scared even me. He saw me then, realizing I had heard the entire conversation. He let go of Mike who quickly scurried away. There were a couple of kids standing around pretending to be interested in their lockers to stay and hear the conversation.

I simply smiled up at Edward and kept walking.

It was then that I decided Edward Cullen could be trusted.

I decided to make Charlie's favorite fish fry that night. He wouldn't be home for a couple of hours, but I decided to get it started anyways. I turned on the faucet and let the water get warm before washing my hands.

Something caught my eye out the window; I turned towards it but couldn't see anything. I started washing the soap off when I saw it again, a flash of red by the window. I turned, but again saw nothing. I went over to the drawer by the phone and got out Edwards number. I stared at it for a good minute before putting it away. What would I say? I took the fish out of the freezer to begin unthawing it.

"Hello Beautiful" I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I didn't want to turn around, he sounded so different, seductive almost. I suddenly felt his breath on my neck; it was ice cold and sent a shiver down my spine. "You broke your promise" he whispered.

I grabbed the knife I was going to use and spun around quickly. Nobody was in the kitchen with me. I stood frozen for a second, then grabbed my keys and ran out the door, not sure where I was going. I jumped into my car, turned the key in the ignition and the engine started with a loud grumble. I backed out and went over the curb in the process. My truck wasn't very fast but I pushed its limit.

I found myself parked in front of Edwards house. How I got their I wasn't sure, I've never even been here before, although everybody knew where Dr. Cullen and his family lived. I sat in the cab contemplating if I should go up to the door or not.

My mind started drifting to the events that happened in the kitchen minutes before. Could I have been hearing things, feeling things? I was almost positive he was right behind me, I felt his breath on my neck, and I wasn't imagining it. But it was impossible, impossible because Phil had been caught, he would be in prison now. Who would believe me? Maybe I was going insane . . . I snapped out of my thoughts to someone knocking on the window.

Edwards POV:

I was at the local grocery store trying to find supplies for the group project when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I dug it out, Alice.

"Yeah?" I answered.

"Hey Edward you have a visitor" Alice said cheerfully.

"Who would that be?" I asked curiously.

"Bella!" she said excitedly. I smiled into the phone. "Yeah she's real fidgety, looks kinda scared. I had to go get her out of her truck, she was just sitting in the driveway for about twenty minutes." She said quietly.

"I'll be there soon" I said and hung up.

I quickly put the few items I had back and nearly ran out of the store. Bella came to my house? I wonder why she didn't call first. Either way I couldn't say I wasn't excited, even if she didn't have feelings for me. I jumped in my car and accelerated faster than normal to my house.

Bella's POV:

I was sitting on the Cullen's couch, not sure what to do with myself. Alice was home with her boyfriend Jasper. Their parents were both gone. I played with the small ring on my right hand, twirling it over and over. Jasper sat on the couch opposite me, just watching. Maybe I should leave.

"Edwards on his way!" Alice chirped coming in from the other room.

I smiled at her. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude, you two can get back to whatever you were doing before." Alice and Jasper both looked at each other with smiles on their faces. I blushed.

"Bella it's not intruding if I have to drag you in here, plus Edwards excited you're here, you should have heard him" Alice said smiling.

We all jumped at an unexpected thunder, as rain started pounding against the windows. Great I don't have my jacket, I thought.

Alice walked over and turned on the TV to some boring sitcom I'm sure none of us enjoyed. I stared at the screen blankly until I heard the front door open.

Edward came in with his crooked smile. It took me a second to catch my breath at the sight of him. The rain had soaked through his shirt and clung tightly to his body, showing the contours of his chest. I had never really noticed his body before; it was perfect, just like his face.

I felt a wave of sadness hit me. How could he be interested in me? Out of all the girls who try to attach themselves to him, why would he pick me? Maybe he just felt sorry for me.

Alice interrupted my depressing thoughts. "Hey Jasper what do you say we go pick up a pizza?" I looked up at her, a smile playing around her lips. She was doing this on purpose.

"Of course" Jasper said, smiling along with her.

"We'll be back you two" she said as they walked out the door.

Edward walked over to the couch and sat down further away from me then usual. "Sorry about that, she's always trying to play matchmaker."

I shrugged.

"Is everything ok? Alice said you looked a bit shaken."

Should I tell him? Will he think I'm crazy? He probably already thinks I am crazy, what would it hurt.

"You know you can tell me anything Bella" Edward said softly.

I paused for a second trying to think of how to word what had happened, deciding on the simplest explanation. "I heard Phil" Edwards expression changed instantly. "I heard him in my kitchen, but my back was turned, I couldn't see him." Edward stayed quiet so I continued. "He spoke to me, he sounded so different, but I knew it was him. Then I felt him, he was right behind me, I felt him breathe on my neck Edward, I'm not crazy, his breath was so cold, I can still feel it. He told me that I broke my promise. I grabbed a knife off the counter and turned around, but he was . . . gone."

I looked at Edward scared of his expression. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Stay here" he said. He quickly got off the couch and pulled his phone out of his pocket and walked into the other room. I could hear muffles of a conversation but couldn't make anything out. He came back out clearly angry. "We need to talk."

Edwards POV:

I sat down next to Bella, keeping the same distance, trying to give her space. I focused on the coffee table in front of me trying to sort out all this new information.

"Bella" I began, she looked at me and I had to compose myself. If she only knew what she did to me.

I told her of how Phil had been in the hospital looking as if he were being tortured. Her eyes were wide as I finished.

"Did he escape . . . did he escape from the hospital?" she asked looking on the edge of hysterics.

"Bella, Phil died in the hospital" She looked at me confused. "The doctor pronounced him dead. He left him alone for a short time, and when he came back . . . Phil was gone."

"So he didn't die?"

"Bella, the doctor said it was impossible for anyone to survive the amount of pain Phil was inflicted with. When he went back into the room, the cuffs that held him to the bed were torn off. He couldn't think of a logical explanation, and I'm having trouble with it myself."

"I felt him Edward"

"Bella . . . he's dead, and there's no way he could have broken free himself."

"So . . . what are you saying, he's haunting me?"

I had to smile at her expression. "Bella I seriously doubt Phil is haunting you as a ghost out to get revenge."

She looked off past me for a slight moment. "It was so real" she whispered, and then looked down into her lap.

I couldn't help it any longer; I closed the distance between the two of us and hugged her. I felt her stiffen in my arms, realizing I shouldn't have advanced so fast. I unhooked my arms from around her and scooted back again. "I'm sorry" I whispered.

Bella's POV:

Everything that had been on my mind disappeared when Edward hugged me. I stiffened on instinct, instantly regretting it. He pulled back, looking torn, and scooted against the arm rest again. He looked down and whispered his apologies.

I couldn't help but stare at him. He was so beautiful, he was so caring. What did I ever do to deserve such a friend? Friend. The word stuck in my mind, not sitting right with it. I wanted Edward to be more than a friend; I wanted him to be more than a boyfriend. I couldn't think of the appropriate word to use for my feelings towards Edward.

He looked at me then and I couldn't breath. The silence lasted too long, something had to be said, but I couldn't talk. His eyes wouldn't let me go.

I then did something I never thought I could do. I moved towards Edward and grabbed his hand, like he had done with mine days ago. "I love you too Edward" I whispered not daring to look into his eyes. I heard his intake of breath as he let it out raggedly. He cupped my chin with his hand and lifted my face up so I was looking at him again.

"You are so beautiful" he whispered.

I blushed, not expecting his comment. He laughed and touched his fingertip to my cheek, running it along to the side of my face. He started to lean in very slowly, giving me fair warning of his intentions. I closed the rest of the distance before he could, wrapping my arms around his neck.

His lips felt wonderful against mine, I could almost taste them. Without thinking I slid my tongue across his bottom lip. He turned around and lay on the couch so I was on top of him, one arm around my waist, the other cupping my neck. I knotted my fingers through his hair and pushed myself against him, never getting close enough.

I felt his hand on the small of my back as he gripped some of the exposed skin. I pulled back only to breathe, but Edward kept kissing me, first on my jaw then down my neck. I gasped, I had never felt anything like this before, I felt as though I was on fire. His hand slowly traveled up my back and stopped halfway up. I was breathing much too hard, it was almost embarrassing. He traveled back up my neck to my mouth. I never wanted this to stop.

As if hearing my thoughts the door opened. "We got . . . pepperoni" Alice trailed off. I quickly sat up, looking at Alice who was smiling ear to ear, then back down at Edward. His eyes were burning, it made my stomach twist. Edward slowly sat up and glared at his sister.

"We could just eat this upstairs, if you two are too 'busy'" she said making explanation marks with her fingers.

I blushed furiously. "No, no here is fine. I actually should be getting home soon" I said. Edward glanced at me, and I smiled at him.

Edwards POV:

Words couldn't explain how I was feeling right now. Bella said she loved me. I had dreamt about this night, never thinking it would actually happen.

I looked at her now, not wanting her to leave. Everything we had talked about before came back to me. She thought Phil was back, someone should stay with her. "Let me drive you home." I offered.

She turned towards me. "I drove myself; you wouldn't have a way of getting back."

I smiled at this thought. "I can drive behind you, check out your house, make sure everything is safe."

Bella's eyes suddenly widened. "Charlie!"

"Bella I'm sure he will understand you were scared, he won't . . ."

Bella cut me off. "What if Phil IS back Edward, he said I broke my promise. He would go after Charlie." She looked at me with wide eyes.

I got off the couch and extended my hand to her. She took it and we both went out the door. I opened the door to her truck and helped her in, then got into my Volvo and followed behind her.

Bella's POV:

How could I have been so unaware? I stepped on the gas praying for more speed. Edward was right behind me. I finally pulled into the driveway; Charlie's cruiser was already parked. I got out and ran to the door, it was open.

My heart skipped a couple of beats, and then picked up in overtime. I ran into the house screaming my dad's name. Edward was right on my heels. That's when I heard my name.

"Bella darling"

I stopped in my tracks . . . that wasn't my dad. I ran into my room and nearly fainted. The bed sheets were covered in blood, I could feel my head spinning but I hung on tightly to the doorframe. Edward came in after me, then pulled me into him, burying my head into his chest.

I looked up searching for my dad, he had to be here. Phil must have read my mind, for he looked down near his feet. My dads shoe was sticking out, the bed blocking the rest of his body.

"Unlike you, I keep my promises Bella" Phil sneered. He advanced towards us. Edward shoved me behind him and stepped up to Phil, ready to fight him. Phil stopped and smiled. "Bella my dear, your little boyfriend smells amazing, better than you!"

I couldn't comprehend what was happening. Why wasn't Charlie moving?

Phil grabbed Edwards arm as he swung to hit him. I heard a sickening snap, as Edward screamed in pain.

I looked back down at my father's shoe. I was with him when he bought them.

Phil grabbed Edward and bit into his neck, an earsplitting scream echoed through the room.

Why was everything red? The floor, the sheets, the walls, Edwards shirt.

"How does it feel Bella? To have everything ripped away from you?"

What was he saying?

Before I could blink, I was alone in my room.

I kneeled down on the floor and gripped the sheets hugging them tightly against me. The smell making my stomach churn, but I couldn't quite comprehend the feeling.

I stayed like that for who knows how long. This once white sheet was now a deep red, the bits of white leftover hurt my eyes. I knew something bad had happened, but I could not put the pieces together in my mind. I did know one thing though . . . I was completely alone.