Chapter 12

Holy crow guys I feel terrible. I've been so bad at continually updating, can you ever forgive me, heck I did just get back from my trip, but man I knew this but it's finally sinking in that I've been writing this story for at least nine months now and I'm only on chapter 12. Once again sorry and I'll try to better from now on, and I know I've said that a lot but I have been trying…I'll just try harder now. Enjoy the chapter. Just remember its not edited exactly.

Recap

The only thing I could say for sure was that something was going on with Alice that she didn't want me to know about, and as tempted, as I was to figure it out I knew I could trust her to tell me when she was ready.

August

I've now been visiting Alice for a month and every time I go over there my suspicions only grow on the fact that something is amiss.

Taking my last step to the door of my house I opened it and began to make my way down the dirt road.

Breathing deeply I found that it was a beautiful morning day. Flowers bloomed all around me but I hardly took the time to see them.

Finally after I had walked a good chunk of the morning away I could see Alice's house. Briskly I knocked on the door before walking straight in - sure that she wouldn't mind - and to the kitchen where it was apparent Alice had not heard me and was still working on preparing a meal for later.

Deciding to take advantage of this moment of unawareness, I decided to sneak up on her. A small click was heard but I ignored it and tapped Alice on the shoulder. To late I realized that she had been more out of it then I had ever seen her as she turned and the process flinging pasta all over the room and of course on the two of us, and with it came a small yelp from the both of us. Then we were silent before Alice crumpled to the ground and looking all around the room. "Oh great" Following her gaze I saw that pasta really was all over and the floor was covered in a pink sauce. Not sure of what to say I pulled Alice up and grabbed a rag before starting to wipe some sauce up, when I heard a loud base voice, and stomping feet, "Alice you better not have made a mess again or else…" I didn't hear the rest of what was said because when I looked at Alice I saw fear cloud her eyes and then so fast I didn't realize what had been done at first I was under the table and Alice's body covering where I was. When I opened my mouth to protest her foot came back and hit me in the shoulder. It was then I decided to humor her and stay quiet…even if it was because I didn't want her kicking me again.

What I witnessed next would forever chill my bones. Mr. Brandon-whom I had last seen pale and white unable to move from his bed-walked into the room and with foul language that could rival a sailor's shouted at Alice, telling her that she was worthless and clumsy, before going on to say that she was a mistake and many other horrible things. As if that wasn't enough he then slapped, hit and kicked her multiple times before throwing her to the ground and furiously told her to get this cleaned up before he came back. Seconds later I heard the front door slam closed but was to shocked to do anything.

I had known something was going on but I never would have guessed it was this. How long had this been happening? Was Alice's mother really sick, had her father killed her through abuse? But that didn't fit Mr. Brandon had loved his wife and Alice with his whole heart, I had remembered talking to him one day as he had bragged about how he was a lucky man to have his family. He hadn't been lying, I had seen in his eyes that he really loved them; the emotion was so strong that there was no way he could have faked it. So then how had this happened?

A low sob, shook the pieces of the room back into order, and slowly I crawled out from beneath the table to where Alice and crawled into the corner. Slowly I took her small form in my arms and whispered what I hopped were soothing words. Slowly she quieted and finally I looked at her to see a bruise forming on her cheek. Slowly I released her and ordered her to go lie down in her room and get some rest. To tired to argue she did what I asked.

For the next hour or so I wiped up the pasta and sauce before grabbing a few herbs and some vinegar and bringing it up to Alice where I rubbed it into her skin quietly while she slept restlessly. After awhile she sat up straight looking all around and then quickly began to move out of the bed. Not stopping to think I grabbed her arm and pulled her back to the bed. Quickly I let go of her arm when I saw a grimace of pain flash in her eyes.

"I've got to clean up Bella, if he comes back and it's still a mess…how could you just let me fall asleep" Alice's frantic cries danced around the room.

That is until I shushed her with my own words, "Don't worry about it Alice, I already cleaned up the mess. It was my fault anyways. Don't worry about it. Okay?"

Slowly her head moved up and down nodding and that's when I gave her a small smile.

Silence engulfed us once more until I took Alice's hand in mine own and stated without leaving room for an argument. "You're coming home with me Alice. I've left you alone here for far to long now."

All will power had left her as she gave in quickly.

Feeling satisfied I once again gave her the command to lie down and rest after she had packed some things.

While she did this I went down and decided that as much as I didn't want to I would make a meal for Mr. Brandon he had hurt my friend but I wouldn't think of him as I'd seen him today only as the loving father and husband I had known him as.

Within forty minutes-a record on my part-I had a simple dinner made and went up to fetch Alice.

Up in her room I saw that she had taken her most prized possessions and put them in her bag along with some everyday things. Taking her hand I helped her flea from the house she had known as home for so long and continue onward to start over, just like I had.

We arrived to what was now both of our home in the afternoon rain. Drenched we walked into the house where I sought out Carlisle so that he could take a look at Alice and make sure she was fine. Even though she had said she wasn't hurt badly.

Before we made it to Carlisle's office, we ran into Esme who was coming down the stairs at the same time.

"Oh hello Alice, I wasn't expecting to see you today. How are you?" Not waiting for an answer Esme turned to me scolding me slightly, "Bella you should have told me she was coming tonight." Then just as quickly as before she pulled Alice from my arms and taking her to the guest bedroom so that she could get cleaned up and warm to make sure she wouldn't get a cold, while hollering back to me that I'd better do the same. Shrugging to no one in particular I left for my room.

Later that night I took Alice aside.

"Alice I know that you most likely don't want to talk about it, but I need to no, how long has it been going on."

"You don't need to know." Was her firm reply.

Pleading now I looked at her and asked, "Please Alice, tell me, and if not me then at least Carlisle. I want help you."

A moment of silence wrapped us around in arms of steel until Alice took a shuddering breath and said, "Bella, I'll tell Carlisle, because I need to. But I'll tell you because I trust you and believe that you will be there with me."

We spent the next while with her telling me all that she remembered, from her father playing with her as a girl to him gently scolding her when she had done something wrong. How that when her mother had died it had torn her father into miniscule pieces. And so that he could hide from the pain he would get drunk and then after awhile started verbally abusing her before it turned to physical abuse.

All I could think in my mind was that I was glad the man I had known was true but through hurt had taken a wrong turn.

***

September was around the corner now.

Since that fateful day Alice had been living with us, her father had given into Carlisle's prodding quickly. It seemed that he really did love his baby girl still but the alcohol would cloud his thoughts, and that's when he would do something stupid. As of what I knew Carlisle kept an eye on him and was trying to help him quit what he had started.

Esme was sorry about what Alice had gone through, but was ecstatic to have her living with us.

As Alice and I sat around doing some of out studies I heard a happy cry come from Esme, who was sitting in the den. Curiously I looked to Alice before getting up and going to see what it was that was happening.

Esme was holding a piece of paper with a content smile on her face. Reaching over I tapped her shoulder.

"Yes."

"I was wondering what had you so excited."

"Oh nothing you'd probably care much about, how long has it been a month two months, Edward has finally written back."

Smiling at her I nodded and just said I was going to go back and do my studies.

***

For the next month letters from Edward continued to flow into the house until one came asking if a friend and his sister could come on vacation with them, otherwise they would be going home to an empty house, as their parents would be traveling.

Esme hadn't even stopped to think about it just agreed at once that it was okay.

October came with me being newly fifteen leading me to have to try even harder to stay away from all the young boys who would insist on dancing with me. One boy in particular got on my nerves, Michael Newton. Sure he seemed nice enough, but he was extremely boring, and acting like a dog following me everywhere I went. The worst part of it was, was that his parents thought we were a perfect match and Esme and Carlisle insisted it couldn't hurt anything to always have a partner at the formal dinners they insisted on taking Alice and I to now. So grudgingly I gave in and let Mike do this, much to his excitement.

It took one dinner. One dinner for me to decide that I would not be able to do this. At that dinner, I saw Andrew and his parents Mr. and Mrs. Brown again. He was with another girl and that's when the jealously came. Why did I have to be stuck with someone I didn't want to be with while he was laughing with some other girl instead of me? Whoa back up there how much did I like him. I know I thought he was cute, but where was this jealousy coming from I barely knew him. I had talked with him on a few occasions but still.

That night I pulled Mike to the side and blatantly told him, "Mike, it was nice knowing you, but here it is straight out, I don't care for you, and I want you to leave me alone."

When I turned to leave he grabbed my arm and said, "Do you like someone else."

"I might but I don't care for you and that's all there is to it."

With that I walked away glad that he wasn't following me.

Sorry if anyone seemed OOC, and I hope it didn't seem like I rushed it to much but I'm way behind schedule on where I'm supposed to be on this chapter. Please leave behind helpful criticism I want to become a better writer, and as far as I know that'll help.

Becca