Bella's Pov

Three years ago:

"Happy birthday Bella," Jacob blushed. We sat in the living room, opening gifts. Before I could protest, he shoved the small box into my hands.

"Just open it," he laughed. "I think that you'll like this one."

I roll my eyes but smile nonetheless. Jacob was always a great gift giver, he knew me too well. I delicately unwrap the green and red Christmas tree wrapping paper.

"Really?" I smirk. "Christmas trees? It's September!"

"Well, I know that Christmas is your favorite time of the year! Maybe that'll make you more excited to open gifts!"

I throw my head back and laugh, tossing the paper at him. He was such a liar. Christmas my butt! Jacob just didn't have any other wrapping paper. He was too lazy to go out to the store and buy some.

I lift the lid off of the cardboard box and take out a delicate wooden charm bracelet with a wolf charm attached.

"It's beautiful Jacob," I gasped in awe. "Where did you get this?"

He smiles sheepishly, suddenly becoming more interested in his fingers than me. "I made it," he mumbled.

"You made this?" I exclaimed. "It's amazing!"

His cheeks reddened in embarrassment. "Well, your favorite animal is a wolf. They are said to be protectors and if you wear it every day, then nobody should ever hurt you."

"Thank you, Jake." I breathed. "I love it!"

I lean in to give him a hug but Emmett walks into the room, interrupting our little moment. "Awww. Bella and Jacob are blushing. They're in love!"

"OMG, get out!" I chuck my shoe at him, missing his face by inches. Why couldn't he ever just leave me be? He was so annoying!

"Bella and Jacob sitting in a tree: K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

"Emmett!" I growl.

"First comes love-"

"I'm warning you."

"Then, comes marriage-"

"If you don't stop by the count of three-"

"Then-"

"One!"

"Comes a baby-"

"Two!"

"In a baby carriage!"

"Three!"

A deep laugh sounds from Emmett's chest. He races down the hall as I chase after him, ready to pounce. I was only twelve but was stronger than I looked. He shouldn't underestimate me!

We burst through the backdoor and I sprinted after him as if I was running for my life. He takes the chance to look back at me and that is when I attack. I jump on his back, sending us both tumbling down on the damp spikey grass.

I sit on top of his stomach, pounding my fists into his back. "Why do you have to ruin everything? You're so annoying!"

Emmett turns over, grabbed my wrists and threw me off of him and landed with a hard thud. "I've seen the way that you look at each other! YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON JACOB!"

My hands raised, about to give him another slap when an angry voice rang throughout the air.

We freeze and swing our heads around to see Jacob stomping towards us, his eyes ablaze. "Hey! Leave Bella alone!" He shouts.

Emmett smirks, obviously thinking that he can take on Jacob. "What are you going to do about it?"

Jacob smiles the type of smile that says: I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. Before I can even blink, he comes charging like a bull towards Emmett and has knocked him over. I jump on top of them, joining in the defeat of my brother.

Jacob Black was stronger than he looked. He hasn't taken six years of Karate for nothing! He was practically a black belt!

Emmett screams and fights and claws his way out from underneath us and goes running for the house. "You guys are psycho!"

Jacob and I high five each other in victory. We collapse onto the grass and lay back, staring up at the sun. My heart beats in adrenaline as the two of us burst into laughter, remembering Emmett's shaking knees. He was scared of two twelve-year-olds! What a wimp!

"Would it…" Jacob pauses. "Would it really be so bad if we had a crush on each other?"

I blinked, not expecting that question. "You're one of my b-best friends," I stammer. "I think it would be a little weird. Don't you?"

Jacob adamantly shakes his head back and forth. "I think that we could be great together. We're already best friends and I can't see there being any problems."

"Jacob-" I sigh.

"There's someone else," he said. "Isn't there."

I press my lips into a thin line, not liking where this is headed. "That is none of your business. I'd like to keep my personal life private!"

"Don't be dumb," he sneers at me. "I know that it is Edward Cullen. Every time he looks at you, you get all gooey eyed."

"I don't know what you are talking about!" I snarl defensively.

"Do you think that Edward would ever go for you?" He sneers. "He's in high school now, Bells. He'll be going for all of the older girls."

"Shut up Jacob!" I roared, my face turning bright red. "You don't know anything about him!"

"I don't need to know," he argued. "All I know that he is wrong for you. We can be happy together! What do you see in him that you don't see in me?"

I push myself up off the ground. The sun burned into my back as I stalked toward the house. I didn't want to deal with his incessant whining.

"Bella, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to ruin today, forget what I said," he mumbled.

I'm sitting in the living room with my back turned towards him. I sigh, spinning around, only to see guilt plastered on his face. He's fiddling with the charm bracelet and hands it to me as a peace offering. He's basically asking: do you forgive me?

With a long sigh, I nodded my head. I extend my wrist towards him and he clasps the wooden charm around it.

"Now I can protect you forever," he said. "Even when we are apart."

A smile lights up across my face. Jacob was my savior. My protector. My best friend. We could never be apart.

I awake with a startle, hastily sitting up in the leather passenger seat. Esme had the radio softly playing. We still had an hour left to go until we reached Seattle. I felt bad that I slept through most of the ride.

I smooth out my hair and straighten up in the seat. I couldn't get that image out of my mind. The two of us, just so casually hanging out. Jacob was always so lighthearted. The only moment I saw a change was when he mentioned Edward. A dark gleam flickered in his eyes and remember feeling a dark cold void rush over my body. That was the only time I was afraid of him.

"Is everything alright?" Her eyes shifted to mine and then back to the road. Her hands were clenched into tight fists. The white of her knuckles were prominent. What was she so upset about? "You were sleep talking. You sounded distressed and were mumbling something about Jacob."

"Oh," I try to laugh it off. "It was just, umm, a silly dream. Nothing important," I mumbled the last part.

Her lips pursed but she kept her eyes on the road. "It didn't sound unimportant. You sounded very distraught. You kept mumbling, 'No' and 'Jacob," she said. "Is everything alright between the two of you?"

I eagerly nod my head, denying any thoughts that she may be having. "Everything is great! You know friends fight sometimes," I weakly laugh.

"He was relatively quiet at the party yesterday," she murmured. "Actually all the kids were. They kept disappearing upstairs. Do you know anything about that?"

"N-no," I stammer. "Why would I? I was sleeping the entire time because I didn't feel well."

"Jacob was gone for at least fifteen minutes. He said he was going to the bathroom but I recall that it takes only about five minutes to use the restroom."

I shrug my shoulders and try to hide my trembling hands. I didn't want to talk about this anymore. Why couldn't she just leave me be?

"Did Jacob go into your room at all? Maybe he just wanted to say hi," she pondered.

"Maybe," I mumble. My stomach churns as I remember his dark cold eyes. I didn't want to see him again.

"Well, you look better now," she sighs. "Perhaps we should head to my house we get home. Carlisle can check up on you and make sure you are one hundred percent healthy."

"I-I'm fine," I state. "I ju-just had a little stomach bug. It's all better now."

Esme's furrowed her eyebrows and pursed her lips. Her head was cocked to the side like a confused puppy. "That's funny," she mutters.

"What?" My voice was on edge.

"Well, Emmett and Jasper told us that you were just feeling faint from the heat. They never said anything about a stomach bug."

"I-I got sick from the heat," I lied. "It was super hot outside and I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and jeans."

"Why were you wearing that? Isn't it a little hot for that?"

A wave of annoyance washes up inside of me. "I didn't have any other clean clothes."

"You didn't have any other clean clothes," she echoes under her breathe.

She exhales in frustration as we come to a stop at a red light. "Why don't you tell me the truth?" she turns to me. "This behavior that I've seen the past couple of weeks is not you. Carlisle agrees with me."

"I don't know what you are talking-"

"Don't you dare say that," she rolls her eyes. "do you think that I don't know the signs of a hangover?"

I don't respond. My heart is racing so fast that I think it's going to beat right out of my chest.

"How much did you drink?" There was a look in her eyes that shone with worry and anxiety.

All the walls that I had built up were slowly crumbling down. I clenched my jaw tightly and I gritted my teeth together, trying to hold in the tears brimming in my eyes.

"Are you going to tell me?" she said in a firm voice. "I can turn this car right back around and go tell your parents that you were drunk yesterday. They are not the most observant people," she mumbled the last part under her breath.

Esme wouldn't do that. She wouldn't. I ignore her and reach for the button on the radio, turning the music all the way up. As I stick my arm out, my sleeve rolls up revealing the purple and blue bruise around my wrist.

Anger ignites Esme eyes as she sees the mark where Jacob had squeezed too tight. I wince as she grabs my arm, examining the bruise. "What is this?" Her voice was low and calm as if she was trying to hide the rage that was bubbling up inside of her.

"Nothing," I growled as I yanked my arm away. I glare at the road in front of us, trying to block her voice out.

Esme shuts off the radio. The light turns green and the car jolts forward. Her earlier threats are forgotten. Her narrowed eyes are focused on the road but I know that she's thinking of me. I was in for it.

"Did somebody hurt you?" Her voice is as hard as a rock. "Did Jacob?"

"N-No!" I gasp. "Why would you think that?"

"Because fingerprints don't just magically appear on people's wrists," she said. "Now, tell me. Did he hurt you?"

I'll kill you. If you tell anybody, I'll kill you and they will never find your body.

"N-no," I whisper. "I just fell."

Nobody will remember you. You're just a slut.

"Get out of my head," I whisper in distress. My face falls into the palm of my hands. His voice wouldn't leave my mind. Jacob was always there. Tormenting me.

"Bella?" Esme's voice was fuzzy as if she were miles away.

Don't say a word. This is between you and me.

Hands touch my shoulder. Soft warm hands brush the hair out of my face. My cheeks were wet and I could taste the salt in my mouth. I told myself I wasn't going to cry. Liar.

I love you.

Jacob doesn't love me. He hurts me. That's not love.

Edward will never have you now.

Edward will never want me. Jacob has made sure of that. I'm too damaged.

"Isabella?" Her voice is closer. It's worried and concerned.

I lift my head up and look into her watering eyes. I'm back in the car. The AC is blasting in my face and we're pulled over on the side of the road.

"I- I'm fine," I cut her off before she can say something. I straighten up in my seat and rub my eyes trying to make the tears disappear.

"What just happened?" she asks. "We're not leaving until you tell me."

I opened my mouth but no words came out.

Don't say anything. I'll know if you do.

"I just felt a bit light-headed," I mumble.

Good. Very good, Bella. Just say that.

"Do you have any other bruises?"

"No," I lie. "Can we just go already?" I'm starting to get agitated.

"Do you have any other bruises?" Esme ignores me. Her eyes roam over my body as if she's trying to see through my clothing.

"Why does it matter?" I growl. "It's just a fucking bruise. People get bruises. It's not the end of the world!"

"Isabella Swan!" She gasps. "I know that your parents don't condone that language so do not think you can say that stuff with me!"

Great. Now I feel guilty.

Esme presses her fingers against her forehead and inhales two deep breaths. She opens her eyes and stares directly at me. "We are going back to my house. You are going to sit down and let Carlisle look you over. I don't care if you don't want to do this. I'm going to call your parents and am going to tell them what is going on and you are going to cooperate. Am I clear?"

"But-"

"No Buts!" Esme yells. "There is obviously something serious going on and you need help. I'm not taking no for an answer!"

"We've driven all this way! We can't just turn back!"

"Yes, we can! And we are!"

She puts the car into drive and pulled into the road. It's silent for the rest of the ride. My hands are clenched into fists. I glare at the road in front of us.

Die Die Die. I hope we get into a car crash.

Angry murderous thoughts flow through my head. We arrived at her house two hours later and I was starving. We were supposed to have dinner. This was supposed to be my birthday night and she ruined everything.

I was curled up on the couch, sipping an icy glass of lemonade. I could hear Carlisle and Esme arguing in the other room. I couldn't make out what they were saying but arms were waving around in the air.

After ten minutes, they walk back into the room. They sit down across from me, leaning against the table. Carlisle folds his arms across each other over his chest. "I called your parents but they didn't pick up."

"Figures," I mutter. They were always too busy for me.

"Esme told me that you had a hurt wrist," he said. "Do you mind if I take a look at it?" He stares directly at me.

I shake my head back and forth. Yes. I did mind. Thank you very much!

Carlisle sighs and runs his fingers through his neatly combed back hair. Edward did the same thing when he was stressed.

"I'm hungry," I say. "We never got dinner."

"I can make some fish," Esme stands up.

I don't look at her but nod my head. She and Carlisle share a look before she leaves the room. I didn't want to be alone with him.

"Where is everyone else?" I ask. It was too empty in the house. Too quiet.

"They're at Jasper and Rose's house for a sleepover or something," Carlisle says.

More like a party. I can't help but laugh. How did he not know what his own children were doing? I thought that he was supposed to be smart.

"This is no laughing matter. I need you to let me look at your wrist," Carlisle says. "I just want to make sure that you are ok."

"Do you check everyone's bruises?" I raise my voice. "Because last time I checked, bruises couldn't kill you!"

My darkening eyes met his light calm ones. He wasn't even phased. I collapse back against the couch, looking the other direction.

"It is not just that," he said. "You look gaunt and sink. Have you been eating enough?"

I shrug my shoulders. Carlisle pinches his fingers on the bridge of his nose and lets his head hang down. "I want verbal answers, Isabella."

"No," I grit my teeth. "I have not been eating. Is that what you want to hear?"

"Why haven't you been eating?" I could see the veins popping out of the side of his neck.

"Because I haven't felt like it."

"Why haven't you felt like it?"

"Because I just haven't," I snap back at him.

"Isabella-" he warns me.

I duck my head, not saying anything else. I didn't want my mouth to get me into any more trouble.

"Can you just truthfully answer one question for me?"

I look at him, hearing the serious sudden change of tone in his voice. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, promising nothing.

"Who gave you those marks on your neck?" He points to my collarbone.

A small gasp escapes my lips as I look to where he pointed. My shirt was pulled down a bit, showing the red marks Jacob had left. Weren't they supposed to disappear after like twenty- four hours? I pull up my shirt feeling self-conscious. What else could he see on me?

"I understand that you are older and want to explore different things," he says. "But I need to know that you are being safe."

My face burned bright red in embarrassment. I didn't need Carlisle to give me the sex-talk. Where was Esme when I needed her?

"Everything is fine," I hastily say. "You don't need to worry about anything! Really, I'm fine!" I just wanted to get away from this conversation.

"I'm not trying to embarrass you," he said calmly. "But what I've heard and seen so far indicates that everything is not fine," he calmly says. "I've seen many victims of abuse at the hospital, Bella. Some have died because of their injuries-"

"Whoever said that I was being abused?" I yell.

"I never said that you were, Isabella," he softly says. "But your behavior is consistent with many of those I've seen at the hospital."

"Well, I'm not one of your patients!" I hissed. "So I'd appreciate it if you'd stop psychoanalyzing me!"

A brief look of hurt flashes across his face. "I understand that you are frustrated and angry but we are just trying our best to help you. Please give Esme and I the same respect that we are trying to give you."

It's silent for a few moments. What I've seen so far is not respect. It's an invasion of my privacy.

"Why do you even care?" I whisper. "My own parents barely pay attention to me. They probably wouldn't even notice if I died. They're always busy yelling at me for all of the times that I've screwed up."

Carlisle jaw hardens as he squats down to my level. Before I can move away, he grabs me by the shoulders, forcing me to look at him.

"Don't you dare say that, Isabella!" He growls. "You are worth a lot to this family and your's more than you can imagine! You should be damn grateful for all that's been given to you."

Should I? Compared to Emmett, I didn't even exist. Everything centered around my brother and football. He was the talk of the table every night at dinner. All of his accomplishments were plastered on the walls of our home to remind me of what a disappointment I was. The only award of mine was a certificate from the first grade. I won the spelling bee contest. That amounts to all of my achievements.

My parents knew that I didn't give a shit about my birthday. The only reason they threw a party was to give them an excuse to open up that bottle of Chardonnay they just bought. I don't even think they got me any gifts. Not that it mattered.

"I want to go," I said. "I want to go home right now." I pushed myself off the couch and with wobbly legs, walked to the front door to get my shoes.

"Bella what are you doing?" His voice was urgent.

"I'm leaving," I say in an expressionless voice. Before he can even blink, I opened the front door and ran into the darkness of the night.

"Esme!" I hear him yell.

I don't turn around. I run as fast as my legs can carry me. I trip over twigs and branches, going deeper into the forest. The house is invisible now. They'll never find me. I slow down to a jog but don't quit.

If my protector won't protect me then who could? All I had was myself and I'd keep running as long as I could. I'd never let anyone hurt me again.

Authors Note

Hey everyone! I hoped that you enjoyed this chapter! I wanted to say that I've been comments that people are annoyed that Bella won't speak up for herself and I understand how that frustrates people. She has been put under a lot of stress and Jacob has literally threatened her life which has left her terrified to say anything. I don't want to spoil too much of what is to come but I promise, the story won't be all dark and depressing.

Another thing I wanted to mention is that, you may remember that at the very beginning of the story, at the very top it said, Freshman year. This story is in parts, chronicling all four years of high school. I'm not going to go through every month and every second of Bella's life because that will be way to long of a story! But will end it when appropriate and then move onto the next year. I'm saying this now because Part 1 of the story has ended and it will transition to her sophomore year. I hope that this clears up any confusion there may be for future chapters!