Isabella

"You stayed." I blush.

"I do every night." he crookedly smiled.

Edward rolled off the couch onto his feet and walked over and sat on the edge of my bed. I couldn't help but laugh. He had a messy bedhead and somehow his shirt had managed to come off in the middle of the night because I very much remember him being fully dressed before. He was just in sweatpants and even looking tired as hell, he was beautiful.

"I don't know why you doubt me. It's been-what- three days? I'm not leaving unless you kick me out."

"Well, that's not gonna happen." I mumbled and instantly felt a pang of guilt. This wasn't fair to Demetri. We said that this would only be one night but one turned into two and two turned into three and now it was Monday morning and Edward was laying across the bed half-naked.

I knew it was selfish of me to do but I couldn't let Edward leave. The nightmares finally went away and all I've had were dreamless nights. I don't want it to end because I know they'll be back if he goes away. Edward suddenly sits up and takes my hand and his thumb caresses my skin. It's as if he knew I was stressed and scared and everything up above.

"We should get ready for school." he sighed. I nodded my head in agreement. I wanted nothing more than to lay here with him all day but I know that would draw unwanted questions and I wasn't prepared to answer.

"Are you riding with Alice or do you want to come with me today?" he asked.

I pause before saying, "Is it wise if we go together?"

I think most people could figure out that Demetri and I were somehow involved with each other and if I show up to school with Edward then people will make assumptions that could end with everyone getting hurt.

"Everyone knows that we're family friends." Edward shrugged. "Besides, it's no one's business about what we do with each other."

"It's Demetri's." I point out.

"Well maybe if you had told him that we were living together earlier than it wouldn't be so weird."

"I don't want to argue!" I groaned and collapsed back in bed. He wasn't going to bring this up again.

"I can talk to him today for you if you'd like." he offered.

I roll my eyes and scoff. "What are you going to say? 'Hey I've been sleeping with your girlfriend and she's living at my house and now I'm giving her rides to school?'"

"Don't be fucking ridiculous!" he barks a laugh. "We don't sleep together- we sleep across from each other-"

"Like that would make a difference!" I cross my arms over my chest and give him the best-unimpressed look I can muster up. "I'll tell him myself. It's not fair to him to hear this from someone else."

"When?" he presses.

"When the time's right." I shrugged.

"So that means never." he smirks.

"I never said that!" I throw my hands up in the air, annoyed with his childish behavior. The bed dips down and Edward walked to the door with this shirt in hand.

"Where are you going?"

"To get dressed." his face was smug. "You better start getting ready or Alice will leave without you. She goes at exactly 6:50 every morning."

The door slams shut and I was all alone. What a fucking douchbag. Wait- he's my douchebag. I was seriously fucked up. I look at the clock to see that it's 6:40 am. We'd laid in bed for actually forty minutes? Why was I not surprised.

It took me exactly twenty minutes to get ready and by the time I came out, I can Alice impatiently waiting by the front door.

"Finally!" she exclaims. "Edward told me that you'd be ready in ten minutes!"

"Ali-"

"And I have morning yoga! It starts-" she glances down at her phone. "-in ten minutes! We're going to be late now and I'm probably going to get detention and I've never gotten it in my life!"

"Than let's go!" I groan. "We've just wasted two minutes by standing here arguing!"

Her face is flustered and with a little, hmph, she marches out the door in her high heels and black Gucci purse and designer backpack.

I swear this girl is going to be the death of me. We finally get in the car and take off. It's quite the first ten minutes but soon Alice's soft voice is floating throughout the air.

"I'm sorry, Bella." she sighed. Alice kept her eyes on the road but her hands were tightly clenched around the steering wheel.

"It's alright?" I respond more like a question. I'm not sure what she was apologizing about. She pouted a little and tapped her fingers on the wheel.

"No, it's not! I've been the biggest bitch." she admits. "I'm just stressed out with everything going on right now and I'm taking it out on everyone around me."

"Don't worry about it." I try to make her feel better.

"I feel awful though. Jasper's fed up with me but he's too polite to say anything and I'm pretty sure Rose is ready to kill me."

"I think you're overreacting." I slightly laugh. "Nobody's going to kill you."

"You don't know Rose." she mumbled.

I roll my eyes in amusement and shake my head. Alice could be such a drama queen. I don't understand how Edward can deal with her every day.

"When are you getting that thing off your leg?" she changed the conversation.

I look down at my chunky cast and scowl. "In like April I think?"

I kind of zoned out when the doctor explained everything to me. I was supposed to be in physical therapy, trying to walk again. They wanted to get me started on using crutches but I kept delaying the appointments. My leg hurt enough as it was and the last thing I wanted to do was put pressure on it. I think Carlisle was at his wit's end because yesterday he scheduled another appointment for the following week when they come back from their trip and I don't think he's gonna let me skip this one out.

"Does your leg hurt?" her voice was laced with concern.

It's fucking painful.

"It's not that bad." I lied.

"Well that's good I guess." she said. "That means we can have a fun time during Spring Break!"

"What do you mean, 'we?'" I looked at her from the corner of my eye. It's like she had the entire year planned out.

"Well you know Rose's family has a vacation house in New York. We always go up every year and I guess I assumed that you'd want to come since you're living with us right now."

I remember sitting by the window in the living room every year watching Emmett leave for the April break. It looked like so much fun but they never invited me. I was still just a "little kid" and couldn't hang out with them. Now, I could understand why they never invited me. An empty house equaled a party with no parents or adult supervision.

"What if I'm not still living here by April?" I point out. Anything could happen in five months.

"The invitation will still stand. I know Edward would be sad if you didn't show up." she smugly smiles.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I said a little too quickly.

"Do you really think I didn't notice Edward sneaking into your room every night?" she giggles causing my face to blush bright red.

I thought that we were discreet. We waited a few hours every night until everyone was asleep and then he came into my room. It's not like we were having sex and waking up the entire house!

"Omg, Bella it's fine!"

No, it's not!

"I totally get it. You guys are in love!" she squealed. "I honestly wasn't expecting this after what happened last time…" she trails off.

"Alice-"

"But I'm totally happy that you guys made up! It was just a matter of time, I knew this was coming."

"You can't tell anyone!" I pleaded with her. "I'm with Demetri and I can't hurt him. He's been so good to me…"

"So you and Edward have-" her mouth drops open.

I instantly shake my head, shooting down her thoughts. "No no no no! We haven't done anything like that!"

"Then what have you been doing in your room every night?" she cocks her head to the side.

"Just sleeping." I sigh.

"Together?"

"He's on the couch and I'm on the bed." I grumble. I wouldn't let Edward sleep in my bed- sexual or not.

"I don't understand." she says. "All you're doing is sleeping… but separately."

"Yeah." it's as simple as that.

"Bella! This is the perfect opportunity to make a move!" she groans. "Don't tell me that you don't feel anything for my brother?"

"Regardless if I did, we're both comfortable right now with what we're doing. I don't want anything to change."

She doesn't look convinced but doesn't push any further. "Well your secret is safe with me. Just promise me one thing?"

"What?"

"Edward is sensitive and you can't be with both him and Demetri. You have to make up your mind soon."

I didn't show up to study hall today. I skipped out on lunch and went to the library instead of the gym. Alice had given me a lot to think about with her stupid words. I liked Demetri- I truly did but I couldn't stop thinking about Edward. Everything about him made me squirm in discomfort but at the same time, I couldn't stay away. I needed Edward like I needed air to breathe. That was the only way to describe it.

Demetri was a breath of fresh air and I guess a nice distraction from my shitty life. It was easy to be around him and I wasn't constantly worrying. I could just let loose for a little while… but it never lasted. I was just delaying the inevitable- scurrying around the truth… at least that's what Victoria said last time.

Perhaps she was right. Demetri was just a fling. He was my safety anchor. Life was easy around him. I didn't have to worry.

"Bella?" a voice came from behind me. I place the book on the table and whip around to see Emmett standing across from me. His backpack is swung over his shoulder and he holds a thick textbook in his hands.

"Emmett." I gulp. What was he doing here? As far as I knew, he didn't even know where the library was. "What are you doing here?"

"I was, uhm, getting, uh, a textbook for Comp Sci." he stuttered and looked anywhere but at me.

"You don't take Computer Science." my voice is blunt. "You don't even know where the library is. Shouldn't you be at practice?"

He sheepishly looks down at the book in his hands and sticks it back on the shelf. Dejected, he slumps down into the chair across from me.

"II was going to the field and saw you come in here." he admits.

"So you decided to follow me?" I gulped.

"It's been two weeks, Bella." he shook his head. "When are you going to be ready to talk? The last person you have to be afraid of is me."

"You don't think I know that?" I scoff. I wasn't afraid of him, per se. I was afraid of how he'd react if he ever found out. He would think I'm disgusting. He'd think I'm a whore. I don't care what he says now because his views could always change.

"I'll go home once dad has left fucking Sue Clearwater and mom comes back." I growled.

"Well, that's not gonna happen because Sue has moved into the house and mom's engaged."

My eyes widen and my mouth drops open. Thump. Thump. Thump. My heart was racing. It was fast. Too fast. Thump. Thump. Thump.

"How come nobody told me?" I whisper.

Emmett clenches his jaw and stares at me wearily. I was teetering on the edge. I'm not gonna break down. I won't let myself break down. Breathe in. Breathe out.

"You've been avoiding us." Emmett huffed. "There was never a good time to tell you."

"Well don't expect me to start calling Sue, 'mom.'" I spit.

"Don't start that Bella." he rolls his eyes. "She's a great person and I've never seen Dad this happy before. He's a completely different person."

I didn't give a fuck about that woman. I don't care how perfect she is, she'll never be a mother to me. She'll never be anything to me.

"You've got to give her a chance." Emmett softly pleads. "She's not the bad guy."

"Aren't you late for practice?" my voice is cold.

"Bell-"

"I'm done talking about this!" I hiss.

All I could see was red. I wanted Charlie to be happy but not like this. He didn't even fight to get my mom back. He just let her go to that other man. He didn't even try to save our pathetic family. All because of that stupid woman.

I don't wait around to hear what else he has to say. I leave the library in a hurry, trying to get as far away as possible. But wherever I went, it wasn't far enough.

Three hours later, I was back at the Cullens, sitting in the living room. Dinner was made but I refused to eat. I held the remote control in my hand, clicking fifteen times. Channel after channel would pass before I would start over again. My hand was stiff from being in the same position for the past thirty minutes.

"Bella?" Carlisle appeared in front of me. He kneeled until we were eye level with him. He placed his hand over mine, stopping the clicking. My hand-formed into a fist as I tried to take the remote back from him.

"Stop." I whimpered. Tears leaked from the corner of my eyes and my lips were pressed into a thin line as I tried to stop myself from crying out. My heart hurt. My head hurt. Everything hurt.

"It's alright, sweetie." his voice was soothing. "You're going to be alright."

No, I wasn't. Nothing is alright about this situation- about my life. I couldn't hold it back any longer. It was as if a heavyweight was lifted off my chest and I allowed myself to cry. Sobs wracked through my body and Carlisle wrapped his arms around me. I let him hold me. I wanted to be held.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I gasp. "Sue… Charlie…"

A sudden look of understanding crosses over his face. I hang my head down, unable to look at him. Why didn't they just tell me? Did they think that I was this broken? That I couldn't handle the truth?

"I'm sorry." he says. "We never meant to hurt you."

Nobody ever meant to hurt me. That's what they all said. I was sick of hearing that. Everybody thought that they were doing me a favor by keeping things from me, thinking that I couldn't handle it. I wanted to know. I needed to because then I would be hurt less later on. I could be prepared for anything.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked. There was a flicker of hesitation in his voice and I shook my head. I already heard everything I needed to hear.

"Emmett told me everything." my voice broke.

"You talked to Emmett?" the surprise was evident on his face.

I nodded my head. We did more arguing than talking. I wouldn't really call it a pleasant encounter.

"He told me everything. Also about Renee and Phill." I said. "My parents aren't getting back together are they?"

Carlisle didn't respond. We all knew the answer to that question.

"I wish I could tell you differently." he said. "But some people aren't meant to be. Sometimes it's better this way."

"How could this ever be better?" I scoff. "Our entire family has fallen apart. Emmett's leaving this year and my mother is all the way in Arizona and there's a stranger living in our house."

"Stuff happens in life and you've got to learn to adapt. I know that this is hard to understand at the moment but you have to accept that this is the way things are now."

"I'll never accept Sue Clearwater." I bitterly said.

Carlisle sighs and hangs his head down and then looks back up at me with a serious expression. "I've met Sue Clearwater and she's a great woman. All she wants is the best for your family and genuinely cares. All I ask is that you give her a chance, she deserves that much."

"Well, I'm never going back." I adamantly said. "I'm going to live here forever."

"Bella-"

"No! "You can't send me back!" I'm on the verge of tears again.

"I never said that I was going to." his voice is calm. "I just want you to think about your father and brother. They miss you so much and I know for a fact that they care about you. I know that you're distressed right now but I want you to think about your decision. Many people love you."

I spend the rest of the night locked in my room. I didn't even let Edward in and the nightmares returned. The next day, I go about everything normal. I eat breakfast, go to school with Alice, and sit through another torturous morning.

"What's wrong?" Demetri asked.

I shrug my shoulders and focus back on the book. My plans to avoid Demetri failed and now we were sitting next to each other in study. I tried to do my homework but he wouldn't stop talking to me. Couldn't he see that I was ignoring him?

"Did I do something?" his voice is slightly hurt. I can't help it anymore. I bookmark my page and put the book down. He has a slight frown on his face and I can't help but feel bad for him. He hasn't done anything wrong. It was all me and my stupid mistakes.

"You've done nothing." I sigh.

I wanted to wait until after Halloween to tell him that we were done. I thought that if I could just avoid him as much as possible then it would make it easier to break up with him but I was wrong. He was everywhere. Alice was right. I couldn't have both him and Edward.

"Then why are you upset?" he furrowed his eyebrows. "You're not normally this quiet."

Screw Halloween. I didn't know how to give a convincing lie.

"Demetri…" I take a deep breath. "I don't know how to tell you this but I think… we should stop seeing each other."

A look of confusion and hurt crosses over his face. "What?"

"I'm sorry." I gulp. "This has nothing to do with you. I'm going through some stuff right now and I just need a break from like… everything. I promise that this has nothing to do with you."

"Do you like Edward?" he asks after a few moments.

"Ed-Edward?" I stutter, momentarily stunned. Did Alice tell him something?

"I've seen the way you look at each other in the hall." he hangs his head. "And the way he talks about you at practice- it's obvious that he cares about you."

He talks about me?

"I'm sorry." I bite my lip and look away. "I never meant to hurt you like this. You're a great guy, Demetri."

"I understand." his lips turn up into a crooked grin. "Everything happens for a reason."

"You're not mad?" I whisper.

"I could never be mad at you. Yeah- I'm upset but if you're happy then I'm happy."

Tears prickled at my eyes. Don't cry. Don't cry.

"Can we at least still be friends? I still think you're a pretty cool girl."

"I'd like that." I crack a smile. "I'd like that a lot."

At least something right was happening in my life. The rest of the day passed by quickly and before I knew it, I was back home, laying in bed with Edward across from me.

"I broke up with Demetri." I whisper. Edward was lazily spread out across the couch. It was one o'clock in the morning and we were still awake. We'd been talking for the past several hours about random things. Neither of us wanted to go to sleep. We had such little time during the day together.

"I'm sorry." Edward says.

He didn't sound sorry.

"Don't be." I said. "It felt right. We're both better off now."

I know I sounded crazy. Just about every girl was dying at the chance to date. Everyone wanted a chance to feel loved. A chance to feel less lonely.

"So what does this mean now?" he sits up and gazes at me from across the room. Even in the dark, I could see a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"You're single." he shrugged. "Can I at least drive you to school? I don't maybe we could at least sit with each other at lunch instead of you avoiding me."

"I wasn't avoiding you!" I whisper-yell. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"So what do you call running in the opposite direction?" he smirks.

I have no response.

"My point exactly."

"Do you always have to be so arrogant?" I grumpily respond.

"You're cute when you're angry." he laughs. "I'm only telling the truth."

"Well, I don't like the truth." I huff. I cross my arms over my chest and stare at the ceiling. I could feel his ego growing larger and larger. It was suffocating.

"Go to the party with me." he says. "I'll be your prince charming."

"Don't you think it's a bit soon?" I nervously laugh. "I mean, Demetri and I just ended things."

"You said yourself that everything is fine between the two of you. Why would he care?"

"I don't know…" I draw out. "I guess he wouldn't."

"So you've got nothing to worry about." said Edward. "Go with me and we'll have fun. If you want to leave at any point then we can. I won't force you to stay."

"If you're sure." I sigh.

Why was I already regretting this?

Author's Note:

Hey y'all! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing, I greatly appreciate it! I should update again by next week (hopefully).