Hey Everyone! I just want to keep thanking you for all the reviews, follows and favorites! Your support and feedback mean so much to me!

So I realized I messed up on something, the date is 2007- not 2017. Ugh, it's so embarrassing. But anyways, thought I would clear that up. So starting from chapter 3- it's 2007.

Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

xxx

July 2007: Empty Church Classroom

Wednesday night church sucks.

I'm so tired of all this being shoved down my throat. My fingers run across the piano in the empty room. I should be in bible study, but there's only so much religion I can handle. With Christian school, church twice on Sundays, school chapel, and church Wednesday nights, my tolerance is running low. I fiddle with the piano keys, trying to pick out chords that sound nice.

Trying and failing, I huff and start playing 'The Hill' by Marketa Irglova. The sound washes over me, my voice soft and light. I'm not trying to attract an audience. God forbid my dad finds me here instead of wasting my time in that stupid study. The sound is haunting, and something inside me shifts, an emotion that I keep locked away begins to crack under the pressure.

My mother's face comes to mind. Her eyes, hard and unforgiving, harsh words escaping her lips. My eyes begin to burn. Stop it. My fingers play the notes harder.

Stop being weak.

My voice cracks.

You're always so fucking weak.

I shake my head, refusing to cry.

So weak.

"Pretty sure you're not supposed to be here."

My fingers clang against the piano as I nearly fall backwards off the bench. I whip my head around. Edward stands leaning against the door looking at me with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" I snap.

He just smirks at me.

"Seriously, dad will lose it if he finds you skipping," he says with a frown.

I roll my eyes.

"I don't know why, it's not as if they're teaching me anything I haven't heard before," I grumble.

He lets out a laugh. "Tell me about it."

It's strange, normally he's all Mr. Goody Two Shoes. He's always so involved in the church and is the lead guitarist to the teen praise and worship team. The guy actually has been the speaker sometimes. It makes me want to vomit.

He walks over and sits down next to me on the bench.

"If dad made me go to Christian school on top of all this, I might go a little crazy too," he says with a smile. "I mean, I like church and all, but everyone needs a little break."

"I hate church," I admit.

Horror floods through me as his eyes go a little wide. Damn it! Now he's going to run his mouth and the family is going to stage an intervention!

"Why?" He asks and I shrug in response. "Personally I like being surrounded by people who support me, at school most people don't get me, don't get why my relationship with God is so important. It can be exhausting, trying to navigate all that," he confesses.

I look at his face. Hard. I'm trying to figure out whether he's full of shit or not. To be honest, I never gave much stock in the whole relationship with God. My mother sure as hell does. "You have a submission problem Bella, God specifically states that children are supposed to be submissive to their parents." I had scoffed at her and earned a slap to the face.

"People will believe in anything to make sense of the world around them, to feel better about their shitty lives. It makes them feel that all the bad things that have happened was all for some bigger purpose. Sometimes life just sucks," I say my voice toneless.

He frowns at me some. His eyes are soft.

"What a sad way to live if you ask me," he whispers.

His face is sincere and I flush. I don't need your pity. I turn my head to avoid his disturbing gaze. We sit in silence for a moment. Suddenly he nudges me with his shoulder.

"You've gotten better at playing," he says before putting his fingers on the keys. "I'd almost forgotten how good of a singer you are," he says I blush a little.

His fingers press down on the keys and the familiar tune of "Falling Slowly" fills my ears. It makes me uncomfortable. He begins to sing, his voice is warm and it sends heat down my spine. My heart begins to beat a little faster as he effortlessly sings, his voice breathy and just-

I can't help but blush. Whatever I'm feeling, I shouldn't be. This is Edward. My step brother. We've known each other since we were four. You're just fucked up. But then it's my cue to sing. And I do. He harmonizes with me. He smiles at me while he sings, as if oblivious to the feelings warring inside of me.

I want this moment to stop.

I want it to never end.

And now he's looking at me, really looking at me. He's looking at me as if he's really seeing me, as if for the first time.

The song ends, his chest heaves, and his eyes are dark. I can't look away and warmth slides down my spine. He's so close. Suddenly he stumbles to a standing position. The moment is broken.

"We should go before dad finds us," he says not looking at me before he quickly leaves.

Just what the fuck was that?

Author's Note: I am not religious, but I did grow up in a very conservative, Christian home. There are plenty of Christians I know who are lovely. Please don't take offense to Bella's scathing view points on religion if that's important to you. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! (PS: things are only going to heat up from here!)

Also, quick question- what time would you guys like me update? I have up to Chapter 9 already written, so my schedule is pretty flexible. I usually update between 12-3.