Well, I'm just the worst. Sorry my updates have been so crappy. I'm still in the process of moving. But I haven't abandoned this one! I really hope you enjoy this chapter, and I hope it was worth the wait.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me so far!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

xxx

March 2008: Bella's Room

My hand fumbles in the dark for my ringing cellphone.

I swear to god, if this is Vicky, I'm going to murder her.

My fingers make contact with my phone and I turn it over, blinking as the harsh light blinds me.

Leah. Shit.

"Hello," my voice is scratchy.

"Bella?" Leah's voice trembles as a sob breaks through.

"What's going on? Are you okay?" I mumble, sitting up a little more alert.

"It's Seth, he had a seizure-

"What!" I'm definitely alert now.

"And mom is mad and dad said he's grounded-

"Leah, hold on-

"I don't know what to do, he's in the hospital, and his face looks beaten up-

"Leah!" I yell and she stops. "Calm down and take a breath, just breathe okay?"

She let's out a shaky breath, her sobbing calming down as well. I wait a few moments to make sure she's calm. Jesus, at some point I'm going to stop getting these calls.

"Okay, so Seth had a seizure. Tell me what happened," I say more quietly.

"We were at a basketball game, and he went into the boy's locker room right before the boys started playing. I don't know, some guy comes running out and yelling," she says and then pauses. "Bella, it was bad. He fell and hit his face on concrete. His eyes are all black and his nose is broken."

My hands are shaking, adrenaline spiking through me. "But he's okay though, right? I mean they took him to the hospital."

"Yeah, I mean he only has a concushion or something like that-

"Concussion," I interject.

She huffs. "Yeah, whatever. Anyways, mom was gone for a whole week, and Seth forgot to take his medication all week. So that's why he had the seizure."

Didn't Charlie remind him? I mean Seth is still a kid, half the time he doesn't bathe unless someone tells him to.

"Okay, so he forgot," I start.

"Yeah, and mom is mad and so is dad. Dad said that it was Seth's fault since he forgot and all and now they're grounding him for embarrassing them at the game!" She says her voice growing more hysterical with each breath.

My spine tightens and I dig my fingernails into my palm. They're grounding him because they're embarrassed! I throw the covers off of me, my fingers itch to turn over the nightstand because- Goddamnit, what kind of parents do that?

"Sissy, I don't know what to do, can you just come home and tell them that they're being mean?" Her voice is hopeful.

Damnit Leah.

I grip the side of dresser. "I'll handle it. Don't make them more angry."

I press the end button before she says anything and immediately go to my closet to throw on some sweatpants and a better t-shirt one. Fuck Renee and fuck Charlie. Enough is fucking enough.

"Going somewhere?"

Edward's voice is light, but there's this undertone. I don't like it and I'm in no mood to argue or talk this out. I'm too pissed to deal with him right now.

"My parents have gone completely insane. I'm done," I say then turn towards him. "Turn around," I demand.

His eyes widen at my tone and he shifts on his feet. "Bella-

I hold a hand up. "Look Edward, I am really fucking angry right now. Nothing you say is going to keep me from going to finally deal with my bitch of a mother and her psychotic husband. So turn the fuck around."

Edward sighs and closes his eyes. "Bella, please just tell me what happened."

"My brother had a seizure, busted his face up, and now my parents are grounding him for embarrassing them both," I say flatly and his eyes widen.

"Sheesh, that's awful." He shifts again.

"Yeah, so turn around. It's 20 degrees outside and I'll freeze if I go out like this," I say waiting for him to actually turn around.

He rolls his eyes. "It's March Bella, it's 55 degrees at least, and besides, what are you planning on doing when you get there? Beat them up?"

He smirks at me. Yeah, real cute asshole.

"I'm going to let them have it," I say grinding my teeth.

He laughs. "Let them have it?" His eyebrow raises. "Yeah, that's a real solid plan."

I curl my fists. "You think this is funny?"

His dismissal pisses me off. Why does no one ever just listen to me?

He reaches out to me. "Look-

I slap his hand away. "No! My brother has a broken nose because he bashed his face on concrete. Do you have any idea what it's like living with them? It's like walking through a minefield!" I throw my shirt across the room.

Edward's eyes soften but I'm too angry to care.

"But Hey! This is funny to you! Yeah, I laughed so fucking hard that one time they held Seth over a railing and beat his back and legs with a belt." I stomp to the other side of the room and pick up my shirt.

Stop this Bella, you're loosing it! But I can't stop. "Or what about the time they called my sister a whore and my mother throwing her up against the car door," I say peeling my tank top off and throwing on my crumpled t-shirt as Edward's cheeks flush and he looks down. "Yeah, it was so funny I couldn't stop laughing for days."

God, it's like my life is just one big fucking joke.

He steps towards me. "Bella please-

I shake my head and step back from him, my back hitting the wall. "Don't back out now Edward, I mean hey, this is just a fucking riot to you! I can't even begin to imagine how funny you'd think it is when Charlie touches me I feel gross and confused, then angry because there must be something so royally fucked up about me that I'd even dare to think- think- that-

I drop to my knees and bring hands over my ears shaking my head, a noise bubbles up and tears it's way out of my throat.

Laughter.

I'm fucking laughing.

Why can't I stop laughing?

The noise continues until it turns into an ugly and pitiful sound as tears stream down my face. I can't, I just can't. Not anymore.

"I just don't understand," I sob out. "Why don't they love us? Love me?" My chest heaves and I feel like I can't breathe. Warm hands envelop me on the floor. A shiver goes down my spine, my skin crawls and my chest aches. Stop. I'm not weak. I'm not weak. I fight against his hold, but he won't release. I want him to hold me so much it scares me.

"Bella," he breathes into my ear. "Breathe, Baby," he says.

I feel like I'm falling apart.

What was I going to do?

Save her? Save him?

I collapse into him.

I can't even save myself.

Poor Bella. Please let me know what you think!