A/N: I want to thank all of you for all of your reviews on the last chapter. I was really worried that one didn't come over very well. I'm glad you guys liked it. It makes me feel ten times better about this story. I think that's it so let's get to the story.
EDWARD
I drove away from Jasper's aparment complex going about 80 miles an hour. I was angrier than I had been in over a year and I knew exactly why. It was Bella that kept me calm and in control whenever I found myself getting mad. The thought of looking into her eyes or holding her in my arms, always brought me back when I felt like I was going to lose it. I think that's the biggest reason why I never got angry when she refused to have sex with me.
Of course, now that looking into her eyes or holding her in my arms seemed impossible, I found it hard to control this rage inside of me. What was more, I really did love her with my whole heart and sole. I screwed up and I knew I was more angry with myself than anyone else about that. I hadn't meant to hurt Alice but she was keeping me away from what I wanted. She should know better than anyone what a bigger no-no that was. If she would've just let me talk to Bella, that wouldn't have happened.
I had to find a way to talk to Bella. I had to be able to convince her that I really did love her. And make her see that she loved me too. I'd make her see that no matter what I had to do. Even if I had to hurt her. That was something that I didn't want to have to do but if she didn't give me a choice, I would do what I had to.
The first step in getting Bella to talok to me was going to have to be getting her alone. I knew from the way Alice and Jasper reacted at the apartment that it was something that was going to be extremely difficult. They would probably stick to her like glue until they thought I was no longer a threat. Rosalie and Emmett would probably help as well. As would that annoying Jacob Black. He wasn't too much of a problem though. Especially since he didn't go to our school. I would just have to find a way to lure Bella away from Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett.
Wait, Rosalie and Emmett, that was it. A plan started forming in my head. I flipped my phone open and dialed James's number.
"Hey, Edward, what's up?" he answered on the second ring.
"Hey, James, I need a favor." I stated without preamble.
"What kind of favor?" he asked.
"Bella and Alice caught Jessica and I together tonight and Bella's pretty upset. She doesn't want to talk to me right now." I explained. "But I need to talk to her to get her to see that I love her and she still loves me. I need to get her alone to make her talk to me because she won't unless I make her. Her friends, however, are making this difficult. They won't just let me talk to her so I need you to find some way to distract them tomorrow before school so I can grab Bella and we can talk."
"And what's in it for me?"
"The chance to beat the shit out of Emmett McCarty."
I knew I had him the moment I mentioned Emmett. See, before Victoria came to town, James had a thing for Rosalie and asked her out repeatedly. She turned him down every time. However, she said yes the first time that Emmett asked her to dinner. James has resented Emmett ever since and has wanted the chanc eto face of with him for as long as he was dating Rosalie.
"Come on over and we'll talk." James answered after a minute of silence.
"Excellent." I said. "I'll see you in a bit."
I flipped the phone shut without a goodbye. I could see the plan forming perfectly in my head as I sped toward James's house. All James had to do was get Emmett to take a swing at him while Bella's other friends were around and that would start a fight. Everyone would be so intent on pulling Emmett and James off of each other, nodoby would notice if I grabbed Bella and took her away for a few minutes. It seemed almost too perfect.
BELLA
It wasn't until well after eleven when Alice finally stopped crying enough to drive us home. I sat on the floor trying to help Jasper comfort her. However, I wasn't sure how I felt about what she had just told me.
Yes, I was angry about the fact that she let me date Edward knowing all of this about him. I mean, he could've snapped and hurt me at anytime. It was true that he was getting help but people with those kind of problems have occassional relapses. What would've happened if he relapsed on one of those nights when I refused to have sex with him. The thought that he could've done the same thing those monsters did to my mother to me sent shivers up and down my spine. It was something that I never ever wanted to think about. I didn't want to believe Edward capable of that but if he would push his sister, step or otherwise, down a flight of stairs, there isn't anything he wouldn't do. Especially to someone he loved. Which is what made me so terribly angry with Alice.
At the same time, though, I understood why she hadn't told me. She knew I liked him and liked spending time with him. She didn't want to taint my thoughts of him because she wanted me to be happy. And he was getting help so she didn't think that he was that dangerous anymore. She was just trying to be a good friend and sister by trying to give him a second chance. I knew in my heart that I couldn't be truly angry with her for that.
There was also a large amount of fear in my heart. I didn't want to think about my next encounter with Edward. I knew how bad he still wanted and the lengths he would go to to get me back. I knew I didn't want him back but if he was willing to throw Alice against a wall or down the stairs because she wouldn't let him get to me. What would he be willing to do to me if I refused to give myself back to him.
What was more, Alice was sitting on the floor, crying her eyes out because she was scared. She was scared of what Edward would do to me. That thought alone scared the shit out of me and rocked my world, because Mary Alice Brandon was not afraid of anything. To see her on the floor shaking and sobbing with that much fear was scary enough in itself but to know that what she was so afraid of wanted me, was just plan terrifying.
I wasn't sure how I managed to hold it together as Jasper and I comforted her. When she finally did calm, it was about a quarter to twelve. At which point she said we should all head home. We said our goodbyes. Words of comfort and support were uttered to Alice and I before we all cleared out.
Alice drove me back to my place in silence, but stopped me before I got out of the car.
"Bella, I'm going to come pick you up for school tomorrow." she stated. "Then I'm going to bring you home and stay until Charlie gets home from work."
"Why?" I asked.
"You know why." she replied. "I'm not going to give him the chance to get to you."
"Alice, Edward is my problem. I don't want you guys to have to deal with him." I stated.
That statement was the truth. I wanted to deal with Edward on my own. Yes, I was terrified of what he would do if I refused to get back together with him. I wanted nothing more than to have my friends standing by my side and keeping me safe but I couldn't asked or expect that of them. Not after what he did to Alice tonight just because she wouldn't let me out of the apartment to talk to him. I couldn't let that keep happening every time they tried to stop Edward from getting to me. Besides, I was going to have to face him one on one at some point. Why not just get it over with?
"Bella, I know what you're thinking." she countered. "You don't want any of us to get hurt and I can appreciate and understand that. It was another reason why I didn't say anything about Edward's behavior. I was afraid he'd hurt you if he knew that you knew. I couldn't live with myself if I allowed that to happen. So I kept my mouth shut. Which was a huge mistake. I let you go out with him and fall for him. I aided him in getting you to fall into his trap. Now he won't let you out of it. And it's all my fault. I have to do what I can to help you. Please, let me.
It was just like Alice to do this. She was so self sacrificing that she found a way to blame this whole thing on herself. But it wasn't her fault. I chose to get involved with Edward. I was choosing to walk away from him after catching him with Jessica. I could've just forgave him and went on with life like nothing happened but I refused to do that. Which is what made anything I would need protecting from, my fault. However, I knew if I tried to explain this to her that she just find a way to knock the arguement down.
This was one of those things that she was absolutely determined to do. She had spoken with the tone that told me there was no point in arguing. My friends were going to do whatever they could to keep me from falling back into Edward's trap. I guess that was just something I had to accept, even if I didn't like the idea.
"Fine." I sighed after a moment of silence.
"Good." Alice stated. "I was worried I was going to have to lock you up until Edward got over it."
I let out a single chuckle and hugged her. As annoyingly overprotective as she was, she was still my best friend and I couldn't ask for a better one. I really didn't know what I do without her and I was glad that she was there to help me through all of this shit.
"Call me if you need anything, okay?" she stated and I nodded. "And don't call Edward or answer his calls and don't let him inside."
"I won't." I answered with a mental eye roll as I got out of the car.
Alice didn't drive off until I had unlocked the door and entered the house. The T.V. was going when I got inside, which meant that Charlie was still up. Sure enough, I stepped in the living room to find Charlie sitting in his chair staring at the T.V.
"Bella," he said when I entered the room. "You're home. I was getting worried."
"I'm sorry." I said. "It's been a long hard night and I just needed to be around my friends."
"I know sweetheart." he replied. "Alice told me what he did. I'm so sorry."
He pulled me into a hug. That was quite unusuak for Charlie. He wasn't really the emotional, touchy-feely type. Yet, here he was hugging me and comforting me through my boy trouble. I really did have the best dad in the world.
"Are you gonna be okay?" he asked pulling away.
"Yes. My friends are helping me deal." I answered.
I didn't say exactly how they were helping me deal or how they were going to have to protect me from Edward, who was angry and determined to get me back, no matter what. No, he didn't need to know that. He'd probably have Edward arrested on a false charge. Not that I cared about Edward but I knew Charlie would get into a lot of trouble for that.
"Good." he stated. "Maybe you should stay home tomorrow though. I mean you just got over being sick and then he breaks your heart like that. I think you should take some time to recover. Maybe I could take the day off too and we could talk."
I knew his heart was in the right place by suggesting it but I wanted to go to school. It would be better than sitting around doing nothing. I hated doing nothing especially when I was depressed. I just couldn't sit at home all day tomorrow.
"As nice as that sounds," I said, "I want to go to school tomorrow. It'l help distract me from everything that happened tonight. Besides, I have to show Edward and Jessica that they didn't break me."
That last statement wasn't true but nodbody else had to know that. I definitely wasn't going to tell anybody.
"If that's what you want." Charlie replied. "I suppose we could just talk at dinner." I nodded. "But I think that maybe you should try to get some sleep. You're probably exhausted in every sense of the word."
That was one thing that I knew he was right about. What was more, he only knew about two thirds of happened today. The final third was something that he wouldn't find out if I could help it.
"I think you're right." I stated. "Sleep sounds wonderful right now."
"I thought it might. I think I'm going to head that way too." he answered. "Do you need to get in the bathroom?"
"No, I'm too tired to do anything but sleep."
"Okay then, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yup. Good night dad." I said and hugged him one more time.
"Good night sweetie." he replied hugging back. "Sleep well."
I nodded and headed for the stairs. When I got to my room, I simply laid on my bed, not even bothering to pull the sheets back, and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
ALICE
I was still too upset about the Edward thing to go back to the house. Instead, I called my mom and told her that I was staying at Rosalie, then I went back to Jasper's apartment. He was waiting up for me when I got there. He amazed me more and more everyday with how well he knew. I smiled at him when he opened the door and he pulled me into his arms. And just when I thought I had no more tears of fear, rage, or pain left, I found myself, once again, sobbing into his chest.
A/N: What do you think? Please review.
