There will be a little sad, and maybe disturbing scene here…nothing graphic though.

Chapter 15: Dirty Little Secret

"I don't know what to do Alice."

"Yes you do Edward."

We had gotten back to New York on Thursday. I was now in my apartment, lying on my bed, hands over my face. Alice was standing, arms crossed over her chest. I invited Alice over on Friday to tell her my realization of liking Bella.

"No I don't Alice," I stated sitting up on my bed. Alice came to sit beside me.

"What is there to not get Edward…you like Bella. Not that it's a surprise. Before you two even met I was trying to set you up!" She threw her hands in the air. I looked at her, my brows furrowed. "I knew you would be perfect for each other. You know I know these things."

I ran my fingers through my hair. "I don't Alice. I still feel like I don't know her very well…not like you know her."

Alice smiled sadly. "I know, but maybe that's why you two should start something. Start slow…share you stories…maybe even tell her about that day," she suggested.

I sighed. "I don't know when I'll be able to tell her that. But you are right. We could just start things slowly…get to know each other." I sat and thought for a bit. "But what if she doesn't like me?"

Alice's laugh echoed through my bedroom. "Oh Edward…you're still the same. Don't worry…I have a feeling she feels the same…she's just as scared as you are bet."

I smiled. "Alright. Thanks sis. I still need to think about it, but you have helped me."

She hugged me then stood up. "Well I've got to get going. Jasper and I are going to White Plains to see mom and dad. I've got to show this off!" She held her hand up to me. I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"Tell them I said hi," I said as she picked up her purse.

"Will do." She walked over to the door. "Oh, and talk to Bella before I get back on Sunday. Ok? Bye." She pretty much ran out the door.

I groaned and fell back on my bed. I knew I was going to have to. I had to just put myself out there. But that was a little easier said than done. Hadn't done anything like this since Natalie, and I honestly didn't think I would ever have to again. I rolled over and saw that it was eleven-thirty and I was hungry. I grabbed my things and headed out the door, still debating on how to approach Bella.

I didn't even realize where I was headed till I noticed I was close to Washington Square Park. I saw my favorite golden arches and decided greasy fast food was what I wanted. Yeah I was going to school to become a doctor and knew better, but sometimes I just couldn't say no. I walked in and got in line. I really wasn't paying attention to my surroundings, only the menu trying to figure out what I wanted. Once I decided on a double quarter pounder, I moved my eyes forward.

I saw the beautiful brown hair of my angel in front of me. She had it pulled up in a messy bun, revealing her creamy neck. I stared for awhile before tapping her on the shoulder. She turned around and her eyes widen.

"Edward."

I grinned. "Hey Bella. How are you?"

She smiled. "Um, I'm good. You?"

"Good. Now don't tell me you have a hangover again?"

She busted into giggles, shaking her head. "No. I guess I just had a craving for it."

"So are you here by yourself?"

"No, I'm here with my aunt. She's waiting for me outside. Too pretty to stay indoors today."

"Yeah it's pretty nice today."

Just then I felt a tug on my pant leg and I turned around.

"Hey mister."

I looked down and saw the cutest little girl with the biggest eyes I'd ever seen. I kneeled down to get eye level with her.

"Yes. Are you lost?" I asked.

She covered her mouth and giggled. "No sir. I was just wondering how you know my mommy."

I gave her a confused look. "I'm sorry but I don't know your mommy, I don't think."

She laughed again. "Then why are you talking to her?" she asked.

I couldn't move. Did she mean…was she….Bella… I turned around, standing in the process to see Bella staring at me, with almost fear in her eyes. The little girl bounced over to Bella and tugged on her pant leg.

"Mommy, if you don't know him why are you talking to him? I thought you said no talking to strangers. Remember you said 'stranger danger'."

I couldn't help but let a small laugh escape my lips. Bella looked at me and gave me a little smile.

"Sweetie. This is a friend of mommy's. Sophee, this is Edward. Edward…this is my daughter Sophee."

Sophee stuck her hand out and I placed my hand over her tiny one.

"Nice to meet you Eddie."

"Edward, Sophee," Bella said.

"No no its fine. I don't mind her calling me Eddie," I said. "Sophee, it's nice to meet you too. You look just like your mom."

She giggled. Just then a woman came running up to us. "Bella I'm so sorry. Someone hit me causing to spill my purse all over the place and when I turned around she was gone!"

"It's ok Aunt Renee. No problem." Just then Renee turned to me, and then looked back at Bella. "Aunt Renee, this is Edward. Alice's brother remember."

"Oh yes. Nice to meet you Edward."

"You too."

"Wait! You mean you're auntie Alice's brother!" Sophee screamed.

"Sophee shhhhhh." Bella put her finger up to her lips.

"Yes I am Sophee."

"I love auntie Alice. She buys me cute things!"

I laughed again. This little girl was just too cute.

"Can I help you?"

Bella turned back around to the register and told the lady her order. I jumped in with mine at the end and handed my card to the lady.

"Edward you don't…"

"Please, let me. I like to buy pretty women meals."

Bella cocked her eyebrow at me. "Um that's a little creepy Edward."

Once I registered what I said I began to blush and Bella laughed. "Its fine Edward, I'm just messing with you." We picked up our orders and walked over to Washington Park.

"Um Aunt Renee. Do you mind taking Sophee so I can speak with Edward?"

Renee gave us a smile and nodded. "Sure. Come on Sophee."

Sophee turned to me and waved her hand. "Bye Eddie. Be nice to my mommy." She grabbed Renee's hand and dragged her away. Bella and I took a seat on a bench. We were quiet for a few minutes. Bella took a sip of her drink and returned her gaze back to the ground. I just looked forward. To say I was shocked was an understatement. If someone had told me this, I don't if I would believe them. But once I started putting some things together that I had seen and heard Rose and Alice said, it did start to make sense. Not going out much, deserving a vacation, mysteries phone calls while we were gone…

"I'm not a whore."

That pulled me from my thoughts quickly and caused me to do a double take. "What?"

Bella slowly looked over at me and whispered. "I promise I'm not a whore."

I took her hand. "Bella I would never think that of you."

She looked back down. "Sorry, I'm just so use to people thinking that when they find out."

"Bella." She looked back up at me. "That word never came to my mind when I saw Sophee. Am I shocked…yes. Especially knowing Alice knows and she never told me. She can never keep a secret." I said smiling hoping to get Bella to. She gave me a small one.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I don't tell a lot of people."

"It's fine. I understand. I mean, you don't know me that well and…"

"But still. I feel like I should have told you instead of shocking you."

We started eating our food. We saw Renee and Sophee across the way. Sophee looked just like Bella, except she had bright blue eyes. But other than that, she was Bella.

"So um…where's Sophee's dad?" I asked.

I looked over at Bella and noticed her eyes begin to water.

"I'm sorry, never mind. It's none of my business."

Bella held up her hand and took a deep breath. "I don't tell a lot of people this. But Edward…there's something about you…a pull I feel towards you. I feel like I can talk to you about anything. And since you now know about Sophee you deserve to hear the truth." She took s deep breath again. "Her father is in Arizona. Um we were high school sweethearts I guess you could say." I turned towards her. "He was captain of the football team, all-American, and the pastor's son. We had been together since our sophomore year. Then right before our senior year we were at a party. Little did the town know, but Riley…my boyfriend…well I guess he was your typical Pastor's Kid. In front of those that mattered, he was the perfect kid. Around everyone else, he was your typical partier. So we were at this party, people dancing, drinking. I only had one beer because I knew Riley would be wasted so I would have to drive. Well he comes up to me and asked if we can go somewhere away from the music for awhile. I completely agree and follow him. We go out to his truck and after a while we start to kiss. Well he decides he wants more and I push him away. He didn't like that so he came at me again, more aggressively." She wiped a stray tear that was falling before continuing. "He started pulling at my shirt and jeans. I kept slapping him to get off which just pissed him off more. Finally, he pinned me to where I couldn't move. And I just gave up. I mean I couldn't fight him off. So he…" Bella waved her hands around.

"He raped you," I whispered.

She shook her head. "No, I mean I gave up I let him take me, take my virginity…"

I was livid. "Bella," I hissed. "He raped you. It doesn't matter if you fought him the whole way or not…you didn't want it. He raped you."

The tears start coming down faster and I pulled her in for a hug. I just held her while she silently cried. After awhile she sat back up and I wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. She then let out a humorless laugh. "It's funny how it took me moving to New York to find people to believe me."

"What?"

"After it happened I went straight to the police. I called my parents to meet me there. When I told them I was raped, they asked by who and why would I leave the protection of Riley. When I said it was Riley who did it, they just all stared at me. Finally, the police asked why I was lying." I stared at her in disbelief. "They just couldn't believe that sweet, good little Christian Riley would ever do something like that."

"I'm sure your parents were livid."

When she didn't answer right away, I looked over at her and noticed she was looking forward. "Yeah, see that's the thing. They believed Riley over me."

"You've got to be kidding me."

She shook her head. "The next day they called Riley and asked what happened. He apologized saying I got too drunk that night and forced him to have sex…he knew it was wrong, but was powerless. After that, my mom turned to me and called me a whore."

I clenched my fist together. How could a parent not believe their child? "Bella, I'm so sorry."

"Oh it gets better. Once I found out I was pregnant, that's when Riley proceeded to tell everyone and I became known as the harlot that seduced him. He had girls throwing themselves at him, feeling horrible for him. That's when I decided I had to leave and I called my aunt and uncle, asking if I could come live with them. I mean my parents hated me and all but disowned me. So I moved here."

"Did they believe you?"

She laughed. "Oh yeah. It took all of Uncle Charlie's restraint not to go down there and kill Riley himself. They're pretty pissed off at my parents. He doesn't understand how his own brother could not believe his daughter."

"I'm right there with Charlie on that one."

Bella nodded. "So um there's my story. Didn't think today would be so melodramatic did ya?"

"Bella, why would you say that. What happened to you was a horrible, horrible thing. He had no right taking something precious from you. A real man, a real Christian wouldn't do that." I looked over at where Sophee was playing and smiled. "But even though all that happened, you did get a beautiful little girl out of it, even though I'm sure this was far from your plan for life."

She nodded and looked over at Sophee. "Yeah, she was the rainbow to my storm. It's been hard, but I wouldn't trade her for anything." She threw her trash away and looked back at me. "Edward, I really hope you don't think any different of me. I hope you still want to be my friend."

I smiled at her. "Of course I want to be your friend."

I gave her a hug as I thought, to myself; do I want to pursue a relationship with her? She's no different in my eyes, the situation was different. Do I want to be involved with her when she has a child?

"Well listen I'll let you get back to Sophee and your aunt."

She nodded. "Thanks Edward. I'll see you later." She got up and walked over to her family.

I all but nearly ran to my car. I decided to take a little visit to my parents place. I needed to clear my head.

Bella's POV

The look on his face made me sick to my stomach. "I just lost an amazing friend," I thought to myself.

Wow ok sorry for the long chapter but it just didn't feel right to break this up into two parts. And also, I have nothing against pastors kids or Christians. I'm a Christian. I just needed a shock value for my story and I do have to say I knew some PKs that were wilder than the worst kid at my school.

I hope you liked it. Was planning on Edward asking her out but this story took a total turn on me. I should have another chapter out sometime next week. I really have to write a chapter for my other story so that one will be out first.