Everything seemed to be the way it was before...my birthday happened: I was happily in love with Edward, I had lots of fun with Alice—my lovable best friend. And with Emmett, too—my big, cuddly brother. Esme was the mother Renee could never be—sort of like the opposite of Renee in parental skills. I still love Renee, though. Carlisle is like my father and my personal doctor. Jasper is still cautious around me, but we spend a lot of time together by reading. Rosalie is a mystery to me—a good one. She became very sweet and caring towards me. I'm grateful for that; it's just that I don't understand her sudden change of heart. Sometimes, when I visit the Cullens, she would smile at me or offer me a hug, but she would look unsure of something. I want to talk to her about it, but I don't know if I'm ready for that.

Everybody seems to know about my incident. Rosalie was furious when she heard about this—but not more than Edward. I don't know why Rosalie was the one that was very furious. I don't even know her background story.

The Cullens are very, very protective over me now—mostly Edward.

And there was just one little problem: Edward is making a big deal out of my rapist.

I tried talking him out of killing that guy, but he's just too stubborn for his own good. When I told him that, he smirked at me, and said: "Takes one to know one."

Stupid shiny, Volvo driver...

Right now, I'm in the car with Edward and Alice—but this time I'm in the front. My choice. Alice preferred the back seat, because there was more space.

"Are you all right, love?" Edward asked, breaking my thoughts.

I turn to him and give him a small smile. "Yeah. Just thinking," I replied softly.

He smiled, and then looked away. That was unusual. Mostly Edward would ask what I'm thinking. Come to think of it, Edward's been pretty quiet after my sleepover with the Cullens.

"Something wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing."

That's what I get: one-word answers. I don't like it one bit.

I narrowed my eyes at him, but he doesn't seem to notice, for he's looking out the window—another unusual thing for him to do. I don't want to sound vain or anything, but he mostly looks at me.

"Edward—," I started.

"Hey, Bella," Alice called.

I looked at her, feeling irritated. "What?" I growled.

"Ouch. Did you fall off your bed in the morning?" she teased.

"No. And if I did, I would've felt a pair of cold arms catching me—thus, leaving a bruise."

She giggled at me. "So true."

I turned even more irritated. Edward asked Alice to distract me.

I opened my mouth to say something, but my door opened. We were at school already.

I huffed and got out of the car, not even bothering to smile or blush. I walk towards the building, without even waiting for a certain vampire. Alice decided to go ahead.

He was right next to me. Stupid speed.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked gently.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Bella," he sighed.

"Hurry up—we have to get to class."

He suddenly spun me, facing him. He put his hands on my shoulders, locking me in place.

"Isabella Marie Swan," he said firmly, "talk to me."

"I'm not mad at you," I lied.

"Liar."

"More like irritated," I mumbled, hoping he wouldn't hear me.

He did. "For what?" His eyes were innocent—irritatingly innocent.

"We'll talk about this later, Edward. We're going to be late for class." I struggled feebly against his strong grip.

"I don't care. Tell me what's wrong."

"Hello, Edward. I'm not the person who went to high school more than thirty times or so."

He sighed resignedly and let go of me.

"We will discuss this later on." He bent down and kissed my cheek. Then he took my hand. "Let's go. Classes start in five minutes."

I rolled my eyes at him.

-x-

I was with Edward walking towards the table Angela, Ben, Alice, Edward, and I sat. Jessica, Mike, and the others were pretty sort of nervous around Edward and Alice—like how it was back then. I sort of grew distant around them, but I don't really care. Jessica wasn't really a good friend—just a gossiper. And Mike is just desperate. It's a good thing Edward's here.

I smiled.

Edward...

"Why are you smiling?" Edward asked beside me. Speaking of Edward...

"Just thinking of you," I said, smiling at him.

He smiled back.

"Hi, guys!" Alice greeted.

"Hey, Alice," I greeted back. "How are you guys doing, Angela? Ben?"

"We're doing good," Angela told me.

Ben nodded. "Yeah. How about you?"

"I'm fine."

"Edward?" he asked.

"I'm doing well, actually," he replied kindly.

I took a seat next to Alice and Edward took a seat next to Ben. I was about to ask him what's going on, but then Edward started to engage a conversation with Ben.

I gritted my teeth. Cheater.

I look down at my tray of greasy food. Pizza. Hooray.

"You should eat, Bella," Alice said next to me. "Like I said, I'm going to fatten you up."

"I agree with Alice, Bella," Angela said, smiling apologetically at me.

I sighed, and started eating the pizza bit by bit. It wasn't so bad.

"Aren't you going to eat, Alice?" Angela asked.

I stiffened a little.

Alice smiled beautifully. "I'm sort of on a special diet. Anyways, I don't like pizza."

Angela looked confused, but didn't push on it.

While I was eating, I kept glancing at Edward, hoping he would at least look my way. Is he...avoiding me?

"Alice," I whispered, even though I knew Edward would hear.

"Yeah?" she whispered back.

"What's wrong with Edward?"

"I don't know. He won't tell me."

"Come on, Alice. You're the fortune teller. That's Edward's line."

"But he says, 'She's blocking me,'" she mimicked Edward's voice. Perfectly, I might add.

I didn't giggle.

"Bella," she sighed.

"I know you guys are hiding something from me, Alice. I'm not stupid."

"I know, but—"

"Never mind, Alice. Edward will eventually tell me." I said the last sentence out loud. Ben looked confused, but continued on talking to Edward about some teacher.

Angela looked confused about our whispering. If only she knew...

"Bella," Alice said so low that I had to strain my ears.

"What?"

"All I can say is that Edward is planning something."

"That's not very helpful, Alice."

"I know, but he's mad at me for actually telling you something. Just look at him."

I looked at Edward from the corner of my eye. Nothing was wrong—he was calm.

"He's calm enough, A—"

She sighed impatiently, "No. Look at his hands."

I looked down. His hands were balled up in fists. In a second, they were calm, relaxed.

"Edward," I warned.

Edward looked at me. "Yes, Bella?"

"Sorry, Ben, but do you think I could talk to Edward privately, please?" I asked kindly, between my teeth.

"Yeah, sure. No problem." He smiled at me.

I leaned over to Edward's ear, and whispered, "We. Need. To. Talk. Now."

I saw him gulp audibly. If I wasn't so irritated at him, I would've smiled smugly. I made Edward Cullen scared of me. We both got up and headed towards the back door. I saw Alice trying to stifle her giggles. She was amused by Edward, too.

By the time we were out of the cafeteria, I hissed, "What the heck, Edward?!"

He looked down.

"What are you keeping from me?"

"It would upset you," he whispered.

"Well, I'm upset now, so there's no point in hiding your little secret now, right?" I snapped, but then my anger vanished quickly when I saw his pained expression. "E—Edward, I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"

He held a hand out to stop me. "You've done nothing wrong, Bella. I should take the blame. Lovers shouldn't keep secrets from each other. I'm sorry."

"Edward," I sighed. I walked towards him, and wrapped my arms around his torso. He hugged me back.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to."

"I already forgave you. All you have to do is tell me what you're planning," I mumbled in his chest.

"I'm...going to visit someone."

I looked up at him confused. "Who?"

"Alice knows who your...rapist is," he said coldly.

I froze.

"He's no ordinary rapist." I felt his hands turn into fists.

"Wh—What do you mean by that?" I asked in a small voice.

His hands relaxed, and he started to rub my back affectionately.

"Edward? Who is he?"

He didn't say anything.

"Edward Cullen! Tell me!" I demanded.

"He's a vampire."

I fainted.

-x-

"That was entertaining, wasn't it?" he whispered in my ear. "We may have to do this again, love."

I shook my head. My face was practically covered with sweat and tears.

"Don't you disagree with me," he scolded. "I must go now. Till we meet again..."

He was gone.

I shot up on the bed I was laying on. I saw Edward sitting on a chair next to me.

"Are you okay, love?" he asked, concern written on his face. "You were shouting out words while you slept."

"I—I'm fine. It's normal for me," I replied groggily.

"Normal? I think not."

"Never mind, Edward. What was I shouting out?"

He hesitated, but replied, "You kept whimpering and shouting out things like, 'Please don't hurt me' and 'Don't touch me.'" His eyes held sadness.

"Oh," I whispered. I looked around. I was in Edward's room on his bed. My eyes went wide.

I asked, "You got a bed...for me?"

He smiled. "I wouldn't let you sleep on the couch. That would be the most ungentlemanly thing to do."

"Thank you." I kissed him on the cheek, feeling his icy skin.

He picked up my hand and kissed it. "Anything for you, Bella. Anything."

My heart fluttered.

He chuckled.

I blushed.

He stroke my embarrassingly blushing cheek. "I have some bad news."

"Uh-oh."

"I have to go hunting."

"When?"

"Tonight."

I looked down. I felt a tear fall down my cheek. I didn't want him to leave. I felt Edward pull me close.

"Oh, Bella," he whispered. "Don't cry, my love. I'll come back as soon as possible." He sounded very heartbroken, but it sounded like it was for something else too.

"The minute you're gone will be the most wretched thing for me." My voice broke at the word "gone."

He wiped my tear that fell, and kissed my temple. "It will be the same for me, Bella. I'll come back for you. I'll come back for you..."

I acclimated myself so I was sitting on his lap. I buried my face in his shirt.

"Who's coming with you?" I mumbled.

"Alice, Jasper, and Emmett," he answered while stroking my hair. "Rosalie and Esme are baby-sitting you. Carlisle has to go to the hospital."

Rosalie?

I voiced my thoughts. "Rosalie?"

"She won't be cruel towards—"

"No, no, no, Edward. I'm not worried about that. It's just weird because Rosalie and I aren't really...close. We never had a full conversation."

"This is a chance for you and her to get close."

I bit my lip.

"Esme will be there, love. Don't worry. We'll protect you," he assured me.

I scowled. "It's not me I'm worried about."

"Your safety comes first in my book." He kissed my cheek.

I blushed.

"What about my...rapist?" I asked in a small voice.

I saw his eyes turn cold. "Don't worry about him."

"Okay. What about Charlie? My rapist might hurt him!" I cried, scared of what might happen to Charlie.

"Alice didn't see your rapist attacking Charlie. And you're staying here to study with Alice." He grinned at me.

"How—how does my rapist look like? What are his special powers?"

"You don't need to know how he looks like. That might give you nightmares. As for his powers, he can trick people. Remember the time when you first talked to me?"

I nodded.

"Alice interrupted our little moment"—I blushed at that—"and somebody called you. Alice thought that it was Charlie."

"So he can trick your mind?"

"Yes. And since you're so immune to mental powers, you weren't affected by his powers when he...raped you."

"Is he here?"

"Yes."

"Alice said so?"

"Alice spent all her time finding out information about this monster." He clenched his teeth.

"Oh. But you better not hunt him down."

He didn't say anything, but held me tighter. "He'll be gone, Bella. I won't let him near you."

"What do you mean by that? I thought I just told you to not—"

Alice suddenly came in. Why, oh, why does she have to interrupt at the wrong time?

"Sorry, but we have to go now, Edward," she informed us.

"No!" I whined.

He kissed my lightly on the lips. "I'll be back. Don't do anything rebellious."

I laughed softly. "Bye."

He kissed me again.

Alice sighed loudly. "Emmett's not the only one who's getting impatient, you know."

"Bye," he said. And then he was gone.

I looked out the window. I felt tears clouding my vision. I bit my lip to try to stifle them.

Please, God. Don't let my rapist find Edward and hurt him.

-x-

So...there you go! I hoped you like it! Ooh, her rapist was a vampire. I know that she would be dead by now or Bella would have been a vampire, but remember in one of her dreams he said that he would like to do this again. He's sort of attracted to Bella. Too bad for that rapist. Edward's here!

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