I woke up to an annoyingly bright light, again. I slowly opened my eyes, but instead of meeting a doctor's anxious gaze, I met Edward's.

"Why did you do that, Bella?"
"Do what?"
"You know what!" I shook my head. "You almost killed yourself. Why?"

"I hated myself; I no longer wanted to live. I thought maybe the world would be a better place if one less druggy lived in it."

"You almost took yourself from a family! We care about you, Bella, and you don't have to be a druggy. You can go to rehab. I would go with you, just to support you."

"I have friends…"

"They aren't your friends, Bella. Alice, Mike, and Zach just used you. They don't care if you live or die."
"…Mike said we connected on a level he's never connected on before…"

"He says that to every girl he sleeps with. All he cares about is how many times he can sleep with a girl before she either finds out, or he finds another one. You're just some toy to him."

"…he gave me Speed so I could handle the hospital…"

"It's something that will keep you around longer. Bella, please come to rehab with me. You can live a life without drugs. You can have a real family, friends, and a boyfriend if you want. It doesn't matter. Whatever you want I'll try to give you."

"What do you mean boyfriend?"

"Bella, I'm interested in you. The only that's in the way of this relationship is drugs."

"Is that why you told me not to say those things in the hospital?"

"Yes, and it's also the reason why you're here today. I had a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. I just knew that something bad was going to happen to you. That's why I came early to our tutoring appointment."

"You'll judge me, though. If I fail, you'll judge me."

"No, no I won't. At least you tried. Please, Bella, please just try. That's all I'm asking. You won't be a failure if you try, Bella."

"Fine. When does it start?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Two and a half months later, I was practically off the drugs. I learned how to be independent, and decrease the amounts and periods throughout the day. After about a month, Edward had a mini party every time I decreased the amount. We had pizza, and pigged out the whole night. Emmett enjoyed watching us stuff our faces. He found the fact that I could eat more pizza than Edward hilarious.

Whenever I saw Mike, and my other 'friends' at school, they seemed offended that I was hanging out with Edward.
"Why do you hang out with Cullen?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"He saved me after an accident. I guess we've grown closer." Mike reached over to hold my hand.

"I miss the special nights we used to have together." I yanked my hand away. "I was wondering… Would you like to come with me to the Spring Dance?"

"I can't dance, Mike. Besides, some friends are coming over that weekend."

"You're Californian friends?"

"No, some family friends. Edward and I have to show the children around Forks."

"Sounds boring. Couldn't you always ditch like you used to?"

"Sorry, Mike. I've promised Jerry that I would help her."

"You've changed, and I don't like it. I miss the old Bella." The bell rang, and Edward quickly went to my side. I grabbed his hand as we walked out of the room.

After school, I went home to drop off my things, and then I was going over to Edward's house. When I unlocked the door, the TV was on. I dropped my things, and walked into towards the family room.

"Hello?" I called. Someone heaved themselves off the couch, and walked towards me. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"I was wondering when you were coming home," a painstakingly familiar voice said. It was Zach. I took a couple steps back towards the door. "You stopped texting and calling me. You never picked up when I called. What happened to you? I was afraid you died or something."

"No," I replied. "I'm fine. How long have you been here?" My voice broke. He came up to me and grabbed my wrists.

"A couple of hours, more or less. I love you're room. What happened to you, Babe? I was worried."

"I'm sorry you were worried. I've been going through some things, so that's why I haven't called or anything."

"What things?"

"Family emergencies," I replied.

"Well, you won't have any more family emergencies."

"Why not?"

"Don't you remember when my birthday is? I've come to free you of this hell hole, Bella. I'm eighteen, which means I can have a foster child. I've arranged it and everything. You're coming home with me tomorrow."

I took another step towards the door. "Zach…I can't. Things have changed. I like it here. My life is where I finally want it to be. I have a great boyfriend, and a foster parent who actually cares about me."

"What? You have a boyfriend?"

"Zach, you can't honestly think we've been together. We've only seen each other once since I moved here. In the hospital, I was just saying yes. I don't love you anymore. I've moved on."

"No," he said angrily. He grabbed my arms, and dragged me to my bedroom.

"Come on, Babe, let's have some fun." He pushed me to the bed, and crawled on top of me. He started kissing my neck, chest, and face. I tried to push him off me.

"Oh, come on, Babe. Why are you struggling?"

"I told you Zach, I'm through with you. I. Don't. Love. You. Anymore."

"That hurts, Bella. I saw this awesome adult movie. I didn't want it to come down to this but…" He grabbed some rope tied to my bedpost, and tied it to my wrists. I tried to wriggle free, but it was no use. "It seemed that the people had fun in the movie, and I thought we could have some fun here…"

"Zach, just let me go. I know I'm just some other girl you like to sleep with. I'm not sure why you insist on torturing me."

"Bella, if you could just open your eyes, you would see we're meant to be together. One day you'll realize you made a huge mistake. I'm just trying to help."

"Zach, I think it was over when I moved to Forks. I was bound to find someone else, and I know you've cheated on me."

"I felt a connection with you, Bella. I know you're the one. Please don't make me use force to open your eyes."
"No," I replied.

"I wish I didn't have to do this." He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a needle. It was filled with a clear liquid. No, this couldn't be happening to me. I've been clean for too long. I didn't want to have to start over again.

"Please Zach, don't. I've struggled with staying clean. Please don't make me go through that again," I sobbed.

"You're mind has been poisoned. All I'm doing is opening your eyes."

He jammed the needle into my arm. Tears streamed down my face. I immediately felt the affects of the heroin. My mind felt detached. No, no, this couldn't be happening to me.

I felt my shirt rip before I heard the noise. Everything was in slow motion. I was in a 'happy' place.

Zach kissed my stomach as he unbuttoned my jeans…

After Zach removed himself, I kneed him in the groin. He screamed in pain, and hunched over. I pulled up my jeans, grabbed my shirt, and ran like hell.

Once I arrived downstairs, I struggled to put my shirt on. I took out my cell phone number, and called Edward.

It rang twice, and then it was knocked out of my hand. My cell phone skidded across the kitchen floor. "You're not calling for help, are you?"

"Zach, you raped me, in my own bedroom." He grabbed me and thrusted me against the wall.

"I did not rape you," he growled.

"Zach, you did. I told you to stop, but you didn't." He pulled my head back, and thwacked it against the wall.

"I did not rape you."

"Zach, stop it. Just leave me alone, we're through."

"I did not rape you, and you know it! We're still boyfriend and girlfriend until I say we're through." He continued to hit my head against the wall.

-Edward's POV-

My phone vibrated. I opened my cell phone. One missed call, zero unknown. I checked my messages, it was from Bella. I called her back. It rang once. Twice. Three times. Four times. There was no answer. I had a funny feeling at the pit of my stomach.

I knew this feeling from before. It was the same feeling from a couple of months ago when Bella tried to kill herself.

I decided to go check it out.

My stomach fluttered with worry as I went into the house. When I opened the door, I found Bella being pounded against a wall by a man I didn't know. He seemed to be unaware of my presence. "Put her down," I demanded. He looked at me with surprise. He let go of Bella, and she slumped to the floor.

He walked slowly backed up with his hands up. "Who are you?"

"I'm a relative of the owner of this household." I backed him into a corner. "I don't know why you're here, or even who you are. I won't press charges if you get out of this house right now." I stepped aside, so he could pass.

He punched my head into the wall. My spots clouded my vision. I shook my head, trying to clear my vision. I ducked just in time to dodge another blow to the head. I punched him in the gut, and reached right above his elbow. I pinched hard, and he collapsed to the ground.

I knelt beside Bella, and checked her pulse. I took out my cell phone.

It rang twice. "Hello, Edward. What's wrong?"

"Dad, I need you at Aunt Jerry's right away. It's Bella. She's been hurt."