A/N: Here's the new chapter!

BPOV

"You bitch!" he roared, slapping me across the face. He didn't stop with just that. As I fell to the floor, he came after me, kicking me in the side. "You talked to him didn't you? Admit it, whore!"

"No," I choked out. "I swear I didn't, Jason. Please, you have to believe me!"

"Lying fucking bitch!" He kicked me again and I heard one of my ribs crack. I tried to hold back the scream, but it wrenched its way out of me. I curled into a ball and gasped for breath. He grabbed me by my hair and dragged me to my feet. We were at his house and his parents weren't home yet. He was accusing me of talking to another boy at school. He usually hit where it wouldn't show later. This had been going on for a couple months now.

"Stop it," I whimpered. "Please…Jason…stop!" He threw me against the wall and grabbed my shirt, tearing it open. "NO! Please, no!"

"Shut up whore! You give it to every other guy and you're going to give it to me!" He grabbed my breasts, squeezing them roughly. When I tried to shove his hands away, he grabbed my throat and threw me to the floor, straddling my waist and pinning my hands above me. I screamed and tried to throw him off, but he slapped me across the face.

"Fucking bitch," he muttered, "you deserve this." He squeezed my breasts again, bruising the tender flesh. He gripped my skirt and hiked it up around my waist, tearing off my underwear. Shoving my legs apart, he grabbed my most private area. I screamed again and he growled at me. He unbuttoned his pants and pulled out his penis, getting ready to take my virginity. His penis was at my entrance when a feminine scream came from the door. Jason froze and his eyes widened.

"What in the fuck is going on in here?" a masculine voice—one I recognized as Jason's father—came right behind the scream—which must have been his mother.

"It-it's not what it looks like," Jason stuttered out, jumping off of me and zipping up his pants. I curled into a ball and whimpered. Blood covered the floor and the wall. Jason's mother knelt beside me and gently stroked my hair.

"It'll be okay, Bella," she said. "We'll get you to a doctor. Call 911!" she said to her husband. He had his son restrained and he picked up the phone to call the police and ambulance. The room was getting darker and I fell into oblivion.

I woke with a scream, my clothes soaked with sweat. The door flew open and I screamed again. Charlie came to my side immediately.

"Bella, Bella, sweetheart, it's okay. It was a dream," he said, stroking my hair, trying to calm me. I gasped, dragging in much-needed air.

"I'm okay," I gasped out. "Just a dream, a bad dream."

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" he asked. I nodded. "Goodnight, Bells."

"Night, Dad." I hadn't dreamed of Jason in weeks. He was the real reason I had moved to Forks. He was in jail now, but I needed to get away from Phoenix and make a fresh start. I had lied during truth-or-dare, at least partly. Jason hadn't raped me, but he'd come very close to it. I got up and changed into clean pajamas before getting back into bed. It was about three hours before I had to get up to get ready for school. I wasn't sure why I had dreamed of Jason tonight, after so many weeks. The only explanation I could think of was that I was getting closer to Emmett.

I buried my face in my pillow. I couldn't let Jason rule my life forever. Emmett is a good man, and I trust him already. I don't believe he would ever do anything to hurt me, intentionally or otherwise. The week had gone by quickly, and today is Friday. I decided then that I would ask Emmett out today. If he rejected me, Alice would leave it alone hopefully. I have no doubt that it will hurt a lot if he rejects me, but the only way I'll ever know is to ask.

Four hours later, I parked my truck in the lot at school and leaned against the hood, waiting for everyone else to get there. I didn't have to wait long. They pulled in and parked next to me, as they usually did. Emmett got out and waited for me to come to him, as he usually did.

"Morning, everyone," I said, squeezing Emmett's arm to let him know where I was. He draped his large arm over my shoulder and gave me his half-hug.

"Morning, Bells," he said happily.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked softly. He looked a little confused.

"Sure, Bells." Alice and Rose grabbed Jasper's and Edward's arms and dragged them toward the school, talking about shopping to distract them from Emmett and me.

"Emmett, I was wondering…" I bit my lip, unsure of how to go on.

"What is it, Bella?" He looked concerned now.

"I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime…on a date?" I could feel my heart slamming against my ribs in hope, fear, and nerves.

EPOV

"I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime…on a date?" These words made my heart stop before starting again violently. This was a time when I desperately wished I had my sight, so I could see whether she was sincere, or whether it was just a pity date.

"That depends…" I drawled.

BPOV

"On what?" I asked, my heart dropping to my stomach.

"On whether you're asking because you like me or because Alice put you up to it," he said. That's what he thought?

"I'm asking you because I like you," I told him, starting to get a little angry.

"Are you sure about that Bella?" He sounded pretty angry himself. He took a step forward and I backed up, hitting the passenger side of the truck. He came forward until he was just a few inches from me.

"Y-yes, I'm sure, Emmett." He apparently didn't believe me.

EPOV

I thought she was perfect, and then she goes and does this. Why would she ask me out now? There was no reason for her to. It had to be a pity date. I bet this was my sister's idea.

"I don't think so, Bella. I'm certain Alice put you up to this. I'm not going to go on a date with you," I told her. I heard her inhale sharply, but I turned and walked away.

BPOV

When he said he wouldn't go on a date with me, I could feel my heart breaking. He walked away, heading for the school, and I slid down the side of my truck to sit on the wet pavement between the truck and the Volvo. Tears slid down my face to drip off my chin with the rain that had begun as I was talking to Emmett. I had ruined everything. He was content to be my friend and I had ruined everything. I knew better than to hope a man would want someone as imperfect and horrible as me. I sobbed and rocked, my arms wrapped around my legs.

EPOV

It hurt to walk away from Bella, but I wouldn't stand anyone's pity. I couldn't hear her coming after me, so I assumed she was shocked that I would deny her, even though she didn't really want a date with me. I went to my first class and sat through it, not paying any attention at all.

BPOV

After a few minutes, I dragged myself into my truck and started it before going home. I couldn't face school today, or Alice and Edward. I couldn't face any of them with Emmett's rejection still fresh in my mind. I had possibly just ruined a good friendship and it was ripping me apart. Charlie was at the station when I got home, so I dragged myself upstairs and into my bed after getting back into my pajamas and cried myself to sleep.

EPOV

I entered the lunch room and sat down at our usual table. Jasper and Rose were already there, and Edward and Alice would be here soon.

"Emmett," Alice said, appearing next to my shoulder. "Do you know where Bella is? She didn't go to any of her classes. We haven't seen her since this morning."

"Nope."

"What did she want to talk to you about?" Edward asked.

"She asked me on a date," I said shortly.

"That's great!" Alice exclaimed. "When are you going?

"We're not," I replied. "I told her no."

"Why? I thought you liked her!" Alice demanded.

"I did like her, but I won't accept a pity date, especially when you put her up to it!" I snarled.

"What are you talking about, Emmett? I didn't put her up to it! She really likes you!" she said.

"That's enough, Alice."

"No, you listen to me, Emmett Cullen! When Bella, Rose, and I were making breakfast last weekend, we asked her whether she liked you and she said yes. We said that if she liked you so much, she should ask you out. She said that you probably liked someone else and probably didn't like her. We told her we knew you liked her and she agreed to ask you out. Then we told her she had a week to do it or we were going to ask you for her. She does like you and you probably just broke her heart!" My heart stopped at this and I let out a groan.

"Fuck," I muttered. "Ali, what do I do? How do I make this better?"

"You need to go talk to her," she said.

"What if she won't talk to me?" I asked.

"Make her listen. She likes you, Emmett. She'll be good for you. You've been lonely for too long now."

"Can you take me there?" I asked her.

"Let's go," she said. I grabbed my bag and followed her out to the Volvo. Edward would catch a ride with Jasper and Rose later. Alice drove me to Bella's house and said she would wait in the car for me. I hurried up to the door and rang the bell. Her truck was in the driveway, but she didn't answer.

I kept ringing it and ringing it, but it took her a long time to come to the door.

"Emmett," she murmured. "What are you doing here?" Her voice was raw, like she'd been crying.

"Bella," I murmured. I raised my hand to her face and cupped her chin, before leaning down and pressing my lips to hers. Her hands rose up and pressed flat against my chest before she shoved me away.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded. "Do you think you can just reject me and then KISS me? Are you crazy?" She sounded angry and hurt.

"Bella, I'm so sorry about this morning. Please, I never meant to hurt you. A lot of girls have given me pity dates before, and I didn't want that from you. I thought you were different, so it hurt a lot when I thought you were doing the same thing so many other girls have done before. Alice set me straight. Please, Bells, you have to believe me," I pleaded with her.

"I tried to tell you that it was because I liked you. You didn't believe me. Obviously you think I'm exactly like all of those other girls if you can't even trust me that much. Just leave me alone, Emmett," she snapped.

"Please, Bella," I begged hoarsely. "Give me another chance. I won't screw it up again." I heard her sigh.

"Okay, one more chance," she said grudgingly. My heart started beating again. The angel was giving me another chance.

"May I have the honor of taking you out tomorrow night?" I asked her.

"Okay. What time?"

"What time is good for you?"

"How about seven?" she suggested.

"Sounds great! I'll pick you up at seven!" I said eagerly.

"Um…Emmett, wouldn't it be quicker for me to pick you up?" she asked. I grinned at her.

"No, I'll pick you up. Don't worry about a thing. I'll take care of everything."

"Okay," she said, "I'll see you tomorrow night." I reached out and took her hand, lifting it to my lips and giving it a gentle kiss before turning and making my way back to the Volvo.

"How did it go?" Alice asked me eagerly.

"I have a date with her tomorrow night!" I said happily, a grin splitting my face, but then quickly fading away. "Ali, what did her face look like when she answered the door?"

"Her eyes were swollen from crying and she looked blotchy," Alice answered me truthfully.

"I really fucked up and hurt her. Ali, will you help me make my date with her tomorrow night perfect?"

"Of course. Tell me your ideas."

"I was thinking of hiring a limo to take us to Port Angeles for dinner at Bella Italia. After that, I have no idea."

"Hm…well, you could always take her to a movie. Something romantic," Ali told me.

"That's a good idea, I guess."

"No, I have a better idea. Take her on a romantic carriage ride through the park."

"That won't freak her out?" I asked.

"No, I don't think so."

"Well, how about I take her to dinner and then ask her what she wants to do?"

"Okay. Don't forget to take her flowers."

"What kind does she like?" I had forgotten to ask her that question. I have no idea what kind of flowers she likes.

"Try lilies. I think she likes those."

"Okay, but aren't roses the typical date flower?"

"Yes, but that might freak her out. If you want to take roses, take a single one."

"Yeah, I will. Will you pick one up for me? I want to get her a red rosebud, if possible."

"Yeah, I'll pick it up. We're home."

I got out of the car and went into the house to face the music. Mom and Dad had probably been notified that Alice and I had skipped the second half of the day.

BPOV

Emmett was so sweet when he came to my house to ask my forgiveness. I hadn't been able to stay mad at him, so I had accepted the date, which I'm sure is a pity date because I had gotten so upset, but I would go out with him once and then he wouldn't feel obligated to do so again. He had sounded so angry earlier when he thought Alice had put me up to asking him out.

Then he had kissed me. I had been kissed since Jason, and I was shocked at first. My first instinct had been to push him away. After I had done so, I realized that his kiss hadn't frightened me, just surprised me. Before meeting Emmett, I couldn't so much as be within twenty feet of a man I wasn't related to without getting stiff with terror. Now it seemed like he was healing that fear. I would just have to wait and see how tomorrow night turned out.

A/N: All right, this chapter was rather hard for me to write. Now we know Bella's secret. Let's see how long it takes Emmett to figure it out. Reviews please!