A/N: Okay so turns out I deleted the chapter 4 I already had written so…..I had to come up with a new one….which stinks because I don't remember what the previous one had in it. Huh. Oh well, hopefully I satisfy your need for brooding Edward with this chapter. When you're done, leave me a review please :). Oh, and sorry I left you with a cliffie,……maybe review lots and lots and it won't happen again *hint hint* Enough of my rambling. Onward!!

Laurent turned back to me then, and his rough hands started creeping down, hovering at the hem of my shirt. He was just starting to pull up on it, when I heard James cuss again.

"Shit Laurent! You said she was alone!"

Just then, I heard the most beautiful sound. An angel calling my name.

"Bella!" he breathed, a mixture of pure rage and shock.

BPOV

As Laurent had loosened his grip on me when he heard my angel, I was able to turn my body towards the voice.

It was Edward! He was my savior.

If I hadn't known him, I would've thought that he was there to join the party too. The look on his face could only be described as pure rage, and it terrified me. I didn't fear for myself of course, because it couldn't really get any worse, but I feared for my attackers, James, Laurent, and the other men. From the look on his face, things were not about to go well for them.

As soon and Laurent saw him, his grip on my hips loosened and moved to move arms, and he threw me down to the ground, me landing hard on my knees and wrists enough to scrape them and cause them to bleed on the cold, dirty pavement.

Before I could blink, Edward and rushed forward and him and Laurent were dancing. Both almost circling each other, with the other men watching on, waiting to see what they needed to do. They both looked ready for the fight that was sure to come, Laurents face contorted in anger because his 'toy' was getting taken away.

They continued to circle each other, Laurent slowly moving backwards with each step trying to draw Edward back into the alley. Edward must have seen something to his advantage or had some sort of plan, because he lunged forward suddenly, surprising both myself and Laurent, and punched him straight in the jaw. The force Edward had used knocked Laurent into the alley wall opposite him was great, and I could already see the small trail of red dripping from his long dirty hair.

The resounding crack that was made upon impact was enough to make me flinch and grit my teeth. He hit him hard. He probably broke his jaw.

As Laurent moaned in pain, Edward landed another hit right to the side of his head, knocking it against the wall once more, effectively landing Laurent on the ground seemingly unconscious.

As this whole spectacle was occurring, the other men and I had done nothing but stare with our mouths open and seemingly harmless Edward otherwise beat the shit out of Laurent.

Seeing that Laurent was unconscious, I made a move to get up, hissing when my scraped hands helped to push myself up. Hearing the noise, the other men were re-alerted of my presence and made a move to grab me.

I shut my eyes, but before they could reach me, I felt cold hands and fingers hoist me up by my upper arms, and grab onto my elbow.

"Run Bella!" Edward shouted to me, as he took off carting me behind him. We ran out of the alleyway and down a street that was across from us, hearing the heavy breathing and shouting of the men in pursuit of us.

We ran down two or three streets, me tripping and stumbling every couple of feet letting the men gain on us a little. My heart was racing and my hands were sweating, and I could honestly say that I was the most afraid I have ever been.

We turned a corner and just when I thought my legs were about to give out and my lungs were going to burst, I saw Edward's car parked a couple feet away. Using my last spurt of energy, I sped up and Edward and I hopped into the car like we were on fire and the car was a lake.

The men were maybe two or three yards still behind us, and just as they barely reached the car, Edward had peeled out, a loud screech calling out into the silent night, leaving my attackers in the dust to collect their knocked out friend.

Edward's hands were clenched so tight on the steering wheel I thought he would snap it in half. His knuckles were almost white. His breathing was heavy and he looked very tense, not at all unusual seeing as what we had just been through.

But, all in all, he was still beautiful. The streetlights we passed caused the red in his hair to shine, and the green in his eyes to brighten. But, he was slightly flushed, and he was scowling.

Not once did he look at me though. Not yet at least. I stared at him, hoping he'd feel my eyes on him and speak, but he didn't. I wouldn't push him to talk to me. If he wanted to he would, if not, then that's that. He probably only talked back there because he couldn't not say something.

I took to staring out the window, trying to figure out where we were going. I saw a couple familiar stores from earlier, including the bookstore I first saw Edward in. I assumed he was taking me back into the occupied part of Port Angeles.

Even though I knew he wouldn't respond to me, I couldn't help myself.

"Thank you," I whispered, afraid to disturb the deadly silence in the vehicle.

He stopped the car abruptly and turned to look at me.

"Thank you?," he repeated back to me.

"Bella, this whole thing is my fault in the first place. I've been watching you ever since I left the bookstore. I saw you heading down towards the end of the shops, but I thought you were going to go into one of the stores. I let my mind wander for one second and you're gone, and I have this sinking feeling in the bottom of my stomach. I knew you were in trouble. I drove around for 10 minutes before I found you and almost then it was too late!"

"But you weren't—,"

"And then, I almost rip your arm out of your socket dragging you back to the car, and those vile men could have caught up to us at any time!" he said. I waited a couple more seconds to see if he wanted to blow off any more steam, and when he didn't I took my opportunity.

"Edward, none of those things matter. Only two things matter to me right now. One, you saved me from those horrible men. From being—from being," I sniffled, tears leaking out of the corner of my eyes "another statistic!"

"And two….you talked to me. I've wanted to hear your voice ever since the day I met you. You intrigue me so much Edward. Even though I don't know you, I want to get to know you. I've dreamed about hearing your voice, I want to help you. I want….I want…" I stuttered, not knowing how to finish my train of thought.

Edward reached out his hand and gently wiped a tear that had been sneaking it's way down my cheek. I automatically leaned into his touch.

"Bella, I know exactly how you feel. One look at you and I knew you were different from all of them. None of them can really see, but I know you can. I wanted to talk to you too, but I've developed this instinct to just shut everyone out, I was trying to find a way to let you in. I probably would've spoken to you eventually," Edward all but whispered.

"I'm glad you feel that way Edward."

"Me too."

"So what are you going to tell Alice? Should we call her to tell her where I am?"

"If you haven't quite noticed, that little girl bobbing up and down next to her car on the phone would be Alice. And please, say nothing of this to her. I'm not…….ready."

Sure enough, when I looked out the window, we were parked on the curb of the little designet boutiqe that Alice had brought us to earlier, and she was pacing next to her car, the worry etched on her face visible from where we sat.

"Not ready? What do you mean?" I asked.

"I'm not quite ready to….converse with her….with anyone just yet. I need to figure this whole mess out."

"So…..does that mean after this, you're not going to talk to me anymore?" I asked him, worried. I had just gotten one of the things I wanted most, and now it was getting taken away from me. I guess you can't always get the cake and eat it too.

"No. I will talk with you. I feel….safe, talking to you. But please Bella, please don't let anyone else know." He pleaded with me.

"Of course. I wouldn't do something like that to you."

"Thank you Bella. Would it be alright if I called you tomorrow?"

"Sure, here's my number," I said, typing it into his phone when he offered it to me.

"Alright, well you better go, Alice looks like she wants to call the cops. Just….make something up. Something convincing please," he said very jokingly.

"Okay, I will," I said.

I opened the door, and with one leg out I leaned back to kiss cheek.

"Thank you Edward."

As I got out of the car, I started walking over towards Alice who was still frantically pacing around the parking lot we were in.

"Alice! I'm back!"

Quick as a bolt of lightning, she turned around and launched herself at me.

"Oh my goodness Bella, you had me so worried! I thought you were lying dead in a ditch somewhere! Where in the hell were you!?!"

I flinched, knowing that almost was the truth.

"Umm….," I said, my mind reeling for a convincing lie to tell her.

"I was at the bookstore and I started to read, and I just got so lost in the book I lost track of time. And then, when I realized I'd have to walk all the way back, luckily Edward was there and drove me here."

"Edward? As in….my brother?" she said, looking confused.

"Yea," I replied, pointing to where he was parked, hovering.

"Wow, that's so unlike him. Huh. He would've made me walk," she started to grumble, unlocking my car door and walking to the driver's seat.

We both entered the car, and as if Alice could sense my dismal mood, the ride home was mostly silent. About an hour later, with Edward following behind us, we arrived back at my house.

Alice said a quick goodbye to me, and handed me the bags of stuff she got for me. I waved goodbye to her and to Edward, as he had followed behind her, and they both sped off into the night.

A/N: Sorry I couldn't get this out earlier, it wouldn't let me upload the document for the longest time. But anyways, here it is, the cliffie ending. I hope you liked it. Leave me a review, and tell me what ya think, and if you have any questions! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!

-thedisquietingmuse