Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

In Six Months I Lost My Mind But Found My Heart

Chapter Twenty-Three: Edward Finds Out

2nd April

2 Months 3 Weeks & 6 Days Left

Rosalie's POV

I was waiting outside Bella's classroom to take her to her next class. To be honest I didn't have a problem with the girl. I just didn't want her to hurt Edward. He's a great guy and it was obvious he liked her but our world is a bit different from hers and I don't know if she would be willing to stick around long enough to see if it's worth it.

As I was inspecting my nails and becoming slightly impatient with how long this girl was taking James walked out the classroom with his band of loyal minions. I knew he was going to say something to me before he even opened his mouth. I just didn't think it would be anything about Bella.

"So I met Edward's little whore." He smirked as I continued to ignore him. There is no need to let him know I was listening. "She's got quite a nice body too. I would love to get my hands on her. You remember my hands on your body, don't you Rose. My beautiful deflowered Rose."

I knew he couldn't walk away from me without mentioning something about that. But still I decided to leave this to the guys. Emmett would take care of this when I tell him. Also I'm sure Edward will want to help when he finds out James has met Bella.

"I wonder how Bella likes it?" He pondered to himself. "Do you think she likes it rough like you?" I continued to look ahead, wishing Bella would hurry and get her arse out here or that Emmett will come along any second and break this up.

"Bella certainly has this wild streak to her and I hope she lets it run wild in the bedroom. I can't wait to have her shuddering beneath me, crying out my name. She'll be begging for it, they all are, just like you."

"What makes you think that Bella would sleep with you?" I shouldn't have asked but I wanted to see how deluded he was about this.

"Even if she's not willing to sleep with me it doesn't matter. One way or another she'll be beneath me, shuddering, the only difference is she'll be crying out for Edward or someone to help her. It makes it all the more exciting!" James softly stroked my breast and my natural reactions took over. I slapped him and pushed him backwards to his lackeys.

"Don't you dare touch her. I swear to God you won't get off as easy as you did last time-"

"On the contrary I will get off very easily. I got off rather well with you moaning for help and I'm sure Bella's moans and cries will be just as satisfying."He smirked broadly then kissed my cheek. "See you later my rose petal."James walked a few feet back to talk to another set of guys.

I grimaced from his touch and wiped my cheek from his disgusting lips. The guy is poison. He destroys anything he ever touches and he has a sadistic side that takes over. He's also a threat to any girl within a ten mile radius of him but that doesn't deter then from dating, screwing or longing for him.

If they only knew what a sick bastard he really was.

Bella came out a few seconds later, she must have been waiting until the very end of class, hoping that she wouldn't see James and his friends hanging about. I gave her a look as though to say I know what's going on then looked over her shoulder.

James was talking to a few of the guys and one of James' current girlfriends. The three of them were the closest out of the lot and had each other's backs when needed. They knew what James got up to and on many occasions Laurent, his jackass of a friend, would help. The whole thing made me sick to my stomach.

The group of them were watching us a little too closely for my liking. I knew those looks. So I grabbed Bella's arm and pulled her away, hoping to get to Emmett or one of the guys before anything kicked off.

I would have to talk to Bella about all this. Everyone underestimates James. They think he's either a sweet guy who can do no wrong or an asshole whose bark it worse than his bite. Well I can definitely say from experience that his threats are a warning of what he's capable of doing and if given the opportunity would do it.

Edward definitely needs to know. Either Bella tells him or I will since this is too serious to mess about with.

April 21st

2 Months 2 Weeks & 1 Day Left

I'd given her enough time and yet she still hadn't told him. This was getting completely ridiculous. Bella has exactly nineteen days to tell Edward about what happened between her and James but she hasn't.

Is this girl stupid or just plain ignorant to the fact that she's putting herself in danger?

Either way I'd had enough. I was going to tell Edward if she won't. But since I can be nice at sometimes I'll give her one more chance before I go over there and spill the beans.

Edward was out in the adjacent fields playing polo with Jasper and Emmett, a pastime for them that keeps them fit and occupied so no one complains, and Bella was with Alice in the conservatory overlooking the gardens on their estate.

The conservatory is an entire separate building and it could be a house all on it's own. It is one of the most spectacular conservatories in England and the Cullen's do a good job of looking after it's upkeep. After all it is centuries old and was practically crumbling before they restored it.

Bella and Alice were situated at the back, looking out over the guys playing. I wanted to talk to Bella, only Bella, but I needed to get rid of Alice first. I seized the moment when Jasper fell from his horse. Alice made my part rather easy though as she practically sprang out of the room to check if my brother was okay.

Bella's POV

"Have you told him yet?"Rose asked the second Alice was outside. I knew what she

was talking about but I thought she would at least start with the pleasantries first before diving headfirst in.

"Told who what?" Maybe if I played innocent she would forget about all of this.

"For God's sake Bella. Have you told Edward about James. You know bloody well what I'm talking about. Just this one time I'm asking you to take your head out of the sand and tell Edward. If you don't I will!" She seemed particularly pissed now.

"Look Rose I don't know what has gone on and I know that you're just looking out for me but please, let me handle it." She shook her head furiously.

"I gave you your chance to handle it and you have done nothing. I swear if you don't tell Edward I will."

"Why does he need to know? What will he do that is any different from what I can do?" I asked, not understanding Edward'snecessary involvement in this.

"He won't ignore it like you are doing. Sorry to break it to you Bella but James won't go away if you ignore him. He'll keep coming back and back until he has you right where he wants you. James is probably the only guy I know who would make good on his threats. If he says he'll do it then he will. At the moment he's convinced he's going to sleep with you, whether that be willingly or not."

"He wouldn't do that." I don't know who I was trying to convince more, her or me.

"Yes he would and he has. I would know." That's all I needed to hear.

All the clues she had been dropping about what went on with her and James fell into place. He threatened to sleep with Rose and he did even though Rose didn't want to. I felt a chill run up my spine at the prospect of that happening with me, James trying to ra- no I couldn't even think it. It's not possible.

"Now do you understand?" Rose asked, finally seeing me comprehend the situation fully. I nodded and looked down to the floor. This was so bad. "Do you want to tell him or should I?" She questioned kindly. Clearly having seen the colour drain from my cheeks.

"Could you?" I croaked. It wasn't sinking it. Rose nodded then shocked me more by giving me a hug. I never thought she would ever do that, especially to me, so I was very surprised when her arms wrapped round me and pulled me close. Allowing me to feel slightly comforted by the fact that I wouldn't have to deal with this by myself. After all she had been where I was today except she didn't have people looking out for her.

"Thanks." I mumbled pulling back feeling shaken from all this information.

"It's okay. We're here for you, all of us. Why don't you go lie down and by the time you wake up Edward will be clued in." I nodded meekly then turned back to her before leaving.

"Make sure Edward doesn't over react to this when he finds out. I don't want him getting hurt."

"I'll make sure he doesn't." I headed back to the house to sleep. I just needed to be by myself and think this through. I couldn't believe someone would do that, let alone do that to me. It's just all too much.

Edward's POV

"Where's Bella gone?" I asked as Emmett and I carried Jasper in to the conservatory. When he fell off his horse he landed badly on his ankle and we think it's sprained but he can't walk on it so we have to help him.

"She needed to lie down." Rose said dismissively.

"Is she okay?" I asked concerned. I hoped she wasn't sick; I wanted to take her riding later. Maybe I'd have to reschedule.

"Yeah she just wanted to rest. Can I talk to you a second?" I nodded and Rose and I walked away from the other three, but not without noticing Emmett send Rose a knowing glance. Something was going on and they weren't telling me.

"What is it?" I asked sharply. I hated being kept out of the loop.

"Remember James?"

"How could I forget?" I practically growled back. I don't know who hated him more out of Emmett, Jasper or me after what he did to Rose. It was despicable, the lowest of lows and we all felt like killing him. Me since Rose is like my second sister, Jasper because Rose is his sister and Emmett because he was madly in love with her.

"Well some one has caught his eye." The last girl to catch his eye ended up with the scars, physically and mentally, to remember what he did for the rest of her life.

"Who?" Whoever it was is in serious danger.

"Bella." I looked at Rose like she had just come in my house on Christmas day and peed on my carpet. She had to be wrong or I had to have misheard.

"What did you say?" The very thought of James doing that to Bella makes my blood boil.

"James thinks Bella would be a perfect next target." I would kill him.

"How do you know?" I better make sure this is accurate before breaking his neck.

"For starters he bragged about what he wanted to do to her and then Bella filled me in." I was seething at this point.

"When?" I growled.

"Nineteen days ago." I shot her a you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me-look.

"No."

"Yes Edward. Nineteen days ago he propositioned her for sex and we know that even if Bella resists he'll still get her."

"No!" I was growling and felt like my insides were going to explode with rage. In some sense I felt like the hulk.

"No matter how much you dislike the idea of this it's true. Now get your bloody act together so we don't get a repeat of what happened to me." That sobered me up a bit; I was no longer seeing red.

"I need to see her, make sure she's alright." I said before storming out of the conservatory. She must have gone to lie down because Rose explained the James situation.

"She's asleep Edward." Rose called as the door slammed shut behind me.

Rose was right though, she was asleep. He eyes were red and she had tear stained cheeks from crying but she was sleeping peacefully in her room. I shut her door quietly and crossed the floor, trying to avoid the squeaky floorboards. Settling down on the side of her bed I brushed away her tears and removed some of her hair from her face. She was beautiful and I couldn't understand why anyone would want to hurt her.

My movements woke her up with a start and she seemed terrified with an unknown presence sitting next to her on her bed. The terror in her eyes scared me, especially when it was directed into my eyes. I would never cause her that harm and she needed to know that.

"It's just me, Edward. I came to see if you're alright." I told her coaxingly.

"I'm fine." She mumbled. "Just a little worried."

"I promise you'll be fine. I will protect you with my life."

"I don't want you getting hurt." She said softly.

"That won't happen." At least I hoped it wouldn't.

"Why wasn't James arrested for ra…rap…doing what he did to Rose?" It broke my heart to know that she couldn't say those words out of fear.

"Things were handled differently then. It wasn't obvious what happened to Rose until much later on and by that time it would have been his word against hers. Also her parents didn't want the idea of their blissful daughter being dragged through the mud in court on rape charges." She flinched like I had slapped her when I said rape. It was too soon to use that word around her.

Even though he hadn't hurt her the fact that he wanted to and could if he tired really hard was frightening enough. Hell even I was frightened for her. Who knows what I would do if she got hurt.

"Can you lie with me? I feel safe with you." She admitted. I nodded and moved round the bed. She crawled into my arms and put her head on my chest. I could feel the fresh tears soaking into my shirt but just held her tighter. I was there for her and was always going to be, whether she liked it or not. I needed to protect her, even when she didn't think she needed protection.