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"That's kind of deep Edward." He blushed and I was taken aback. Of course, I knew that men could blush but I had never seen it. He was fiddling with a napkin when the waiter showed up again. Edward looked up at me. "Water please." Score one for Bella on politeness, score a thousand for Edward.

"Water as well." The waiter nodded and gave Edward a side long glance before walking away with more poise this time.

"Edward, what did you say to him before?" I lifted my chin in the direction the waiter had gone. Edward look at me, confused. He looked behind him at the waiter and then back at me. This could all be just an act.

"I just told him we needed a few minutes to talk." Was he lying to me? The way the words came out, they sounded too perfect. I sighed and nodded my head. You know, whatever. It's not really any of my business.

My mind went back to Esme. I couldn't picture Esme beaten up and bruised, I really didn't want to either. What about Edward? Did he see things, hear things? I could understand how hard it was for him when he had to leave. Why did I have to be so fucked up? I wish I wouldn't have hit him that night.

"Bella?" I looked up startled. It's stupid to say I didn't know I was crying but I really didn't. The waiter was back and he was leaning towards me. He was probably very confused at the entire situation he had witnessed. Edward said something to the waiter that made him leave and I heard Edward say my name once again.

I couldn't stay at his house, I couldn't take away his home like this. He was there first, he didn't deserve to be kicked out because of me.

"You're lucky to have them Edward, your family." I was going to get up, I was going to leave. Esme had given me some money, I always kept it in my sneakers. I could get on a bus and I could leave. It may be better for them then they wouldn't have to deal with me.

"So are you though Bella. Can't you see they care about you?" He looked at me in disdain, his hand on top of mine. He must have seen he had my attention because he continued. "You've made my family so happy. You've given them a kick start. My brothers and sisters adore you in every possible way. You're important to them. You're important to me."

The last part had my knees weak. Did he say what I think he said? I could feel my face getting warm and I pulled my hand away from his. I wasn't expecting that, I'd figured he wasn't mad at me for getting him kicked out of his home but this... He cared about me.

He looked like a fish, his mouth opening and closing, I couldn't help but laugh at him. He joined in and I relaxed back into my seat. When our laughter died down and passersby turned away he became serious again.

"Bella you were really beaten up when you got here." I tensed up and stared at him, my face void of emotion. He deserved to hear something didn't he? He had opened up to me, shared his past. He was only curious, right? I could tell him a little bit about myself.

"Alec and Jane hadn't been entirely forgiving when they had to hunt me down."

"Who are they exactly?" The mood had become very tight and tense. Edward's eyes wouldn't move from my face.

"They're my worst nightmares, my tormentors. They are everything I hate most. They are all of it and more." I didn't want to sound dramatic. It was all fact. I could see the pain Edward was in. Was he comparing it to his mother's experience. How relatable was Esme's story to my own?

"Are you ready to go home?" I nodded my head. Edward got up from his chair and was run down by a man nearly twice his size. He was a giant. Edward fell back into the table, apologized, then stood up straight and looked over at me. He shrugged at me and seemed to think nothing of it.

He was almost naive. I shot out of my seat and had my eyes trained on the man. He was headed for the exit.

"Hey, don't worry about it." He was completely unaware. I made my way after the man, he was almost to the door now. I didn't exactly know how the hell I would do any damage to the guy if it came to a fight considering her was three heads taller than me.

"Bella."

"Your wallet Edward." I pointed ahead. Edward took a minute to realize what I was saying before he shot out of the diner faster than the speed of light. The waiter was walking behind me, grabbing at me now.

"You haven't paid! You can't just leave!" I tried to shrug him off but he was stuck to my arm like glue and he smelled like car oil.

I had to drag him out the door with me, that's where we found Edward. He was leaning over the bench outside the door. The waiter was still clinging to me and it was really getting on my nerves. When I felt his hands move from my arm I didn't take it anymore. I hit him square in the face and he fell to the ground with an oof.

Edward rain towards us and looked me over as if I was hurt. I could take care of myself, the guy had been half a foot shorter than me and as scrawny as a light pole. I nodded at his wallet and Edward held out a card to me. He looked baffled.

"I don't know why this is in here. I mean, I have some but this one is..." He didn't have to describe it to me. I could see it was crumpled and ripped and the top layer of the card was peeling off. But I still recognized the card. It had little raised letters on it. My heart was in my throat as I read the words.

Esme Cullen

.Dun.

I have big plans for this story. Still debating on an ending though.

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