I know that Bella and Edward were kind of stupid last chapter but they were both slightly shocked. They couldn't believe what happened. So...I know it's some sort of a malpractice for Edward but hey, he realized his mistake the next morning. This chapter is the next morning. I posted this because I know you want explanations. Bella's going to be fine, don't worry.

How To Become A Girl

Chapter Seventeen

I woke up the next morning even more sore. If that's even possible. I mean seriously, I barely even moved since I woke up which was about a minute ago. I woke up to a black ceiling, so obviously, I'm still at Edward's. I was still in his clothes, which were so comfortable, by the way. The opposite side of the bed sank and I looked to see Edward take a seat on that spot.

"How are you feeling?" He moved closer to me.

"Sore." I shrugged then winced at the movement.

"Hmm...Aren't you in a bit of a shock?" His eyebrows knit together and his eyes focused on my face.

"Well, maybe just a bit. But due to your nursing expertise, I am a lot better, now. Not physically, though, obviously." I tried to sit up and he assisted.

He chuckled, "Really? Well, thanks. I'm glad I could make you feel better."

I gave him a kiss on the cheek. And then it got awkward. I tried to speak up, "Was that alright? I mean do girls do that normally? I've seen Alice and Rose do it...I wasn't really that much of a girl back then. Just now...when Alice started forcing me into her type of clothes and going out with guys. I, uh, don't know. I don't have a manual." I shrugged nervously. Oh god! I just babbled! I hope his bed eats me whole! Right now!

He looked like he was holding back a laugh.

"What?" I raised my brows at him. Was there something wrong with what I said? Oh my god! I'm so bad at this..."It's just that having guys surround me all the time makes me forget I'm one. You know what I mean."

He smirked.

Then I continued, "It's probably why I'm not that shocked. I keep telling myself that I'm tough and that this is no matter to fuss over..." I looked down. He didn't respond and I lifted my head back up. "...except that it is, right? I should be worried, shouldn't I? And I should be going into total shock right now...except that I'm not, too."

He sucked a whole lot of air before trying to shift the conversation, "Jasper called this morning asking about you. Apparently, they tried calling your phone last night. But they thought...you and...Riley were...you know. And then I told them you were with me since last night. I didn't tell them what happened. That's for you to tell. And then, I called Carlisle and he said we should head to the hospital to get you checked up, at least, to an OBGYN. You might want not to go but, Bella, you need this badly." He pulled me in for a hug.

There's nothing wrong if I go to a check up, right. I mean, I need to be physically checked. What if Riley had something that's contagious? What if...he wounded me there, too? Yep. I definitely need to go see a doctor. STD is not nice. I nodded into his chest and he pulled back to look at me. "But only if...you'll be there. You're the only person I'm confident to stay with." I clutched the back part of his shirt that I gripped.

"Okay. Then we have to bring you back home afterwards." He stood up and gathered a couple of clothing articles.

"Why? You don't want me staying here? Oh! Right. Of course. You have a new girlfriend." I shook my head. What the hell was I thinking? Staying over at Edward's til forever. But hey, this place is a killer for me. It's just so comfortable.

"What? No. I don't have a new girlfriend! And you can stay here anytime. I wouldn't mind at all with that. It's just that...I think we should tell Jasper and everybody else." He chuckled.

"Oh." I looked down. "So...I can stay here anytime?" My head sprang up to look at him with a smile.

"Yeah." He nodded and placed a shirt and a pair of jeans next to me. "If...we go to your house and tell your friends and maybe your father, too."

"No! I can't tell my father! He's going to kill me! He'll die of heart attack! And I wouldn't be there to save him!" I clutched the sheets.

He laughed softly, "You're such a kid sometimes. He won't die of heart attack. We won't let that happen but you need to tell him, too. You can't keep that from him. He's going to find that out one way or another and I think it's better if you tell him before he finds out from someone else."

I sighed, "I guess you're right. You have to be there, too, when I tell them."

"Fine. Now, let's get you showered and ready." He scooped me up and put me in the tub. "Do you...still need help?" His voice still shook at the end.

I decided to take the strain off. "No. I'm...okay. I'll manage."

"Okay. Just call me if you need help." He slapped his thighs before standing up and heading out of the room.

I managed to pull the boxers off and throw it on the bathroom floor. The shirt, though, was a little more difficult. I endured the pain that the process caused. And I did it slowly, which I regretted afterwards because I had to go through the pain slowly, too.

"Damn!" I muttered before I was able to push myself up, leaning on the wall. It was easier to bathe this time. I knew what to do. I found a towel hung on a rack at the end of the tub. I quickly wrapped it around me before I called him back in to assist me out. He scooped me up again and plopped down on the bed. He handed me my underwear last night. It was clean, washed. "How...?"

He looked down like he's done a crime. Was he shy of telling me that he washed my underwear? Shouldn't I be shy that he washed my underwear? "I went to the laundry place while you were asleep. I'm sorry, I left..."

"Oh. No. I guess that's fine. I'm still alive, so...your security system must really be good." I gave him two thumbs up before putting on my underwear. I told him it was okay if he didn't turn around, I mean, after everything, he'd still be super shy. I should be super shy. I've been showing him my body! Oh god! Fine. I decided to let him turn around, in the end. He helped me in his clothes. A pair of his jeans. We had to fold up the bottom of each leg. And then he inserted a belt through the belt loops. We had to make a knot on the front of his shirt because it was too big for me. Too big and long to be called baggy, still. He let me a sweatshirt and I tied my hair up in a pony tail.

He scooped me up again but I stopped him. He looked at me questioningly before I told him, "I need to learn my way around stuff. Let me try to...limp all the way to the car." He chuckled and handed his arm for me. I took it as my support and we walked to the car.

He drove silently to the hospital and looked for Carlisle.

"Hey, Bella. How are you doing?" He started walking us to an office with Edward trailing behind.

"To be honest, not so good." I shook my head.

"You don't seem to be suffering from shock which is good." He opened a door and assisted me in.

"Just as long as I don't get to see Riley anymore, I'll be okay." I smiled at him and he was closing the door. I stopped him. "Edward, you promised me."

"I know." He pulled the door and the three of us entered the room. A nurse appeared and asked for my name. Carlisle quickly told her that I was with him and that he had already talked to Dr. Stiles. I was nervous that it would be a guy. Thank god when it wasn't. She seemed old and slim and she had reddish hair that was tied up in a neat bun. She took some tests. I'm not going to go into details. She took tests. And told us that she'll tell Carlisle about it when she gets the results. As to the wounds...I was okay. No wounds.

"Thank you, Carlisle." I wrapped the arm that wasn't holding on to Edward around Carlisle.

"It's nothing. I'm glad to be of help. Please, tell me if you feel anything and if something goes wrong." He rubbed his thumb on my cheek. I felt like I was 5 again. Charlie would do it all the time when I trip or fall.

"Dad, we'll go now. Tell mom I said hi and don't forget to mention that Bella's fine. She's been worried crazy." Edward gave Carlisle a half hug before he assisted to walk me out.

"No shit sherlock? Esme's worried?" My eyes widened at him.

"It's her motherly instincts kicking in. She'll be fine. You'll be fine." He assisted me back in the car and he stopped somewhere to get frozen yogurts with fresh cherries! I think frozen yogurts are now my favorite. Goodbye, cheesecake! I smiled at him as we ate. Well, I had to assist him with his because he was driving. You know what I mean.

When we got through the gates of the JW palace and the door was appearing, I swear I wanted to hide. Alice, Rose, Jazz and Em were standing on the porch grinning, not knowing what really happened. I hated ruining the fun for them but...I had to. Edward noticed me slump in my seat a little lower and he took my hand, relaxing me again. He's like a drug. And I might be addicted. Might. I said might.

"I...I can't..." Oh god! I was sobbing. Not so tough anymore, eh?

"Bella...I know it's difficult but we can't pretend nothing happened. I'll go through it with you." He rubbed my chin before getting off the car and going around to help me. He helped me off and they're faces turned to a curious expression. Well, I expected that. I was covered and they couldn't see anything. The hood was up so it shadowed over my face.

"Bella!" Alice shrieked first while heading to us. She was about to hug me but Edward stopped her.

"Careful, she's tender." Edward warned her. She gave him a look before smiling and giving me a soft hug.

"You totally have to tell me everything!" She clapped and walked off. "Well, what are you exactly waiting for?" She turned around in her spot and waited for me. I still had my hand Edward's forearm. I guess she saw me limp because her face turned from happy to shock to worry. She rushed back to me and helped. "Oh my god! What happened?"

"I...uh, I'll tell you later with everybody else." I smiled weakly at her.

We walked up the porch and into the living room with Emmett and Jasper and Rosalie, who were all just as shocked as Alice, trailing behind us. I sat on the couch and Edward took his place beside me. They followed the action and soon we had one big circle formed. I'll admit, it looks nice.

I sighed and looked up at the ceiling, asking for some help. Okay. I can do this. I can do this. I started, "Well...um...Riley kind of took me by surprise." I gulped. "He, uh,...I was, um...raped." I said the last word with a breath. Edward grazed his hand on my thigh. I saw Emmett's and Jasper's eyes grow wide. Like saucers and they both cracked their knuckles. Alice and Rosalie were angry, too. Their words were colliding and I couldn't understand a thing. "Guys! Stop!" I managed to say a little louder than usual.

"Oh come on, Bella! Don't tell me we're just going to let him get away like that!" Emmett stood up and his arms flung everywhere.

"We want to beat him up!" Jasper joined Emmett.

"Are you okay?" Alice suddenly interjected.

"I'm fine. Edward helped me into the hospital today for a check-up. It's fine. Doctor said, I look fine. We took tests. I'll get the results later." I wasn't sure about telling them about the bruises.

"That's good. Thank you, Edward." Rosalie smiled weakly.

"My pleasure. Now, that we've got this out. I am ready to help Emmett and Jasper beat the hell out of the guy! I've been holding the anger for too long now." He stood up from my side being quickly replaced by Alice and disappeared to plan with my two buddies. "And hey, don't forget to tell your dad." He told me before they went to the kitchen.

I nodded at him and Alice gave me a hug. A tight hug, this time. I winced. "Ow. Alice."

She pulled back quickly and pouted, "Sorry."

"I kinda have bruises everywhere." I told her.

"Oh my god! What did he do to you!" Rosalie asked me as I removed the sweatshirt and she saw the huge one on my arm. "I'll file police report." She left the room and it was just me and Alice.

"Alice...I don't know what I would've done without Edward." I shook my head, letting some tears escape.

"Yeah. You smell like him a lot, now." She giggled. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"

"I was scared to get your reactions. And...I was in no condition last night to tell you anything at all. Edward had to carry me to his place. Speaking of, you gotta see it! It's so comfortable there." I giggled, too. It was good to let some out.

"Yeah. Well, Edward deserves more than just a thank you, I guess. And the cold shoulder that we've been giving him. Glad that he's cool now with Jazz and Em." She shrugged. "Well, we better follow his advice. You gotta tell your dad."

"Alice...I..." I hesitated again.

"I'll be here." She put her hand lightly on my lap.

"But I don't have a phone. I, um, I think Riley took it or threw it away." I turned to face Alice.

"That's not a problem. I'm pretty sure Jasper has his number. I'll go borrow his phone." Alice disappeared into the kitchen just as Rosalie came back.

"The police wants to question you. They're on their way." Rosalie said.

I nodded then Alice returned back with Jasper's phone in hand. She handed it to me and I looked for Charlie's number. I called him up and told him about what happened. And just as I expected, he wanted me to go back to Forks right away. Take the first flight back. I told him, I was fine. And that my friends have been a good help. But he won't take it. As usual, I'm stubborn, so, I didn't budge. I told him sorry. But I sort of accidentally promised that if anything else happens to me, I'll go back. What am I supposed to do? He's my father, he's worried. I understood that.

The police came over, too, and I talked with them. I described Riley Stewart to them. Apparently, his family is quite known as well, so it was easy to look for him. We waited for their call that night but found out that Riley was an orphan with both his parents dying about a year ago. He's escaped and I don't know how catch him. The police said they're doing the best they could but finding him is sort of impossible, now. I cried again when I learned that. I wouldn't be given justice for this and that's quite unfair. But the things I wanted were far out of reach. I had to accept the fact that I may not win this fight. But I am tough and I'll hold on to whatever I can.

Edward tucked me in bed that night while the rest of my friends talked to the school so I could get a break. Doctor said I had to be bed rested for about a week. Alice had let go of my comfy plaid pajamas and I felt a lot comfortable, better in them. I didn't want to let go of Edward's clothes, actually. They were too comfy. You know, sometimes, I hate the fact that I like guy clothes. But I had to return them to the respectful owner.

I was finishing off the bowl of soup that Edward had brought up and he gave me another dose of painkillers. "Thank god, this thing works." I sniffed.

He took the tray off the bed and called Dorota to get it.

"I feel exhausted." I pulled up the sheets.

"You are. You had a hell of a week at work and school. Yesterday, I had you suffer with me emotionally. God, I feel so bad. I feel guilty. Like all this is my fault. And then now, you got raped. I should've stopped you but I didn't. I feel like it's all my fault." He was pacing around my room.

"Hey, hey. It's none of your fault. How did this even become your fault?" I tried to argue my side.

"I should've stopped you. You know how much difference there would be, if I had stopped you this morning." He sat next to me on the bed.

I didn't want where this is going. We just had our friendship relationship worked out. I don't want this to happen yet. "Alice would've kicked you out for stopping me. And then she would've forced me. Why are you putting all the weight on you? It happened to me!"

"That's the point. It happened to you. Because I didn't do that little thing of stopping you." He cupped my face with both his hands.

What? "I'm sorry. I'm not...getting where you're going." I tried to decipher what he said. It did happen to me? Now why did he care so much? I get it, I'm a friend. He cares that way. But the way he said it seemed different.

He sighed. "Just...rest. You need to sleep. The last thing I should do is infuriate you. And here I am doing it." He sighed again, "Just sleep."

"I..." After that two nights of having him sleep beside me, I don't think I could ever sleep without him by my side ever again. He just makes my sleep better since I've left Forks. But I wasn't going to tell him that I want him to be my personal teddy bear.

"You what, Bella? Do you need anything?" He looked at me, waiting for my answer.

Oh, what the hell! I should give it a try. "Can you...stay?" I lowered my head, scared of what his answer might be.

"You want me to stay?" He tilted my head up so that he could see my face.

I swallowed, "Yeah. You just make sleep easier and better for me."

"If that's what you need." A small smile graced his lips.

"Thank you." I settled in bed and he hopped off the bed only to return a little later. The bed sunk a little when he joined me and I automatically turned around to face him. He put an arm around my waist again and pulled me closer.

"Goodnight." I said.

"Goodnight. Sleep well." He kissed my forehead.

Oh. I will.