Hey guys. sorry it has been so long since I last updated. I realize that you all are really anxious to read another chapter, but please be patient. I am in college now, and the work load is a lot heavier. I will update the next chapter as soon as possible. I am working on it right now, and hope to have it finished by the time my train ride is over tomorrow. Enjoy your read, and have a great night.

please read and review!

-bellaswancullen

Partial Truth

"He said he would kill me if I ever told anyone." Bella said softly hiding her head in Edward's shoulder.

"Bella, no one can hurt you out here. You have me, and I will protect you from anything. And my family will be here for you." Edward replied soothingly.

"He hurt me. He beat me if I forgot something, or if I was late. He would kick me if he ran out of beer. Push me down the stairs if I talked back. I- I ran away from home. I… I can o-only imagine wh-what he's going to do when he finds me." She said, tears starting to fall down her face. She buried her face deeper into Edward's chest, breathing in his scent: sweat, smoke and a hint of mint. If only he knew what my FATHER really did to me. Why it is so hard for me to have a relationship with anyone at all.

"Who Bella? Who did this to you? He can go to jail! This is abuse. It's illegal!"

"He's the police chief where we live. No one would believe me!" she cried out.

"Bella, you have the marks to prove it. Please, we have to do something about it!"

"NO!!" she yelled, crying even harder.

"Ok, shh… It's ok. I'm here if you need to talk. Please don't hesitate Bella. I will never hurt you. You're an angel sent from heaven. I don't know why anyone would ever want to hurt such a beautiful creature." Edward said softly.

After that, Edward sat there holding a crying Bella, quietly rubbing her back. As time passed, Bella soon feel asleep. A couple of hours later, the door to the dorm slowly, quietly, opened.

"Bella?" came the questioning tone of Alice.

As soon as she set foot into the room, past the door, Alice turned to look at Bella's bed. Gently, Edward lifted his finger in front of his lips, motioning for her to be quite. Alice nodded before turning around and making the same movement. A few seconds later, Alice and Rose were seated on Rose's bed.

"So?" rose said quietly, lifting one of her eyebrows at Edward.

"What?" Edward replied just as quietly.

"What," Alice replied pausing momentarily looking between Edward and Bella, "exactly are you doing in out room," she said motioning between herself, Rose and Bella "holding a sleeping Bella?"

EPOV

"Well, it's kind of a long story." I replied, a little uncomfortable with the situation I had gotten myself in.

"We have time Edward, and I highly doubt that Bella will be waking up anytime soon." Rose replied looking between Bella and me again.

So I told them everything that had happened between the time that I had picked her up this morning, and now. The looks on their faces were a mix of sadness, horror and anger when I told them about Bella's past. They were flabbergasted at why someone would want to harm someone so sweet and innocent such as Bella.

"Edward you have to be careful with Bella. I don't even think it is the best idea that you are holding her right now." Alice said, worry crossing her face.

"I know Alice, but she won't let me go. I have tried to lay her on her bed, but every time I go to move her, she grabs my shirt even tighter. I don't know what to do." I said, rubbing small circles into Bella's back.

"Well. You should defiantly talk with her when you get a chance. But I don't think that it is a good idea to start a relationship with her right now. I mean, I see the way that you look at her, but Edward, you have only known her for about three days, and she has instinctively latched herself onto you. I don't think it is going to be healthy for either of you. Just think about what I am saying, ok?" Alice said as Bella began to stir.

Alice, Rose and I talked for a while longer. We had not talked like this in a long time, not since my last serious girlfriend had cheated on me. This was when I was a senior in high school. Now I was a junior in college, and have never had a serious relationship since. Lauren had been in the same year, and we had dated for almost two years. Around Christmas of our senior year, she cheated on me with one of my really good friends, Mike.

I didn't know what I was going to do. I had one of those feelings. I knew, somehow, that Bella and I were meant for each other. I was scared out of my mind that Bella had grown so attached to me so quickly, and that I had formed feelings for her so quickly. I didn't know what to do. She probably didn't even feel the same way about me.

After a couple of hours, I felt Bella stir, and knew that she was waking up.

BPOV

It all had to be a dream. It wasn't possible that someone, let alone a guy, had been nice to me. But it has to be real, My mind kept telling me as I felt something underneath my body. It's not possible. How can it be? Why would he want to be around someone like me. Someone who was broken and dirty.

I began to comprehend that there were voices talking around me. I stirred as my eyes began to flutter open. As soon as my eyes were open, they were met by the stunning emerald eyes of Edward that I knew I hadn't been dreaming about. It was all real. He was still here holding me. But why?

"Good afternoon Bella. How are you feeling?" he asked, looking concerned. How much had I told him. I can't remember. Did I tell him everything?

"Hi Bella!" I heard from across the room as my eyes grew as round as saucers.

"H-Hi…" I said, not looking up to meet their eyes. Why the hell do they look like they really care for me? What have I done to deserve this love, no one would want to love such a dirty piece of filth!

"How are you doing Bella? Are you feeling any better?" Alice asked, looking genuinely concerned.

"Huh?" I replied looking up at her in surprise. "Oh… Yeah, I feel a lot better."

"That's good. Dad said to take it easy for the next couple of weeks; and told us that we are not allowed to let you go jogging anymore. Edward has agreed to help you out, get your muscle strength back and everything, but I'll let him explain that to you."

Why is she always so freakin' chipper? Did she get dropped on her head one too many times as a baby? "Oh… ok." I said, trying not to squirm too much. That had always ended up with…

"So, I thought that we could do some water training and then once your ribs heal, we could get you to slowly start jogging again. I also think that if we were to walk laps around the track, we could keep some of the muscles in your legs." Edward said looking down at me. Wait, did he just say water training?

"I… I cant do that. The water training. I… I'm sorry." I said looking away, trying to keep the tears from spilling over.

"Bella…" Edward said calmly, slowly lifting my chin so that I was looking at him. "I have reserved the pool in the physical therapy room so that it is just the two of us, and I WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO YOU! I PROMISE!" he said looking me straight in the eye.

"I, I just… I Just don't know E… Edward. I just don't think that I can…" I said, not looking him in the eye.

"Bella, I know you can. I will be there to help you along the way, and if you want, Rose and Alice will both join us so that you will feel more comfortable." He said so calmly and reassuringly.

"I couldn't do that to them."

"Bella we are here for you. We will be here every step of the way. Please do not seclude us. We want to be a part of your life." Alice said looking at Rose, who gave a nod of agreement.

"Bella, we are all here for you. Please, let us help you." Edward said lifting my chin so that I was looking into his eyes.

"Ok." I whispered.