Wow, thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews!

I decided to write this chapter before my Christmas break ended because I knew I would never get to it if I waited, and look, it is about twice as long as all of the previous chapters I have written...So

-drum roll-

Bella's Past.

NOTE: I would say this chapter is very graphic. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter 7

I sat on the cool grass, just focusing on breathing.

She sat there, brave, as I was trying to recover from the effects of realization.

"Can I trust you?" she whispered this, looking me in the eye.

As I looked into her eyes I could tell she had been to hell and back, but despite that, she came back stronger than ever.

She was asking for my trust, and that was the least I could – and would – give her.

I nodded.

She smiled slightly as she looked at the grass, twisting it through her fingers.

"Can I tell you my story?" She said, looking back at me.

I felt my stomach twist, "Bella, I…" I don't know what I wanted to say. I didn't want to hear her story because I would want to fucking kill the bastard who hurt her, but then again, I did want to hear the story because I did want to kill the fucking bastard who had hurt her.

"Do you want the full version or the abridged version?" She asked, not waiting for my answer.

I looked at her, feeling the blood drain out of my face.

She smiled kindly, then reached out and started tracing her finger over the veins.

I shivered. Not because it was cold either. It felt good.

She looked at me again, still absently tracing my hand, and said, "How about this. How about I start telling you the entire story and if you decide part way through, I will change to the abridged version."

"Okay," My voice came out gravely, my throat tight.

"I was fourteen, a freshman at my old school in Arizona."

Fourteen? Fourteen? Jesus, my stomach did a summersault. I lay down on the grass, trying not to black out.

"Braxton was eighteen, and a senior. One of the star football players, handsome, and had everything going for him."

I hated him already.

"The second week of school I was late for a class and he had an open hour. As he opened the door to the parking lot, I sprinted directly into him. My books went everywhere, papers covering the hallway, and I had even knocked his backpack onto the floor."

I smiled, thinking Silly Bella. You would do something like that.

"He was a gentleman, helping me pick up all of my books and organize my papers. I apologized profusely, and he stopped me, saying 'Hey, it's okay, really. The only thing you should be sorry for is not giving me your number' and he grinned. But I was so stunned by his comment I stood there blankly. He said, 'So are you going to give me your number?'

"I was flustered, and didn't comprehend what it was that he was asking. I said, 'Sorry, I'm really late for class,' and then took off down the hall to my class.

"For the rest of the day I kept replaying that moment in my mind. Over and over and over. But I figured he was joking because why would a gorgeous senior ask a scrawny freshman for her number? Out of every girl in the whole school, why me? So I told myself that he was just joking around and I would never get a look from him again.

"But after school that day, as I was walking out the same door where I ran into him, I heard, 'Excuse me,' I turned to see Braxton, walking towards me, a cute lopsided grin on his face.

"I must have looked like a deer in the headlights because he chuckled and said, 'Remember me hot wheels?' I nodded and he said, 'That was very rude of me.' He waited for my answer, but I said nothing, so he continued, 'I asked for your number before I knew your name.' He grinned, making my stomach jump into my throat and my heart rate speed up.

"I said simply, 'My name is Bella.' And then I turned and started to walk away.

"He caught up to me and said, 'Okay, Bella. Bella, could I please have your number?'

"I looked at him sideways and said, 'I have to get home.' But what I really wanted to say was, 'Yes gorgeous senior, anything else you want? You can have it. I will give it to you willingly.'

"He walked in front of me, walking backwards, and he said, 'I could give you a ride?'

"I smiled and said, 'That would be okay I guess.' He and I then walked to his big black truck, and he opened the door for me, putting my backpack and books in the backseat. When he got into the truck he turned and asked me, 'Where to princess?'

"I smiled and told him how to get to my house. He turned on the radio, low volume, and looked at me, his hand draped lazily over the steering wheel. 'So, Bella. You are a freshman?' I nodded. 'Did you go to the football game Friday night?' I nodded again. 'Do you plan on going to the game on Saturday?'

"I whispered, 'Yeah,'

"He laughed, and we had arrived at my house and I went to get out of his truck.

"'Wait,' he called after me, 'I want to give you something.' He reached behind him and brought out his football bag and pulled out his red jersey, handing it to me.

"I didn't know what to do with it so I asked him, 'What's this for?'

"He laughed and said, 'I want you to wear it to the game on Saturday.' He gave me a brilliant smile, 'and then I can meet you after the game and we can hang out.'

"'What are you going to wear for the game?' I asked, because if he was giving me his jersey there was no way he could play.

"He laughed, 'I have two jerseys and at home games we always wear our black ones. That is why I can give you my red one.'

"'Oh,' I responded, getting out of his truck awkwardly, 'thanks for the ride,' I said, shutting the door.

"He rolled down the window and called after me, 'Bella, thanks for letting me give you a ride.'

"I smiled and he said, 'I will see you later,'

"And with that, he drove off, leaving me to gawk at his truck, standing in my driveway with my books, bag, and his jersey in my hand.

"When I got home I ran into my room and threw my stuff down. I sprawled out on my bed and held his jersey above me, looking at the lettering, our school mascot, and his number. I smelled it, imagining what I would look like wearing it.

"I then got the crazy idea to try it on. So I stripped off my clothes and put it on, admiring myself in my full length mirror.

"My brother, Chase, who was also a senior on the football team, knocked on the door and opened it as I was looking at myself.

"'What the fuck?!' he yelled, giving me a once over, his eyes lingering on the bold 25 of Braxton's jersey, 'Why the hell do you have Braxton's jersey on?!'

"I was embarrassed, so I wasn't in the mindset to lie, it all came flowing out, 'He gave me a ride home because I ran into him this morning, and he gave me his jersey to wear for Saturday's game.'

"'Oh,' was all Chase said, closing my door, leaving me alone. I sat down on my bed and stripped the jersey off.

"I then folded it up and put it under my pillow and went about my normal routine.

"For the rest of the week I kept seeing Braxton, and he would wink at me, wave, but we never once talked. But I would find cute notes in my locker, all of them signed '#25' and my crush on him would grow every time I would re-read any of his notes, see him, or his truck.

"I would go home every day and try on his jersey, admire myself, and hide it back under my pillow.

"Friday, before the game, Braxton was waiting by my locker, his hand behind his back. I walked up to him, blushing before I was within five feet of him.

"'Hey gorgeous,' he said, pulling me into a hug. I was shocked. First of all, no one had called me gorgeous before, and second of all, this was my first real hug with a guy I liked.

"'Hi,' I squeaked, blushing profusely.

"'I have something for you,' he said, pulling a red rose out from behind his back.

"I took it, my mouth hanging open, but I somehow managed to say, 'Thank you,'

"'Anything for you Bella,' he said, sweeping me into another hug, 'I have to go, I have practice, but after the game tomorrow, come onto the field and meet me,'

"'Okay,' I whispered, 'see you then,'

"He grinned and he started to walk away, he turned around and said, 'Bella? I have been dreaming of meeting someone like you for a long time.' He then disappeared around the corner, and I walked home, replaying his last sentence to me over and over.

"I got home and I found a vase in the kitchen. I was on my way upstairs when my mom walked in the door and saw me with the rose. 'Isabella,' she smiled, eyeing the rose, 'Do you have a secret admirer?'

"'It's not that secret,' I murmured, blushing four shades of red.

"'Oh really? Who is the lucky guy?'

"'His name is Braxton. He plays football with Chase,' I smiled, walking up the stairs.

"'Oh Bella, I am so glad you are happy,' mom called after me as I walked up the stairs.

"'Thanks mom, me too.' My mouth was getting sore from smiling so much as I walked into my room and put the rose on my window sill.

"I could barely sleep that night; I was so excited for the football game. When I got up Saturday morning I immediately put Braxton's jersey and my best pair of jeans on. I then spent several hours in the bathroom doing and redoing my hair. Finally, a half an hour before the game began, my mom, dad, and I drove to the stadium.

"'Bells," my dad said when I appeared at the car, 'boy, do you look pretty. Who's number twenty five?'

"'Braxton. Braxton Carter,' I said, trying not to smile too wide.

"We got to the stadium, and from the moment I got out I felt people's stares, and I could hear their whispers.

"I felt great, finally being the center of attention, the girl every other girl wanted to be.

"I sat in the student section with some of my friends from middle school, but it was weird because it was like they were afraid of sitting with me when I was wearing the jersey.

"I tried to make them comfortable, but the barely talked to me.

"I remember waiting for the game to be over so I could get away from them and meet Braxton.

"We won the football game, so the crowd was wild, and when they opened the gates, allowing the crowd to mosey onto the field, I was one of the first through.

"It was easy to find Braxton. He was at the center of the football huddle, getting a lot of, 'Good game's' and, 'Congratulations'.

"As I was walking towards him I was patted on the back by an older guy. He told me, 'Your boyfriend is one heck of a quarterback,'

"I grinned and said, 'Thank you.' I could not believe he had called me Braxton's girlfriend.

"Braxton spotted me, and he jogged over, picking me up in an embrace and twirling me around. 'I am so glad you came! And I see you are wearing my jersey,' he said, setting me down and admiring his number on my body. 'Come on, let me get a quick shower, and then I want to take you someplace.'

"'Okay,' I said, 'I'll wait by your truck.'

"'Hey, how about you come to the locker room and I will give you the keys to my truck. You can get in and start it, listen to music, whatever, and I will come out as fast as I can.'

"'Sounds good,' I said, following him to the locker room. He jogged in and when he came out, he was shirtless and he tossed his keys to me. I wanted to just freeze time and stay there forever, looking at his great abs and arms.

"Once I caught the keys he winked at me and I waked to his truck. I started it up and turned the radio to my favorite station. I looked through his CD collection and I saw he liked much of the same music I did. It was like fate had brought us together.

"I was envisioning us dating, getting married, having kids, the works, but my dream was interrupted by him getting into the car and grinning at me.

"'So? How did you like the game?' he asked, grinning.

"'I loved watching you,' I decided to get flirty, 'But I almost loved wearing this jersey more," I grinned slyly at him.

"He smiled, and threw the truck into reverse. I then asked, 'So, where are we going?'

"'My parents have a cabin a few miles out of town, I was thinking we could go there and watch a movie?' He said this, making me shiver with excitement.

"We drove, him explaining the game to me, to his cabin. When we got there, I saw there were no lights on, but it looked magnificent.

"'When you said cabin I thought you meant a little one bedroom, out house, etc I had no idea you meant a mansion in the woods…this is bigger than my whole house!' I said, staring in awe at the log cabin.

"He chuckled and opened the truck door for me, scooping me into his arms and carrying me to the house. 'Shut your eyes,' he whispered into my ear. I shut them and I could sense he had turned the lights on. 'Open,' he said, excitement in his voice.

"When I opened my eyes I saw rose petals everywhere, I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth.

"'Bella,' Braxton whispered in my ear, 'Bella when I met you, I thought you might just be another girl,' he rubbed his arms up and down my arms, my neck, 'but I was so wrong. Bella, I think you are the girl,'

"I was excited to get my first kiss and watch a movie with Braxton. I was really starting to like him. Butterflies were in my stomach, and I was getting goosebumbs everywhere he touched me.

"'Bella,' he whispered, kissing my neck, 'Bella I want you,'

"I thought he meant as a girlfriend, little did I know he had something else on his mind.

"He turned me around and started kissing me ferociously, his hands venturing from my face to my breasts. He kissed my neck, my chest, and his hands made their way to my pants.

"He unzipped my pants, and slid my underwear down.

She shuddered, remembering.

"I suddenly felt his fingers inside me. I wanted him to stop, but I couldn't ask him. I thought it would make him like me less.

"Since I had never had a boyfriend, I thought that this was how it was supposed to be, I had no idea…

"He pressed me up against the wall, kissing my neck, trapping me against him.

"I suddenly heard his pants unzip, and I saw his arousal in his boxers.

"'No,' I whispered.

"He put his hand over my mouth and shushed me.

"I struggled, realizing what was about to happen.

"He moved his hand to my throat, growling, 'Shut up you stupid little bitch'

"He then pushed himself into me, making me cry out in pain.

"I think he took it as a cry of pleasure because he said, 'You like that Bella? You like that?' He kept forcing himself into me over and over, grunting, and moaning.

"I tried to go limp, but he carried me to the bedroom, throwing me onto the bed. I tried to crawl away, but he grabbed me from behind, and he pushed into me from behind.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks; I scooted closer to her, wrapping her in my arms.

"Like animals…

She whispered, sobbing into my shoulder.

After a pause, she wiped away her tears with the palm of her hand, and continued:

"He flipped me over again, so I was on my back. He said, 'You sound like you enjoy this or else I am going to kill your brother, then I am going to find your mom and your dad, and I will kill them too'

"I was so scared, so I did what he said. When he would push into me I would try and cry out in pleasure. When he would touch my breasts I would try and moan…

"He then said, 'Put your mouth on me. Suck my penis,'

"By then I wanted to kill myself. I felt so dirty, but I did what he said, praying he wouldn't harm my mom, dad, or Chase.

"He screamed in pleasure, and collapsed on the bed next to me. He slid his fingers into me once again, and told me to get on top of him, and ride him.

"I was shaking, but I slid onto him, and pushed and pulled myself on him.

She shuddered again, the tears streaming freely, her hand in a fist, my t-shirt bunched in it.

"As I was on top of him, I looked around the room for something I could hurt him with, possibly knock him out. I then spotted a lamp.

"When he picked up off of him, and rolled me over so he could drive into me once again, I reached to the bedside table and grabbed the lamp.

"When he pushed in, I grabbed the lamp and swung my hand as hard as I could at his head.

"He immediately went limp, his body collapsing on me. I got out from under him and put my bra, shirt, underwear, and jeans back on. I then found the keys to his truck and drove to my house.

"When I pulled up into my driveway, I saw Chase look out his window. He must have seen how distressed I looked because he was immediately by my side.

"'Did Braxton do this?' He asked, I could feel the anger radiating off of him.

"I nodded. Chase cussed and he took me inside.

"'Bella, listen to me, I am going to kill that son of a bitch, but we have to get you to a doctor. And then I am going to the police.'

"'I was in shock, but for some reason I didn't want Chase to go to the police.

"'No, just take me inside. I can clean myself up.'

"'Bella,' Chase said in a warning tone.

"'Chase,' I pleaded, 'Please. Let me deal with this.'

"He looked at me, and nodded. We went inside and I went directly to the bathroom, I had bruises everywhere, and I could see blood splattered on my shirt and jeans.

"I undressed and I seemed to be bleeding more than normal, but I thought maybe I had just had my period while Braxton forced himself into me.

"The next day at school I saw him, he had a cut on his head and face.

"He came up to me, and he hugged me, 'I am so sorry, I promise you right now, I will make it up to you.'

"I pretended everything was okay. Until the next time we were together he acted like he had before Saturday night. A perfect gentleman.

"But the next night we went on a date, and he tried to force me to sleep with him again. But this time it was in the back of his truck.

"I ended up kicking him where he wanted me the most, and I sprinted home.

"Chase took me to the police and I turned Braxton in. While at the police station they tested me for STD's and for being pregnant. I had neither.

"They had to call my parents, so the next day we had a moving truck in our driveway and we moved from Arizona to California.

"We lived there happily for two and a half years, but my dad got a job here, in Forks, so that is why we moved again."

I stared at her.

Holy fucker.

What a fucking bastard.

I swear to what ever is the higher power I am going to rip him to shreds.

He will have no fucking chance to ever hurt a girl ever, ever again.

Bella sat in my arms, silently sobbing, shaking at what she had just told me.

I felt something cold on my face.

I lifted my hand and touched it. When I looked at my hand, it was wet.

I was crying.

Not because I was a pussy, but because I was furious at Braxton for hurting Bella, the girl I was sure was the one for me.

I stopped.

Fuuuuck.

I almost told her that she was the girl for me.

That would send her into a tail spin.

I am going to have to take this really slow, show her how it is to be truly loved.

I wrapped my arms around her tighter.

"Bella, I will never, ever, hurt you in any way. I am truly sorry about what had happened at the party and I assure you it will never happen ever again."

She smiled up at me, "I know that. I am not sure how I know that, but I know that. I trust you." She whispered the last part, looking into my eyes.

She lifted her hand and wiped away the wet streaks on my face, holding her palm against my jaw line.

I leaned down and pressed my lips to her forehead, "Bella, I am so sorry for what happened to you. I swear if I ever meet this bastard I will rip his fucking throat out."

"No, Edward. It is okay, I don't need that."

What?!

"I am here at the "House for Women" because of those exact feelings. I come here so I can let my anger out by using my words and influencing other women who have gone through similar situations to do the same. Did you ever see the D.A.R.E. slogan? 'Violence is not the answer'? Well, violence really isn't the answer. It will only get us thrown into jail and make us feel guilty."

"I understand that…" I guess. I mean, I could see where she was coming from…

"I am glad. I am glad."

I looked at my watch.

"Hey, do you need a ride? I can drive you back to Forks if you would like?" I asked, playing with a strand of her hair.

"Um, okay. Yeah, I will call my dad and let him know," she pulled out her phone and dialed the familiar number.

She conversed with her dad and flipped the phone shut, "Let me go tell Glenda I am checking out for the evening, and I will be right out."

"Okay," I said, smiling at her, "I will go start my car."

O.o intense...

So I was practically bawling as I wrote this chapter...just thought you guys would like to know that little tidbit of info...

Anywho, to all of you who guessed that she was raped and abused...well done well done.

The song that gave me the inspiration to keep writing this chapter: Always Love by Nada Surf

until next time,

xoxo~

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