I followed her slowly, strolling along. Great job, Edward. I thought. You've only known Bella for five minutes and you already creeped her out. I was listening to her movements, walking away from me. She was going deeper into the forest, and was probably going to get lost. "Bella!" I called out, seeing if she'd come. Of course, no one answered. I heard a quiet thud, as if she were sitting down. Her breathing slowed as she fell asleep.

That was when the screaming started. "MOM! PLEASE! WAKE UP!! DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!" I ran at vampire speed towards the blood curdling sound. Taking her by the shoulders, I started shaking her frantically. "Bella!! BELLA!! WAKE UP!"

Her eyes opened, and she looked at me, half awake. "Leave me 'lone." She said, as if nothing had happened. I was about to point out that she had been screaming, but by her expression I could tell it was nothing big to her. She closed her eyes again.

"Bella, you're asleep in the middle of a forest." That didn't bother her either.

"So? I've fallen asleep in weirder places than this."

She just ignored me then. Obviously, she wasn't going to get up on her own, and unless I wanted to be wracked with guilt I couldn't leave her here. So I picked her up, holding her bridal style. Even for a human, she was unusually light, and when I looked closer, I saw scars and bruises covering her face. I frowned. What's happened to her? He thought all of that at once; she hasn't kicked him yet.

Bella relaxed for a moment, until she realized what was happening to her. "HEY!! Put me down!!" She pulled her knee back and kicked me in the jaw. I didn't even flinch, instead I put on a shocked face and looked down at her. "What?!"

"I never said you could carry me!"

"Well, you obviously weren't walking!"

"I am now." I calmly set her down on her feet, and she began to storm away from me, until she began to trip. I grabbed her waist, holding her up, until I saw a pink scar on her back. I froze. Someone cut her. I felt my anger flare up.

"What the heck-"

I cut her off. "What happened to your back?" She stiffened, and turned around to face me, and glared. "It's none of your business."

"Please, Bella, I"m just trying to help."

"STOP IT!! I DO NOT need your help!!" She seemed to be having an internal rant until all of a sudden, her face went blank. "Goodbye." She turned on her heel and headed out of the woods and onto the sidewalk, towards the road. She didn't have a car, and it was starting to rain. "Wait!" I called. Maybe if she let me give her a ride home, I could get some hints about why she has words on her back and bruises all over. I grabbed her wrist firmly. Playing stupid, I asked her, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Home."

Keeping up my act, I asked "Where is your car?"

Her eyes flickered a moment."In the shop."

The rain had started coming down harder, but she hardly noticed. "Well, it's raining, so you can ride back in my car."

She started pulling on her arm, but I didn't let go. "I am quite fine with walking, thank you." She stated.

My anger flared up again as the rain washed some of the cover up away, and the bruises became more prominent. I was also getting annoyed. She was impossible. Keeping my anger in check, I reached up and pinched the bridge of my nose. Just then, Alice showed me a vision of what would happen if I let her walk. There was a small figure collapsed along the side of the road, shivering, her face white. This was like, freezing rain. I felt a strange feeling of protectiveness over her, something I had never felt before. ."You can either walk to the car or I'll carry you. Either way, you are coming with me."

She raised an eyebrow. "Why should I? I don't even know you."

I sighed. "I take it that I have to carry you."

"No, you don't because I am NOT riding with you!" She started tugging again, but I picked her up wordlessly and brought her to my car, her thrashing the entire way. "PUT ME DOWN!" she yelled, sitting in the passenger seat. As I walked around to the other side, Alice's voice popped into my head. Don't forget to lock the doors. As I sat in my seat, I saw Bella reaching for the handle. Right on time, I clicked the locks. She continued pulling the handle. "Child locks." I stated as she glared at me. "Quite fitting, aren't they?"

After that she was quiet, glaring out into the rain. When we got to her house, I stopped, and she stiffened. I decided to try something. "Please, Bella..." I murmured, looking up through my eyelashes. Her face went blank as she looked at me.

"What?" She said.

"What happened to your back?" I breathed, and leaned in a little closer. She inhaled, and looked like she was about to tell me when she realized what was happening. Her face went back to a glare. "I fell on top of a silver engraver."

Did she really think I was that stupid? "Hmmm... that's creative, but you need to make it more believable."

She rolled her eyes at me. "Whatever."

Sighing too low for her to hear, I unlocked the doors and went around to her side. I held out my hand to help her out, but she just went around it, and without a word, walked inside.

I got back into my car and hit the ignition, trying to get back to school in time to pick every one else up. The dismissal bell rang just as I pulled in.

"What was that all about?" Emmett asked when he got in with Rosalie.

"Bella was in trouble, so Alice asked me to go after her."

"Oh, do you mean emo kid?

I'm an emo kid, non- conforming as can be, you'd be non- conforming too if you looked just like me..."

I reached back and hit him upside his head.

"Hey! What was that for?!"

"She may cut herself, but I don't think it's her fault. She has bruises all over her face and cuts on her back. I think she's being abused."

"Whatsup?" Alice said as she and Jasper climbed in.

"Edward thinks that Bella's being abused."

Alice's hands tightened into fists. "What?"

"I think she's being abused. She has lots of scars and cuts on her back, and bruises everywhere."

Alice looked like she wanted to hit something. I knew she cut herself, but I didn't know it was this bad... whoever did that to her will PAY!

"Edward, I think you should check up on her tonight, just to make sure she's okay," Alice stated.

"What's the deal with this girl, anyway?!" Rosalie said, annoyed. "Obviously, she wants to be left alone, and that's what I think we should do!"

"Something's wrong with her, and I want to find out what!" Alice said. "She needs our help!"

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Do what you want with her, but leave me out of this."

She opened the door and ran into the house, Emmett right on her heels.