AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, especially cbaty, who understands that Edward adjustment to his new life, is going to take time. As always I own nothing.

~30~

EPOV-

"Teasers tea house is having a poetry reading of Edgar Allan Poe's poems. I thought you might enjoy it." Jasper says, turning on the car and looking at me.

"That sounds good, lets good." I say trying my best to smile at him.

"Edward have I told you how amazing you look tonight?" He says as we pull into Teasers parking lot and he kisses me.

Teasers was fairly deserted I noticed as Jasper and I walked.

"Jasper Hale, how can I help you?" a snooty voice asked making me look at the counter and away from the menu.

"Hello Tanya, I would like a large chi tea, hot please." He says not even looking at her. "Edward do you know what you want?"

"Um yeah I'll have the same please." I say as I pull out my wallet.

"Edward put that away, I got you covered." Jasper says as he pays and takes an order number.

"Edward? As in Carlisle Cullen's son? What are you doing hanging around trash such as Jasper Hale." Tanya asked, eying me like I was her favorite desert.

Her comment surprised me and made to look away from Jasper and towards her.

"Jasper is not trash and we are dating." I say thankful that my voice stayed strong as we left her there with her mouth hanging open staring at our retreating forms.

We were able to find a couch off to the side that was comfortable enough for us.

After we received our drinks, thankfully from a different employee, I turn to Jasper. "What was that about?" I say when I notice how quiet he had gotten.

"What, oh um… nothing. You may have noticed Rosie and I don't exactly belong in the same class as you and your family." What he was saying was confusing me. Did he not know my past, and no I'm not just talking about the abuse part I am talking about the part where I didn't have any money.

"That doesn't matter though." I start to say before I'm cut off.

"Rose gets some of that too, from a few classmates. They call her a gold digger and such." We didn't have any more time to talk at the poetry reading started.

After the lights dimmed I pulled Jasper closer into my side.

I needed to feel him there, to know that he wouldn't leave, and to know that I wasn't alone in the dark.

The poetry reading was nice, but all too soon it was over and the night was late.

"Thanks for the date Jasper. I had fun" I shyly say as we pull into my driveway.

"I'm sorry about dinner and the tea house Edward. But I also had fun with you." Jasper looked sad that the night was over. But I also knew he worked early the next day and needed to get home.

"You have nothing to apologize for Jasper. Goodnight." I say as we share a heated kiss.

"I'll um, see you later?" he asks as I open the car door.

His question made me pause as I look at him.

"Yes Jasper I'll see you later." I lean in to kiss him one more time before stepping out into the rain. "You're stuck with me Jazz." I say closing the car door and making a mad dash to the covered porch.

15 minutes later I am changed and in bed when my phone goes off.

Seeing it's a text from Jasper makes me smile as I open it.

Thank you for going out with me tonight.

Sorry about what happened.

Sleep good,

J

I frown about what it says, thinking noting that happened was his fault.

I had a lot of fun tonight, thank you again for dinner and the tea.

No need to be sorry about anything.

Sleep well,

E

P.S. Next week is my turn to take you out right? :)

I fell asleep with a smile on my face, forgetting to take my pills.

It was a sunny day as Jasper and I drive down the main road of Forks with Chinese takeout.

"Jazzy that is going to make my car smell like Chinese for a week." I say with a laugh as a light turns green.

"Oh come on babe, you know you love it." His laughter was like music.

All of a sudden the sunny sky turned black and the rain began to pelt downwards.

I lost control of the car as we hit a tree.

Quickly I looked to my right seeing Jasper there with his eyes closed.

"Jasper? No please Jazz?" I cry as I shake him.

"He's gone boy," a voice in the back seat said. "I told you, you don't deserve love, I told you that you'll never receive love."

I turned quickly and looked towards the voice. Sitting there with a twisted smile on his face was Phil.

"No, you're not really here." I say as my body begins to shake.

"Oh Edward don't you know you'll NEVER be free of me. I own you, you boy are MINE!"

I woke up with sweet running down my body, my heart beating uncontrollably. I was back in my bed, the nightmare being nothing more than that, a nightmare.

I fell back to sleep a few hours later, thankful this time to have no dreams.

Tuesday evening- December 14th

Jasper was watching a movie, Dispicable Me. Don't ask me what it's about though, I have been lost in thought for at least an hour.

I yearn to get lost in his touch, to forget my past and just be someone who's normal.

"Edward, is everything ok?" Jasper asks pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yes Jasper everything is fine." I say as I give him a fake smile.

I couldn't tell him the truth of what was going on.

He'd leave me.

And I wasn't sure I could handle him leaving.

I needed him, he was my strength and he's my roots to reality.

"Edward, are you sure? You've been very distant lately, what's going on in that head of yours?" he pulls out of my arms so he can turn and look at me.

I could feel his eyes searching my face for any clue as to what I'm thinking. But I wasn't giving anything away; I knew he wouldn't find anything in my eyes.

How was I to tell him that not even the sleeping pills made sleep possible for me? That every night the man that haunted me in real life haunts me even now, every time I close my eyes.

How could I tell Jasper that sometime for a split second that he touches me it's not his touch I feel but another's, a monsters.

And when I am alone, all I can think about are my scars and how I received them.

Phil never scared me without a reason. The beatings weren't my punishments. My punishments came in a form of scars.

How much did Jasper even know about me?

How much did my family know about me?

And how long would they put up with me and my horrible past that won't leave me be?

AN: Ok there it is. Hope you liked it. Sorry about the length I've been trying to get longer chapter out but I have one final tonight, another Tuesday and then the last one on Wednesday. Wish me luck. Leave me love they make me happy and want to update more.

This one got out faster than intended because of all the wonderful reviews I received.