AN: Alright everyone here is the next chapter that I hope everyone enjoys. As always I don't own any of the characters... *tear* lol.

Previously On If No One Will Listen:

If I wasn't going to let anyone else help me then I was going to do it. With or without people's help I was going to live up to my fears and just let me be me, the old Bella. The Strong Bella, because I'll be damned if I was going to end up like the girl who got killed by her husband because she didn't take a stand for herself.

Chapter Eleven

No More Protector…

The morning passed in a blur, I had skipped breakfast. I was too afraid that I would run into someone… Classes went pass me easily but I was distracted, I kept thinking about that woman and her husband. I looked up at the sky and sighed. I had to talk to Chris to tell him that I was sorry for lashing out at him, it wasn't his fault.

Before I could change my mind I was knocking on his door. "Bella?" he whispered right when he opened the door. He had bags under his eyes and I had never seen him look so weak before.

"Hey do you mind if I come in for a quick second?" I asked and he immediately opened the door letting me pass him. I sat down on the floor across from his bed and leaned against Blake's. "Blake has classes this afternoon?"

"Uh yeah…" He sighed and slumped down onto his bed. "Look Bella I'm-" he started to say but I easily cut him off.

"Don't apologize Chris it isn't needed. I took my frustrations out on you like I always do." Chris shook his head and was about to interrupt. "Seriously Chris this isn't your fault and what I said was a lie, you've been my hero not just because you're strong but because if I hadn't of had your shoulder to cry on I don't think I would have been able to of made it through. I should be thanking you not yelling at you."

He rubbed his temple with his fingers, "Bella I should have been there… you called and you needed me."

I smiled at him sadly. "I do need you but not to fight my battles for me like I had thought. Last night I thought a lot about what happened and right now I think I should stop putting so much faith for someone to always take care of me because then when that person is gone and has other things to do I won't know how to be able to take care of myself. I need to take care of myself."

"You don't have to do it by yourself Bella." He said sternly as his eyes flashed to mine.

I nodded in agreement, "I have the best friends a girl could ask for, but I want to be able to stand on my own too. And if I fall I want them to catch, but at least I would have stood up for myself. I don't know if this makes any sense… I just don't want to be the person who has to rely on someone for something I want to go get it myself."

He let out a groan. "I understand but I don't want to just stop being there for you."

My eyes widened, "No I want you to be there for me but as my friend not my protector or my body guard. I just think it's time for me to fight my own fights." I shook my head to clear my thoughts and then smiled. "So how are things with Jenny hmm?"

"Fine," he laughed with a shrug. "Actually I think I'm going to ask her out maybe…" I smiled a huge grin.

"That's awesome!" I squealed and got up and gave him a hug.

He caught my hands when I pulled away and he looked down at my wrists. "Can I be your friend in about thirty minutes…? I just need to go kill someone real quick," he growled seeing the bruises.

I laughed at him and took my hands away, "You should see his face, I kicked the crap out of it." He gave me another hug and kissed the side of my head.

"I'm glad you're no longer pissed at me," I nodded with a laugh.

"Honestly I don't think I was ever mad at you just more at myself… I like to pick on people that care about. I know it's sick."

He laughed at me and gave me another squeeze before he let go. "Are you hungry? I was about to go get something to eat when you came by." I nodded and we both got up and walked to the door.

Lunch was easy and painless, and when it was over I invited him and Blake over to my dorm for movies with me and Jenny if she wasn't going to a party. Chris immediately lit up when I said Jenny might be there. I would have to have a talk with Jenny to make sure she didn't hurt Chris.

As I walked back to my dorm I texted Rose, Emmett, Jasper, Edward, Alice, and Jenny saying that it was movie night and to come if they wanted to. I was setting up the movie choices when Jenny busted through the door. "Is Chris coming?" she asked excitedly and I smirked it looked like he wasn't the only one happy about the other.

I nodded but then turned serious. "Oh don't worry Bella I'm not gonna do anything to him… unless he tells me to do it." Jenny said and she grew a smirk on her face when she said the last part.

"Eww ok he's like my brother please don't say that stuff in front of me," I said shaking my head roughly to try to erase what she had said. She laughed at me and then went to the movies I had picked.

"Ooh that's a good one," she said pointing to 'What Women Really Want'.

I laughed at her and shook my head, "That's out for kind of a joke… the last time we had a movie night we watched that and it was total torture." She laughed and continued to go through the movie selections I had picked.

Chris and Blake were the first to arrive and when they did Chris went immediately to Jenny's side. I smiled slightly at them and Blake laughed at me, "Weird huh?" I nodded in agreement to what he said. It was definitely weird to see Jenny with someone much less Chris with someone.

"So do you know who all is coming?" Jenny asked as her and Chris sat down together on her bed. I shrugged innocently.

"I don't know seeing as I haven't checked my phone lately." I said.

We all sat down and started to talk and it wasn't too long before a knock came to our door, Jenny quickly excused herself and opened it revealing Rose, Alice, Jasper, and Emmett. No Edward. "Hey guys c'mon in."

I walked over to them and gave Emmett a hug and then proceeded to give one to the rest of them. "Are you okay?" Alice whispered when I pulled her in.

I nodded, "Yeah I'm good… Hey where's Edward?" I asked and she looked behind her as if she thought he was behind her.

"He was right behind us…" I pursed my lips and edged everyone forward and then stepped out of the room telling everyone to pick a movie out of the stack.

Edward was leaning against the wall with his head up, looking at the ceiling. "Are you gonna stay out here all night?" I asked quietly walking over to him. He looked down at me and sort of smiled even a dog would have known it was forced.

He shrugged and then ran a hand through his hair. "Do you… want me to go in there?"

I raised both of my eyebrows at him, "I wouldn't have invited you if I didn't."

"I just thought after yesterday you'd want some time alone… I mean did you want to be alone? It seemed like you did…" he said struggling for his words.

I sighed, "I'm sorry I was a bitch to you after I woke up… it's just well it was kind of weird to wake up and you be there. Not in a bad way or anything, not like I don't want to be around you or anything… just weird because of what- because of the past." I finally spit out.

He chuckled a little at my ramble. "I think you have an excuse to be a little bit of a bitch… I mean yesterday was kind of… rough."

"Yeah you could say that. Edward," I sighed and I stepped forward so that I was only like five inches away from his chest. "I miss being able to talk to you… I want to go back to the way things were, you know us being friends. I don't want to think about you being my ex boyfriend, I want to think of you as my friend that I would do anything for." He smiled at me and lifted his hand to move a piece of hair behind my ear.

"You want to be friends with me?" he asked quietly as his eyes gleamed.

I laughed lightly, "I thought you kind of already were my friend."

"Only if you want me to be." I gulped as he leaned down a little bit and I stepped away quickly when I heard a loud bang from down the hall.

I took in a deep breath before walking over to my dorm door, "You coming?" I asked looking over my shoulder at him. He was watching me with some emotion in his eyes and after a second he nodded and followed me in.

Alright guys... you know the drill you review and then I give you a preview! lol. The next chapter will be EPOV just so you know... and for everyone's info I had so much fun writing it!