Disclaimer: People actually know who Smeyer is. I'm am not famous.

Author's Note: I want to thank everyone who had reviewed me, added me to favorites or both. I can't express my thanks enough. You are wonderful and your compliments and opinions have both helped and encouraged me. You're a great bunch. This chapter is for Mikayla…..D.H.D!!

Chapter Four

The days following the night I gave myself to James were lovely. My memories of them are vivid. If I had thought I was spending a lot of time with James before we had made love, it was nothing compared with the amount of time we spent together afterward. He constantly took me hiking, fishing, to the library, for walks through town, and once, even ice skating. Ice skating, like anything that requires a bit of coordination, was a bit of a challenge for me. My clumsiness is pretty unbelievable. With James holding me, though, I somehow managed to get through the whole ordeal with very few problems. I did fall, of course, but only once which is a record for me. James was kinder than he had ever been, kind enough to make me almost completely forget the one time he had seemed to angry with me when I had come to visit him early on during our relationship. I still visited his house on Thursdays religiously only now, we did quite a bit more than kiss. In fact, a Thursday didn't often pass when we didn't go all the way. I didn't feel the least bit guilty about my behavior, though I should have. I had always thought that I would immediately regret losing my virginity if I lost in during my teenage years. I was wrong. When I was eighteen, I didn't regret losing it at all. I was very set on marrying James on a few years. I didn't know exactly how I would work that out, but I was formulating options in my mind. I knew I would have to explain to Charlie that relations with James were romantic. That would be no easy task but, if I wanted to have James forever, it would have to be done. The way I looked at it, I had until the end of senior year to work out what I was going to tell my father. That gave me plenty of time. When you're young, six months seems like ages. I still had to get through that amount of time before I graduated. Sadly for me, however, that time went by far quicker than I ever expected it would. Before I knew it, it was Christmas time.

The Christmas of my senior was remarkable in several ways. The first was that I actually had a conversation with Edward Masen, whom I had very nearly forgotten about. The second was that I came to face to face with the handiwork of my Peeping Tom and I had to deal with the consequences. The third was that James and I had our fist real fight. All of these events are related to one another. Allow me to explain. The day I completed my midterm exams, I was thrilled, as ever, to be out of school. I couldn't put into words how great it felt to be away from everyone there. I was incredibly tired of having to force myself to listen to the shallow problems of the other people at school. I found their wants and desires childish and hard to relate to. I was looking forward to spending a blissful few weeks with James. He was all the company I wanted. As I was walking to the school parking lot after my final exam, I came across Edward Masen getting into his Volvo. I didn't say anything to him. I didn't expect him to acknowledge my existence, why break the habit of a lifetime? To my surprise, Edward Masen looked at me and said, "Bella," at the sound of my name on his tongue, something inside me shifted. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was though so I did my best to ignore the feeling that had just gripped my insides. "Bella, could you hang on a minute?"

I was still utterly confused by his sudden attention to me but I was polite. "Yeah sure. What's going on Edward?"

"Well, I would like to have a…a word with you if you have time. Would you like to go get something to eat?" His eyes looked hopeful, maybe even desperate. I couldn't believe it. A year earlier I would have given an arm and a leg to eat out with Edward Masen but by Christmas of my last year in high school, I couldn't have cared less about doing that. James was the only person I could focus on at that point. Thinking of James caused me to make a decision right there. I couldn't go to eat with Edward. Doing so would make me feel as though I were betraying James. I didn't want to carry around that kind of guilt. I didn't want to imagine the hurt look on James's face if he ever found out I had gone on something of a date with someone other than him. In the back of my mind, I also recalled James's anger with me that day five weeks into our relationship. I wanted to prevent James from flying into another rage of sorts if I could help it. I hated disappointing him.

"I'm sorry, Edward." I replied, "I have to-"

"Please Bella," his voiced sounded as though he was pleading now, "Bella, I have something important to tell you, something you need to know."

His voice sounded so serious, so severe that my curiosity got the better of me. I had to see what he was bursting to tell me. "All right," I relented in a soft voice, "but let's make it quick, okay?"

Edward nodded reassuringly. "Done. Thank you for agreeing to listen. I'm planning on going to that cheesy little café on the north side of town. You can follow me in your truck if you don't want to hitch a ride with me."

I knew better than to ride with Edward. Riding with him had the potential to really make me look bad. At least if I drove my own car, it would look less like I was going on a date with him. "Um, I'll drive my truck." I confirmed.

"Whatever works for you." Edward flashed me a charming smile and hopped into the front seat of his shiny car. Within moments, I was following him out of the school parking lot and toward the outskirts of Forks. While I was driving, I became a prey to my thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder why Edward wanted to take me so far away from the center of town. What did he have to tell me that was so top secret? He barely knew me. The situation was incredibly bizarre.

When I at last arrived at the café, my head was spinning with questions. Edward was standing outside the restaurant, waiting for me. As he smiled, I felt my insides get that same woozy feeling they had experienced the first time he had graced me with his crooked half smile. I mentally shook myself. I couldn't allow myself to even think of Edward that way, it was a disrespect to James, my lover and my friend. I believed James was all I ever could have asked for and I felt disgusted with myself for even looking at another male the way I looked at James. I just wasn't grateful enough for what I had.

Edward and I made our way inside and speedily found a table at which we could sit. I decided to get right down to business. "So, what have you got to tell me?"

Luckily for me, Edward got straight to the point as quickly as I had. "It's about James Brun." I gasped with shock before I could stop myself. Edward pronounced James's name as if he knew every detail of my relationship with him. Even though I knew that was impossible, I shuddered anyway. Edward went on. "I think you should stay away from him."

I felt a burst of anger rise in my chest. How was it Edward's place to tell me who I could pass my time with? Why did he care? He didn't know half the things about James that I knew. "James is my friend," I snapped indignantly, "I'll spend as much time with him as I want to."

Edward's voice was still calm. "I'm not forbidding you to spend time with him, Bella, I am simply advising you not to do it. I can't stop you."

Just as I was about to tell him that he was right, he absolutely could not stop me from seeing James, the door to the café swung open and the man Edward and I had just spend the last few moments discussing entered the room. My heart sank. This was the last place I wanted to see James.

It didn't take James five seconds to spot us the corner of the restaurant. "Bella!" he shouted, his face red with rage, "what the hell are you doing here?"

There was silence in the restaurant. No one said anything. James seemed so powerful, so furious that no one dared to speak a word. I desperately wanted to know how on Earth James had discovered where I was but I wasn't about to ask that just then. I had a feeling that a question like that would only make James more upset. When I didn't answer him, James attempted to make his expression softer. He lowered his voice, "Get in your car, Bella. We're going to my place." He no longer seemed angry, just annoyed. I wasn't afraid of him. In fact, I wanted to follow him out of the restaurant and go to his place. I didn't blame him for being angry. After all, I was his girlfriend, I was doing a terrible thing by hanging out with Edward.

"Okay, James, I'm coming."

"Good." James replied, a bit gruffly. "That's what I like to hear." I walked out of the restaurant without even looking back at Edward Masen. I didn't care what he had to say. He didn't know anything about James and he had no right or reason to get into my personal business, none whatsoever.

James got into his car and I got into my truck. Swiftly, we made our way back to his house. I got more and more excited as I got closer. I had a feeling I was in for a very pleasant afternoon. By the time I reached his residence, I rushed inside, unable to conceal my eagerness. James's car was parked outside and I assumed he had already gone inside. I walked into the house without knocking. I no longer felt the need to do that anymore. I was a regular guest in James's home. "James?" I called. When there was no answer, I tried again. "James?"

"What is it, you little whore?" demanded James in a voice more frightening than I had ever heard him use, "What do you want? Do you want to tell me what a wonderful time you had with Edward Masen? I guess I'm not good enough, am I? I can't complete with the charming, sweet, polite-"

"James!" I exclaimed, cutting him off, "It's not like that! If you'd only let me explain."

"Never." James retorted, his voice becoming more and more sharp by the second. "Why should I let you explain? You will do nothing but lie? You've proven to me that I can't trust you, Bella, and for that you must be punished." With these words, James took a firm grip on my arm.

"James," I said, my voice trembling, "James, please."

James didn't reply. I saw him make a powerful fist, raise it above my head and sink it into my eye. I let out a cry, more of shock than pain, as his fist hit my face over and over again. Eventually, I could take it no more. I lost consciousness and collapsed in a heap at his feet. I remember no more about that day.

AN- Weird place to leave you hanging, I know. You can expect more tomorrow though. You'll find out who Bella's "Peeping Tom" comes into this mess. Things are only going to get crazier. Thanks for your time.