A/N: Well hello there lovelies :) Here in the UK it has just turned 1:30am. So technically this is a bit late but I don't really count it as "tomorrow" until I've been to sleep and woken up :)

So yeah, I'm still on time!

In reply to some messages I received, I am trying to make the chapters longer, but I get bored reading too long chapters, especially if not alot happens and it just a lot of filler.

I'd rather have short chapters that leave you wanting more, but that's just my opinion...

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this, and here's a little friendly warning within the next few chapters things are going to get quite dark for Bella, and I can already hear you moaning and groaning and shouting "get to the sex!" ;) but please believe me when I say all this is neccessary to build a concrete and believable relationship between the two of them. Because let's be honest, no one goes from barely knowing a person to declaring their love to one another after one afternoon...

Please leave me a review, even if it's just a happy or a sad face... :D

I do not own Twilight, but I do own a lot of Diet Coke (Y) :)

Happy Reading!

Frenchy_x

Chapter Sixteen: BPOV

I was sick of crying.

It seemed that all I'd done this past week was faint or cry and I'd had enough.

Taking a deep calming breath I across and saw Edward run his hands through his hair.

He looked positively livid.

"Edward?" My voice sounded raspy and small. I raised my arm and stroked his face softly.

He didn't stop me in fact he seemed to like it. His eyes slowly met mine and he leant into my fingers slightly.

"On the first day we met..." he spoke through clenched teeth but still sounded like an angel. "when Jessica mentioned Jacob...and you...she knew?" I remembered that afternoon perfectly.

My first of many breakdowns in front of Edward Cullen.

I pulled my arm back and wrapped both my arms around my knees and nodded.

I didn't think I could speak again without crying.

He took in sharp breath and almost immediately let it out in a large huff through his nose. I risked another glance and he was standing.

I hadn't even heard him move.

"I. Could. Fucking. Kill. Her" the words were short and clipped. "How DARE she do that to you..." his arms flayed uselessly. Like he wanted to hit something.

I stood and closed the distance between us.

I don't know where I found this courage but I think I like it.

I put my two hands on either side of his neck and forced him to look at me.

"Edward, breathe" I exaggerated taking a breath. Twice. Three times before he started playing along with me. His neck lolled forward and his forehead rested against mine tenderly.

It was just like back at the house, the atmosphere changed all at once. It crackled with energy. I saw his eyes darken again and I tried to back away before he did.

But he held me firm.

"Bella..." he breathed my name and leaned in a couple of inches. His breath enveloped my face and I found myself inhaling greedily. My breath was coming in shallow pants and I realised my hands were still on his neck.

Lifting my arms up I maneuvered them until they were tickling the nape of his neck where his hair ended. I ran my fingers through his hair softly.

It was exquisite.

I felt rather than saw Edward bring one hand up to cup my face whilst his fingers on his other hand danced up my arm, down my ribs and settled on my waist.

His touch left a trail of fire in it's path.

"Bella..." I felt his lips brush mine as he spoke and my own puckered automatically, he took that as a yes a closed the last quarter inch.

His lips were soft yet hard on mine, he kissed me firmly but he gripped my body tighter. At first I was unresponsive, I had no idea what to do! But he was patient and when he slowly coaxed my mouth open and I felt his tongue graze my bottom lip the slow burn building within me ignited. There was no space between us as I tightened my grip on his neck and flung myself into the moment. My mouth opened and his tongue wasted to time in dominating the now available space. He moaned deeply into my mouth and the sound made my stomach clench.

The pleasure was indescribable and I couldn't help but whimper back.

He squeezed me to get me closer and that's where it all went wrong. I gasped in pain as he squeezed my broken rib and I cried out as I hit the ground.

Fucking Ow!

He looked down at me and looked panicked.

"Shit Bella, this is why I wasn't supposed to fucking touch you!" he sounded on the verge of tears and I forced myself into a seating position.

"Edward, I'm fine. Really. Next time, just be more gentle" I smiled at him softly.

"Next time?" his lip curled in disgust "I don't think so Bella. I'm not good for you" He ran his hands through his hair and he took a few steps backwards "I...I..can't do this." With that he turned and sprinted into the forest. Leaving me alone in the meadow

The pain that lanced through my chest took my breath away

I thought...

You thought what Bella? That someone as beautiful, intelligent, funny or amazing as Edward would be remotely interested in a waste of space like you?

The truth of my words punched a hole through my chest, my entire body ached and I knew it was nothing to do with my injuries.

I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

But I knew I had a lot of walking to do to make it back to the ca...

Shit.

I hadn't even brought my own car.

Well best get started if I wanted to limp my way home by sundown.

Standing awkwardly I headed down the path I had never walked alone in my life. But every so often out of the corner of my eye I would see someone walking a few feet behind me.

Even in death Jake would always protect me.

At least I'd kept one of my promises.

I didn't cry.

What felt like weeks later, but in all honesty was about two hours I emerged from the forest. The silver Volvo was gone but the skid marks on the grassy verge weren't.

He really wanted to get away from you Bells.

Don't I know it.

Turning behind me I whispered a thank you to Jake for keeping an eye out for me and the trees rustled in return.

I smiled softly.

The walk had done a number on my already fucked up knee though I could hardly walk on it as I tried to make it back to town.

With every crunch the bones in my knee made I cursed Edward Cullen's name.

But with every sigh that left my mouth I thanked him for being there this afternoon. Despite what happened I felt lighter.

I'd never told anyone about Jake's death, mostly because everyone knew; small town and all that. But it felt amazing to get it off my chest.

The sky was just beginning to darken when I finally reached the town limit.

Hopefully I'd make it home before Renee and could clean myself up a bit. She'd have a fit if she could see me now.

I tried to walk faster, and cut through an alley to save time. I'd used this shortcut a thousand times.

Unfortunately it was at this moment that my body chose to fail me and I crumpled to the ground.

Agony ripped through my leg, so acute I think I blacked out.

When I came round I rolled onto my back and promptly threw up next to my head.

This was how I was going to die.

Alone, in an alley, covered in my own vomit.

An apt way to die I suppose...

I told myself that if I could rest for a minute I would have the strength to make it home.

I let my eyelids flutter closed and my body gave in to exhaustion.

Some time later I woke up. Where the fuck was I?

Looking round I saw that I was in fact in an alley, it was pitch dark and I was lying on the ground.

Sitting up I tried to remember how I'd gotten here when the days activities came flooding back.

I felt exhausted all over again.

But this time rather than succumb to it I fought it. I wobbled my way to my feet and limped in the general direction of the town centre.

Someone could help me.

Because for the life of me I couldn't remember where I lived.

I stumbled out of the alley and into the main street. I hobbled along the sidewalk gripping onto the walls for support.

I was fine until I caught site of myself in a store window.

My jeans were torn and bloody, my hair was matted with blood and snarled in million different directions. I still had my black eye and bust lip from before and my shirt had a huge tear in it.

Fucking Hell.

I looked like I belonged in a horror movie.

Closing my eyes I pushed off from the wall again in search of help. A car drove around the corner and I waved it down. It's blinker indicated it was stopping on my side of the road.

Thank goodness.

The driver rolled down the window I recognised the driver as James DeCarteret. A senior from school.

"Bella Swan?" his voice sounded appalled "What the fuck happened to you?" He was immediately out of the car and was lowering me onto the sidewalk.

I was too tired to complain or resist.

"I got lost in the woods and I fell down off some rocks." Sounded plausible "I...I can't remember where I live and I can't walk very good" My voice sounded thick with tears but I was sticking to my promise of not crying.

"Holy Shit! Here come on! I'll drive you home" He put one arm around my waist and lifted me slowly into a standing position. He helped me hobble round to the passenger side of his care then lowered me in before attaching my seatbelt.

He then jogged round to the drivers side and started the engine.

"Thank you" I whispered.

"It's not problem Bella. I'd be a bastard if I just left you there with a busted knee and no way to get home" He smiled at me. But it wasn't a warm or friendly smile. It was a smile that made my blood freeze and my spine tingle.

It was a smile that said predator.

Which was nonsense.

James had been nothing but exceptionally friendly to me. Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought.

"Yeah...but thanks" I smiled back at him and he winked.

I felt suddenly nauseous.

Please don't let me throw up in his car...

Taking deep breaths I saw as he pulled onto a street I recognised as my own.

Oh, so I do remember where I lived. Good to know.

"Here you are Bella" He stopped the car and applied the hand brake.

"Thank you so much James." I opened my door and stepped out.

"See you at school Bella" and again he gave me that smile that terrified me.

Plastering on a 100 watt smile I backed away from the car and waved then limped up the front path toward home.

Now to face Renee...

I needn't have worried. She was passed out and drunk on the sofa by the time I got home. Looked like she had been for a while. I cleaned her up as best I could then placed a blanket over her so she wouldn't get cold.

I struggled up the steps to my bedroom then collapsed on my bed.

I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.