okay i know i was being selfish but m really sorry for the wait!i was sick and then school caught up with me n bla bla bla. i was booked solid!m really sorry but this time i swear the next chp will be out soon cuz i've already started writing it.:)

a big shoutout and thank you to my beta cute puppies for her help and most of all, for being my beta in the first place!love you hun!

DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns every thing Twilight(lucky woman!) n only this story n its plot is mine.i know, it sucks!BIG TIME!

...

Chapter 7 Savior

BPOV

I stood frozen on the spot. I couldn't wrap my head around anything. It felt like everything that happened since I ran away from Billy's house and leading upto this point was a dream and now suddenly someone threw a bucket of cold water on me and I woke up. I couldn't even be sure if it was a dream or not. But surely I couldn't have dreamt all that up…Edward and his beauty, that connection and spark I felt in his presence or when our skins made contact, the Cullens and their mansion…But then again we all dream about our prince charmings and their perfection, when they don't even exist in real.

The cool night air blew around me, making me shiver violently.

God, I wish I atleast I had a sweater.

I turned around and looked at the tiny old red house, I couldn't go back in there. If I do, Billy would force me to get the bar dancing job with Sue. And then I realized something and my heart sank even more. I had blurted out to Edward in the meadow all about Billy's intentions of forcing me into this kind of thing. He had acted furiously upon hearing that and looked like he was ready to kill Billy at that moment. If he was so against that, then why did he leave me here? He knew what would happen. Or did he just not care about that? And so was he mad at me because I didn't listen to my "father"?

I chuckled humorlessly at my stupidity then. Stupid me! Of course he did not care about that! Why would he? I am just an ugly, poor girl. Here I was thinking that Edward cared even a little about me. I shook my head at myself. He was beautiful and perfect in every way, while I was messed up and hideous. He was graceful while I was the goddess of clumsiness and awkwardness. He was an Adonis while I was imperfect in simpler words he was everything I'm not.

But I was a little glad because no matter how Edward and his family felt like light at the end of my dark tunnel but turned out to be just a glimpse of it, the only good moments of my life which I was blessed with to cherish for the rest of my life, they were still the only light I was ever gonna see.

It was a feat to get my mind off of the Cullens and especially Edward to focus on the situation at hand. So, if I don't want to go to Billy's house, where else would I go? I don't even know much about the world and people. I started panicking when I realized I had nowhere to go. I can't wander off on the roads. Alone. I can't go to Billy's house. There wasn't anyone on La Push that would take me in because they're friends with Billy and I didn't know the others. Where would I go?

I was close to hyperventilation when a car screeched to a halt behind me and I spun around. What or who I saw was NOT what I expected. Actually I didn't expect anyone in the first place, but Edward and Alice? No friggin' way! They both ran towards me with worried expressions after slamming the car doors. Alice came and hugged me tightly. How she got that much energy in her tiny body was beyond me. I could only think one thing.

Edward's here. He came back.

My heart was pounding in my chest with relief, and my eyes started to sting with happiness. He was back, he wanted to keep me safe! I felt an urgent need to hug him, to kiss his soft red lips. I stared at confusion and most of all, happiness. My eyes locked with his and I couldn't look anywhere else even if I wanted to. His face looked aged with guilt, anger, worry, relief but there was something else in his eyes that I couldn't recognize. Something very intense.

Alice pulled back with a worried yet relieved look on her pixie-like features. Her golden eyes were shining with genuine concern. She started speaking quickly in her tinkling voice.

"Oh my God, Bella! How are you? I was so mad at Edward when he came back after dropping you off. Are you okay, Bella? I'm so sorry. My brother's an ass-"

"Why are you here?" I asked, cutting her off, looking directly at Edward. He just averted his eyes to the ground while Alice replied.

"Edward told me about your dad's intentions. I'm so sorry Bella! When he told me, I just grabbed him and dragged him here. We just couldn't leave you to this", she motioned towards the house behind me. "Bella, you're coming with us."

At this, I looked away from Edward's face at her determined one.

"W-what?" Why would she want that?

"You're coming with us", she repeated in a voice that said "no argument". But I couldn't not argue. She didn't have to do this. She didn't have to feel like she's bound to do this.

"No. I can't. Alice just because you found me that doesn't entail taking care of me. Please, you're not bound to do anything for me. Go home and forget about me." I couldn't take her up on her offer. After all, she's doing this just out of guilt or pity. Even though it was my only chance to ever get out of this, I couldn't use the Cullens for that and become a burden for them.

"Bella, I'm doing this because I want to. I care about you, even though we just met, but I think of you as my friend. My only friend. Please, just come with us."

I was about to argue but she widened her eyes and pushed her bottom lip out in a pout. She looked so helpless, like a lost puppy. My resolve crumbled a little. Her eyes then widened more and became watery and her bottom lip trembled. I was a goner.

"Fine", I said, defeated.

Edward looked up with a hopeful look in his eyes and a small smile. Alice squealed loudly and clapped her hands while jumping up and down. I just gave both of them a little smile.

Edward took a step towards me and opened his mouth to say something but suddenly I heard the voice that I hated the most instead of Edward's musical and velvety one which I loved.

"Bella? Is that you?"

I slowly turned around and came face to face with the face I hate the most. Dread filled me and consumed my every cell. My legs started to shake lightly making me lose my balance. I was about to do a big face plant when suddenly a pair of icy cold strong hands went out and broke my fall. I blinked twice and looked at Edward, wondering how in the world he did that. Edward's golden eyes held something that made me flinch. Was it guilt? Regret? Sorrow? I couldn't be so sure. Edward set me upon my feet and looked away quickly. His expression hardened when he faced Jacob.

"J-Ja-Jacob", I stammered.

"What the hell are you doing outside? And who are they?" he asked me in a dangerous voice.

Edward quickly stepped forward and stood in front of me, hiding me from him.

"Who are you?" he asked in an angry tone. Even angry, his voice was beautiful.

"I'm Jacob Black. Her brother. She's not allowed to go outside and talk to strangers. Who are you by the way?" Jacob said in a menacing voice and seemed to be sizing Edward up.

Alice came by my side and held my hand firmly in her strong and cold one.

"We're her friends", she replied in an equally hard voice, which shocked me because she appeared to be always chirpy and soft.

"Friends?" Jacob scoffed in his obnoxious voice.

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" Edward replied this time. He wrapped an arm around my waist and held me to his back firmly. I wrapped my arms around his forearm and hid half of my face in his shoulder.

"Of course I have a problem with that. Didn't you hear me? She's not allowed to go outside. Or make friends. Now come on Bella let's go. Billy will be excited to hear this", Jacob said and then laughed at the end obviously imagining what punishment Billy would give me for running away and making friends.

Edward froze and I could feel his anger radiating off of him.

"She's NOT going anywhere", he almost growled his words through his teeth.

Jacob frowned and looked between him and me. I was clutching Edward's arm for my dear life and he was standing in front of me shielding me from Jacob's glare.

"And who the hell are YOU to tell ME that? I'm her brother and she'll do whatever I tell her to!" Jacob glared at me and came forward. I hid behind Edward more so that he couldn't touch me. My lips trembled from the fear. But as soon as Jacob's hand grabbed my arm forcefully and my yelp of pain broke through me, Edward growled loudly and threw him off of me. He went flying at least ten feet back and cried out in pain, clutching his shoulder where Edward had grabbed him. Edward went to him, with me still holding onto his arm firmly, and looked down at him and threatened him in his beautiful menacing voice.

"Don't you even as much as think of touching her with any kind of intention of hurting her, or I'll end you."

"I have every right to touch her anyway I want. You leave us the hell alone, freaks!" Jacob told him and started to get up.

"I'm not leaving her until she says so. And I'm here to protect her so I'm taking her with me and away from this hell and you!" Edward spat at him.

"We will find you", Jacob threatened me darkly.

I just clutched Edward's arm more tightly. So tightly that I thought he might bruise but, I don't think he even noticed.

"We'll see about that", Edward replied with venom in his tone.

He wrapped an arm around me and I hid my face in his chest, and he led me away from him and towards the car which was already purring, with Alice in the driving seat.

We left Jacob behind and I couldn't be any more relieved though I was still holding onto Edward firmly.

He climbed into the backseat with me and Alice screeched out of La Push.

During the whole ride none of us spoke. My face was hidden in Edward's chest, heavily breathing in his intoxicating scent while he just held me tenderly and rubbed soothing circles at my arm. I couldn't believe what had happened just minutes ago. Edward protected me from Jacob. I never thought that could happen, that anyone can save me from him or Billy. I really thought he was going to take me away and Billy would have either killed me or beaten me up so bad, I would have died days later. The thing that puzzled me most was how Edward protected me. He was almost ready to kill Jacob because of the things he said. And right now he was holding me and comforting me, trying to soothe out my nerves. Why? Why did he protect me so furiously? Did he care that much about me? Why? I wasn't even pretty and we had just met, even though I felt things so strongly about him just after meeting him, but why him? The fact that he cared about me so much was confusing but was the only answer to his actions tonight.

Suddenly the car stopped and Alice got out while Edward helped me out of the car. He turned towards Alice and broke the silence.

"Alice, we'll be inside in a minute". Alice just nodded and gave me a comforting smile which I returned, and skipped in the house. To have her grace for a day…

Edward turned towards me and looked down. I scrunched my eyebrows together. What's up with him?

"Bella…I…I know that I don't deserve this but..." he finally looked up with guilt covering his beautiful features and continued in a very guilty voice. "I'm truly sorry for leaving you there. I shouldn't have done that. Especially after you told me everything about your dad! God, I was so stupid, Bella! Please forgive me! I know I did a terrible thing Bella, and I'm really sorry for that! I never meant to hurt you! Never! I just-"

I cut his hysterical rambling off with a smile, "Edward stop. It's okay. I forgive you. It wasn't that much of a big mistake."

"Thank you Bella. But yes it was a big mistake."

"No it wasn't. And stop feeling guilty. Please", I disagreed with him.

"No, Bella. I can't not feel guilty about that. If Alice wouldn't have dragged me there, I don't even want to imagine what would have happened", he shook his head.

"Edward, please, it's okay. Really. You came and then you protected me from Jacob and that really means a lot to me. You did something no one has ever done for me. Thank you, Edward. For everything. I'll always be grateful for you and Alice and of course your family for taking me in and supporting me while I had no one. I don't know what might have happened today if you weren't there. Actually, I do know. Billy would have killed me or hurt me enough to make me want to kill myself", I started sniffing at the end because it was true. If he wasn't there tonight, who knows where I would be and what condition I would be in right now. Probably under a tombstone…

Edward took a step forward and wrapped his arms around me hesitantly. I hugged him back and cried into his chest.

"Ssshh, Bella. It's okay now. Nobody's going to hurt you anymore, I won't let them. You're safe. I'm here and I'll protect you", he promised me firmly.

I looked up at him with teary eyes and asked him the question I wanted to the most at this point.

"W-Why?" I managed to get it out breathy but he heard me.

He smiled and looked in my eyes intensely, with an emotion in his that I couldn't figure out.

"Because I care about you Bella. More than you can imagine."

…

do tell me what you thought!:)

m also open to any suggestions or recommendations or advices or any kind of critic regarding this story and feel free to ask any questions you want.:)

REVIEW!

~Qareena