I tried to ignore him for a long time, I tried to make myself believe he would forget about it and let me go home. Edward didn't, he rested before me calm and collected, shifting every now and then in his seat, sighing occasionally even running his long fingers through his tousled bronze hair. I tapped my foot nervously never gaining confidence to speak till he did.

"So-"

"I just got drunk at my friend Rosalie's house, I made a mistake in houses and that's all." I didn't let him finish, my words were rushed and nervous, my cheeks were beginning to burn. He smirked a tiny bit before taking a sip of his coffee and replying in his smooth, calm, collected voice.

"Why?"

I bit my lip in irritation, but quickly hid it by ducking my head and smoothing out my ridiculously wrinkled dress. If anything was more humiliating then trying to explain anything to Edward, it was sitting before him in a wrinkled dress and fuzzy hair. I softly laid my hands back on the table in front of my tea taking a deep breath.

"I don't know…" I sighed looking up at the door calculating how fast I could run out without him catching me. His next gesture however tied me to my seat, it ran chills up my side, warmth down my body… a tickle in-between my thighs. I analyzed his hand touching mine, so delicately. I watched his squeezed my hand gently rubbing his thumb across mine. My heart was beating out of my chest, blood was flooding my cheeks and suddenly I couldn't even remember one thought.

"You can tell me Bella." It was as if his words were in slow motion, I watched his lips move so smoothly. I was terrified of looking into his eyes, I ducked my head again. All too soon he released my hand and my heart.

"I w-was just m-mad." I stuttered trying to compose myself. I almost felt as if I was going to cry and I didn't even know why.

"At who?" He urged, I saw his hand twitch slightly, I liked t imagine he wanted to touch my hand again; he wanted to make it better. More emotions flooded me that familiar stinging began to torture my eyes. I decide I hate Edward, I decide he's evil for making me say thing I don't want to, I decide I want him to hold my hand. My breathing accelerates and I feel as though I'm going to explode. I grip my dress with one hand and the other lay dead on the table, right where Edward left it. I watch the steam dance out of my tea. I reached forward without looking at him and I grabbed his hand. Edward's hands were smooth but rough, his fingers were long and fine, I traced them with my finger tips taking in a deep breath. My hands trembled slightly as I wrapped my hand around his.

"My mother. I don't get along with her…. I h-hate her. I hate her." Tears begin to form but I try with all my strength to hold them back successfully. I glanced up for the first time into his green eyes letting him see me so weak. A single tear slid down my cheek in silence.

"S-she doesn't like me. She-" I took a deep breath before continuing, I squeezed his hand.

"She told me I sent my father away and when I was younger she use to beat me for it." Tears flowed freely without my approval; my voice became unclear and shaky.

" My ugliness. Inside and Out. I wanted to come by yesterday like you asked, but she wouldn't let me. I'm so sorry." I finally let out one fresh sob and instantly his grip tightens on my hand.

"Don't be sorry Bella, it's okay… It's not your fault." He whispers. His words are like a caress to my heart.

"So many things- are just wrong." I shook my head furiously trying to forget her words. Trying to forget the nothing she's given me.

Edward stayed silent, watching me calm down but never letting go my hand. I stopped the tears and now I looked him dead in the eye, his green orbs were so bright so brilliant. I could not even bare to look away now. I could not even think of that.

"I know Rosalie because she lived across the street once a long time ago & unlike many kids around her she respected me because of my vintage style, somewhat similar to her rockabella style. She became the only friend I've ever had." I sighed and sniffed.

"All because she liked my dresses." I laughed humorlessly. A smirk appeared on Edward's lips and he gave my hand a squeeze.

"When my mother found out I was talking to Rosalie, she thought it inappropriate and rude. She called me a lesbian and made me stay in for a week. Rosalie moved because of financial reasons and I only visited her twice because it's all the way across town."

"Rosalie never tried to visit you?" Edward asked seemingly genuinely curious.

"Rosalie and I are not alike, her life is crazy. She does drugs and smokes cigarettes in public, she drinks, she has boyfriends and friends. I can understand if she didn't have time." I explained looking down at my lap.

"Doesn't sound like the right crowd to be involved in."

"She would never make me do anything like that. I think she cares about me." I try to defend my only friend.

"How'd you end up drunk?" He shifted in his seat and still held my hand across the table.

"She told me it would help." I shrugged. " I didn't do it because she said that… I did it because I like the feeling of alcohol in my system. I like not thinking."

He seemed surprised by this, raising his eyebrow slightly.

"You've tried alcohol before?"

"Yes." I nod once. "Where's Alice, Edward?"

Edward seemed taken aback by the question, I could see him back tracking in his head, his eyebrows twitched.

"Away for the week like I said before.." He trailed off.

"I like her, I consider her my friend too you know." I smiled, remembering her little pixie self.

"Yes she is." Edward said staring back at me with meaningful eyes. "What about us?"

I watched him frozen, trying to understand the emotions, I wished so badly I could read his mind.

"You're my friend too Edward." I stated slowly

"Good." He smiled widely squeezing my hand before letting it go. I raised an eyebrow not understanding what he meant by that. He picked up my tea and headed to the kitchen to rinse the dishes. I sat back in my seat and relaxed repeating his last question in my head.

My mother hadn't even questioned my absence, she hadn't even said anything, asked me any questions. She simply glanced at me then away out the window watching her life pass her by, letting me weight her down. I could care less anymore…

I smiled as I walked up the stairs to my room, where I would stay for the remainder of the day.

'Friends.' I thought how happy he was to hear we were friends. Holding my hand like that, caressing my thumb. The way it felt, why it felt that way, what it was. I liked these new questions that haunted my every thought, I liked to be given something to wonder about, something to look forward to.

"Bella!" My mother called from downstairs, her voice was hoarse and ugly.

"Yes!" I called back dryly, I could hear her heavy heels dragging up the stairs slowly, finally reaching my room. She stood in my doorway staring at me with eyes so cold a chill went down my spine and I had to look away.

"Mr. Cullen has a wife. You slut."

"Mom!" I screamed bewildered. "Edward and Alice are my friends."

"Just because you feed them lies and they feel bad for you doesn't make them your friends!" She yelled back entering my room further; her face was dark and evil it looked as if she had aged over night.

"Don't ruin this." I stated clenching my jaw, my eyes glared and I curled my fist.

"Or what?" She smirked winking at me.

"Go to hell!" I grabbed the brush sitting beside me and threw it with all my strength hitting her on her side. Her eyes widened, and the bags under her eyes became visible as she glared at me. Almost as if she was growing. Adrenaline coursed through my veins and my heart pumped louder and louder in my chest. I waited for her to come at me but instead she hurriedly left the room never saying another word for the rest of the day.

I hadn't left the house, too scared of facing my mother downstairs, too scared of her finally attacking me. I stayed in my room and hadn't eaten a thing in two days. I kept praying she would go somewhere but she purposely stayed knowing I wouldn't come down, knowing I would rather starve myself than face her. I sat at my window brushing my hair, trying to distract myself, I glanced at Edward's house ever so often, trying to remember exactly what it felt like when he touched my hand and how he did it, and how he talked to me. I saw his car parked out front, meaning he was inside. I stopped stalking him because I started to creep myself out, I paid attention to the kids playing in the streets, dancing in the sun, their hair a mess in the wind… free.

A/N: Sorry for taking forever! Hope you like it & thank you for all the reviews! Keep them coming :]