A/N: Ready for more?

Chapter-4: A Friend In Need

For the next week, Isabella feels like a good little soldier. She goes to shoots on time and leaves when they are done for the day. Like always, she keeps her head down, not talking to anyone unless absolutely necessary.

She knows people are whispering about her behind her back, but as long as they leave her in peace, she doesn't let herself feel bothered by them.

Then, one week after the start of production, things change.

"Lunch break, people! We resume in half an hour," Peter, the director of the movie, calls out to the production crew at large as the bright lights are turned off.

With a sigh of relief from the blinding lights, Isabella goes to a corner of the set to check her messages, wondering whether James had finally paid her dues for the last show she did for them. She doesn't get a chance to get her phone out though. Just as she reaches for her phone, she senses someone step behind her.

"Ms. Isa," a voice says from behind her, sounding more leery than friendly.

Isabella turns around to face the owner of the voice and comes face to face with Mike Newton, one of the extra actors for the movie. "Yes?" she answers civilly, not caring enough to correct her name.

She forces herself to stay calm when he steps closer to her, not allowing herself to compare him to Jacob. No, nothing will happen, she tells herself. You'll be fine. You're not alone here. Gritting her teeth she asks the man, "What is it?"

Mike smiles, showing her a row of yellowish teeth. "The fellows over there think you're mute. I want to help you prove them wrong," he says, pointing toward the people he usually hung out with … standing a few steps behind him.

"Help me?" Isabella asks, looking around to see if there was anyone who might actually help her. Her eyes fall on Edward Cullen and Jasper Whitlock. For a moment, she wishes she had not pushed him away when he had offered his friendship on the first day.

Unaware of her thoughts, Mike answers her, "By letting me bang you. When you're screaming my name, no one will think you're mute." His words make bile rise to her throat.

She looks at the vile man in shock. "That is very inappropriate," she tells him, which makes him and all his cronies guffaw loudly.

He steps closer still, forcing her to step back until her back is pressed against the wall. "Come on, Ms. Isa," he says. "Don't be shy."

She closes her eyes and tries to block him out along with the memories from her past that chases after her.

In some distance, she hears someone call out, "What the hell is happening there?" She opens her eyes and finds the dreadful creature before her looking at the source of the sound. Seizing the opportunity, she pushes against his chest and tries to get away from him.

She watches his hand reach for her again and prepares to defend herself. She shuts off all sounds around her and closes her eyes, recalling all the self defense she had taught herself after the incident. Then, with her eyes still closed, she raises a hand and lands a hard slap on his face.

When her ears are met with silence, she grinds out, letting her anger lead her for once. "I told you to leave me alone. Why can't you people just let me be?"

Breathing hard as the adrenaline rushes through her system, she finally opens her eyes only to find them captured by bright green ones. Edward Cullen.

One look at his awestruck expression and his hand clutching his cheek tells her all she needs to know. She takes in how his hand holds a fistful of Mike's shirt and mortification makes her avert her gaze. He was trying to help her, and she slapped him! "Shit! I'm … sorry," she whispers, begging Edward with her eyes to forgive her before running away ... from him and everyone else.

She runs, playing the scene over and over in her head, telling herself that she is safe. It doesn't help. She finds herself going toward Edward's dressing room instead of her own. She chalks it up to her need to apologize to him again, not her heart's desire for a safe harbor.

Standing with her back pressed against the door to Edward's dressing room, she lets her head fall back, trying to catch her breath while willing the nightmares away.

She senses someone stand beside her, but pretends to be alone anyway. Until a now familiar voice says lightly, "I admit, Isabella Swan, you can slap pretty hard."

Her eyes pop open at the sound of his voice. Holding her breath, she slowly turns her head to look at the man standing next to her. She opens her mouth, probably to apologize again, but nothing comes out.

He seems to know exactly what she's going through because instead of walking away from her, he turns his face toward her and smiles. "Hi," he says, no sign of anger or hurt in his voice.

The sound of his voice and that breathtakingly perfect smile makes her breathing pick her as she lets her eyes search his face for any kind of falsity.

As if taking her silence as his cue to keep talking, he says, "So I'm Edward Cullen." He points to his chest to stress his words. "I guess you know that already, but since you haven't said a word to me this long week we've been working together, I figured that I might as well introduce myself."

His words make her lower her eyes, reminding her of their first encounter yet again. In a soft voice, she responds, "I know who you are."

He lets out a gasp, giving her a wide-eyed gaze. "You do?" he asks. "Shh … don't tell anyone that I'm a vampire."

She frowns at him, wondering why he's being so nice to her.

He holds his hands up in a manner of surrender. "I was just joking. I'm not Dracula. So don't go Buffy on my ass," he says, his smile making the sides of his eyes crinkle a little.

She doesn't say anything in response, trying to stay aloof as always. After a moment, she lowers her eyes and says in a quiet voice, "I'm really sorry for slapping you. It wasn't meant for you."

Even with her eyes cast downwards, she hears the smile in his voice. "Thank you for the clarification," he says. "I do have to punish you for that though."

She feels her body go stiff at his words as she looks up at him, her mouth slightly open in shock. Her expression makes him chuckle. "You have to accept my horrible company as a friend … at least for the length of our shooting this movie."

He wants to be friends?

Why does he want to be friends with me?

Thoughts run haywire in her mind before she manages to shake her head. "I'm here to work," she tells him. "I do not need friends."

She watches his smile drop a little before reappearing on his face as he reaches into his pocket and holds out a piece of paper to her.

She doesn't reach for his proffered paper though. Eyeing it suspiciously, she asks, "What's that?"

"Something that won't bite you, and funnily enough, it has my number on it … if you feel like you need a friend."

She starts to shake her head again, getting ready to tell him that she'll never need a friend. But before she can say the words, he pushes what appears to be his business card toward her little more.

With a resigned sigh, she accepts the card from him, making him grin. "Thank you," he says.

She starts to slowly move away from him. "I'm sorry," she says once again before turning and walking away from him.

Edward Cullen makes her feel safe. He makes her want to trust him.

The question is, can she trust him? Will she?

A/N: Should she? What do you think? Share your thoughts with me and leave a review.

Thanks for reading.

To Granma Dee, I hope you're enjoying this ride. Love you.

Take care, guys.

Ann