A/N - Big thanks goes out to angelnlove52 who helped me a fair bit with this chapter. If you haven't already checked out her story Stand Still I suggest you do so. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. :) R&R.

7. Discomfort

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"I can assure you Mr. Cullen, she will be just fine. She has fainted that's all. She will come around in a few." Miss. Linton, the school nurse, sounded exasperated as she left the sick bay closing the door behind her. Oh god I fainted! Really? I thought about remaining still and pretending I was still out to it. Instead I opened my eyes to find Edwards green gems staring intently back at me.

"Oh!" I gasped in surprise, rolling off the bed and onto the floor. "Ow..." I grumbled. Edward was at my side in a flash helping me up by the elbow. His touch was warm and caused me to blush, mainly because I fell from the bed in front of him, but also because I could hear my heart race at his touch and it was rather loud, so loud that I was almost positive he could hear it himself.

"Are you ok? I didn't mean to give you a fright." He steadied me back onto the bed.

"I'm fine, totally and utterly humiliated, but fine." He chuckled at my response, the humor reaching his eyes causing them to sparkle in the light, before he turned serious.

"You fell from the bed Bella and you fainted in class, don't tell me your fine," he growled, emphasizing the word "fine" with obvious distaste.

"I do it regularly...falling from the bed that is. Second time today." I smiled. "But the fainting has made this my best day ever." I continued sarcastically. I went to hop down from the bed, but Edward caught me in both his arms, not allowing me to get far in my venture.

"I don't think you're ready to leave just yet," he growled again. I almost leaned into his warm comforting embrace, before I caught myself. Stop it you have a boyfriend! I scolded internally. I shifted away from Edward and I swear I saw his face fall. Don't flatter yourself. I thought. "What happened before?" he asked. "You know...when you went outside. I could see you and that Mike Newton kid and some girl. It looked like they were fighting. She looked pretty upset." Upset could be considered an understatement; I would have used the term distraught to describe Jessica.

I cringed as I remember what had happened. Oh Jess, I sighed. Laurent is going to pay. I thought harshly. Edward was staring at me waiting for a response. I didn't want to tell him what had happened. I was fairly sure people had guessed that something was going on when I confronted Laurent at lunch, but I didn't want them to know everything. It wasn't my story to tell and I didn't know how Jess would feel about so many people knowing what had happened. I was sure however that Laurent was making it clear to people that he had slept with Jessica Stanley and that she wanted it, just as he had at lunch, as he tried to destroy her credibility and reputation. Making her out to be a tramp for "cheating on Mike" would only be too easy for someone with his popularity. Poor Mike. I thought. What am I going to do with him?

Edward hopped up on the bed next to me and took me into his arms. I hadn't realized I was crying, I couldn't believe that I still had tears to cry at all after a day like today. This time I leaned into his inviting embrace, staining the shoulder of his shirt with my tears. I was so tired that I was sure that if I closed my eyes I could easily fall into a deep slumber. Instead I removed myself from Edwards's arms. "Thanks and sorry," I murmured as I looked up at him. Pain was clear on his face as he stared back at me.

"I'm the one that's sorry Bells. Sorry that you are in this much pain. You don't have to tell me what happened. But I will listen if you need me to." He reached over to stroke my face. But I leaned away. I had only known Edward for less than twenty-four hours and yet I had found myself in his comfort and embrace more than once. It was unnerving and made me feel guilty, almost as if I were cheating. I knew that James would be less than happy if he walked in on us and I couldn't blame him. I would feel the same if I saw him with another girl in his arms. Edward dropped his hand sensing my discomfort. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable," he apologized. I simply smiled and shook my head.

"It's alright Edward," I sighed. "I'm sorry for fainting on you and thank you for bringing me here." I shook my head and laughed, a little hysterically. "It feels like I have apologized and thanked you a million times already and I've known you for less than a day." He chuckled nodding in agreement.

"You don't have to apologize or thank me either. I meant what I said before, about you being able to talk to me if you need," he reminded me. I considered his offer, it was tempting to bury myself in his arms yet again, to smell his sweet smell and feel his warmth. Stop it!

I wanted desperately to talk to someone, but I hardly knew Edward. Yet I felt as if I could trust him with everything. I sighed. Everyone was going to know some version of the story sooner or later anyway; I might as well tell Edward the true version. I didn't have to tell him all the details, but to tell him something would offer some relief.

"That girl, that was with Mike. That was Jess," I started. "She's been one of my best friends for as long as I can remember."

"She was the reason why you were in a bad mood earlier, in Biology and why you looked upset at lunch?" I nodded at his evaluation, giving him a silent agreement as I thought over my approach.

"Well, yes and no. I was angry at Laurent. I was upset because he had hurt Jess," I corrected.

"He hurt her? How?" He looked at me with genuine concern, his eyes growing wide with the possibilities. I shuddered. I didn't really want to tell him this; I didn't even want to think about it. I still didn't feel like it was my place to talk about it but there was no other way of explaining the situation without filling in that last vital piece of information. Edward sensed my hesitation and reached out to touch my face but dropped his hand, obviously remembering my reaction to his advances earlier. I was relieved. It was hard enough concentrating and remembering I was otherwise taken when he touched me. I swallowed loudly before I unleashed the burden on him.

"Laurent and Jess slept together." I took a depth breath before I continued. "But it wasn't exactly consensual," I eased as I closed my eyes tightly. "He raped her." I exhaled a loud billowy breath. Edward was silent and I was afraid to open my eyes. I was afraid to look at him to see disbelief in his eyes. I was worried he would scoff at what I told him, just as James had. When I finally opened my eyes I instantly thought I had anticipated his reaction correctly.

He was staring at me with and unfathomable look of anger. Disgust was also clear in the features of his face. His eyes were dark and his hands gripped the edge of the bed, his knuckles turning white. I looked away. This time he didn't stop himself as he wrapped his arms around me and I didn't protest. "I'm so sorry Bella," he whispered into my hair as he rocked me back and forth, my tears staining his shirt once again. We sat this way for what seemed like an eternity until Miss. Linton interrupted as she entered the room before she noticed us and quickly left again, giving us well needed privacy.

I sat up and pulled myself from Edwards arms for the up tenth time. "I'm going to owe you a new shirt at this rate." I grimaced at my poor attempt at a joke. Edward smiled in return but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He looked at me appraisingly.

"You're a mess. I should probably take you home," he commented, reaching to brush my matted and tear soaked hair from my face. I looked at my watch and gasped when I realized the time. I had been in here since the middle of biology and had also missed gym. Although I was happy to have missed the agonizing torture that was to be called gym I was worried that I had kept Edward from class and it was only his second day.

"I'm sorry...again. We've been in here forever, I made you miss class," I apologized. He simply shook his head.

"I had a free period and I've told you to stop apologizing. Now do you want a ride home or not?" He smiled. Just his smile made me feel lighter inside and had me forgetting the last five minutes for a second.

"Crap," I cried out. "I promised to meet James." I jumped up from the bed and found myself unbalanced. Edward grabbed me yet again and steadied me, before dropping his hold. "Thanks for the offer though." I smiled.

"No problem, but at least let me walk you to the lot. Just to make sure you don't faint or anything again." He held his finger to my lips as I started to object and smiled.

"K," I agreed dazzled by his crooked grin.

EPOV

I kept watch from the corner of my eye as I walked Bella towards Forks High's small student car lot. For some unexplainable reason I felt overly protective of her. She seemed so frail, with her slight frame and pale complexion, and the fainting spell didn't help any with this judgement. I kept my arm within inches of the small of her back, ready to steady her if she needed, but not touching as I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable again.

My mind was racing with what had happened. When Bella ran from the room in Bio, I almost took after her. I didn't buy for a second that she was headed for the bathroom. She had looked so scared. And that look made it almost impossible to stay seated. It was worse when she returned; her body shook with pain and her tears caused my heart to race. I wanted to know what was wrong, I wanted to protect her from it, shield her from the cause of her tears. When she fainted my heart stopped. I didn't think as I picked her up and rushed her from the room. It was Miss. Linton who convinced me to take her to the sick bay when I ran into her as I left the Biology class room.

I couldn't explain my attachment to Bella, I had known her for less than a day, but I felt so drawn to her. With every different expression she expressed it caused a different emotion to stir within me. When she cried into my shirt it felt like each tear stabbed me with a little needle directly into my heart. When she pulled away from my touch my heart squeezed, pained by the rejection.

After Bella told me what Jess had been through I had almost ran from the room. I wanted to hurt Laurent. But not entirely for what he had done to Jess, but partly because he had indirectly hurt Bella and I didn't want such a vile creature within a hundred mile radius of her. Bella's pained and tear stricken face was the only thing that kept me from going after him, I couldn't bear to leave her alone in the state that she was in. In that moment it felt as if my world was drawn to her, as if she needed me to protect her from the harsh realities of this world.

I believed every word Bella had told me, I knew Laurent enough for the story to have credibility. I had spoken with him briefly at the party last night; he was beyond arrogant and rude. Bella began to fill me in on some of the finer details as we walked to the car park. I couldn't believe the pain he had caused Jess, how she had resorted to self mutilation to escape the emotional pain he had thrust upon her. How he could wake up in the morning and come to the same school as Jess and watch what Mike, Bella and Jess were going through was unfathomable. He was truly the worst kind of monster.

When Bella told me how she had confronted him in the cafeteria I felt sick. I didn't want him near her. I was mad at James for not protecting her and even angrier with myself for leaving when I should have been there to hide her from the pain he caused her, and to help Mike pummel the bastard. Bella's face would scrunch up with despair whenever she talked of Mike and Jess, how they had been so happy before, and her pain lashed at my insides, beating them to a pulp. I wanted so badly to hold her and comfort her, to make everything disappear.

I was worried that reliving some of what had happened would cause Bella to collapse again so I broke my no touching rule and rested my hand on the small of her back, offering her as much support as I could. Suddenly I was pushed from behind with such force it sent Bella sprawling to the ground. I went to reach for her but someone grabbed me by the back of the neck and whipped me around to face them.

"I thought I told you to keep your hands off her!" James was shaking, his face red.

"Let go James you don't understand."I seethed through gritted teeth, as I grabbed his arm; breaking his hold. This time he came at me with both arms, grabbing the front of my shirt. His face was inches from mine.

"No I don't think you understand Edward. Bella is my girlfriend; keep your filthy hands off of her!" He shoved me and I stumbled a few steps backwards before he came at me with his fists. Bella jumped in between us, facing James.

"Stop it now James. Edward was just being helpful." The thought of her between me and James while his hands were balled into fists made my stomach lurch. I grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her backward, angling myself in front of her, shielding her from an irate James. This infuriated him further and he let out a sharp growl before he launched at me, knocking me to the ground. The scuffle was short lived as I felt James being pulled off me. When I looked up I noticed Emmett pulling James away from me, keeping him from attacking once more.

"You should listen to Bella," I growled as I stood to face him.

"The hell I will," he seethed.

"He's right James. It was nothing. I fainted in Bio and Edward took me to Miss. Linton. He only offered to walk me back to you because I was still feeling a little unsteady." Outrage filled Bella's voice as she stared at James who had begun to calm slightly under Emmett's tight grasp.

"Let go of me Emmett!" James demanded, visibly calmer but still disgruntled. "It seems I owe Edward an apology."

"Don't mention it." I mumbled, looking at Bella who was brushing the asphalt from her hands, which were raw and a little bloody from her fall. I wanted to take her hands in mine and assess the damage but I knew better. I wasn't about to put her in harm's way again, which was assured to happen if I touched her again.

James had caused this to happen, in his moment of blind and jealous rage he had hurt her and he didn't at all seem worried. I already didn't like Bella's boyfriend and I knew it was more than brutal jealously that fuelled this dislike. He was quick to anger and he obviously didn't care if Bella was hurt in the process of releasing that anger. James caught me looking at her hands and quickly rushed to her side, trying to play the perfect boyfriend for once.

"Let me look at those." He cooed making my skin crawl. Bella's safety hadn't mattered a second ago. The more I got to know James the more I felt I was wrong about my initial assessment of him. He wasn't protective. He was possessive. He treated Bella like a possession—a thing to throw around at his pleasure. He wasn't too worried about her safety unless it reflected negatively on his hold on her, or how others viewed him. We had an audience now and James seemed all too aware of that as he wrapped his arms around Bella in a protective hug. I wanted to deck him for even touching her.

The more I witnessed, the more I was starting to feel anger towards her too; she was allowing him touch her, after he had harmed her. Your being stupid Edward, he's her boyfriend and you're not. I reminded myself.

Bella shrugged out of his arms. "It's nothing," she whispered downplaying his previous actions. "Can we just go now?" She turned to look at me, not making full eye contact. Even though I had only known her for such a short time, I could see the unease and embarrassment in her forlorn eyes "Thanks for everything Edward." James stiffened at her words but didn't turn to look at me. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and walked her to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for her, before getting in and driving away. It felt wrong letting her go with him. Stop thinking like a fool. I berated myself as I looked on hopelessly.

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