Authors note:

So guys, this took longer to get up than I thought and I'm not going to make any excuses, except that the real world stole me for awhile, I went on holiday etc…hmm that's sounds like an excuse…ooo well. But I'm back and I promise speedier updates.

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Wow have you seen New Moon yet….*fans herself*….was that not HOT? I've always been Team Jake, but damn did that not make me an even stronger one. Yummy! Did you like it? Tell me!!! Did you find it a little lacking or did you think it was awesome?

Big thanks go out to my amazing Beta Angelnlove52 --- go check out her stories A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. She along with my other girls, VPJ and TCL are the reason I write… check out their insane stories too on my Favorites list.

Also thanks to everyone else who reads and especially to those that review, you rock. If you haven't reviewed please do…you'll get rewarded!

NOTE: People think that this is where the prologue comes in and sorry to disappoint…but not yet…there is still a few more chaps to come before then. But it's coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On with the show….

31. Little Chat

…

BPOV

…

I looked around for a weapon to defend myself with. Short of throwing paper towels or splashing him with water, there wasn't much I could use. I took a deep breath and decided to remain calm.

Don't show him you're afraid.

I backed up slowly, my hands fumbling on the basin edge as I backed into it. "This is the girl's bathroom James," I said shakily, failing at the whole not showing him fear thing. He smirked and folded his arms across his chest as he looked me up and down a few times before finally resting his gaze on my face.

"That's why I locked the door honey, don't want someone coming in here and interrupting us, do we?" he drawled, chuckling softly. My stomach twisted and I clutched at it with my hands, as if to try and hide it from him.

"You should leave," I suggested, trying once again to be brave but failing twice as bad as the first time. He took a step toward me and I pressed myself further into the basin, the edge biting into my back painfully.

"I don't think so," he said almost mockingly as he shook his head from side to side. "Not until you hear me out," he countered, clasping his hands in front of himself.

"I'm not listening James," I said, shaking my head. "Leave," I added, pointing at the door.

"I think you should listen to what I have to say Bella, it could prove beneficial." He took a step toward me and I felt my breath catch in my throat. Slowly, I relaxed each part of my body, letting the air out from my lungs slowly.

"Beneficial? How could anything you have to say to me, benefit me? Unless you're telling me that you are leaving?" Trying to be inconspicuous, I inched my way closer to the door as I talked. I pressed my back against the dry wood behind me and calculated the small distance between me and the exit. Could I get there before he did? James frowned slightly, not missing my movement and put his hands in the air as if he were surrendering.

"Please Bella, I'm trying here," he whispered. He was staring directly at me, trying to hold my gaze and it was severely unnerving. I ducked my head before realizing that it was a mistake, he was trying to intimidate me and I wasn't going to let him. I lifted my head and stuck out my chin, trying for the third time to show him I wasn't afraid.

"Trying what," I said bitterly through my clenched teeth.

"To be better," he mumbled.

"It's past trying, James," I said tiredly. I was so sick of the same conversation, it got us no where…actually it usually ended in me forgiving him and then getting hurt again. I wasn't about to let that happen.

What was he trying to do? Did he honestly think that an apology and a little effort are going to fix things? Didn't he know that I could never trust him again? Did he not understand what he had done to me? How much pain he had caused me?

"Please Bella," he begged almost painfully, his voice cracking mid-sentence.

"Please what?" I asked angrily, throwing my hands in the air. "Forgive you? So what… so you can use me as your favorite punching bag again?"

"I want you back. Please take me back," he croaked, not acknowledging what I had just said.

I shook my head softly, pursing my lips together.

"Please," he begged again.

"What do you want me to say, James? I can't be with you. God, look at what you did to me!" I growled, anger winning over the fear.

I lifted up my top and watched him flinch slightly, remorse filling his features. It failed to move me this time, I knew he wouldn't change, he couldn't, he had already proven that… more than once. Slowly, I lowered my top and glared at him.

Did he understand now?

"I'm sorry," he apologized, shaking his head as he lifted it to look me in the eye again. His eyes were wide. "I'm so sorry," he mumbled.

"I'm so not doing this anymore," I said exasperated.

"Bella?"

"No," I said firmly, my fists at my side, my jaw set.

"Bella," he spoke louder this time, putting more emphasis on my name.

"I SAID NO," I shouted. He stiffened at my words and instantly I felt every hair stand on the back of my neck.

"Are you sure about that Bella?" he said so quietly I wasn't sure I had heard. His whole posture had changed now; he was now standing ramrod straight, his eyes had darkened and a scowl was replacing his sad and worried expression. My stomach flipped and my throat clammed shut even my heart gave a sharp pull.

I had been through this enough times to know what was coming. Closing my eyes slowly I prepared myself for the worst.

I worked on methodically loosening all the muscles in my body while I waited for the inevitable to happen; I had read somewhere that in car crashes the more relaxed your muscles were before the accident, the less severe you're injuries would be. What they based that on I had no idea, but I was hoping that the theory would still apply in my current situation. The less painful this would be, the better.

However, all my hard work was undone as soon as I heard James take a step toward me. Every single muscle in my body tensed and tightened with his slight movement which was intensified in the now seemingly very small bathroom.

I shivered as a bead of sweat rolled down my neck; my body was on fire despite the freezing cold temperature of the bathroom. I felt my lips part as I drew in a short sharp breath and slowly opened my eyes to look at James, flinching when I met his cold hard gaze.

"Take it back," he growled as he took another step toward me. He was so close now that I could feel his breath on my face, in response I pressed my body further into the wall behind me, wishing that I could disappear inside it. I swallowed loudly and averted my eyes from James' face and shook my head softly, I didn't dare look at him for fear of seeing his reaction.

James hissed loudly and a deep rumbling inside his chest escaped his lips in the form of the most frightening growl I had ever heard come from a human being. I felt my body begin to shake from the core and I wrapped my arms around my sides trying to hold it together. A traitorous tear fell from my eye and rolled down my cheek stopping to rest on my lips. Ignoring the salty taste as I licked my lip, took a deep breath, and lifted my chin preparing to scream, but I couldn't.

"Fuck you," I whispered instead, clenching my fists against my stomach, still trying to hold my shaking frame together.

If it were possible James' face grew darker, his face distorting into the ugliest shade of red. He wanted to scare me, he wanted to intimidate me, make me fear him and feel insignificant. And he was doing a fucking good job, but I wouldn't let him win. He could hurt me, I knew that. But I wouldn't beg him not to; I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing exactly how terrified I was.

He took another step toward me, closing the very small gap between our bodies. I could feel him everywhere as he leaned against me, placing his palms on either side of my face as his eyes bored into mine.

"Why would you say that?" he asked in a small hiss which shattered my resolve. I was trembling violently now and there was no denying how afraid I was. I couldn't answer him, and even if I wanted to, I probably wouldn't have been able. Instead I watched slowly as his lips pressed together into a thin hard line before opening to show me his barred teeth.

Then for some crazy reason I zoned out. It was like I wasn't in my body anymore, as if I had separated myself from the situation and instead I was a spectator, watching James and I from another corner of the bathroom. I couldn't hear what was going on but I could see it.

James was talking to me, his face so close to mine that my eyes couldn't focus on him, he was saying something that I couldn't make out and I could see I wasn't responding. He seemed to be getting angrier each time I ignored whatever it was he was asking or telling me. I watched as he placed both hands on my shoulders and began to shake me, snapping my head back and forth like a rag doll, while I still didn't respond, my eyes glassed over and I just stared at him, or rather, through him like I couldn't see him.

He moved his hands from my shoulders and placed one at the top of my chin, palming half of my face. I could see he was exerting pressure as the tendons in his hand stuck out but my expression didn't indicate any pain. He was pushing my face upward and against the wall and he was shouting now but I still wasn't responding. Finally, I watched as he pulled me back off the wall by my chin and then pushed me back into it with a force that caused my eyes to close and silent tears to fall. He was panting heavily as he leaned in to whisper something in my ear, still holding my jaw in his hand and I observed helplessly as he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against mine for a moment before pulling his body back, along with his fist.

It was in that moment that the real me and my spectator self decided to rejoin one another. My eyes reopened only to see James' fist fly toward my face causing me to quickly close them. It wasn't long until I heard the sickening crunch of his fist connecting and my stomach lurched at the sound. James' hand that had been holding me up released me and instantly I dropped to the floor like a dead weight, my hands flying to my face in wonder as to why I couldn't feel the horrendous pain that should surely have arrived by now.

But there was nothing, I couldn't feel anything; I started to think that I had gone into shock that my body had shutdown and was numbing the pain in order to protect itself. I couldn't smell blood and my face felt fine to the touch, but my mind kept screaming that it didn't make sense. I had heard him hit me. I had seen it coming, so why couldn't I feel it, just like I had all the other times?

Was I dead? Had he hit me so hard I had lost consciousness and died? Was that why I couldn't feel anything?

I felt someone crouch down beside me and I stiffened when I remembered that James was still in the room with me.

"Bella," he began slowly before he shook his head, continuing in a disgruntled tone. "Don't make there be a next time baby, because next time it will hurt."

I hadn't realized how hard I had been crying until James tried to comfort me and I flinched at his touch letting a strangled sob escape. He smiled wryly before getting to his feet, rubbing one of his hands in the other, I noticed that it was slightly swollen and the knuckles were cut.

So he had hit something.

"Sorry," he whispered before he turned unlocking the bathroom door to leave.

When he was gone I rolled over onto my side and wrapped my arms around myself trying to soften the sobs that were again racking my body. I let go of my face knowing now that he hadn't actually hit me and I managed to let out a sigh amongst the teary hiccups.

A messed up face would be hard to explain.

I wondered what he had hit but I was afraid to look and I really didn't want to know. I knew I had to get up off the bathroom floor sometime but I didn't want to leave for fear of seeing someone in the state I was in. So worked on calming myself down and waited until it would be safe to leave.

I didn't get to wait long.

……

EPOV

…..

So I guess I was being a stalker again when I decided to wait for Bella outside the bathroom, but I really needed to talk to her. I knew that she was just trying to avoid me when she asked to leave class early to go to the toilet, and I was a little worried that she wasn't even in there and instead she had just taken off or that I had already missed her. But I had to take the chance that she was still there and even if she wasn't I was planning on going around to her house to find her. I had made a deal with Jazz and Alice to tell her and I needed to do it in a way so she would understand and forgive me. I couldn't risk losing her trust, I loved her too much, and I needed her in my life.

Wait five more minutes Cullen and if she doesn't come out, she's not in there.

I couldn't understand why she had written what she had in class before Mr. Banner caught us. I didn't think what had happened between us was a mistake at all, and I didn't want her to think that either. I knew it was stupid because she was drunk and I really shouldn't have let it happen but I couldn't stop it. I couldn't deny her what she wanted when she begged for me to kiss her and it hurt to see her upset, it didn't make it any easier that I wanted it as much as her, if not more. She said she liked me, that she wanted to kiss me but now she was acting like it wasn't what she wanted and that it didn't matter to her and that confused and scared the hell out of me. What if I had been wrong? What if all my pining for her was one sided and she didn't reciprocate? My heart gave a sharp tug at the thought and I shook my head to clear the thought.

It doesn't matter; you still need to talk to her.

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud noise coming from behind the bathroom door, causing my body to stiffen. I could hear shouting, or at least it sounded like it and then there was a loud crack and then I think I heard someone crying. My stomach flipped and something caught in my throat at the sound.

What the fuck is going on in there?

My thoughts started running wild. Bella? I reached out to grab the door handle not caring if anyone saw me going into the girls' bathroom. What if Bella had fallen? What if anything had happened to her? The thought of her crying for any reason was enough to cause a mild panic attack. My brain tried to reason that it might not be Bella, there were a number of other girls that could be using the bathroom at this time, and it might not be her. But that thought didn't really calm me down, if it was anybody it was Bella, she attracted danger and pain.

My panic really started to fire when the door wouldn't open and I realized it was locked.

Why the fuck is this door locked?

"Bella?" I shouted at the closed wooden door, pulling on the handle up and down. Just as I was about to bang on it and break it down with my bare hands, I heard a soft click and then it flew open almost knocking me to the ground. To my confusion and then horror I watched as James strode out of the bathroom and down the hallway.

My mind was running a million miles an hour but my body just wasn't functioning or keeping up. I couldn't seem to get to my feet without stumbling or form any coherent words. Finally, my feet co-operated with the rest of me and I made it upright, taking a step forward I was about to go after James and demand to know why he was in the bathroom when I remembered three things.

One, he was in the girls bathroom.

Two, I had heard what sounded like crying.

Three, Bella was suppose to be in there.

"Bella?" I called out in panic, rushing into the bathroom almost slipping on the wet floor. At first I thought the bathroom was empty until I laid eyes on a large hole in the wall just beside the door, like someone had put their fist through it. Almost simultaneously my eyes dropped to the bathroom floor below the hole and what I saw wrenched my heart right through my chest.

Bella was curled up in a ball crying, her arms wrapped around herself and her eyes tightly shut.

I crossed the bathroom in two quick strides before I fell to my knees sliding the rest of the way toward her. Pulling Bella into my arms, I cradled her rocking her back and forth until her sobbing eased. She pressed herself into me, griping at the collar of my shirt as she pulled me tighter to her. Her tears were seeping through my shirt and I could feel her warm breath on my neck and again I marveled in the fact that she seemed to fit so perfectly in my arms.

"Bella," I whispered into her hair. "What happened?" I leant back from her to catch hold of her gaze but she still had her eyes closed.

"Nothing really," she whispered breathlessly into my shirt. I rubbed her back gently, but I wasn't giving in, something had obviously happened and James had something to do with it. He was going to pay but for now I needed to make sure she was alright.

"What was James doing in here?"

She shook her head softly and pressed herself closer to me. Clearly, she didn't want to talk about it. But she needed to, she needed to tell us, she couldn't keep this all to herself. She had to stop protecting him.

"Bella honey did he hurt you?" Even as I spoke the words I felt a small amount of panic and anger set in, he would pay, if he even threatened her he would suffer. It didn't matter what she wanted, it's what he deserved and even though I didn't want to hurt her or go against her wishes, I couldn't stand by and watch this happen over and over again. I wanted to be her savior, her hero, but I didn't want her to suffer, I wanted to be happy. I never wanted to have to pick her up off the floor again. There was only so much one small girl could take.

"No he didn't," she said very quietly, so quietly I thought she may be lying so I gave her a once over checking her face and other places on her that were visible. Nothing.

"Did he put the hole in the wall?" I asked, feeling a little relief that I couldn't see any physical damage to her. She gave me a confused look before trailing her eyes to the gaping hole in the wall, surprise and then realization crossed her face.

"Oh," she muttered.

"What was he doing in here Bella?" I asked, it almost sounded like a demand. I didn't want to seem overbearing and it wasn't really any of my business, but I couldn't help but ask. Bella meant a lot to me and even if I was nothing to her, I couldn't help the incessant urge I had to protect her, especially from him.

She shrugged hopelessly in my arms and I thought she was going to start crying again but she swallowed deeply. "He wanted me back."

It was my turn to be surprised. "Oh," I said quietly. My stomach twisted uneasily. My brain tried to calm me down but I couldn't help the feeling of anger that coursed through me. He didn't have to the right to have her; he didn't even have the right to talk to her.

God, please tell me she didn't go back to him, I begged silently.

"Bella," I started. I felt frantic. What if she did say yes? What if she wanted him? What if I wasn't what she wanted at all? What if she really did believe what happened between us was a mistake? I couldn't let that happen…could I?

"I told him no," she said. She had lent back in my arms and it was if she could read the apprehension that was embedded in my features. "I don't want him… ever."

Thank god.

I suddenly felt the compelling urge to kiss Bella, and just I leaned in she ducked her head. I couldn't tell if it was because she knew what I was about to do, but it didn't matter anyway. I pressed my lips to her forehead softly and wrapped my arms around her waist.

"Good," I said softly.

"Good?" she asked.

"Very good, he doesn't deserve you."

"Then who does?" she questioned quietly, shifting in my arms. She was looking at me now, raising an eyebrow. I felt my heart skip a beat as I spoke the next words.

"No one could be that lucky, but I can think of one fool who would like to be," I said in a rush, trying but failing to seem indifferent. Her mouth turned up at the corner and her cheeks turned crimson. She ducked her head for a moment before turning her face and sticking out her chin.

"Oh, just one?" she asked nonchalant.

Bella being smug? I had to fight the urge to chuckle.

"Mmm, there's probably more but I don't want to list his competition," I said, seriously trying to appear deep in thought.

She giggled softly, causing me to smile into her hair. I felt her wrap her arms around me slowly, it warmed me from the inside; she was holding me for once. We sat like this for a moment before she sighed deeply.

"It won't work," she muttered into my chest.

"What?" I asked, afraid of her answer. She was pulling away from me again.

"Us," she stated matter-of-fact. There she goes pulling out my heart

"W-why?" I choked on the word, my fear and frustration evident.

"He will make your life hell," she explained. I almost scoffed at her words before she leaned back and gave me a reproving look. I wasn't worried about James, as long as she was with me, as long as she choose me, I would protect her and that's all that mattered.

"It doesn't matter," I said curtly.

"Yes, it does, You could end up hurt," she pointed out.

I sighed, "That won't happen."

"Why?" she demanded

"I can handle myself Bella."

"And what about me?" she breathed quietly.

"Pardon?" I asked, confused. In all the time I had known Bella she hadn't ever shown any self interest. She had always put others first, always worried about their well being, even if it was at the cost of her own.

"What about me Edward? I can't handle myself. I can't take him." She was almost in hysterics again. I pulled her to me, burying my face in her hair.

"Bella, I would never let him…"

"HOW?! How do you know that? You can't always be there," she growled, pushing me away from her, tears streaking down her cheeks again. It broke my heart. She didn't trust me enough to protect, she was scared and it wasn't fair. She deserved happiness and he was ruining it, destroying her trust in others causing her to live in fear.

"He won't-" I began before she interrupted me the words tumbling from her mouth.

"He already has," she said pointed out. "He threatened me, he will be…."

"He what?" I asked incredulously.

"You heard," she stated quietly.

He threatened her?

"What did he say?" I asked, taking her hands in mine, pleading with her to tell me.

"It doesn't matter," she said very quietly, shaking her head.

"The hell it doesn't Bella, What did he say," I demanded, my frustration and fear of what had happened to her getting the better of me.

She sighed, "He said not to let there be a next time because next time…"

"Next time?" I asked impatiently.

"Next time…it will hurt," she said meekly, looking away from me, obviously afraid of my reaction or embarrassed.

I could feel my insides clench along with my fists, I felt so angry it was making me feel sick. Without even thinking I whipped out my phone and called Jasper, not even bothering to explain to Bella when she asked what I was doing or when she told me it was nothing and I needed to calm down. It just made me angrier. 'It wasn't nothing.' What the fuck, he had threatened to hurt her! Jasper answered and I quickly told Jasper where I was and to meet me here immediately. Within seconds he was barging into the bathroom asking what had happened. His eyes growing wide when he took in Bella's upset demeanor and hole it the wall.

"Where is he?" he asked, anger rolling off him in waves. I shook my head and indicated to Bella.

"You stay here with her," I muttered. "I think it's about time Hunter and I had a talk."

"Let me come…."

"No, look after her," I growled. "Please." Jasper nodded solemnly, indicating he understood and giving one last look at a bewildered and distraught Bella, I pushed past Jasper and out the door, ignoring Bella's cries to stop.

I'm sorry Bella, I thought silently. But I just can't let him do this to you anymore.

For some stupid reason it had taken me this long to do something about that piece of shit coward, it was a mistake letting it get this far. I had to fix that mistake before anything else happened. I had let Bella have her way initially, but that obviously wasn't going to work. Now, it was my turn. I just had to hope she wouldn't hate me for it.

...

Please Read:

Please review for a preview…. The previews are going to get longer!! AND if you go back and review a chapter you haven't already reviewed, as well as this one. You will get a double preview. Yeah I'm a review whore…but I like to know what you think so talk to me, tell me anything.

Only a very small number of you do and I love you guys for it, you are awesome and the reason I write!! But there are a million more of you (well not that much) that don't review and it would be soo awesome if you did so I could know what you are thinking.

SO finally Edward is going to confront James…what do you think will happen? How do you think Bella will react?