a/n: R&R please. I own nothing. =/ depressing isn't it?

I was just about to pull Edward out to the dance floor when Jay began to approach me. You know…Jay as in the guy I had a mini date with when I first saw Edward, guy I escorted to a wedding while I was starting a relationship with Edward, guy I had hoped to never see again! Crud. I turned back to the table quickly, praying to the God who hated me that he didn't notice me. And then I felt the tap on my shoulder which proved what I'd just said. Awesome. Anyone who ever said God didn't have a sense of humor had obviously never been targeted.

I pleaded with my eyes to Alice and Rose for help and then turned around. "Hi?" I made it a question, trying to play the clueless card as I wrapped my arm around Edward's. Hopefully he'd get the hint, and not say anything too revealing about how he knew me. He looked from me to Edward a few times before saying anything.

"Bella, how are you? Is this your newest client?" he asked, apparently a lot denser than I'd originally thought. Bully for me. Not. Damn, damn, damn! What was I going to do? Okay, think Bella. You're intelligent enough for this, at least a hell of a lot more so than this guy. "I'm sorry…I don't know what you're talking about." I stated after a moment, I didn't dare glance at Edward for fear of what I'd see.

"You know…from the esc-"

"Dude, she doesn't know you obviously. So back off." Rosalie snapped, coming between him and me. Thank god for best friends. Poor Jay, he looked so confused. I almost felt sorry for him, but then I remembered what he'd said and all pity was gone. He knew the rules, and he broke the most vital one. Creep. "Uh, sorry. I guess you just looked like this chick I knew." He said before walking away. I sent a grateful smile to Rose before tugging Edward along. My wishes of him not noticing anything peculiar went out the window the moment he pulled me close to him on the floor.

"Who was that guy?" He whispered. I just shrugged, trying to play it off as best I could. "No clue." He snorted, and pulled me closer. "Come on, Bella, he knew you're name. Was he an ex boyfriend or something?" He pried. I stopped dancing, and put my hands on my hips. "There are plenty of girls named Bella in the world." I snapped. "Besides, he said he was mistaken." I continued, a little nicer than before. He gave me a skeptical look, but nodded his head as if to say 'okay, I believe you.'

After that fiasco, I drank a few shots, and a couple beers. Then we danced, and drank, and danced some more. We closed the place down actually before deciding to go home. I guess we were all in need of a good night out, and tonight was exactly that. Especially the drunk sex that followed. It wasn't quite the disaster I thought it would be. It was actually pretty fun. I was not, however, looking forward to the bruises I would surely have from all the falls we'd taken, or the near falls where I ended up slammed into a wall or a door. Still, it would be worth it.

I woke up around four o' clock in the afternoon with a major headache. I groaned, and threw the covers over my head in protest of the bright sun. I heard Edward chuckle beside me, and playfully hit him in the arm. "Ow." I whined right after. Yeah, definitely sore. When I got up to use the bathroom and get some aspirin I heard Edward take in a soft breath. I glanced over with a smile. "Are you sore too? Serves you right." I teased. He was staring at me with a look of such guilt, it made me confused.

I walked into the bathroom with him hot on my trail. "Are you alright?" He asked, stopping me from proceeding. I gave him a curious expression. "I'm a little sore, but I'm fine. Why?" I questioned. He turned me to my full length mirror, and I gasped. My legs were covered in little bruises; my hips and stomach were almost as bad. The only parts left untouched were my arms and face. I turned, and my back was the worst. Wow…so drunken sex wasn't the greatest idea ever. Damn! There goes my outfit for tonight too! I wanted to kick myself for thinking that last, even if it was true. From my lower back, to the top of my neck black and blue bruises were scattered all over.

I turned back to Edward, and placed my hands on either side of his face. "Edward, I am fine. They don't hurt; I'm just a little sore okay? Please, please do not feel guilty for showing me just how much you love me." I pleaded, forcing him to look at me as he tried to turn away. He always did this. Any time we made love, if there was even a scratch on me, he felt guilty and regretted doing it. After the first time we had sex, ya know on the counter, he found a couple bruises that were fading about two weeks later. He freaked, and tried telling me we weren't going to do it anymore. I so did not want to go back to that stage. He just stared at me for a few minutes, and then leaned forward to kiss my head.

"We'll talk about it later, I have to get ready for the conference." He said quietly. I dropped my hands, and went to the shower. I hated when he was like this. He treated me like I was something fragile, easily broken. I kept telling him I was a big girl and didn't need constant looking after, but he ignored me. He took a shower with me as he usually did, but this time it was just a shower. And when he dressed in silence, and was about to leave without as much as a glance in my direction, I had had enough.

"Edward." I said in a not so nice tone. He stopped, but wouldn't turn around. "I'm fine, okay? I just…I hate that I do that to you all the time." He said quickly, quietly. I knew he was lying. "Fine. You want to leave? Leave." I snapped, and went to my closet in tears. They were just some fucking bruises! It's not like he broke my damn leg or something and yet he was acting just like that! And to treat me like that? Jerk. I wiped furiously at my eyes, and tried to decide what to wear. It was too warm for a sweater, even in New York, and I couldn't wear a tank top. Every shirt I picked up, I threw back on the floor, trying my hardest to stop crying.

I was overreacting, and I knew it. I just couldn't help it. It wasn't really him I was angry with, it was me. I was the one going on a date behind his back tonight; I was the one who had been going on dates the past two months. I felt terrible, I felt like a slut, worse than that. I didn't want Edward going to his conference feeling like shit, thinking I was angry with him. I turned to find my phone and nearly jumped out of my skin.

"What?" I said more harshly than I'd intended. Just, seeing him standing there scared me. I thought he was gone already. And then my face flushed realizing he'd seen my little tantrum. Damn emotions. "I'm sorry love, I didn't mean to-"

"Its fine, Edward really. It's no big deal. It just hurt a little that you were going to leave without so much as a goodbye." I replied quietly. He wrapped me in his arms, and kissed my forehead. "I'm working on it. I promise." He whispered. I knew what he was referring to, and nodded to let him know I understood. "I wish you could go." He stated after a few minutes. He went deeper into my closet, and pulled out a form fitting royal blue t-shirt. "Wear this, I love it on you. I'll see you when I get home?" he questioned, stepping out.

I took the shirt, and nodded with a smile. "I'll be at your place, wearing this shirt that you love so much." I replied. I kissed him quickly, told him I loved him and watched him leave. I put the shirt on my bed, and went in search of something else. I couldn't wear that shirt on a date with someone else. It was too cruel, even if he wouldn't know. So, I'd just bring it with me and change at his house.