Thursday, November 18th

I didn't sleep that night. I sat in the bathroom for a long time. I didn't want to think about my Mom and Dad, so I focused on other things as best I could. Eventually it got so late that all I had to focus on was being tired, and staying awake. I moved to the bedroom, sitting sideways on the couch with my back to the arm rest. There was no light in the room except for the line coming in from the hallway and eventually, that was turned off too. Emmett must have been up late too.

I wondered what Emmett and Alice thought about me. Did Carlisle and Esme ask them before they brought me here? I doubted it. Maybe they were mad that I was here. I probably would be mad if I had a perfect life and someone dumped a messed up, wreck of a teenage boy into it.

At least Emmett hadn't told them that I was essentially spying on their private conversation. Yet. Or maybe he had and Esme just didn't mention it. Either way was embarrassing so I guess it didn't matter. I hoped he wouldn't tell.

It was close to five a.m. by the time I moved over to the bed. I didn't want to sleep. I knew I would dream about my Mom. This is why I tried not to think about them. Whenever I did I would dream about happy times with them and I didn't need the tease, especially now that I was out of his house. Now I got to see another tease on a daily basis and Carlisle and Esme were nearly as bad as thoughts of my own family.

I wondered how it was for Emmett and Alice to grow up here. Their parents seemed like the kind that gave them whatever they wanted, let them explore and make their own decisions and mistakes. I bet they took trips and got the best experiences that life could offer.

To say I was jealous of them would be such a laughable understatement I shouldn't even think it.

They had freedom and love and care and what did I have? My childhood consisted of fear and locks and hurt. It didn't matter that I was in the same house as them now, or that Carlisle and Esme would probably do whatever they could to give me the same things as them, it was too late for me. That man had ruined me for good and when it came down to it, it was all over. It was over the day he took me. He won and I lost and that was it.

I laid in bed that day until Esme came and got me for breakfast. She could see that I was tired though and sent me back up to bed after I ate my eggs and toast. I still didn't sleep though and at lunch time, she started asking me what was wrong. I didn't answer, just ate enough to satisfy her and headed back upstairs. I purposefully stayed in uncomfortable positions so it was harder to fall asleep, a trick I had learned at a young age.

Carlisle came home around six and came up to my room with dinner for me. He questioned me about how I was feeling and if I was sleeping properly, I didn't answer him, or look at him. I didn't want to explain the real reason and any other reason wouldn't have satisfied him. He tried to give me a sleeping pill, but I shook my head and turned around on the bed.

"I'll leave it here for you in case you change your mind." I heard the little tap on the wood of the nightstand. Then the click of the door as it closed. I didn't eat my dinner or take the pill, but I did fall asleep that night. And dream I did.

I was sitting on my Dads recliner in the living room, but I wasn't with my Dad. I was sitting on his lap, he was holding onto me tightly, his hand on the back of my head, pressing me towards his chest.

"Shhhh, it's just fine, son. I'll take care of you, won't I? You're just fine."

He rocked back and forth, holding my face to his chest. I was crying because I knew what was behind me. He rubbed my back in big, long circles from the base of my neck all the way down to my pajama bottoms. He kept whispering shhh, like it was ok not to cry when my parents were laying, still and silent, right behind me. He was looking at their bodies, and wouldn't let me see. I tried to turn my head to see, hoping they would get up and make this man go away. His fingers on the side of my face held it so that all I could see was our dining room table in the next room. My dad's books and papers were still on it, the light shining in from the kitchen.

I tried to push him away from me, my elbows reaching his chest and poking in but not making a difference. I cried and told him to let me go but he kept hushing me, rubbing my back.

After what seemed like hours, he finally stood up, holding me like a baby. He took me into the kitchen where he set me on the counter. I tried to wiggle out from his hold and off the counter but he put a strong hand on my thigh and held tight. It hurt and I didn't move anymore. He pulled out a little bottle of pills from his dirty brown pants and popped the lid off with a thumb.

I was screaming and howling now, clearly getting on his nerves. My vision was blurry from all my tears and the next thing I knew, he had pushed three or four pills into my mouth and was holding it shut with the palm of his hand. My nose was all stuffy from crying and I couldn't breathe without my mouth open. I shook my head trying to get loose.

"Now now, just swallow like a good boy and it'll be over soon. Swallow what's in your mouth, son, go on."

I thought he was going to kill me too. The pills must be poison, right? I had no choice though, getting dizzy from no oxygen. I swallowed thickly, struggling to get them down without water. He felt me swallow and took his hand off my lips, moving his fingers to my chin and pulling down. Once my mouth was open he peered inside, making sure they were gone.

"Good boy." He picked me back up and patted my bottom in praise. We stayed in the kitchen for a few minutes, him holding me like a baby with my head on his shoulder, bouncing me and rocking me, whispering comforting words in my ear. Eventually I started to feel sleepy and my crying quieted. He pulled me back, looking at my face. Seeing me in my sleepy state, he told me to go to sleep and we moved towards the garage. He opened the back door of my parents' car and put me in, laying me across the seats. I was too sleepy to get up. I heard him close my door, then open the drivers. We backed out of the garage and turned down my street, away from my house and my parents, and into my nightmare. I fell asleep before we arrived.

Friday, November 19th

Thankfully, a sharp and intense pain woke me up. It was a familiar pain, but still very much unwelcome. I froze, knowing from experience that if I rolled further onto my shoulder, it would make matters so much worse. I slowly inched my way back the way I came, rolling to the left instead of the right. I moved my left hand up and gripped my right arm above my elbow, holding my shoulder in place.

Probably a year or two ago now, James had come home particularly drunk. He only ever got violent when he was drunk. By the time he was through with me, I was in much the same position I was in now, holding my shoulder still, it having popped out of the socket. Not having much of a choice, I learned how to wiggle it back into place. After the first time, it had come out several more times. Each time it was getting harder and harder to get it back in.

Now, laying in my bed, I looked at my options. Squinting to see the clock on the DVD player, I saw that it was almost seven. Knowing how much it would hurt to maneuver the bone back into its spot, I opted to rest a little first. If I held really really still, after a few minutes it didn't hurt so bad. I just had to build myself up to it, that was all.

When the clock read nine, I had to admit that I was stalling. With one wiggle though, I realized I couldn't move it the right way in this position. I needed to be sitting up. Damn it.

I squeezed my arm tightly to my body, getting ready.

Taking a huge breath and holding it in, I gently rolled myself over so that my knee was underneath me, then lifting myself up and to the edge of the bed. I got a foot on the ground and slid down until I was sitting flat on the floor with my back against the mattress. I needed a flat surface to push my arm against.

Decidedly, I had earned a break. I held my arm at a right angle, resting my head back and closing my eyes.

Knock, knock. "Edward?" My eyes shot open. Oh fuck, I had to do this now.

I started wiggling it around, hoping it would pop in easily. That shit hurt pretty bad though, and I couldn't help the groan that came out, even with my lips clamped tightly shut.

"Edward? Are you alright, honey?"

Ok, I had to do this now. One, two…three. I pushed my shoulder hard into the mattress. Good god that hurt. I knew that if I had actually gotten it in, the pain would have gone away pretty quickly. It still hurt badly though, so I was pretty much screwed.

I must have made more noise because Esme opened the door. "What's wrong? Are you sick?" she asked rather frantically. I tried to keep the moaning to a minimum and sit up in a more natural position, but I had to face it, it was hopeless. I was sweating from the pain and holding my arm for dear life.

Esme rushed over to me and knelt down beside me. She reached out to feel my face and I violently flinched away from her, not wanting to be jostled for fear of making my arm hurt worse. Unfortunately, my own movement was enough to make me gasp in pain and squeeze my eyes shut.

When I opened them, Esme's mouth was in a wide 'o' shape and she was staring at my shoulder. I didn't think she would be able to actually see it through my t-shirt, but she clearly had drawn her own conclusion.

I started wiggling it around again, determined to make this pain stop, even if she was going to watch me.

"Honey! No, no, no, please stop! I'm going to get Carlisle, he can fix it, don't move anymore," she almost yelled at me. I didn't want Carlisle touching my arm right now, I could do it myself. "Edward, please stop for just a minute, hold still!" She grabbed my left wrist, and that effectively stopped my movement because I didn't want her moving it anywhere I didn't have planned. She got up and ran to the door, yelling for Carlisle to come quickly.

I was starting to get nauseous from the pain and needed a break from the wiggling. I held it really still and took some deep breathes.

"What on Earth happened?" she asked me. I was unable to answer her. Sorry, too busy breathing.

Carlisle's footsteps were heard and then he was in my doorway, looking down on the scene.

"It's his shoulder, Carlisle, look," Esme said frantically.

Carlisle was at my side instantaneously, kneeling down next to my injured arm.

"Did you fall?" he asked me, his eyes analyzing the situation without touching me.

I shook my head.

"Talk to me Edward, what happened?"

"Just sleeping," I struggled to tell him. He looked confused but I couldn't clarify right now.

"Has this happened before?"

I nodded. This time he did touch me, running his fingers along my collar bone and then putting one hand on my elbow, the other about halfway up to my shoulder.

"Did this just happen? As in a few minutes ago or less?" I was almost crying now as I shook my head, clenching my teeth.

"Ok, let's get you on the bed and we'll pop it back in, alright?" He let me hold my arm now while he went to my other side and put an arm around my waist, helping me up because I had no free hands.

I muttered a 'fuck' as he directed me. I had just done this, hadn't I? He couldn't do it from down there? It hurt really fucking bad.

"Can't you give him something? So it doesn't hurt?" Esme sounded like she was about to cry.

"Edward, I can go downstairs to my office and get you a shot to numb the area and some of the pain, or I can do it right now. You're going to have some immediate relief once it's back in place. What would you like me to do?" he asked very clearly and calmly.

"No, just do it now," I was on the verge of yelling, tired of my shoulder being moved around and jostled.

Carlisle shoved the blankets and pillows out of the way so I could lay down completely flat on the mattress. He removed my left hand from my right arm and laid both down flat on the mattress, my injured arm still bent at a right angle. He took my hand in his and held on tightly to my fingers.

"Ok, I'm going to count to three. One, two," and that was it. He twisted and pushed my shoulder up, there was a blinding pain for a moment before sweet relief. He let go of my hand and I quickly gripped my arm again, still not wanting it to move. It felt so much better already. My eyes closed in relief and I rolled off my shoulder.

"Are you alright?" he asked, now behind me.

"Mhmm. Thank you." I meant it.

"You were sleeping?" he asked, bewildered.

"Yeah. I just rolled on it wrong I guess."

"You've dislocated it before? Did you pop it back in yourself?"

"Yeah." Who else would have done it? There was a break in the questioning and although I wasn't looking, I could almost feel Carlisle and Esme exchange a meaningful glance.

"Can you sit up for me again? You shouldn't rest like that, in case you roll onto it again."

I slowly sat up and turned towards him as he stacked pillows up behind me. He had me lean on them so I was basically sitting up but with extra support. He even folded one up perfectly under my injured arm so I didn't have to hold it up.

"Thank you," I said again, truly grateful. He did it much better than I ever could have.

"Next time you should come to me right away, okay? Yell down for us in an emergency like this, we'll hear you. It doesn't matter what time it is. You don't need to be relocating your own shoulder. I'm going to go get you some pain medicine. Don't move, alright?" I nodded.

He left the room but Esme was still by the door, looking upset but relieved.

"Are you alright honey?" she asked again.

"Mhmm. Tired," I told her truthfully. The relief from the pain had made me sleepy and all I wanted to do now was close my eyes and not move.

I did close my eyes, too exhausted to pretend to hold up my end of a conversation. Esme started moving around, adjusting the sheets on my bed and straightening them out, covering my up about to my knees. I heard the faucet turn on in the bathroom opened my eyes to her holding out a glass of water to me. I took it with my left hand, gulping down half of the glass.

Carlisle came back then, holding a pill bottle and a big bag of ice, along with a towel. He set all of his items down next to me on the mattress.

"Come on, let's get your shirt off." What? Why? No thanks.

Unfortunately, Carlisle didn't really wait for an answer. He took my shirt by the hem and started pulling up before I had comprehended.

"Hold your arm for a minute." I did just that as he worked my t-shirt up my back and around my good shoulder, then let go so he could get my left arm out.

I held on for dear life as he pulled it over my head and then gently down my right arm.

He inspected my shoulder, commenting on how "inflamed" it looked. Whatever that meant.

"When did this happen?"

"Um…a couple hours ago," I mumbled, embarrassed. He made a hmm noise, clearly unhappy.

"I want you to keep ice on it this morning, alright? And you need to make sure not to put any pressure on it and keep it supported. I'm going to bring you a sling home in a few hours. Until then you should stay here. I want you to take this." He held out a little white pill and the glass of water.

I shook my head. I didn't want a sleeping pill.

"Edward, I would like you to take it, please," he said, making it clear that he wasn't asking.

"I don't want sleeping pills."

"It's not a sleeping pill. It's a muscle relaxer, it's a mild dose and you'll feel much better after you take it. Please."

Seeing that he was going to put up a fight about it this time, I reluctantly took it, not using the water. I wanted to sleep.

He put the towel down over my shoulder and then the ice bag, using another pillow to prop it up.

"Get some rest. We'll leave the door open so we can hear if you need anything, alright?"

I was asleep before they left the room.

CPOV

As soon as we were out of sight Esme looked at me, tears overflowing from her eyes. She opened her mouth before I shushed her, looking pointedly at Edward's open door. Putting a hand on her back, I lead her downstairs, into my office.

The door hadn't even closed when she started. "Oh my god, Carlisle! That poor child, what did that monster do to him?" I took her in a hug and held her close, astounded myself at the situation.

When Esme had yelled frantically from upstairs, I could only imagine what caused her concern. I definitely wasn't expecting what I saw when I entered Edward's room though. It was obvious very quickly that something was terribly wrong with his arm. He was holding it at an unnatural position, sweating with a red face from the pain.

I popped it back in with little trouble, but Edward unfortunately seemed rather experienced with the discomfort he was in.

If this was a repeated occurrence, he would need to go into the hospital for x-rays. He surely wouldn't be happy about it, but there was a good chance he needed further medical care and I daresay he's been neglected enough.

"Why do things keep happening to him? Hasn't he had enough?" my wife cried into my shoulder.

"I know. He can't catch a break, can he?"

"You should have seen him! He was sitting on the floor shaking his arm back into place. Why didn't he ask us? He thinks he's alone," she concluded. I couldn't help but think she was right.

I had the exact thought yesterday when she told me about Edward's decision not to testify. I had gotten home late from work and it wasn't until after Emmett and Alice had both disappeared to their rooms for the night that Esme told me about their conversation.

"He talked to me a little yesterday."

"Oh?"

"He doesn't want to testify. He told me he didn't want to ever be in the same room with James again, but that he wanted to help. It was sweet, really. He seemed worried that I would be mad, but he meant it. He doesn't want to see him again."

"Maybe he will change his mind after he has some more time to think about. I would hate for him to regret this decision."

"I don't think he will. He seemed very firm on the topic. I didn't even ask, he just came out and said 'no'."

It was encouraging to know that when he had something he wanted to say, he would say it. We had gotten a lot of nods and shrugs the past few days. I was beginning to think that he was too scared to voice his true opinions.

"He's scared, Carlisle."

"I know he is." And he had every right to be. He had been in hell for far too long. He had to grow up in fear, hopeless and alone.

"I want him to realize that he's safe, it hurts me to think that he's still scared and uncomfortable. I don't want him to think this place is like that place," she sighed.

"It will take time. We can't expect him to be okay with everything right away. It's probably good that he doesn't just have blind faith that everything will be okay."

"But it will be! He doesn't need to fear anymore."

"We know that, but he needs to heal before he can be confident in his safety. He'll get there."

He needed encouragement. He needed to be shown that this world was safe. Inside this house, with this family, he had nothing to fear. If he could learn that, he could deal with the other things in his head.

"Did you ask him if he wanted to go out and do something? I think it would be a big help to show him that he can loosen up a little. Maybe he could take a step towards trusting us if he had a good time out somewhere with us."

"He doesn't want to. He didn't really say why, but he wants to stay here."

I was afraid of that. It was understandable. This whole thing is surely so overwhelming for him, he's probably trying to get a hold on his new home before he ventures out. He's already done more traveling in the past week than in the past eight years. I still though it would help him to see that the whole world isn't evil.

"That's alright. He'll get there. We'll help him," I comforted her. I knew having Edward here, although she would have it no other way, was a huge stress on her. She wanted to help him, like she helped Emmett and Alice, but sadly, Edward was clearly on a whole different level. He was going to need years of comfort and reassurance, where Emmett and Alice were already healed for the most part.

"Listen, Esme, I should call Dr. Garrison. She's supposed to be here in a few hours. I'll see if she wants to reschedule."

As it turned out, she didn't want to reschedule. She thought it best to continue with the original plan. Edward needed a routine. I agreed, as long as he wasn't too uncomfortable or wanting to rest. It was only ten, Edward had five hours to rest.

"I'm going to tell him later tonight that I want him to go in for x-rays soon. He won't be happy about it, but he needs them."

"Would you like me to talk to him about it first?" Dr. Garrison asked.

"If you think that would be the most likely way he will agree," I hesitated. I hadn't told her in hopes that she would do it for me.

"Well, I don't want him to be uncomfortable talking to you about issues. You should approach him first. Be firm with him, tell him what needs to happen, but if he panics, just be ready to reassure him that it will be you doing the treatment and there's no need to be afraid of the hospital. It might help if he knew the details of what will happen, so he's prepared and knows what to expect."

I agreed. I didn't want Edward to think we were talking behind his back. I wanted to be open with him so he knew he could be open with me.

Soon after I hung up, I went out and bought Edwards shoulder sling. I realized I didn't know if he was right or left handed. I hoped this wouldn't discourage him too much.

Around two, I went back upstairs to help Edward with the sling and try to get him down for some lunch. His appointment was soon anyway.

I knocked. Nothing. As usual according to Esme. I knocked again just to be sure before slowly pushing his door open.

His bed was empty. The natural panic rose in my chest for a moment before I realized he was probably just in the bathroom. Sure enough the light was on under the door. I didn't hear the shower, but I didn't want to be standing here when he came out. He should think I'm snooping in his room or anything. I left the door cracked and went across to Emmett's room instead. Peeking in, I saw the horrific mess that was my teenage boy's bedroom. It smelled…not good. Rolling my eyes, I wondered why I even went in there. He was gross. At least Edward was still pretty clean.

Speaking of Edward, I heard his bathroom door open. I headed towards his door, assuming he would lie back down. What shocked me was when he opened his bedroom door and stood face to face with me.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I laughed awkwardly, hoping I didn't scare him.

He stared at me for a moment longer than normal, not looking scared exactly, but looking a little like he was going to put up a fight. I took a step back, I didn't want to look intimidating at all to him. Edward blinked rapidly and shook his head a little, moving back into his room.

"Bad timing, huh?" He didn't answer.

"If you want to sit down on the couch, I'll get you all set up." He nodded weakly and turned towards the couch. He wasn't even holding his arm, it was just hanging stiffly beside him.

I adjusted the length and fit of the sling around Edward's arm, instructing him on how to take it on and off and when to where it. He seemed like he was listening, if not unenthusiastic.

"You know I've done this before right? Its fine in a few weeks on its own…" he told me quietly.

"Hopefully this will get you healed up faster, and it'll cause you a lot less pain." He nodded, but I wasn't quite done yet. I had planned on doing this earlier, but now seemed like as good of time as any.

"Actually, I needed to talk to you about this Edward. I'm afraid that multiple dislocations probably mean you need further medical treatment. The ligaments are most likely loose, but there could be several other problems as well that I'd like to make sure are taken care of. I'd like to take you into the hospital here in town and do an x-ray." I paused, wanting him to respond. Of course, it was Edward, so he stayed silent. He looked at the ground. I waited. Nothing.

"Edward? Are you okay with this?" He was thinking. Hard. I waited for him to come up with an answer, but he didn't. All of a sudden he just got up and went back out the door. He was gone.

"Okay…"

EPOV

This sling thing was annoying. I was fine without and it was frustrating that Carlisle was deciding what was best for me, without my input. I knew how this worked, I had taken care of my shoulder, not to mention the rest of me, for a long time now and it was annoying that he was trying to tell me I was doing it wrong.

Whatever. I knew I shouldn't start anything, he didn't need a reason to be mad at me. So I got up and went downstairs to the kitchen, knowing it would be noticed if I didn't eat. I skipped breakfast.

Esme was in the living room, I tried to sneak by but she caught me, of course.

"How are you feeling?" she asked eagerly. It was actually kind of cute how enthusiastic she was. I appreciated how hard she was trying. I should try harder.

With that in mind, I put an actual sentence together.

"I'm okay, a little bit hungry," I lied, hoping this would make her happy. Food actually sounded pretty gross right now, but what else was new.

"And what would you like to eat? You've got about forty-five minutes before Dr. Garrison comes."

Oh. Shit. I completely forgot. And they're making me see her after the whole shoulder thing? I definitely should have made a bigger deal about it. I could have gotten out of this if I tried harder.

I shrugged, my enthusiasm lost. I sat in a kitchen chair while she spouted ideas at me. I tried not to look too depressed but really, I didn't care about whatever she was saying and the really sad part about it was, I couldn't think of anything I'd rather be doing. It's like, I know I don't want to be here, about to have a fucking therapy session with this stranger, but I have nothing else good to look forward too. I don't want to sleep because when I do, I dream. I don't want to be alone because then I think about what I dream. I don't want to be with people because they make my freakiness more obvious in comparison. So what was I supposed to do?

A plate of food appeared before me. I looked at it. It looked good. Then I looked up. Esme was already walking away, not looking at me. I suddenly felt terrible. She was trying really hard, and I didn't give a shit.

"Thank you."

She turned and smiled. "You're welcome, honey."

She kept calling me that. Nobody had called me anything besides Edward in a while. Actually he called me 'boy' a lot but that was hardly a term of endearment. I couldn't decide if I liked the name used with me or not. It just felt funny.

When Dr. Garrison got there at ten till three, it suddenly struck me how weird it was that my therapist was coming to me, wasn't it supposed to be the other way around? Wow. I was offended. I must be really messed up for her to make a special house call.

But soon enough I was sitting in the study, I guess it was Carlisle's, across from this woman. I missed having Esme and Carlisle there. They took the attention off of me a little bit. Now it was completely obvious that I was avoiding her gaze.

"I didn't ask last time we met, but is Edward okay? Not Ed or a nickname?"

"Edward." My Mom used to call me Eddie.

"Okay, Edward it is. You can call me Elise or Dr. Garrison, whatever is better for you." Good to know. When was she going to get to her point?

"So Carlisle tells me you did that in your sleep?" she asked, looking at my shoulder. Obviously if he said so, it must be true. Why was she asking me? I didn't answer. She seemed to realize this as she changed topics.

"Edward you know that anything we talk about in here is confidential right? I'm not allowed to tell anybody anything you say unless you give me permission or you tell me you're going to hurt yourself or somebody else."

Yeah, like she wasn't going to go tell Carlisle what went on in here. Sure. They were already a little too buddy buddy for me to believe that.

"Are you liking it here so far? The Cullens?" I shrug nodded. They were fine. "Have you spent much time with Emmett or Alice? It's probably nice having people your own age around."

"No." It was the truth. I didn't see them, nor did I know if it was going to be so great having them around. I'd have to see.

She looked at me then, like she was contemplating something important, before making a decision and saying, "I heard that you didn't feel like going out to town. Do you think you know why that is?"

Jesus, I couldn't talk about anything without them reporting to my shrink.

"Do I have to go somewhere?"

"No. But it seems a little curious that you wouldn't want to explore your new home. Have you been outside yet?"

"Why don't you ask them?" I wasn't planning on being rude this first visit, but consequences be damned, I was irritated with them talking about me. It was making me paranoid.

"I'd rather you tell me." I looked down so I could roll my eyes without her noticing. "Edward, you haven't given me much to go on yet. I'm only using the information I have. Why don't you tell me what you want to talk about."

"I don't really want to talk about anything."

"What would you like to do right now then? If I get up and leave right now, what would you do with your time?" Damn it, she hit the nail on the head with that one. I couldn't answer. I couldn't even lie.

Thankfully, she didn't make a big deal about it and she moved on. "What did you do before you were kidnapped?" I flinched at how casually she brought it up. It wasn't casual. "Did you play any sports? Have any hobbies?"

Did I? I hadn't really thought about that for a long time. Me and my dad went fishing a few times. We used to travel a lot. Just on day trips to different parks and sites in Washington and Oregon. We camped and hiked sometimes. Did that count as a hobby?

"Not really."

"What about school? Do you miss school? What was your favorite subject?" she asked in an excited tone.

That made me think. Actually it made me smile a little bit in a wicked sort of way. I just realized nobody had asked me about school. They probably all assumed I hadn't learned anything since the 3rd grade. While they were right that I hadn't actually been to school, they were mistaken on the other purposes of schooling. For my birthday one year he asked me what I wanted, I told him I wanted to go to school. He laughed of course, but he did bring a sort of school to me. He said he didn't want a stupid son. He brought me the materials to basically home school myself, books and computer CD's with lessons on them. They were dated, but most of the information was probably still relevant.

"Why are you smiling?" she asked, smiling herself.

I didn't answer right away, trying to hold in a laugh. They all thought I was below 3rd grade level intelligence. It was a little funny that they had gone on that long thinking that. Although it would be funny when they tried to start teaching me 3rd grade stuff and I could pass high school, I probably wasn't that good of a liar. I decided to enlighten her.

"You know I'm not stupid right?" I laughed again, well more of a chuckle, but still.

"I'm not sure what you're referring to, I don't think you're-" I cut her off, shaking my head and smiling.

"No, I mean, I've done all my schooling. I was like, halfway through 12th grade for the second time when I ran away." I was pretty upset when I finished all the books, so I decided I would redo 12th grade, hoping there was something I forgot.

She looked really confused. "You didn't go to school…."

"Nope." Yep, it was as fun as I thought it was going to be. "I had these homeschooling books. I guess they were supposed to be done with a teacher or tutor or whatever, but I did them myself." I actually did them way faster than normal too. I didn't get them until I was eleven, but I had a lot of time on my hands.

"Do Carlisle and Esme know this?" she asked, sounding almost offended that nobody had told her. I shook my head. I hadn't told anyone.

"Well, I'm sure that will come as a pleasant surprise to them. Are you interested in being tested for your GED?"

"Is that like high school?"

"It's a substitute high school diploma, yes. For students that don't have a traditional schooling."

"I mean, I don't really know why it matters, but I think I could pass it." She smiled, a little condescendingly I thought. I wasn't sure if she was really pleased, or if she thought I was being overly confident. Maybe I was.

"What do you think about college? Do you think that's something you would want?"

Was it? I hadn't really thought about it. Until last week, I thought I was never getting out of his house, college wasn't really in the equation. I didn't know what I would want to do, for a career anyway. I shrugged, not sure.

"Well, as glad as I am that you won't need to be caught up in school, it doesn't really answer my other question. There's a lot more to school than just the coarse work. The social aspect especially, do you miss that?"

"I don't really want to go to high school right now, if that's what you mean." The thought of classrooms full of people was….overwhelming, to say the least. I really just wanted to stay in this house for a while, thanks.

"Well, that's something we can definitely look at later, maybe next year even. Alice will be a junior then, maybe you could go to classes with her?"

Gee, thanks. She hadn't even considered me ready to go to school. I had to wait another ten months before the possibility was even open to me I was so messed up.

"Why do you come here? Don't you normally meet people at an office?" I asked, reminded of my abnormalities again.

She paused for a moment too long, telling me that she had to compose a nice, safe answer to share with me.

"That is the typical way I run a session, yes. Your foster parents and I thought it best if we start off slow however. I think you're more comfortable at this house than….out there, correct?"

I wanted to be offended, but I couldn't. It was trued, and I had told them several times I wanted to stay here. I had to shrug nod again.

There was a silence again, she was obviously deciding where to go from here.

"I'd like to talk about some short term goals for you, Edward." A beat. "You've obviously expressed some discomfort venturing out into town, however I think it would be good for you. I want you to try to leave the house this week, if you're comfortable with it. Go to the grocery store with Esme, go get your x-rays with Carlisle-" I rolled my eyes, amazed at their scheming "-or just go sit on the back porch. Expand your horizons a little. Does that sound sensible?" It did. I nodded, not sure if I would actually do it. "Before I go, I'd also like to talk about what happened with your arm." Again?

"Why do you think you didn't ask for help?"

Because I knew I could do it myself, that's why. I didn't need help, and I didn't want to bother them. It was embarrassing that I had this problem anyway.

"I didn't need help."

"The way I see it, you did. You were going to pop your own shoulder back in, when you had a doctor downstairs. I just want you to know that you have two people that are very willing and eager to help you. You shouldn't hesitate to ask next time." Because apparently there would be a next time.