"Hi, I'm Alice," she said.

"Hi Alice," we all chimed

"Well, it's always best to start at the beginning. Well when I was fifteen my mother died, so it was just me and my Dad. My Dad took my mother's death the hardest. He started to drink a lot. Then that's when the abuse started. He would beat me everyday. I would shut myself off from the world because I didn't want anyone to know. I hid the bruises, the scars, and the broken ribs. No one noticed, no one cared; all I had was me, myself, and I. I stared cutting myself. I thought that if I were in control…no if I had it my way, I would be the only one to hurt me."

She took a deep breath. She seemed like this was hard for her to say, but she looked at us each in the yes with courage and confidence.

"Then, I met Jasper." She said with a smile.

"He helped me through it all. With his help I got emancipated from my father and then I signed up at this place. Jasper says I can't come back until I learn how to take care of myself. He says I can't keep hurting myself like this. So I made him and myself a promise: I will get myself back together, and stop hurting myself." She took a another needed deep breath and looked at us with confidence I didn't have.

"Alice, would you like to volunteer someone to tell their story?" Dr. Rose asked her.

Alice had a devious look on her face, and then laid her eyes on me. "Edward," she said.

Xxx

BPOV

Wow, after the bonfire me and Edward just hit it off instantly. Ever since he kissed me we've been hanging out more and more. Over the last couple of weeks we've gotten closer. We have so much in common; they like some of the same books, music, television shows ( I couldn't believe he liked 'Veronica Mars' and 'Ugly Betty' as much as I do). I was shocked when he said that Betty should be with Gio instead of Henry.

Every time I look into those bright green eyes of his, I don't know there's something behind them. I can always tell when he's happy-his eyes are a shade lighter. When he's sad or angry his eyes are clouded. And he does the cutest thing when he's nervous, he looks down sheepishly like he's embarrassed about something, and he even stutters. Like he's doing now…I wonder what he's so nervous about…?

"So uhh, Bella, I-I-I was ah wondering, um, wait, uh…" Edward stuttered nervously.

"Hold, Edward slow down," I said gently taking his hand.

"Okay, Rose said to do it like this…" he muttered to himself. I frowned at the mention of Rosalie's name, then became panicked.

"Edward, your not making any sense, what are you trying to say. And what's this about Rosalie?" I asked him

"Okay," he said and kneeled down on one knee.

"uh, Edward we're only in high school, there's no need to move this fas," I said confused on what he was doing.

"No Bella. Just let me get this out." He said more sure of himself. " Okay, well every since we've started going out or hanging out whatever you want to call it. I just feel more closer to you than anyone I've ever known. I really like you and I want you to be my girlfriend. I feel this connection to you. I thought it would be better if we stayed friends, but ever since I kissed you at the bonfire, I felt this spark. I knew my feelings for you were true. The kiss proved it for me. OS now I really want to be with you. When I'm away from you I feel this ace in my stomach. And when I'm around, truthfully half the time I'm nervous, I feel like a complete idiot." He told me truthfully.

"I don't know what it is about you but, I just feel it in my heart," he said while looking deeply in my eyes.

My heart soared. I can't believe this is happening. I never really had a real boyfriend before. I mean I went out with Mike for a couple of times but it didn't feel no where near how I felt when I was with Edward. Like nothing can touch me. I always had the time of my life when I was him. HE made me feel safe. And I know how that sounds when some girl is head over her heels for some cute guy, but I truly felt that way when I was around him. I was happy.

And I knew I could trust him with my heart. I knew he would never purposely hurt me. But something behind his friendly façade, there lie a big secret he kept from the world and me. Maybe, with time he'll let me in more. Every time I mentioned his past he always changed the subject like he was protecting me from something. Whatever he was hiding or avoiding, it made me want to protect him from whatever it was.

"Edward, I feel exactly the same way about you. I would love to be your girlfriend." I smiled

He got up and wrapped me in his arms, which is where I wanted to be. Then he leaned don and kissed me.

"Finally." I said

He sort of flinched, I don't if he was offended or something but he wrapped m tighter in his arms and said-"Thank you, Rosalie!" I looked up at him confused. Wha did Rosalie have to do with any of this?

"What are you talking about?" I asked

"Ohh, well Rosalie helped me. I was really nervous about asking you to be my girlfriend, so she gave me some advice."

I looked at him with my mouth open, shocked.

"Come again?" I said dumbfounded.

"She told me the best way to your heart, was to just be myself; and to trust that you like me for just who I am." I didn't really believe her at first but she said to trust my instincts and go for it.

Wow, I never knew Rosalie could be so kind. Usually she doesn't really talk about me in such a nice way. She usually comes off like she doesn't care about me. I think its time for me and her to have a little chat.

'Hrm, that was really nice of her, I'll be sure to thank her when I get home." I told Edward, but mostly muter to myself.

"Oh, I want to ask you something else too." He said excited

'Yes Edward! Of course I'll marry you!' I said in my mind. 'Now Bella, don't get too carried away; you've only been boyfriend and girlfriend for a hot 5 seconds'.

"Yes Edward," I said with curiosity in my voice, I wonder what else he can top with 'Be my girlfriend'.

"Would you like to go to prom with me?" he asked.

"Huh?" I said nervously. Dancing? Oh crap, I'm not that good at dancing. I don't want him to laugh at me.

"Why do you want to go to prom?" I asked, he looked me sadly as if I was turning down his offer.

'Why don't you want to go" he asked me.

"You can't answer a question with a question Edward" I said while entwining our fingers.

"Uh, Yeah I can!" he said with a playful look.

"uh, No you can't" I said mockingly and stuck out my tongue.

"Truth: cuz' I want to show my new girlfriend off at the prom. Take you on a real date where we get all dressed up, eat a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant, slow dance to a romantic song; all that lovey-dovey stuff."

Aw, he is so cute.

"Well, Edward truth: I can't dance…"I murmured quietly.

"Well you always stand on my shoes and I could waltz you around, like this…" he picked me up and placed me on his feet, kept placed my right hand on his shoulder; while keeping our other hands entwined, he placed one of his other hand around my waist. And surprisingly I didn't feel uncomfortable or cared if anyone saw. I laughed and at looked up at his gorgeous eyes.

"Why Edward, I do say you are charming, yes I'll go to prom with you." What can I say, I couldn't resist his charm. He smiled with content, and kissed my softly on the lips.

"Hahaha, I win." He said.

Home (Dinner without Charlie, had to work the late shift at the station)

I came home to Rosalie in the kitchen cooking my favorite spaghetti. Weird.

"Hey, where's Emmett?" I asked her.

"Oh, he said he had something to do with his family. I thought I'd cook for a change. So… how it go with Edward?" she asked awkwardly.

"Uh, good." I looked at her suspiciously. I walked right up to her and put the back of my hand up to her forehead. She looked at me curiously and asked "Do I have fever?" she asked sarcastically.

"No," I replied-"But there something wrong with that's for sure, and I'm going to figure it out." I said as she followed me to the living room. "Your not the same Rosalie I grew up with. The shallow, sometimes conceited and cold hearted cousin I grew up with" with my statement she frowned and looked down.

"Is that what you think of me?" she asked, I had to tell her the truth. I'm not intimidated by her. She stared at me long and hard, and I stared right back at her.

"Yes, you've always acted like that, and always treated me like I was something standing the way of something you wanted; an obstacle you need to come. A bug, which needed to be, squashed quickly-not your own flesh and blood." I smoke with edge to my voice. For one I want her to hear me. Actually understand what I was saying.

She looked at me with sadden eyes as if knowing I was telling the truth. She looked remorseful.

"I'm s-sorry Bella." She said honestly.

"Why though? Just tell me." I said.

"I don't, it's hard to explain. I guess I was just bitter towards you. You had your parents. I didn't. Jealous of you, because you're parents are still alive. When you always fretted about your parents divorce, I grew more envious of you." She looked at me dead in the eye.

X flashback x

I was going to knock on my dad's bedroom door when I heard his soft snore. I was going to ask him for help on my math homework (he taught me my time-tables). I was about to leave when I heard. "Renee, I'm sorry honey. Please don't leave, I can change, we'll move and find a better life. Please don't go." My father was sleep talking. I guess now I know where I get from. He was dreaming of my mother, they had been divorced for a couple of years. My mother had already moved on, but my father was still in love with her. This saddens her. She wished he father could move on and stop dwelling on the past. She didn't want him to end up alone.

She went back to her room and jumped on her bed ad started crying. She wished she could take away her father's sadness. She looked up as he heard the door open, "Hey Bella can I borrow your shampoo?" Rosalie asked. I looked up at her with red rimmed eyes. She saw my face and walked over and sat on my bed and asked, "What the matter Bella?"

Something inside me told me to confide in her, she didn't think she could go through it alone. She knew Rosalie being her cousin would care about Charlie's feelings.

"Its' my Dad, He's still broken up about Renee, I never knew he felt this way. I just wish I could make his pain go away. If my parents were still together then he wouldn't be sad" I told her.

She looked at me annoyed. "Don't be a baby, he can handle himself Bella! God, your so emotional." She said with a sneer and got up and walked way.

Xxx

Ohh, now I kinda understood where Rosalie was coming from.

"I get it; you think I'm an ungrateful, insensitive, spoiled brat." I laughed and looked down in realization.

"No, Bella that's not it. I just, I was being selfish; there was no way you could have known how I was feeling-" I raised my hand up for her to stop. I walked over to her and hugged her. She looked at me confused. It felt awkward but then she hugged me back. She started to cry and I hugged her tighter

"I never…wanted…you…to think that I-I…hated you or something, because…that's not t-true." She said between sobs. This is a little strange. I've never seen Rosalie cry before not even at her parents' funeral. She always kept up this strong wall, like she was protecting herself from the world. I don't think even Emmett could brake through her façade. After some more crying and murmurings of unneeded apologies we sat down ate the delicious spaghetti she prepared.

"I kinda cooked this dinner to apologize; I felt we needed to have a serious talk about us."

"Yeah, me too; I just didn't know how to put it out there without offending you. And I wanted to thank you for the advice you gave to Edward. That was really nice. Thanks for giving him that push."

"Your welcome; I needed to make up for what I said about the Mike situation. Even though I helped hook you guys up, it wasn't my place to pass judgment on your relationship. I shouldn't have said anything at all. I'm sorry." she said

"Rose, its okay; its all in the past now don't worry about it. Let's start off fresh, how about a new subject. So…are you going to prom with Emmett?" I asked, for some reason I got exited when I said prom.

"Yes, he asked me a couple of days ago." She said with a smile. Every time she talked about Emmett she glowed. "So did Edward ask you yet?"

"Yea, but I'm sort of nervous. I mean, a dress, heels?" I'm scarred of even thinking of falling on my face. "I don't even know what make up to put on, like what the heck is mascara?" I asked her.

She looked at me with a shocked face, but a hint of mischief in her eyes. "What?" I asked.

"Okay, since the dance is on a Sunday, weirdly. We'll spend all day tomorrow getting ready. We'll go to the spa to get facials, mani-pedi's, the salon for hair and make up, and the mall for the dress, heels, and accessories." She said with excitement.

I looked at her and smiled. Spending time with her would be great. I showed the excitement on my face. "Yeah, lets do it! I'm glad you're here to help, or else I wouldn't know what to do. Hrm, I was thinking jeans and a polo shirt" I laughed.

So already things were looking up. I was ready to be in a relationship with Edward. And finally me and Rose were becoming closer.