Disclaimer: I don't own the Twilight characters. They belong exclusively to Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 5: Nightmare

You look so lovely when you blush. My imagination was running wild again. My blush was like an unsightly virus, tainting everything it touched deep red.

And off it went again, that virus of mine. Edward chuckled, leading me into the house. My steps were uneven, much like my breath. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, and immediately, I knew that everything was alright.

Rosalie and Emmett were at the front of the group, and they were the ones who pushed open the front doors.

"Oh god," I mumbled, my eyes widening in fright. The inside was even more majestic than the exterior. The foyer was a mix of beige and velvety red. The floors were made of ivory marble, with a black sun design in the center of the room. A large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling between two curved staircases. A few people were milling around on the staircases, and more still in the foyer. Exactly opposite us was a large glass door which opened to the pool, and the general party. The rest of the walls were lined with large archways leading to other rooms, but they appeared to be blocked off by furniture. Emmett let out a low whistle, impressed.

"Nice place," Jasper agreed. "But I don't really understand why the general party is outside– it's the middle of January, and it can't be more than forty degrees," He noted logically.

"Body heat," Rosalie answered, a smirk creeping across her face. I felt the virus on my face spreading more rapidly, overtaking the tops of my ears. "Let's go out back and see what's going on." The rest agreed, and followed Rosalie out back. But my feet, on the other hand, were glued to the floor. Edward peered curiously.

"Are you okay, Bella?" He asked, concerned. I shrugged a little, not trusting my words, and looked away from him. He placed his hand on my shoulder, then a finger under my chin. He tilted my chin towards him, so I would look him in those deep, viridescent eyes. "Everything will be okay. I won't let anything bad happen to you," Edward vowed, nodding decisively. I couldn't help but to trust him, and let him lead me out back.

Jasper was right about it being cold. I shivered involuntarily, wrapping my arms around myself. Edward noticed, and took off his jacket, offering it to me. I shook my head.

"You'll get cold," I argued. I didn't want him to make sacrifices for me. He rolled his eyes, taking my arms and forcing them into the jacket. I started to complain, but immediately stopped– the jacket was warm, and smelled exactly like him. I took a deep inhale, and smiled. Edward smirked.

"You like it," He stated. I nodded once, then turned away from him to hide my darkening cheeks. His enchanting laugh rang quietly from behind me. I started to walk towards a group of people I didn't know, well aware of Edward following me. One of the boys turned towards me, and a huge grin broke across his face.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here," He greeted loudly. "It's Isabella Swan, the new girl. Makes me wonder if the rumors are true..." He continued. His friends laughed raucously. I heard Edward's musical laugh behind me as well. My eyes widened even more.

"Well, Laurent, you can let Bella confirm or deny those rumors later. But right now, she's going to dance with me," Edward replied calmly. The boy named Laurent watched as Edward tugged me lightly away to where people were dancing.

"Edward, I can't dance," I said quickly. He simply rolled his eyes, before taking my hips. I blushed.

"Just do what you feel is right," He said with a knowing smile on his face.

"I don't think I should do that..." I disagreed, letting my hips sway awkwardly. Doing what I felt was right would involve less people.

"You're doing fine right now," Edward said pointedly. I sighed, the loud bass for the next song resounding throughout the grounds.

"Who were those people anyways?" I asked after a few moments of silence between us.

"That was the entire basketball team. Why did you go over there?" He shot back.

"The basketball team? Which reminds me, why didn't you tell me you were on the track team. The captain? That's a pretty big deal." I was not about to answer his second question. I could have sworn that Edward's cheeks flushed a little.

"It never came up," He replied quietly.

"Just like how you and Alice are siblings?" I raised my brows at him. He shrugged.

"You found out about that..." I nodded, and Edward sighed, dropping his hands. I was about to protest before he offered me his hand. "Let's talk." I nodded again, taking his hand as he led us back inside. The foyer was nearly empty, except for a few people climbing the stairs. He sat me down on the bottom step of the left staircase.

"Okay, so let's talk. What do you want to know?" I crossed my arms as he settled next to me.

"Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? What are your parents names and occupations? Why are you here? Et cetera," I was watching him, and he looked back at me. "I'll answer any questions you have. We can switch off, if you like," He suggested.

"Okay, well, you know my name, Isabella Marie Swan. I turn eighteen on September 13. My mom looks like me with shorter hair, and her name is name is Renee Dwyer. She left my hometown with me when I was only a few months old, and we moved to Phoenix Arizona. There, she met Phil Dwyer, and they eventually got married. She's now a kindergarten teacher, and Phil plays baseball--" Edward cut me off.

"He plays ball? Maybe I know him. What team?"

"He doesn't play well. Strictly minor league. Continuing on, my dad's name is Charlie Swan, and he's the police chief of Forks. I went to visit him every summer until about three years ago, when I refused to return. We vacationed in California instead. Then, last fall, I moved up to Forks with Charlie to let my mom and Phil have some peace. We filled out the application for this school, but I went to the Forks public school for the first semester. Everyone was surprised that I got accepted here." I made a face. "I came here because it's a good school, and it will look good on my college application," I concluded, shrugging. Edward nodded slowly. "Your turn." He sighed.

"My full name is Edward Anthony Cullen, and I turn eighteen on June 20... I know, I'm an old man," He began, chuckling. "My mother's name is Esme Cullen, and my father's name is Carlisle. I suppose you know that he works as a doctor... but I never knew you lived in Forks. I suppose that's because the minute we moved there, Carlisle and Esme sent us here," He started.

"That's besides the point. Continue with your autobiography," I demanded, and he chuckled.

"Well, there's really not much else. My parents adopted Alice when she was two years old– all I remember is that her parents died in a car accident. Well, that's what I was told, at least," Edward's beautiful brow furrowed in thought.

"What's Alaska like?" I asked him quietly.

"Cold. It snows a lot, and its always cloudy. A little like Forks." He replied, and I nodded.

"It sounds like a place I would want to visit," I noted, silently adding with you.

"Maybe I'll take you there over summer vacation," He supplied, and my blush deepened again.

"I'd like that," I answered honestly. My favorite half smile graced his full lips as he slipped one of his arms around my shoulders. I leaned into his strong chest, closing my eyes. He rested his chin on top of my head as I listened to his heartbeat again.

I could have stayed in that position forever, but the fates were against us.

"Yo Edward!"

"Edward, my main man!" A small group of boys rushed over to us. My eyes snapped open, narrowing at the interruption.

"Hello." Edward greeted, sounding as irritated as I felt. The boys looked over at me, and whistled.

"Hey Edward, who's your new girlfriend?" My viral blush returned.

"I'm not his girlfriend," I answered stiffly. They laughed. How obtuse could they get? Didn't they see we wanted to be alone?

"Sure, sure. So what's your name, pretty girl?" The main one asked.

"Bella Swan," I answered reluctantly. The boys started whispering, and I turned to Edward. "Who are they?" I hissed.

"Track team," He answered in the same low voice.

"Well Edward, we came because we wanted to show you something so awesome you wouldn't be able to wrap your mind around it. But I can see you're busy..." The main one teased. I leaned away from Edward, and stood up.

"No, I was just about to leave anyways," I waved goodbye to Edward, and wandered off. If that was the track team, then I was very, very glad that Edward was spending more time with me than them. But I couldn't help remembering what Rosalie had said. You see, he's more of a group type person. Was everything he said an act? Or was he really not influenced by these people at all? I ambled through the house and the yard for the better part of twenty minutes, when I encountered Alice, who looked stressed.

"Bella, let's go this way," She demanded, trying to push me away. A new song was coming on– Seven Things by Miley Cyrus. I absolutely despised Disney stars, as they seemed fake to me.

"Why?" I inquired, trying to look around her to see what she was trying to hide. What I saw made my heart stop.

Edward was tightly entwined with a platinum blonde girl I recognized as Lauren. Tears of fury sprang to my eyes. Alice rubbed my arms comfortingly. I felt a piece of my heart being ripped out and shredded to pieces.

You're vain, your games, you're insecure,
You love me, you like her.

Was this what Edward's friends meant when they said 'something so awesome?' Lauren Mallory?

You make me laugh, you make me cry,
I don't know which side to buy
.

Had I grown so accustomed to having Edward liking my company, I thought it was something more?

Your friends they're jerks
When you act like them, just know it hurts.
I wanna be with the one I know
.

His friends were jerks. Now he was one too, that he acted like them. I murmured the final lines of the chorus.

"And the seventh thing... I hate the most that you do... you make me love you." I couldn't tear my eyes away from Edward and Lauren. I knew that Miley Cyrus was singing the truth.

Edward made me fall in love with him.

"Alice, I have to get out of here." I announced loudly, my voice cracking. Edward unglued himself from Lauren's lips to stare at me in horror. My brown eyes met his green ones, and he held my gaze for a very long moment.

"Edward," Lauren complained in a high pitched voice. "Lets go somewhere more private," She tugged on his sleeve. This reminded me that I was still wearing his leather jacket. I tore it off, and shoved it gruffly in their direction.

"Yeah, Edward. Not everyone wants to see you tongue wrestling," I hissed venomously. Edward was still speechless as I turned on my heel, and stormed away.

"Wait, Bella!" He called, but made no move. I didn't pause. What had I been thinking? That Edward actually liked me? How delusional could I have gotten? Edward didn't care about me at all. He just wanted to use me. I felt his soft hand grasp my shoulder. I whipped around.

"Edward, I was wrong about you. Now get away from me before I get a restraining order," I snapped, but he didn't listen. He drew me closer, and his lips were dangerously close to mine. But I knew that if they met, I would forget every bad thing he did. This, he could not be forgiven for. I stomped hard on his foot– he yelped, and leapt backwards. "Alice, get me out of here now." I growled, stalking through the foyer.

"I don't think we can take Emmett's car..." She started hesitantly, before Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett appeared.

"What happened?" Rosalie demanded.

"Why do you need my car?" Emmett asked.

"We need to leave." Alice prompted, holding my hand and rubbing circles into the back of it. Tears were pouring down my cheeks.

"What--" Rosalie began, but Jasper cut her off.

"Rosalie, don't pressure them right now. I'm sure there's a better time to ask these types of questions, but now is not that time. Let's go," He put his hand around my shoulders, and led us towards the car.

"What about Edward?" Emmett inquired. Fresh tears burst from my eyes and rolled down my hot cheeks. "Oh..." He quickly helped me into the car, then leapt into his own seat, revving the engine.

I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, feeling as if when I let go, I would fall apart. The hole in my heart that Edward inflicted would never heal. Tears continued to pour from my eyes as Rosalie rubbed my back comfortingly. But nothing could help, and nothing could ever help me cope with this feeling. Alice was quietly filling in Jasper and Emmett on the story, and Emmett would tell Rosalie later. I couldn't bear to hear it repeated again.

An hour later, the door opened, and Tanya entered, laughing boisterously, with Lauren and Edward in tow. Edward froze, and looked like he wanted to run away. Good. He was the cause of my horrible pain. I wiped the tears from my eyes, and looked pointedly away from Edward. Lauren tugged him more into the room. Tanya stared at me.

"Whatever happened, don't tell me. I had a good night, obviously you didn't. But you deserve it, because you tried to steal my boyfriend from me," She sneered, causing a new torrent of tears to fall. Rosalie pulled me up, embracing me.

"Tanya, that was so uncalled for." Rosalie snapped. "Come on Bella, you're spending the night with me and Alice," She led me from the room. Edward half extended his hand, but Alice pushed it away. Before the door closed, I heard whispers. I could just make out the words.

"Do you know what happened?" Tanya hissed at Lauren.

"She saw me and Edward hooking up," Lauren replied with an air of smugness.

"You made out with my boyfriend?!" Tanya's voice rose dangerously. I didn't need to strain my ears anymore. We entered Rosalie's and Alice's room, and sat down, listening through the thin walls.

"He's technically not your boyfriend anymore," Lauren challenged.

"I trusted you, you dirty whore!" Tanya screeched. I couldn't help but giggle weakly. It appeared that Tanya had a new way to channel her hate.

"I can't help that Edward's attracted to me!" The cat fight went on, and Edward didn't speak at any point. I buried my head in Alice's pillow, as she patted me on the back softly.

"Bella, I think we should talk about this," She advised. I sighed, sitting up in resignation.

"I guess... I didn't know I liked him that much. When I saw him kissing Lauren, I felt as if a piece of me had been ripped out and shredded," The hole I was describing stung painfully, resulting in me wrapping my arms tightly around myself. Alice made a noise. "I kind of thought he liked me a little as well," I continued quietly.

"Bella, everyone thought he liked you. A lot. I don't understand why he would do something like this," She was about to continue when Rosalie piped up.

"I heard his friends telling him that they would give him four hundred dollars to make a show of getting together with Lauren, and staying with her for a week. But I thought he would treasure his relationship with Bella more than four hundred dollars..." She trailed off, giving into deep thought. I lowered my head to stare at my lap, my tears letting up. Four hundred dollars was worth more to Edward than I was... but didn't doctors make a lot of money? Why would he need four hundred dollars. How could he do this to me?

"I'll have a little chat with Edward about that," Alice said venomously. I closed my eyes, sniffling. She hugged me tightly, and I surrendered myself to the pain. Hurt coursed through my veins, burning every inch of my body. My fingers tightened into claws, my nails digging into my back A tortured cry escaped my clenched teeth as my body began to shake with my uncontrollable tears. Alice continued comforting me, Rosalie, Jasper and Emmett joining her. They slipped my feet out of my shoes, and lowered me so my head was resting on the pillow.

"Just let it all out, Bella." Jasper said soothingly. Rosalie nodded, running her fingers through my hair. Alice continued rubbing my back lightly.

"Edward will pay for what he did for you." Emmett promised me, and I nodded weakly. I closed my eyes, and eventually, my uncontrollable sobs subsided into whimpers.

The darkness was surrounding me. I felt the current pushing and pulling me, but I didn't know which way to turn. Which way would spare my life? Which way would pull me farther away? I tried to cry for help, but ended up with a mouthful of water. I sputtered, taking in more water. Black spots appeared in front of my eyes, and I knew that it was over. There was no hope left for me.

A faint white light was growing brighter. It gave me hope– it had to be the surface! I relaxed in the water. There was no use fighting anymore, because the current was tugging me towards the light. I smiled as the light grew brighter. How easy this was– I should have stopped fighting earlier!

A firm hand gripped my arm, and started tugging me away from the light. I wanted to scream, to yell at this arm– why were they dragging me deeper? It must have been a sea creature, trying to make me their dinner. The white light was fading.

I struggled relentlessly, the brightness of the light fluctuating. I tugged against the arm, trying to reach the light. The light was simplicity, hope, numbness. The hand was pulling me back to painful reality.

The hand was winning. I was losing my strength. I wondered how long I had been underwater. The hand tugged me forcefully, and I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. I let out a cry of pain as darkness engulfed me.

"Bella! Bella, wake up! BELLA!" I screamed again, sitting bolt upright in bed. My body was covered in a sheen of cold sweat. Tears were streaming down my face again. "Bella, what on Earth were you dreaming about?" Alice's caring voice was laced with concern. I looked quickly at her, my eyes wide in fear. I looked at my shoulder– it wasn't dislocated. I looked around the room. I was in Alice's bed, the covers tangled around my quivering legs.

"Oh Alice!" I cried, throwing my arms around her, new sobs quaking my figure. "I'm not dead! There you are! You're not dead either! The water's gone! It's gone... it's gone." I was so relieved that I hadn't died.

"Yes Bella, you're alive. You were screaming so loudly, and I tried to wake you up. I guess hitting your shoulder with my hairbrush helped," She smiled sheepishly. That's where the pain in my shoulder had come from, but only magnified a hundred times.

"What was I screaming about?" I asked her quietly.

"You were saying something like 'Let me go!'" I had wanted the hand to release me so I could leave all the pain behind me.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Alice inquired. Rosalie was watching us carefully from across the room.

"I was drowning... and then I saw that light everyone sees. And then someone grabbed me, and tried to pull me away... I suppose that's where I screamed. And then they pulled my arm so hard, and my shoulder... it hurt so much... and then I woke up. I'm so sorry to have woken you up," I whispered. Alice shook her head.

"Bella, we don't want you having nightmares. Talking about it always helps." Rosalie rose from her bed, and loped over to us, sitting next to Alice. They were looking at me with compassion in their eyes. "We love you too much. We don't want you hurting," Alice cooed. I sniffled, nodding.

"I just feel like I've caused so much drama here already, and it's only my second official day," I moaned, resting my head in my hands.

"If this is about Edward--" I flinched. "Then don't worry. He'll regret hurting you." Rosalie vowed.

"But I don't want to cause any more problems," I whispered. Alice shook her head.

"Bella, if it makes you feel better, we won't involve you with this at all. He needs to be taught a lesson on how to treat girls. But I can't promise you that he won't know it's about you. I've never seen him look at another girl the way he looks at you." Alice rested her hand on my shoulder, pushing it lightly so I was looking at her.

"He made a huge mistake by letting you go."

Author's Note: Ahh, I'll probably update again later today. I want to find out what happens, but I didn't want to continue this chapter. It's a little on the short side, but you're getting multiple updates in one day, probably. So stay tuned! Review please!