Chapter 16

Bella's POV

Lashing into my Skin

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Mmmm," I groaned pulling myself off the floor. Wait! The floor?!

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Coming!" I said louder, forgetting my problem. I yanked the door open. There stood the guy that was slowly unraveling the ties around my stone walls that protect my heart. The guy that was already tipping my world upside down. "Hi," my voice thick with sleep.

"You ready?" Edward asked leaning against the door frame. I racked my brain, for I didn't know what the hell he was talking about. I must have looked confused because he started explaining. "You wanted to join me while I did some errands for Esme?"

"Oh! That's right!" I apologized, grabbing the keys to the house, wrote a quick note to Amber and Charlie, slipped my coat on and walked outside with him. "I don't know what happened,' I said walking towards the silver Volvo.

"Let me get that for you," He said sweetly. Very gentlemanly, he opened my door and waited til I was in, shut the door, went to his, then started the car.

"I mean, after I hung up with you, I ran upstairs, got dressed, slipped on some converse, then ran back downstairs. Next thing I know, you're knocking on the door and I'm on the floor." I was panicking. What happened? Did I faint? Did I hit my head on something? Did someone attack me from behind? ok...no more scary movies for you!

"Bella? Bella breath!" Edward slammed on breaks quickly. My head jerked forward. "Sorry. You weren't breathing, and I can't touch you. Are you ok?" he asked worry flowing in his voice as he took a right turn.

So sweet... my heart cooed. My mind shuddered. I nodded. "Yeah. Thank you, Edward." I said gratefully. "So...what first on the list?" I said letting him know I was still functioning.

"Um...lets see. We have to drop off the three boxes in the back off at the post office." I looked in the backseat; three cardboard boxes, two huge ones and one little one. "We have some décor shopping, then the grocery store. I'm sure we have a lot to stock up on, since today was game day and Emmett being Emmett, is eating everything." He chuckled, then looked over at me. "You won't mind meeting my family tonight, would you?"

I shrugged. "I've never met them. I've heard about them. Your dad, Carlisle, he's a doctor right?" He nodded. "Alice is that little pixie with cropped black hair?" He nodded again. "Your mother's name is....Esmeralda?"

"Esme," he chuckled silently.

"Oh Esme right, and I believe some girls said she was a designer?"

"Yeah! That's right. And Emmett is that huge bear guy with curly brown hair"

"Yeah. But what about Rose and Jasper?" he asked.

"I didn't know they were Cullen's too."

"Their not. The Hales. But Emmett and Rose have been dating for, almost five years. Alice and Jasper have been for three. Their family to us."

"oh!" I said smiling gently. "Well, Rose is that blonde that's drop dead gorgeous and knocks points off everybody's self-esteem. Jasper is her twin, that's real quiet." I paused. "But that's all that I've heard."

He nodded turning left. "Yeah! You're right in some spots. Carlisle, is a doctor at Forks Hospital. If you ever go, you have to ask for Dr. Cullen, he is the best around. Esme is a designer, she's a stay-at-home-mom, she loves everything that lives, even when they do the most evil thing, she always loves everything and everyone. Alice is exactly as you described her, a bubbly, hyper, pixie! Yes that is her! Emmett is my big brother. He's scary, intimidating, and sometimes a total douche. But he's also nothing but a gigantic teddy bear!" He laughed softly at my facial expression. "Seriously! He's sweetly huge! Now Rose is...difficult to explain. She knows she's hott and she uses that. She hates you if you are a threat to her family, to her Emmett, or her rep. She'll accept you, if you are a threat none of those things." He glanced over at me. "You, Bella, are none of those things." Edward assured, I nodded. "Jasper's quiet, but he's just like that. He's also smart, kind and considerate."

We pulled up into the post office parking lot. He grabbed the two big ones, while I grabbed the small one. "And me...well I'm sweet, evil, hot, gross, considerate, selfish, careful, careless, organized, forgetful, loud, quiet, and just me..." he listed off all his flaws and their opposites. Telling me that he was perfect in every way, but he was still human; he makes mistakes.

"Morning Steve," Edward greeted the guy at the front desk.

"Hello Edward," the middle aged man greeted back, then looked at me. His eyes rested far too long on my chest and legs than I was comfortable with. "Who's you're friend?"

I glared at him from behind Edwards shoulder. I whispered so low that if it wasn't for his shoulder going stiff, I would've thought he hadn't heard me. "Don't make me talk to him, Edward. Don't introduce me as Bella either, please."

He didn't show any sign that he heard me till he got to the front desk. "Oh, this is Alice's friend from Alaska, Mary. She's staying with us for a few more days." Edward did as I asked. I smiled to myself at the trust that I put with him. "Oh she's a mute, so don't expect her to answer you." He whispered the last part loud enough that I could hear him, but not loud enough to make it look like he was letting me be able to hear him.

"Oh...hi miss Mary," I nodded in acknowledgment. "I'm a friend of Carlisle." I blinked.

"Ok, Steve, I need this one to got to, Austin. This one to got to San Diego. And this one," he carefully took the box from my hands, "goes to Phoenix."

My heart started beating faster and louder. It's nothing, Bella. My head wavered. It's nothing! "Calm down Bella...breath!" Edwards voice came into my head. "I said lets go Mary, Alice is waiting. Breath its ok." he whispered that last part to me.

I nodded then followed him outside. ""Sorry! I am so sorry, Edward!" I said tears pricking the corners of my eyes as we got into the car.

"What? Bella, no. I'm just frustrated that I can't do more!" Edward said reaching his hand out to push my hair to the side, but stopped short, remembering that I couldn't be shown that type of affection by guys. "I'm sorry that guy in there scared you. I didn't know he's react that way."

"React to what?" I asked staring out the window, watching my life pass by. "All we did was walk in with boxes."

"Bella," he sighed. "I'm going to go ahead and tell you that you don't see yourself clearly. Maybe you use to, but someone took that from you. Made you feel ugly and worthless." His velvet voice was smooth and softly caressing me in its own way. "But you're not. You're beautiful, sweet, considerate, selfless and seem older than your years. People would love to break that away from you. People would love to take advantage of that. You're something special. There's only one of you, Bella. There's only one Isabella Marie Swan out their, and it seems as if she's...broken." We pulled onto the freeway. "The one Bella in this world is hurt, broken, and torn. She's scarred and bruised, on the outside and on the inside. Bella, you are one of a kind. Someone hurt you for that. If you ever feel that you can tell me, I will gladly listen to you." We pulled up to the Furniture Warehouse in Seattle. "You deserve more than you got, Bella. You deserve more than you have. You deserve better." He whispered sweetly not making a move to get out, neither did I.

I didn't know what to say. "Edward...I-I-"

"No, no!" Edward said opening his door, then walking over to mine and opening mine. "Let's go get some furniture!" We started walking towards the store, right before we made it to the doors, Edward spun around in front of me, careful of touching me. "I know you freaked out about where the package was going. I can call Esme and ask her where is was supposed to be going."

I nodded. "Thank you, Edward." We stepped to the side of the building.

The phone was ringing when a female voice answered, "Yes Edward?"

"Hey Mom," Edward answered in a respectable manor. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, but why am I on speaker?" Edward's mother asked.

"Uhm...Bella's here."

"Oh! Hi sweety. I'm Edward's mother for all purposes, Esme." She replied brightly in a motherly way.

It brought tears to my eyes to hear the voice that use to calm me from anything. "Hi," I answered quietly, blushing bright red.

"So what was the question, Edward? Edward? Hello?" Esme asked again and again till a looked up at him.

He had a dazed look on his face. I snapped my fingers twice. "Edward!"

"Huh? What?" Finally he 'woke-up' and answered his mother. "Um I was wondering...what is in the Phoenix, Arizona package?"

She was silent for a minute. "There's some stuff in there for a girl in Arizona." She paused, you could hear paper moving around. "She lost her Mom and her step-mom. Her father is a real asshole. Her Aunt Mallory, you know, Lauren's mother sent the girl some stuff that belonged to her mother."

"What was the address for the package, Mrs. Cullen?" I asked quickly.

"Uhm...941 Sun-heat Drive, Phoenix, Arizona. Why?"

My eyes widened and my mouth was hanging low. "N-no reason. Thank you, Mrs. Cullen." Not waiting for her reply, I snapped the phone shut. "Come on, lets get this done." I ordered and Edward followed watching me intently.

Sun-heat Drive was Amber's old street, I wasn't sure what house number. It would just be too much of a coincidence for another family in the same neighborhood with two dead mothers and a bitch of a Dad.

"...good idea? Bella?"

"Huh? What?" I asked sheepishly.

"Yes or no?" Edward asked smiling.

"Um...no?" I guessed smiling smally also.

"So...you say no to a dark cherry wood nightstand, with a cherry wood canopy bed? Is that right?" he asked smirking.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What kind of stupid question is that? Of course you would put dark cheery wood with dark cherry wood.

He chuckled lightly. "I knew you were out of it, Bella. I had to say something to get your mind off that address." He explained signing the papers for shipping and walking towards the bedding part of the store. "I may not be the brightest color in the marker box, but I know you have a hunch on who lived there."

I sighed defeated and nodding following him into the men and women' section of bedding. "Yeah, Amber lived on Sun-heat Drive, but I'm not 100% sure that she lived at that exact house." I explained before wondering what type we were supposed to get.

"Well, we need one boy-ish comforter and a girl-ish one." He answered looking through some forest green stuff. "Why don't you call Amber and ask?"

"What? No way! She's having the time of her life right now. There is no way in hell that I am ruining that, by bringing up the past." I was looking through some sapphire comforters, when a young salesmen came a little too close for my liking.

"Well hello there, can I help you with anything?" He asked his blonde eyebrows wriggling suggestively.

I panicked and said the first thing that came to mind. "Hey hun, should we get some sapphire or zodiac for the covers and sheets?" I asked quickly looking at Edward pleadingly ignoring the guys eyes.

Edward was confused till he saw the guy so close to me. "Love are you sure? How about we get reversal black and white or maybe black and blue?" He walked over to me, getting closer than he had all day. Surprisingly, it didn't bother me. "So we'll be happy while we sleep."

I smiled as brightly as I could, he sighed softly. "I like black...maybe we could fine some."

"Only for you, my love." Edward answered softly, before turning the asshole with an icy glare. "Do you have any such as that?" He asked in a hard voice.

"Um...y-yeah. L-let me show you," the boy stuttered walking away from us,we followed.

"Thank you," I murmured. "I didn't want to have a break down in front of you."

"Bella, you don't have to hide yourself from me." Edward smiled lightheartedly.

"No seriously, Edward, they're pretty bad," I was looking at all the bed-sets that we were passing, instead of him; white with black splotches, black with blue stripes, light brown with rose pink spots. "Hey," I said softly, my voice stopping him where he stood, "if I did have a break down, I don't want you to see they did to me, how badly they hurt me, I don't you to see that." I smiled sadly at the guy before. Edward was such a respectable guy, he was happy, he had a bad past and got over with it. I'm still wallowing in it; I didn't deserve his company.

"I don't want you to have to hide who you are. I don't care that you've been through hell. I know I should, but I'm looking past that. To the gorgeous girl beneath those painful memories. I'm looking for the girl who was there before those painful, scarring moments. I'm looking for that girl and I am going to find her." he said determination filling his velvety voice. "I promise I'll never hurt you," he whispered sweetly and softly. "I promise you, Bella."

"The comforters you asked for are right over there," Blondie said then walking away without another word.

"Ok well, the black and purple reverse looks good for the girls room," I noted grabbing the package.

"Yeah, well, I like the dark and light blue reverse for the boys room." He said grabbing one he liked also. "Ok, we're done here," he announced dragging me-figuratively-with him to the front desk.

"That was easy," I muttered quietly shuffling to the Volvo. "Thanks again for getting me to come with you. It's great getting out of the house sometimes."

He smiled. "I know what you mean. I usually go up my spot, in the woods. Maybe I can show you it to you sometime?" He asked hopefully.

I nodded slowly. "Yeah. I think it'd be fun to hang out you with you again."

We were on our way to the grocery store. The trees started thinning and they started turning into houses and stores. "The local grocery store?" I asked noticing when we passed my house, not surprised when I saw the driveway empty.

"Yeah, it'd be quicker if we shopped here and the food wouldn't spoil, plus you wouldn't miss your Dad and sister." Edward explained turning into the parking lot.

Once inside, we both went towards the list. "You grab and push buggy, I'll read." Edward instructed taking the list from me.

I shrugged and started pushing the cart to our first thing on the list; T.V dinners. "So...I bet Emmett eats the hell out of these, huh?" I asked grabbing fifteen Hungry Men, then ten Kid Crusine and tossing them into the buggy.

He nodded. "Either him or whenever Jasper's over." He glanced back at the list. "Salad plus it's condiments. Typical Rose and Alice move." He muttered the last part.

I turned the buggy around, heading back to the front of the store. "Hey, you should be proud of your sisters are eating healthy," I chided bumping his cute butt with the front of the cart.

"Hey!" He chuckled moving back beside me, I smiled. "They are eating like rabbits! Rabbits are cute and all, but they get eaten by everything!" He said as if it was a fact. "Plus, I am not a rabbit!" He paused grabbing a plastic bag for me, so I could dump the handful of cucumbers in it. "And if I was a rabbit, I'd be the hottest and the smartest rabbit out there!" He announced in a teasing tone. I giggled secretly thinking the same. "Ok, now we need pasta and veggies."

I stopped the cart immediately and turned to look at him. "Really Edward? Really? Veggies?" I busted out laughing. "Are you serious? I'm sure Mr. I'm-The-Hottest-Smartest-Bunny-around, can say vegetables!" I laughed, soon he joined in.

We continued doing what we were before we got side tracked; Edward reading, me pushing and grabbing. Finally, we had just dairy products and chips; they were only four aisles away from one another, but he wouldn't chance it. That is until we heard a nasally voice call out, "OMG! EDDIE!" I groaned along with Edward. Jessica Stanley.

"Will she ever get the hint?" He muttered ducking his head and continued walking. "Please go away, please go away," he chanted over and over again.

I couldn't help the small giggle that slipped out my lips. He is such a goof! I thought thinking over the day quickly. I hadn't smiled or laughed this much in a very long time. Not to mention; talking to a guy!

Jessica continued to run (stalk) after Edward, who was clinging to the cart. "Eddie, where'd you go?" She asked, I could hear her stomp her foot.

"Go on Eddie!" I teased mimicking her nasally voice. He scowled then began laughing along with me. "I have an idea," I pulled the cart to the edge, "I'll get the milk, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, butter, and eggs. You, on the other hand go grab the chips and dip. We'll meet at cash register...17."

He paused looking at me intently. "Are you sure?" His voice soft and concerned. "I really don't want anyone touching you."

"I can handle myself, Edward. Plus, who in their right mind would want to touch me?" I asked. "It's not like I'm some gorgeous chick, Edward."

"Eddie! I swear he was right here! EDDIE!" Great! Now we have both girls (stalkers) after him; Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory. Their voices rang through the aisles.

"Oh hell! Fine!" He caved hearing his personal stalkers near by. "But please, please be careful, Bella." He asked before slipping into the other aisle.

I let out a deep breath before leaving also, only to be cornered by the said stalkers. "Where's Edward, freak?" Lauren hissed.

I shrugged. I pressed my cart on. Next thing I know, I am no longer in the grocery store. I was in my room. The one in Phoenix. Phil was yelling at me about something, I couldn't understand. I cringed away. That earned me a hard slap in the face. I cried out, turning me head. There stood Mike Newton, his hand on my neck; skin-to-skin contact! His face contorted into disgust and horror. I wretched my neck out of his grasp, falling to the hard cold tile and curling up into a tight ball.

"Get up! You worthless piece of shit! Get up!" Phil's voice rang through my head, I cried even harder not moving an inch. "If you don't get up..." he didn't even finish his threat before he started attacking me with kicks to the head and ribs. I cried louder trying to catch my breath. I could feel a few presences around me, other than Phil. They were talking, I just couldn't hear what exactly. "Renee! I'm going to be needing that chain!" He called.

I screamed loudly when the spiky chain hit my face, neck, bare stomach, and bare legs. "Stop! Please just stop!" I sobbed pathetically. "Amber, please make it stop!" I screamed with the last of my breath.

"I said get the fuck up!" Phil screamed. After every word, was another lash into my skin!

OK! I know you guys probably want to kill me right now, b/c I haven't updated like I said I would. I would hate me too! I'm just...going through a lot of stuff right now! So, I'll try and not make you guys suffer b/c of my mistakes and have chapter 17 up as soon as I possibly can!