Chapter 17

Bella's POV

Help You get Through This

"Bella?" a voice called through the pain. It wasn't Phil's or Renee's. "Bella? C-can I carry you, Bella?" the voice asked. It wasn't Amber's, like I called for, and it wasn't Charlie's. It wasn't Mike's or Jessica's or Lauren's. It wasn't Edward, either. "Bella I need to pick you up ok?" the voice was gruff and husky. "I'd never hurt you, you know that lil sis. I'd never hurt you, Bells. Let me carry you."

Phil seemed to decease his beating and the chatter in the background seemed to have stopped. I knew that voice and have for God knows how long. "E-E-Ethan?" I asked weakly and pried my eyes from my tear soaked jeans. His blue eyes shown like the blue, blue water in the Keys of Florida. Tina was behind him, as was the rest of the group.

I nodded my head. He smiled and slowly pulled me from my spot. His glove covered hands carefully grabbed my arms and wrapped them around his neck. Then took his hands, and put one underneath my knees and the other in the middle of my back.

Slowly we made our way outside. "Where's your car?" I head Tina ask.

I was about to answer; saying I didn't drive here. When a soft, beautiful voice answered for me. "The Volvo, to the right."

"You have the new model for the Volvo?" Adam asked as we came to the familiar silver car. "Dude that is awesome!"

I almost laughed, but managed a small smile. "Ethan?" he looked down at me. "Set me down, would you?" Slowly, scared I couldn't handle myself, he sat me on the passenger seat.

Edward was right beside me. "I got to get the groceries. I'll be right back, Bella." He looked worried and upset as he left.

I felt bad, I told him he wouldn't like it. "Wait! Ed-" I started to call after him, but was attacked-verbally-by my girls!

"Bella!! OMG! He is fiiiiiiiinnnnne! Oh Bella! You look almost as good as me! I love you girl! I can't believe we went this long without talking! Who was that!? What have you done with your hair? What's with the dark skinny? Have you been good!? I missed you so damn much! Who was he?! I missed you! I can't believe we're here! It's freaking' cold! How do you people live here?!" Raychel. We all laughed at her last statement. Robin rolled his eyes at his girlfriend, before wrapping his arms around her; body heat is one of the best ways to keep warm.

"Girl, where did you find him?" Tina asked sitting on my lap.

"Who? Edward?" I asked pointing to the store.

"No the fucker that grabbed you." Was her sarcastic remark. "Yes! Edward!" Tina joked making people laugh more.

"He's a guy-friend from school." I said putting emphasis on the 'guy' part. "By the way, what are you guys doing here?"

"Well Mom wanted us out of the city. So we moved here." Tina said pointing to her and Robin.

"Then our parents moved because the hospital moved them here," Ethan said pointing to Adam, Emma, Raychel, and himself.

"Plus, after what happened to you and Amber got around, they didn't want us in that type of environment."

I smiled lightly. "Come here, Robin, Adam." They stepped forward. I wrapped my skinny white arms around their thick tan torsos. "I love you guys," I whispered softly.

Adam picked me up away from Robin, and span we around . I started giggling wildly. When he finally stopped the whole world was spinning and I was trying to balance myself out, so was Adam. "Adam," I whispered wobbling slightly once he put me back down.

"I missed and love you too, Bella-boo!" he exclaimed kissing my forehead lightly, in a fatherly way. "You know you're my little girl," he warned, "and that boy is...well...a boy. They have three things on their mind. 1. Girls. 2. Sex. And 3. How to put them together!" he had a mock stern voice. "I'm only doing this because I love you!"

"Is that what you're thinking right now then?" I asked shoving my way out his embrace. "Me, sex and how to get us together?"

Quiet 'oh's and 'ah's sounded from the group,followed by snickers. "Well, not exactly you, per-say..." he trailed off wiggling his eyebrows at a blushing Emma.

"Ooookaaayyy!" I said disgusted. "Like I really wanted to know that! Thanks Adam, now I can go on with my life. Now that, that image is stuck in my friggin' brain forever!"

"Someone's on her period!" Ethan muttered to Robin, they both snickered.

I mock-glared at them. "I know where you- wait! No I don't! Damn this sucks!" I almost stomped my foot walking back to the car. "Hey," I said softly to Edward, who had just gotten back with the cart full of groceries. "Here let me help, please?"

he started to object, but saw I wasn't going to budge, gave in. "Fine," he sighed smiling lightly. "You ok?" he asked taking the bags that I handed to him and placed them accordingly into the trunk.

I shrugged. "Yeah. I'm fine. Are you ok?" I asked studying his features. He was tense and that's all I needed to know. "You're disgusted with how I am, aren't you?" I whispered tears pouring my eyelids.

"What? Are you crazy?" Edward asked, I was tempted to answer the last question. "Bella no, of course not! I told you before, I really don't give a damn. I'm looking for the girl you were before all this bullshit happened." His voice was soft but fierce. His eyes showed the astonishment that he felt about my assumption. "I'm wanting her. I'm she's great. But we'll find her, together."

if it weren't for my fear of touching him (and for my bodyguards not even two feet away), I would have jumped up and given him a warm hug like I do Ethan, Robin and Adam. Speaking of which. "Oh Edward," I said then waved the guys over. "Let me introduce you to everyone. I've known them all since I was five, that explains why I can touch the boys." I said pointing at the first couple. "This is Tina and her boyfriend Ethan. That's Raychel, we call her Ray, and her boyfriend, and Tina's twin brother, Robin. Lastly, this is Emma, Raychel's older cousin, and her boyfriend Adam." I paused. "Guys this is Edward Cullen. A guy-friend of mine from school." He shook hands with the guys with a stern look on his face, and gave the girls small hugs. Tina winked at me over his shoulder, giving me a thumbs up at my 'catch'.

Amber unique voice came from my front pocket:

He has every reason

to throw up his fists

in the face of his God

who let his mother die...

"Is that Amber's voice?" Ray asked while everyone listened. I nodded turning the volume up.

Supernatural patience

graces his face and his voice never raises

all...because

of...a love

never let go of

never let go of....

"Sorry guys but I have to answer this," I said clicking the view button:

Got ur mes. Were u ? who w/?

I replied back listening to the others chatting:

Kool! Str! Ed!

She came at me again:

o! hws ur day ben?

I replied:

hd a BD da str a few mins ago...

Almost immediately after it was sent she replied back:

wat? R u k? Ws it Ed?

I said:

fne! No! Newton shwd up again! 1 g2g. Btw, we ned 2 tlk k?

She replied:

mike? Tht asshole! Tell me all wen u get here,k. Sur. I gt somthin 4 u 2! l8r!

"Edward? I need to get home soon. Charlie's back and so is Amber. She gets a little...claustrophobic, I guess without me there. Guys, I'll talk to you tomorrow." I hugged them good-bye and jumped in the car.

"So...that's the band all together, huh?" Edward asked lightheartedly. Something was off in his voice, I could hear it.

"What's wrong?" I asked turning my body to his.

He sighed, glancing at me, then back at the road. "It's just...James and the others would have loved you, too!" my bottom lip trembled. "I just wish you could have met them. We acted just like you and your band act. Always reading what the other wants, acting way younger than you are. I miss it!"

I saw a small tear glisten down his cheek.

"Oh Edward..."I sighed reaching out to touch him, but stopped short. Instead I grabbed the opening of his jacket. "I wish I could say I know how you feel. I never really lost my group, I just didn't have them with me at all times." I whipped my eyes, not realizing I was crying. "Though, you are more then welcome, to join in the group. I won't have to be the...seventh wheel anymore!" a faint smile graced his gorgeous face. "And yes. That was them. I can't believe they're all here, to stay!" I whispered to myself. "Tina's infatuated with you, you know?" I pointed out smiling at his reaction.

"What? What about Ethan? They look tight!" he asked staking a sharp left.

"Oh, not in that way! She loves Ethan."I smiled at what she had told me. "She told me that she was happy that I wasn't letting what Alex did-" I stopped short sucking in a deep breath and snapping my jaw.

"Whoa! Bella breath!" Edward's voice came from beside me.

I took three deep breaths. It's ok, Alex is not here. I thought. It's going to be alright. He's in Arizona screwing with some bimbo! I coaxed myself to let go of the armrests. Breath...

I looked over at Edward. His eyes alight with pain and concern. His jaw muscles were tightly clasped together. "Bella? I can't touch you and I can't read your mind. You have to tell me what you're feeling. And start breathing." he ordered, his voice tight.

"Yeah...y-you're right," I struggled to get the words out.

A few minutes later, I had relaxed my position and was breathing correctly. Edward hadn't moved the car till I started talking again. "She's happy that I'm not letting the people of the past...I'm not letting what they did to me...change my decisions now." I smiled a small non-convincing smile.

"Bella, we're going to get through this, ok?" Edward said after a few long seconds of silence. "I don't know when we'll started, but I'm going to help you speak of your past without feeling horrible or scared about it. I'm going to help you touch...and feel again," his hand hovered over my hand, I tensed. He sighed and withdrew his hand. "I'll never hurt you, Bella. You must remember and believe that!" he said looking out the window. "And I will help you get through this."


God why can't all guys be like Edward, huh?

Yeah...like that'll ever happen! Anyway, review, review, review!