Chapter 25

B's POV

Nightmare's and Dream come true's!

That night

"Alright," Charlie announced, I jumped from my place at the stove; faking that I was going to be cooking something tonight. "Billy and I will be back late Monday night. I except you guys not to burn down my house. Or get the police called on you. Jake, I want you home by midnight!"

Jake was laughing the entire time Charlie was laying at the rules. "Sure thing Charlie." he said back leaning his chin on Amber's shoulder and circling his arms around her waist.

"Well," Charlie said eyeing his arms. I almost laughed remembering when we told him about Amber and Jake...

"Calm down! Jeez! Its not like we're confessing that I got you knocked up!" Jacob joked hold a jittery Amber still.

"Don't even joke!" she nearly shrieked!

I laughed at her. "Just wait til he hangs up his gun!" then ran upstairs followed by a "That's not funny!" from Jake!

I heard Charlie pull up not five minutes later. I smiled. "He's here!" I said in a real creepy voice down the stairs.

"Stop it!" Amber cried. I had a feeling this was going to be hilarious so I decided to stay and watch the show.

"Hey girls! Jacob!" Charlie greeted hanging up his gun and belt. "Amber...what's with you sweating bullets?" he asked suspiciously.

I snickered as she wiped her forehead. "I'm not!" she screamed defiantly. "Sorry! They've all been giving me a hard time." she apologized after Charlie looked shocked at her out burst. It was hard to hold in the laughs by now.

"Well, what's going on? It looks like you two have something you would like to tell me,yes?" Charlie asked looking pointedly at Jacob.

Everyone was silent. You could hear the cars outside the house driving past at the normal speed limit.

"Well...um...you see..." Amber tried telling him. I was biting my lip so hard that blood nearly came to.

"We're dating Charlie!" Jake finally blurted out. Amber let out a long breath and nodded. I looked at Charlie hoping for something unexpecting!

He smiled and started laughing loudly. "Oh god! You should have seen your face Amber!" I high-fived my father with good humor and laughed along with him. "I knew that for a very long time. Just when did you two actually start dating?"

Amber blushed smally before answering quietly. "A few months..." she looked up at Jacob with such love in her eyes I nearly cried. "Since the night of that football game you and I attended."

Charlie nodded before getting up and going into the kitchen mumbling something about a snack before dinner.

Poor Amber. I hadn't laughed like that in a long time, except when I was with Edward of course. I smiled at the thought of that man. Sweet, confident, handsome, kind, caring, selfless...god I could go on and on for hours on end!

"I'll see you girls Monday night or Tuesday morning." he kissed my head and headed to the door.

"Be careful!" I called after him taking out some butter and milk.

"Always am, Bells. Love you guys!" Charlie yelled out the door.

We heard Billy's pick-up truck peel out the small gravel driveway. Five minutes afterward, Amber, Jacob and I had all our sleepover bags in my trunk and were on our way to the Cullen's house.

"Text Alice and ask in Esme and Carlisle are still there, please?" I asked Amber who complied. Carlisle and Esme knew about the Friday sleepover, but were unaware about the two following them. I wanted Amber to meet them. Yes, even after all this time, Amber has yet to meet the infamous Dr. Carlisle Cullen and his lovely wife Esme Cullen.

"Yeah they're still there. Alice won't let them go without meeting me and saying hi to you," Amber giggled. "How much long-WOW!"

I grinned. "I know right? Breathtaking!" The entire house was lit up. Blue and white lights hung from every window sill, the banisters, the door frames, the rain gutters on top of the house. The bushes were covered in them too. Plus the trees that crowded the walkway. Large lit up candy canes pattered the walkway to the front door steps.

We all got out the car. Jake grabbed our stuff and we made our way up the three stairs. "Alice, Rose, you guys just couldn't wait till Christmas could you?" Amber asked teasingly as we came in the foyer.

Said girls giggled and squealed hugging us all. "Esme! Carlisle! You guys can leave as soon as you meet her!" Alice called sweetly.

Then they came into the room. Esme in a dark forest green v-neck dress. Carlisle dressed handsomely in nice tan pants, and a blue cut off button down shirt. "Hello again Bella!" Esme greeted sweetly hugging me.

"Good evening, Bella," Carlisle said warmly.

"Hi Carlisle, Esme," I said blushing. "This is my sister Amber, and her boyfriend, Jacob." I gestured to the couple, getting the spotlight off me. "Amber, this is Esme Cullen and Dr. Carlisle Cullen. Jake, vise-versa." I rushed the last part all in one breath. "Where's Edward?" I asked trying not to be too obvious.

Esme smiled knowingly, I tried to hide my blush. "He's the kitchen, dear."

"Is he trying to cook?" I asked worriedly; I'd rather not get into it.

She frowned. "I sure hope not! Go check on him please! Whistle if there's anything wrong."

I nodded. "By the way, you look amazing Esme." She smiled her thanks, then I dashed to the kitchen door.

"HI Bella!" Jasper jumped in front of me, blocking my way. "Yeah, you don't want to go in there!" he smiled nervously.

"Don't tell her that!" Edward's voice came from the far side of the kitchen.

I narrowed my eyes. "Now I really want to know!" I proclaimed taking a different route. "Edward, what the hell did you do?"

"Nothing! Bella, he didn't do anything!" Emmett appeared out of no where. "Bella, you look..." he did a double take on my attire, "...not ready for bed. Go get dressed."

I glared at him. "Rose!" she came immediately. "Move him!"

"Emmett!" he shrank back a little. "Move or I won't kiss you for a week." she threatened, I stifled my laughter at the look on his face.

"Emmett! You are so weak!" Edward yelled. "Bella, please don't come in here." he was almost begging, yes, begging is good.

I smiled coming closer. "Edward!" I protested as he jumped in my view.

"Hey Bella," he breathed. His warm breath brushing up against my chin and neck . "Please, go in the living room." He begged. I was about to cave, but I wanted to know what he was hiding from me. He sighed. "I can get you to move, you know that right?" he leaned closer to me, my breath ceased. "I have my own powers that you do not."

"Really?" I breathed out, his eyes glazed over, making them a foggy shade of dark green. I smiled stepping a half a step closer to him. "Well, it seems I have it too."

"Bella! Phone!" Amber hollered from t he living room. I sighed and stepped back. "Its Tina. She say's:

We cnt mak it b/c we alredi mad plans n 4gt 2 tel u. we r goin 2 phoenix 4 the wked. C u Mon. ill tel evry1 u say hi!

Did you get that?" she asked after reading it.

"Ok, yeah I got it!" I hollered back over my shoulder.

"Well that's six less we have to worry about." Alice bubbled coming to me. "C'mon Bella. Let's go get dressed. Then, Edward you better be done in ten minutes. Then, we'll pop some popcorn and watch some freaking movies."

once in Alice's room, Amber grabbed her bag and I grabbed mine. "You two first." Alice ordered, I shrugged as did Amber. She wore a lime green spaghetti strapped shirt, with a black silk robe over it, and a pair of lime green checkered pants. Mine was similar, but I had royal blue pants and my shirt was mid-arm length.

"Cute." Rose commented pulling on her night gown over some black leggings. "But what's with the robe and mid-arm sleeves?"

I blushed embarrassed. "Hiding the scars." I mumbled.

Rose nodded sympathetically. "That reminds me," Alice spoke up, "when do you two plan on telling the rest of the group about you guys?" She wore a bright pink tank and black short-shorts.

I sighed and looked at Amber, she had her head hung in shame. "We've been talking about that. I'm going to tell Edward and Amber going to tell Jacob. In our own time." I added the last part in a stern like voice.

Both girls squealed loudly. I winced along with Amber. "Sorry. Just happy you guys are finally opening up to them! When can you tell Jasper and Emmett?" Alice asked running a brush through my hair before lifting it up above my ears. "High ponytail ok?" I nodded; there were no visible scars on my neck.

I shrugged to her question, Amber answered this time. "Do you guys mind telling them, after we tell Edward and Jake?"

"Oh yeah that would be fine." Rose said curling Amber's hair the way they did at my sleepover. She smiled at the perfect little ringlet.

Twenty minutes later, we all descended down the long staircase. Edward was finally out of the kitchen and I had half the mind to go check what he was up to; but then something else caught my attention. He, Jake, Jasper, and Emmett were playing Rock Band on the Wii. Jake on the bass guitar, Jasper on lead, Emmett on drums and Edward on the mike.

"Whoa!" Amber whisper lowly. Yeah seeing Jake so concentrated on something was totally something to say whoa to.

Welcome the planet

Welcome to existence

everyone's here

everyone's here

everybody's watching you now

Everybody waits for you now.

What happens next?

Wow! That was the only thing going through my head at the time. Edward had the most amazing voice. I wonder what it would sound like if he said-no stop it!

I dare you to move.

I dare you to move.

I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor.

I dare you to move.

I dare you to move.

Like today never happened.

Today never happened before.

Holy shit! That was not cool at all! Now I know what the hell he was singing about. Move away from the past. Away from my memories. Away from everything. I wiped a small tear from my eyes.

Welcome to the fall out.

Welcome to resistance.

The tension is here.

Between who you are and who you could be.

Between how it is and how it should be.

He didn't take his eyes off me. Singing his heart out. For me. To me. Was this all for me? Was this all supposed to prove something?

I dare you to move.

I dare you to move.

I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor.

I dare you to move.

I dare you to move.

Like today never happened.

Today never happened before.

I almost started to nodded, but stopped. Maybe it wasn't all for me. Maybe it was all a serious plan to get me to open up. Maybe I was some experiment to see if he could get a loner to be normal. Maybe...

Maybe redemption has stories to tell.

Maybe forgiveness was right were you fell.

Where can you run to escape from yourself?

Where you gonna go?

Where you gonna go?

Salvation is here...

Oh dear god! You just can't win with this guy. He's amazing in every way. And that's probably why I'm fa-no! You are not!

I dare you to move.

I dare you to move.

I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor.

I dare you to move.

I dare you to move.

Like today never happened.

Today never happened before.

Throughout the entire song, I thought I was going to pass out. We had to move to the couch beside the window; the boys decided to show off a little, well Emmett did anyway. Beating the drums as if he were a starving bear and wanted some freaking honey from them.

"Whoo!" I was surprised to hear Amber, yes Amber, scream and cheer before jumping on Jacob. Alice and Rose followed her movements.

"Hey..." he said from beside me.

I turned to him. "Hey..." I smiled he did too. "You were...wow!" he chuckled, I blushed.

"Come on, Bella! The drums!" Amber said into the mike.

"No!" I protested immediately, smiling. "No way!"

"Oh come on!" She begged bouncing up and down. "It won't be like that one time in Wal-Mart. I promise!"

Everyone looked at us. "What happened in Wal-Mart?" Edward asked, the others nodded curiously.

I blushed. "Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" I said too quickly.

"Bella either you get on these drums, or I tell everyone what happened that day at Wal-Mart!"

I sighed in defeat. "Fine! Em, give me the sticks!"

"That's what she said!" he barked back tossing me the drumsticks. We all laughed at that.

"Shut up, Em!" I laughed into the mike in front of the drums.

Alice and Rose grabbed the guitars and Amber grabbed the remote and pressed a song I didn't see. "Alright" she nearly squealed, everyone laughed at her unusual bubbly-ness. Rose and Alice started a quick number at the same time Amber started singing.

According to you

I'm stupid

I'm useless

I can't do anything right.

Then a I came in the drums, I quick beat matching the flow of the song.

According to you

I'm difficult

Hard to please.

Forever changing my mind

We all jumped in at the same time, but with small voices, not covering Amber's.

I'm a mess in a dress.

Can't show up on time.

Even if it would save my life.

According to you, According to you.

Alice and Rose jammed out majorly when the time came; just before the chorus. We all sang in the same note with her. Our voices melting together.

But according to him!

I'm beautiful.

Incredible.

He can't get me out of his head.

According to him!

I'm funny.

Irresistible.

Everything he ever wanted.

Everything is opposite.

I don't feel like stopping it.

So baby tell me what I've got to lose.

He's into me for everything I'm not.

According to you.

According to you
I'm boring
I'm moody
and you cant take me any place
According to you
I suck at telling jokes cause I always give it away
I'm the girl with the worst attention span
you're the boy who puts up with that
According to you, according to you

But according to him
I'm beautiful
incredible
he cant get me out of his head
According to him
I'm funny
irresistible
everything he ever wanted
Everything is opposite
I don't feel like stopping it
so baby tell what i got to lose
Hes into me for everything I'm not
according to you

I need to feel appreciated
like I'm not hated. oh no
Why cant you see me through his eyes?
Its too bad your making me decide.

I sang my heart out at that verse. I needed to feel wanted, loved, cared for. I needed to feel I could do anything and not be hated for it. Not have to worry about someone blowing up at me, when I do something wrong. It is too bad they're letting us decide. We sure as hell are not going to come running to you!

But according to me
you're stupid
you're useless
you cant do anything right

But according to him
I'm beautiful
incredible
he cant get me out of his head
According to him
I'm funny
irresistible
everything he ever wanted
Everything is opposite
I don't feel like stopping it
baby tell what i got to lose
Hes into me for everything I'm not
according to you

according to you
you you
according to you
you you

According to you
I'm stupid
I'm useless
I cant do anything right.

After our song, no one said anything. Amber was out of breath. Rose and Alice were smiling brightly at one another. And me, well, I wiping the freaking tears off my face. Me being tenderhearted and all, I couldn't do anything without a little tear shed.

The boys were sitting on the couch, all mouths hanging open, eyes wide,and they were certainly silent. Rose ran and jumped on Emmett. His breath went out like a whoosh! Immediately after, he and Rose were in a heavy make-out session. Alice and Amber followed her movements too. Jasper caught Alice before she even made it to his lap. She squeaked in surprise before slipping her lips to his. Amber didn't even have time to take two steps; Jake wrapped his arms around her, one in her hair and one around her petite waist. She smiled and crushed her lips to his. Tears fell down her dark face, and he pulled away slowly, wiping them away with his thumbs. He said something that made her smile and kiss him again.

"Bella?" His sweet soft voice reached my ear from behind me. "Can I talk to you? Outside?" I nodded and quietly made my way with him out back.

"What's up?" I asked leaning against the railing.

"What did you mean?" he asked after a few minutes of silence. "Whenever I asked you if they showed? You said no." he finally looked up at me. "Why?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but no noise came out. I shrugged. "I..." my voice cracked. I cleared my throat. "I don't know. I never tried to make contact with someone I didn't know before Phil and Renee's honeymoon. The boys at school I thought I knew, I didn't know well enough to be able to make contact with. Ethan, Robin, Adam...and Alex..." my throat burned saying his name, "those were the only guys I knew I could trust."

"Then how do you know it's males that trigger it?"

I shrugged. "Call it a gut feeling. Whenever girls came near me or touched me, I felt normal. Boys on the other hand, they just gave me this rush of fear and danger. I was scared of every guy, except Ethan, Robin and Adam." a tear slipped out the corner of my eye. "I miss it, Edward. I miss living normally. I miss worrying about normal girl things. What I look like? Am I too fat? Who's saying what about me? Who's dating who? Who likes me? Who...do I like? What some guys think about me? What's my reputation scores? What's the latest fashion? Who's best at what? What-?" I was interrupted by my own sobs. "God, I wish it was different ! What did I do?!" I sobbed clutching the railing so if I fell, it would slow the impact.

"Bella!" Edward sighed. He was closer than I thought he was. His warm breath flowed over my chin. "Calm down. It's going to be ok. I promise." he knelt down beside me. "Baby, please, calm down." he carefully twirled a strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. "It's going to be just fine."

I nodded. We sat in silence for a few minutes. I heard some new Katy Perry song coming from inside. Then Emmett's goofy one followed. I smiled. "I love it here!" I whispered yawning. "It's not as peaceful as Charlie's, but it has its perks."

He smiled his crooked smile, I sighed quietly. "Yeah. Makes you want to forget reality." he whispered, his warm breath kissing my ear softly as he spoke. "You tired?" he asked yawing at stretching.

I nodded. "You have no idea," I muttered stifling a yawn.

"C'mon. I'll get you a room..." he paused at the door. "Well, actually...you'll be rooming with me."

I shrugged. "That's fine. I won't sleep in a room by myself anyways. Plus, I doubt I'll be getting any sleep tonight." He looked at me oddly. "Night terrors," I hinted. He winced and looked at sympathetically. "It's ok." I walked past him and into the living room. "Guy's I'm going to bed early. I'll see you in the morning." I went around the room, telling everyone goodnight and hugging the ones I could. Edward did the same. When we reached the staircase I turned to him. "Lead the way."

He grinned. "I hope you don't mind sleeping in the same as me." we went up the stairs, took three lefts, one right, and passed four doors.

"Um...Edward?" I asked holding my head theatrically. He turned and looked worried. "You are going to have to give me a map or something. Cause I'm a total idiot when it comes to finding my way." he let out a long breath. "Hey...don't worry so much. You might mess up your perfect face."

"Bella...I..." he stopped, ran a hand through his gorgeous locks of bronze; I resisted the urge to do the same. "Ah! Never mind. Lets go and get some sleep, huh"?

I went to push him on, but stopped thinking I would hate what he had to say. "Yeah...I think I'll get a few hours in. I am so tired."

He nodded. "Glad we could tired you." I smiled at him, he smile back. Something flashed across his face. I didn't recognize this look. It was a mixture of passion, caring, lust, fear and compassion. Odd! I thought, but threw the thought away.

"So...here's my room. The bathroom is connected." He flipped on the light.

"Whoa!" the floors were white, the walls were unique. One was a window, over looking their backyard. One was covered with an entertainment center; CD's, DVD's, books, a stereo, a DVD player, surround sound, Xbox 360, and a 53'' plasma screen. The third wall had two cherry wood nightstands. In between them was a dark cherry wood four poster bed. The top of it had a gazillion pillows in light blue, black, and white. The comforter had a white tiger with black stripes and light blue shadowed the stripes. The last wall was the one that held most of my interest; photos upon photos, covering music sheets, covering posters, over magazine articles, covering even more posters!

"A bit to take in, huh?" he asked pulling out a large couch out of his walk-in closet.

"A bit?" I challenged helping him with the other side. "Thanks!" I said plopping myself on the comfortable couch after we had set it near the window.

He shook his head. "No, no! You're sleeping on the bed."

"No!" I protested defiantly. "I won't even sleep through the night, Edward! You take it."

"No Esme raised me to be a gentlemen, and I'll be the one sleeping on this couch." He argued crossing his arms; as if he were my boss.

I smirked and crossed my arms over my chest. "Make. Me."

His grin faltered. "Oh come on, Bella! That is so not fair!"

"Life ain't fair. Get over it!" I held my ground.

He slowly fell to his knees, right beside me. "You know all about that, don't you?" I nodded slowly. "You know I won't push you, but...when will you tell me what happened to you?"

I sighed. "Amber and I have been talking about it; telling the rest of you guys. We will tell you, in our own time. Ok?"

He nodded. "Now get in bed."

I snuggled down into the couch cushion. "I am in bed."

"You are so stubborn." he groaned softly, leaning on the edge of the couch. "I don't feel comfortable knowing that, I'm on a huge bed and you're on this couch." he paused before straightening up and leaning over me. One arm on one side, then one on the other. He nose mere millimeters from mine. "I really did not want it to come to this..." he breathed out; warm breath caressed my chin, neck and mouth. I held back the shudder, but couldn't stop the goosebumps from appearing in said places.

My mouth water at the taste of him. I swallowed thickly. "E-Edward..." I said, my voice quivering violently. I could feel the heat coming off his body. "I...am s-staying on this c-couch." I sighed after I finished.

"Damn," he muttered softly, I smiled. "Fine. You win. But one condition." He pulled himself up. I held back the whimper that was bubbling up my throat. My heart started to regulate its beating. "If you have a night terror, you wake me up. I don't care if you have to slam an alarm clock on my head. Just please, wake me up when you do, ok?"

I sighed. "Fine." Knowing fully well that I wouldn't. "Can I crash now?" I paused cuddling into the pillow he had thrown there; it smelt just like him.

His eyes darkened. I shuddered in ecstasy. "I'll...I'll um...get you a blanket, ok?" I nodded and let my eyes flutter shut.

_______________________________DREAM_________________________________

"Where have you been?" Phil asked eerily calm, his hand exploring my thighs.

"A-Alex," his name burned my mouth terribly, "and I went to the compact for a few minutes."

he gripped the hem of my shirt and ripped it off my body. Bruises littered my breasts, ribs and stomach. Tears dripped down my face. I gasped as he bit a recently made bruise. He bit down hard, so hard that the blood that had rushed to the top layer of skin poured out, and down my breast and stomach.

The metallic smell of blood filled my nostrils. I fought the strong urge to hurl right then and there. "P-Phil...stop!" I screamed when he clamped his teeth down even more. "Please! S-stop!"

he took his finger, removed his mouth, and started digging in to hole that he had made. "You see," he said holding a finger covered in my crimson red blood between him and me, "this is what happens when you go and FUCK every guy you know!" He then punched me in the stomach. "I am so sick and tired of cleaning up your shit!" He dug his hand into my chest, I screamed uselessly for help, for anyone to give a care about me, for anyone to save me. I screamed until a coppery liquid filled my mouth and I could no longer breath.

I felt empty all of a sudden, cold, drained. Unable to feel no pain. What's going on? I asked myself since I my mouth surely was not going to work.

"Now...I have your heart," Phil said sadistically holding my bloody heart in his grasp. "With one squeeze, I can kill you! Do you want to die?"

YES! I wanted to shout, but the blood over flowing from my mouth and down my throat caused me to be mute.

"No answer, huh?" He asked wiping his bloody unoccupied hand to my face. "Do you want to die?" he asked again.

I willed myself to nod, but the circulation in my neck, was not agreeing with my head. Please! Just kill me! Please! I begged silently. I think he heard me, because he smiled evilly. "You won't to die, don't you?" He asked once again, not waiting for an answer this time. "Well this..." his cold hands grabbed my life support and squeezed. Blood squirted from the artery holes. The streams flew all over the victim, me, and the murder, my step-father. I felt that all the blood was streaming was what was draining from my body. "You are nothing. To anyone..."

_______________________________END DREAM____________________________

"Stop!" I screamed jumping from my spot. The darkness creeped into my eyes. "Oh God!" I sobbed pulling my knees to my chest. The bite mark that I dreamed about was throbbing. "Leave me alone!"

A few minutes later, I wiped my eyes and slowly crept my way to the door. Just in case I got lost, I left the door a jar. The room across from his was a study with three whole walls covered in books. The last was a window just like Edward's. There was a cedar wood desk with a large dark maroon leather chair behind the desk. Two smaller versions sit in front of the desk. The door beside his was an empty one, the blanket that I had chosen at the store lay on the canopy bed. "And he said I had to bunk with him? Why?" I wondered aloud.

Two doors down from that one, Rose and Emmett were wrapped up in each others arms. I smiled gently before continuing down the hall. I took a left, the door off to the right had Alice and Jasper. They were so cute. Though what confused me was the tear tracks on his cheeks. Huh? I'll have to look into that later on... I thought closing the door. I continued down the hall.

The last door held my sleeping sister and her half-a-sleep boyfriend.

"Bella?" Jake asked when I opened the door.

"What are you dong up?" we both asked.

"Nightmare..." I said looking at Amber. She was cuddled up to Jake, her head on his chest. "She hasn't woken up yet?"

"No. I don't know why..." he left the thought there hanging.

"Well when she does, just hold her till she calms down. Tell her its ok, its going to be fine, he's not here, I promise he'll never get you, I love you, it's ok. When she does finally calm down, ask her is she wants to talk about it, if she doesn't don't push it, if she does, listen with no comments. " I yawned out the last word. "I'll see you in the morning, Jake." I said getting up from the edge of the bed and going to the door. "I'm trusting you with my job tonight. Do it well."

He nodded, wrapping his arms around her in a tighter grip. "Night Bells..."

After I made my way back to Edward's room, I sat on the couch. The nightmare still lingered darkly in my mind. "Why me?" I asked quietly in the dark room. On the bed someone shifted his position. I sighed quietly and started pacing, from the door back to the couch. Thinking...

Amber. God what was I to do with that girl? She has that love struck look on her face all the time. Jake was good for her. He brought the best out in her. She's always talking about the wonderful things that they do. She loves him. She's found the one that would show her everything she'd missed. She'd be treated correctly by a male. She's finally being loved my a male. Hopefully he'll be her cure.

"What am I going to do?" I whispered to myself. "Never going to be anything special. Never going to be normal again. What's my reason here?" I paced halfway to the door, then looked at Edward. I sighed smiling at him. He looked so innocent, so unguarded. His arm suddenly fell off the side of the bed. His skin raising to goosebumps at the sudden chill. "Ah, Edward." I murmured going over to the edge of the bed. The heat of his body hit mine. I remembered earlier today. I barley touched him, but I did. They didn't show. "Why are you so different?" I softly asked sitting on the bed beside his feet. The spark didn't hurt. It tingled. I felt as if someone had lit it with an electrical wire. And my blood was the water. "How can I touch you?" I asked feeling stupid that I was talking to his sleeping form. "For all I know you could be just like Alex." My throat squeezed at the name. "He was nice in the beginning, even when he found out about what I was hiding from everyone. He was caring. Like you. How do I know that I can trust you with my trust? With my past? With my secrets?" I swallowed thickly wiping the few tears that had fallen. "With my heart? I don't know why I did it. But I got close to you. I felt safe, cared about...happy, alive. You're the one that brought me back. I didn't do it. You did." I adverted my eyes from his gorgeous face to his fallen arm. Slowly, I got off his bed and extended my hand to his. "I hope I'm not mistaking about thins..." I prayed before slipping my hand into his, quickly entwining our fingers tightly. I gasped. (AN: I was going to leave it there, but you guys deserve more than that!) The spark soared through my body, straight to my heart. The cold, icy chains melted, the power of the spark crumbled my heavy stone wall to bits. The tip pierced my heart. Discoloring it. It glowed. Started beating. The grey turned orange , then red, then crimson. My heart. It was beating. It warm. It was-

"Bella?" Edward asked uncertainly, his fingers now more firm around mine. "What's wrong, Bella?" He asked sitting up on the bed.

I broke out of my trance, tears sprinkled my cheeks. "Edward? " I said looking up at his gorgeous face. "Oh my god!" I exclaimed in a whisper.

"Are...are you ok?" He asked squeezing his hand around mine for effect.

I moved and sat in front of him on the bed. I nodded joyfully. "I'm better than ok, Edward!" I smiled brightly more tears falling. "Oh my god, Edward, I wish you could feel what I do right now!"

"I think I have a pretty good idea..." Edward guessed smiling that sexy grin. "So...why are you holding my hand?"

I blushed and started to unlink our fingers, but he held a firm grip on them. "Um...I was wishing that I could touch more people. Particularly you, because you seem to care and I wanted to see if it was possible that I could touch someone else too."

He chuckled gently brushing his fingers along my cheek. "So beautiful, you know that?" he said quietly.

A few tears fell, some caught by his fingers. "No...I'm not..." I sighed shaking my head in despair. "You won't think the same...after you hear what I am...what they did to me."

"I'll never hold that against you, Bella."

"I know," I sniffled. "Oh my god!" I exclaimed jumping and hugging him around the neck tightly. "Oops!" I smiled giggling as he fell back onto the pillows.

His eyes were a forest green...smoldering into my dull brown. He smiled, I did too. He pulled me close to his chest, I allowed myself to be pulled. "Goodnight Bella..." he sighed into my hair and pulled the covers over us. I shifted over to the side of him, getting more comfortable. His arms tightened around me. I sighed, laying my head against his chest. My eye lids grew heavy. "Thank you..." I whispered snuggling up against him more, before my eyes fluttered shut...for good.

Holy hell! That took way longer than I thought it would! I am soooo sorry. I've been sick with something, I don't know for the past three days. Plus, Mardi Gras is going on! (Google it!) So, yeah! I've been pretty busy, but as you can see, this was pretty big too! So review and maybe...I'll have chapter 26 up by this weekend.

~!LSATYD!~