I love reviews. You guys rock, as always, can we get over 170? What do I have to do to get to 200 reviews by one chapter? Make Renee leave Forks with all the girls and never come back? Oh, no, now that's just a bitch move.

Review, babes! =) I was looking through the hits on this and realized every chapter has been reviewed. That's amazing.

"Isabella."

"Renee," I said stiffly, nodding once at her and turned away. True to the message on the answering machine, Renee and Charlie were home a few hours later, and I silently thanked God that I was home. I probably would have been killed if they saw I was out so late. "Empty my bags and put them in the closet," she said swiftly, starting up the stairs. I glanced at the clock. Well past midnight, and I had school the next day.

I sighed, already feeling that emotional imbalance settling in and maybe a few tears ready to fall. But I did as I was told, unpacking everything and loading the washing machine. By the time I got to bed that night, it was closing in a two a.m.

Zombie: a dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force.

Where was my supernatural force? I woke up, dead, got everyone ready as quickly as possible and sat them all in front of the TV with breakfast so I could get ready. I slipped on my old, ripped jeans and fitted pull-over before putting my worn sneakers on. I grabbed my bag and loaded everyone in the car. Staying true to the routine, I dropped off the twins at the babysitters – both unusually grumpy – and then to the elementary school to drop off Caitlyn and Melly. Melly tried to pull the sick card while Caitlyn was asked for another trip to the Cullens.

"Uh, we'll probably go another weekend, Cait," I told her unsurely, hoping not to get her hopes to high. "Why?"

"It was lots of fun," she said. "Alice was being so nice to me."

"She's a little angel," I agreed.

I headed off to school feeling lightheaded, cramping stomach and completely nauseous. This would be an incredibly long day.

And also true to the thought, it would never end. It felt like my classes had an hour added to each of them and lunch was shortened. Edward tried to get me to sit with him and his family at lunch, but I declined without an excuse. I just wanted to be alone, even after all they gave me yesterday. I skipped most of the ridicule that day, hiding behind my hood, but received the minimal gist of Lauren.

For a second I considered skipping Gym because of the light-headedness, but decided against it and made my way down to the gym. As I was about to push the doors a hand fell on my shoulder. I jumped but realized it was just Alice.

"You scared me," I murmured, hand over my heart.

"Oh, sorry," she apologized quickly, giggling and taking my hand, leading me from the doors. I tried to protest but she shushed me, claiming we needed to talk. "If you don't mind," she added.

I bit my lip. "Uh, what is this about?" I asked carefully, my mind turning over the worst. The Cullens moving, something wrong with Edward, the world ending in the next five seconds? "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to freak you out, Bella. I just wanted to talk to you about...Edward."

And then the "worst's" just got even more worst. I could fully understand someone wanting me to stay away from their brother because...well, just because. For the reason that everyone else always stayed away from me, taunting from afar. Of course this was too good to be true, I thought. No matter what I said to convince myself otherwise.

As we rounded the corner of the school building, I saw Edward sitting on one of the picnic tables playing around with an iPod. I gave him a confused look and turned to Alice.

What was going on?

She threw her arms up. "I'm just a lure!" she proclaimed. "I know nothing, I did not do it, nor was I involved in it!" She started to back up and I gave her a frantic look. "Edward wants to talk to you, not me. Sorry, it just seemed like there was a bigger chance of you skipping class if I was the one that wanted to talk. Bye!"

For a moment I just stood there, shocked and confused.

My father would skin me when he realized that I skipped one period. But nonetheless, I sat down on top of the bench beside him and waited until he started talking. Why was I even here?

"I hope you don't mind," he said, laughing. "Skipping, I mean."

"I'll get in trouble if he finds out," I whispered, looking up at Edward's eyes. Understanding dawned in his eyes.

"Actually...that's what I want to talk to you about," he said slowly.

I exhale-groaned. "But..."

"We already had this talk in a bland sense, but I'm not going to stop until you listen to me," Edward said. "I want to help you. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened and I knew I could have stopped it. Its just common courtesy to life, Bella. Let me help you."

This was getting old fast. "Just for sake of conversation, how exactly would you help me?" I asked curiously, keeping my voice down. You never know who's around the corner.

"I...I don't know. I haven't thought that far." He rubbed the back of his neck, perplexed. "I didn't think you'd let me help. Ever. Haven't gotten this far in my mind."

I grimaced. "Oh." Even in my own ears I sounded disappointed. Did I want help? "But Edward, everything's fine. Yes, I get a few hits or whatever, but the girls aren't hurt. I don't have to pay for anything most of the time, usually Charlie gives a couple hundred a month. Its enough. It...makes it easier. If you get people involved... What if they take the girls away?"

He looked at me like I kicked his puppy. "I wouldn't let anyone do that, because if I was the cause, you would never talk to me again. Then no one would be happy."

I smiled slightly.

"Seriously. Let me."

"I...I can't."

Edward sighed, staring at the ground. "So your only worry is that you'll lose the girls," he said, voice deep in thought.

"That's the only thing I care about. Its what my life revolves around."

"I'll make it happen," he said. "I'm going to do something whether you like it or not. I'm not just going to step back and let things go on like this – its insane. The only reason its gone on this long is because no one else knows. Right?"

I hated to say he was right. "Right."

"Then that's it," Edward said, standing up. "Bella, I know you need a friend, and I'm more than willing to be there for you no matter what, but I have to help you. It's a friend thing to do." I nodded slowly, giving up completely. "I won't do anything without telling you first, okay?" I nodded again. "Bella, say something."

"I'm scared of what your going to do," I whispered, putting my face in my hands.

He sighed before plopping back down beside me, putting his arm around my shoulders. "Bella, I wouldn't do anything to harm you. I could never do that to you."

This is incredibly short, I know, but I wanted to just fill your guys' minds with this for some reason. I'm watching Law and Order so I'm slightly distracted, I could add more but I don't feel like it.

It literally takes 5 seconds to review, guys, please make me incredibly happy and review! I'll love you guys for eternity. Plus I'll owe you for eternity. Tell me, then, are you Team Go Away and Don't Fucking Help Me Edward or are you Team Edward Save Me from This House! ?

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