no one cares about me. . .

EPOV

"You know how my mom divorced my dad? Cuz she thought that she was marrying too young and that she needed more life on her own. . .she didn't take me, I reminded her too much of her marriage with Dad. . ." Bella grit her teeth and I winced as she dug her nails on one of the hideous bruises on her arm. . ."My dad, not really knowing why she left, was left in a grief-stricken state. . .He couldn't understand why she left. That grief turned into anger, and anger turned into violence. . ."

I gasped, "You mean. . .Your. . .dad? did this to you?" How can anyone hurt this beautiful angel? How can her dad hurt his own daughter!?

She looked down, "Yes, my dad beated me from the age of five, never disobey him. . .or else the punishment would be worse. . ."

"Did. . .Did he ever. . .rape you?" I asked, afraid to know the answer.

"I was fourteen, he came back home drunk, he usually does, but this time more drunk than ever, he pushed me up against the w-wall. . .and h-he ju-just, he j-just. . ." She broke off, crying. I stood up and hugged her, I felt her flinch against me.

"I will never hurt you bella, I won't let anyone hurt you anymore. . .Your safe with me." I told her firmly.

She looked up at me with her clear brown eyes, "I trust you Edward. But. . ." She left off backing away from me, "We've just met Edward. . .I need time. . ."

I felt like a shard of ice went through my heart, I gulped and nodded, "I. . .understand."

She looked up at me apologetically and whispered, "I'm sorry Edward."

I shook my head and smiled at her, I didn't want her to feel guilty over me. . .I would wait, wait until she was ready. . .I looked up at the clock that was in the room, "I think it's best that you go back to your class now, could you thank your teacher for me?"

She nodded, "Sure. . .Bye." With that she walked towards the door, opening it, I felt my stomach squirm as her eyes lingered on me for a moment, and then she left.

I sat there, thinking about what she had said about her dad. . .yes, i really need a talk with him later. . .But first, to interview a few of her teachers.

I walked out of the room as the school bell rang, signaling the end of school for students. I instantly regreted going out of the room as a swarm of students surrounded me. A couple of girls took notice of me and threw flirtatious smiles and kept winking, but I ignored them, normally I would have flirted back, since meeting Bella, no girl could hardly compare to her. Oh great, I groaned inwardly, I'm sounding like a lovesick fool, think Edward, she's only a highschooler! But I didn't help, all I could see was Bella.

I made my way through the crowd and made it to one of Bella's teachers, a Language Arts teacher by the name of Ms. Devil, apparently her husband ran away with a stripper after they were married for about a year. . .

I knocked on her door, the door opened to reveal a women with many wizened lines on her face, badly dyed orange hair and wearing an outfit that I don't think even elderly people would wear. She beckoned me in and motioned me to sit in one of the student chairs, as she herself sat in the one next to it facing me.

"I'm Edward Cullen, from the-" I started but she cut me off.

"I already know who you are and why you came here." She said impatiently in an annoyed voice, "What do you want to know?"

"Well, could you tell me how Isabella Swan is like in your classes?"

"She's a bright child with an intelligent mind, her taste of books is quite unnusual for a girl her age, but then. . .she is an odd girl compared to other students. . ." She frowned a bit at the end.

"Odd? How?" I tried to conceal my annoyance of her thinking Bella is odd.

"To start with she doesn't really talk to anyone here, I mean she has friends, I have seen her talking and spending her time with some other few students, but she's not as enthusiastic as others come to be when talking to people. . .Unnusualy quiet during class too. . .only talks whe I ask a question directly to her, and they're usually one word answers too, much to my annnoyance." She had a tone of voice that implied that she thought everyone was lower than her and was a waste of her time. . .For some reason she annoyed me. . .

She continued on, "It's not like she doesn't do bad at school. . .She's one of my star pupils. . .I think she has been dropped on her head a lot of times too, she certainly asks the most strangest questions. . .Like if someone were raped, would the person get pregnant right away? and similar questions. . .Interesting don't you think?" She smirked at the end, she was making fun of Bella, I couldn't believe a teacher could be so cruel.

I've had enough, I stood up and stiffly said, "Thank you, I'll be going now."

She looked up at me, "Alright then, your welcome that I gave up my time for you."

But I wasn't listening, I was already at the door and heading out. The next teacher was her piano teacher, Ms. Nells. She was around what looked like around fifty, but still beautiful, in an elderly way, with kind blue eyes and soft sandy blond hair. She welcomed me warmly in her room and had me seated on a piano chair as she sat down in her cushioned chair.

She smiled at me and asked, "What would you like to know?"

"How was Isabella Swan in your class?"

"She is the most excellent child, she doesn't have a talent for piano but a marvelous singing voice. I often urged her to be in choir and sing solos but she wouldn't hear of it! Too shy she says! Such a shame, but no matters, people shouldn't be forced into what they don't want to do." She beamed as she said that, I had a feeling this was Bella's favorite teacher.

"Did she express any strange behavior or anything?"

She frowned, "Now that you mention it. . .She was always quiet in class, now I know you would think that there would be some kids that would be really quiet in class, but she was always quiet, always one word answers, never laughing, except when she was singing. . .She really let's herself out when she's singing. . .But she never likes anyone to hear her sing. . .She's afraid of people, commitment, afraid of getting to close to them, I think. . ."

I wondered if she knew about Bella being abused, but decided not to mention it. I was glad of Ms. Nells. She was a really thoughtful teacher who thought a lot about her students.

"Well, look at the time, it's already three o'clock, I must go, today's my 37Th wedding anniversary, you know, and my husband is taking me out to dinner tonight." She beamed and flushed a bit.

"Really? Well congratulations." I smiled back at her.

By that time I already decided that I had enough interviews from Bella's teachers, I don't really like interviews. I walked out of the door, thanking her for spending time for the interview.

"Oh no problem, dear. Delighted to help." She replied brightly.

I climbed into my car as soon as I got out of the school, and drove over to Bella's place. It was a plain, white house, two stories high, with four windows on each side, the house was surrounded by a forest. Better, i guess, for people to not hear Bella's pain quite as easily, I thought bitterly.

As soon as I got out I heard glass breaking and yelling, hoping it wasn't what I thought it was, I braced myself and headed towards the house.

I'm sorry if this chapter was a bit crappy, I was a bit distracted and couldn't think of what to write properly. . . I'm open to any suggestions for about how this story should go on. . .Thank you for putting up with the long wait!