As I said, I'm posting another chapter today. And thank you to those of you who did review the first chapter and have encouraged me to continue with it. Hopefully you'll still enjoy this next chapter.

This story is beta'd by Feenrai.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of the characters.

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Chapter 2

"Bella?" Edward's velvet voice called me. "Are you all right? I got here a while ago, and you've been in the there for over an hour." His voice was laced with deep concern.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and instantly stopped sniffling. I had to be convincing when I came out of the bathroom. The only problem was that he knew I was a bad liar, and he had gotten too good at reading my face. "I'm fine. I'll be out soon," I told him in the most convincing and steady voice that I could manage.

He didn't respond, so I assumed he went back to my room to wait for me as he always did. I quickly shut off the water and climbed out of the shower. I dried off, putting on my ratty old sweats and an old loose-fitting t-shirt with long sleeves. That should cover the bruises. I hope.

I got to the bathroom door and grabbed the knob, bracing myself for what I was about to do. I had to lie to Edward. I had to try to convince him I was fine. I took one last deep breath before I opened the door, stepping out into the hallway.

I screamed as I felt a pair of arms snake around my waist, pulling me to them.

"Bella! Bella, love, what's wrong?" Edward's gentle velvet voice lulled me into a more calm state, as he quickly released me from his embrace, due to my reaction.

"Sorry, you just scared me. I thought you would be in my room," I half lied, not meeting his eyes. I had expected him to be in my room. But his arms suddenly grabbing me had reminded me of what had happened with Jacob.

I could tell by the look on his face that he didn't believe me, but he dropped it, extending his hand for me to take. After a second's hesitation, I took his hand and let him lead me back into my room, where he quickly sat down on the rocking chair. His arms were open, and he was waiting for me to come sit on his lap.

I wanted to. A big part of me wanted to--wanted to feel his cold, stone arms wrap around me and keep me safe…to make me feel safe. But I knew that if I did, he would notice something was wrong.

"I'm really tired. I think I just want to go to sleep," I told him, faking a yawn. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. Not after what had happened. I knew that as soon as I closed my eyes the memories would launch themselves into my mind even more vividly. I shuddered at the thought.

He looked slightly hurt for a split second before he composed his face into a mask of calm again.

As I climbed into my bed, I realized how sore everything was. My bruises, my lips, my head, and especially my legs. My thighs, especially the area between my thighs, ached with every step I took.

Edward came to lay beside me on the bed. My heart began to speed up. I knew Edward would never hurt me. I was safe with him, and I knew that. I just needed to calm down, to think rationally. Edward was with me, and I was safe with him, and he would never let anything happen to me. So as long as I was with him, I was safe.

'We should do that again sometime,' Jacob's voice flitted through my mind. It sent an involuntary shiver up my spine causing Edward to wrap my blanket around me more securely, before taking me into his arms. I held as still as possible, not wanting to risk screaming at both the physical contact and Jacob's words.

Edward shouldn't have to touch me when I'm like this. He deserves better than that. I'm nothing but a filthy, used, girl. I'm not even pretty. I held still, keeping my eyes shut tight to avoid the tears that were welling up behind my eyelids and threatening to escape.

As long as I was with Edward, Jacob wouldn't come near me. He knew better than that. He would stay away, because he knew Edward would kill him as soon as he saw what had happened, in Jacob's mind. So, as long as Edward was beside me, Jacob wouldn't be back, and he wouldn't be able to 'do that again sometime.'

A single tear escaped my eye, landing on Edward's shirt. I felt his lips ever so gently brush across my still-damp hair, placing a gentle kiss on my head.

"Is everything okay?" he murmured, his voice taking on that anxious edge.

I knew if I opened my mouth to speak, that sobs would escape, making my pathetic attempt at lying even worse. I simply nodded, and allowed myself to curl myself closer to Edward, knowing that he would keep me safe, even if he didn't realize what he was keeping me safe from.

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"Bells," Jacob said with a toothy grin. "Up for some fun?" he asked as he pulled off his shirt: implying what he considered 'fun.'

Panic set in, and I felt my limbs flailing, trying to figure out a way to move…to get away…to run…to do anything aside from just lying there. But I was frozen in place. My legs refused to move, as did my arms. All I could do was lay there, waiting for Jacob to close the distance between us and rape me again.

I tried even harder to move my legs. I tried kicking them, I tried doing anything to get them to work. It was then that I saw Jacob come closer and lean right over me, his face right in front of mine, his lips almost touching mine, as his breath assaulted my face. I felt sick. I screamed.

"No!" I gasped, my scream not making as much noise as it usually would, due to being out of breath. It came out as nothing more than a tortured gasp.

I flung my eyes open to see that I was in my room, in my bed. But I still felt like my legs were being held down, like I was being restrained and kept in place…like my dream was real, and that Jacob was not letting me move.

I tried to kick harder, but it was no use. My heart began beating furiously as I began to have a panic attack.

"Love, it's okay. Calm down. It was just a dream." Edward's voice brought me back into reality. It was Edward who was gently holding my legs down--probably to keep me from hurting myself when I began kicking in my sleep.

I felt the tears stinging my eyes, knowing that I wouldn't be able to hold it back. I could barely breathe--my lungs refusing to take in air--and my head was swimming. I began sobbing as Edward pulled me against his chest, bringing his lips to my ear.

"It was just a dream, my sweet Bella. You're okay, I'm right here," he whispered. His words made me cry even harder. I wasn't okay, and I knew it. I was unfixable.

He placed his hand over my quickened heart, his cool skin instantly calming me slightly. I could feel my lungs allowing me to take bigger breaths, but the sobbing still continued. I buried my face against his chest, my hand fisting part of his shirt in my palm, as I clang to him, just like I was trying to cling to my sanity.

"It's all right, it was just a dream," he told me softly as he leaned his head down to place a soft kiss on my forehead. He began to gently rock back and forth with me in his arms, in an attempt to console me, as the tears continued to flow freely.

When I still didn't calm down a few minutes later, he grew extremely anxious.

"Bella, what's wrong? What's going on?" he asked as he brought his face down to the same level as mine, his anxiety leaking into his velvet voice.

"Nothing," I whispered, trying desperately to compose myself and stop the tears.

"You're a horrible liar, love. Please tell me what's going on," he urged, his hand now rubbing soothing patterns on my back.

"Edward, it's nothing. Nothing's going on. I just had a bad dream," I lied, hoping to convince him. But when I looked up to see his face, I saw his skepticism. "I'm just a little jumpy today, that's all," I added quickly, hoping again to make him believe me.

I could still see the doubt clouding his eyes, but he didn't push me, for which I was grateful. As much as I wanted to keep this a secret from him for my own reasons, I wanted to keep it a secret from him for his own good too.

We laid there in silence for a while. I kept having to silently remind myself that it was Edward's arms wrapped around me to prevent me from pulling out of his embrace, because every time I closed my eyes, I remembered Jacob's arms holding onto me, keeping me from getting away.

I finally broke the silence because I was unable to fall back asleep, since I knew what dreams would come.

"What time is it?" I mumbled.

"Almost 7am," he told me softly, his hand coming up to brush his fingers across my cheek. "You should sleep," he murmured as his fingers then traced the pronounced dark circles under my eyes.

I shook my head against his chest. I didn't want to sleep.

"I need to leave soon, love. I'm supposed to go hunting with Emmett," he told me as gently as possible, since he knew how much it usually upset me when he needed to leave, and when I would need to be away from him for any period of time.

There it comes, that instant wave of panic and fear washing through me. Not just because Edward was leaving, but because he would be leaving me alone, without any way to be protected from Jacob. Jacob would come here once Edward was gone--I was sure. I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let Edward leave.

"No," I protested into his chest, as I clung onto him even tighter, hanging onto him for dear life.

"Shh, it will only be three days," he tried to soothe me as he placed a kiss on the top of my head.

"No," I mumbled again over and over into his chest. The tears I was fighting back finally escaped again. "Don't go," I pleaded.

"Love, I have to. It's too dangerous for you if I don't hunt soon," he patiently explained to me. Little did he know how wrong he was.

"It's too dangerous if you're not here with me," I said before I could stop myself. Oh no. I just said that out loud.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his brows pulling together in confusion.

"I just - I meant that bad things always happen when you're not around. You can't leave, Edward," I tried to cover. It was partially the truth.

"You know I don't like to leave you either, you know how anxious it makes me to be away from you. But I must go hunt," he tried to explain.

"No, Edward, please! Please, please don't go…don't go…please," I begged. I couldn't help but beg, I was in a complete panic, and all I could focus on was the fact that I needed Edward to stay. I couldn't let him leave me again, and I couldn't let him leave me here alone when Jacob could show up at any time. I needed him.

I saw the pain cross his face at my pleas, knowing he wanted to give in and not leave, but knowing he had to for my safety's sake. He quickly composed his face, though.

"Bella," he began, his eyes searching mine. I fought as hard as I could not to avert my eyes so he wouldn't be able to pick up on what was really going on. "I know it upsets you when I have to go hunt, but why is today so different? Why are you getting so worked up and panicking, love?" he asked me softly.

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Okay, first off...I just want to say that Edward isn't oblivious to something being wrong and her keeping something from him. He's just being Edward and doesn't want to push her too much. And well, Bella's just hysterical due to everything that's happened, and now at the thought of Edward going away, so...hence her begging him to stay.

So now the question is...will Bella crack and actually tell him, now that he's questioning her? Will Edward give in and stay with Bella?

Still liking the story? Review if you'd like me to continue, and just review and let me know what you thought. Reviews are very much appreciated!