BPOV

I slapped Edward… I mean really slapped him.

He said my name and it was sweet, but all my anger from earlier mixed with my shock from him saying my name caused me to hit him. I'd never hit someone. As soon as my palm hit his cheek and I realized what I'd done, I could see the anguish on Edward's face.

I sat slumped on the porch steps as the drizzling rain hit me. My crying finally stopping.

After Emmett and Phil left, I decided to go sit out on my swing. Mom had seemed a little down; I thought I would give her some time alone. I needed some time alone.

Phil had made mom laugh; it wasn't the forced laughing or smiles I had heard since dad died. She was genuinely laughing. I think she felt guilty, though, because after she did it, I could see her happiness fade as quickly as it appeared.

I sighed as the cool fall air hit me. It felt good to feel something. With my emotions all over the place, I let the cold calm me.

Like before, I heard the storm door slam. A petite woman that looked very much like Esme, but with strawberry blonde hair, came stumbling out looking around. When she didn't see what she was looking for, she dug in her bag for a cigarette, before placing it between her lips and lighting it.

Her green eyes caught me staring from our porch, and I tried my best to look anywhere but at her. She swiped at her eyes a few times, and I saw her mascara smudge. She would have been a very beautiful woman if she didn't look so… haggard?

"Hi," the woman waved.

"Ummm… hi," I said with a shrug.

"Have you seen my kid? He ran out here a little while ago."

"Edward?"

She smiled sadly. "That would be him."

"He left…" More like I slapped him, and he took off like a bat out of hell.

"Oh," she frowned.

I stood, turning to go back inside when Esme appeared from her back door. She glanced at the woman and then back to me.

"Bella, have your seen Edward?"

I took a deep breath, making my way to Esme. The woman watched me curiously as I passed her between our yards. The question was whether should I tell Esme what happened or just say he brooded off somewhere. The look of concern on her face gave me the answer.

"He came out here… we were not seeing eye to eye on something. I didn't mean to, but I slapped him. He said my name, and I slapped him. I didn't slap him for saying my name… I shouldn't have done it… I'm sorry…" I rambled, playing with my fingers.

I gave her the PG-13 version of everything. God, I think I would have preferred being in the PG-13 version myself. Esme surprised me by pulling me in for a hug and kissing my head.

"Thank you for being honest with me," she murmured, giving me one last squeeze.

"He just left. Will he be alright?" I asked worriedly.

He went running down our street. That wouldn't be safe if a car were to be driving while he was running. He wouldn't be able to hear it.

"I have an idea where went," she assured me.

"Es?" The woman asked, stubbing out her cigarette.

"I'm sorry Lizzie., This is Bella Swan, Marie's granddaughter. Bella, this is Edward's mother," Esme explained.

"Hello." I greeted with a wave.

I was almost positive they could see the confusion on my face.

"It's nice to meet you," she said. "So Renee is your mom?"

I nodded, feeling slightly awkward.

"How old are you?" she asked cocking an eyebrow at Esme.

"Uh, sixteen."

"That's interesting," Lizzie commented.

"You know what, Lizzie? You've already chased one kid from my house today. We don't need you making a new record," Esme sighed, moving toward her sister.

I watched her guide Lizzie back out to the beat up Volvo in her driveway. Lizzie said a few more things to Esme before she left. When Esme walked back towards me, she looked really pissed.

"I should go home," I announced, moving back toward Grams.

"You want to go with me?"

"Where?"

"To get Edward."

"I don't think that's a good idea," I replied.

"I'm not one to interfere, kiddo, but I see how you and Edward look at each other. It's sweet… I guess my point is he could use a good friend."

"He has Rose and Alice," I snapped.

"Rose gets him into too much trouble. I love her, but… they spend all of their time together. And she goes through these phases of disappearing on Edward. He doesn't tell me why he's stuck sulking around the house when she's gone," she explained.

I remember Emmett saying he and Rosalie had a thing going on. That's probably where she disappears.

"He hates me," I whispered.

Esme considered my words, patting my cheek as she gave me a smile.

"Come with me and the three of us can hang out at my house tonight. Carlisle's working the graveyard shift. You should take pity on me…" she pouted playfully.

I laughed at her expression. "Why not hang out with my Mom?"

"I want to hang out with you," she shrugged. "Your mom always is saying how awesome you are, and I want to see what I'm missing out on."

"Edward…" I started when she cut me off.

"He doesn't hate you, Bella. Trust me, I know these things," she said, tapping her temple.

"When I hit him he looked so… tormented," I whispered, thinking of the look on his face.

Esme sighed, patting my cheek gently before speaking. "Edward was enrolled at boarding school when he was six. Right after he lost his hearing. His father's family sent him off to Europe. I don't know if it was to get him far away from his father after everything that happened or they just didn't know what to do with him like with their other children. The school psychologist diagnosed him with PTSD… You hitting him might have triggered a memory of his father."

Everything she said I let absorb. "Edward could hear… before?" I asked quietly.

She nodded sadly.

"Lizzie is the only one who knew him to be a chatty little boy. She doesn't talk much about it; I think it's the guilt. Edward has discussed things with Carlisle to some extent."

"He was abused?" I could hear my voice crack, feeling even more wretched than before.

"Don't cry, sweetie," Esme murmured, pulling me in for a hug. "He's okay now… he's safe."

"I wasn't thinking when I did it. He made me so mad, and then when he said my name… he looked sweet. I just slapped him," I cried harder.

"Bella come with me. I promise he's fine," she soothed, rubbing my back.

I weighed my options. Show up with Esme, he would be even more pissed at me or be able to apologize.

"I'll go," I sniffled.

"Go tell your Mom, kiddo."

I nodded, running up the porch steps. I took a few deep breaths before yelling, "I'm going with Esme on an errand."

"Okay," she called back from what I assumed was her previous spot on the couch.

My croaky voice didn't give me away, so I was able to leave without being interrogated. If Gram was home, I think she would've seen right through me and asked what was wrong. But with Mom, I knew she had a lot more going on with herself, which made her less observant.

I went back out the door and saw Esme sitting in her Expedition in the driveway. She waved me over, and I got in.

"Your car is kind of surprising," I commented, buckling up.

"Carlisle," she rolled her eyes. "Last winter, my car slid on black ice and went into a guard rail near the highway. I was okay, just a little banged up. The next morning, he was beside himself. I woke up to this beast in the driveway."

"So he's your boyfriend?"

"I guess you could say that," she smiled. "I'm pretty sure he wants to propose, but is scared shitless. I know Edward knows something, but that boy is hard to crack. I've tried… All I can do is wait."

"That's kind of funny."

"Those two are as thick as thieves," she laughed, shaking her head.

I noticed she pulled up to the curb in front of a big stone house that looked almost gothic.

"I'll be right back," she informed me as she turned off the car.

I watched her jog up the lit walkway, knocking on the door. A minute later Rose opened the door in her underwear. Esme said something causing Rosalie to scratch her head lazily. She smiled at Esme and then frowned looking in my direction. Esme went into the house, and I was left to stare at my lap.

Was Edward in there with Rose? I remembered what Emmett said earlier and how it was all a show. But how could he be so sure? This town was definitely different from Florida with its sexual liberation. Or maybe, I was just sheltered.

When I looked up, Esme was signing to Edward as he lazily watched. He scrubbed his hand down his face before locking eyes with me. He ambled into the back seat, laying his head against the headrest.

"Don't ever do drugs, Bella. They only get you in trouble," Esme said, starting the car.

"I…I don't," I stammered, shaking my head furiously.

"Good," she mused.

Edward leaned forward, tapping our shoulders and shaking his head. He didn't like being talked about when he didn't know what was being said. We didn't say anything for the remainder of the ride. Edward's forehead rest against the back of my seat, though, and he played with the ends of my hair. Either he didn't think I knew or he just didn't care.

"If he is pushing his boundaries, you need to let him know," Esme said softly. "Carlisle tries to help him with social limits. His emotions take hold, and it's hard for him."

"He's fine," I replied, feeling my cheeks heat.

Once she parked, Esme turned around, ruffling his hair, causing him to look up at her blankly. I'd seen Rosalie stoned enough to know that Edward was very stoned.

"I should ground him by sending you home," she sighed.

"I can go home," I said starting to get out of the car.

Though,Edward decided he didn't like that idea and grabbed for my hand. Esme signed, She's not going to save you, as she said it. He held up his index finger, telling me to wait. He got out, helping me out of the car.

"Thank you," I said, realizing my mistake.

He shook his head, giving me a shy smile. Esme walked past. "Movie?" she asked and signed.

She was including me in their world.

I looked to Edward who was staring intently at me and shrugged. He tugged my hand, leading us into the house. Esme disappeared when we arrived in the living room. Edward took off his shoes in the foyer, so I followed suit.

He was relaxed, which was a big difference from earlier. Edward stumbled over to the entertainment center, gesturing me to come over.

"You pick," he said, sounding kind of muffled.

I peeked around in their DVD collection and saw Wall-E, which I loved. I hesitated. Did I really want to admit to Edward I liked a kid's movie? He saw my finger stop on it, and without further hesitation, he pulled the movie from its place to put it in.

He set everything up and fiddled with the controller. I wasn't sure where to sit until he reached for my hand, pulling me down to sit next to him. He started the movie, and the closed caption came on.

I wasn't sure what made me do it, but I reached out and touched where I slapped him earlier. He looked at me through his glassy eyes, and I knew he understood that I was sorry. Esme interrupted our moment by throwing a bag of popcorn on his lap, which he greedily tore into.

"Hmmm," she said, taking a seat next to us on the big leather chair.

"What?"

"He hates this movie," she laughed.

The funny thing was that the movie held his attention. I decided that I should start watching it too.

It was weird because I was watching the movie one minute and waking up with my head on Edward's chest the next.

A/N: Teenagers are so wishy washy… SMH! So what do you think? I would love to know.

I want to thank my betas Dolphin62598 and lizconno for all their input because they are seriously the best!

Until next time!