AN: Bella learns the ropes and comes in contact with an uninvited guest.

Bits of Bella's abusive past are mentioned in this chapter in italics. If you are sensitive to the matter, please skip over it. Thank you. Spanish translations were taken from Bing.

Chapter Seven: Good For Nothing

Bella, December, 2010..

When we got back to the ranch, Jasper helped me out of the car. I didn't know I would be in pain, but he said that because of the procedures I went through today, the ache would catch with me at some point.

And I guess that was now.

Jasper held my hand, walking me to the door, because I felt like I had been hit by a car. Everything hurt.

I was almost there when a cramp in my side caused me to double over in pain. "Bella?" Jasper said, his voice filled with concern. "Come on, let me help you."

I was about to ask how else will he help me, because he was already escorting me hand-in-hand to the door when he lifted me up in his arms, cradling me like a baby. "Hold on," he said and I trembled at the sound of his voice.

I was a little fearful and also grateful for his help, but being so close to him was making me confused.

I didn't understand my reaction to Jasper. I know I should be afraid of him, because truly, how could I trust him, I didn't know anything about him, but I didn't. Something about Jasper relaxed; put my mind to ease.

It was strange. How could he bring me peace and comfort? Why did I breathe a sigh of relief mostly when he was near?

But why was I questioning this when I knew what was drawing me to Jasper. It was his eyes. They were so kind, even when he was angry; there was warmth in them.

With the little I knew about Jasper so far, made him so unlike James and I was happy about that.

Jasper lowered me to the floor when we entered the foyer, and then he helped his mom with the food. Maria led us to the dining room, while Jasper walked me there; his hand never leaving mine, and me, not wanting it to.

Rose, Peter and Sue filed in the room one by one, each asked how I was, and me telling them that I'm fine before they attacked Maria for the food.

Dinner went on without a hitch. Conversation flowed freely between everyone and I didn't feel left out. They integrated me into everything, even when Maria started to talk about Christmas and her plans as the rest of the family would be staying at the homes on the ranch.

Sue was wonderful. She stuck to me like a mom, making sure that I was okay, and not in too much pain. Which would then alert Jasper and he would ask if I was alright.

This family couldn't be more perfect. I wish that I could stay, but if James got close and I caught wind of it, I was out of here. I didn't want to endanger Maria and her family any more than I already have.

When dinner ended, everyone went about their business. I was dead on my feet, but Jasper was right there to help.

He and Sue escorted me to the stairs, but Rose stopped us before we could ascend them.

"Bella, let me know how everything fits." She was gone before I could ask what she meant.

But when we all got to my room and Sue opened the door for me, we were stopped dead in our tracks by the ton of clothes, shoes and accessories on the bed.

Tears welled up in my eyes and a sob tore from my throat. "Oh my God."

"It's alright, hun," Sue coaxed as my head collapsed on her shoulders while I wept. "They tend to shock you like this."

"Thank you," I said.

"You're more than welcome," Jasper answered. "Let me know if you need anything else."

"Welcome to the Whitlock family, Bella," Peter said, coming to stand beside Sue with a smile.

"Thank you." I couldn't stop saying it.

Whatever I could come up with by means of gratitude for this family and Phil would never be enough.

~~abt~~

After Jasper, Peter and Sue left me, I took tentative steps toward my bed, still reeling from the disbelief that everything I saw was all for me.

There were so many things. So many clothes. There were clothes for every season. It was chilly right now. And the winter looked to be a cold one. But Rosalie had taken care of that. I had everything I would need.

On top of the shirts, I saw a note that finally made Rosalie's statement make sense. 'From Rosalie, let me know if you need anything else.'

There were even shoes! A note was sticking out of a pair of light brown and pink cowboy boots that caught my eye. I pulled it out as fresh tears filled my eyes.

'From Jasper.' It read, making me smile.

Before bed, I put everything away and then went through my nightly routine, changed into my new pajamas and crawled into bed. But my happiness quickly diminished when I closed my eyes. Because this was where James lived. In my dreams.

"All night! All night, you flirted with those bastards, Marie!" James yelled at me after he slapped me across the face as soon as we walked into the house. "You think I like those pricks? And to have them staring at what's mine because my wife is a little slut, was insulting!"

While James kept screaming at me, I was fighting to breathe because he grabbed my neck and his hand was wrapped so tight around it that it felt like I would stop breathing in a second.

"I…didn't…I tried to get them to…stop," I struggled to say as his angry eyes glared at me.

"Tried? Tried!" he shouted, letting go of my throat to shake me.

I gasped as he pulled back his fist; cringing as I prepared myself for the blow.

It never mattered how many times I tried to do this, it would hurt the same. I would still feel everything. And when I fell to the ground from the impact, James laughed. And when I tried to crawl away, he followed, kicking me in the stomach, stopping me.

When I tried to beg, he kicked me again and again, and when I got on my hands and knees, determined to get away from his horrendous blows, he stepped on my neck.

I awoke with a start. The clock said three am and I threw myself back down on the pillows. I hoped I didn't disturb anyone's sleep. I fought to keep my eyes open, because from here on out, I would be waiting for morning.

Today would be the real starting point of my life without James Carter.

~~abt~~

I meant Sue outside my door at six am and followed her downstairs. She said that today, we would be going on a tour of both the main house and Jasper's home to get me acquainted with everything and how this ran around here.

While we prepared breakfast, Sue thrilled me with short stories and jokes about Jasper and Rose while they were growing up. You could hear how much she loved them in every word she uttered.

Sue was so warm and jovial. She kept me smiling and laughing while we prepared the meal. She told me to choose the dish I wanted to make and I went with Eggs Benedict, but Sue advised me to add something else to the meal. She said that the boys loved their food and would definitely want more.

So she added some bacon and fluffy pancakes to the mix before we finished everything with coffee and a glass of orange juice for everyone, and then, we set the table.

"Now, stand back and watch it get devoured," she said as everyone entered the room, bidding us 'Good Morning'.

Sue was right. It was like a mad rush and the ton of food she and I had made, quickly disappeared. It was a good we shared ours already.

I tried to avoid the table, thinking that I'd just eat mine later since I had that huge burger last night, but Peter and Jasper weren't having that. They came over to the sink, where I was, washing up the pots Sue and I used, and promptly escorted me to the table.

Jasper pulled out my chair and Peter placed a plate of food in front of me, while Jasper disappeared for a minute and then I heard the blender going.

When he was through, he appeared beside me, taking a seat with his own plate and pushed a glass of protein shake before me without a word. He dug into his breakfast and Peter eyed me with a smirk.

"Too much for you, Little Bit?" he asked. I should be a little sad or offended by the description but oddly, I wasn't. I kinda liked it.

"No," I said defiantly, loving that I didn't feel afraid. "I can handle it. Can you?"

I don't know where the challenging tone came from, but I liked that too and so did Peter, who laughed and started eating.

Jasper was chuckling the whole time.

When breakfast ended, Jasper gave me a multivitamin, stating that I could take them until I felt a little stronger and had more energy.

"Once you're out of the woods, you can decide if and when you want to take them, alright?" Jasper smiled.

"Yes, thank you, Jasper." He nodded and called Peter over to him and together, they head out to the ranch.

"He'll be here today," Sue said. "They are working with the guys out there for most of the day."

"Okay," I replied.

"Good!" She clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Let's get this tour started."

We did the dishes and cleaned off the counter and stove and then Sue started my tour. Sue said we would be starting upstairs and then we'd come back downstairs to conclude.

I agreed.

Rosalie was walking out her bedroom, and I stopped her. "Thank you so much for what you did," I said. The clothes, the shoes and the accessories were all so much I didn't know what else to say. The gratitude they were showing me rendered me a speechless. I couldn't find anything else to say, but thanks.

"You're welcome, Bella," she smiled. Rosalie didn't look like one of those 'cheery' types of girls. She looked like someone who didn't bullshit and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. But the broad, kind smile that lit up her face warmed my heart and made feel a little less apprehensive in her presence. "I'm sorry for what happened to you."

"Me too," I said and Rosalie smiled genuinely again and we went our separate ways.

The bedrooms were out of this world. The one I was staying was a dream on its own and the rest were just as beautiful. Maria's room, Rosalie's and Jasper's, which was right next to mine, and spiked my shock and fear, were all magnificent.

Sue's room was fantastic. The light breezy tone of it was so inviting.

From there, after we changed some beddings as Sue said the rest of the family be starting to coming into town very soon, we carried on with my tour. From the den with the huge fireplace to the extensive library with a reading corner fit for a king, every part of this house was fabulous. But my tour wasn't over. Next, we went to a media room built like a mini movie theater, a game room, and another office.

If I owned a place like this, I don't think I'd ever leave home except for the essentials such as food and medical care.

Sue took me to where we would mostly work from, although she said that it would her working from these places as I would be working over at Jasper's. My fear spiked when she said that.

"What do you mean?" I couldn't help how panicked that question sounded. Jasper constantly showed me over the short time I have been here that there was nothing to fear when it came to him, but I couldn't help the apprehension I felt.

"It's okay, Bella," Sue said calmly. It looked like she understood my fear. "You are employed by Maria but you'll work from Jasper's. He's hardly there and he spends most of his time over at the main house anyways. You'll have free reign."

Jasper was hardly there so I didn't have to worry about him changing his mind and wanting to commit me because I keep running and hiding from him in his own home.

After Sue talked me down, we went through the large glass double doors that led out back. It was where Jasper loved to walk and Sue said it was an easy way to get to his place.

Jasper's home was on the eastern end of the property and I fell madly in love as soon as I saw it.

On the outside, it screamed family home and on in the inside was just as homey and lovely. I was no architectural genius but this was a beauty.

It was a three bedroom, three bathroom dream, completed with a small media room, a large kitchen, a laundry room about as big as a dorm room, an office that I think will definitely need my organizing skills since there were papers and books everywhere, a gym and a backyard that was a tropical oasis Sue in the summer Sue explained.

We went through Jasper's place, room by room, and with every step I took, I fell impossibly more in love with this house.

Finally, we ended up in the laundry room to what looked like a nightmare in the corner.

There was an over flowing pile of dirty laundry there and my breath almost came to a screeching halt at the dream standing in the other corner.

Jasper was changing his dirty shirt and I was doing all I could to remember how to catch a breath. His tattooed back was to me and I panted as I watched him pull on a new shirt; his tight muscles rippling with each movement.

He turned around to us and I gasped loudly causing Sue to look at me as I slapped a hand over my mouth while Jasper looked at me mischievously and smirked.

He must have been used to women reacting to him like this. But looking at Sue gave me my way out as she stood there like his mom about to scold him as her eyes danced between him and the dirty pile of clothes.

"What's all that?" she asked.

Jasper looked down at the clothes and then threw the newly dirty shirt on the pile. "Dirty clothes."

"Oh mi Dios, Jasper! ¿te enseño mejor?" Sue said.

"Yes, you did teach me better, but no time," Jasper said. He spoke Spanish. Wow!

Logically, why wouldn't he? Jasper looked like a smart guy; one who was always seeking knowledge. I could hear it in his line of questioning yesterday when he was trying to get to know me. But everything he said, literally the sound of his voice left me dumbfounded.

I had to laugh at myself. What was this guy doing to me?

They both looked at me and Jasper smiled while Sue looked like she wanted to check my head for a temperature higher than normal.

"I'm sorry, I'm good," I told the two of them.

"Well, that's nice," Jasper said, his voice making my stomach do flip flops. "Welcome to my home."

"Thanks. It's beautiful."

"Thank you," he said with a smile that made me sigh.

I had to look away from him. Jasper was a dream. And in my case, a very dangerous dream, because he would only be perfect for someone else.

Jasper led us outside then, telling me that I had free reign since he would hardly be there. Just like Sue had said. He said that between his job as a doctor, working on the ranch, and overseeing things on the business front, months could fly by and we wouldn't see one another.

I had to smile at how he was trying to reassure me. It was sweet.

I started ask questions of my own like how did we get the entire houses cleaned as Sue and I followed Jasper around while he showed me the barn, the stables and just about everything else.

Sue explained that there was a cleaning crew that came in three times a month to assist. I was happy to hear that because these houses were massive.

But the minute I saw them, all talk faded away and my eyes were glued on the majestic creatures, trotting or galloping around ahead of me in a lush green open field.

"They're so beautiful," I whispered, eyeing the horses.

"I'll take you for a ride some time then," Jasper drawled. I was so enthralled by the horses that his close proximity didn't even bother me.

"Where's Sue?" I asked, not even realizing that she was gone. I was leaning on the fence in amazement.

"She went in the house and said she'd see you inside," Jasper replied.

"Okay."

"Can you ride?" he asked.

"No," I replied automatically, lost in my admiration of the animals. I was watching one in particular. He or she was wild and lovely.

Jasper whistled and the horse stopped and looked our way. I looked at Jasper in shock and watched as he called the horse over.

He or she neighed and came to Jasper with ease, and he patted the horse's snout while I moved back a little. "Oh, it would have been nice to take you riding," Jasper said with a hint of sadness etched in his honey voice.

It was then I realized his question. "What did you ask me?" I inquired embarrassingly.

Jasper simply grinned, understanding that I didn't hear his question, and said, "I asked if you could ride?"

"Oh. Yes, I can."

"That's good to know," he said, eyeing the horse as he spoke softly to it. "His name is Thunder. You can pet him, he's very friendly."

I didn't even realize I was so far away until Jasper was beckoning me closer.

Bravely, I took a step forward and slightly flinched when Jasper took my hand, leading it up to Thunder's snout. When I touched him, he softly neighed and allowed me to pet him.

"He's gorgeous," I said, admiring the strong animal before me.

"Thanks, he's a good friend."

I glanced at Jasper. "A friend?"

"Horses can be as good a friend as a dog, if not more," he stated. "They are very loyal."

"I'll remember that," I smiled, and continued petting Thunder's snout. "I used to take equestrian lessons, and I used to dance and sing. But my heart's desire was to be a chef."

"That sounds wonderful," Jasper said, and I smiled at him.

I was smiling a lot around him and it should worry me, but it doesn't. I didn't feel shy or insecure, because Jasper always returned them with an open and honest grin.

Standing here, I felt like I could talk to him. "I used to enjoy performing," I told him. "It helped with my shyness and balance issues." He looked a little confused at that, so I added, "I wasn't always the most coordinated."

"Oh, okay," He chuckled, and then got serious. "Did…he stop you from dancing?"

The thought of James made me flinch and Jasper was quick to apologize. "I'm sorry."

"No, please don't apologize," I begged him. "You just want to understand. No, James didn't stop me from dancing. I…I lost someone. A great person and my passion for it went with him."

Jasper's brows knitted at the mention of Garrett and I briefly wondered why. "He sounds important."

"He was."

"Oh," he said lowly, focusing on Thunder.

What was it? Maybe my sadness pulled at something inside of him.

"Was he your boyfriend?" Jasper's voice sounded strange on that question. Maybe it was my imagination running wild, but I swore that I could detect jealousy in his tone.

"We were almost more, but he died before we could be."

"I'm so sorry, Bella," Jasper said, taking my hand. I trembled but I didn't move away from his touch. It felt safe.

"So what do you do exactly?" I wanted him to go back to the smiling, kind Jasper. I didn't want my past to leave him in a somber mood for the rest of the day.

There will be other days for that if he wanted to help me.

He smiled, his eyes lighting up and I smiled internally while he sent Thunder back out to run around with the other horses.

"I'm a doctor as you have seen, but I also run this ranch with my mama and sister. I inherited it from my daddy."

"Okay, but you said something about business inside," I reminded him. "Were you just talking about with other ranch owners?"

"No, we also used to sell oil," Jasper said. "But I don't allow anymore drilling to be done on our land."

"Wow, so all this…" I gestured to the houses and farm, "…is from oil?"

"And breeding animals," Jasper provided. "We also take part in the derby."

"The horses," I surmised.

"Yep, though we also have cattle," Jasper said. "The horses are the main thing. Thunder is a champion."

"That's great."

"Yes, it is."

We talked a little more after that and Jasper walked me back to the back entryway, dipping his Stetson like a true cowboy. "Have a good day, Ma'am."

I laughed and blushed as he chuckled and walked away. Sue smiled a knowing smile as she shook her head and walked away, humming.

What did that mean?

~~abt~~

I lifted the last load of laundry out of the washing machine and moved them to the counter. Sue walked into the laundry room.

"Almost done?" she asked.

"Yeah, this is the last one," I replied, sorting through the pile.

"Well, lunch is ready and I took out the steaks you wanted to use for dinner, and put them in the sink to thaw out," she informed me.

"Thanks a lot."

"Sure thing, hermosa," she smiled.

"You think I'm beautiful?" I asked. Maybe it sounded like a dumb question, but I never felt beautiful; except when Garrett was staring at me or when he would say it.

"Of course you are!" Sue declared. "And don't you ever forget it."

"Gracias," I laughed.

"Aye, you speak Spanish?"

"And French, Italian and a little Latin," I said proudly.

"Wow!" She cheered while I placed the clothes in the dryer and turned it on.

We went to the kitchen and I seasoned up the steaks, leaving them to marinate in the fridge while I had lunch. I was hungry. I don't know what was wrong with me but I loved that I wanted to eat now and I wasn't scared to.

The decorators were already here and were at work on the other rooms. When I sat down with Sue at the table, she told me she had already given the decorators their lunch.

We chatted while we ate and as Sue asked about my college years, and then the conversation moved to the languages I knew. "My daughter, Charlotte speaks Spanish fluently, and she speaks French too." Sue loved her daughter, Charlotte, or Char as she affectionately called her, very much.

Char was Peter's girlfriend and she had grown up with the Whitlock family. She worked as a paralegal for the law firm Peter worked for.

"That's wonderful," I said with a smile.

There was a gleam in Sue's eye as she said, "Jasper es trilingüe. Habla a español, aprendió de curso, Francés, alemán e incluso un poco de chino."

"¿De veras?" I asked her.

"Si, really," she said. "He is all around kind of guy. Jasper is a geek, you could say. He loves to read." Thought so. I knew he was a knowledgeable man. He sought it out, even in different languages. "And a whole bunch of other things. He loves challenges, and he tends to succeed in them. He's an amazing man. I'm so proud of him."

"He looks like he loves you too." He really did. Jasper looked like he adored Sue. The way spoke made you see that she was family to him.

Sue gave me a devilish smirk. "Le gustas mucho."

I gasped at her statement, and turned away. What did she mean Jasper liked me very much?

Tears started to cloud my vision and I let out a sad sigh. A part wanted something to be possible; to feel free to feel something other than terror or the need to escape. I couldn't. I could regain control over what was left of my life but that was it. I had no more for anything or anyone else. "El no puede." It wouldn't do Jasper any good to like me. I could let him and his family help me to a point, but I won't allow him to get close to me.

He would die. James would kill him if he found us and I couldn't do that to them. I couldn't steal Maria's son away because I was bad luck.

"Why?" Sue asked. "Your husband? He wasn't a husband, Bella. He was a demon. A man doesn't do that to a woman."

"What do you know?" The family must have been looking into my past.

"Enough to know that we will help you stay far away from that monster," Sue said as tears rolled down my face and my body shook with sobs.

She pulled me in her arms immediately and I didn't flinch, I welcomed her comfort. "Bella, He visto lo que ha estado buscando en Jasper, y lo que él ha sido mirándote. Hay algo creciendo allí. Y dos desea explorarlo o no, que sea allí, esperando ambos ver la verdad. Nosotros no podemos evitarlo a veces."

Sue was right. There was something stirring in me for Jasper. It has been from the moment our eyes met. I have this yearning to be close to him. But I knew the truth. I couldn't do it.

However, Jasper was making me question that. His mere presence calmed me. There was something there. Something that wouldn't go away.

"Sue," I cried. "Jasper can't. I know it seems like I'm growing an interest, even though, that's insane!" I said, moving out of her motherly embrace. "But I can't help it. He calms me. But nothing can come of it and if you can convince him to not pursue me…that is if he feels it too, then tell him, don't. I'll only get him killed."

Sue was thoughtful for a minute. "Jasper is very stubborn and like I said, he loves a challenge. But he's an understanding man and he'll respect your wishes. But I'll help you. I don't agree with it, because you two need each other more than you, but I'll help you."

We talked a little more while we made lunch for the guys outside. When we were through, I went and checked on the laundry. Sue came and helped me fold the items before we headed back to the kitchen, chatting as we go. She handed me a platter filled with sandwiches while she carried a tray with a glass pitcher and cups outside to the boys.

They were happy to see us and came over for their lunch. Peter came and grabbed a sandwich and shouted to Jasper to come in from out in the middle of the field and grab some grub.

Everything Sue and I had talked about came crashing down around me when I saw Jasper riding Thunder. He was approaching the fence and I couldn't breathe. My eyes were glued on him.

When he pulled Thunder to a stop and dismounted, wiping his sweat in the t-shirt and then stuffed it back in his back pocket, I took stock of his broad chest. He was sculpted by Gods. I was convinced.

Every move he made left me more and more breathless and it was Sue who brought me out of my stupor when she cleared her throat and I turned to her in time to see Peter eyeing me suspiciously with a wicked glint in his eye. But I wasn't the only one. He was looking beside me as Jasper reached out and plucked a sandwich off my tray. I locked eyes with Sue, wanting someone else to focus on to avoid staring at Jasper, but Sue only smirked at me and shook her head.

"Hi again, Bella," Jasper said, as if he wanted me to meet his eyes.

I involuntarily turn to him, meeting his gaze, my whole body cheering when I do. "Hi," I said meekly. God, Jasper was affecting in ways no one ever has. Not even Garrett.

"How's the day been?" he asked, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"It's been good so far," I replied. "Sue has been teaching a lot."

"Sounds good," his deep voice had me in a trance. I tuned everything out. All that mattered, all that existed in that moment, was Jasper's deep turquoise eyes as he stared down at me.

The butterflies were ever present, fluttering around in my stomach. It felt like I wanted to forget everything I told Sue. Every fear I had, momentarily flew out the window.

Jasper was about to say something to me, but her voice came instead as she called out to him. "Jazzy!"

Following the voice, I saw a petite woman making her way over to us. She was just as wealthy as he is. It wasn't a question you had to ask, you could see it written all over her. There was an air of snobbery about her that didn't sit well with me. I wanted to disappear out of this woman's presence.

She passed the ranch hands like they were no one or invisible on her way to Jasper.

Jasper cursed under his breath, and when I glanced up at him, his eyes were filled with fury. Peter rolled his eyes when I looked his way and whispered something to Sue. Then, they both looked at me.

"I agree," she replied out loud and then called me to come with her. "Come on, Bella, it's time to go."

"Go, Bella," Jasper said in agreement with Sue, though he never looked my way once. His furious gaze was on the ravened haired girl fast on her approach.

"Time to go, Bella," Sue said and I followed her. The girl swished passed us without a second glance, waltzing right up to Jasper, and planting a kiss on his lips.

I looked away then; a part of me disappointed that he was taken.

When we got back to the kitchen, I asked Sue the first question that popped in my head. "What's her name?"

"Alice, and she's Jasper's ex as of last night," Sue said with a sneer. The answer made my heart skip a beat, but I ignored it. His ex. He was single.

Stop it.

"You stay away from her, you hear?" Sue warned me. "If she needs anything, you let me handle it. Okay?"

"Okay." I didn't know why Sue thought it was imperative to warn me about her, but I wouldn't be disobeying her order anytime soon. From what I'd seen so far, I wouldn't be going anywhere near Alice.

I hesitated a bit when Sue refilled the glass pitcher and told me to bring it out to the decorators. But Sue convinced me that I would be okay. So I went out there.

The house looked amazing and I couldn't wait to see what everything will look like once they are finished.

I served the iced tea, and by the time I was finished pouring, I had a half empty pitcher. After promising them that I'd get more, I walked off to the kitchen.

Sue was right. I had nothing to worry about. I hadn't dropped the glass pitcher.

With a sad sigh, I turned the corner and walked right into her.

It wasn't my fault. She was the one who came barreling into me. But the moment she opened her mouth, screeching at me, something happened. Something snapped inside me and I lost it.

It was as if the event was replaying in my head while she ranted. Everything moved in slow motion as I turned the corner and Alice came crashing into me; the remaining contents of the pitcher splashed on her dress and she knocked the pitcher out of my hand, causing it to smash against the tiled floor.

"You stupid bitch!" she shouted as she yanked me to her; her nails digging in the skin of my forearm. "Do you know how expensive this dress is?!" She was ferocious as she let me go and I staggered back in shock, falling to the floor and cutting my palms on the broken shards of glass.

I could hear my own heavy breaths in my ear. I could feel my heart pounding against my chest, and I felt like I was about to throw up.

Alice was supposed to be standing in front of me, chastising me for I had done, but all I could see was, James.

"Are you even listening to me, you idiot?" she screeched. I looked up at her, shaking as I tried to apologize. I stumbled over my words, trying to find my voice, but it wasn't fast enough for her or James. I wasn't sure. All I know was that James was going to be so mad at me. He was going to beat me.

"I'm sorry," I whispered out, rocking back and forth. There was pain coming from somewhere on my body, but I didn't know where.

"Shut up! Look at me, you buffoon," Alice or James sneered. "What am I going to do with this?" She pointed to her mildly soaked dress before she or James raised their hand to hit me and my breath caught.

Here it comes.

"You stupid…little…BITCH!" one or the other shouted before Jasper yelled.

"Alice!"

Next: Jasper, the savior.