A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed/favorited/followed! All mistakes are mine. So very sorry for not updating in so long. I play basketball at my college and our season started to get too much for me to be able to balance life, practice, sleep, school, work, and socializing. I'll try to start updating as regularly as I can now that the season is at the end. I hope ya'll like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

"How to be brave? How can I love when I'm afraid to fall, but watching you stand alone, all of my doubts suddenly goes away somehow. One step closer..." – Christina Perry

Chapter 7

BPOV

September 2008

As soon as I got through writing to Edward, I ran. I didn't want to confront him anymore. I didn't want to see the look on his face after he reads it. He makes me so confused. Part of me believes that he is the guy he is trying to be – that part being the more dominant one – while the other part still thinks that he is just using me.

Every part of me screams to listen to him – to trust him. When he kissed me, everything felt right. I felt like I was right where I needed to be. I was home. His warm embrace made me feel so secure and safe. It was as if nothing can hurt me as long as he was with me. Renee can't make me feel bad about myself. Phil can't hurt me. The people at school couldn't taunt me anymore. Everything in my world felt completely right.

That's why I know it's not real.

Edward is the most perfect guy by anyone's standards. He is the perfect gentleman – caring and kind. He's athletic. He's popular. Everyone knows and loves him. He could have anyone he wanted with just the snap of his fingers. Why would he choose me?

I am pathetic. I'm worthless. I'm ugly and pitiful. No one likes me. No one cares about me. Even my own parents knew I was pathetic when I was still a child. Why would Edward want to even humor the thought of even being seen with me? Why would he kiss me tonight at the football game where anyone could see us?

The kiss. I never really thought of how my first kiss would go, but I definitely did not expect Edward to ever kiss me. I barely consider myself one of his friends, then he said he wanted to be more than that! I don't understand what he sees in me.

I get to my house and I immediately check to see if any lights are on anywhere. I don't see any. Good. I silently walk to the giant oak tree and pause before I start to make my climb. I turn around to vaguely see Edward's car in the distance, still unmoving. I turn around and get ready for the task at hand. I slowly climb up the tree, grateful that I don't come close to falling off. I get to the branch that is closest to my window and carefully move myself closer to it and the house. I slowly open my window, silently praying that I don't fall out of the tree in the process, and pull myself through.

I make a thud sound as I land on the ground. I immediately tense and listen for any indication that Renee and Phil have heard me. I stay on the floor for at least five minutes, just waiting for someone to come in here and catch me. I guess fate was on my side tonight because no one came.

All night, I was awake with worry, knowing that there was no way, no how I couldn't have not gotten caught. I never heard anything from their room. Because I was awake all night, I had time to think about everything that happened tonight. I snuck out of my house for a boy. I willingly went to a school event for said boy. Said boy kissed me, like actual lip to lip contact. I can't help the smile that comes across my face every time I think about it.

I also can't help but think that he meant what he said. His words seemed so sincere, like he actually liked me as more than a friend. Could someone like Edward really want to be with someone like me? No, of course not. Why would Edward even want to be friends with someone like me?

I lay awake until my alarm clock goes off at 5. I slump out of bed to head to the kitchen and prepare for the worst. I make sure to pay extra attention to Renee and Phil's breakfast and coffee. When everything is perfect I head back upstairs in hopes of avoiding them.

The weekend passes by quicker than normal. It might have to do with the fact that Phil and Renee didn't pay any attention to me or it could be that I stayed holed up in my room thinking about Edward the whole weekend. It wasn't until late Sunday night that I realized one very important thing. I spoke to Edward.

I spoke to Edward.

I used my voice and spoke to him like a normal person. He talked back to me like I was normal; that what I have to say is not meaningless. He didn't seem fazed that I had spoken to him. I hope he didn't notice. I don't want to have to face him tomorrow. It's the thoughts of this and our kiss from Friday that lulls me to sleep late Sunday night.

**TCWT**

November 2008

It's been almost two months sense Edward kissed me and sense I had spoken to him. Two long amazing months. I never thought that I would have a friend. I never thought that Edward would accept me for me, or at least I'm about 75% sure he does.

I remember walking into class after that weekend when Edward had kissed me, thinking that he was going to overwhelm me with questions and push me to talk again. But he didn't. Edward didn't mention the kiss or my note or me talking to him. He acted as if nothing had ever happened between us at his football game. He, thankfully, listened to my note I left him, but he never said anything about it. He has been beyond perfect.

He still sits with me at lunch, along with Jacob and Seth. I've come to realize that Jacob and Seth are not as tough and mean as they look like. Jacob is really nice and funny. He always makes jokes at lunch and I, surprising myself and the others, laugh at most of them. Every time this happens, Edward will always lean in and whisper in my ear "I love it when you smile like that. I wish you would do it more often." My face lights up like a firetruck when he tells me this.

Seth is really calm and collected. He was the first one out of Jacob and him that I felt comfortable around. Seth just has this presence that makes you feel like mean something.

Edward and I still have our study sessions before school every day. He doesn't need them this often and when I try to tell him that, he brushes me off and changes the subject.

He still gives me half of his lunch every day. Because of this, I am actually starting to fully fit inside of my clothes. Edward must see this too because he keeps telling me that I look healthier.

Today at lunch, Edward, Jacob, and Seth were talking about their upcoming game on Friday.

"What do you mean you don't think we're going to win?" Edward nearly yelled. I flinched at his voice and he noticed. He apologized to me with his eyes.

I think he knows something is not right about my home life. He avoids the subject of Renee and Phil and he doesn't say anything when I flinch away from people touching me. I've gotten somewhat used to his touch, so I don't flinch as much anymore. But, loud voices do seem to still scare me.

"I mean that Wilford has a record of 11 – 0. Our record is only 8 – 0. They are bigger, more experienced, and better than us, Edward." Jacob rambled.

Edward growls in frustration. "Look Jacob, just because we haven't played as many games as we have, doesn't mean they're better. We don't have to be bigger than Wilford, we just have to play smarter than they do and then we will win just like we always do." Edward puts his arm around me and I lean ever so lightly into his touch.

Jacob huffs in defeat because he knows Edward is right. I have been to every home game of Edward's since I first snuck out. I haven't gotten caught yet and I am fairly confident that I won't. I know Edward likes seeing me there, but he hates that I walk all the way from my house to the school, especially in the rain. He always insists on driving me home after every game, even though I know he wants to go to some of the parties with the rest of the team. He tried to convince me to go with him to one once and immediately regretted it when my face turned pale white and my eyes went wide like a deer caught in headlights.

Edward nudges me of out of my thoughts. "You okay?"

I smile and nod at him. He moves his hand from around my shoulders and put his hand on my cheek and cups it affectionately. I can't help but slightly flinch at the contact. He stares at me and his eyes soften. He whispers "one day" and drops his hand.

I have no idea what he means, but I don't have time to think about it because the bell rings signaling the end of lunch. Edward takes my trash and stands from his seat and waits on me to follow him. He walks me to my next class and says "I'll see you tomorrow morning to pick you up, okay?"

I nod and watch him walk away to his next class.

The rest of my day passes by uneventfully. I finish school, I go home, I cook dinner, I clean the house, and I go to bed. This is my routine for the rest of the week until Friday, the night of the big game against Wilford. I woke in a really good mood. I was excited about Edward's game tonight and I think Phil notices my change in demeanor.

"Why the fuck are you smiling? You got something going on?" Phil grabs me by my elbow and yanks me toward him.

I crumble beneath him in fear. God no. Why is this happening now? Edward is supposed to be here in a few minutes. I can't let him see this.

"I asked you a fucking question, bitch. Answer me."

I shake my head no reverently. My eyes are cast down so not to anger him. He doesn't seem satisfied by my answer. He grips my elbow harder and in the other hand he forcefully grabs my chin and jerks me up towards his face.

"Answer me, bitch." He spits all over my face and I start to shake from fear. Phil's hand is gripping my elbow so hard I'm scared it might snap.

I hear a car pull up in the driveway the same time Phil does. He relases his hold on my chin but on my elbow. He yanks me forward with him to the window. My elbow jerks in protests. I hear a pop.

"It's that stupid boy again." Phil growls out and then looks back to me. "He may have saved you this time, but don't think there will not be repercussions from this later." He lets go of my throbbing elbow and pushes me roughly towards the door. I stumble and fall and hit my head on the countertop on the way down.

My whole world is black for a few seconds and then I hear Phil and Renee's laughter as I come to.

"Get up you stupid girl, before that boy gets tired of waiting on you, bitch." Renee gets out in between fits of laughter.

I slowly get up, still dizzy from falling, and I clumsily make my way to the door. I get out of the house, barely, before Edward is right there in front of me. I start to fall again, but Edward catches me this time.

"Bella! Bella, what's wrong? Can you hear me? Bella?"

I slowly look up at him and shake my head yes.

"Come on, let's get you in the car." I nod and follow him to the passenger side. He opens the door for me and I somehow manage to crawl inside. He bends down to my eye level and asks again, "What happened?"

I shake my head.

He doesn't buy it. "Don't lie to me, Bella. Please. You can tell me anything, you know." He pleads with me. I want nothing more than to just cry my eyes out and tell him everything. I want to tell him how shitty my foster parents are. I want to tell him how much my head hurts and my elbow hurts. I want to cry so badly, but I won't. I won't let him see me like that. I haven't cried in years and I will definitely not start crying now, in front of the boy I call my friend. He doenst need to be bothered with my burdens. He won't care. I don't want him to look at me differently or act differently towards me. I just want him to stay my Edward.

"Bella?" He asks one more time.

I mouth the words, I'm fine to him, but I know he still doesn't believe me. Yet, he sighs and goes over to the driver's side of the car and drives us to school.

When we get to the school, we wordlessly get out and walk to the library. I can't seem to focus on anything and I can't stay upright. It is not until we get to inside the building, about to walk up the steps to the library when my whole world goes black again.

A/N: So, what do ya'll think? Was it worth the wait? Next chapter should be up next week. I am almost done with it. Sorry this on is a little short, I just wanted to get it up as soon as I could for you guys. What do you think is wrong with Bella? What do you think is going through Edward's head? Let me know with a review