A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed/favorited/followed! All mistakes are mine. I hope ya'll like this chapter! Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

"You've got troubles and I got 'em too. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. We stick together and we see it through cause you've got a friend in me." – Toy Story

Chapter 15

BPOV

December 2008

I walk in to my house, not knowing what to expect. I had no idea how Phil and Renee were going to react to the gifts that I got from Edward. I walk in through the kitchen slowly, looking for any sign that Phil is downstairs, but I don't find any. I continue to head to the stairs, still wary that Phil might jump out at me somewhere, but he never does. I make it all the way to my room without seeing Phil or Renee. That's weird. I don't question it, though.

I take all of my gifts to my closet. I'll hide them tonight and then sort through them while Phil and Renee are gone for sure. I don't want to risk them seeing it. As soon as I hide them, I collapse on my bed. I'm utterly exhausted. Sleep finds me in less than five minutes.

I wake to find Phil standing over me. Oh, God. What did I do wrong?

"Wake up, girl." He spits out.

I crawl out of bed as quickly as I can without falling. Phil grabs me by my hair and basically drags me down the stairs and to the kitchen. He brings me to the kitchen where Renee is waiting. There are suitcases in the table and I am left entirely confused as to what is going on here.

Renee smiles sickly at me. "Good, you're awake. Phil and I are leaving for Christmas break. We won't be home until the afternoon on the day you go back to school. While we are gone, I expect you to clean the house. I put $20 on the table for you to get some food." I gasp. They're leaving already and they are actually giving me money for food. I mentally smile to myself. This break might not be too bad after all.

Renee walks out the door with her suitcase in tote, but Phil stays behind for a moment. He looks at me, a devilish glint in his eyes. "I saw you in the car with that boy last night. You're fucking him, aren't you, you little slut?"

Oh no. I shake my head no fervently. I thought for sure no one saw me. I guess I was wrong. Now, I can see in his eyes that I'm going to be punished. I thought the hitting was over with. I guess I was wrong.

"Are you calling me a liar? I know what I fucking saw." He growls out.

Before I know it, I am on the ground. Phil is stalking over towards me, his heavy boots making thud sounds with every step. He doesn't give me a chance to respond before he stomps on my chest with his boot. Pain radiates through me as I feel something crack. What is it with Phil and breaking my ribs? I whimper in pain as Phil grins wickedly. "This house better be fucking spotless by the time we get back." And with that, he leaves. I hear the engine start up and go away as they leave the drive way, but I stay on the ground.

All I can think about is the pain radiating throughout my ribs. I try to take slow deep breaths, but that only makes it hurt worse. At some point during the day, I must have blacked out from the pain. The last thing I remember is seeing sun shining at its brightest. Then I woke when it was starting to set.

I try to get up, and eventually, I manage to drag myself off the floor. I slowly walk up the stairs and to my room. My t-shirt is too tight on me. I can feel the pressure it is putting on my ribs. I look in my closet for some more clothes and smile when I see the bag of gifts Edward gave me for Christmas. I know exactly what I can wear.

I shimmy out of my jeans and t-shirt. I grab a new pair of panties and bra, and grab Edward's old football jersey that he gave me. Clothes in hand, I head to the bathroom to take a long, hot shower. I haven't been able to shower in almost a week because of Phil and Renee, but now that they are going to be gone for a month, I can take a shower whenever I can.

I set the temperature for as high as it will go and step under the spray. The hot water instantly relaxes my body. The pain from my ribs dissipates. I haven't felt this good physically in a long time. I stay in the shower for at least an hour.

When I get out, I carefully put on my new clothes. The bra feels weird. I've never worn a bra before, and I'm kind of glad that I haven't until now. They're really uncomfortable. I huff in frustration, but keep the bra on. I need to get used to it now if I want to be able to wear it to school from now on.

I go back to my room and lie in bed. Even though I have literally done nothing today, I feel drained. I pass out as soon as my head hits the pillow.

I wake up the next morning in agonizing pain. My ribs are on fire. I slowly make my way out of the bed and take a shower. The water feels good on my sore ribs.

When I look in the mirror, I see black covering the left side if my rib cage. I try not to think about it. Why does all the bad stuff happen to me? What did I do to deserve all this punishment? What did I do to deserve the life that I have? Tears pool in my eyes, but I won't let them fall. I'm not going to be weak. I push the bad thoughts out of my head.

I head downstairs to find something, anything to eat. I don't find a single thing. Knowing that I need to eat in order to help in the healing of my ribs, I grab the $20 Renee left me and start the five mile walk to the grocery store. It's freezing outside. I am instantly grateful for the jacket that Edward got me for Christmas. It keeps me warm against the cold as I trudge my way to the store. My ribs groan in protest with every move I make. I force the pain out of my mind, knowing that thinking about it will only make it worse.

As I walk, I mentally think of what I can get with my mere $20. I have to get stuff that will last me the month that we are off for break. I decide on getting a loaf of bread, peanut butter, grape jelly, a gallon of milk, and maybe a small tub of ice cream. I want to spoil myself just a little just because it is Christmas time.

When I get to the store, I grab a cart and hastily make my way around the store, getting the food I need. When I am trying to find the jelly, I come across the medicine isle. I completely forgot that there was over – the – counter pain medicine that I can get. I look around the isle, trying to find something cheap yet effective. I spy a small bottle of Tylenol for only $4.49. My eyes go wide as I quickly grab the bottle and set it in my cart. Maybe I can finally have some relief from the pain.

I quickly find the jelly and head to the front of the store. I just want to go home and take some of this medicine and be able to breathe without feeling like I'm dying.

As soon as I get to the check-out line, I see it. I immediately thought of Edward. The bracelet was the same color as Edward's emerald green eyes. When I picked it up, I noticed that the bracelet was more of a rope. It looked like something a little kid had made, but I loved it. I hoped Edward does too. I look at the price. It's $4.99. I frown. If I get him this, I will have to get rid of some of the food I bought. I look at my shopping cart, trying to decide what to throw out. I spy the small container of Tylenol and decided that I would rather eat than be pain free. I grab the Tylenol bottle and place it on a shelf near the check-out lines.

Items ready to go, I pay for them and start my walk back to my house. It had started raining when I was in the store, so I'm not outside three minutes before I am drenched to the bone. About half way to my house, I hear a car pull up beside me.

"Belly-bear! What are you doing out here in the rain?"

It's Emmett! I turn to face him. I shrug my shoulders and start to walk back to my house again.

"Hey wait up! Don't you want a ride? Your food is going to be ruined if you walk all the way home, you know."

I turn back around. I bite my lip in contemplation. Should I go with him?

"Come on Bell-bear, let me take you home."

I nod my head. I walk back over to him. He helps me get inside his jeep. I point him in the direction of my house.

Emmett talks about everything on our way to my house. It's like he doesn't like the silence. I find myself becoming more and more comfortable around him. He's such a nice guy, despite his grizzly bear exterior.

When we get to my house, I mouth the words thank you to him before getting out. Surprisingly, he gets out with me.

"Here, let me help you with your food."

I smile and let him take my bags. My ribs are thankful for the rest. Unconsciously, I begin to rub them up and down with my hand.

"Hey, did you do something to your ribs, Bella?"

I instantly stop rubbing. I shake my head and open the door. He carries my bags inside and sets them on the kitchen table.

"So what are you doing here all by yourself?"

I shrug.

"Are you not lonely?"

I grab the piece of paper on the countertop and write. Yeah, I guess.

"Anything I can do to help?"

I smile at his kindness. Don't worry about me, Emmett. I'm not important.

His eyes narrow at me. "I'll be over tomorrow at noon." And with that, he walks out the door.

Emmett comes by at 12:00 on the dot the next day and the next and the next. He says no one should feel lonely on the holidays. Every time I see him, I feel something break inside of me. I feel like something inside of me is turning. I want to tell someone about what is happening at home, but I don't want to burden them with all of my drama. Each day that Emmett comes over, he treats me like I'm someone important. As if I am important to him. Every day, I can feel my resolve not to tell him break away piece by piece. It keeps building inside of me and with every passing day, it's getting ready to explode.

On Christmas Day, he comes over a little later. Honestly, I didn't expect him to come over at all, but he continues to surprise me.

"Hey Bella, where are your parents?"

I grab the notebook paper that I've been writing on the past couple of days. They always go on vacation during Christmas time.

"And they just left you here?"

I snort. Yep.

"You don't seem to upset about it." He points out.

It's just better when they are gone.

"What do you mean?"

Never mind.

"No, tell me."

Emmett, just drop it, okay?

"No, tell me!" I can hear the frustration in his voice.

Irritated, I try to get up from the couch we were sitting on. I barely get half way up before my ribs start to hurt. It feels like someone is stabbing me with a knife over and over again.

"Bella! Are you okay?"

I double over in pain. This isn't good.

"Please tell me what's wrong with you! I know you did something to your ribs. You're always holding them like you're trying to take the pain away. Bella, please talk to me."

I shake my head no.

"I'm going to call Edward. You'll talk to him right?"

I shake my head. He sighs. "Bella, you need to tell someone about what is wrong with you. I can see how one side of your ribs is bigger than the other. I can see the swelling from here. You keep holding your arm to your torso like you're trying to keep yourself from falling apart. You need to talk to someone."

I turn away from him. He's right. I know he's right. I can't afford to tell someone, though. No one would believe me if I told them that Phil, the chief of Forks beats his foster child. Even if they did, they would treat me differently. They would look at me with pity. I would rather have people look at me with hate and disgust rather than pity.

"Did someone do this to you? Was it Edward?" I whip my head around so fast that I get dizzy from it. I shake my head no as quickly as I can. Edward would never do something like this to somebody.

"Okay, so it wasn't Edward. Was it your mom?" I slightly shake my head.

"Your dad?" I don't respond.

"Does he, you know, hit you and stuff?" He reluctantly asks. I look at him sadly. "Is that why you like that they aren't around?" Once again, I don't answer. "Bella I –"

"Don't." I cut him off. "I don't want people to pity me. I deserve everything I get."

I can see the anger build in his eyes. "What the hell do you mean you deserve it? Nobody deserves to be abused!"

Something inside of me snaps. I feel angry all of a sudden. I have the urge to lash out at him. He doesn't know anything. He doesn't know how shitty my life is. He doesn't know how Phil likes to hit me. He doesn't know how I'm a good for nothing waste of space. I don't know what comes over me. I just really want to yell. So that's what happens. "I do!" I scream at him. "Don't you get it, Emmett? I am a waste of space! I can't do anything right! I'm stupid. I'm ugly. I'm not good enough for anyone. I don't have any value. I am completely worthless. No one cares about me and they shouldn't! No one loves or cares me because I don't deserve to be loved! I am a worthless, piece of shit, terrible excuse for a human being! I don't deserve to be wanted or cherished. I don't deserve to be loved or desired. I don't even deserve the air I breathe. I am nothing." I yell at him. He doesn't get it. He doesn't understand. No one does. I start to hyperventilate.

Emmett walks over to me and holds out his arms. "Don't touch me!"

"Shh. Hey I'm not going to hurt you, alright? I just don't want you to pass out on me. Match my breathing, okay? In. Out. In. out. In. Out. In. Out." I focus on the rising and falling of his chest. Soon, I am breathing normally again. He slowly walks over and puts his arms around me. I let him, wanting the comfort. An awkward silence follows my break down. Eventually, Emmett breaks the silence. "Bella, you can't honestly believe all that about yourself, do you?"

"It's the truth, Emmett." "No it's not! You are none of those things. You are worth something. You are cared for. You are loveable. You are beautiful and funny and you have an amazing right hook when you need it." He jokes, trying to lighten the mood.

"No, I'm not." I whisper.

He groans in frustration. "How can I say it in a way that you will believe it? You. Are. Not. Worthless. You have made such an impact on people's lives and you don't even know it. You are amazing and caring and wonderful and anyone would be lucky to have you in their lives."

I snort. "If that's true, then why do people avoid me like the fucking plague? Why do people call me the Freak? Why hasn't anyone in my entire life made me feel good about myself? Why do people hate me?" I dry sob into Emmett's chest.

"Bella you are one of the most selfless people I have ever met. If people don't like you, then that's their loss. They don't deserve you. They don't deserve to get to know you."

I ignore him. "Do you know what it is like to be tortured by your own mind?" He doesn't say anything. "Do you know what it is like to wake up in the morning and hate every inch of yourself? Do you know what it is like to live in fear of your own parents? You never know when they will lash out and you be the one that they take their anger out on."

"Bella stop."

I don't listen to him. "I'm a mistake. No one likes me or cares about me. No one wants to be around me. Do you know how that feels, Emmett?"

He sighs. "No, I don't and you shouldn't either. Listen to me, okay?" He pauses and forces my gaze to meet his. "None of that stuff is true. You –"

"But it is."

"Please let me finish, Bella" I nod. "As I was saying, you have people who care about you, who love you, who want you."

I scoff. "I do? Like who? Name me one person on this planet who actually gives a damn abo –"

"Edward." He interrupts me. I freeze at the mention of Edward. "Rosalie. Seth…" He pauses for a second then continues. "Me."

I look away from him. I don't want to meet his gaze anymore. I don't want him to see me this vulnerable. I have never told anyone the things I've just told Emmett. I don't want to know what he thinks of me.

"Hey, don't do that. Look at me, Bella. You've got to believe me. We all care about you. You are our friend. We care about our friends. We would do anything for our friends. We are here for our friends. You can depend on us because we are your friends. Bella please."

I look back to him. "How do I know you're not lying to me? How do I know that this isn't just some sick practical joke?"

He sighs in frustration. "Because you have to trust your friends!"

"Trust is earned. I can't just magically give it to you just because you tell me we're friends." I say coldly.

He doesn't say anything else. We just sit on the couch in my living room for almost an hour before he speaks again. "My dad was a drunk. He would come home from work every day reeking of alcohol. He wasn't much of a violent drunk, but still not a good drunk. He liked to say mean things to my mom. He didn't like me. He hardly knew that I existed, so I never saw the bad end of his drunken fits.

"My mom was a drug addict. She didn't work. She lost her job to her addiction. She was a nurse, but she got caught stealing pills to get high off of one day. She spent all of her time getting high so she wouldn't have to deal with life. She never cooked or cleaned. I remember loving school because it would mean I got to eat something that I didn't have to cook myself.

"One day, my dad came home more drunk than usual. Everything made him mad. He kept saying something about money. My mom was in their room taking a shower when he came home. He went in there and yanked her out of the shower. He brought her to their bed and beat her. He kept saying 'Where's all my damn money?' She didn't understand what he was talking about because she was so high. He finally just beat her until she became unconscious. I was hiding in the doorway when it happened." He paused, tears forming in his eyes. "My dad went to his closet and pulled out a gun. He shot my mom in the head. I screamed at the noise. I didn't even register that he killed her until later. He heard me scream and spoke to me. 'She hid my money from me. I had to get her back.' I didn't know what he was talking about; I was just a kid, you know?

"He kept looking back and forth between her body and me. Eventually, he brought the gun up to his head and shot himself. I stood there and watched both of my parents die in one night. I was only four years old. If it weren't for the neighbors, I don't think I would've moved from the door way. I was in shock. The neighbors had heard the gunshots and called the police before coming over on their own. They say me standing in the doorway where my two dead parents laid. They took me to the police station. I stayed there until my aunt came and picked me up. I've lived with them ever since."

He waits for my reaction. I just stare at him. "I've never told that story to anyone before. But I realized if I expect you to trust me, I need to trust you first."

"I'm so sorry, Emmett. I didn't realize –"

"You weren't supposed to. No one knew. It's my biggest secret and I am trusting you not to share with anyone, okay? I want you to realize that I am here for you. You can tell me anything. I will never judge you. I will never make fun of you about anything. You can trust me."

I believe him. I don't know why, but something in me is telling me to trust him. "He hits me."

"Who does?"

"My foster dad, Phil, he hits me and kicks me and throws me down the stairs. I don't – I don't know what I do wrong. He just –" I can't finish. I feel the tears burning the back of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I am not weak.

"Words cannot describe how sorry I am, Bella."

"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault."

"True, but school couldn't have helped either. For the past two years, you've been bullied and embarrassed and I never did anything to stop it. I knew it was wrong and yet, I never stood up for you until Edward came along. You never did anything wrong to anyone and yet you were always the butt of everyone's jokes. You were always the one that got picked on. Bella, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. You're here now, that's all that matters." I smile sadly at him.

Before he has a chance to respond, his phone goes off. "It's Edward. Do you want to talk to him?"

"Yeah." He hands me the phone. I answer it, but don't even get a chance to say hi before Edward starts talking.

"Emmett? What's wrong? Is Bella okay? Are you with her? Is she hurt? What happened?" He got out in one breath.

"Hi Edward. It's me." I whisper into the phone.

"Bella." The way he says my name sends butterflies in my stomach. "Are you okay? Did something happen?"

"No, I'm fine. I just wanted to talk to you."

"Are you okay, though? You sound upset." That's because I was.

"Yeah, I'm fine now. Emmett is here. I've just really missed you these past couple of days. It's been kind of hard."

"I know, Bella. It's been hard on me too." He sounds so sad. "You said Emmett was there too. Did you call him?"

"No, he just came over. Scared the hell out of me too." I give Emmett a pointed look.

"He did? I swear I'll kick his ass if you want me too."

"No, don't. He's been helping me. I'm actually really happy he came over. I don't know if I could have gotten this far into the break without him, Edward."

"I'm happy for you. I hope you had a good Christmas."

"I actually did, because of you," I pause, "and Emmett." Emmett laughs behind me. I smile at him in return.

We talk for hours. Emmett just sits on the couch beside me, watching me patiently. When we finally hang up, Emmett speaks again. "We have to tell someone about your foster dad, Bella."

I snort. "No one would believe me. It's my word against his. He's the chief of Forks! Everyone thinks he's a fucking saint!"

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't try."

"Yes it does. You don't know what he would do to me if I started talking."

He sighs in defeat. "I guess I should go home now."

"Okay. Thanks for everything, Em."

"Don't forget what I said. Friends are here for you. I will listen to anything you have to say to me, Bella."

"I know." I say and I actually mean it.

"Good." He walks to the door.

"Thank you for talking to me today. It meant a lot knowing that you'd share that part of yourself with me."

I smile but don't say anything back.

"Merry Christmas, Bella."

I smile. "Merry Christmas, Emmett."

Emmett comes by the next few days so I can talk to Edward. I briefly tell Edward that I hurt my ribs, but that it is nothing serious. Edward doesn't believe me, but he doesn't linger on it either.

Emmett has literally become my saving grace on Christmas break. He stays for hours at a time everyday just so I won't be all alone. I don't think he realizes how much his presence means to me.

The week before school comes and Emmett says that he has to go to Seattle for the rest of the week with his family. This is the first time in two weeks that I won't see him every day. I feel the loss of his presence instantly. I have come to seriously rely on Emmett as a friend.

January 2009

I didn't get to see Edward until the first day of school. Anxiety builds in me with every moment getting closer and closer to the day when I see him again.

I am anxiously waiting on him to pull into my driveway. It's only 6:15, but I am so excited to see him. I'm wearing some of the new clothes that he got me for Christmas – a pair of dark wash jeans, a midnight blue blouse, and the new shoes he got me. It's not cold enough for the giant fluffy jacket that he got me, so I am wearing his jacket that he gave the first time we went to the meadow. I hope he doesn't mind that I am wearing it.

In the jacket pocket, I have the little green bracelet that I got him at the store. I hope he likes it. He gave me so much for Christmas. I just want to show him how much it meant to me. Words cannot describe how I felt that day, so I want to make Edward realize this.

Edward pulls into my driveway and I rush out the door to meet him. The pain in my ribs long forgotten. He slowly gets out of his car and I pause before I hug him. He has a boot on his foot.

Instead of hugging him like I wanted to, I stop a few feet from him. "What happened?"

He smirks at me and says, "What, I don't get a hug before the interrogation?"

I can't help but smile back. I walk over to him and carefully place my arms around his neck and pull him close to me. He places his hands on the small of my back and pulls me just as tight. I slightly flinch at the sudden pressure against my ribs, but Edward doesn't say anything. "I didn't know if you wanted me to or not because of your foot and all." I smile sheepishly at him.

"Don't worry about it. It's nothing."

"What happened? You didn't tell me you got hurt."

He sighs. "I honestly thought I'd be out of it by now. I slipped and fell on the cruise ship. My ankle went the opposite way my body did. I didn't rest it properly and I made it worse. It's just a stress fracture. I'm fine. I'll be out of this thing in no time." He smiles at me reassuringly.

I frown. I don't like seeing him hurt.

"Let's go to school and talk."

I nod my head and walk back to the passenger side of the car. We drive in a comfortable silence to the school. When we get there, Edward parks in his usual spot. He tells me everything about his vacation while I tell him everything that happened to me while he was gone. I've missed feeling important to someone over the holidays. I haven't seen Em in about a week and I haven't seen Edward in three. Part of me forgot what how amazing this feeling is.

"So, what did you and Emmett do over the holidays?"

"Nothing. We just talked really." I smile to myself at the thought of Emmett.

"You talked to him? Like actually talked to him?" Edward is grinning from ear to ear and I can't help but smile too.

"Yes, Edward talked. I trust him." I shrug.

"Good. I want you to be able to trust people. I want you be able to trust me." I don't think I am supposed to hear the last part, but I answer him anyways.

"I do trust you, Edward. I trust you implicitly."

He smiles and grabs my hand. He lightly presses a kiss to the back of my hand.

The bell rings, signaling the start of the school day. Edward and I both head to Mrs. Cope's office for our new schedules. Today is the first day of the new semester. I got lucky last semester and had Edward in two of my classes, but can I be that lucky again this semester?

We walk into Mrs. Cope's office along with the rest of the student population. We get our schedules and compare. I can't believe my eyes when I look at our schedules. We have every class except one together. I have AP English when Edward has Gym. I look to him in amazement. She grins at me and pulls me towards our first class.

"Did you do this?" I ask him quietly.

"I may have bribed Mrs. Cope over the break. I couldn't get them all changed. I didn't think you would want to take Gym and I, sure as hell, did not want to take AP English." He smiles.

I chuckle. I look up at him, but my gaze gets stuck on his lips. He hasn't kissed me since he got back yet. I really want him to.

Edward seems to get the idea and slowly leans down to brush his lips across mine. I smile when we pull apart. He chuckles at my reaction. "We better get to class before it starts." I nod and let him lead me to out class.

The day goes by pretty smoothly. No one says anything to me. I see Emmett at lunch. He gives me an apologetic smile and smile sadly back at him. He didn't ask to know about all my shit, but now he does. I just hope he keeps his promise and doesn't tell anyone.

I spent almost the entire day by Edward's side and it was amazing. He was always touching me in some way. Whether he was holding my hand or merely resting his leg against mine, Edward and I were always connected to each other in some way.

When the last class of the day comes around, I feel his absence. It's my AP English class, the only class that I don't have with Edward.

Walking in to this class alone, I immediately head to the back of the class. I don't want to be seen. I don't want to be noticed. Without Edward, I really don't want to have people around me. I walk in and keep my head down, hoping no one will notice me. I sit in the back and wait for the teacher to come in.

A few minutes after the bell rings, I see a man I don't recognize walk in. He is tall and looks to be in his forties. He is wearing a plaid shirt and jeans and he has one of those mustaches that makes you think of Hitler. I giggle to myself at the thought.

"Alright class. I am your new English teacher. My name is Charles Masen. I know you're going to want to pronounce it Mason, but it's Masen. You all can call me Charlie." He grins and writes his name on the board.

"Now, I don't know how your last English teacher did things around here and I don't care. Everyone gets a new slate. I don't care who you are or what you've done, or not done, everyone gets a new semester to make things right starting right now."

Everyone cheers at the new teacher's speech.

"Alright, alright, settle down. All we are going to do today is answer this simple question. Write me a letter in which you tell me what you would like to learn in this English course. If you don't want to learn anything, then tell me that. If you want to learn about William Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson, then tell me that. I am not here to judge you. I realize that English is not everyone's favorite subject, so I want to make this easy on everyone. I hate reading your essays just as much as you hate writing them. I do not care about the length of the letter, just make sure you get all you need to say out. Once you finish your letter, turn it in and then you can do whatever you want. Start now."

I immediately know what I want to write.

Dear Mr. Masen,

I would like to learn about anything you can teach me. I love to read. I love to write. I love to learn. I don't get to read or write much at home, so I take full advantage of it at school. I love Shakespeare and Dickinson. I love almost everything I read. I would like to read Wuthering Heights and be able to do something with it. It has been my favorite book since 7th grade. I honestly just want to learn anything and everything you can teach me, no matter the subject matter.

I really hope you mean what you said about the clean slate thing. The last English teacher here, Mr. Birdy, hated me. I never knew why. I always turned my work in on time. I always gave him quality work, yet he still failed me. I really need a good grade in this class.

Bella Swan

When the bell rings, I wait for everyone else to leave so I can take my time walking out the door. I don't want someone to "accidentally" hit me in my ribs. I turn my paper into Mr. Masen's desk, I see him staring at me curiously. He's not judging me with his eyes, he is merely observing me. I smile at him and continue to the door.

When I finally get to the door, I find Edward waiting on me outside.

"So how did your last class go?"

I smile. "I loved it."

He smiles back. "I'm so happy for you." He pecks my cheek and grabs my hand to lead me to his car. "I'll just run you home real quick before practice starts so you don't have to ride the bus with your ribs."

I smile sadly at him. "Thank you." I whisper.

We walk to his car hand in hand. He walks me to the passenger side door and helps me up. My ribs haven't really bothered me much during the day, but now that I am thinking about them, they hurt like hell.

Edward seems to notice my discomfort. "You okay there, Bella?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I gasp out. I bring my arm around my ribs protectively. Edward doesn't move from my side of his car. I put on my big girl panties and tell him, "Really, Edward, I'm fine."

He gives me a knowing look, but shuts my door anyway. I pull Edward's jacket tighter around me. I reach inside the pockets to warm my hands when I feel something inside them. I pull it out. Edward's bracelet! I forgot to give it to him earlier. The pain in my ribs all but forgotten as I excitedly wait for Edward to get in his car.

When he finally gets in, he immediately notices the change in my demeanor. "What?" He asks me, curiously.

"I have a Christmas present for you." I say, my grin getting bigger with each word.

"You know I don't expect you to get me something, Bella."

"I know, but when I saw this, I thought of you." I smile sheepishly at him.

He smiles at me. "Okay, what is it?"

"Close your eyes." He obeys me instantly. I put the bracelet in his awaiting hand. "Okay, you can open them!" I say excitedly.

He looks down at his hands and eyes the bracelet. He picks it up and examines it for a moment. Suddenly worried that he might not like it, I add, "I just want to be able to make you feel a fraction of what I felt the other day in the meadow. I've never felt something like that before and I loved it. I want you to feel the same." His face breaks out in a smile when I finish.

"I absolutely love it Bella. No one has ever given me a gift as great or meaningful as this. You want to help me put it on?"

I smile like a Cheshire cat. "I'd love to." I help him fasten the bracelet and whisper to him, "Now, no matter where you go, you'll always have a part of me with you."

"I'll never take it off." He grabs my cheeks and presses his lips against mine. This kiss is different from our previous ones. It's more forceful, more passionate. It's like he is trying to put emotions behind the kiss. When he depends the kiss, a small fear runs through me. I've never done this before. What if I do something wrong?

I feel Edward pull back. He looks me in the eyes and says, "Whatever you're thinking about, don't. Just do what feels right." And with that, he kisses me once more. When he depends it this time, I don't hesitate in tangling my tongue with his. I've never felt like this before. It's so mesmerizing. He tastes amazing.

When he pulls back, I whimper in protest. He chuckles. "I need to get you home."

"Okay." He pulls all the way back and drives me home. He keeps his hand on my knee as he drives.

When we get to my house, I kiss him one more time and then get out of the car. I don't want to leave him, but I know he needs to practice. I wave at him as he leaves and slowly trudge my way in to my house.

A/N: Thoughts? Do ya'll love Emmett a little more now? How about Charlie? Did you expect that?