So here we go, daily posts from here on out, last chapter will post on Christmas Eve.

Chapter 6

I'm outside hating that I'm living here in the unit home. I sigh as a car pulls up and out walks Renee with a bundle hugging her. All the kids all run to meet the new curtain climber, but I just stayed where I was. I'm twelve and have been in care now for four years. I've seen this many times before.

It's a few hours later when we get called in for lunch. I meet this kid that looks closer to two than the four she's supposed to be. What the hell is Renee thinking having this small kid in with these monsters? Not that kids in care are monsters, but some only know how to hurt others. I should know, I've been hurt by some of them. This little bit is going to be eaten alive.

The weeks pass and I find the girl—Isabella—odd. She doesn't speak or cry and has been picked on by the older kids. Some have even taken her sweets and cakes, but she doesn't even bat an eye. She's even quieter today, I know she had to spent time with her mom yesterday, maybe she misses her. I know I miss my mom, even if she was not always there for me.

I walk outside the unit grounds hearing crying. It doesn't take me long to find Isabella in a small ball.

"Hey," I say softly not liking the fact she's crying. "What's wrong?"

She moves back from me dropping her head.

"My name is Edward. I'm twelve and I hate this place. I hate their healthy food. I like burgers and cheese and candy. I hate school, too, but I'm not stupid or anything. I play football – well I do when they remember to take me. What else ... oh, when I am older I want to build my own houses."

She looks at me frowning.

"I like to draw and build stuff, so I thought I could draw houses for people and then help build them."

"I want to work in a toy shop."

I grin at her. "Yeah?"

"Yes, it looks like fun, and I don't have any toys, and I'm not allowed to play with my big brother's stuff."

"You have a big brother?"

"Yes," she says sadly.

"Do you miss him?"

"No, he's mean; he scares me."

I swallow as I look at her, but quickly keep talking to her. After a bit I notice her arm looks swollen and red.

"What happened?" I ask her as I gently take her arm in my hands. I know now I want to beat up whoever hurt her.

"Don't tell, Mom said I couldn't come back if I told."

"Your mom did this?"

She shakes her head and I close my eyes.

"Your brother?"

This time she nods.

"How old is he?"

"Sixteen."

I take a deep breath. "Come on," I say and she shakes her head beginning to cry again.

"Isabella, it looks bad, they need to check it out."

"I'll be good, I swear, please don't tell."

I sigh picking her up knowing she won't come willingly. As I walk with her, I start talking to her again knowing I have to take my mind off how light she is. "So, little bit."

She looks at me strangely.

"You need a nickname if we're going be friends."

"We are friends?"

I smile and she smiles back at me. "Yeah, and I did tell you all about me, that's how people make friends."

"And then they give each other a nickname?"

I nod at her.

"Oh, what should I call you ... what about ED?"

"Yeah, that sounds good."

I'm almost at the house when I see Kate heading for the main door.

"Kate," I yell, and she looks at me, then at little bit who tries hard to hide herself inside of my jacket. "She hurt her arm, it looks bad."

Kate nods and goes to take little bit making her cry again as she grips onto me. After few minutes Kate stops deciding just to look at her arm.

"It looks broken?" Kate says as she looks at me.

I mouth, 'her brother,' and Kate sighs and nods.

In the end I had to go with little bit to the hospital, because she wouldn't let me go. After that, I started to look out for her more. We became friends even with the eight-year gap in our ages. I found that she was smart and seemed to like the same things I did. I hate that I had to leave her a year and a half later, but I also wanted to go home.

Then I did a shitty thing and didn't go back, like I promised. I did ask Renee if she was okay, every time she made a home visit. Renee told that little bit had been adopted just a year after I left. I was sad, but happy that she had a new family.

I shake my head, unsure why I never remembered her. I look down at the table seeing that the photos are no longer there.

"Hey wait," I hear Bella yell.

I move back into the living room seeing that it's now morning and the front door is open. I run outside and see the garbage men are picking up the trash bags. Bella's trying to pull some of the bags back.

"Hey lady, we've got a job to do," the man says pulling them back from her.

"I know but some photos have gotten mixed in on accident. They're all I have left, please?"

The two guys shake their heads and continue throwing the bags into the truck. As they drive off Bella falls to her knees on the side of the road.

"Bella," I say softly, but she just sobs clutching her heart. "Little Bit," I say and she looks at me.

"Don't ever call me that again!" Bella yells at me and gives me a cold stare. "Once your life is sorted and back to normal, you'll get your wish about me, because I'm staying away from you. Until then I'll only speak with you if I have to."

Before I can say anything Bella jumps up and walks back into the house and slams the door. I slowly follow her and go to tell her again how sorry I am. My words stop dead in my throat when I see the expression of a shattered soul before me.

Bella blocks me out the rest of the morning. After dropping Morgan at school, she starts to question people around town. True to her word she doesn't speak to me, she doesn't even look my way.

"Bella," I turn seeing a smiling Jessica, "I heard you lost your job. I'm really sorry about that, but anyway Mike wanted to know if you're up for a date with him. I'll watch the kid you're looking after if you need a night out. I mean, Mike likes you and he asked me to ask, so you want to go?"

"No, I'm sorry, not tonight," Bella says softly.

"Come on, Bella, you're a hot looking girl."

Bella rolls her eyes at Jessica.

"You are, and you know the stuff that Jacob says is shit. He only calls you nasty names and picks at you, because you don't like him."

"It's not just him, Jess."

"I know James wasn't happy when I told him you said to stay away from him. I think he's got the hots for you, too."

"Believe me, that's not what it is."

"Why don't you see yourself as the pretty woman you are? I mean, apart from Jacob and James, no one else says anything bad about you. Oh, wait, does this have anything to do with Edward? If it does, you know it's not just you. I mean he doesn't look at any girl. I know he seems to be a little hard on you, but I'm sure that's just because you're very friendly and he's more to himself."

I look to the ground just hearing that other people could pick up on my hatefulness to Bella seems to hurt.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with him." Bella sighs rubbing her head. "Thank you, tell Mike I will go on a date with him, but right now I have a lot on my plate. As soon as I'm done, I'll give him a chance."

I frown at Bella. I'm not sure why, but I hate the fact she's going to give Mike a shot. She could do so much better.

"That's great, I'll let him know," Jessica says before she walks off and Bella starts to walk again.

"You just said that right, you're not really planning to go on a date with Mike, right?"

Bella doesn't say a word to me, and I feel like I'm as invisible to her as I am to everyone else. My heart sinks even more at the thought that there may come a time where she can't see or hear me.

The days go past with Bella talking to just about everyone in town, but no matter what I say she doesn't say a word back to me. I hate her silent treatment more than I ever thought I would.

"Hey, Bella," Morgan says sadly as she comes off the bus.

"What's wrong, honey?"

"It's been almost two weeks and he's still not back."

Bella sighs. "I know – but I will find him, I swear I will," Bella says looking to me for the first time since the day the pictures went off to the dump.

I walk away sitting in Bella's room. I let Bella spend time with Morgan without me watching over her.

"How do I fix this with Bella?" I ask looking up to the ceiling. "No answer, can't even give me a hint?" I close my eyes taking deep breaths.

"Oh, it took you long enough!" I hear a hyper voice state. I open my eyes seeing Alice standing in front of me. I look around seeing I'm back in her shop.

"What the hell?"

"Look, Edward, this will be easier if you listen. I can't hear you very well, only feel you. I know you and Bella are both in pain. I can tell that you have screwed up royally. You and Bella were destined to be together. I'm not sure, but I think you did know who she was. I know your life was spinning out of control. I think you pushed her away. She was the one person that you knew could help make you feel better, and that scared you. Then Morgan happened, so you closed yourself off to everyone. When she tried to befriend you, your walls kept her out and she was hurt by it. You can still repair this, Edward, but you have to work it out for yourself. Do you want her in your life or do you just need her help to fix your problem? If you want her in your life, you'll know what to do instinctively, it's inside of you. If not and you only want her help, then you best give her the space she needs. I will say where you both could find another and be happy, it's not likely. Anything else would pale in comparison to what you could have if you're with her."

"How do I get home?" I say looking around.

"Just think of Bella or Morgan and you should go back there."

I close my eyes and Bella comes to mind right away.

"Stop!" Bella screams.

My eyes spring open and I see Bella crying and shaking in bed. I move to her lying in bed and pulling her to me.

"Hush now, little bit, I've got you." I feel my own sob wanting to come out. I cannot believe how complete I feel with her in my arms. That electric hum feeling's back and it courses and tingles around me.

"Edward?"

I look down seeing Bella's eyes are open and she's looking at me. All I can see in her eyes is the hurt my actions and words have put there.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I swear I didn't know. If I did I would've been your friend like I promised. It just ..." I stop talking as my voice starts to wobble.

"You were hurt in care and it made your life worse, but it saved mine. That little boy Ed, he saved me. He made me feel happy for the first time in my short life. I know and I get it, when he left that day, he sort of died. That caring boy—he's not here anymore—and I'll never be able to thank him."

"I'll make it up to you, I'll show you he's still here somewhere deep inside of me, he is here." I point to my chest. "Please, don't give up on me, everyone gives up on me. You can't, please."

"Morgan will never give up on you, and after I help fix this you won't need me."

I shake my head at her. "I think I've always needed you. I think that's one of the reasons I came back to the grill all the time. There are loads of cheaper places with just as good of food."

Bella shakes her head and turns away from me.

"I promise you that I will prove to you that your friend is still here."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," Bella says softly.

A/N: So he remembers a lot more. Bella is not just bending to his will. A lot have asked about James or Jake raping Bella, and that is a no. So what are your thoughts? See you all tomorrow with another update.