So here's another chapter! This one is rated M, so read with caution. It's nothing to extreme, but the next chapter will probably go a little more in depth.

Anywho. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I really like it even though it's shorter than I normally do.

Please enjoy this glimpse into Edward's back story!

Edward's mood swings seem to get worse as the next few weeks pass. When I seem him in the morning, I'm never quite sure what Edward I'm going to get. He's either happy to see me, angry at something I don't really understand, or just depressed.

Maybe it's progress though. I'm one of the only people he shows his emotions to. Everyone else still seems to think that he's the perfect Edward Cullen. When he sits with them at lunch, he still smiles at acts like everything is fine.

As I sit in lunch today, talking with Alice and Jasper, I realize how much it bothers me that he still sits with all of them at lunch. I understand that he has other friends besides me, but after Lauren was kind enough to provide me with some free milk at lunch two weeks ago, I kind of expected him to stick up for me.

But no. He still sits with them and smiles like everything is okay. But he and I both know that things aren't okay.

While Alice has continued to tell me more about herself since that night at my house, Edward has remained as cryptic as ever. He won't tell me anything or even explain what he meant after he dropped me off at my house.

"You should realize by now that it's the other way around. I'm only going to hurt you. I hurt everybody."

I understand that everyone has secrets, but this is just getting annoying.

Patience is not a virtue of mine. I can be patient if I try really hard, but half the time, I just don't feel like trying. And Edward…well, he's wearing on my last nerve.

He'll let little things slip once in a while to me, whether it's in Biology or at his house, but there isn't much to go off of. He's said something about a girl, Tanya, and her getting him into trouble.

What that means, I have no clue.

So I try to be patient.

"Bella?" Jasper's voice snaps me back to the present.

"Sorry, what?" I ask as I grab my bottle of water.

Jasper raises an eyebrow. "I asked if you were wanted to go to Newton's party tonight," he says.

I bite my lip. It's Friday and I think after the few weeks I've had, I have the right to go out and have a drink. And Lauren and Jessica tend to be better behaved at parties. They know I have the ability to call my father and shut the whole thing down.

I'd never actually do that, but they don't need to know that.

"I don't know," I say as I unscrew the lid on my water. "I don't know if I want to deal with a bunch of drunks tonight."

Alice smiles and grabs my hand. "Please, Bella. I really want to go, but it won't be any fun without you," she begs. "Please."

I think about it for a long moment, mainly because I think it's funny to see Alice bouncing in her seat, waiting for my answer. Finally, I giggle and nod.

"Why not?"

~O~

By the time I arrive at Newton's party, it's about ten. The party is clearly in full swing, judging by the music blaring from the windows and the red solo cups that are already strewn across the front lawn. Alice, Jasper, and I squish in through the door and I wonder why everyone is standing at the entrance.

That's when I see Mike Newton himself and Tyler Crowley chugging beer through a funnel.

Oh, the things that entertain the masses.

We scoot past everyone and manage to make it into the kitchen. I reach into the fridge and grab three sealed beers. I pass one to Jasper and one to Alice before I pop the top on my own bottle. I take a long swig and allow the alcohol to burn down my throat before I sigh.

That's when I notice Alice and Jasper holding hands.

I knew it was coming, but instead of commenting on it, I smile at Alice. Jasper, who is talking to some tool from our history class, doesn't notice.

She smiles back and I wiggle my eyebrows. She laughs, which catches Jasper's attention.

"What's so funny?" he asks, smiling down at Alice.

She grins and shakes her head. "Nothing, Jazz. Nothing whatsoever."

As they start to get into a deeper conversation, I begin to feel like a third wheel. I look around the room and decide to sneak out the back door and give the love birds their alone time. Thankfully, the party is too loud for them to notice when the door slams behind my back.

It's a cool night, but the sky is clear. I look up at the stars and start picking out constellations in my head.

I remember once, when I was little, my mom laid a blanket on the grass one warm night in the middle of summer. She called me outside and we lay down on the blanket and she taught me how to tell which constellations were which. My dad came out not long after and joined us. He kept making up fake constellations to make me laugh and my mom would giggle loudly and smack my dad playfully on the chest.

We were so happy then. I miss those days.

I'm distracted from my memories when the door behind me slams. I turn around quickly, startled, and see none other than Edward Cullen standing near the door with a huge smile on his face.

"Hello, Bella," he says. His voice sounds funny. I figure it's the alcohol.

"Hi, Edward. Are you having fun?" I ask politely.

He nods. "Yes I am. It doesn't look like you are though," he says with a laugh.

I shrug and turn back around. I glance back up at the stars. "I'm just star gazing. Partying isn't really my scene," I confess.

He laughs again and bounds over to my side. "That's because you're not doing it right!" he exclaims. "Come here," he says as he pulls me over to the patio table.

The flood lights come on with our sudden movement and, for the first time tonight, I can see his face clearly.

Edward's normally green eyes are almost completely black. His pupils are huge, taking out almost all of the green, leaving only a small sliver. The white part of his eyes looks bloodshot. I reach up and gently touch his forehead and notice how warm he feels. His body doesn't stop moving as he smiles at me, grabs my hand from his face and holds it between his.

"Edward," I begin. I can barely get the words out. "Are you high?"

In reply, he pulls a bag of white powder from his coat pocket.

So...there's that.

The next chapter will follow up on Edward's habits a lot more. It will NOT be that explicit, but if drug use makes you uncomfortable, I'll find a way to make it so you don't have to read that part.

Also, there will be more on Bella's mother in the upcoming chapters. Bella still has that whole "I need to fix everyone before I fix myself" thing going on. So Edward will be taken care of a little more before Bella will be.

But don't worry. I haven't forgotten her!

Review, please! I love reading them.

Oh, and Happy Easter! :)

Lots of love,

Emilia Elliot