This chapter has literally exhausted me. I hope you guys like where the story is progressing. This fic is probably going to be about 25 chapters at most, so we're halfway there.

Warning: There is a lot of talk of drug use in this chapter and a brief moment of someone actually ingesting a drug. It only lasts a quick moment though.

Anywho, enjoy the chapter and, as usual, review! :)

I watch as Edward dumps the cocaine on the table. He begins to put it into a straight line with his credit card before taking a dollar bill out of his pocket.

"Wanna go first?" he asks with an excited smile on his face.

I'm in shock and, for a long moment, I can do nothing besides stare at his excited face. He looks alive and ecstatic. I remember the day in the car when he was driving fast like a maniac, and how I thought he looked so happy. That is nothing compared to how he looks now.

His black eyes focus on mine. "Well?" he prods, holding the dollar bill out to me.

I nod and take the dollar bill from him and he looks even more surprised and excited than he did a moment ago.

I rip the dollar bill in half before I lean over and blow the cocaine off the table. I use my sleeve to wipe off the rest of it and turn around to a furious looking Edward.

"What the fuck did you do that for?" he yells. "I paid money for that!"

I roll my eyes and pat my sleeve off. "Like you don't have enough to buy more if you really wanted to," I sneer as I toss my beer bottle on the ground behind me.

He tries to collect the powder that remained on the table, but barely gets a pinky full. "Damn it!" he yells. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he turns his eyes to me and I'm thankful to see a little more green than there had been a few minutes ago.

"What is wrong with me? What's wrong with you?!" I scream. "Are you stupid? Drugs, Edward? That's your big issue? Drugs?"

Edward rolls his eyes at me. "Don't fucking judge me. You don't understand shit, Bella. This," he says as he snorts the little bit of cocaine off his pinkie, "is the only thing that's gotten me through anything."

I roll my eyes as Alice and Jasper run outside. Alice's eyes are wide and Jasper looks confused as he wraps his arm around Alice.

"That's bull. You have a family that loves you, all the money you could ever ask for, and people treat you like you're God. Yes, life is so fucking terrible for you," I say sarcastically.

He rolls his eyes. "You don't know anything."

"Bella! Edward! What is going on?" Alice practically screeches from her spot.

I look at her with a frown, but before I can say anything, Edward jumps in.

"Nothing, Alice. Just go back inside. I can handle this," he says harshly.

I move closer to him and begin to yell. "No, Edward. Why don't you tell her what was going on!" I glare at him. "I'm sure she won't be surprised."

He gets in my face. "Shut up!" he yells.

Jasper lets go of Alice and walks towards Edward. "Do not talk to her like that," he whispers menacingly before turning to me. "Bella, what's going on?"

I look at Alice. "Has he always been into drugs, or was this his first time?" I ask in answer.

Alice walks closer to Edward and he averts his eyes. She forcefully grabs his face and turns it so he has to look at her. Jasper and I watch as she takes in his dilated pupils and bloodshot eyes. Before I can say anything, I see Alice's shoulders begin to shake.

"Only one time, Edward? Really? Only once. I knew that was bullshit!" she shrieks as she pushes Edward away from her. "Damn it! What were you thinking?"

At this point, a crowd is beginning to form. I look at Jasper and he nods before he grabs Alice's hand and pulls her away. I give Edward a serious look before telling him to follow me. He surprises me by complying.

Once we're back in the front yard, I look at him.

"Did you drive?" I ask.

He nods and points to his car that's parked directly across the street. I hold my hand out and he reluctantly gives me the keys.

I turn to Jasper and Alice. "Alice, are your parents at home?"

She shakes her head. "No," she says between sniffles, "they're at some conference in Seattle."

I nod. "Jasper, take her somewhere, get some food in her. I'll take Edward back home and get his stupid ass under control." I say.

Jasper shakes his head and looks at Edward, who looks like he's beginning to come down. "I'm not leaving you alone with him," he says as he glares at Edward.

I roll my eyes. "Go, Jasper. If anything happens, I'll call you," I promise.

After a long moment, he nods reluctantly and puts his arm around a crying Alice. She looks back at us over her shoulder and shakes her head at Edward before turning back around and leaning her head on Jasper's shoulder.

I look at Edward, who is looking down at his trembling hands. I look at him and sigh, catching his attention.

"Come on. I'm taking you home," I command.

~O~

The car ride to the Cullen's is awkward at best. He doesn't say much, but is jittery the entire time and chuckles to himself frequently. A few times, I almost ask him if I can be let in on the joke, but then I remember what he did tonight and why he's laughing and become angry and disgusted all over again.

When we pull up to his house, I put the car in park and take out the keys. I step out of the car and, after we're both out, I lock the doors.

He only has three keys on his key chain, so figuring out which key goes to the front door isn't hard. One of the keys is to his Volvo, while the other one looks as though it goes to a safe. That only leaves one, and it slides in the lock easily.

He surprises me by remaining silent as we walk through the house and into the kitchen. I tell him to go into the living room and wait for me, and again, he surprises me by doing what I say. I can see him sitting silently on the couch as I get some water from the fridge and make him a sandwich.

I flip on the lights in the living room and he jumps slightly. When he looks at me, his pupils are back to normal again and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Eat this," I command as I hand him the sandwich.

Edward reaches forward and grabs the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and shows it down before he drinks the glass of water. I don't say anything for a long time after he finishes. I just stare at the wall blankly, wondering what to say.

"How long have you been doing cocaine?" I ask bluntly.

Edward doesn't answer right away, but suddenly, he finds the floor to be increasingly interesting. I wait, allowing him time to decide what he wants to say.

"There's no point in lying to me, Edward. I'm not below asking Alice to fill me in," I threaten.

He sighs loudly before he puts the plate and cup onto the coffee table. He looks up at me and studies my face for a long moment before he speaks.

"A friend in LA made me try it once," he finally says. "I did it a few times after that, but that's it. I'm not addicted or anything. I can stop whenever I want."

I can't help it; I laugh. "And you realize you just said the most classic line for an addict?"

He rolls his eyes and stands up. "God, Bella. I just wish you would understand. I wish you could understand. My life isn't as easy as everyone thinks it is. I'm under so much pressure. The drugs just took the edge of when shit got bad."

I raise my eyebrow at him. "When shit got bad? Shit got bad in your life? Tell me. What was so bad that it made you turn to cocaine?"

He paces back and forth in front of the couch. "Everyone wanted something from me. Whether it was time or money or just my body. I was being torn apart and I could do nothing to stop it. I couldn't let anyone see that I was getting tired of it. I would just end up being known as a stuck up celebrity. So I did what I could to keep myself happy and personable," he admits. "Cocaine helped. It kept me happy. So when things get bad, that's what I turn to."

I look at him with disgusted eyes. "Are you fucking kidding me? Are you saying that when things get bad, drugs are okay? That people should be able to snort whatever they want if it makes them feel good?"

He shrugs. "If that's what it takes," Edward says softly.

I glare at him. "That is so fucking backwards, I can't even take it! You know your sister? The one who was adopted because her parents died and then almost fucking raped? She never did drugs. She didn't rely on alcohol to get through it. She just got through it.

"But a woman," I begin quietly, "who has a loving husband that provides for her and a daughter that admired the shit out of her, has the right to do any drugs wants," I sneer. "As long as it keeps her 'happy'?"

Edward looks taken aback for a moment before he regains his composure and speaks.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" he asks as he moves towards me.

I stand up and stare at him with narrowed eyes. "My mother didn't just walk out for the fuck of it, Edward. She left because she was a cheater who got addicted to heroin."

So.

We get a little more about each character. Bella will explain more in the next chapter. And yes, Bella's mom will come in later on. I think our Bella deserves some closure on that, don't you think?

PLEASE review! It makes me happy and makes me write faster! :)

Lots of love,

Emilia Elliot