I f Y o u C o u l d S e e I n t o M y S o u l

Chapter 3 - You Cry A Tear To Start A River

E d w a r d ' s P O V

I simply held her in my arms, relishing in the way our bodies molded together like puzzle pieces. She sobbed everything to me, and I couldn't help but feel pity towards her and Cailee, and anger towards Sage and her mother.

"I don't even l-love Sage," she said so brokenly, my heart ached. She seemed to pause in her hysterics and then starting up again, finding the truth in her own words. What is this? Don't tell me you're…happy about this? Are you fucking serious? You're sick, really sick, taking happiness from her pain, you know that? I mentally scolded myself.

I let her ruin my shirt with her tears, holding her until all that was left was a sniffle or two. She furiously wiped away her tears. I noticed she still wore the yellow shirt stained with her sister's blood.

She shivered involuntarily in my arms and I noticed goose bumps forming on the exposed skin of her arms. She wrapped her sweater tighter around herself, rubbing her arms feebly for warmth. I shrugged out of my black leather jacket, draping it around her and hugging her infinitely closer. She shivered as the cool leather touched her skin, but relaxed her tense muscles further into my embrace.

"Edward?" she whispered, biting her lip and looking up, unintentionally, seductively from under her lashes. My heart beat faltered and quickened in pace at my name coming from her mouth.

"Yes, Bella?" I wondered softly, my body tingling as her name rolled from my tongue. She shivered again, but I had a feeling it wasn't from the cold this time; I grinned smugly.

"I'm sorry about all of this," she said with a weak gesture between the two of us to clarify what she meant.

She fingered the bottom of my jacket as she waited for me to reply. I surprised us both by removing her lip from her mouth and tilting her face up towards mine, kissing away the remnants of her tears. Watch it Cullen….

She seemed to understand the words I couldn't say, and I watched as the remainders of her sadness left her face, leaving nothing in its place, an emotionless mask, the same mask I had come to hate in the short time I had known her, the one she wore majority of the time.

She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, and then she slowly wiggled out of my embrace and tried to stand up, but I held steadfastly to her.

"I-I think I should go," she said breathily without turning to face me.

"Okay, let's go," I murmured in her ear and her breath hitched. I helped her to her feet, and as soon as she was out of my arms, I felt empty, cold somehow, like she had taken all of my body heat.

I got to my own feet slowly, and when I was standing, she turned for her car. I reached out for her wrist to stop her, and she let me, but wouldn't turn to meet my gaze. I walked around her until I stood in front of her, eyes closed, biting her lip, breathing ragged. I tugged her gently to my Audi and was a little surprised she didn't fight me. She slid into the passenger seat with no problem and I quickly walked around to the driver side and got in.

I sat with my key hovering above the ignition, afraid to disturb the silence.

Bella paid no attention to me, her knees tucked up under her chest, her eyes trained on the window. I started my car with a quick twist of my wrist, the headlights reflecting the water in front of us. I backed out quickly, making a mental note to come back with Jasper for her car, and sped down the road towards Alice.

The short drive was relatively quiet, save for the sounds of Sum 41 filling my car softly. Bella laughed when Walking Disaster came on, but it wasn't her normal laugh; it kind of scared me.

"I haven't listened to them in a while," she commented offhandedly as the song came to a close.

"Why's that?" I wondered genuinely, with a quick glance her way; she hadn't moved at all.

"Sage doesn't like them," she answered simply.

The answer made me clench my jaw tight to refrain from saying something stupid. I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white. Who the fuck did Sage think he was?

Sensing her eyes on me, I turned her way. The expression on her face, the way her eyes cried out for help, the distraught set of her features, it all made me want to end the mother fucker who made an angel so helpless.

I vowed right then that I would do anything and everything I could to help her.

I pulled into the Brandon's driveway and simply sat, neither one of us able to move. Alice, having seen my headlights through the front window, ran out to my car and threw Bella's door open. With a strength I didn't know she possessed, she pulled Bella out of the car and crushed her in a hug. Alice sobbed only once, tightening her hold, before taking a step back, wiping her eyes, and clasping Bella's hand in her own.

"Come on, Edward," she called to me as she dragged Bella inside.

I'm not going to lie; Alice scared me a little.

- - - - -
B e l l a ' s P O V
- - - - -

After a much needed shower and change of clothes, I paced.

What the fuck were you thinking today? You love him? You don't even know him! And what about Sage? Does he mean nothing anymore? What about everything he's done for you? And Cailee?

I blew out a sharp breath. Of course Sage meant something, I just didn't know what it was anymore. And yes, I suppose he had done quite a bit for me, but how much of that was honest? How many times had he manipulated and used me? I think Cailee loved him more than I did at this point.

Back to the mental chastising:

God, Bella, when did you get so stupid? You wanted to kiss him! Really fucking kiss him! And then what would you have done? Hung your head in shame? It would have made you no better than Sage.

"I didn't kiss him," I mumbled to myself as I rubbed the tightness in my chest. Yes, Sage had cheated on me. Yes, I had found out, but it was hard not to when he tells you to come over, assuming they'll be finished, while she's still there. Jessica Stanley? Really? I never understood what he saw in her; what would make her so worth the risk of getting caught?

I huffed and crossed my arms angrily over my chest. I was naïve and stupid, just like everyone said, when it came to Sage.

What the hell are you going to do?

Tears welled in my eyes, because in all honesty, I had no clue what the hell I was going to do. Sage had saved me once, swept me off my feet and loved me in a way I didn't know was possible. But what about now? What about Ed-

"Bella?" Alice's soft voice floated through her bedroom door, interrupting my stream of thoughts.

"You can come in Al, it's your room," I muttered the last part as I turned to make another circuit. The doorknob turned slowly and she hesitantly crept inside, sitting on the edge of her four-poster bed. She crossed one leg over the other and folded her hands in her lap, waiting expectantly.

I made a few more circuits before I dropped my head, covering it with my hands. I took shallow breaths, waiting for the inevitable. But Alice remained silent.

"Is this the part where you tell me 'I told you so'?" I wondered, an edge to my voice.

Alice smiled softly. "It would be very wrong of me to take pleasure out of your pain, but yes. This is the part where I say 'I told you so'."

I glared halfheartedly as I turned to stare at the picture sitting on top of her dresser. I wanted it to be real, the happiness. I wanted the happiness that Alice always exuded. Was it Sage's fault? Or was it my own? Or could we both be at fault?

I sighed heavily, and in a voice that was almost to broken to recognize, whispered, "I don't know what to do, Allie."

She smiled fondly at the old nickname I had for her and got up from the bed to encase me in a hug. Though I didn't think it was possible, a few more tears leaked out and I watched as they splattered on the hardwood floor.

"You'll figure it out, Bells, you always do. And you know that if you need anything at all, you have all of us here for you. I love you," she reminded me.

"I love you, too, Allie," I sniffled, tightening my arms around her.

As we broke apart she wiped the tears out of my eyes and pulled me to the living room where I was surprised to see Edward and Jasper sitting, laughing at something. Jasper smiled when he saw Alice and she danced over to him to sit on his lap, and I frowned as I took a seat on the couch, tucking my legs beneath me.

"You know what you need?" Alice suddenly asked, perking up.

I sighed. "A drink and a smoke?"

She frowned, clearly not amused with my attempt to be funny. "First of all, you quit smoking a year ago, remember? And second, you hate drinking, you say that every time you go to a party. No, what you need is to have some fun."

I rolled my eyes as I pulled my purse into my lap, digging through it for that oh-so-wonderful rectangular package. I smiled as I closed my hand around it, pulling it out. Alice narrowed her eyes, daring me. Jasper and Edward exchanged confused glances.

"You wouldn't," she hissed.

I raised my brow questioningly. "Wouldn't I?"

I shook one cigarette into the palm of my hand, remember exactly the last time I had had one. I took a deep breath, a small smile playing on my lips, as I brought it up to my mouth. I fished my lighter out of my purse and flicked it on, bringing it closer to heaven.

That is, until the cigarette was ripped from my mouth.

Alice stood before me, her eyes narrowed into angry slits. "Where the fuck did you even get these? You promised me, Bella, and my mother."

I narrowed my eyes in return. "Promises are broken all the time, Alice. You're blowing this way out of proportion."

"Answer the fucking question," she seethed.

I huffed. "Fine, mom," I sneered, "they're Sage's. He always makes me keep a pack because he's constantly forgetting his own. Happy now?"

She snapped the cigarette in half, snatching the pack from my lap and storming away to the kitchen. I heard the garbage disposal growl and scowled at nothing. She was letting this go way too far.

She danced back into the room, reclaiming her spot on Jasper's lap. "Anyway, where were we? Hmm…. Oh, yes, Bella, I think that you need to have a little fun."

"Are you going to snap my fun in half?" I growled.

Jasper bit his lip to hide his smile, while Edward coughed to cover his laugh. Alice turned her glare on him and he held his hands up in surrender. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, and when she turned back to me, she was okay.

"No," she smiled, "but you do need to stand up."

I groaned and fell sideways on the couch. "Alice," I whined.

She shook her head and stood up to turn on the radio. I gasped in horror, she wouldn't…would she?

"Hi Ken!" she exclaimed.

She would.

She pulled me off the couch and began to do the routine that we had perfected long ago. Why? I couldn't quite remember. But I'm pretty sure we were tipsy, and that certainly validated the reason we were doing such a thing now. I couldn't remember how I got stuck being Ken, though….

"I'm a blond, single girl, in the fantasy world. Dress me up, take your time, I'm your dolly," she sang, and might I add that it was scarily accurate to the real thing.

"You're my doll, rock and roll, feel the glamour and pain. Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky-panky," I retaliated in a horrible imitation of Ken.

Edward and Jasper had finally lost all hope of any control and were leaning against each other for support, holding their sides as their laughter threatened to drown out our rendition of Barbie Girl.

I'm surprised our horrible singing and their vociferous laughter didn't wake Cailee, asleep in the guest bedroom, but we soon gave up the singing and collapsed on the floor in a fit of laughter.

As our laughter died down to intermittent giggles, Alice lay her head next to mine as we both stared up at the ceiling. I pretended we were ten years old again, in a makeshift tent of blankets over dining room chairs, our flashlights twinkling for us like stars, where we were invincible.

"Um, Alice?" I called warily as I searched through my backpack yet again. I could have sworn that I packed a change of clothes…hadn't I? I must have, because Cailee had clothes. So then, where were mine?

"Yes, Bella?" Alice asked a little too innocently as she poked her head into the room. Alice was dressed impeccably in her cheerleading uniform, as there was a game in the evening.

"Alice, what happened to my clothes?"

I waited for a reply, but the only answer I got was a devious smile and a point towards her adjoining bathroom. "You can thank me later," were her simple words.

I stomped into her bathroom, muttering a string of profanities to low for her to hear. Hanging on the back of the door was a halter neck black dress with a deep navy woven throughout. The dress was beautiful, yes, and I had pointed it out to her as liking it in a store, but I didn't wear dresses; they weren't my 'thing.' Below the dress, a pair of purple heels sat, which, not so ironically, matched the nail polish Alice had forced on me last night. Evil pixie….

I took a quick shower and slipped into the dress as my hair was still wrapped up in a towel. Using the make-up Alice had laid out, I applied just a little eyeliner and mascara. I blow dried my hair, letting it hang in waves down to my chest. Sighing, I slipped on all three of my gold rings, picked up my heels, and walked out of the bathroom.

Alice squealed when she saw me. "I knew it was going to be perfect, Bella."

I rolled my eyes at her as I plopped down in a chair at the kitchen table. Cailee and Mrs. Brandon were still asleep. Cailee was saved from waking up early thanks to Mrs. Brandon offering to take her to school, feeling horrible about what had happened yesterday. She really had no reason to, though. It wasn't her fault.

Alice was chipper as usual, even at seven in the morning. She chattered happily about Jasper and the squad and the game and blah, blah, blah. I loved Alice, I really did, but the girl had no filter.

I ate breakfast quietly, and we were leaving just as Mrs. Brandon walked out of her room. She smiled happily at us and kissed us both on the cheek, telling us to have a good day.

Alice chirped happily as we made our way to school. I was so not looking forward to seeing everyone, especially Sage. I wasn't sure how much longer we were going to last. I had seen the end coming, I could see it in his eyes, for a long time, but I knew it was real now that it was mirrored in my own. I hoped that he wouldn't show up, but my hopes were crushed when I spotted his sleek black car next to Edward's Audi, Jasper leaning against it.

He smiled as Alice bounced out of the car and wrapped an arm around her waist, placing a chaste kiss on her lips. Alice giggled coyly and stuck her hand in his back pocket as they turned towards the school.

"See you later, Bells," Alice called over her shoulder with a giddy smile.

I leaned against the hood of my car, staring down at the pavement beneath me. I really needed a fucking cigarette. I was too much of a damn coward to deal with this. My skin prickled, like it had when Edward's hands were on me, and I looked up to see him sauntering my way, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. God, he was my savior.

He smiled as the distance between us closed, pulling the cigarette from his lips and releasing a gray cloud of smoke. Oh, to be those lips…. I shook my head out of its Edward-induced stupor and returned the smile meekly. Hey, I tried.

"Good morning, Isabella," he said politely, and I swear I melted. I fucking hated my full name, but when he said it, with a voice of melting honey…do I really need to say anything more?

"You look stunning today," he commented as his eyes raked me up and down.

I blushed in return and looked down. "Thank you. You don't look half bad yourself, Edward."

His faded gray hoodie hung loose, but tight enough to hint at the muscled chest below. His jeans, slung low on his waist, weren't as tight as the ones Sage usually wore, but tight enough to cup his fantastic ass and make my mouth water. Chukka Low Vans were laced on his feet, a bright blue paired with black.

While I was ogling him, he pulled out his pack of cigarettes from his back pocket and held them out to me. I glanced at them warily, aware that he knew exactly what happened last night with Alice.

He smirked cockily."Come on, I won't tell if you won't."

I pulled one from the pack, my fingers brushing his. I brought it to my lips and held it there as he put out his lighter and flicked it on for me. I took one, long, drag before tipping my head back and spilling the smoke from my mouth, a smile on my face. I resisted the urge to moan as I pulled it into my mouth again.

He chuckled. "Okay, maybe that wasn't such a great idea. I think I just pulled you back to the dark side."

I grinned at him as I took another drag. If Edward was on the dark side, then I had no problem being there as well. He pulled his phone out and frowned, taking one last pull from his cigarette and throwing it to the ground, putting it out with the toe of his shoe.

"We're going to be late," he explained, but didn't move from away me.

I frowned as I looked down at the cigarette. I sighed and stomped it out, the same as he had. I gathered my purse from the hood of my car and slung it on my shoulder as we started towards the front of the building. I took a few swigs of water from the bottle I kept in my purse and popped in a piece of gum Edward offered. I sprayed some more perfume on me and took a deep breath as Edward held the door open for me. I smiled at him once more before we parted ways.

I slunk into my classroom just as the final bell rang and breathed a silent sigh of relief. Alice raised a brow at me, but I said nothing as I slid into my seat next to hers. There were a few teasing whistles and leers from friends in the class in regards to the clothing I chose to wear. I smiled brightly, crossed my legs, and dropped my chin into my palm to endure the class period.

- - - - -
E d w a r d ' s P O V
- - - - -

She was trying to kill me, I was certain of it. Although, if I knew her like I was sure I did, it was really Alice to blame. But still, that girl was going to be the death of me. That dress was a stark contrast to her creamy skin and it just made her appear as though there was this glow about her. I was sure there was nothing sexier, that is, until I saw her drag on the cigarette. I felt bad about it, really, especially after what went down between her and Alice, but I needed to make my angel smile, and I mean really smile.

I walked into the lunchroom with Jasper and Emmett jabbing at each other, Rose sighing in annoyance and no doubt throwing in a few towards Emmett as well. Jacob, Alice and Bella were already seated at the table, and the topic must have been enrapturing because there heads were all close together.

"But I thought you were…?" Alice said, raising and eyebrow his way; Bella nodded in agreement.

Jacob smiled. "So did I. But you trying thinking about a guy's dick while the hottest chick's riding you, and tell me how that works out."

Bella and Alice both looked horrified while Jacob threw his head back and laugh and eventually they followed suit. I took my seat next to Bella and she threw me a smile as she settled back in her seat. Jasper took his next to Alice, stealing a kiss from her. She smiled brightly up at him and returned the kiss.

"Hey bitches!" Emmett bellowed with his cocky grin as he took his seat next to me. Rose waved at everyone and took her seat next to him and immediately Alice leaned over the table to talk to her and Emmett about the game later.

Bella fiddled nervously as she waited for Sage, no doubt, to enter the room, though, why, I couldn't fathom. Leah sashayed in and waved as she bent down to whisper in Jake's ear. His face lit up with a shit-eating grin as he sprung from his chair to trail behind Leah out of the room.

"Use protection!" Emmett called after them causing them to both flip him the bird.

As our chuckles dies, Sage finally entered the room. He sauntered over to the table like he owned the fucking place, waving and laughing as people called his name. Bella stood as he approached and they kissed briefly before he pulled back, his eyebrow arched.

"What the fuck are you wearing?" he asked, almost in disgust.

Bella tried to laugh it off. "It's called a dress, Sage."

Alice narrowed her eyes at him as he looked her up and down before he scoffed. "Since when do you dress like a whore?"

Our table went silent immediately. Bella sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, her eyes shining, though she remained silent. Rose stood angrily, but Emmett put a restraining hand on her arm and pulled her back down.

Sage crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently. "I do believe I asked you a question."

Bella looked down, and then up hopelessly. "Sage, please, let's not do this here."

He snorted and shook his head as he looked away. "Fine, then let's get the fuck out of here. You gonna tell me then why you're dressing like a fucking slut? Huh?"

He didn't give her a chance to reply as he gripped her wrist and dragged her out the door leading outside. Bella's heels clicked disjointedly as she tripped along behind him, looking like a child about to be reprimanded for taking a cookie from the cookie jar.

Looking around the table, I saw my expression of anger, horror, and utter surprise mixed on everyone's faces.

"What the fuck was that?" Emmett finally asked. Rose fumed silently in her chair, her eyes dangerously dark.

Alice had a similar look as Rose, though the utter disbelief was dominant. Then her face crumpled and she jumped up from the table, trying to run from the room, her eyes shining with unshed tears. However, Jasper caught her arm and pulled her small frame down on his lap.

"Tell me what's goin' on darlin'," he said softly.

"This is all my fault. I made her wear the stupid dress. I'm the reason this happened. I knew Sage would be made, I was trying to make him mad, because he doesn't deserve Bella, and I was trying to show both of them that, but Bella's too selfless to stand up for herself and, and…," she trailed off as she took her first breath and buried her face in Jasper's shirt.

"Who killed a puppy?" Jacob wondered as he and Leah bounced back over to us, both of them disheveled and clearly happy.

Alice glared at him and his smile faltered. "Seriously guys, what's going on?"

Emmett was the one to speak, though all of us were still shell shocked. "I'm not entirely sure…," he paused, "but I don't think it's a good thing."

Rose scoffed, obviously still pissed. "You think, Emmett, really? He just humiliated her and called her a slut in front of all of us! Why didn't you let me say something when I had the chance?"

Jacob looked at all of us and then over my shoulder, out the window, where they were arguing, Sage flailing his arms wildly.

"Shit," he cursed softly, standing up before he had ever really sat down. When Leah didn't moved out of his way fast enough, he leaped over the table, knocking over a chair and causing everyone to look our way, and out the door.

"Oh God," Leah said as she ran out after them, immediately placing a restraining hand on Bella as tears streamed ceaselessly from her eyes.

The remaining people at the table exchanged glances before we were out of our seats and the door, flocking around the four of them.

"Fuck you!" Sage yelled as he struggled against Jacob's firm grasp.

"That's all you ever want anymore, a good fuck! You think I don't know you're cheating again, huh? You think I'm that fucking stupid? If you're that unhappy, why don't you just fucking leave me already, you fucking coward!" Bella screamed as she tried to push past Leah standing in front of her.

Sage glared, but said nothing, pissed off more at having been one-upped by her. He had no response now, especially with the glares he was getting from the rest of us.

He shrugged out of Jacob's hold and walked until he stood in her face. Anger rolled off of him, wave after wave, but Bella's gaze didn't falter. Leah moved from between them to stand behind Bella.

Sage cupped her cheek in his palm and slowly moved his head down until their lips met. He tried desperately to get any response from her, but Bella made no move and pushed him away.

She glared at him, and if looks could kill, he'd be a heap of limbs on the ground. She took the ring that he had given her, his idea of a promise ring, off of her finger and threw it to his feet.

With what I thought was a steely resolve she hissed, "It's over."

Sage muttered 'bitch' under his breath, picked up the ring, and stalked back inside, making final what she had said. Or, so I had thought.

Fuck, was I wrong.

A/N: Yay! Well, not really a yay, because that was really sad, but yay for me for updating! Right? Okay, maybe not. Soooo, next chapter I'm thinking a good ol' teen party, yeah? Things are getting a little tense.
On an off note, I need to - for lack of a better word - whine a little. So just imagine I'm one of those really annoying whiny girls. Okay, here goes.
Guuuys! Ohmygosh, do you, like, hate me or something? Three reviews in the two chapters I've written? Don't you have any clue what you're doing to my ego? You're crushing me, guys, I've had some serious doubts. Do you even want me to continue?
So, with that said, thank you Hunter once again for keeping my ass in line. Love you.
If you're following my other stories, HWSHF will be up soon and maybe an update for RICWB, yeah? Yeah, I dig.
Okay guys, bed time for me!
Love you,
Kelly

On a P.S. note, hehe, the song for this chapter is You Cry A Tear To Start A River by Between The Trees, go listen, really good. The other songs are obvious, I hope, because I put the song and band in there, except Barbie Girl, but if you can't figure that out, well...that's just sad.