(Bella)

I found myself in the familiar meadow, surrounded by the scent of sweet wild flowers and brilliant sunshine. The meadow itself was beautiful, but it held a very bad memory for me. The site was peaceful, or it should have been, had my anxiety not soured the serene beauty. I whipped around in a circle, in a complete panic, trying to locate it. Him. I couldn't find any sign of him, but I knew he was here. He's always here. Watching. Waiting. Ready to rip my throat out at a moment's notice, one wrong step on my part, and he'll do it, with no hesitation and probably no remorse.

A giant six foot hole opened up in the center of the meadow, pitch black inside. I knew it was a grave, my grave. An unmarked hole for when he finally loses control, when I've flared his temper one time too many. A nice, cozy, deep hole where my father will never find me.

Resigned, I stepped forward. Then another step, and another, until I stood over the rectangular gap. I raised my eyes and saw that my long dead grandmother stood at the head of the grave, her old and wisened gaze filled with heartbreak. I would never get to reach her age, never get to experience a long, happy life like she did. Never find a love of my own choosing. Never have children, never raise a family. Never pursue the career of my dreams. No matter how gently I tread, how quick I am to please, he will be my end. There is no escape for me.

I felt a presence behind me, I didn't need to look, I knew it would be him. Sunlight danced off of him in a thousand tiny rainbows as he stood behind me, with his signature smug smirk. Edward Cullen gripped my shoulders tight in his vampiric grasp, whispered in my ear, "Death lies upon you like an untimely frost upon the sweetest flower of this field." A strong cold wind came suddenly, and the meadow was coated in a thick layer of ice, killing the thicket and the flora instantly. As the sudden winter storm took over and the world around me decayed, he threw me into the grave.

I woke up screaming, an ice cold sweat broke across my skin, my heart pounded hard in my chest. I dragged in rugged breath after breath, until I finally recomposed myself. My eyes darted around the dimly lit room in a panic until I remembered that he wasn't here for once, double checking the shadows left by the early morning light. I wiped the few tears away as I replayed the nightmare in my mind, still so vivid. Every night he haunted my dreams, and every day I prayed that I didn't let any of that slip out in my sleep driven gabble. I grabbed the sketchbook and the small makeup bag I used as a pencil pouch hidden under my mattress and jotted down a summary of the dream, including the miss quote from Romeo and Juliete, still so fresh in my mind. He didn't know I had this sketchbook, it was the only outlet I had for my true feelings. He was always looking for a way to read my mind, and if he ever saw what was in it he would without a doubt kill me in a rage. Jotting down what I felt helped a lot, but my hands still trembled from the thought of him. I took a while to calm down as I made a quick sketch of the meadow scene, before I put the sketchbook down and resigned myself to getting ready for the school day.

I vaguely thought about just skipping, seeing as it was my birthday and I doubted Charlie would be too upset, but I knew it would be pointless. As soon as Alice 'saw' she would just tell Edward and he would come and force me to go anyway. I sighed in defeat as I turned on the shower and waited for the water to heat up in our ancient pipes. Part of me wished he would just go ahead and kill me, get it over with, maybe then I could find freedom in the next life. I pondered as I took my time in the scalding hot shower, relishing the heat before I would be forced to put up with his icy cold touch. I really didn't know how much longer I could take his obsession anymore. I turned eighteen today and I still had less autonomy than a toddler because of him.

Once I had finished my morning routine I reluctantly climbed down the stairs with my school bag. I made a stop by the refrigerator before heading out to my truck, looking for a quick pick me up before class. I eyed the can of coke on the top shelf, I was so exhausted I would kill for some kind of caffeine, but I ignored it for a small bottle of juice instead. If Edward smelled caffeine in my blood he would be pissed.

The drive was entirely too short and soon I pulled into a parking space in the student parking lot and shut off my dilapidated engine. I spotted the cursed silver volvo among the other cars and knew that Edward and Alice would be on their way over to greet me soon. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and tried to steady my nerves. Don't panic, don't panic, he'll notice if you panic. I had been 'dating' Edward Cullen for the past several months, though it would be more accurate to say that he was dating me. I never wanted this relationship, I never wanted him, but the moment he smelled my blood on my first day in class and then realized he couldn't read my mind, my fate had basically been sealed. He'd started out talking in cryptic riddles, saying that he was dangerous and no good for me, like I'd asked. Then it escalated, he started following me everywhere. Then he admitted that he snuck into my room every night to watch me sleep. Everything about him repulsed me, but he had made it apparent to me rather fast that he wasn't human, and had murdered many, many times before, and that he had an overwhelming urge to kill me that he only had the strength to fight because of his 'love' for me. I wanted out of this 'relationship', but he had a severely bad temper and I feared what he would do not only to me, but to my father. I couldn't even spend time with my human friends anymore, his jealousy got so overwhelming that I had to stop all contact to make sure they were safe. I was only allowed one 'friend', and that was his 'foster sister', Alice, who was more Edward's friend than she would ever be mine. I shook my head to dispel the thoughts in it and continued my deep breathing.

A little more calm, I opened my eyes and noticed Edward and Alice making their way through the crowd of students towards my driver's door at human speed, which was a snail's pace to them. I climbed out of my truck and slammed the door as they reached me. Alice held a thick, silver square box in her hands. I internally groaned, I did not want any expensive, gaudy gifts.

"Happy birthday, love." Edward greeted me as he wrapped his ice cold arm around my shoulders, I tried my best to suppress my shiver. Alice held the silvery box towards me.

"Happy birthday, Bella!"

"Thank's Alice, but I really don't want any gifts. I'm sorry." I tried to decline the box, gifts from the Cullens always came at a price.

"Make sure you wear this when you come over tonight." She instructed and shoved the package into my hands as she blatantly ignored me.

"Uhm, I- I didn't know I was." I tried to hide my nervous stutter. I really hated going to their house, being surrounded by the undead who's only reason for letting me live and not draining me dry was Edward was nerve wracking enough, factor into that that my… human needs were generally greatly ignored for hours and hours. I hated being self conscious about needing food and water.

"Of course you are, birthdays are meant to be celebrated!"

"I'd really like to-"

"I'll pick her up from Charlie's after school." Edward annoyingly piped up beside me, not even asking me if I was okay with it. Not that he's ever bothered before.

"I have to work." I tried in pure desperation.

"Actually, you don't. I talked to Mrs. Newton and she was more than happy to trade out your shift, she said 'Happy birthday' by the way." Alice smiled smugly. I was shocked, enraged and horrified, I had truly lost all sense of autonomy in my own life and there was nothing I could do about it. I could feel Edward tightening his grip on my shoulders and feel his steely stare, a warning to be silent and not say what Alice just foresaw me saying.

I swallowed hard and scrambled for an excuse instead. "I still need to watch Romeo and Juliete for English." It was weak, but I was a desperate woman.

Alice eyed me with annoyance. "You've seen that movie a thousand times."

"N-not the one from the sixties, it's supposed to be a classic-"

"Stop arguing with Alice, Bella." Edward warned me, sternly. I clammed up immediately, I've seen first hand what his temper was capable of. Edward pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment, then lowered his hand. "Bella can watch her movie and I'll bring her around seven, that'll give you more time to set up anyway."

Alice's tone relaxed, "Good, see you there, Bella!" She turned and began to walk to her first period class.

I felt sick to my stomach. I was vaguely aware of Edward taking the shiny box out of my arms and throwing it into my truck cab and reclosing the door. It was hard to hear his voice so distant in my pounding ear drums, eventually he forcefully guided me to first period.

I took my normal seat and Edward took his seat beside me. He had somehow managed to match most of his class schedule to mine and even found a way to convince every teacher to allow him to sit next to me for every class. Most of the classes on my schedule weren't even classes I wanted to take, he'd picked out most of them. When I had tried to be more brazen and convince him to allow me to take the classes I wanted, telling him that he'd been through high school countless times already, that this was my one and only time well, he'd- it got ugly. I really didn't like to remember that day, but I often replayed it in my dreams. I still remember how tightly, painfully, he'd gripped my arms, badly bruising me for weeks.

I tried to ignore him the best that I could and pay attention to the teacher, but being so close to him always skyrocketed my anxiety. The school day trudged on, my ever present undead shadow constantly in tow. Once the final bell finally rang, I headed out to my truck with Edward silently stalking beside me. He had decided to let Alice take his car home and ride with me in my truck to my house. I really, really, wanted to tell him to go to hell, but I knew that was definitely not an option. I produced my keys and was about to unlock and open my driver's door when they completely vanished from my hand. I looked around then noticed Edward dangling them in his long fingers.

"What are you doing?" I asked, hoping my frustration wasn't as apparent.

"I'm driving." He answered as he opened the truck door.

"I- I'd prefer to drive my truck, actually."

"I didn't ask."

I know that. I thought with venomous spite as he ushered me into the passenger seat and he sat behind the wheel. I bit my tongue, hard, as he complained about my elderly truck and insisted that he should buy me an Audi. He'd been saying that for months now and I kept making every excuse in the book I could, but I knew it was only a matter of time before my truck would meet a mysterious demise. He pushed the truck as fast as it could go, ignoring the speed limit of the roads, and my truck's wheezing protests. Finally the ride from hell was over and we arrived at my house, somehow with me and my chevy unscathed. I gathered my things, and the stupid shiny box, which was a little heavy, and unlocked the front door, tossing everything on the kitchen table as I walked by. The box landed with a thick thud. Edward followed silently as a specter and took a seat on the couch while I prepared the dvd.

I turned the movie on and sat on the other end of the couch, placing as much room between us as possible. Edward, however, had other plans and reached over, wrapped an arm around my waist and the other under my legs and brought me closer to him, nuzzling me against his literal stone hard chest. My senses were immediately assaulted by both the freezing cold of his corpse through his shirt and the god awful scent of death he and his entire family always carried. It was repulsive and uncomfortable as all hell. I tried several times to pull away but his vampiric strength forbade it. "Bella." He growled in warning, looking down at me. I knew what that growl meant and gave up trying to get away and limply stayed where he placed me instead for the duration of the movie.

Uncomfortable and trapped, I tried to focus on the movie, which was hard to do when Edward would randomly quote some of Romeo's lines in my ear. Panic and severe discomfort steadily continued to rise in me and soon I was almost tearing up, fighting the very strong urge to cry, praying my dad would get home soon so he'd be forced to let me go and let me have some distance. As miserable as I was, I thanked my lucky stars that he knew he couldn't handle being any more physical with me or else he'd lose control. Towards the end of the movie as Romeo delivered his last few lines, Edward spoke up beside me.

"I do envy him- not for the girl, but for the ease of the suicide. You human's have it so easy! All you have to do is down a little vial of plant extracts…" I wasn't sure what he wanted me to say to any of that, I wanted to tell him to go for it, but I wasn't suicidal, not yet anyway. He continued to drone on about all the ways he'd try to end himself if something happened to me and I pretended to have fallen asleep when he finally released me and quickly pulled back saying that Charlie was in the driveway. I scrambled to get away from him as fast as I could, noticing the offended look on his face and extremely grateful that Charlie had walked in at precisely that moment. I jumped up and practically ran to my father, wrapping my arms around him. He laughed and patted me on the shoulder as he greeted me with his free arm, the other carrying a pizza box. He wished me a happy birthday and he and I sat down for dinner. Edward politely declined which Charlie was used to by this point and had just assumed that his pallet was too rich for anything we could provide.

As Charlie and I ate dinner, Edward kept eyeing the clock on our wall. I ignored that the best I could along with the snide comments he occasionally made about me eating, to which Charlie clearly bristled. Finally, having had enough of waiting and done being sickened by the site of me consuming food, he got Charlie's attention.

"Bella and I have birthday plans for tonight, we should be leaving soon."

Charlie looked towards me a bit quizzical, "I thought you said you didn't want to celebrate your birthday?"

I breathed a sigh of relief, my saving grace. "I don't- I'd actually like to have a quiet evening in."

Edward layed a heavy, cold arm around my shoulders. "Well, we already made plans, love, my family is expecting us." He reached down and grabbed the square box out from under the kitchen table, and handed it to me. "You should start getting ready." He offered a carefree smirk but I could see the steele in his eyes, hear it in his tone, the quiet warning.

Normally I wouldn't protest, but my dad was here and I had hoped that maybe his presence would be enough protection. "I- uh, I'd really like to stay home tonight, Edward." I swallowed my cowardice.

"They're waiting for us, Bella." He began. Charlie cleared his throat.

"Go ahead and get dressed Bella, I'd like to have a private word with Eddie." I balked, Charlie knew how bad Edward hated being called any variation of his name. I quickly took the box and went up to my room, not even taking the time to observe Edward's reaction, and prayed that Charlie and I survived whatever he planned to say to Edward.

Once in my room I closed the door and reluctantly opened the box and my mouth dropped. Inside it was the most gaudy, and probably expensive, blue dress I had ever seen in my life. One of the many, many things I hated about being stuck in this really, really unwanted relationship, was that Alice was allowed to use me as her own personal life sized Barbie, which would be bad enough on its own, if Alice also didn't happen to have a very strong passion for fashion, and a very bad sense for it. My mouth was still agape as I pulled the dress out and unfurled it. It was a fifties pale blue with a tight bust and pencil skirt attached and had giant blue ruffles for sleeves, which then also ended in baggy white laced long sleeves that ended with pale blue cuffs that wrapped around the wrist. A gold chain belt was added in the box, which I could only guess she thought would accent it. It had little sapphires and diamonds dangling along it. I couldn't even imagine what the hell kind of shoes she thought I owned that would even match it. I really and truly did not want to put on the blue monstrosity, much less own it, but I knew I was expected to wear it. I quickly stripped down and literally squeezed myself into it, half expecting a seam to bust, and kind of hoping it would so I could take it off. Once I put the 'ensemble' together, I went into the little bathroom down the hall and looked in the mirror in complete horror.

After I recomposed myself, I quickly ran a brush through my hair and walked- or at least tried to walk as I took really tiny steps because the damn skirt was so tight - back to my room and grabbed the black pair of flats I owned, bribing myself with the promise of burning the damnable piece of fabric as soon as I was allowed to return home.

I painstakingly climbed down the stairs, my body turned to the side because the damn dress didn't allow me to take a full step, and made my way slowly towards the kitchen and the heated voices. Charlie turned away from Edward to say something to me and did a double take.

"What the hell is that?"

"I wish I knew, Dad." My face burned crimson, I desperately wanted a portal to hell to open up under me and devour me whole.

Edward looked me up and down. "Gorgeous." He breathed.

Charlie shot Edward an incredulous look, "Uh, yeah, no. Sorry kid, I'm going to have to put my foot down on this one."

I wanted to sob with relief. Edward spoke up, "With all due respect, Mr. Swan, Bella is a legal adult now-"

"And she lives under my roof." Charlie stepped over and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Besides, I know my daughter and this is not something she would ever want to be seen in public in." He positioned himself between me and Edward. "And son I've gotta say, I'm not so sure I should let her go with you tonight considering your attitude."

Anger flashed across Edward's face. "Bella can go where she wants-"

"Exactly, and I don't think she wants to go with you for a date tonight." Charlie looked down into my face now, "What do you want to do, kid?"

I gulped and answered, "I want to stay home."

Everything happened all at once, Edward stepped around Charlie and grabbed me hard by my wrist and I cried out in agony, I could feel the bone breaking and heard the crack. Charlie grabbed him by the wrist that held me and Edward immediately let go, and I crumbled to the floor in pain as the action made the too tight dress rip all around my hips. I held my wrist and sobbed as Charlie knelt to examine it, holding me and telling me it was okay, to breathe. I was vaguely aware of him confirming the fracture and turning his head towards Edward.

"Oh no, you're not going anywhere. I'm taking my little girl to the hospital and then I'm arresting your ass for assault."

Edward stammered, "I- she-,"

"Shut the fuck up, boy!" He yelled as he helped me up and grabbed his police jacket from the coat rack by the door, wrapping it around my shoulders as he led me out. I couldn't tell which one of us was shaking, me or Charlie from pure anger.

The drive to the ER was a blur for me, time seemed to march on with a crawl as Charlie filled out the paperwork and my vitals were taken. My face crimson and tear stained, I tried to ignore the incredulous stares at my ensemble. Eventually an X-ray of my wrist was done and Charlie and I were sent back into a hospital bed with a curtain around it. Some time passed as we waited for the doctor when the curtain flung back to reveal Edward. Cussing, Charlie took him by the arm and Edward allowed him to usher him back as he angrily slung the curtain closed behind them.

I caught occasional pieces of their whispers from where I laid, gently cradling my hurting and swelling wrist.

"...- I don't care..- as soon as I confirm my daughter's going to be okay your ass is going..-" Charlie's angry whispers would occasionally raise as he fought back the urge to yell. " I know she didn't fall out of that hotel window last-...- you better hope I never find a shred of evidence..-" I could hear Edward's velvet voice as he turned on his signature charm, a tool he uses when he wants to manipulate someone. It usually works incredibly well, but it didn't seem to have the desired effect on my dad, who didn't care to hear his excuses. Now Charlie spoke loudly, "You two are done, you hear me? Done! So help me god she will have a restraining order by midnight!" More hushed tones.

I began to panic, there was no way Edward would just let me go. Ever since he revealed his family secret to me as well as his intentions, I knew that this 'relationship' would only end in one of two ways. It was simply too good to be true to believe that he and his family would just leave and not drag me with them, or just kill me and be done with it. I strained my ears more as I tried to listen some more.

"Let me see her, Charlie." Edward's tone had a hint of exasperation.

"Why? So you can break her other wrist?"

I could hear a deep growl emanate from his throat and anxiety filled me to my core.

"What the hell was that? Did you just growl at me, boy?"

Somehow my anxiety managed to actually spike at my father nonchalantly provoking Edward when the ER doctor very timely showed up. The curtain flung back again as both the doctor and my father approached me on the hospital bed, before Charlie closed the curtain back, I tried to get a glimpse of where Edward was, to no avail.

The doctor referenced his clipboard for a moment as Charlie stood beside me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"The X-rays came back, and they show a distal radius fracture. She shouldn't need surgery, but she will be spending about five weeks in a cast. May I ask what the nature of the fall was?"

Charlie blanched, "Fall?! She didn't fall! It was her idiot boyfriend!"

The doctor looked up from his clipboard, "This was domestic?"

"Damn right it was! I was there, I saw it!"

I didn't know how to react, because Charlie was right, it was Edward's fault, but if I didn't do something, negative attention would be drawn to him and his family, and he was already livid. I swallowed my pride and did what was expected of me, I made an excuse. "He, uh, grabbed me by my wrist a little too hard."

Charlie was about to argue when the doctor spoke up first, "A simple grab shouldn't have been enough to cause you this much damage, is he an athlete or weight lifter of some sort?"

"Who the hell cares? He hurt my daughter, I want this on record so I can make a police report!"

"Mr. Swan, I understand your outrage, but just to be thorough I'd like to order some blood work, just to make sure she's not deficient in anything, and to request a follow up with your family physician."

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back as Charlie continued his heated discussion with the doctor. Anxiety gave way to stress as I slowly realized the implications, that people were probably going to look deeper into my 'hotel fall' last year with Charlie at the spearhead, and I would most likely disappear. Probably under six feet of dirt out in the Washington wilderness. He had already come so close to killing me for far less.

The night wore on as my anxiety and stress waged, eventually Charlie led me back out to his police cruiser, his jacket wrapped tight around my indecent form and my broken wrist- now wrapped in a cast- still cradled in my left arm. Thankfully I'm left handed, not that I'm going to live long enough for it to matter. I leaned my head against the cool glass window and willed my stress away as I focused on the pain in my wrist. It was well past midnight by the time Charlie got me home. I exhaustedly climbed the stairs to my room, wishing my father good night. I turned on the bedroom light and surveyed my room, looking for any sign that Edward was here. After finally confirming to myself that I was alone, I clumsily stripped out of the blue monstrosity, and after some awkwardness, I managed to dress myself in my favorite pair of sweats and tank top before heading to the bathroom. When I returned to my room, I slipped over to sneak a small peak out of the window on a whim, and though I didn't notice any exceedingly pale forms in the surrounding dark, I did notice that Charlie's police cruiser was gone again, and dread filled my stomach as I realized the trouble Charlie intended to brew for the Cullens. Sullenly I made my way to my bed, knowing there ultimately was nothing I could do about any of it now. Panic had left me wracked from raw emotion and though my thoughts wanted to race, I thankfully succumbed to deep sweet slumber as soon as my head hit the soft pillow.

I woke up to the sound of a raging storm outside as I groggily grabbed my bedside clock and checked the time, seeing that it was past nine o'clock. I slowly crawled out of bed to grab my toiletry bag and fresh clothes and to make my way to the tiny bathroom. After a human moment, a scolding and awkward shower, and a slightly less awkward teeth brushing, I made my way downstairs to Charlie's little yellow kitchen in search of food. I ended up settling for microwave breakfast burritos and a can of coca-cola. I knew the caffeine would really piss off Edward, who viewed it as a recreational drug, but I was already knee deep in trouble anyway. I sat at our small kitchen table to eat and watched the rain fall outside, listened to the thunder rumble in the distance, oddly I found it serene. I could only guess that it was because I had been so ravished with emotions that they left me numb in the wake of my reality. Whether or not Charlie ever came back home before starting his shift for the day, I didn't know, but I was grateful he wasn't here now. I knew it was only a matter of time before Edward came for me, and I didn't want my father here when he did. Resigned, I cleaned up my mess and continued to watch the rain fall as I waited, not knowing exactly what my fate would be yet.

It was well past noon when he showed up, a pale form suddenly standing in the middle of the front yard, under the red maple tree. The rain bounced off of him hard, like tiny glass shards as he raised a finger and gestured for me to come out and join him. I took a deep breath in resignation, grabbed my hoodie, and walked out the front door, as I closed the door behind me. He began to walk at a human's pace towards the woods that framed Charlie's property, and I knew to follow. We walked in silence for a long time as he led me deeper into the dense woodland. My heart pounded hard in my chest. Eventually he came to a stop and turned towards me, hot anger in his black eyes.

"All you had to do was obey, Bella."

"I- I'm sorry, I-" I tried to speak despite my stupid nervous stutter, tears began to form.

"Your father, he's causing problems. For me, and for my family. Because of you." Venom drenched his words as he glared at me. "Accusations, Bella. It's not safe for us here anymore, because of you, Bella."

I wanted to speak, to say something, anything to appease his anger, but I knew it would be futile now.

"Our plans, they're going to have to wait, now. We need to leave, Bella. For a while, until things… calm down. It's for my family, you have to understand, I don't want to leave you, love, for any length of time, but I must."

My voice stuck in my throat, fear plagued me as I tried to guess where he was leading with this, what this all would mean for me.

"I can't take you with me, not yet, not with so many busy bodies around us, on a witch hunt. You'll have to wait for me," He reached out and I flinched as he caressed my face with his palm, surprisingly gentle. "You will wait for me, won't you, my love?" His voice was velvet, hiding the steele within it, his caressing hand hardened around my face, hurting, bruising, as he leaned forward, ignoring my severely trembling frame, "I can't bare the thought of you in another man's arms while I'm gone, my love. I'm a forgiving man, Bella, I can forgive you for the trouble you've caused, but for that…" He trailed off as he stared off in the distance, I weakly gripped his arm in my left hand as I tried to encourage him to let my face go. His gaze shifted back to me. "You'll behave while I'm gone, love, for however long I have to be gone for." His grasp finally lessened, I could feel my cheek swelling in pain with familiarity from his tight grasp. I didn't need to look in the mirror to know how badly I'd be bruised, or for how long. He leaned forward again and placed a freezing cold kiss on my forehead, I held as still as I could and held my breath to avoid gagging from his scent.

"I'll be back, love, I promise. Even if we have to wait a year or even two, I will be back for you."

Finally, he completely released me and I crumbled to the ground as he turned and ran deeper into the woods at his vampiric speed. I clutched my chest and ignored the pain in my cheek and wrist as I sobbed with both relief and terror. Relief, that he's allowing me to live, that he's leaving, but terror that he's going to be back. He's going to be back. I still wasn't free, I would never truly be free.