6

Edward muttered something under his breath before shoving his hands into the pockets of his shorts. The moment he saw his brother and the others standing above them, his demeanor changed. He was rigid, tense, almost anxious. She stretched her hand toward his chest, but he took a step backward, and she dropped her hand to her side.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he replied, though his tone was tight, short, almost harsh. The carefree Edward who'd promised her an adventure was gone, and she didn't understand why. "I'll . . . I'll be right back."

The word "Okay" barely slipped from her mouth before he was climbing onto the rocks, over the railing on the cement staircase, and up to where his brother and the others were still standing, laughing, and staring at her. He stopped in front of them, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

As they started talking, Bella followed the same path Edward had taken, and by the time she found herself climbing over the railing, she heard Edward say, "She's nobody," before he turned and looked down where he'd left her.

Of course, she wasn't there, and when he looked behind him, his eyes widened. "Bella."

But she didn't have anything to say to him. So, instead, she turned and walked away.

Today was the first time a boy held her hand, placed his hand on her back, and opened the door for her.

But it certainly wasn't the first time a boy had called her nobody.

—TBHC—

"So, did you have fun?"

Bella shrugged. Carlisle had just walked into the house, finding her curled up in the corner of the sofa. She had managed to find her way back to the house without too much trouble, though she hadn't let him know when she returned. She was embarrassed enough as it was, without him knowing how she'd opened herself up to Edward just to be called a nobody.

"You're not going to give me any details?"

She shook her head.

Carlisle frowned before he sank onto the couch next to her. "Are you okay, Birdie?"

She nodded.

"Did . . . did he hurt you?"

Refusing to look him in the eye, she shook her head because he hadn't hurt her, per se. He'd humiliated her and called her a nobody. But before his brother and his friends showed up, Edward had been gentle, kind, and even tender. He'd listened while she bared her soul and told him about her mother.

But then he called her a nobody.

Bella had always been a quiet child; introverted and shy. Her mother was exuberant and filled with laughter, but Bella struggled to let people close and allow people to see the sad, fragile girl who'd never known her father. The girl whose mother had found a lump in her breast one morning, who suffered through years of tests, treatments, and surgeries until she'd taken her last breath and left her alone.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Bella nodded.

"Are you hungry? We could order takeout."

She shrugged, causing him to sigh before he stood, walked into his bedroom, and closed the door.

—TBHC—

Carlisle ordered them pizza, and Bella forced herself to eat before she excused herself and went to hide in her bedroom. Though she tried to sleep, she found herself wide awake. Unable to take the deafening silence, she snuck outside and once again found herself sitting on the beach. Her arms were tucked between her legs and her body, her tears seeping down her face.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been there when she heard Edward say, "Hey."

Looking at him for a moment, she scrambled to her feet and hurried toward the house. But when he grabbed her arm, she pushed him away, tears falling down her face.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so, so sorry, Bella. I . . . I didn't mean it."

Biting the inside of her lip, she nodded.

"I didn't, I swear. It's just . . ." Edward dragged his hand through his hair, gripping the back of his neck. "When mom found out my dad was cheating, she . . . Well, needless to say, she kind of lost her shit. My brother was away at school, and I . . . I was left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Mom didn't even tell Emmett we were moving until we'd lived here for almost two months. He came back a couple of weeks ago for the summer, and I guess I just didn't want to answer questions about you. To him, at least."

Bella pressed her lips together, unsure of how to respond.

Edward groaned. "I'm sorry."

She just stared at him.

"What can I do to make it up to you?"

Bella shrugged her shoulders.

"Will you say something? Please?"

She sighed.

"Let me make it up to you. Tomorrow. We can do whatever you want."

Though she wasn't sure she should trust him, she found herself nodding.

Edward smiled. "Can I pick you up at noon?"

Again, she nodded.

Edward reached for her hand, but she stepped away. He frowned before saying, "You can trust me, Bella. I'll prove myself to you. I promise."

And she wanted to believe him, she really did, but she'd already exposed a part of herself to him, and he'd called her a nobody.

How could she trust him not to keep her his dirty little secret?

Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews! Huge thank you to Sunflower Fran for being an awesome beta!