Self harm mentioned in this chapter..............

I snuggled up next to Alice, and she put her arm around me. I kissed the scar on her arm, and wait .......................

She never ..............

"Pixie?"

She looked down at me. We'd been watching TV and cuddling. It wasn't late and we both had everything done, since we'd stayed at the school, earlier that day.

"What is it, baby?"

I sat up, and she moved her arm.

"Well, I was wondering ................. You never mentioned ......................"

I looked down at her arm, and she seemed to understand. She ran her hand through her hair. I didn't try and stop her, I could see she had been hoping I wouldn't mention that yet.

"I was hoping we wouldn't have to talk about that yet."

Feeling like I should've keep my mouth shut, I just looked at her, confused. She sighed, watching me.

"I ................. Bella, he didn't do that .................. I did."

She did that?

"Alice, he's not worth you doing that to yourself! I-"

"Bella! I was going through a something horrible, and it got to me. My sister found me."

I knew I had interrupted her, and looked up at her, trying to keep my mouth shut. I couldn't help it, I just couldn't.

"Thank God, my dads a doctor. I wouldn't have made it otherwise."

I was ................... I just didn't know what to think, never mind say.

She looked at me, seeing how shocked I was.

"Alice, I-"

"I know, Bella. I just .................. Everything got to me. But, my sister found me. I told her I was going to lay down, I thought they had gone out. I didn't know my dad was home though."

I nodded, listening to her. I was to. If he hadn't been, I wouldn't have my little pixie.

"I'm glad he was, Alice."

"So am I. I wouldn't be here with you if he hadn't been there. That's why I reacted the way I did. I'd always hated that scar, because it was a memory of just how bad it got ........................ I thought you'd hate how the scar looked, or keep asking how I got it until I eventually told you everything."

I shook my head. I didn't even know she had it, until she took off her jacket in my house. I know, I had messed up by asking her how she knew about getting stitches, but I never suspected that.

"Alice, I ..................... When I asked you how you knew about that, when I hit my head, I never suspected this. When you took off your jacket, all I cared about was how you got hurt. I wouldn't pry and get you to tell me. I wanted you to tell, when you were ready. I wasn't going to keep asking until you told me. As for the scar, it's part of you. Something you went through."

To prove my point, I kissed the scar.

"You see, when you do stuff like that, I-"

"I'm not doing anything special. There's nothing wrong with having scars, they show that you've gone through something horrible and you're here now, despite what you went through."

She just looked at me, not saying anything.

"I mean it, Alice. I love you and I'm here for you."

"I love you to, Bella. I just ..........-"

"Alice, relax. It's OK."

I squeezed her hand, running my finger over the scar. I noticed a small smile and stopped. She looked up at me.

"Why did you stop?"

I shook my head, thinking.

"I noticed that you find that kinda ticklish. I-"

"It's fine. Just no tickle fights."

I shook my head, I would never do that.

"Don't worry, I'd never do that. You know I love your cuddles."

She laughed, but stopped and just looked at me for a few minutes.

"But? There's more to this, isn't there?

I shifted, uncomfortably. I didn't want to talk about this. But, I couldn't see a way around this. I really couldn't.

"Alice, I .................. I just didn't want to do anything that would cause a reaction that, that dream did. So, I ....................... I always made sure that you set the pace of everything we did. I never wanted you to feel uncomfortable around me."

I looked away, uncomfortable. I hadn't wanted to admit that.

"Bella, look at me."

I looked back at her, and she had her arms crossed, in an attempt to look annoyed. It didn't work though, she just looked adorable.

"Bella, when I had that dream ............... I just ............ You staying really helped. I just ............. You never have to worry about that, OK? If I'm uncomfortable about anything, you know I'd tell you."

I thought about what she said, and nodded.

"Well, I couldn't leave you here on your own, could I? I'd never do that. I know you would, I just don't want to make you uncomfortable. And looking at me like that, never works."

She shook her head, watching me.

"I know. But, you need to understand that I feel OK around you. You know this! I've never gotten this close to someone in a long time, and I can with you."

This was going nowhere.

"OK. We're not getting anywhere. I know you trust me to get this close to me. I just can't help it, but I'm trying to get better at it OK? I love you, pixie."

"I love you to, baby. Now, it's late and I'm getting tired."

I woke up to see a smiling pixie looking at me. It was only 9:30. I yawned, making her laugh.

"Morning sleepyhead."

She lay her head on my shoulder, cuddling me. I wrapped my arms around her.

"Morning, pixie."

I kissed her, and she looked up at me.

We lay like that, cuddling for a while, before getting up. I grabbed my sweats and went into the bathroom. I threw my stuff into my bag, and walked out.

We got something to eat, and lay on the couch. I shifted and my wrist started to hurt. Alice noticed and took my hand.

"Your hand again? Come here."

It'd hurt whenever I put to much pressure on it.

She started rubbing my wrist, making it feel better.

"Thanks, pixie."

She kissed the back of my hand gently.

"You're in pain and I want to do something to help that."

I spent the rest of the weekend with her. What she told me about the scar really stuck with me, the fact that she had done that. I really meant it, when I said that I was glad her dad was home. I wouldn't have ever met her if he hadn't been home.

A few week later, it was time for graduation. My dad was excited for the both of us. Lucy had managed to keep up and was able to graduate.

We arrived back at the house after everything. Alice even met my dad, after a very awkward introduction.

"Well, I'm glad that's over."

I shook my head, looking at Lucy. She had her arms around Angela, who was blushing.

"Lucy! Bella's-"

"Don't worry about Bella. She's just glad you're happy. Even if the person you're with is my annoyingly perky cousin."

Angela and Lucy looked up at me, as I spoke.

"Last I checked you like perky. Or, was I imagining all this hickys?"

My dad was downstairs and the door was closed.

I shook my head, looking at Lucy. She had a fair few herself.

"I do like perky. You annoy me though. And you have a few hickys yourself, you know."

I looked at Angela, raising an eyebrow. She blushed, looking away. She was OK with showing affection around me and they had been out in school. They'd gotten teased a little, but nothing to bad.

"OK, before I'm emotionally scared for life, I'm gonna clean my room."

I got up, closing the door behind me. My room was a bit of a mess and I started cleaning. I was careful not to trip over anything and break anything else. Lucy and Angela decided to go out a little while later. I was in the middle of clearing out my wardrobe when my dad walked up the stairs. I hadn't heard him though, and continued. I had the photo, that Alice had framed for me for my birthday in my wardrobe. I didn't want my dad finding it. I had my door open and just as he walked by, the photo fell on the floor. The frame didn't break, but he saw the photo.

Oh crap.

"Bella, what's this?"

I looked up at him, trying to work out how I was going to get around this.

"Why do you have your arms around your chemistry teacher? Why are you kissing her? Is that the couch downstairs?"

He looked at me, getting angry.

"Dad, let me explain."

He shook his head.

"What the Hell is this, Bella? Have you been seeing her?"

I shook my head, I knew he'd react like this, but trying to talk my way out of this wasn't going to be easy.

"Dad, just let me explain. OK?"

He looked at the photo again, and up at me.

"Dad, I have been seeing her.-"

"Bella, this is wrong. She could -"

"Dad, I know. I'm 19, I know the difference between right and wrong."

He looked up at me, I knew what I was saying. The whole thing was wrong, but to us, it wasn't.

"Clearly, you don't. Bella. This is wrong."

I was expecting him to say this.

"Dad, would you just listen to me?"

He shook his head, and I took that as a yes.

"We have been seeing one another. She tried to tell me it was wrong, dad. I was the one who pushed. She didn't want to risk anything. But, I made her see that ................ Look, we care about each other. I can't say it any other way. She gave me that photo for my birthday and the ring for Christmas."

He looked at the photo and the ring, before looking up at me.

"Bella, how long has this been going on?"

"For a few months. But, I won't leave her. I don't care. I'm finished in school now, dad."

He shook his head, running his hand his hair.

"Bella, I know you think she really cares-"

"Don't dad. Just don't. Do you remember what you told Angela and Lucy when they told you when they were dating? You said that the only thing that matters is that they were with a person that makes them happy and treats them right. She does, dad."

He looked annoyed. Really annoyed, that I had used that against him.

"I'm not having this. Get out."

"Wh......What?"

He just shook his head.

"You heard me. Get out."

He wanted me out?

"But, dad-"

"I don't care, Bella. Go and stay with her for all I care. How could you do this?!"

By now, Angela and Lucy were back and had heard the shouting. They ran up, to see my dad and I arguing. They saw the photo on the desk and knew what had happened.

"Uncle Charlie? What's with all the shouting?"

"Yeah, Mr. Swan, what's wrong?"

He turned to them, and they seemed to regret asking.

"Were either of you aware that Bella was dating you chemistry teacher?"

They both looked at me, not knowing how to react. He took their silence as a yes, and ..................... Well, lets just say no one has ever seen him this angry. Ever.

"You were, weren't you?! Angela, get out. Lucy, I can't send you back to your dad, but you're in big trouble. You can help Bella pack."

He walked out, leaving me standing there with a very confused Lucy. Angela had practically run out of the house.

She walked in, looking at me. It was quiet for a few minutes, before Lucy spoke.

"What the Hell was that?"

"I was cleaning and the photo fell out of the wardrobe. He seen it and freaked out. Now, he's thrown me out."

She rubbed my back, watching me.

"Where're you gonna go?"

I shrugged, not thinking straight. I was to shocked to contemplate going anywhere.

"I don't know, Lucy. I can't believe what's going on."

"D'you think ................ Maybe, Alice could-"

"I don't want to impose, Lucy."

She stopped rubbing my back, and I looked up at her.

"You're an idiot. Either you tell her about this mess, or I will."

She was right. I couldn't stay with Angela, her parents would ask way to many questions. I grabbed my phone and Lucy started pulling stuff out of my drawers.

"My dad found out. I was cleaning and the photo that you gave me for my birthday fell out of my wardrobe when he walked by. He lost it and threw me out....................."

I looked at Lucy as she started piling stuff up on my bed. She grabbed some stuff, and started packing it. There wasn't much.

'OK. Come over when you're done. And don't try to argue, it's not going to work.'

I shook my head, and Lucy tugged on my arm. I showed her the message and she smiled.

"Told you she'd do that."

I didn't even say goodbye to my dad, he completely ignored me when I walked down with my stuff, and I just left.

I hugged Lucy, and she told me that she talk to me later.

"Come on, Lucy. It's late."

The door was open, and we could hear him from inside.

"In a minute, I'm talking to my cousin."

She shook her head, and hugged me again. She waved, as I left, going to Alice's.

She opened the door, before I even knocked and I was immeditaly pulled into the apartment in a massive hug. Somewhere between my back hitting the wall and her kissing my neck, I found my voice.

"OK, pixie, can't breathe."

She pulled away, not letting go of me.

"Sorry, I just ............... I can't believe he did that."

I shook my head.

"It's OK. Come here."

I kissed her, walking over to the couch. I sat down, looking at her.

"What happened?"

She sat next to me. I moved a little closer, and she seemed surprised.

"Sorry. But, do you mind if we cuddle while I tell you?"

She nodded, and I cuddled up beside her.

"Sure."

She wrapped her arms around me, kissing the top of my head.

"I was cleaning my room, and the photo you gave me for my birthday fell out of the wardrobe when he walked by ........................ He freaked out, and after arguing and Angela coming back with Lucy, he threw me out. He started to say something about you not really caring about me, but I wouldn't listen and argued. When Lucy and Angela came back, he told Angela to get out and Lucy to help me pack."

I looked up at her, and she looked upset.

"I knew he'd be annoyed when he found out. But, I didn't think he'd throw you out for this."

"I know. I knew he'd be annoyed ................."

I really felt upset by all of this. I started getting upset, and Alice helped me calm down.

"Don't worry. Everything will be OK."

My phone beeped with a message.

'Am I interrupting anything?'

I shook my head. Typical Lucy.

"What's wrong?"

I showed Alice the message and she blushed, looking away.

"You're an idiot. How are things?"

'He won't speak to me. He screamed at me enough earlier though. How's things with Alice? Is she OK?'

Alice read it over my shoulder, as I was leaning back against her.

"Tell her I'm fine, baby."

"She says she's fine. He'll calm down. Eventually. Don't worry."

'I know he will. Let me know if you 2 need anything, OK?'

"I will. Thanks Lucy."