Sorry guys. I went on vacation for two weeks in Mexico and then I caught a bacterial infection down there from something I ate so I have been slightly incapacitated. But I'm better and I'm back! On to the story!

Previously...

I flipped on the TV to be greeted by the horrible sight of Tanya. Her face was bruised on the left side and she had mascara running down her cheeks. Her mouth was moving, but no sound accompanied the action as she brought a tissue to her eyes. I quickly turned up the volume.

"...hurts so much. I don't know why he would do this to me." She broke down into more sobs, bringing the tissue to her face.

The frame switched to Guilliana, "Is Edward Cullen the new Chris Brown?"

"Oh, dear God, NO!" I shouted at the screen.

Chapter 21

Inception

-EPOV-

When she said "ruin" the band, I had no idea that she would go this far. Blackmailing is one thing, but telling the world that I'm an abusive boyfriend is another. Can she really not deal with the fact that I don't want to be with her without going to the ultimate extreme? Apparently not.

I continued staring at the television screen horrified as they brought up my picture and placed it parallel to Chris Brown's:

What is happening to young Hollywood? came Guilliana's voice. Edward Cullen, teen heartthrob of the Cullen Boys, is alleged to have hit his now ex-girlfriend, Tanya Denali, after a messy break-up in which he was caught cheating with up and coming music star, Bella. The two have been performing concerts together and the question is now, will they continue seeing each other after these disastrous allegations? And what is to happen to their band since their producer will not only want to avoid bad press, but is also the father of the alleged victim? Find out next time on E! News, I'm Guilliana.

As she stopped talking I turned the TV off, putting my head in my hands, and then heard thunderous footsteps from above. I turned to find Emmett jumping steps to get to me.

"Edward, have you seen the news yet?" he was panting from running from his third story bedroom.

I sighed and looked up from my hands. I felt tired and drained as I answered, "Yeah, I have and I just can't believe that she would go this far."

"She's a psychotic bitch, what do you expect?" he said. "No offense, or anything," he added quickly.

I chuckled mirthlessly. "None taken, at all, because I completely agree. But how did I get myself in this mess? I'm honestly trying to figure out why I ever went out with her in the first place. I mean, obviously, I was experiencing some mental malfunction, but…" I sighed loudly.

Emmett put his hand on my shoulder, "Don't worry, we'll get through this, man."

Just then a sharp rap on the door caught our attention. Whoever opened the door must have been pushed aside because a group of police officers were coming into the room:

"LAPD! Stay where you are!"

The group of 6-7 officers encompassed Emmett and I. One of them stepped forward holding a piece of paper in his hand:

"Edward Cullen, you are under arrest for the battering and harassment of Tanya Denali."

He walked over to me, grabbing my raised hands and shoving them roughly behind my back, making me fall harshly to my knees. I grimaced. "You have the right to remain to silent, but anything you say can and will be used against you."

Emmett stood there, frozen in shock. We stared at each other. He cleared his throat, "Don't worry, lil' bro. We'll get you out of this." His look of worry, though never dissipated.

"She's gone too far, Emmett." I didn't say anything more, afraid of the way they could twist my words into my death sentence.

"I know," was all he said as he watched me being forcefully removed from our house.

- BPOV -

I parked the car in the usual secluded spot before heading toward the stalled limo ten feet away. Jacob followed the three of us without question. It wasn't until the door was closed that Jacob said something:

"So, explain."

I looked at Alice and Rose, who immediately took off their wigs and shook out their hair. "As you've already figured out, this is Rosalie Hale and this is Alice Brandon." Alice gave a curt wave and Rose just raised her eyebrows in recognition. "Any obviously, they are not my cousins; I don't have an aunt or uncle. And I'm living with them because after the...accident," I swallowed hard, "they felt bad and took me in. And that's it." Talking caught my attention and I looked over to see Rose had turned on the TV. It was on E! News and I saw the pictures that were undoubtedly taken of us on Saturday night. Then another picture came up of me in my blonde wig.

"That girl looks just like you, Bells."

I turned to look at him, open mouthed, unable to say what needed to be said. I swallowed, "That's because it is...And I'm dating Edward Cullen." I said the last part in a rush.

He choked, "You're what!"

I looked out the window quickly and saw the mansion. "Oh, look! We're here!" And that's when I saw them, the police cars. My face fell into a mask of shock and worry. "Alice, Rose," I said monotonously. They both glanced back and when they turned to look back at me, their faces mirrored my own. I could feel my forehead scrunch in worry, "What do you think happened?"

"I don't know," said Rose, "but it can't be good."

Jacob sat there staring wide-eyed at the scene before him. I moved past his still form as soon as the car came to a stop. I ran out toward the thrown open front doors. Then a police officer stepped out of the house followed by a scared and vulnerable looking Edward Cullen, with both hands behind his back in handcuffs. "Edward!" I stared at him in horror as he looked at me, with a look that I never wanted to see again.

"I love you, Bella."

Usually, under normal circumstances, my reaction and reply would be instantaneous, but I could only utter one word breathlessly, "Why?"

They put him into one of the cars and right before they closed the door on him he said, "Tanya."

Upon hearing her name, my hands clenched involuntarily. Fear wasn't the only thing that took control of my body at this instant; anger was quickly gaining control. I turned away from the retreating cruisers as I felt a hand close around my forearm. "What?" I snapped.

Alice looked taken aback, blinking a few times, "What's happening?"

I felt a sliver of guilt make its way into my conscience, but my anger couldn't be controlled, "Tanya." I spat her name like it was a bad taste in my mouth, which at this point, it was. I stormed through the still open front entrance to find the first person in sight to figure out what had happened. I found Emmett sitting on the couch in the living room with his head in his hands. I looked back to see who had followed me in and saw all of them walking quickly to where I was; only Jacob seemed to be taking timid and silent steps. Rose past me first and grabbed Emmett's hands. "Baby, what happened?" she almost pleaded with him. Despite her earlier dispute with Edward she still cared about him, and wanted him to be safe. He didn't respond and only looked up at her when Rose forced him to meet her eyes. He closed his eyes and sighed before grabbing the remote and the TV turned on.

The screen was a live news broadcast. "It's all that's on right now," he said quietly.

I'm Greg Meyers for Channel 5 news, and I'm at the LAPD station awaiting the arrival of Edward Cullen. Sources says he was taken from his Beverly Hills home earlier today and is to be incarcerated at least over night for physically assaulting long time-now ex-girlfriend, Tanya Denali. As rumor has it, the assault occurred Saturday night after one of their concerts at the Staples Center after confronting him about cheating on her with up and coming artist, BELLA. No one knows exactly what happened to make Edward lash out, but a backstage source says that it was originally a big dispute between the entire band, girlfriends, and Tanya, herself. The crime occurred sometime between then and the Cullen Boys leaving the premises...And they've arrived!

The camera turned to a police cruiser that stopped in front of the station. The officer in the passenger seat got out and opened up the door. He grabbed Edward and pulled him out of the car as the other policeman came around to hold onto his opposite elbow and led him toward the building.

What do you have to say for yourself, Edward? Greg Meyers waited eagerly for a response.

I'm innocent. After that curt comment Greg turned back to the camera.

Well you saw it here first folks, I'm Greg Meyers for Channel 5 news. He ended the statement with an attempted signature smile before commercials took his place.

"Oh my, God, Edward," I said. I ran my hand through my hair, the strands that my fingers clenched were taut around my scalp. "This can't be happening. It just can't! I-" I couldn't even finish my sentence. I was just overwhelmed with shock. It was mixing with my anger and fear and turning my entire person into a muddle of emotions that I couldn't even begin to decipher. I just wasn't prepared for this; there was no way that I could be.

Alice spoke next, "What are we going to do? What can we do?" I worried me how scared she was because Alice was always the one with answers. She always seemed to know what was next or how things were going to turn out. And if she felt that hope was out of reach, then what was I supposed to think?

"I don't know," said Emmett.

Rose still had her hands cupping his face when she turned to look at Ali and I. She stood up from her crouched position, simultaneously sliding her hand into Emmett's. "I'll tell you what we have to do," she said fiercely. "We have to call Carlisle and tell him the situation-"

"I already did," said Jasper.

We all turned to find him at the foot of the stairs, making his way over to us.

"Care to elaborate?" Rose asked smiling sarcastically at her brother.

"I was already going to, but anyway...I talked to Carlisle and he's on the phone with the best lawyer in the country right now, Ashley Hickory. She just finished a case in Atlanta-a won case by the way-and she's flying out tomorrow morning. But until then Carlisle wants us to keep a low profile because if you guys haven't already noticed our house is completely swarmed with paparazzi. That means that we can't leave the house and no school for you guys."

"Then what the hell am I supposed to do!"

We all looked at Jacob, forgetting his presence. Jasper and Emmett knit their eyebrows together.

"Who's he?" asked Emmett.

Jake raised his eyebrows at me, silently asking me to tell them. "That's Jacob," I said. "He's one of my oldest friends and he came to visit me for my birthday."

"Oh, okay, but uh...you couldn't have picked a crappier time to visit, dude," said Em.

"Well, I'm sorry if on the plane down here, I didn't get the memo that best friend's abusive boyfriend was getting arrested, or was fucking Edward Cullen!" he said scathingly.

"He's NOT abusive!" I yelled.

"Well that's not what everyone else is saying or even what she's saying," Jacob said disbelievingly referring to Tanya.

"Well in case you haven't noticed, Jake," said Rose, "Tanya is a psychotic bitch out for attention."

"Alright, Blondie," he said the crude nickname disdainfully, "But why would she go as far as to tarnish his reputation, not to mention his career, for attention?"

"Because she's psychotic!" cried Rose. "Or were you not listening?"

He snorted before turning to challenge Rosalie's cold gaze. I opened my mouth in disbelief, "Jake, can I talk to you in private?"

"Why not?" he said through clenched teeth, without breaking the stare. But he was unwilling to look away first and admit defeat.

"Jake!"

He looked at me in annoyance while Rose put her hand on her hip and smirked in triumph.

"Now, please?" I asked him.

He followed me into another room and I closed the door. I turned on him instantly:

"What the hell were you thinking? Or did you just forget that that's his brother and practical family your talking too? Or even me, his girlfriend!" I screamed. Even though the door was closed I had a feeling that everyone else could hear exactly what I was saying.

"I wasn't accusing him...well I don't know-maybe I am," he said after I gave him a pointed look. "But I don't trust him."

I looked at him incredulously, "You don't even know him."

"Maybe that's part of the problem, Bella. I don't know him and I can't accurately say whether or not he's guilty or innocent, but what I do know is that I don't trust him. But let me ask you something, Bella. How did she get so beat up? Those bruises didn't come from nowhere."

"I don't know," I said tightly. "Maybe she was just so upset that Edward didn't want to be with her anymore that she fell down the stairs or something, okay?"

"Fair enough, but let me ask you one more thing. In between the aftermath of the fight and you guys leaving did Edward leave your side once, at all? Because if he did, then you have to ask yourself, what if he actually did it?"

I flinched and I know he saw it. But I... "He didn't." I looked at him fiercely. "He's a good person and he wouldn't do that...to anyone. And I don't care what anyone says, but I'm staying behind him throughout this entire thing."

He grabbed my arm, "No you're not!"

I twisted out of his reach, "Yes I am!"

Jacob and I were both in an intense and locked gaze. His face was horrified. "I'm taking you home, Bella," the words left his mouth adamantly, as if leaving no room for arguing. I was going to make room.

"Excuse me! Who the hell do you think you are? You can't tell me what to do!" I was absolutely shocked by his behaviour.

He looked intensely at me, almost willing me to be understanding. But I wouldn't and I didn't want to. "If you think that I'm going to let you stay here with him-" I cut him off:

"Yes, that is exactly what I think!" I was livid.

"What would your father think, Bella?" I felt my eyes widen in shock that he had gone that far; they stung, but I'll be damned if I let him see me cry.

"Don't you dare bring him into this," I choked out. "Go to hell, Jacob." My voice was quiet and lacked the menace that I couldn't quite generate despite my anger towards him. I sounded weak and fragile.

I walked past him, snubbing his shoulder as I walked out of the room, but it wasn't until I was sure he couldn't see my face that the heat behind eyes blossomed into tears.

Everyone was outside the door and gave me worried looks as I rushed past them, hastily wiping away my tears. I heard him call out behind me:

"Bella wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"

I didn't turn to look at his face because I knew if I did that I would forgive him, but I didn't want to. I was hurt, angry, and confused. And as I ran up the stairs to my room I could only think one thing, What if he was right?

- EPOV -

I was sitting in my jail cell-alone, thankfully-and had my head resting against the concrete wall. I was grateful I wasn't in those dreadful cuffs anymore. My wrists were raw from chafing and stung, but the cool atmosphere of the cell lessened the sting. Little light entered from the small, barred window above my head and I looked up at the darkening sky. The color would look wonderful on Bella. Bella. What must she think of me? I'm sure she'll believe my innocence. But I hate how now she's going to be dragged into this mess. And how can I possibly win this thing as it will obviously go to trial. Her bruises and pointed finger will no doubt be substantial evidence for the judge.

I brought my hands to my temples and massaged them slightly to ease the continuous throbbing. I threw my hands in my lap. This was extremely tedious and boring! I can't even imagine what a whole year in here would be like. It has only been a couple hours. I sighed greatly and closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the wall.

A loud clanging woke me and I startled awake. In front of me was the same officer that accosted me in the car. The entire drive he muttered profanities and derogatory terms in my directions. Some things I couldn't decipher, but his tone was enough to catch the gist of what he was saying. He labeled me as a spoiled superstar who couldn't get enough power.

Not all celebrities are pig-headed and arrogant...just a majority that I am not part of. Any of my family and acquaintances can vouch for that.

"Oh I'm sorry, superstar, did I wake you?" he sneered. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and instead just glared at him. "Someone's a bit grouchy. Is it because you got caught? Didn't think she'd squeal, huh?" I couldn't take it anymore; I was so close to violently assaulting an officer. And that would definitely not help with my innocent image; they would just keep adding the charges. I didn't need that, so I stayed quiet and took his taunts as he put those dreaded cuffs back on my wrists and escorted me to make my one phone call. I was afraid to even say, "Please stop talking." He would probably twist it into, "Stop talking or I'm going to make you stop talking!"

I considered calling Bella, but Carlisle, unfortunately was the more logical choice to aid my current predicament. Luckily he was already updated on the matter and said that he's going to handle the press and such and has already contacted a lawyer. But it isn't just any lawyer, it's Ashley Hickory-she's the best of the best; she's rarely lost a case. I knew that if I had her then my odds of being proven innocent would improve dramatically. During her trials the largest scandals and cover-ups are discovered. I plan for my trial to be the same kind of case.

As soon as I hung up the phone the same officer replaced my cuffs and took me down, yet another hallway.

The bleak gray room with metal furniture and the, no doubt, two way mirror gave away where I was. "Why am I here?" I asked warily.

"To be questioned of course," he smiled sweetly-creepily. "We have special orders to keep you company Mr. Cullen."

"By who?" I asked afraid of the answer I would get.

"I'm sorry, but I can't disclose that information to you." He wasn't sorry at all. "But I can tell you that you will not receive bail, nor will you have visitors." He cackled. Cackled. This guy was sick.

"Why can't I get bail?" I asked astonished. "And why can't I have visitors?"

He grinned maliciously, "Well first of all, we have been asked to keep you here for the duration of your hearing and trial. You're labeled as a flight risk."

"A what!" I yelled. A flight risk? Seriously? This was completely messed up.

"You see, Mr. Cullen, when an incarcerated person-such as yourself-" he began sarcastically, but I cut him off:

"I know what a flight risk is." My tone was the epitome of bitterness. "I'm merely astounded as to why I would be labeled as such."

"You travel very often and have the means to travel often and we think that you just might disappear if we let you go home."

I looked at him incredulously. "Of course, I travel often! I'm in a band! We tour! We were just about to announce another one actually, but now this." I looked away, breathing out harshly, slightly sheepish at my outburst. But also slightly proud for telling off this douche. I turned back to him, "So why can't I have visitors then?"

He smiled maliciously. "You wanna know the real reason?"

My temper was reaching thin ground with this man. "No, I want to know the fake reason."

A looked of annoyance and smugness crossed his face. Pleased, no doubt, that he was making me reach my breaking point, but also annoyed that I voiced it. He slammed his hands down on the metal desk so hard that he made the small lamp on its surface jump slightly. "I don't like you."

"Really? I had no idea." My voice held no trace of shock; pure sarcasm.

"It's that smart-ass attitude of yours that's going to be your downfall, you know," he said almost pleasantly while I scowled. This man has more mood swings than a pregnant woman, I swear. "But let's get down to business. Why did you assault Miss Denali?" he asked, flashing the lamp face toward my own.

Talk about unoriginal, I thought. "First of all, I didn't. And second of all, I'm not saying anything more on the subject unless my lawyer is present. So let's talk about you instead." I took on a friendlier tone than earlier. "How much did Tanya pay you to harass me?"

Now it was his turn to be shocked. Either that he was found out or that I had the audacity to ask such a question, I wasn't quite sure, but I suspected the former. On second thought, it's probably both.

"Questioning's over," he said gruffly, grabbing the scruff of my neck and dragging me out of my oh-so-comfortable metal chair back to my even lovelier cell. Once we got there, he pushed me up roughly against the jail bars, the cold metal digging into my face, as he undid my handcuffs and then pushed me into my cell carelessly. I, luckily, managed to stay upright and retain at least an ounce of my dignity. I probably shouldn't have pissed him off, but I was at the same time, mildly pleased as well. I resumed my previous position beneath the now dark window; raw wristed hands in lap, head against the wall, and eyes closed. It wouldn't be the first time that I fell asleep upright against a hard surface. Of course, then I wasn't wearing a ugly orange jumpsuit.

-BPOV-

I was lying on my back upon my bed thinking over Jacob's words. What would he think. I put my blind faith into Edward. And if that turned out to be wrong, then what would he think of me? Would he think I was stupid? Naive? Careless? The list went on and on. But Jacob's other words haunted me as well:

"Fair enough, but let me ask you one more thing. In between the aftermath of the fight and you guys leaving did Edward leave your side once, at all? Because if he did, then you have to ask yourself, what if he actually did it?"

Bitterly I thought, I am asking myself that question, Jacob. I'm freaking out now because of it. "...did Edward leave your side once, at all..."

Those words plagued me the most, because he did. Just once, but now I have to ask myself, What if it wasn't for the reason I thought it was?

Sneak Peak:

"Bella!" Alice called out. I turned to face her. "What's wrong? Please tell me what's wrong!"

I looked at her worried eyes and stared back into them with my own pleading gaze. "Just don't, Alice. Please." I hated how weak and fragile I sounded.

"Bella." She sounded scared for me and I knew that I just had to tell her.

I looked down, fiddling with a loose thread on the hem of my shirt. "What if he did it, Alice?" I asked quietly.

Back to business. Okay, so even though school is starting up again I'm going to try to do regular updates. Weekly. But between school, my squad, and work, it might not always work, but I'm going to try my best. :) Thanks guys for hanging in there with me! It's much appreciated! Junior year here I come!

xoxo,

topazgirl14

P.S. Don't forget to review! They are very appreciated as well!

Oh! And if you guys didn't understand the title of the chapter or it's relevance...it's called "inception" because the major idea/conflict in this chapter is the germination of the idea that Edward might actually be guilty. And I'll give you another spoiler for next chapter as well! It's called "Doubt".