“I-I tried t-to play it o-off that I wa-was mad th-that he would tr-try to get so-something out of m-me, even though w-we have be-before.” she hiccuped out.

I grimaced at the thought of them together, but luckily she didn't see that, so she continued on with her story.

“The reason I chose to tell you is because this ties into Edward and seeing as how you're with Edward, you deserve to know why I act the way I do.” she said, wiping her tears and turning towards me.

I looked at her, trying to convey without words that I was willing to listen to whatever she had to say.

“I had hoped, when we moved to Washington, that Edward could fix me. I never wanted him in that way, but I needed the male attention, since we were all home-schooled together. I needed to know I could be accepted after what happened with Royce. That someone could still see me as beautiful and look past the massive flaws. Edward never thought of me that way, so it was difficult to feel like I was healing. I knew I hadn't last night, when Emmett's words upset me, and even before that, when I grew angry at you.” she said, begging me to understand with her eyes.

“Rosalie. I understand what it's like to want to feel accepted. For a while, in junior high, I tried to fit in with the 'popular crowd' but realized they weren't worth it. They just wanted me to change who I was for them, but I was happy with myself. Not that that is anywhere near as bad as your situation, but still. Just trying to identify with you.” I said to her, shrugging.

She laughed shakily.

“Bella. Now I really need to explain things. You aren't as bad as I thought. You deserve Edward and everything he feels for you. You see, I didn't like you because I felt you didn't deserve his love and acceptance. If he couldn't accept me as more than a friend and comfort me the way I needed, why could he accept someone like you? Treat you the way I needed to be treated? No offense is meant. This is just how I used to think.” she said looking sheepish about confessing.