BEEP! NOISE! BEEP! NOISE! I groaned as I slammed my hand down on my alarm clock. I could feel the soreness seep into my bones as I got up and stretched. My name is Bella Swan, a hopeless wanderer. When bad things happen, I just wander around in my brain, looking and finding possibilities, or just to get away. I grabbed a towel and hoped in the shower. I scanned down my body, looking at the damage down last night as I let my hair soak in the shampoo. A bruise on the top of my arm, a weird click in my jaw, sore muscles, and some bruising on my stomach. If this was five years ago, I would have about ten more bruises, but by now my skin has toughened up and ill usually just get a couple or so. Mostly soreness, so not bad, I smirked to myself. Rinsing the shampoo, I started to hum my favorite song, Pompeii, by bastille. Sometimes I feel like a citizen there, trying to escape and survive, knowing there is no way out in the end. I went to my room and put on some clothes, remembering to wear a long sleeved shirt. 'Appearance Check!' I thought in my brain as I put up my hair. I stepped in front of the mirror I had on the backside of my door. Black Nike sweatpants, blue long sleeved t-shirt (favorite color!) and some light grey vans. Pretty snazzy Bella, pretty snazzy. I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs. After stashing a granola bar, I went outside and slung my backpack in the bed of Herman. Who? What? When? Where? Why? Herman is my black ford truck parked on the side of my house, I got him from Charlie a couple of years ago, him claiming too annoyed to drive me to school anymore. Charlie is a nice guy when he's not drunk. Well, not nice, but tolerable. When he's drunk, that's when the bruises happen. Turning on the radio, I hummed to Katy Perry on the way to school. I'm always in a good mood in the morning, just because. You would think that's when I would be the most down, but that's not the case. I'm just a morning person. Maybe it's the fresh morning air smell, maybe it's the way the flowers smell in the planter box outside my window, I don't know, but I just love the morning. Then as I pulled into the parking lot, my mood soured and the bliss I have of the morning is gone. The school looks just like a box. You would think it would be cooler because it's the 21st century, but no our school s just a giant box, surrounded by other smaller boxes. A blonde could have made a better building than that. No offence to blondes. I parked Herman and sat there and waited for the song to end. Right as it was about to finish, a loud tapping noise scared me from right outside my window.

"Jesus!" I yelled as opened the door. It was my best and only friend, Alice Cullen. She was wearing a pale yellow dress down to her knees, with a denim jacket and those weird brown ankle boot heel things.

"Hey Bella!" Alice said, handing me my bag from the back, "What's up?"

"My heart rate" I deadpanned, glaring at her for startling me. Alice just rolled her eyes, and we went to sit down in the courtyard before the first bell rang. I plopped down my bag and pulled the book I was reading, 'Emma' by Jane Austen. Alice took out her make-up bag and did the final touch ups on her face or whatever while we waited for the bell to ring. I would be worried about Alice's older brother, Edward, tormenting me, but him and his crew are usually late and don't show up until halfway through first period. I would know, sadly he has first and sixth period with me. The next twenty minutes before the bell consisted of me reading while Alice trying to distract me like taking a piece of her hair and sighing while slyly (not really) putting it in front of my page. Or coming and sitting next to me from around the table and laying on me. I finally gave in and listened while she talked about this cute guy she met, I think his name was Garrett? I don't really remember and frankly I don't really care. After the bell rang we split up, me going to my locker while she went to the bathroom. I was putting my backpack away and trying to get out my thick science book when I dropped it from the heavy weight. I hissed quietly and muttered to myself how stupid I was which distracted me from him and his gang coming through the door. I picked it up and stuffed it into my smaller bag, which I had for class and shut my locker when Tanya, Edwards's girlfriend, shoved me to the ground and muttered pathetic while walking toward her class. Edward kicked me into the lockers when he walked by, chuckling to himself and high- fiving his buddies. I groaned and pushed myself back up after he and his friends left. Alice came out of the bathroom and ran over to me.

"What happened?" she demanded. I told Alice about the bullying a couple of months ago, but not the abuse. I was afraid she would leave me if I told her, not believing that the chief of police would harm his own daughter. Then I would be completely alone.

"Tanya and Edward again, no biggie." I said, clearing my head from the small dizzy spell from standing up to quickly. I guess Edward finally got his sorry ass out of bed on time today.

"I'm sorry, I should have been there to protect you from my idiot brother." Oh yeah, Alice is Edward sister. It's Funny how my best friend and worst enemy are both in the same family.

"Its fine Alice, I can manage on my own, I have for years." Alice looked sadly at me, and grabbed my hand in a sisterly manner.

"I know Bella, lets just head to class." Alice dropped me off at the door of my first period before heading to her own. I tugged at the bottom of my sleeves before walking over to my desk. I sat next to the window, so I just kept my whole body turned that way and tried to blend in as best as possible. After the bell rang, my teacher began explaining a new project we had coming up.

"Ok class, I will be pulling your names out of this hat to assign your partners. Now remember this project will be done outside of my class, so exchange numbers and all that." Mrs. Williamson explained before drawing names. I didn't pay attention until she called my name.

"Isabella and Edward" She said, and kept drawing names. Crap, well that just made my day. I walked forward silently and stood by him while he grabbed our assignment directions. He was smirking.

"So Swan, where are we going to work on this? My place, your place, Tanya's place?" Yes, Edward, because I would love to work on a project with you, especially at your girlfriend's house so you can suck face with her while I work on the project. What was he even thinking? I would do it by myself, and not even have to deal with him. I put my hair in my face and wrapped my arms around my torso,

"Just give me the papers. It will be done by Monday." I whispered hoarsely, I always talk quietly around someone I'm scared of, Yes, Ill admit, I'm scared of Edward. Edward just laughed.

"Yeah right. Like I'd let someone as stupid as you ruin my grade in this class." I winced as he put his hand on the desk beside me, grabbing his bag; I was for sure he was going to hit me. He didn't even notice my wince.

"Then at the Library, in the mornings." It was the only time Charlie would allow, because he got up and was gone by four, so it wouldn't disturb his schedule and me making dinner for him. Edward snorted.

"You really think I would get up that early, we'll do it in the afternoon." Edward stated. I started to panic. What about Charlie's dinner?

"I can't." I squeaked.

"And why not, an ugly duck like you probably wouldn't have anything else to do."

"I just can't. Just do the project by yourself or give it to me." I whispered, hugging myself tighter. Edward pushed me a little while handing over the papers for the assignment.

"Fine, but it better be done tomorrow, I 'just cant' wait until Monday." Edward mocked me. He went back to his desk afterward and got out his iPhone. I winced where he pushed me; I was still sore there from last week. I gathered up the papers and put them neatly into my binder and placed that back into my bag. Mrs. Williamson settled everyone back down and we continued onto todays lesson. She was just explaining all the pieces on the confederate soldiers uniforms when the bell rang and I grabbed my bag before dashing out the door, worried about finishing the entire project in time.