A/N: Hey guys! So I know I said I was gonna wait until my other story, "In the Beginning," was finished to start another one, especially since I still have "All Bets Are Off," going. But I couldn't help it! I got super inspired last nigh and typed this up! It's actually a little different from what I usually write since it's a Twilight story and I usually write for One Tree Hill. But I really wanted to try this out. Let me know what you think!

Sick Sad Little World

The first time, we were at a party. I spilled punch on him and he slapped me in the face for messing up his new shirt.

"I'm so sorry," I stammered, grabbing a paper towel from the kitchen counter in Mike's house to dab at James' shirt where I just spilled my spiked punch on it. Someone ran into me from behind and my arm flew up, spilling the drink all over his brand new white sweater. He pushed my arm away, smiling at Jake as he pulled me into the backyard. Surprisingly, everyone was inside for a change. I guess the snow keeps people inside at parties.

"What the hell is your problem? You knew this was a new shirt!" he growled, pulling me around the side of the house where no one could see us.

"James, I'm sorry. It was an accident, someone ran into me!" I said quickly, aware of his temper. Before I could say anything else, his hand flew up and smacked me across my cheek. It was like one of those scenes in the movies where the girl's head swings to the side, mouth wide open, eyes closed, tears coming, hand going to the cheek that the guy just slapped. That was the first time he had done that.

And then it was after school for talking to another boy.

"Hey Bella, you and James have plans this weekend?" Jasper asked me as I walked to James' truck, Alice on his arm. I glanced around for James but didn't see him yet.

"Um, no, I don't think so. Why?" I looked behind me again to see if James was coming yet. It's been three weeks since the party where he slapped me. It hasn't happened since. I pray that it was a onetime mistake and it won't happen again.

"Emmett's having a party. You guys should come, it should be fun!" he said, making me shrug my shoulders.

"Sure, I'll think about it!" I told him, waving as he and Alice walked away to her car, leaving the parking lot almost empty besides a few cars left. I waited by James' truck, hoping he would show up soon, it was so cold!

"What the hell was that Bella?" I heard him behind me. He sounded angry. Not a good sign.

"What was what?"

"I saw you flirting with him!" he steamed, grabbing my upper arm in a death grip and walking me to the passenger side of his truck.

"James, you're hurting me," I mumbled, tears forming from the pain.

"That's nothing. Wait till we get to my house. I'll show you pain," he muttered, shoving me in the truck.

That was the first time he pushed me down and kicked me in the side. My entire left side was bruised for weeks.

And then it was for no reason at all.

Afterwards he says he's sorry, he'll never do it again. So I forgive him. But he hits me again. He makes me feel like I'm nothing; like he's the only one that will ever love me. And then he hits me some more and says I deserve it.

Maybe I do. I am the one that stays with him and doesn't tell anyone. Not even my own father, the chief of police. It's not like anyone would believe me anyway. James is like the golden boy here in Forks. Everyone loves him. Everyone thinks he's the best thing to walk the streets of Forks, including my dad.

I loved him once. We met freshman year right after I moved here from Phoenix. For that first year, he was the best thing, at least to me. Treated me like a princess. The summer before sophomore year, I started to see his temper. Little things would make him mad. Like me talking to anyone when he wasn't around. Or his mom borrowing his truck without telling him. Or that time I made plans with Jessica and Lauren to go to Port Angeles for some shopping and I didn't ask him first. That was when I first saw his temper.

It's only gotten worse since then. But no one knows the truth. Everyone believes my lies of being incredibly clumsy, falling down the stairs, tripping on cracks in the sidewalk, falling out of bed. To be honest, I'm scared to tell anyone. And when he's not mad, I see glimpses of the James I fell for when I was fourteen. But then that flash in his eyes happens and he turns into my living nightmare.

I pray every night that I make it another day without being hit or kicked again. And then I hear his voice in my head, whispering angrily, "Tell anyone the truth Bella, and I'll kill you. I've got too much to lose."

Yeah, I think I'll keep my mouth shut. I don't want to die at sixteen.