Chapter 1

~.~

19-year old Becky Nielsen closes her locker at Berk High School, tired from the day. She picks up her backpack and heads toward the front doors, ready, but at the same time not ready, to go home.

Why is she not ready? She'll have to face him when she gets home. Her father.

Alcoholic. Verbally abusive. Emotionally abusive.

Her mother says it's no use doing anything about it, which doesn't help.

Her only friends are Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston, but they're more like siblings to her, and treat her as such…well…they treat her nicer than they do each other; they know she gets enough abuse from her father.

"Hey, sis. Can we walk you home?" Tuffnut asks as he and Ruffnut catch up to her.

"Not today, Tuff. My dad's got his day off today. You know how he gets on his day off."

"We could help you stand up to him." Ruffnut suggests.

"I don't want to get you guys involved. If he hurts either of you, I'll never forgive myself."

"If he hurts you and we coulda done something about it…" Tuffnut says.

"Tuff, I'll be fine. It's all verbal, anyway."

"Words can hurt, sis."

"I know, Ruffnut. I know they can. I'll be fine." Becky leaves the school, leaving two concerned friends behind.

~.~

On Monday, she puts her bangs over her face and walks into the school early.

"Hey, Becky. You okay?" Uh-oh. Hiccup. That guy won't leave her alone if she doesn't say something, even if he is her boyfriend of two months.

"I'm fine, Hiccup. Just…tired."

"You trying out a new hairstyle? It's nice."

"Thanks. I have to go."

Becky walks off and heads to the bathroom. She heads over to the sink and looks at her reflection.

Her father had given her a big black eye last night.

For trying to stand up to him. Thankfully, that's the only injury she got from him, but her eye still hurts as she touches it.

"Jeez. You okay, Becky?"

Becky looks and sees Heather in the mirror.

"H-Heather. Hey."

"What happened to your eye?"

"Nothing. I walked into a door."

"Are you sure that's what –?"

"I'm fine, Heather. I'll see you in English." Becky leaves the bathroom and heads to her locker.

She opens her locker and gets her books for her first classes of the day.

Suddenly a voice comes over the loudspeaker.

"Rebekah Nielsen, please report to the guidance counselor's office. Rebekah Nielsen to the guidance counselor's office."

"Great." Becky zips up her backpack and closes her locker, then heads to Mrs. Haddock's office.

She starts to sit down before Valka Haddock opens the door.

"Becky, come in, dear."

Becky nods and follows the guidance counselor into her office.

"Have a seat. Both Hiccup and Heather told me that you were acting strangely. Heather told me about your black eye and Hiccup wonders why you didn't tell him, considering you're dating him and all."

"They told you all that?" Becky asks, lifting her head up. It's then Valka gets a glance at Becky's black eye.

"Goodness. And you're sure a door did that? Dear, if you're in some sort of trouble at home, we have some resources here that could help you."

"Everything's fine at home, Mrs. Haddock."

"Hmm. If you ever need someone to talk to, you can always come to me. I could also send you to a psychologist friend of mine, if that would help."

"I – I can't. I just can't. I'd have nowhere else to go."

"There aren't any friends you could stay with? I hear you and the Thorston twins are pretty close."

"I wouldn't want to burden them."

"Why do you think you're a burden to them?"

"Because the janitor had to tell them to sit with me at lunch back in the 8th grade. They wouldn't be my friends otherwise."

"Are you sure about that? Have you asked them?"

The bell rings.

"I should get to History. Don't want to be late."

"I'm sure Mr. Grimborn would understand. Sit back down. Please. I'll make a call." Mrs. Haddock reaches for her office phone and dials the number for Mr. Grimborn's classroom.

"Viggo? This is Valka Haddock from counseling. I've got Rebekah Nielsen in my office. She's dealing with a personal matter. Thank you."

"So. Let's talk. About that door."

"It…it was my…father."

"Has he ever hit you before?"

"No. It's normally just verbal and emotional abuse, but I…I tried to stand up to him, and he snapped."

"It's not your fault that he hit you. You tried to stand up to him for…?"

"His drinking. He's an alcoholic."

"What does your mother think of his abuse?"

"She says standing up to him would be a lost cause."

"You dodged my question."

It's then tears spring to Becky's eyes.

"She didn't say or do anything to him or me after he hit me. She just stood there. It was like she doesn't even care."

"We can get you out of there. You're legally an adult, so there are places you can go."

"So then I'll be known as one of those home people. Great."

(No offense intended to adults or anyone who live in group homes)

"I'm sure the Thorstons would let you stay with them for a while."

"No! No…things will get better at home. I'm sure of it."

"I'll let you get to class. My door is always open if you need to talk." Mrs. Haddock says, writing a pass for the young woman.

"Thanks, Mrs. Haddock."

Becky heads to class and sits in her usual seat.

~.~

At lunch, Becky sits in her usual spot with Ruffnut and Tuffnut, but they can tell something's off about her.

"You doing okay, Becky?"

"I'm fine, Tuffnut. Just not hungry."

"It's Mac and Cheese Monday. Your favorite." Tuffnut pokes his fork with mac and cheese at Becky.

"Tuff, stop. Just stop. Don't poke the bear, as Dad always says." Ruffnut says.

"I have to go. Bye, guys. Thanks for everything."

Becky rushes off, Ruffnut and Tuffnut worriedly staring after her before bolting, beginning to follow her at a distance.