Beep! Beep! Beeeep!!!! 'Damn it' I thought as I shut my alarm clock. I looked at it half asleep. Ugh! Its 6:45 I groaned and stretched. I grabbed my things and headed off to the bathroom.

I sighed as I saw my reflection: I had a red mark across my cheek and a bruise at the corner of my left eye. I looked down and saw that my arms had even more bruises on them. I guess today was a hoodie day.

"Whatever," I said to myself. I got undressed and stepped into the shower.

I liked water- it was warm and calming. It helps relax my muscles. I closed my eyes and washed my hair. When I finished I stood there enjoying the moment. I always try and make my showers as long as I could before my day began. This was probably the only peace and quiet I would get in the day. I sighed and stepped out. I guess this starts another day of torture. Again!

I wrapped my self in a towel and passed to my room. I grabbed my black bra with green lace and white polka-dots. And put them on. I wrapped my hair in a towel and put on a pair of white sweat pants- the type that hangs on your waist- and matching hoodie. Good thing my stomach isn't bruised because the hoodie showed my pierced belly button and I put on some white sneakers.

I guess your wondering. Why so much white. Right? It's just that I like the color white represents safety, purity, and cleanliness. And it goes great with my skin color.

Anyway I sat in front of the mirror put on some make up to cover up the bruises. I put on some black eyeliner and some light eye-shadow. I am pretty so I didn't need much. I blowed dried my hair and put it in a high ponytail.

I looked at my clock and it said 7:30. I grabbed my bag and headed down stairs. I made some breakfast and went back upstairs to wake up my little sister Cynthia.

I got on my knees and shook her lightly "come on sweetie its time to wake up."

She groaned and rolled over "fi mo inuts Kimmy pweas?" she pleaded. I laughed at my nickname for some reason she never called me Kim just Kimmy

I shook her again "I am sorry but its time to get up. Besides Robert and Jennifer will be up soon."

When I said my parents name she got up and started whimpering. I was alarmed "why are you crying?!"

"I don't –hiccup-want to –hiccup-see them-hiccup- they hurt you" she said sobbing and hiccupping at the same time. Damn I didn't think she would remember. This has happened before every time my parents are mad I tell her to go to my room and stay there until I come and get her.

**flashback**

I was finishing washing dishes when Cynthia came in. she was in the living room watching some cartoon. She was spinning and twirling. I laughed at her silliness.

"What are you doing Cynthia?" I asked giggling.

"Look Kimmie I am a ballerina. Weeee!!" but then I guess she got dizzy because she fell backwards and knocked over a stack of plates I had. I grabbed Cynthia and pushed her to the corner so the plates wouldn't fall on her.

The plates broke into a million pieces. I heard my parents coming down the stairs. I grabbed Cynthia and said, "Go to my room and stay there. Don't say a word. Understand?" I asked her seriously. She nodded as my parents were in front of us. I pushed Cynthia to the far corner.

"Who did this?!" Robert screamed, furious. Cynthia was about to answer but I shook my head at her slightly.

"I did. It was an accident, though." I told him "I am sorry" I looked at Cynthia and gave her a look. Thank god she understood me because she ran up the stairs and heard my door shut. Jennifer started screaming at me and I just stood there in silence. Until my fathers fist came up to my face.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Robert screamed.

"I am sorry it was an ACCIDENT." I made sure to make the word 'accident' louder.

He pushed me on to the floor and stared beating me. I didn't scream. I learned that screaming only made him angrier. I was still on the floor when I saw a tiny pair of feet. Shit! Cynthia. I always made sure she was out of sight when my 'parents' –if you could really call them that- got angry.

After 8 punches, getting smacked, and a couple of beltings later Robert finished, "go to your room. Now." He said

I got up and headed towards the stairs. I winced but it wasn't that bad.

"Wait Kim" my mother said I turned around to look at her. "I just want you to know we do this for your own good." I nodded at her and went upstairs.

'Bullshit' I thought as I headed into my room. I saw Cynthia asleep. She had tear marks on her cheeks. I picked her up and carried her to her room. I laid her down and kiss her forehead. "I promise I will get us out of here." I said then walked out.

**end of flash back**

I looked at Cynthia and tried to calm her down. "It's okay Cynthia. Come on I have blueberry pancakes downstairs." I said in a cheery voice. She loved pancakes I took her hand and helped her get dressed I did her hair in 2 little pigtails. She has got to be one of the cutest 5 year olds I have ever seen in my life!!

"Oh crap! Look at the time we're going to be late" I said I noticed I sounded like a mom to her. I was the one to take care of her, feed her, wash her, everything! I didn't mind though I loved taking care of her.

"Kimmie what does crap mean?" she asked me. Ohhh! No this is not good.

"It means um... Well grownups use it because they get surprised at something." I guess that was partly true. I have got to pay more attention to what I say around her because if Robert or Jennifer heard her it would be BAD! I took her hand and headed down stairs. She ate breakfast and watched me pack her things.

"You finished?" I asked. She nodded so I grabbed her and headed to my car I drove a Lamborghini my grandma gave it to me as an early 18th birthday party. I don't know how she afforded it but I wasn't complaining. I strapped her in and closed her door Now, where did I put those keys? Oh yeah they are in the cookie jar. All I got to say is don't ask.

I went back inside grabbed them and headed out again. "Hold it." My mother's voice was behind me. I turned around and indicated that I was listening. She sighed and said "me and your father will be out to Seattle and won't be back for 4 days. We've got to go on some business issues. So take care of your sister and well you know the rest." I couldn't help the smile that came onto my face but I quickly recovered myself. I nodded and left.

I was so happy I could burst. I drove Cynthia to kindergarten and then went to Quileute high. I parked near the doors. As soon as I got out I heard a squeal. I looked around and saw my best friend's red hair. Annie. She is beautiful. And she's dating the captain of the football team Vince.

She waved me over; I laughed at her and went to talk to her. "Hey wats up?" I asked still laughing

"Guess what!!!!"She screamed

"What?! Oh let me guess… you saw a pair on shoes on sale and that was the only pair left and this other lady was coming to get them but you had to fight for it and at last you got them?!?!?!" I told her in mock surprise.

"Well, yes, but that's not the point! Vince asked me to be his girlfriend yesterday!!!! Yay!!!" she squealed.

"I thought you guys were already? I mean you've been dating for like 2 months now!" I told her.

"Yea but yesterday I t became official. And I am so happy I could burst!!!!" she said.

"Ohhhhhhhhh well. I am so happy for you really!! You guys make a great couple." I told her sincerely.

"Wait!"

"What? What's wrong Annie?" I asked alarmed

"What is this?" she pointed to the bruises on my arms "seriously Kim you cant keep on living like this! He's really going to hurt you one of these days. He might even kill you!" she said with tears.

"It's only for 2 more days. Then I can take Cynthia and leave where no one can find us. It's just 2 more days until I turn 18" I said with tears of my own.

"But where are you going to go?" she asked still crying. "I don't know but I made a promise to Cynthia. I promised never to let anyone hurt her. And I swear on my life I will keep that promise." I said with fierce determination.

"So only 2 more days then? I am going to miss you! A lot!" she told me. I could see pain in her eyes.

"Hey, none of that. I am still here. I don't want to see you cry again okay? I will be back some day. I promise."

"I am keeping you to that promise." She said then hugged me real tight. "Your like a sister to me and I don't want anything to happen to you"

"To me, you ARE my sister. Never forget that." We hugged until the bell rang.

"Briiinnnngggg!!! Well come on I don't want to be late to class. Mrs. Peachers will probably give me detention if I am late again." I grabbed her hand and we ran to our first class.

This is the life of: Kim Crownwell ---- it sounds like a fairytale right????