Chapter 1

I'm back! I know it's been forever since I've written, and you must hate me but here I am. Unfortunately, I won't be continuing my first story, out of lack of inspiration. But good news, here is a new one, and this will be more than 3 chapters, I promise. I don't know how this idea got in my head, but I couldn't resist.

Anyway in this story, everything is the same (ages, relationships, etc.) but,there's just one thing. Bella's father died in a car crash. That night, he and Bella's mom had a fight moments ago and he left because of it. After his death Carrie (Bella's mom) became an alcoholic and extremely bitter, especially toward Bella. She went from being the ideal mother to a border line abuser. Bella refuses to tell a soul, but the truth has to come out eventually.


Bella awoke the same way as any other morning. The vigorous alarm on her phone ceased it's blaring. Her emerald eyes opened, and she sat up in her bed. A small amount of sunlight crept through her blinds of her window and she smiled a bittersweet smile. "Morning finally" she thought as she got ready for her day. She tried to be as quiet as possible, as she traveled and returned from the bathroom. She tiptoed past her mother's door, she knew if she awoke her mother during her hangover it would be ugly. "She really chugged that vodka last night".

She quickly finished getting dressed, suddenly her stomach moaned and hurt. She realized she hadn't since lunchtime yesterday. Hurrying downstairs, she made her breakfast, while clearing the leftover glasses off the table and washing them. She prepared eggs and french toast for her and her mother. She always left food for her, whenever she decided to wake up, she'd be hungry. When Bella finished she grabbed her backpack and left the house. She slung the bag over her shoulder, and then flinched. She rubbed the area on her arm a bit and signed.

(Last Night) "Bella!" She heard her name in an angry and slurred manner she knew was her mothers. She tapped her pencil on the notebook and debated whether to go or not. She could have easily have been in one of her drunken rages, but she came nonetheless. As she walked into the kitchen her mother was downing another glass and slammed it on the table. She looked disoriented and angry.

She looked at her daughter standing there like a scared little girl, she caught her eyes. "Those eyes" she thought, they were exactly like her husband's. She felt guilt, sadness and anger mixing with the alcohol she ingested. She walked over to her, the closer she got the more she shrunk in fear. "How many times do I have to call you before, you get off your ass and come" she snarled. "Sorry" she whispered, she felt a rough grab of her shoulder.

Her mother brought her closer and twisted her shoulder harder "Speak up". She yelped in response trying and failing to escape from her grip, the disobedience earned more pain. "Mom please!" she squealed, she was to the ground and released "How could I have given birth to such a pathetic thing" she stated looking down at her. Without giving her wounded child a second look she returned to her bottle.

Bella ran back upstairs to her bathroom. Truth be told her mom didn't always get physical. She would make insults constantly and half the time she was ignored. Sadly, she cherished that time. But when she would hurt her, she'd take care of whatever injury she sustained. She prepared an ice pack and placed on her shoulder softly. She prayed it wouldn't bruise, even if it did she'd try in some way to hide it.

(Present) The thought made her shiver a little but she pushed it all away when she reached school. Upon entering Silverado she observed all the students walking past her chatting amongst themselves, two of them caught her eye. Pepper and Sophie were suddenly at her side engaging her in the latest gossip in the school. She smiled at them, they were like sisters to her. Although she could undoubtedly trust them with anything and everything, she couldn't bring herself to reveal her life at home.

They knew her mother wasn't the ideal caretaker but they had zero idea of how far it went. "Its going to be AMAZING!" Pepper cheered in delight, "The Silverado carnival sure is great, I can't wait to try every ride they got" Sophie replied with determination in her eyes. "Can't wait either" Bella said as they continued down the hallway, classes wouldn't start for another 15 min. The boys approached them from behind, and aligned themselves in their usual fashion.

Newt clinging to Sophie like a love sick puppy, Sawyer entwining his fingers in Peppers giving her a shy smile earning a blush from her. And finally Troy rambling on about something to Bella. They were all walking as a group, but carried on separate conversations. Newt doing more of the talking, throwing in some "Hey will go out with me?" every now again, and getting a "No" every time, she still listened though. Sawyer and Pepper more or less just stared in each other's eyes the entire walk. And then came Troy and Bella.

Bella dipped in and out of the conversation, she thinks he's talking about something to do with coach refusing to do another one of his plays. She didn't need to listen all the time, but throw in a "You're totally right" every time he paused. When it appeared that he was about done she nonchalantly asked him a question. "Troy I get I'm your my teammate and we're friends but why do you always come to me with every little thing in that pops in your head" she stated shifting through, looking for her binder.

He shook his head "Bella, Bella, Bella, I would have thought you would have understood at this point" he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She eyed him cautiously "Understood what exactly?" he started to explain. "Well we are a duo!" he declared. She looked at him "What, a duo?". "Of course, QB and Wide Receiver, not to mention the greatest team ever" he claimed "And that plus our friendship makes a duo". She kept looking at him "Still confused Dixon, what about Newt and Sawyer aren't you guys a trio or whatever and by that logic Sophie, Pepper and I are to?" she reasoned.

"No, best friends don't count, we are two people who balance each other out and are always there for each other" she rolled eyes and continued to let him talk. "You're the caring, determined and amazing not to mention the fact you're a female QB" he began she smiled at his comments and said "Awww". Then he held his head high interrupting the moment for his arrogance. "And I am the Wide Receiver who's smart, charismatic, athletic, good looking and-" he went on and on. "Ok I get" she stopped, he smirked "Then say it". She rolled her eyes again "We are a duo, alright!" she replied giggling.

She thought for a moment, maybe he was right. She didn't know how to explain their companionship until now. Of course his ego would be very annoying but he was generous and loyal when he wanted to be. And since she became Bulldog Buddies with DJ they've hung out a lot more. She brought the carnival and if he was going, he said he was and bring DJ since he's been begging him. Class was about to start so they all separated, Troy gave Bella a playful punch on the arm, which unfortunately made her wince.

"You Ok?" he asked curiously "Fine, just wore out my arm a bit" she lied. "Well don't blow out your arm before the game you've got through me the ball" he stated. "I'm astounded by your level of concern for me" she said sarcastically. "Now come on we can't be late for history" she said grabbing his arm and heading for class.

Until Next Time!