Hello all! I know the updating is slow, but I'm trying to write longer chapters than I'm used to so bare with me! Thanks to those who reviewed, but to those who haven't, well…. They better review. I can see that you're reading this people! Gosh!

On a happier note, I LOVE YOU READERS!!!! Cyber kisses and hugs! :)


Disclaimer:

ME: …. Oh forget it! Twilight does not belong to me. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!

TWILIGHT: This pleases me greatly. (evil smile)

ME: SHUT UP TWILIGHT!!!


I walked carefully thought the parking, leaving no room for the mistake of limping or stepping down on my ankle the wrong way. Yes, it hurt like I was being trampled by a football team, but nobody would know.

It has taken many long years to perfect my façade. If Charlie hasn't started the abuse when my mother left him when I was around five years old, staring off with simple slaps and shoves to the floor, I would be screaming and withering on the ground by now. Thankfully, I mastered it or else the number one rule with Charlie would've been broken.

Rule number one: Never let the secret out. According to Charlie, the only punishment for this broken rule is simple and would delight him… he'd kill me.

I walked into reading, making sure to trip on the way to my desk. I sat alone, which was how it was meant to be. I couldn't have anyone be suspicious, now could I? My classmates' eyes skipped over me as they entered the classroom one by one. Some eyes lingered on me with pity or disgust, which to both I didn't care about.

I never had to really pay attention in reading since I have already read every book that has and was going to be read this year. My mind drifted on what to make Charlie for dinner so that he wouldn't throw the particularly hot food on me. Eventually, the bell rang and so I was off to my next class of the day.

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After a long, emotionless, and tiring day, it was finally lunch. Sometimes, I would find a dollar lying around and so I would be able to buy some real food. Today was one of those scarce lucky days, and I had found a five dollar bill in the hallway, and after asking everyone around me if they dropped it, I pocketed it and anticipated lunch anxiously.

I went to the back, broken table after I bought a slice of pizza. I could tell the lunch lady was surprised to see me buy something and that she was trying to watch me discreetly. Not only had the students assumed things about me in Forks.

As soon as I took my seat at my empty lunch table, I had shoved half the pizza in my mouth. After devouring most of it I decided to at least attempt to slow down. I needed to make the moment last, no matter how much my body protested.

"Oh my god! Look everyone, ugly duckling is, like, actually eating something! Alert the media!" a nasally voice giggled from behind me. I turned in my seat to see Lauren pointing at me while smiling her wicked smile at me. I didn't answer as not to draw attention to myself in this crowded room, as always. I turned back to my pizza with a sigh, so much for my lucky day, I thought.

It never mattered that I didn't respond. Lauren sauntered over to me with her little cult followers dangling behind her. I still didn't face her, but I was picturing her fake blond hair and painted face, that has been attempted to be cloned into her little posse. I always had to suppress a laugh when the little group attempted to think for themselves, only to look at Lauren for what they should say and how or if they should breathe.

"What Swan, no come back or are you going to just going to act like the worthless filth you, like, always will be?" she sneered. I turned to her but kept my face blank instead of the amusement I truly felt. Lauren couldn't form a sentence without the word like and as for the insult she tried to dish, which was nothing from what I heard from my father. I shivered at that thought.

Lauren, of course, misunderstood my shiver of fear and assumed that she was responsible. She smiled a white, fake, malicious smile, while I restrained myself from slapping that smile off her face. I knew I would never inflict pain physically; I wouldn't fall into the ways of the monster that raised me. I refuse to.

Then I remembered what Lauren had just said. I knew it was a rhetorical question, but I needed her gone, and she wouldn't leave without some form of reaction. I would just give a reaction that doesn't satisfy.

"I'll take the latter, Lauren." I said slowly, like I was speaking to a child, which I would've preferred, and I made sure I pored as much sarcasm as I could into the remark. School was the only place sarcasm wouldn't risk my life, so I used it sparingly. Lauren was obviously confused, by a word she didn't know, but tried to hide it. Idiot. Seriously, even her clones understood what I meant!

"Well, Swan, have fun, like, all alone. I'm going to go sit with something, like, called friends now. Toodles." She spoke in that voice that I concluded, sounded like bubblegum stuck up in someone's nose. She passed by me, and accidentally ran into me. She knocked me out of my seat, which had me landing on my bad shoulder. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

I huffed as I got back into my seat to watch Lauren's back as she walked to her lunch table. She had no idea what I went through daily without her little games. If only she felt it too, then I would enjoy watching her play it off as clumsiness and show weakness to no one. I sighed and shook the bitter thoughts out of my head.

I scoffed down my pizza as the bell rang and hurried off to class.

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The rest of my two periods of school were uneventful. Biology was boring and gym was painful. I hurried to get home and cook Charlie's dinner. I couldn't be late or else the beatings would be worse and they were already horrible.

I quickly drove home in my old truck, avoiding speed limits; it didn't matter if I got into accident and Charlie would be drinking in some bar by now, so no worries about the chief pulling me over. When the car was parked in the driveway and I was sure no one was around, I limped from the car, putting down the exhausting façade.

As I walked into the kitchen, I spotted a note on the fridge. I cautiously approached it as if it would explode any second, since I knew Charlie had left it. After picking it up with shaky fingers, I read it.

Clean up this mess, girl! It's a fucking pigsty! I want to eat spaghetti tonight and it better be hot and on the table when I get home or else you're fucking done.

How sweet.

I quickly did as I was ordered though and started boiling water and sauce while I cleaned the house. I threw away the numerous beer bottles, swept up the broken glass, and scrubbed the blood off the floors and walls, all while making sure the spaghetti didn't burn. Now that was talent!

I had the food on the table just as I heard Charlie's cruiser pull up. There was only one place setting at the table, of course, but I had one waiting just incase Charlie decided to leave without telling me to save him the rest of the food. I crept to the corner in the kitchen, hoping in vain to go unnoticed.

"Girl," Charlie bellowed; he never called me by name, "My food better be on the table!" I knew part of him was hoping that I messed up, but he was hungry and so pleased when he saw the single plate of spaghetti with his beer on the table.

He grumbled unintelligibly as he sat down to eat. He threw me a death glare as forked a few noodles and shoved them into his mouth. Satisfied with his meal, he turned to his plate and took a long swig of his beer. A breath that I didn't know I was holding left me.

Dinner continued this way for about an hour. No one speaking, Charlie glaring at me from the table across the room, and me, waiting for the inevitable. Finally, Charlie glared at me, looking for something out of place; he then glanced down at the plate he all but licked clean, then around the kitchen. I suppressed a sigh; I knew he what he was doing, but then a slow smile spread across his face, much more terrifying then Lauren Mallory could ever hope to be.

Not staring at particularly anything, Charlie conspicuously shoved his arm across the table. He got his desired outcome as I watched as the beer bottle and plate shatter when they hit the ground. I winced as I watched; that wouldn't be the only thing for Charlie to knock to the ground.

"Well lookie here." Charlie said, with disappointment coloring his tone as if I really did cause the mess, "Of course you would leave this mess here for me, after my hard day at work." He mocked sadness, and sighed, but as he briefly wasn't facing me, I saw a wicked smile spread across his thin lips.

"I'm sorry Charlie." I sighed out, and then I snapped up straight. I had made a mistake that would cost me. Unfortunately, Charlie noticed it too, and he whirled around to face me with anger burning in his brown eyes that were passed down to me.

"Charlie? I thought I told that you are not worthy of my name, girl. Would you care to rephrase that last sentence?"

I bowed my head, really acting sorry, but really I was just pissed at myself, "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean it."

"I'll show you sorry, you worthless brat." He sneered as he proceeded to grab me by the hair and threw me roughly onto the floor. He was then kicking me, everywhere he could reach. When I bit my lip to keep from screaming this time, I actually drew blood.

Charlie pulled me up by the hair to eye level. I screwed my eyes tightly shut, trying to block out everything around me. Charlie held me their, and after a few moments I reluctantly opened my eyes to see waiting, fury marring his features, but when I opened my eyes that damned smile reared its ugly head once again.

"Count it out. Every hesitation will earn you five more." He growled. I was confused, but I got it as my head was bashed into the wall. Charlie paused then.

"One," I said shakily. Pleased, Charlie grunted and my head smacked into the wall again.

"Two,"

Bang!

"T-Th-Three,"

Bang!

"F-F…Four," it was becoming increasingly difficult to breath, let alone speak.

Bang!

"F-F-Fi...," I could no longer continue and mentally pleaded for Charlie to be done with it.

"You bitch." Charlie accused. He them moved my head from the blood drenched spot that was contacting with my skull and took me to the mirror hanging on the wall. I caught a glimpse of myself. I was a broken and hideous girl, I thought.

And then Charlie bashed my head into the mirror. I listened to the shattering of glass before the blackness consumed me.


HEY YOU! NO NOT YOU! YOU OVER THERE! YES, YOU! HEY….. review! (Hmm… I guess that rhymes… so you have to review now…. Yes, that does make sense…. To me.)

Okay, here's a warning: I'm going to get all freaky deeky with Bella soon. (Vampires, Bella, and special powers, Oh my!) Don't worry though, it is amazing!

:D