~ Sydney POV ~

"Sydney!" I heard my dad call from downstairs. I looked up from my homework shocked. My dad never, and I mean never, talked to me. I always had to start the conversation. I don't blame him though…like Paul said, I'm the bitch that killed her own mother. If only I hadn't called her to pick me up from my dance studio.

I shook my head, blinking back tears, and ran down stairs. When I got downstairs my dad was in the kitchen looking into his coffee cup with a tired and slightly frustrated expression. I sighed. We are probably out of coffee again I thought. "Sydney, we're out of coffee. Will you please go to the store and get some?" See, what did I tell you. I could still read my dad like a book even though he's been closed up for two years. Which was once again, my fault I sighed. "Sure. I'll be back in a few minutes." He just nodded and went back to working on the computer.

I quickly ran upstairs and grabbed my sweater, even though it was really nice out. The sun was even shinning, but I just felt too exposed without a sweater or long sleeve shirt. I grabbed my dad's keys on my way out and hopped into his old truck.

As I drove over to the only convenience store in town, some Taylor Swift song started playing. I grimaced and shut the radio off. The La Push Convenience Store was owned by Tiffany Call. The mother of my old best friend Embry. Before Paul and Jared started abusing me, I had lots of friends. But Quil Ateara, Jacob Black, and Embry Call were definitely my best friends, but I was closest to Embry. We stopped talking after he found one of the dark purple bruises that Paul gave me on my arm. He asked who gave me it and I, for whatever deranged reason, refused to tell him. After that he refused to talk to me, and after a while I gave up trying to get him to talk to me. That's when my life basically lost all meaning. Paul and Jared's beatings were getting worse and I had absolutely no one.

I parked the car in front of the door as I felt something wet on my cheek. I looked into the rear-view mirror and realized I was crying. I started to wipe the tears away when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I looked out the right window and realized Jacob and Quil were watching me. After a minute they looked away and quickly walked into the store, which meant Embry was here. Great. Now I have to deal with all 3 of them. I wiped the rest of the tears away and quietly went inside the store.

As soon as I walked in I could hear and see the guys talking about me. "Dude she was crying!" Jake whisper-yelled at Embry.

Embry shook his head defiantly. "It obviously wasn't Sydney 'cause Sydney doesn't cry." I sighed, not wanting to listen anymore, and tried to sneak past them.

"Sydney!" Obviously that didn't work. I held my breath and tensed as I was soon enveloped in a bone-crushing hug by Quil. After a minute he gently put me down and Quil and Jake stood in front of me while Embry stayed where he was and continued to sweep the floor.

"God, Syd. We have seen you in forever. You're not avoiding us are you?" Jake asked somewhat jokingly.

"Don't call me Syd." I said hotly. They used to call me Syd all the time. Quil sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Come on Sydney, don't go all anti-social on us just because Embry is being idiotic again!" Quil whined. Embry snorted from behind them.

"Don't try to deny it." Jake shouted over his shoulder.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever." My voice came out somewhat hoarse. I turned to go down the next aisle, when I felt Jake grab my arm. I tried to jerk my arm out of his hand, but he had a firm grip. "Let me go." His eyebrows were drawn together in confusion and there was concern evident in his eyes. I glanced at Quil and he seemed to be staring at the same thing Jake was, with concern written all over his face. Realization suddenly hit me. They were looking at my neck. The bruise. Shit. This is the last thing I need. I desperately tried to pull my arm out of his hand again, but his grip just tightened.

I instantly froze from fear. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Relax. Jake is not like Paul or Jared. He won't hurt me. I suddenly felt Jake's hand trace the bruise lightly and I flinched as tears instantly filled my eyes. He noticed and pulled his hand away. "Who did that to you?" He asked in a low voice. I could tell that they were both angry. I nervously laughed. "The bruise? Oh, I just tripped and fell don't worry about it." My voice was an octave higher than normal and I knew they could tell I was lying. "Sydney. It's in the shape of a hand." Embry's head snapped towards our direction and he was in front of me in a flash, tilting my head up so he could look at the bruise. I looked over his shoulder and could see Quil faintly smirking at Jake.

Embry started to shake slightly and I could see a murderous glint in his eyes. I scoffed and pushed him away. In that instant his expression changed from murderous to concerned and pained.

"Sydney–" He started but I cut him off. "No, Embry. No. Don't act like you care about the bruise. Or about who gave it to me. Because you don't care." My voice was deadly calm as I glared at him. "If you really cared about me, you wouldn't have left me when I needed you most. You wouldn't have left me totally alone." By now Embry was shaking violently and looked extremely pained. I shot Jake and Quil one last look before I ran out of the store, forgetting what I ever came there for. I only paused to see Sam Uley walking swiftly into the store.

I felt tears start to sting my eyes as I drove out of the store's parking lot. I really did miss Embry. But I've changed. I've learned not trust anyone. They'll only hurt you and leave you all by yourself. My vision blurred as the tears continued to silently fill up my eyes. I finally stopped driving and let myself out of the car at First Beach. I slipped my shoes off and walked onto the sand. I sat down a foot in front of the water and stared blankly out at the water, silent tears making their way down my face.

When I got tired of sitting, I slowly got up and did something I haven't done in 2 years. I danced. I used to love to dance. I had taken weekly classes in tap, ballet, modern, and jazz in Port Angeles since the age of three. I had stopped after the accident. Humming the music from my iPod I started a modern dance that was always my favorite. I spun and jumped, and I slowly felt myself grin as I got more into the dance. Soon I had zoned everything else out and closed my eyes as I leaped across the beach, fully grinning now. After what seemed like only seconds I finished the dance breathing heavily.

I jumped slightly when I heard someone clapping from behind me. Startled I spun around and saw the one person I absolutely did not want to see right now. Paul! He was only a few feet away from me, grinning. Fear instantly consumed me. He took a step closer to me, and I took a small one back, still consumed with fear.

"You were absolutely amazing!" He said almost as if he were in awe, as I looked down at the compliment. "I didn't know you could dance." The last part came out as a whisper and I wouldn't have heard it, but somehow, during the second I had looked down, he had moved so close to me that we were only a few inches apart.

Shocked, by his close proximity, I stumbled a few steps back, then scowled. "You wouldn't. The only thing you know about me is that I'm a good punching bag." He flinched and started to shake a little at my words.

"Sydney," he whispered. "I am very sorry. Nothing in the world could make up for what I did to you. I was a horrible person to you ." He paused looking at me intently with sad eyes. "I'm so sorry, I hope that you can forgive me for the stuff that I did to you in the past. I want to start over and try to be friends with you. I just hope that you will let and give me that chance." He whispered again, looking at the ground.

I laughed bitterly and his head snapped up to look at me. "If you really think I will ever forgive you, Paul, then you are certifiably insane. You almost killed me! Not to mention ruined my life. I lost all my friends, because of you. I lost everything I ever loved. Because of you." I said in an icy cold voice as I backed away. "My life may be messed up, but I'm not an idiot. I won't forgive you. Goodbye Paul." With that I spun around and sprinted to the truck and hoped inside. I glanced in Paul's direction one more time, and saw him on his knees. His hands were trying to wipe the tears trailing down his face. My only thought taking a look back to him, was that is how I felt every day when he picked on me.

I quickly drove back to the house. When I got there I realized that I had never bought the coffee. I quietly cursed, but climbed out of the truck. My dad, still holding his coffee cup, was sitting in the living room. He looked at me expectantly. I sighed. "They were all out of coffee." Was all I said before I ran upstairs and locked my door. I sat on my bed and hugged myself. I fell asleep to the howls of a pained wolf.