I woke up 10:30am, Thursday.

I guess you do really sleep a lot when you've been awake for almost five days in a row.

Edward and Emmett were in the living room, stayed home from school. It took me a second to register that I was lying on my back, and then the searing burn hit me.

I gasped in shock and rolled violently, falling onto the floor.

Emmett laughed, "Do you always wake yourself up like that, Jazz?" I ignored him when I heard my name come from the kitchen. It was Dr. Cullen.

"No, I think he's still asleep. - He needs to rest; you can speak with him later. - I'm a doctor; I know what's best for him! - No, Mr. Whitlock, I really don't think that's possible."

I sat back on the couch, startled when the Doctor's voice suddenly became fierce and loud, "The only way that your stepping a foot on my property is with a police escort, and I am sure they would love an explanation for his condition. I said later!"

The phone was slammed brutally onto the receiver and I jumped.

I watched silently at the doctor came into the room, face lighting up with surprise.

"Oh, your awake! How are you feeling?"

I grumbled, "Sore as he-" I caught myself and amended, "Very sore."

Emmett shook his head sadly, "Man, you look seriously fucked up."

Carlisle snapped his head to the side and sharply exclaimed, "Emmett Daniel Cullen!"

Emmett glanced warily at his father, "Hey sorry, but it's true. He's like, purple!"

I glanced self-consciously over my shoulder; I was indeed a strange shade of purple.

I sighed and asked, "Was that my dad? Is he coming here?"

I swear I smelt like fear at the very thought. He was bound to be furious. Shit! I am dog bait, a steak hanging in a stick in front of six ravenous Rottweilers.

Dr. Cullen shook his head. "No, he won't be coming anytime soon. But, I do have to let him talk to you sometime today or it can be considered kidnapping."

I leaned forward uncomfortable. I don't want to talk to him! What will he say to me? Will he threatened to go after mom.

I groaned, "I have to go back."

Edward growled defensively, "No you don't! Stay here, at least until Monday. Can he, dad?"

I smiled gratefully at him but insisted, "I have to, Edward. I'll be fine! I have been for years, I just panicked yesterday and I didn't know where else to go. Alice's is too far away."

Dr. Cullen smiled at me, "Well, you can come here any time you have to, okay?"

I nodded and put on a shirt of Emmett's, which was huge and displayed the wounds on my shoulders and behind my neck. The phone rang again and Emmett answered the cordless before his father could.

He pleasantly announced, "Cullen's here!"

His smile faded and he snarled, "He doesn't want to talk to you."

I asked nervously, "Is that him?"

He nodded, I felt my heart racing but I firmly demanded, "Well, give it to me already!

Emmett glowered but obediently handed me the phone.

I pressed it to my ear, "Hello?"

My little store of confidence drained when I heard him roar on the other end. I held the device almost three inches away from my head and could still hear him very clearly.

"Jasper, you little bitch, I can't believe you! Running away from the house in the middle of the fucking night, nobody has a fucking clue where you are. Make me put up with your mothers nagging all day!"

I whispered quietly, "I'm sorry."

Edward practically growled at me in fury. I know I shouldn't be apologizing, but I was too afraid not to.

Dad snorted on the other end, "Yeah, whatever! You need to get your sorry ass home before I come over there and drag you home. Your social worker is coming over, and you had better be here to talk to her!"

The line went dead and I handed the phone back to Emmett.

I buried my face in my hands, "Oh GOD!"

Alerted, Dr. Cullen asked me, "What's the matter?"

I shook my head, "I have to go home now, Fran is going to be there soon!"

I absolutely hate Fran, and she hates me too.

You see, when I was thirteen I got into a really violent fight with this black kid from the school. He had threatened to stab Edward I think, who the fuck remembers.

Anyway, I beat him shitless and he ended up in the hospital.

He made some huge drama over it being a race-hate attack and I ended up in jail for almost 14 hours while mom sorted everything out. They let me go when I convinced them it was self-defense, but ever since I have a social worker that visits once or twice a month.

She thinks' I'm devil spawn.

I guess I am in a way, but not the way she thinks.

Dr. Cullen frowned, "I'll take you home then, I'm going that way for work."

He left and headed towards his car.

Suddenly terrified with what awaited me, I asked Edward desperately, "Can you call me tonight?"

He looked somber and he nodded quickly.

I swallowed back a knot of terror and whispered, "If I don't answer, call the cops."

Was I serious, or just being dramatic?

After considering it, I think I was serious.

Dr. Cullen stood in front of me like a shield when he knocked firmly on my front door. I had my hands shoved into my pockets and my head lowered to stare at my feet.

A few seconds later the door swung open and I heard dad growl, "What do you want?"

Dr. Cullen's stony voice had an icy bite to it; "I just wanted to make sure that Jasper made it to the door alright."

My dad snorted, "Why, is he four?"

I bit my lip when Dr. Cullen whispered menacingly, "I think you know why."

After a few seconds of silence I braved lifting my eyes. They stood inches away from one another, each glaring fiercely at the other. It looked like they were seconds away from hostility becoming too much.

Dad's eyes snapped to me and he ordered, "Well, hurry up and get inside, you useless child."

I was tense and I held my breath as I slowly walked past him, waiting for him to strike me.

However, the attack never came.

I forced my throbbing heart to stop thudding madly in my chest and quickly darted up the stairs. I closed the door of my bedroom and changed into a long-sleeve shirt that concealed my welts.

I lay on my right side on the bed before, soon, the door opened and a woman of 35 entered the room. She wore a fancy woman-suit and carried a large briefcase.

My nemesis has arrived.

She sat right across from me, on my desk chair.

She asked, "How are you, Jasper?"

A bitter wave of hateful thoughts surged forward.

I was throbbing, tender, and even the shirt touching me hurt two days after the beating hurt. AIR hurts. I was almost too petrified to enter my own house and I think my dad is plotting ways to kill me so I ran away.

I forced a smile and lightly answered, "Oh, I'm just wonderful, how about you?"

She ignored my question to her and asked, "Did you get that bruise from your fight?"

For one cold second I felt fear chocking me. What bruise, where!? Then I remembered the one above my eye and nodded.

"I forgot about that! Sure did."

She frowned and shook her head, sighing, "What's the excuse for this time, Jasper? You almost broke a 13 year olds nose." I propped my head up on my hand, creating a triangle with my arm and neck.

I honestly answered, "They were fucking with a girl, what kind of a gentleman would I be if I allowed that, hmm?"

She asked automatically, "What girl?"

I scoffed, "Like I know the entire female population?"

Her frown deepened, "Mr. Whitlock, you can't just go around hitting people. There is always a non-violent path to handle bullies."

Holy hell, I wanted this woman out of my business!

I nodded agreeably, "You are absolutely correct, Fran. Next time I feel the urge to do bad, I'll pull out of Popsicle instead and try to end world hunger with it. That's completely non-violent, right?"

She glared testily at me and warned, "No more fighting, Jasper!"

I shrugged and she rolled her eyes, sauntering out of the room.

An hour or two later, my hyper-alert ears heard that so-dreaded sound of heavy boots striking the stairs. I sat in complete silence as I watched the brass doorknob turning.