A/N: well, I'm going to try to write a lot the next week or so. I'm going on vacation on the fifteenth for ten days and when school starts I'll probably on post once or twice a week. BUT I STILL RECOMMEND YOU READ! Haha, I really appreciate your support! Buh bye

Kim kept a good watch on the time to make sure we were home before my dad got home. Thirty minutes before we were expected to be home she told everyone that we had to leave. She saved my ass.

Embry gave me a peck on the lips as a good bye, and my butterflies came back again. After two or three hours of sitting on his lap, his touch no longer brought butterflies, but his kisses sure did.

"Take care of yourself," he whispered. I nodded slowly, in taking the warmth from his body. It made me feel so amazing, so alive, that I never wanted to let go. Too bad I would never have him, no matter how much I wanted him.

"Okay," I whispered back, taking myself out of his hug as slowly as possible, making sure every second was a second well spent. It was.

Kim took my hand, leading me out the door as she called good byes at everyone. Sadly, I simply looked down at my boots, kicking the snow.

"I know you like him," Kim whispered. "You can like him if you want."

"But I can't," I chuckled insecurely. "If my dad ever found out; I can already see my tomb stone."
"Don't think like that, Payton," Kim almost shouted. "If you just told somebody and got help..."
"I don't want help!" I snapped back defensively. "I don't need help, okay? I don't need it."

The rest of the walk home was silent, and I didn't even know how I could say another word to Kim. All she was trying to do was help me, and I was pushing her further and further away.

She was the only person that I could trust in this world, and even she couldn't talk any sense into me. My mother had friends like that when she first married my dad, but she was ruled by fear. I was too.

We got to my house within five minutes, and Kim convinced me that she would walk home. So, she took all her clothes, gave me a hug, and left me without a word.

Every worst nightmare was running through my mind. What if Kim left me forever? I couldn't live if she wasn't my friend. Without her I was nothing; she was my best friend. She helped me with everything. Why did everything have to be so complicated?
After a while of thinking I fell asleep snuggly on my bed. When I was in my dreams, nothing could hurt me. I was away from everything, and that was all that I needed.

(Kim's POV)
I felt bad for leaving Payton all alone like that, especially since her mom wasn't home, but I couldn't handle being around her when she was scared to death.

Sourly I hurried up the stairs without saying hello to my mom. I tossed my bag on my bed and fell backwards. How great it felt to be back in my own bed again. Last night was the scariest night of my life. I couldn't blame Payton for being scared every moment of her life.
If only there was some way that I could help Payton without getting her hurt. If only I could tell her that everything was okay and make her believe that.

She was my little sister, and it hurt me to see her, like if someone had ever hurt Jared or Claire. My heart would break.

I drifted off to sleep, hoping, praying, that things would get better. If only things were that simple.

(Payton's POV)
"Payton!"
A hard voice entered my thoughts and dreams. It was my dad.

"Payton, I know you're here! Come downstairs!"
Without another thought I left my room and walked downstairs to my dad. He was sitting in his normal spot with some basket ball game on.

He didn't even look me in the eye. "Come here."

I let my feet drag to his side, and that is when he looked up at me. His eyes were filled with anger and irritation.

"You look nice today," he mused.

I froze. "Thanks, sir."
He got up from his seat on the chair and pushed me against the wall. My head slammed against it.

He slapped me across the left cheek and punched me in the stomach. I looked away, tears forming in my eyes. He grabbed my face so I looked him in the eyes.

"You're such an ungrateful bitch." He pushed his lips against mine with more force than he ever had. He ripped my shirt off and took my breasts.

I tried to pull my face away, but when I did he left go of my left breast and held my face towards him.

"Please stop," I whispered as best as I could. "Please stop."
He pushed me down on the floor and slid his hands down my pants. When my crying turned into screaming he slapped me hard and pulled my head back by my hair.

"Stop talking, you little whore." I took another hit to the side of my stomach, then a punch to my face. I could feel a crack and the red liquid falling down my face before I was knocked out.

My head ached when I came back into consciousness. It hurt too much to even try to open my eyes, let alone think. I couldn't remember what happened, or who caused this pain. All I wanted was the pain to go away.

Before long I felt someone touch my face, and I moaned in pain. The person shushed me and continued to trace something over my face.

Strength returned to my body and I opened my eyes. Standing above me was my mother with a cloth covered in blood. My stomach curled together as I examined my naked body. There were bruises everywhere, mostly on my stomach and between my legs from what I could see.

"Mom," I gurgled, my eyes drifting open and closed constantly.

"Shh, Payton," she whispered. "Everything's alright. Just be quiet."

"It hurts Mommy," I moaned. "It hurts so bad."

"I know, baby," she cooed, tracing the cloth over my thighs. "Let me get you cleaned up."
"Mommy, where am I? Why am I not in school?"

She shook her head. "You're not going to school today. You have too many bruises. Now be quiet and go back to sleep."

Without warning my body followed my mother's order, and I was passed out again.

(Embry's POV)
I walked into Physics class, and I didn't see Payton there. An alarm set off in my brain, and I needed to find her.
Still, I was in school, and there wasn't much that I could do to get to her.

The seat next to me was empty, and that was strange. She was usually in class about ten minutes before the bell rang.

And there went the bell. She wasn't here.

There was no way I could concentrate today. When she wasn't near me I couldn't concentrate. I always worried about where she was and if she was okay. There was always the possibility that she "fell down the stairs" again, and was seriously injured. For all I knew she could've been in the hospital on a respirator and a bunch of needles shoved up her arm.

Classes passed as slowly as ever until I could talk to Kim. She had to know where Payton was. They were best friends, right? I convinced myself she would know.

In the hallways between fourth period and lunch was where I knew I'd find Kim. She was always leaning against her locker, talking to some other of her girlfriends.

When she saw me her smile dropped. She said goodbye to her girlfriends quickly and walked over to me.

"Have you seen Payton?"

She stole the words right out of my mouth.

I shook my head. "I thought you'd know."
"Shit," she mumbled. "I shouldn't have left her."

My eyes widened. "What?"
She looked up at me. "Nothing. Look, I'll go to her house after school and check up on her."

"I'm coming too," I said firmly.

She shook her head. "No, you're not. I'll go, and if it's anything that urgent I'll call you, alright?"

"Kim, you know how I feel about Payton," I whispered. "You gotta let me come with you."

"You're not coming," she growled. "And that's final. If you follow me or anything I will personally chew your head off."

"Alright," I sighed. "I won't. Just, tell me how she is alright?"

"I will." She hugged me. "Don't worry, Em, it's probably just a cold or something. She's used to warmer weather."

"If you're sure," I whispered. "Make sure she knows I'm thinking about her, alright?"

Kim smiled. "I will, alright. Don't worry about anything. She's probably fine. Don't get yourself worked up over nothing."
I took her into another hug before I walked away.

I couldn't see anything that reminded me of Payton.

(Kim's POV)
Why am I so God dammed stupid? I never should've left her alone, especially when I knew her dad would be there. He hurt her, why? Why did he always hurt her? How can I stop it? Shit, he hurt her.

So many thoughts ran through my mind as I drove to her house after school. He could've done anything to her while she was alone in that house with her father. He could've raped her for all that I knew. I should've never left her.

There was only one car in the driveway when I pulled up. As quickly as I could, I ran to the door and rang the doorbell.

Her mom answered, and she looked both excited and scared to see me.

"I don't think you should come in," she whispered, not opening the door far enough for me to see inside.

"Please, Mrs. Marquis," I whispered. "I just have to see if she's okay."

"Mom," Payton moaned from inside. "Who is it?"

Mrs. Marquis looked back. "It's Kim, honey. Do you want to see her?"

"Yea, Mom. I do."
Mrs. Marquis opened the door, and I gasped when I saw Payton.

She looked dead, covered in big, purple and black bruises and big gashes. She wasn't going to be able to hide those that easily, not the way she looked.

"Come here Kim," she whispered.

"This is all my fault," I muttered, tears welling in my eyes. "I shouldn't have left you."

"It's my fault too, Kimberly," Mrs. Marquis tried to ease my pain. "I should've never left her alone in this house. Usually it's not this bad."

"Usually?" I almost screamed. "How often does he hurt her?"

"Kim," Payton whispered. "Stop yelling please. It hurts my head."
"Oh," I sighed. "Sorry."
"I'll be back at school tomorrow," She tried to stretch out, but she gasped in pain. Mrs. Marquis shushed her and pet her hair.

"Don't do that," she whispered. "You know that hurts."
"But I'm so cooped up," Payton whined. "When can I get up mommy?"
"Tomorrow, alright?" Mrs. Marquis cooed. "Just rest for today."
Tears were tracing my cheeks as I looked down on what had to be Payton. She was hurt so badly, and if I had staid with her... He could've taken me instead. She took it too easily. She acted like she was okay. She wasn't okay.

Payton reached for my hand, and I placed mine in hers.

"I'm fine, Kim." A weak smile was over her face. "Alright? I'll be back in school tomorrow, and I'll be fine. There's nothing to worry about, alright? I'm fine."
My eyes traced her body, and the tears were still going smoothly. She was lying; she wasn't "fine". She was hurt, and she didn't want me to see it. Frankly, it was written all over her face.

I shook my head. "Someone's going to notice."

"Embry?" she asked. "You didn't..."
"No," I interrupted. "No, I didn't, but he's suspecting something already. You'd better hide those bruises good."

"I've been doing it for the past seven years."

"This isn't okay Payton!" I yelled, crying fluidly. "He could've killed you!"

Mrs. Marquis wrapped her arms around me in a hug and began rubbing my back as I cried. I cried for the pain that Payton had, and what she was going through. I cried that I didn't prevent this. I cried because I felt every bad emotion at once.

"Kim," Payton whispered. "Kim, this isn't your fault."
"If I staid with you," I sobbed, looking back at Payton. "This wouldn't have happened. I could've stopped him."
Payton shook her head. "No, you wouldn't have. He would've hurt you. It's best that you weren't here. Only one of us deserved it."
"You didn't deserve this," I whispered. "No one deserves… this."

"I know," she replied. "But, hey. I'm not going home alone again. The bruises will go away in a week or so."
"Yeah," I continued. "I know. Still... it must've hurt."
"I was passed out for most of it," she sighed. "Really, I'm fine."

"Kimberly, you should go before Michael gets home," Mrs. Marquis said, putting an arm around me. "Thank you for coming to see Payton."
I gave Payton's hand a squeeze, and then was engulfed in Mrs. Marquis arms.

"Take care, Kim," Payton mused.

"Feel better." I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Bye."
With that I walked out the door, feeling worse than I did before I came.