Hello!
I'm back from the dead!
Just kidding.
But seriously, I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long. I've been dealing with a bunch of stuff right now and I really didn't feel motivated to write anything.
I've written this chapter and it took a different turn than I had originally intended, but I hope you guys like it anyway. I'm sorry if it sucks. I also apologize for any mistakes you might come across, I wrote this late at night while putting off homework.
ATTENTION! IMPORTANT: I think it was in the second chapter that I said this was set in New Moon. Well, the original idea that went with that has kind of...died. Nothing that has already happened in the story changes. It's what I'm going to do that changes. So, I'm just going to tell you that this is now set a little after the last book. I'm really sorry about changing it like this and it's probably a terrible thing to do, but I think this will be better than my original idea. So I'm really, really sorry.
Anyway.
I hope you guys aren't too upset with me.
Enjoy the chapter. I hope it doesn't disappoint you guys.
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And I can't pretend I don't see this
It's really not your fault
When no one cares to talk about it
To talk about it
Cause I've seen love die
Way too many times
When it deserved to be alive
I've seen you cry
Way too many times
When you deserved to be alive
-Paramore, Emergency-
Luna:
Normally I don't mind getting up in the mornings. Unless I've received a brutal beating or I've spent all night studying for one of Ms. Walters's Pre-Cal tests. However, this particular morning, I woke up to the sound of slamming and shuffling.
Prying my eyes open, I saw a dark figure tearing through the items on my dresser. Papers from my desk were thrown in the floor, and the lamp on my nightstand was in the floor. Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I sat up and felt my blood go cold.
My mother's back was to me. She was dressed in one of her many suits, but it looked less polished than normal. There were wrinkles in the gray fabric, her heels were mismatched, and her usual tight bun was unkempt and messy.
I watched as she carelessly tore through all of my belongings in a fit of rushed rage. I felt a sense of invasion. My room had always been a safe haven. The last time she came into my room was when she still cared about me. My room was supposed to be the one place that was safe.
"What're you doing?" I asked throwing the covers off of me and stumbling out of bed.
Vera turned to me, her brown eyes wild and glazed over. Stepping closer I could smell the repulsive stench of alcohol on her. I felt my stomach drop to my feet. She was drunk. Not good. Not good at all.
A small voice in the back of my head yelled at me to run.
Vera made a noise in the back of her throat, "YOU!" she yelled pointing an accusing finger at me. Vera stumbled over to me. In her heels she was a few feet taller than I was, and I was forced to look up at her. I could smell the alcohol all over her. It was as if she's taken a bath in it.
"You took my—hic—diamond necklace! GIVE IT BACK!" She yelled blowing her smelly alcoholic breath all over my face. The stench made me feel sick to my stomach.
"No I didn't! I've never gone in your room!" I said.
Anger blazed in her eyes, "Liar! You little thief! It's gone and you're the—hic—only one that's been here!" she slurred angrily.
"I've never gone into your room! Ever! It was probably Harold! He has a key to the house and just comes and goes whenever he wants to!" I yelled.
My mother's face turned red in anger, "Stop lying to me! I know it was you! NOW GIVE IT BACK!" she yelled slapping me across the face. Damn. I still had healing bruises. I didn't need another one!
Clutching my cheek I glared at her, "I don't have it!" I yelled frustrated.
Angrily, Vera grabbed me by my forearm. Her manicured nails dug into my skin. "Give it—hic—back! Or else!" she threatened squeezing my arm so hard that her nails actually drew blood.
"What else are you going to do?! You've done just about everything other than kill me!" I yelled feeling tears prick at my eyes.
"Why not?! Everyone would be—hic—better off if you were dead! Why couldn't you just finish the job? Of course Blythe had to step in, the bitch" My mother yelled shoving me to the ground.
A few tears fell down my cheeks as her words sliced through me. She's insulted me countless times and beaten me more times than I can count on my hands. This shouldn't have affected me that much, but it did. It was like whatever was left of my heart was shattered, stepped on, crushed, and burned. At this moment, I silently wished Aunt Blythe hadn't stopped me. At this moment, I wish I hadn't made that promise.
Vera kicked me in the stomach. I clutched my stomach as I lay on the ground wheezing pitifully. My already bruised stomach cried out in agony. My mother sneered at me before storming out of my room. I could hear her heels against the floor. I heard her go into my bathroom, probably to go through my stuff to look for her necklace. I had to get out of here before anymore damage could be done.
Slowly I pulled myself off the ground and to my feet. Taking deep ragged breaths I gradually made my way to my door. The light in the bathroom was on and I could hear her throwing bottles around and emptying all contents of my bathroom into the floor. I shuffled to the top of the stairs in hopes to make it downstairs before she could toss me around some more.
"Luna! YOU LITTLE SHIT! GIVE ME—hic—MY NECKLACE!" Vera yelled storming out of my trashed bathroom. In her drunken rage, she grabbed me by my shoulder and shoved me down the stairs. I tumbled down the hardwood stairs; I tried to grab onto the railing to stop myself but I couldn't. With a loud bang and sickening crack I landed at the bottom of the stairs in a crumpled heap.
There was intense pain in my right leg and I couldn't stop from screaming. It was ear splitting and I'm surprised our neighbors didn't hear it—not like they'd care. I didn't care that my mother could hear me. It just hurt so bad. I slowly tried to untangle myself and to my horror I saw my right leg bent at an odd angle. I couldn't move it. I was shaking, in pain, and scared.
My mother made her way down the stairs and walked right past me. She glanced back at me, "Serves you—hic—right, shit face" she said and then stormed out of the house.
Rowan:
"Where are you Luna?" I asked myself as I stared in the direction Luna normally came in.
She normally arrived at almost exactly 7:15, maybe 7:17 if she was running a little late. I sat on the porch steps, twirling a blade of grass in my hand. With every passing second that I didn't see Luna walking toward me, the more I started to worry. I watched a few cars pass by. I tried occupying myself by trying to teach myself to whistle. I've never been able to do it, and I tried to keep my mind from thinking of worst-case scenarios.
After five minutes of failed whistling attempts, I gave up. I got to my feet and picked my backpack up. I slowly put it on, trying to wait to see if Luna would suddenly come running down the street proclaiming that she's just overslept. I tried to convince myself that I should just go to school. I was going to be late enough as is, but I couldn't make my foot take that first step.
A small voice in the back of my head kept nagging at me. Maybe it was the fact that Luna had opened up to me about her abusive home life. Something just felt wrong. I don't know if she's hurt, she could be fine for all I know.
I forced myself to turn around in the direction of school. But instead of taking that first step toward school, I ended up running right back into the house. Everyone was already gone. I rushed over to the phone on the small table beside the couch. I snatched it up and went to punch in numbers.
"Ugh! I don't know her phone number! I'm an idiot!" I said angrily throwing it onto the couch.
Rushing back out the door, I started fast walking in the direction Luna always comes. Smacking my hand to my forehead, I realized that I didn't know where she lived either. Some friend I am. An idea popped into my head, and before I fully realized what I was doing I was running full sprint toward the school. My backpack pounded against my back and I almost tripped three times. But I didn't stop running. Coach Fredricks would be so proud of me.
When I made it to the school it was drizzling, and I was out of breath. My sides hurt and my legs ached. I was extremely late. I'd already missed most of first period. I searched the student parking lot and was happy to see Embry's truck. I tried opening a door. Locked. Damn it. Sighing in frustration I quickly went down the line until I found a door that opened.
Throwing the door open I entered the school. The bell rang and suddenly students poured into the hallways. Then it dawned on me that I don't know where Embry is. He always seems to find me. It shouldn't have been hard to spot him, but I couldn't find him.
"Of all times for him not to suddenly show up and scare me!" I exclaimed trying to peer over the crowd of people.
"Who show up?"
I jumped about ten feet in the air. Speak of the devil. Turning on my heel I saw not only Embry, but Paul and some other huge muscled guy standing behind me that I didn't know the name of. "Oh thank God!" I said feeling a huge amount of relief upon seeing them.
Embry seemed to take in my disheveled appearance and immediately looked worried, "What's wrong? Why are you panting?" he asked.
"I just ran here, but that's not the point! I need your help!" I said.
"What is it?" Embry asked obviously worried.
"It's not me! It's Luna" I said. At the mention of Luna's name Paul perked up.
"Luna? What's wrong with her? Has something happened? Is that why she wasn't here this morning?" Paul demanded firing questions at me before I could even comprehend them.
I took a deep unsteady breath trying to collect my thoughts, "I-I don't know. She didn't show up this morning and at first I thought maybe she was just late. But she never came. I-I'm not sure if she's hurt but I just have a really bad feeling that won't go away. I can't call her and I don't know where she lives so I need your help!" I said becoming very anxious.
Paul started shaking and looked like he was both in pain and angry. The guy who I don't know the name of stepped up, "Paul, Embry you guys go ahead. I'll cover for you" he said.
Paul was already rushing out the door. "C'mon Rowan" Embry said gently grabbed my hand and leading me out the door as well. By the time we climbed into Embry's truck Paul had already sped past us. Embry quickly peeled out of the parking lot and took off after Paul. I tried not to look at the speedometer as we barreled down the road. Being in cars makes me nervous, and Embry was forced to go way over the speed limit to keep up with Paul.
I'm glad Paul came along because I'm not sure Embry would've known where to go. I just immediately went to him for some reason.
"It'll be okay Rowan. I promise" Embry said gently taking my hand again. His hand was extremely warm and engulfed mine. For some reason it calmed me down a little bit. "I hope I'm just overreacting and nothing's wrong…" I trailed off.
Embry glanced at me and gave my hand a comforting squeeze.
At the breakneck speed we'd been going, it only took us a few minutes to reach Luna's house. It looked to be just a little smaller than Clara and Jack's house. From the outside it appeared as if nothing was wrong. Even before Embry had time to come to a complete stop I threw the door open and jumped out. I ran to the door and was both surprised and thankful when I discovered that the door wasn't locked.
Opening the door, I stepped into Luna's home. It was spotless. If I didn't know any better, I'd say no one lived here at all. The lights were out. Looking back out the door I saw Embry and Paul standing just below the porch steps that led up to the door. Embry seemed to be restraining Paul, who was still shaking but looked to be trying to control himself. "You go on ahead, Rowan. We'll be here if you need us" Embry said.
Paul looked like he was about to protest, but Embry stopped him, "Let Rowan go ahead. You're no good to Luna if you can't get a hold of your anger!" he said.
That statement slightly confused me, but I turned around and walked further into the house. "Luna?" I called. At first only silence greeted me, and I strained my ears to hear anything. "Luna?!" I yelled again.
"R-Rowan?"
"Luna, where are you?!"
"Over here! A-At the stairs!" She yelled her voice cracking.
In the living room I could see only the upper part of the stairs. Heart racing, I quickly walked through the living room and toward the stairs. I felt my heart almost stop at the sight. Luna was lying at the foot of the stairs. She was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and I could see bruises that covered her legs, arms, and face. I felt my stomach turn violently when I realized that her leg was bent at an odd angle—broken. Her eyes were red and puffy and a few tears fell down her cheeks.
"E-Embry! P-Paul! H-Help!" I yelled.
It wasn't five seconds before Paul came barreling into the house with Embry close on his heels. Paul paused for just a moment to stare in horror at Luna. He started shaking again, and Embry placed a hand on his shoulder. "Paul. She needs you. Help now, angry later" he said.
"Easy for you to say…" Paul growled out, but nonetheless he slowly approached Luna and gently picked her up in his arms bridal style. She flinched when her leg was jostled slightly. "Meet you at the hospital" he said before carefully carrying her out of the house.
"C'mon Rowan. Let's go" Embry said wrapping an arm around my shoulders and lead me out of the house.
Luna:
The ride to the hospital was long and silent. Paul didn't talk at all the entire ride. He was tense the whole time, and I knew he was angry. It reminded me of when he first saw all of my bruises. I didn't feel like trying to keep a conversation up anyway. My entire body throbbed from falling down the stairs and of course my right leg hurt a lot.
When we pulled into the hospital in Forks, Paul quickly parked. Embry and Rowan pulled into the parking lot not too long after we parked. Paul jumped out of his seat and came over to my door. He gently lifted me off the seat, careful not to bump my leg or anything. He held me as if I'd break into a million pieces if he wasn't careful enough.
When he brought me into the hospital a nurse came and brought me a wheel chair. Rowan and Embry were forced to wait in the waiting room while Paul came back with me. I could tell Rowan wanted to come with me, but Embry stopped her for some reason. After I was put into the wheelchair by a reluctant Paul. Then, the long process of x-rays, waiting to see the doctor, finally getting to see him only to have him tell me that my leg was broken—duh—and finally have a cast put on ensued. It was a hard cast, and I chose blue for the color.
They gave me crutches and I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork. It was a long process and when it was all finished I was absolutely exhausted. I wanted to get out of this hospital as soon as possible. Hospitals make me feel almost sick to my stomach. Ever since my Aunt Blythe died I haven't been able to handle going to a hospital very well. Plus, I wanted to get away from all the accusatory looks the doctors and nurses gave Paul when they saw the bruises, and the sympathetic looks they gave me.
They didn't know anything.
Slowly I hobbled out into the waiting room. Rowan perked up as soon as the door opened. "Luna!" She said jumping from her seat. She walked over to me and gave me an awkward one armed hug.
"How long do you have to keep the cast on?" She asked.
"Oh…only six weeks" I said.
Rowan shook her head, "Luna, I'm so sorry. I wish I could've done more" she said looking at me apologetically.
I gave her a look, "You're kidding me, right? If you hadn't come to check up on me I would probably still be laying at the bottom of the stairs. Why did you come, anyway?" I asked.
Rowan shrugged, "I don't know. At first I thought you were just late, but then you never came at all. I just felt like something was wrong. Luna….did…did your mother do this to you?" She asked quietly.
My gaze fell to the floor, "Yeah. She was drunk. I doubt she'll come home for a couple nights. When she gets drunk she usually disappears for a couple days" I said.
"What about when she does come back? Luna, you can't stay there with her. She could hurt you even worse" Rowan said.
"I have nowhere else to go" I said.
"You could stay with me at Jack and Clara's. Talon can sleep in my bed and I can find a sleeping bag or something" Rowan offered.
I almost started crying again. I was tempted to take the offer, but I don't know how well I'd like staying in a house with people I don't know. Yes, I know who they are but I don't know them personally. Plus, I don't think I could kick Talon out of his bed and make Rowan sleep on the floor.
"I can't kick you and Talon out of your beds. Plus…I wouldn't feel comfortable in a house full of people I don't know" I said.
"Luna, it's no trouble. I'd be there with you, and if I ever had to run an errand for Clara, I know Talon would stay with you until I got back" Rowan said trying to sway me.
The pleading look in Rowan's eyes almost made me say yes. But, I really didn't want to stay in an unfamiliar place surrounded by unfamiliar people. "Really…I'll be fine" I said. Rowan didn't look convinced, "Fine. But you're giving me your phone number and you better carry it everywhere with you. I'll give you Jack and Clara's home number. These are the moments when I wish I could afford a cell phone" Rowan said.
"Alright, alright…that would be too convenient" I said.
Rowan snatched a pen off of some table nearby and I used it to write my home phone number on her hand. Then she used it to write Jack and Clara's on my hand. Rowan tossed the pen onto the table, "You know, there is a good thing about this" she said.
"What?" I asked.
She smiled, "You get out of gym" she said.
I laughed, "Oh yeah…that thought didn't even cross my mind."
"Lucky. Now I'll have to run laps all alone" Rowan joked.
"I'd much rather run laps" I said. Rowan gave me a look, "I know…I know" she said. Rowan glanced around the room until her eyes landed on the only clock in the room. Her eyes widened considerably, "Oh my God! It's 3:45! I have to get home, there's no telling what Clara is making Talon do!" Rowan said.
I gave her a confused look, "What now?"
Rowan looked at me, "Clara likes to make Talon do things like wash sharp knives and take out garbage that's twice his size. I have to get home before she makes him do something like handle bleach or something!" she said.
Clara makes a six year old wash knives? What an idiot.
"Go on ahead! I'll see you tomorrow morning. Don't worry about me" I said.
Rowan gave me a thankful look, "See you tomorrow" she said quickly before rushing out the door. It wasn't until she left that I realized that Paul and Embry had gone outside at one point during out conversation.
Rowan:
"Embry!" I called.
He and Paul were standing by his truck that wasn't parked too far away. Embry's head snapped up immediately, "What is it? Is anything wrong?" He asked looking worried.
"I just realized what time it was and I have to get home or Clara's going to have my head!" I said running over to them.
"Alright. Don't worry. Jump in the truck, we'll leave in just a second" he said.
I climbed into the passenger seat of his truck. In the side mirror I saw him tell Paul something. I couldn't hear the words but I assumed he was telling him to try and keep his anger under control. Ten seconds later Paul was walking toward the hospital, and Embry opened the driver's door and climbed into the truck.
I couldn't relax in my seat. I was worried about Talon and what Clara might be making him do. Cleaning toilets with bleach, washing sharp knives; anything is possible. I'm probably going to have gray hairs before it's all over. I felt anxious again; just like when we'd left to go check on Luna.
"Relax Rowan" Embry said.
"Relax? I don't think that word is even in my vocabulary. I can't remember the last time I was actually relaxed" I said.
Embry glanced at me, "Why's Clara going to have your head if you're not home, anyway?"
"We don't exactly see eye to eye" I said running a hand through my hair.
Luna:
Paul walked into the hospital carrying what appeared to be a black hoodie. "Here, take this. It's cold outside" he said holding it out to me.
I didn't argue with him partly because I was in only a t-shirt and shorts and I was getting kind of cold, and I didn't want to make Paul angry by declining the offer. I had a little trouble putting it on while trying to balance myself, and eventually Paul held me steady so I could put it on. The hoodie was huge on me, but it was warm.
"Thank you" I said feeling my cheeks heat up.
"Ready to go?" He asked.
I nodded, "Yeah, let's go" I said. Paul held the door for me as I slowly hobbled out of the hospital on my crutches. I can already tell I'm going to hate these things. They rub my armpits.
Paul didn't rush me as we walked to his truck. He offered to carry me, but I refused only because I had to get used to these things. Although, he ended up lifting me into his truck because I had trouble getting into it by myself. He threw my crutches into the back before climbing into the driver's side.
The first few minutes were awkward and silent. Paul had stopped shaking and didn't look like he would attack the next thing that talked to him. He was still tense though. I knew I should probably say something, but I had no idea what.
"You should take Rowan's offer to stay with her" he said startling me.
"I-I can't…Rowan's done enough for me already. I can't kick her out of her bed" I said.
"It's not safe for you in that house. What if your mom comes back and you're by yourself? What if she does something worse to you?!" Paul asked his voice rising slightly.
"You mean more than she already has? I've put up with this for fourteen years, six weeks is nothing anymore" I said.
"She beats you! She pushed you down the stairs! She broke your leg! Damn it Luna!" Paul yelled obviously angry again. His hands were gripping the steering wheel so hard I was afraid he'd rip it in half.
"Rowan has her own problems. She doesn't need me on top of them! I don't want to be a burden to the only friend I have" I said.
"You're not a burden Luna! Damn it. Do you know worried Rowan's going to be, knowing that you're in that house all by yourself, and with a broken leg? Do you know how worried I'll be? I see those bruises all over you…and it takes everything I have not to—"
"To what? To just lose it? Go beat my mother up? This isn't something you can protect me from, Paul!" I yelled.
"I could if you'd let me try! You're not alone anymore, damn it. Whether you like it or not, there are people that care about you now! God do I wish that I didn't torture you all those years. You have no idea how much I hate myself for that. I just…I just can't stand seeing you like this!" Paul said angrily.
I didn't realize I was crying until I felt a few teardrops fall onto my hands in my lap. I quickly looked away from Paul and let my hair fall around me like a curtain in an attempt to hide them from him. "Please don't cry, Angel. I'm sorry…I just don't know how to get through to you" Paul said his voice much quieter.
"J-Just give me some time….you can't protect me in the way that you want, but really…just being here and caring about me is protecting me from something worse than my mother. Myself" I said.
Paul glanced at me and I could see the understanding in his eyes. He knew what I meant. Instead of anger, he looked like he was in pain. "I'll always be here" he said. He sounded so sincere that I let myself believe him. But, my aunt said the same thing and now she's dead.
Rowan:
I came home and it looked as if everything was normal. Jack was sitting on the couch watching TV, Autumn was coloring in one of her coloring books, and Miranda was on the computer. Autumn let me know that Talon was in his room; I can't even tell you how relieved I was to find him not cleaning a toilet with bleach.
However, Clara wasn't any to be seen. I didn't bother asking and instead climbed the stairs to my room. Talon's door was cracked and I could hear him playing with a toy of some kind. I walked in my room only to see Clara sitting on my bed staring at me.
"Did you have a fun day?" She asked her voice sickly sweet.
"Um…?"
"I hope you had a nice time playing hooky, you little hoodlum" she said her voice losing all sweetness.
"I wasn't playing hooky! I had to take a friend to the hospital!" I said becoming angry.
Clara glared at me, "Is that the excuse kids use nowadays?" she asked.
"It's not an excuse!" I yelled.
"I can't believe you, Rowan. I take you and your brother in and treat you as part of our family, and you repay me by skipping school?" Clara said.
"We're not part of this family! You treat us like your maids! And you're not my mother so I don't have to answer to you" I said.
"No, I'm not your mother. But, you live in my house under my rules! And I can easily send you packing back to whatever rat-hole they keep you in!" Clara yelled her face turning red.
I glared at her, "I'll call Marissa and tell her the truth because I'm sure you'll come up with some lie" I said.
"Go ahead. Try it. But, it's your word against mine. So, I think we both know who she'll believe. Oh, and as punishment for skipping school and not doing your chores, I'm taking this until I think you deserve to get it back" Clara said picking up the photo of my parents.
"What?! You can't take that! It's mine! That's my picture! Give it back now, damn it!" I yelled feeling tears pool in my eyes.
"Swearing too? For shame. Now, you can have this back when I believe you've learned your lesson" Clara said pushing past me.
As soon as she was out of the door I broke down. I just lost it. I didn't even realize when Talon came into the room until I felt two small arms wrap themselves around me in a hug. "Don't cry Rowan…I don't like to see you cry" he said.
That only caused me to cry more.
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I'm terrible.
I broke Luna's leg.
And took Rowan's picture from her.
So. I hope you guys like it.
Review?