Paint Strokes Chapter 3, a twilight fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight; all rights go to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N Shout out to my beta, PenguinCullen06.

Sorry for this chapter taking soooo long to be posted, summer has turned me into a slacker. But I hope you enjoy this!

Chapter Three, Secrets Exposed.

Esme's POV:

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home." Twyla Tharp

"Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!" I said angrily. The pain in my wrist was suffocating and the blood from my leg was thick and spreading fast. The cut was deep, way too deep.

"ESME! OPEN THE DOOR!" A voice rang out.

I froze with terror, go away, please just go away! I silently begged.

BANG BAM BANG BAM

He was beating on the door. "OPEN THE DOOR!"

I mentally scolded myself for not having my cellphone on me, leaving with only one choice.

He's going to break down the door…you're just going to anger him further. Just open the door, it's better than what he will do if he has to break the door down.

Carlisle's POV:

"Now, God be praised, that to believing souls gives light in darkness, comfort in despair." William Shakespeare

Garrett, Charlie, and I were walking out of church. Chatting idly amongst ourselves.

"CHARLIE!" Someone cried out. Renee appeared in front of us, her face all blotchy and tear stained. "CARLISLE, GARRETT!" She noticed the rest of us. "Oh my gosh, guys!"

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked her, obviously worried about her.

"Did something happen?" Garrett asked.

"I-I-t's Esme!" Then she broke into sobs.

I felt my body stiffen, "Esme? Is she okay?" Terror building in my chest.

Charlie put his hands of Renee's shoulders, trying to get her to focus, "What's wrong with Esme?"

Renee looked up at him, "She's in the hospital! Her dad beat her again!"

Garrett's face turned blank, "Did she tell you that?"

Renee turned and glared at him, "You know she won't!"

Charlie frowned, "Renee we don't have any proof."

"The proof is all over her! Don't be stupid Charlie! The cops won't do anything! You know that!" Renee spat at him.

"Wait, what do you mean her dad beat her?" I asked them.

They all turned to me. Charlie's face was contorted in pain, Garrett was expressionless, and Renee was a ball of fury.

"I mean exactly what I said!" Renee yelled at me.

"He's been hitting her for years, her mother finally left. The horrible woman left Esme there to deal with him alone. But after her mom left, it's gotten worse." Garrett told me in a numbed voice.

"She won't outright say it though. But we all know, it's just not talked about." Charlie added.

I nodded my head, finally understanding. I was set on learning what was going on with Esme, and now I am angry to know, yet glad that I do. "We can't do anything about it, can we?" I asked, the whole situation fully hitting me.

Renee started to cry again, "No! We can't do anything!"

Charlie pulled Renee into a hug, trying to calm her down. "When did it happen?"

"Last night." She sobbed into his shoulder. "She's still at the hospital. My aunt works as a nurse, she let us know. She has an idea what he is doing to her, but you know he won't ever be punished."

This stunned me, "Why not?"

"Her dad is the chief of police." Garrett informed me, his face showing his anger.

"Oh." It was all I could think to say.

"Can we see her?" Charlie asked Renee.

Renee shook her head, "He won't let anyone see her! They are claiming someone broke into the house last night. That a burglar broke in and Esme found him, so he attacked her. Esme, apparently, is going along with the story. It's being investigated." She spoke so harshly, you could hear her hate for Esme's father.

"Why is she doing this?" Garrett asked.

Charlie sighed, "Probably out of fear."

I felt like I was going to get sick. I wanted to protect her, keep her safe from the monster who calls himself her father. "We have to do something."

Renee pulled her head out of Charlie's chest and looked at me, "Yes, we do. This has gone on far too long. He could kill her, no; he will kill her if this continues!"

~000~

Esme was in the hospital for a week, and during that week Charlie, Garrett, Renee, Charlotte and I were thinking of ways to help her. Charlotte had come to school and yelled at Renee for not telling her about Esme sooner. It didn't take long for the news to spread through the school that there had been a burglary at Esme's house and that she had been attacked. Apparently Esme had never gone to the hospital from her dads beating; she missed a week or so of school though. But this time, she needed stitches and had broken her wrist and a cracked rib. Everyone around school was talking about the burglary, but we knew different, we knew what really happened.

We all sat at our lunch table, feeling distraught and useless, what are we going to do about this? Over the past few weeks I have become very close with this group of people, and even closer in the past twenty-four hours.

"What are we going to do?" Renee sighed out. She was no longer sounding angry as she was last night, just sad.

Everyone looked around the table at each other, seeing the lost faces, nobody knew what to do. We all wanted to do something, anything.

"Nobody is going to believe a couple of kids over the chief of police, even if they have doubts." Charlotte said bitterly.

Garrett huffed, "The crappy thing about this is that he is actually a really good police officer. He does his job, is kind to everyone, everyone except Esme and his ex-wife."

"I know! That's the frustrating part! You know, I used to look up to the man when I was little. He's what made me want to be a police officer, but now, I want to be one so I can catch guys like him." Charlie said, with a disgusted look on his face. "I remember the first day that I saw Esme come in with a bruised cheek. She told me she had tripped at the park. I remember all of us were stupid enough to believe it."

Renee sighed again, "I hate this. I hate feeling so useless. Our friend is at the hospital right now, with broken bones, and bruises. And there is nothing we can do."

That was the first time someone had said the thought that has to be going through everyone's mind: there is nothing we can do. Everyone was silent after this. The words that we feared being said aloud were now hanging over each of us heavily, reminding us when we forgot for the slightest moment that we truly can't do anything for her.

Esme's POV:

The nurse comes to check on me every hour, although I am not in a critical state. She checks my pain, my breathing, to make sure I am warm, whether I am hungry or not, if I need anything. She is a sweet lady, but I have the suspicion that this isn't just because she is sweet or kind, she is suspicious herself about my injuries. Lots of people were, but then no one doubted it when my father stepped in. It was always strange to see that man around other people. Completely different, he was composed and kind, but all of that changes when he steps through the door of our house. My mother, she couldn't handle it any longer, and just up and left. I don't know why she didn't take me, but I don't blame her for leaving, just leaving me. I often wonder why she didn't, but I can never come up with a pleasant answer, so I try not to dwell on it too much.

After forty-eight hours of being in the hospital I was released. That was a scary thought, but since I didn't say or do anything against my father's cover up story, I should be fine.

But, I never really did anything to bring on his wrath before.

As that thought crept through my mind I felt as if I was drowning in fear. There was no way I could run away in this state, the stitches in my thigh, the cracked rib, broken wrist. There was no leaving out my window when I knew he was in a bad mood in the mornings; there was no chance of escaping this.

Running away has crossed my mind several times, and this time I am seriously contemplating it. But I don't know how I could. The thought of my friends helping me has crossed my mind too, but I don't want any of them dealing with the wrath of my father. I only have a few months until graduation anyway, so I just need to stick this out until then.

If I make it till graduation. I thought darkly.

Three days after I had left the hospital, my friends were allowed to see me. It happened to be Saturday, so Renee and Charlotte are planning on spending the night tonight. I was excited to see my friends; it's been five days since I have seen any of them. Except for Carlisle, I see him walking to and from school from my window sometimes, he has looked rather sad lately. Which has made me even more so, wondering what could cause him to look so pained. I wanted to help him smile again, so I was planning on painting something for him. I haven't found the perfect thing yet, but I have a sketch book that is just dedicated to ideas I has drawn. It hasn't left my side since I've gotten home; you would be surprised how much one can sketch when they have absolutely nothing else to do.

Dad had just left when I pulled out my IPod, putting my OneRepublic playlist on shuffle. I smiled as my favorite song came on.

"It's been a long time coming since I've seen your face

I've been everywhere and back trying to replace

Everything that I had 'til my feet went numb

Praying like a fool that's been on the run

Heart's still beating but it's not working

It's like a million dollar phone that you just can't ring

I reached out trying to love but I feel nothing

Yeah, my heart is numb

But with you

I feel again

Yeah, with you

I can feel again

Yeah

Woo-hoo [x4]

I'm feeling better ever since you know me

I was a lonely soul but that's the old me

It's been a long time coming since I've seen your face

I've been everywhere and back trying to replace

Everything that I broke 'til my feet went numb

Praying like a fool just shot the gun

Heart still beating but it's not working

It's like a hundred thousand voices that just can't sing

I reached out trying to love but I feel nothing

Oh, my heart is numb

But with you

I feel again

Yeah, with you

I can feel again

But with you