Saturday morning Piper woke up on her bedroom floor, curled up against the door in the fetal position in case Jonathon came back for more. Her eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand pounds each as she cracked her eyes open, blinking at the bright sunlight shining in through her sheer, white curtains. Her eyes moved around her bedroom, regaining her senses slowly before she even thought about attempting to unfold herself, knowing that was when the real pain would start.

With a soft, scratchy sigh, she started to unfurl her legs first since they were the least hurt. The joints in her knees popped and she could feel the stickiness on her thighs from where Jonathon had thrown his glass of liquor at her. Her eyes slid down to assess the damage and saw glittering specks of glass embedded in the soft flesh of her thigh. I guess I didn't dodge it as well as I thought. When her long legs were finally straightened, she slowly squirmed her hips to scoot away from the door, feeling the tender, aching bruises as they pressed against the hardwood floor. Once her hips were away from the wall, she slowly unwrapped her arms from her stomach, whimpering softly when her sore shoulder protested and she could feel the familiar click of the joint where it had been dislocated over the years.

Piper felt like a newborn deer when she finally dragged herself to her feet, her legs wobbling and her hands clutching the wall and her desk as she stumbled into the bathroom adjoined to her bedroom. Mechanically, she forced her stiff, sore limbs to comply as she stripped her torn swimsuit and liquor and blood-stained white shorts off, tossing them bitterly into the trashcan beside the toilet before standing in front of the mirror, examining the bruises on her face with the detached professionalism of a surgeon, as if it wasn't her own flesh bruised black and blue, her bottom lip bloody where she had bitten it too hard to stifle her cries of pain.

I can cover them. She decided, grabbing the bottle of heavy coverage foundation and orange concealer she saved for times when Jonathon lost his senses and bruised her face. Usually, he stuck to her body, not wanting to take a chance on anyone noticing anything she couldn't cover, but sometimes he lost that little bit of composure and swung wildly. The makeup sat on the marble countertop as she lifted her leg, twisting her hip slightly as her toes gripped the edge of the counter, bringing her leg closer into view as she grabbed the tweezers from her everyday makeup tray.

As she pulled the tiny, sparkling slivers from her skin she mentally relived the night before, dancing in Jacob's arms, his heat warming her like the fireplace downstairs that she only used when Jonathon was out of town. Each time Jonathon's fist or foot connected with her body last night, she imagined the bright smile he gave her when she pressed against him to dance and it took her mind off the abuse, but only made her long for the boy's embrace again. This morning, she could feel that tetherball string tightening as she resolved to never go back to the beach on the reservation again, not wanting to lead him on when she knew already it was impossible to be with him.

oooooooooo

After she caked on her foundation, covering the bruises on her face, she threw on a cami and a pair of pajama pants with a cardigan over top to hide the swelling of her shoulder joint and the deep blue and green areas on her arms, just in case anyone stopped by. Jonathon had left for a day of golf at the country club in Port Angeles and she knew he rarely returned before nightfall, so she grabbed her thin, fuzzy throw blanket and her spiral notebook, sitting down on the front steps and beginning to write.

August 8 ~

I went to the beach last night, just to get Macy off of my back. She'd been bugging me since last summer to come with her and Lisa, and I was running out of excuses. I met some really nice people there, boys who made me laugh and who could just sit and relax without putting on a pretentious facade. But one boy was different, he made me laugh and made my heart flutter like a butterfly's wings. We danced together, and I swear I felt like I was falling for him right there on that beach after just a minute of knowing him.

It turned bad quickly, though, as it always does. Jonathon found out where I was from Mrs. Newton. He came and got me from the party. I could already tell he'd been drinking, but he hid it well in front of everyone. As soon as we were in the car, driving down the long, winding road that led through the reservation and into Forks, he made sure I knew exactly what was coming, then stayed silent the rest of the drive. I think it's worse when he's quiet. It means he's thinking, calculating the best way to attack so that it hurts the most.

We walked into the house calm enough, but the moment the front door shut I felt his fist between my shoulder blades, knocking me down. He didn't let up until he ran out of breath, leaving me in a sobbing heap in the foyer as he went to his liquor cabinet and grabbed his latest drink of choice, a bottle of Crème de menthe his coworkers had gifted him after naming him Politician of the Month or Man of the Week or some other ridiculous award that probably involved money going from his hand to someone else's. He came back with a bourbon glass of it, watching me crawl towards the stairs. I should know better by now, most of the time I do know better. Running only pisses him off more.

I don't exactly know when I passed out, but it was after he dragged me up the stairs, throwing me into the doorframe like a ragdoll while his hands tore at my clothes. My swimsuit is in shreds now, and my shorts are stained with the green liquor and the blood from where his nails left scratches on my hips and my stomach.

This is why Jacob has to stay a memory, not a reality. In exactly one year, I will be free from Jonathon's grasp and I don't plan on looking back once I pass the Welcome to Forks sign. I want to be as far away from that monster as possible, so why should I start anything with Jacob when it would only make Jonathon angrier? I don't care how my heart flutters, or how his arms felt like the safest place in the world...I can't bring him into my life, and I don't belong in his.

Oh yeah, before I forget...Happy birthday to me.

With a soft sigh, she put the cap on her pen and shut the notebook, holding it in her lap as she looked up at the soft, baby blue sky. Not a cloud in sight...

Down the street, a familiar, white Range Rover Evoque turned the corner and she groaned softly. Logan is the last thing I need right now. Hoping to get inside before he saw her, she hurried to the front door only to tense up when she heard the engine cut off at the curb.

"Piper!" Logan's voice called out and she could hear the sound of his boat shoes thunking against the pavement as he hurried across the sidewalk. "Where are you going?"

"Inside. There are one too many Logans around here for my taste." Piper mutters, opening the screen door, then wincing as his hand closed around her wrist, his fingertips digging into one of the bruises. "Let me go."

"We need to talk, Pip. I know you think this is what you want, but you can't honestly believe you don't need me." He spins her around to face him, his ocean blue eyes searching hers in disbelief as if he couldn't believe any girl would voluntarily dump the Logan Shepard, future senator, and an all-around good guy.

"I don't need you. All you want me for is a trophy wife to make you look good at tea parties, then suck you off in the back of your car." She yanks her arm away, ignoring the sharp pains that ran up her arm from the jerking motion, and opens the door to step inside.

"Pip, that's not true! C'mon, I know I've been busy these past few weeks...just let me make it up to you." His hands caress her hips as he places a feather-light kiss on her neck, just above the soft cotton of her cardigan.

Normally, she would've been alright with him coming inside and hanging out, or even fooling around if she wasn't hiding the massive marks Jonathon left behind. But now, she stiffened completely at his touch, that tetherball string tightening around her heart until it was racing so fast she was sure she was having a heart attack. "N-no, Logan..."

Mistaking the hitch in her breath for one of pleasure, he smirked against her soft skin and tightened his grip on her waist. 'You know you want me, Piper, just give in."

"Go away. Don't come back or I swear..." She let the threat hang in the air as she dashed inside and slammed the door in Logan's shocked face, leaning against it as she prayed for her heart to calm. I can't go out because of a heart attack...not after surviving Jonathon Holmes...

Slowly, her heart rate returned to normal and she was able to breathe normally again after a few minutes of deep, gasping breaths. After sending a quick thank you to whatever god was on her side at that moment, she returned to her room and laid on her bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling as she played with the gold butterfly pendant that always hung in the hollow of her throat, unaware of the reddish-brown wolf watching the house from the treeline.

oooooooooo

Sunday passed slowly, with Piper joining a now-sober Jonathon at church, then a neighborhood picnic hosted by the Young Women's Club. Macy was there, and Piper managed to gain Jonathon's approval to sit with her, relaxing once she was sitting in the plastic lawn chair across from her friend with a glass of ice cold lemonade n her hand. "Hey, Macy."

"Hey. Your uncle didn't ground you or anything, did he? He seemed pretty angry." Macy peered at Piper from beneath the brim of her oversized, white sunhat as she twirled a straw in her glass of lemonade, her eyes sparkling with unasked questions.

Oh, no. Just beat the ever-loving hell out of me. She forced a smile and shook her head, taking a sip from her own glass as she tugged at the collar of her cardigan. It was far too hot for the sweater, but her bruises were just now turning a sickly green and she couldn't hide them under her sleeveless dress. "No, just a lecture. So, uhm..." She searched for a quick escape, a change of subject to distract the girl.

Before she could find one, Macy giggled and leaned forward to whisper conspiratorially, "It sucks you had to leave, I think Jacob would've done anything you wanted if you asked."

"We only danced, Macy. You're acting like the guy was in love with me." Piper's eyes drop to her glass, watching the ice cubes floating and slowly melting as she taps her nails gently along the outside rim.

Macy shrugged, leaning back in her seat and smoothing her baby pink dress over her knees. "All I'm saying is I've never seen a guy look at a girl they just met like that. Maybe you should go back down there soon, visit a little."

"I'm not going to go all the way to La Push to bang a guy I spent an hour with at a bonfire!" Piper whisper-shouted, then sighed as she glanced around the gathering to make sure no one was listening as she whispered more quietly, "Besides, Jonathon would never let me."

"Do you tell your uncle every time you have sex?" Macy raised one thin eyebrow, her lips quirked up into a smirk. "You need some excitement."

"I can have excitement without hopping on the first guy I meet." Piper sighs, rolling her eyes then stiffening in her seat as she sees Jonathon walking over with a young, elegant brunette on his arm. Shit, who's this?

"Hello, girls. Having fun?" Jonathon smiled down at them, his eyes skimming across Piper's body almost imperceivably as she tried not to flinch, seeing the way his eyes darkened for a second before he turned to the woman on his arm. "This is Lydia Marshall, my new campaign manager. I was hoping you could make her feel welcome."

"Always, Mr. Holmes." Macy smiled sweetly, offering her hand to the woman gracefully. "I'm Macy Newton, it's lovely to meet you."

"I'm Piper McKay, Jonathon's niece." Piper's mouth felt like someone had forced a bundle of cotton into her throat as she forced a smile on her lips, shaking the young woman's hand gently before clasping her hands in her lap. The familiar routine felt like a bad script that she was forced to repeat over and over again, but she powered through it.

Lydia gave the girls a polite smile, never moving an inch away from Jonathon's side as she spoke, "It's wonderful to meet you both, Jonathon has told me so many terrific things about you, I almost feel like I know you already!"

"Well, we can't wait to get to know you." Macy gestures to the empty lawn chair between them. "Please join us?"

"Oh, how nice!" Lydia smiles, leaning up to press a chaste kiss to Jonathon's cheek before settling elegantly into the seat, her hands folded primly in her lap. "I've only been in Forks for a couple of weeks, I haven't gotten the chance to socialize much."

As Macey chatted to the young woman, much better at the social butterfly role than Piper, Jonathon lurked in front of them for a moment as if to make sure Piper wasn't going to screw things up for him. His dark eyes bore into her own before he turned and returned to the group of men huddled by the porch steps, leaving the three women alone together. Piper swallowed hard past the lump of fear he had caused in her throat, then turned back to the others. "S-so, Lydia, how are you liking Forks?"

"It's so much different than Seattle! Everyone is so kind and welcoming here, I'm so honored that Mr. Holmes chose me as his manager. I've only been out of college for a few months, so it was such a relief to have gotten the job..." Piper began to tune the woman out as she continued to gush about Jonathon and his work. To her, it was a crock of bullshit. Jonathon did nothing out of the kindness of his heart, he only gave kindness when he got something in return. She couldn't help but wonder what he was getting from this young, naive girl.

oooooooooo

That evening, Piper and Macey left the gathering together in the little red convertible, promising Jonathon Piper would be home by nine. Piper unbuckled her wedge heels from her feet and curled up in the seat, relaxing as she laid her head against the headrest. "Those parties are such borefests."

Macey hummed softly, though Piper couldn't tell whether she was disagreeing or agreeing. "Like I said, you need some excitement."

"And like I said, I'm not going to hop into bed with some guy I don't even know just for a few minutes of excitement." Piper rolled her eyes, then frowned as Macey turned to look at her surprised. "What?"

"A few minutes?" Macey clicked her tongue softly in disappointment, patting Piper's knee softly. "If Jacob is anything like Quil, it'd be more like a few hours."

"TMI, Mace." Piper rolled her eyes once more, wondering if doing it so often could cause a migraine, then closing them to rest. She missed the sign that read 'Now leaving Forks' as Macey sped past it and onto the winding road that led into La Push.

"I'm just saying! C'mon, you've only ever slept with Logan, correct?" Macey glanced over at her, a knowing smirk on her glossy pink lips.

Piper scoffed, glad that the makeup she had piled on her bruises also covered her blush as she mumbled, "I've slept with other guys too..."

"Name one."

"...I gave Paul Fremont a blowjob once." Piper bit her lip, trying not to let the other girl know she was right.

"That doesn't count." Macey laughs, pulling up to the parking lot on the edge of the beach. "Come on, Pip. It isn't a bad thing, you just don't know what else is out there. Like that, that is always an option." Macey nudges Piper's leg, pointing at the shirtless boys playing football a few feet away.

Piper opened her eyes, then immediately shook her head. "No way, Macey. Take me home."

"No. We have 6 hours until you have to be home and I'm not letting you back into my car until you give Jacob your number." Macey raises one eyebrow challengingly, her arms crossed over her modest chest as Piper glowers at her.

"Then I'll walk." She straps her wedges back on and gets out, slamming the door to the car and walking towards the road, stomping a little louder than usual to make sure Macey heard.

"Hey, Piper! Wait up!" A familiar, deep voice called out and she faltered, nearly tripping over her own feet as she felt the tetherball string tightening once more. A warm hand gripped her shoulder to steady her and she felt the blush on her cheeks intensify as she stared down at her toes, taking note of the tiny chips in her nude nail polish. As she felt his calloused hand slowly slip down her arm to her hand once he was sure she wasn't about to fall, she felt the breath escape her chest in a soft gasp. "What are you doing?"

"Uhm...nothing," She mumbled lamely, daring to look up into Jacob's dark, happy eyes. The moment she did, she knew she was in trouble. There was no way she could stop herself this time, and Jonathon wasn't here to loom over her like a dark cloud of fear.

"You look beautiful." Jacob smiles, his eyes slowly moving down to her pale yellow dress, his other hand gently playing with the hem of her white cardigan. "Little hot though, isn't it?"

"I get cold easily." The lie rolled off her tongue like water before she even thought about it, but Jacob didn't seem to notice. Or if he did, he didn't mention it as he inched closer to her, his hands never leaving her body.

"Oh...Do you want to come hang out? The guys and I were just playing ball..." He trailed off as she shook her head, her arms wrapping around her waist as she took a tiny step back.

"No, no...I just...Macey didn't tell me we were coming here and...I need to get home." She avoided his eyes, knowing she would break down if she saw his warm brown eyes and sunny smile again.

His hands fell away from her body as she moved away and she could feel her heart aching as he mumbled, "Oh...I guess I'll leave you alone then..."

Piper merely nodded, keeping her head down until she knew he had started to walk away. She hurried back to the car and practically dived into the passenger side, glaring at Macey as she crossed her arms. "Take me home. Now."

"No. Piper, he clearly likes you and I think you could have fun with him." Macey sighed, looking into her best friend's eyes pleadingly. "Come on. Just give him your number, he might not even text you back." Piper let out a reluctant groan, then reached into the glovebox to grab something to write on. She's going to get me killed...

Jacob was halfway down the beach by the time she hopped back out of the car and called his name. He perked up immediately, turning around and almost bumping into her as she ran towards him, holding her sweater closed over her chest. "Here..." She pushed a crumpled up receipt into his hand, folding his fingers shut over it as he looked down into her nervous eyes, noticing the concealer creasing under her eyes as she tried to avoid his gaze. Why so much makeup? Friday she barely had any on...

Before he could reply, she was gone in a flash of yellow and white material and the little red BMW was disappearing down the road. He watched them go before peering curiously down at the paper. A receipt for tampons and pineapple juice... He flipped it over, wondering why she had given it to him, only to grin when he saw the number scrawled across the back.

Thank you, everyone who read, reviewed, favorited, or followed! I'm trying to write as much as I can, and I hope I'll have another chapter of this story and How Do You Want It? by next week.

As always, I take all reviews into consideration and I appreciate them all!

I forgot to mention in the last chapter, but the title was a lyric taken from the Camila Cabello song Havana. This chapter's title is a lyric from Into You by Ariana Grande. I don't own either song.