A.N.: Hey guys! I was just so happy about your response to this that I decided to squeeze out another chapter tonight! Sadly finals are this week so I probably won't be able to write much more until Friday :( Please read and review! I am soo happy with the follows and smattering of reviews from the last chapter! You guys ROCK! Cookies to everyone! Anyways I will stop my ramblings now!

Disclaimer: I don't own TVD, I am only stealing these fabulous characters from the lovely Julie whose b-day is today!

Elena POV

As I we drove into my development, I finally realized how much shit I was going to be in once I got home. As soon as I stepped through the doors to my house, I wished more than anything in the world that my parents were still alive, that I didn't have to live with my abusive uncle John and his horrid wife Isobel, that my brother would come and talk to me more, but most of all I just wished things were normal again.

I tried to stealthy make my way up the stairs without John noticing, but when the third step creaked he came running into the room. John watched me with his menacing blue eyes. "And what exactly do you think you are doing?" he asked, stepping closer to me. From this distance I could easily smell the alcohol on his breath and at this point I knew I was in trouble.

"I got sick at practice today so Annie and Damon made me come home early," I responded nonchalantly, hoping he wouldn't get mad. But you know when do things work in my favor? That's right they don't…

"Don't give me attitude young lady! This is my house and I pay for these lessons of yours and I can easily kick you out and take it all away!" he irritably replied. "You're lucky I haven't done it already, you ungrateful bitch. I'm surprised you're new coach can even stand to look at your ugly face!"

I stared him dead in the eyes as I said what I knew I should never tell a drunken John, "You can go to hell! I hate you! I wish my parents were still here!"

He stood there for a moment with a smirk on his face, and then he reached out and smacked me hard across the face. "Well we all know whose fault it is that they're not here, don't we?" he questioned giving me another hard slap across the face, then turning on his heel and walking out of the house, most likely to go to a bar.

Thankfully Isobel wasn't home so I didn't have to worry about the devil incarnate number two right now. I went over to the fridge to grab a blue ice-pack to put against my burning cheek. Unfortunately this had become a routine for me when John was drunk. Grabbing my phone, I texted Jeremy to see if he was coming home anytime soon, then I headed up to my room to do some homework. Sadly even though I'm one of the best female volleyball players I still have to graduate high school. But the upside is that I get a tutor three times a week so that all of the other days I can focus myself on the game.

After about three hours I finished all of my math and history work when I saw my iPhone light up, expecting a text from Jeremy, I was surprised to see it was a text from an unknown number that said: Hey it's me, Damon, I just wanted to make sure everything was okay after what happened earlier today. I laughed a little at his bluntness and replied: Everything is a-okay at the home front. See you tomorrow at 6!

I put all of my books away and then put on my pajama. Right when I was about to hit the sack I heard a knock on my bedroom door. Not wanting to get out of the warm solace of my bed I yelled "Come in!" to whoever was at the door. Thankfully it was just my dorky brother Jeremy. "Hey, what's up?" I asked once he came into my room.

"Oh you know nothing much, just the usual. Bonnie says hi by the way! How was your first day back at practice?" he inquired casually.

"Pretty good, although I did faint about four hours into it though… When I came home an hour and a half early from practice John was pretty pissed and knocked me around a bit but all is good now that you're back," I replied happily.

"Wow that looks pretty bad. I'm sorry I wasn't here to protect you 'Lena. I promise as soon as we are done with school, we'll be out of here," he said with great determination and protectiveness in his voice. "Well looks like you should be getting some rest. Night sis." He leaned down and gave me a hug and then sauntered out of the room.

"Night Jer, love you," I said quietly, and then I slipped into a fitful sleep full of havoc and nightmares.

The next morning I woke up with the same unpleasant start as the previous. I quickly took a shower and got dressed putting on a nice light purple tank top and black spandex with PINK yoga pants over-top. I tried fruitlessly to apply make-up to cover up the new bruises on my face but it was pointless. Finally I gave up grabbed my bag and an apple and a bowl of cheerios for breakfast. After cleaning up, I heard a car horn honk, so I grabbed my things and ran out the door.

"Good morning!" Damon greeted me with a huge smile on his face.

"Hey," I replied quietly putting my hood up so that he couldn't see my face, thus he couldn't see my bruise.

"Well what's got you in a pissy mood this morning, Little Miss Sunshine?" he questioned jokingly.

"Nothing," I replied not meeting his expecting gaze.

"Alrighty then! Well boy do I have some news for you! C-wait a minute… what happened to your face? Did someone punch you? Are you okay?" He asked at a million miles an hour while worry began to seep into his features and beautiful, crystal blue eyes.

"No, I was just being my usual clumsy self and got whacked on the cheek," I replied a little too quickly, still not meeting his intense stare.

"Are you sure you're fine?" he asked again. I quickly nodded my head wanting to get off the subject. "Okay then," he continued, "last night I got a call from the coach of my volleyball team and he said that he wants to see you work your magic in person during our game tonight! So what do you say, do you wanna join the big guys on the court?"

I hope you enjoyed this small chapter! Please follow/fave and review if you can!