So this is the last chapter before my holiday *sniff sniff* I really enjoy posting as sad as that sounds! Anyway, most of you seem to enjoy the story so far so I will stop babbling. For future reference criticism is very welcome!

Disclaimer: Kind of boring to do this all the time but I don't want to be sued, so I do not own Twilight or anything associated.

Chapter 9

Bella POV

Marc's breakfast was 'decent' this morning, so I got off with only a slap around the face. Honestly, it's the most generous he has been in a while. Well I guess two days ago he was also pretty nice when he let me eat the leftovers of his dinner (that I had cooked)… But since, the only thing that had gone through my lips has been water and a few salt crackers to keep me from fainting. Marc said I should be grateful; thanks to him, I had a 'slim' figure. Ha! Slim figure? I didn't have a figure! My bones stuck out making me look like a scrawny chicken. Either way, I was grateful; my unattractive figure saved me from more unwanted attention…

I slowly made my way to school in the light rain. Usually, I find the rain soothing, but today I had to go to school and I couldn't risk my cover-up fading. My ribs were killing me, but yet again- routine.

Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory were at the school gate; waiting for me. Speaking of routine, those two never missed the opportunity to torment me further.

"Hey Bella! How was your summer vacation?" Jessica asked; completely friendly. I was speechless, they never called me Bella, or even pretended to like me for that matter; I was a freak. Usually their disgust was pretty obvious.

Could things finally be changing?
"Umm, good I guess…" I answered.
"Aww, only good? That was because we weren't there." Lauren sneered.
"Ye ugly duckling, with us, it would have been great!" Jessica added.

Scratch my last thought will you?

I sighed in defeat, "What do you want?"
"Your lunch money."
"I don't have any." Marc barely let me eat at home! He would never give me money to waste on food! He would never give me money period!
"Tut tut Isabella," I cringed at the sound of my full name and I clutched my locket reflexibly. This was the locket I was found with when I was a baby, I never took it off.

"Well Lauren, what do you think we should do now?! Jess asked mockingly. Leave me alone I answered in my head; I was never truly brave in real life, just in my mind.
"Let's go for a short walk shall we?" Lauren roughly jabbed me in my already sore ribs and I couldn't contain my yelp of pain. That only made the two sadistic teenage girls smile. They dragged me to the forest on the outskirts of school.

Before I even saw it coming, Jessica slapped me on my already swollen cheek; successfully making me fall to the ground. I swear these two girls had a special power to sense injuries because they always hit me where I had injuries from Marc. Yet again, that wouldn't be too difficult as I was injured on almost every part of my body.

Lauren then kicked me legs hard. Hard, but not as bad as usual, it almost seemed half-hearted.

Was she feeling guilty?

Again, my hopes were squashed, "Ok, we went light on you today orphan. There are new students coming today and from what I hear, they are HOT!" Lauren high-fived Jessica.

Orphan was one of the names that hurt me the most. I am an orphan. Marc wasn't my father; both women who were my mothers are dead, my biological dad is no where to be found and I just can't deal with this feeling of loneliness. Then something in Lauren's words just clicked.

I finally started crying; showing my weakness. More people to torment me.
"Oh don't worry horse face, we will give you your fix tomorrow." Jessica assured me.
With that, they both left to greet the new students, leaving me alone in the woods; broken.

I was going to be late to class anyway, so I allowed myself to sink into depression. My tears gushed down my cheeks, from physical and emotional pain. I haven't cried like this since I was told that Jane 'left'.

Exactly how long was I supposed to keep up my sarcastic façade? How much longer will I need to pretend to myself that everything is ok and I just need to get used to it? I felt like screaming my questions to the sky,

"HOW LONG?" I yelled in desperation.

I eased myself on the ground, trying to find the position that would cause me the least pain as a position with no pain didn't exist. I continued to let my tears stain my face and body. I needed to let go, if I was to keep my sanity until I am eighteen (if I survive that long) then I would have to let go of my emotions from time to time. It is just so hard; I don't want to feel the weakness or realise how much Marc has ruined and is still ruining my life. I just didn't want to see, didn't want to know.

Ever so slowly, I lifted myself up into a sitting position. I was maybe alone, but I needed to work on my poker face. I got my small mirror and my cheap cover-up from my bag to re-apply my mask. I wasn't only covering my bruises, I was covering my emotions; composing myself.

When I finished, I stood up and looked at my watch. It was lunch time! How long was I laying there just crying my eyes out? I decided to go to the cafeteria. I walked stiffly, people stared at me as usual; the freak. I made it all the way to my secluded table by the trash.

From the point I stood up, I didn't wince once.