"Try harder! Concentrate, Avery!" Jessalyn yelled over the roar of the water.

"Jess, we've been practicing all day. Alexander will be back from work any minut e!" My voice was raspy, ringlets of my silver hair whipped around my face. She checked her watch, her back length golden hair in two long braids. She peeke d at me with her pale blue eyes, despite them she had a olive skin tone. She was n't checking for the time, but buying herself more time to think, "Fine, but tom orrow I'm saying when practice is over." I knew Jess was only trying to help, but she didn't feel the heaviness in my arm s, the burning in my legs, and the pounding in my head, "Jessalyn you don't know how I'm feeling." "Believe it or not, I'm helping you. Once that monster releases you and you're a ble to..." She trails on, telling me what she always does when I question her. "I'll be behind, I know. A few hours won't hurt anyone." "Maybe you're right." She mumbled so low I had to strain my ears to hear her. I smiled and allowed the water from the pond behind my house to fall. Then I hea rd a car pull up and I let my smile move into a frown, "What time is it?" Jess yanked me toward the front door without answering. The stone house, was mor e of a mansion. When we were on the second floor, I pushed her up a flight of st airs leading to the third floor. I opened my door and shut it softly, grabbed a random book and sat on the small bed. I was glad I didn't wear shoes today, I wiped my bare feet on the carpet. Alexander burst through the door, "Were you outside today?" Setting down the book, I put on a Innocent face and answered, "No." His mouth curved into a evil smile, "Really because I found muddy footsteps." "I went to get the mail." Even if he believe me I knew what was coming next. He bounded to me in three large steps and slapped me with a flick of his wrist, "Don't lie to me! Go, clean it up, but first wash up, you're a mess!" Spit flew out of his mouth. I quickly walked to the bathroom across the hall when I didn't hear any footstep s. My hair was in tangles sticking up in random places because of the wind, my p ale blue eyes were a shade darker than Jessalyn's. My cheek was already red and swelling. The door creaked open, "Avery are you okay?" Jess had a scared look on her face. "I'm just fantastic." "B...but your cheek, let me heal it please." Locking the door, I turned to her, "He'll know if my cheek doesn't bruise." "Then let me take away the pain." I chuckled which made her frown, "Jess, you know you can't get rid of my pain wi thout stopping the bruising." The look of her face hurt me, just broke my heart.

I had to change the subject, "Are we having guest today?" "Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Pinkerton and their son." "From work?" I finished brushing my hair and started putting on cover up. "You are covering the bruise." "This." I pointed to my cheek, "Will be much worst if our guest see it. Last tim e you healed me what did he do?" She had her hand on the door knob, "Please don't do this." And with that she was gone. "What took you so long?!" I didn't answer just walked right past him. He grabbed me by my arm and threw me on the ground, "Answer me when I ask you a question!" "I'm sorry, I was putting on cover up because we are having guest over soon." My answer was robotic. "Just clean the mess up and start dinner." I picked myself on the floor and found a rag. After the mud was mopped up, I sta rted some pasta and different foods. When I was setting the table the timer went off. "I'll get it." He stared at me for a moment which sent a chill down my spine, "Y ou get dressed and make yourself presentable." "Avery!" Jess yelled when I opened the door causing me to jump. "Shh, what are you doing? You almost gave me a heart attack." "I'm so sorry, I just wanted to know if you were okay." "Yes, of course. I don't want to mess this up. Do you know anything about the Pi nkerton's?" "Why do you care so much?" Her eyes were tearing up. I pulled her into a tight hug, "Please Jess, Jessi please help me." I heard her chuckle slightly, she pulled away genitally and looked me in my eyes ., "Hurry get dressed, I don't know much, but I'll tell you what I do know." Just then someone knocked on the door and I wondered if the person behind the do or heard us. "Hide." She ran to my closet the only place she would be able to hide, "One seco nd!" I took one of the dresses my mom made me for when I was older and could fit them. I save them specially for certain times. It was dark blue and ends just b elow my knees. A tear slipped by as I pulled it on, my mother died not to long a fter she made this. I opened the door, Alexander was standing there, his face was red with anger, "W

hy are your friends coming over here? I thought I told you, no friends could com e over! Why would you tell them where we live?" "I didn't tell anyone to come over. Whoever it was must have remembered where I live from when they would visit." He looked disappointed almost like he wanted a reason to hurt me, "Hurry up, the y should be here soon." He slammed the door in my face. "Come on, help me get ready." I dragged her to the bathroom with me, when I was sure he was down stairs. Jess helped me put my hair in a nice bun. I applied more cover up. And took up o n Jess's offer to take down the swelling down even though it would stop some of the bruising. My cheek was already turning a blue-green color. "Thank you, Jess. I don't know how I would live without you." "You wouldn't." She smiled. "I know." I whispered as I pulled her into another hug and rushed down stairs. "You're lucky they are not here yet, I-" He was interrupted by the door bell, "G et the door." He spoke harshly. "Hello, come inside." I forced myself to wear a smile, which I believed looked f ake. The dinner was gruesome, laughing when everyone else did and having to pretend m y step dad and I have a good relationship and worst of all I was forced to accep t all of their apologies about my mother's passing. "Avery, would you show Ty around while his parents and I talk." "Of course." I forced another fake smile, hopefully for the last time this night , "Follow me." Ty had chocolate brown eyes with black hair that was pushed back and greasy. We walked up the stairs seeing that there was nothing on the first floor, but Alexa nder's study and he probably wouldn't like us intruding. "Do you mind if I take off my shoes?" I asked when I stopped at my door. "Go ahead." He gestured with his hands. I peek my head into my room before opening it completely just in case Jess was in there. Sitting on my bed to remove the heels I stuffed my feet in, I set them on the floor. "Hurry would ya, I don't like wasting my time." Um...what?" I put on a pair of slippers. "I...don't...like...wasting...my...time. Did I say that slow enough for you." He took his time to sound out every word. "Perfect." I bit my lip so I didn't say anything I'll regret. I lead him down a long hallway.

"What is this?" He opened a door, the one to my mom's library. "Don't go in there." I hadn't been in her library since she died, but now it see med like I had to. "Oh, touchy." He walked farther in the room. "Get out now." The first thing I notice is a picture of my mother and I on my fi fth birthday, we were so happy back then. "Or what? You'll hit me? Come on hit me, right here." He tapped his upper arm. "Okay, if you say so." I punched him in the arm, my fist created a satisfying cr unch when it meet his arm. "Ow, what the hell?!" Ty rubbed his arm, wincing. "Doesn't feel like a girl punch, now does it? Hurry and get out would ya 'cause I don't like wasting time." I said repeating what he had said the entire night. "Ty, sweetie are you okay? What happened?" His mom screeched. He put on a Innocent face, "She hit me for no reason." "No I didn't...well I did hit him, but he told me to. So, if I were you I'd blam e him, I'm the Innocent one in this situation." "She's lying mom." "I am not, you a little mamma's boy-" I started to protest, but was cut off by A lexander. "Avery, go to your room, now." He growled. I waited in my room for Alexander, I knew he would be angry because of all the y elling. When I heard the front door slam shut I braced myself for his rage. "What were you thinking?!" "He told me to hit him!" I usually never yell at him, but I was tired of the abu se I've been going through. "Don't you dare raise you voice to me!" He pointed his finger in my face. I slapped his finger, I laughed at the look on his face, "What you don't like th at you can't control me anymore?" He punched me in the stomach and I fell to the floor. "Don't talk to me like that again!" "I will talk to you however I want." I groaned. I picked myself off the ground a nd kicked him in between his legs, "How does it feel to be the abused and not th e abuser? Not very good I'm guessing." He layed on the floor for a while, before he could collect himself and get off the floor, "Get out, pack your bags and get out now!" He huffed, his hands on hi s knees. I hid my smile, the only real one I had for a while now. If he sees me happy he

wouldn't let me leave, "No, please, I would have no where to go." "I don't care I want you out. You're luck I'm letting you pack. Say another word and you'll be leaving now." He stumbled out of the room. I didn't waste time, I grapped a duffel bag and stuffed it with clothes. I ran t o Jess's room, "Get up." I shook her, "Wake up." What?" She said groggy. "He kicked me out." "Really?" Her eyes shined with excitment. "Yes, now get packed. We are finally gonna go to Crest View."