BPV:

I'd only been in Forks for a week, but all I'd seen so far was the scenery I paid no attention to on the ride from the air port when Charlie picked me up. I didn't want to leave the tiny room that Charlie called my bedroom but he insisted I go to school today. At least the majority of my bruises are starting to heal, except of course the ones I received last night for trying to argue with him. I should have realized sooner that Charlie was no better than Phil, but I didn't listen to my mom when I had the chance. 'He's my dad, he wouldn't do that!' I'd yelled at her when she tried to tell me. How I wish I could go back in time and listen to her warnings. There is a major difference between the two men though, Charlie knows where to land a blow where a bruise or welt won't be visible even if I wear a tank top and shorts.

Today I've decided on a long sleeve sweater that is soft and light and doesn't brush against my cuts and bruises too much as well as a pair of jeans and my sneakers.

I make my way down the stairs slowly and carefully. I took a good hit to the head a few years ago from Phil and ever since then I've had balance issues. Today I'm also slow because of the ache in my back courtesy of Charlie last night when I asked if I could wait one more week before starting school.

I look out the window on my way to the kitchen and see his cruiser is already gone, but he's left directions and a note for me;

'I'll be calling the school, you'd better be there today, or else.'

The "or else" scares me the most. It's the open threat that leads to so many different and terrifying possibilities that has me shaking in fear of my own father.

As usual, I'm not hungry so I just grab my keys, rain coat – which appears to be a fashion staple here in Forks – book bag and head out the door. I don't bother with trying to hurry to the truck that Charlie purchased so he wouldn't have to drive me every day and take up more of his precious weekend fishing time, I know the pain will already make it difficult to drive and I don't want to aggravate anything any more than I already would be today.

I climb into the cab and start the truck, the loudness startling me for a moment, then I slowly back out and make my way to Forks High.