It was that Saturday night that I found out how blessed I was to have friends. Friends who I could trust, and who could trust me.

Sandy never questioned me about that night. We watched a movie until she passed out while I stared blankly at the screen. Sunday went the same way except Lexi joined us halfway through the day, ranting about betrayal by her closest friends.

We ordered pizza and just like the night before, they fell asleep to Legally Blonde.

I stayed awake.

School on Monday went by as usual. Ryan ignored me like usual and I didn't expect anything more. He truly did not care if my continued existence mattered unless I somehow came across his path.

So I steered clear.

With the end of the school today came a new realization. I would have to go back home.

"To be honest, I'm just not gonna come in the morning tomorrow. Papa needs more beauty sleep", Theo fussed from beside me as he stared into the reflection of the window from the random car beside us.

Lexi laughed along with Michael as Alex played along, "It's not like you can ever match upto my level of perfection Wilson, but I suppose a little extra sleep could help you with those grandma bags you're flaunting around."

Theo's eyes went wide as he pouted and immediately turned to me holding my shoulders in a death grip.

A shaky breath.

"Alex is bullying me my love. Defend my honor."

Cold hands.

"She's my knight in shining leather. You can go kiss Luke's ass."

Why was everything blurry? Where was Theo?

"You dare speak about my darling Luke with that filthy mouth of yours?"

A fabric ripping.

"I dare."

Why couldn't he let me die?

"Bekah babe, defend me from this monstrous hubris."

Who was crying?

"Hubris? What is this? The 80s?"

Who was screaming?

"Bekah?"

Why was everything so cold?

"Rebekah?"

Dark, it was dark and there were hands.

"Rebekah what's wrong? Rebekah."

Warm hands, 'focus' they whispered.

My friends stared at me.

"Bekah", Michael breathed softly.

"Yes", I whispered clearing my throat as my voice to my own ears sounded like that of a dead cat, "Yes."

"Are you okay?", Lexi's sweet voice permeated through the fog in my brain.

I rolled my eyes with a smile, "Of course I am. I'm perfectly fine you idiots."

No one believed me but they smiled. Oh how I adored them. "Okay", Lexi replied with a nod.

"Okay", I acknowledged.

As we parted ways I came to the realization that this was now my life. I would have to accept what happened sooner rather than later because living with Ryan ensured that I would end up back there soon. Very soon. Ryan was a monster and monsters like to play with their prey. He was not doing this because he had to. He was doing it because he wanted to. Like he was the audience and I was the entertainment. To Ryan, I was not human, I was a toy, a discardable one at that.

***

"I want you out of the house today", was what Ryan said as soon as I entered the house.

Shaking my head I headed up to my room but my wonderful brother was apparently not done with me, "Not that it's any of your business but it's a few jocks and girls coming over. I don't want your face around here."

"Did I ask you why you wanted your pretentious friends over?", I muttered under my breath and before he could comprehend what I said I made a dash to my room.

Maybe he didn't hear me.

By six I was out of the house and as I wondered around my new neighbourhood, I realized for the first time that it was quite nice. Infact, it looked much more peaceful and warmer than the last place my family and I lived at. Most of the homes were simple and cute. It wasn't extravagant but rather endearingly simple and charming. Old couples on evening walks, children with frisbees and parents with newspapers. However sickeningly picket white, the place brought a smile to my face as I wandered within streets which were to become my home in the upcoming years.

So how is it that not ten minutes from then I found myself lying on the ground with blood seeping out of my head staining the pretty warm yellow of the sidewalk a dark red?

Maybe I should listen to the signs.