"Am at the payphone ready to call home all of my change I spent on you" I sang while cleaning the floor. Singing always helped me to finish my chores on time or else she wouldn't let me see the sun for weeks. I know you must be thinking who I mean by she, well she's my mom,the woman who bore me yeah I know unbelievable but sadly it is what it is. I don't know why but she has always hated me and loves my sister Cally very much I think it's because she's just like her; like mother like daughter. You see it wasn't always like this. OK she didn't treat me like her loving daughter but it wasn't that bad and I had my father back then. He loved me in a way that I didn't mind whatever mother did to me but it got worse when my father died her hate for me got stronger with time and Cally well she never got along with me cause she always got jealous whenever I used to spend time with father and with time her jealousy grew to hatred .

"Bella!" My mother called me and by the tone, I knew it was nothing good. I left what I was doing and ran to mother not wanting to be late. I slowly opened the door that separated the two of us or three if Cally was there.

"Hello mother, Cally" I greeted them with my head bowed down. It was a rule Cally came up with and her mother agreed to it. I have to bow down while greeting. I once decided not to do that and all I can say is I don't want to repeat that moment again.

"I have been calling you for the past ten minutes stupid," Cally shouted and slapped me which am sure it's gonna leave a mark.

"S-s-orry I,"I stuttered with tears on my face.

"You what!"

"N-nothing, "

"Argh, annoying dirt, I wonder why mom still keeps you here why doesn't she just throw you out of this house," Cally muttered slowly so that only I can hear her.

"OK forget about all this, I have a date today with Blake here and I want it to be perfect. You here me! From the food to everything. If you make a mistake you'll regret ever being born," Cally said with anger and seriousness in her eyes and I knew then If it doesn't go as she wants it to... I quickly rushed out of the house to the kitchen to start with the food. We have a chef for that but I didn't want anything to go wrong so I decided to make the food myself.

Ten minutes later...

"Hey jack,"I called the chef, " please take care of this food, just let it heat for about ten minutes and switch it off OK I have to take care of the table and music for the date,"

"Bells," john called me with his nickname for me.

"Yeah,"

'Why don't you just ran away, these people are not worth your sweat my dear and you know that. Am not saying your life is gonna be great when you leave but it's gonna be better than your life here and you and I both know it."

"Yeah I know but you know why I can't right. As much as they hate and torture me they are still my family and you were there when I promised dad that i will always take care of them no matter what remember. I got to go make arrangements for Cally's date OK bye,"

******************************

"Hey Cally, everything is ready,"

"OK now listen here,I don't want you In the house . I don't want you to ruin my date do you here me,"

After listening to her yelling I got out of the room and went to the lake deep in the forest . It always calmed me down. A few minutes later I heard some noise behind like as if there was someone watching me. I stood up and turned to see who it was only to come face to face with the bluest eyes ever just like the lake which i adore if it's even a word. I was lost in his eyes only to be brought back to sense by him. "Ahem, love what you see , "

"Your eyes, "I muttered with no intention to.

"Ha-ha you should take a picture it will last longer," he said smirking.

"Jerk,"I muttered.

" Says the one who was staring at me," he said which made my whole face turn pink am sure.

"Pink suits that face of yours," he said which didn't help me on my case at all as I turned more pink than before.

I found myself staring at his face again but this time it wasn't as captivating as before they were actually scary. There was certain emotion in them that made my hair at the back of my neck stand. All I wanted was to go far away from him and that's what I did. At this moment I didn't mind Cally's anger in fact I actually prefer her punishment to whatever his eyes made me feel. I could hear him calling me shouting girl wait up but I didn't stop to hear what he wanted to tell me I ran straight to the house and into my room and locked myself.

*****************************

"Hey Cally how was your date? " I asked her knowing she wont taunt me with that smile on her face.

"It was great," she replied with her feelings evident in her eyes.

"She must be serious with him,"I thought. I never thought I will see the day my sister smiling not because of my punishments but a genuine smile.

******************************
A month later

Time has pass by and although Cally still hates me and she reminds me so everyday we actually have a decent talk sometimes but the punishments are still the same. I still get those if I don't do what they ask me to or if I get late and so on. But guess what at least there is one nothing that's going great in my life " Drake". He is the same boy I met a month ago and ran from him. I remember that day when I met him again on my way to the lake.

"Hey girl," he greeted me

"Hey,"I greeted him back but I was still afraid of him I just din show it.

"Did I do anything wrong," he asked me with sadness in his eyes that made me feel guilty of running away.

"Oh no, why are you saying so,"

"That day, you ran away all of a sudden did I do anything wrong? "

"No it wasn't you I remembered that I had forgotten to turn off the gas that's why I ran,"

"Oh OK,"

And from that day we have become close and a week later he as asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes. I have been thinking to share this with Cally as I really wanted to tell someone but I was afraid of what she is going to say. What if she tells mom?I will be dead but I wanted to tell her as tomorrow Drake said he is gonna take me somewhere. I can see myself getting married to him I can't wait for the day he will get down on his knees and propose to me. I never thought I will find someone who will ever love me after my father's death but that day has come I have found someone who loves me and I him.

"Hey, Cally, can I talk to you in your room for a minute, " I bravely asked her but inside I was panicking afraid of her answer so when she said yes i was surprised.

"OK,what do you want to tell me? Hurry up say what you want to say I got stuff to takecare of,"she said with an annoyed tone.

"I have a date tomorrow and I don't know what to do. Do i say say no? What am I going to wear? Please help me out and don't tell mom OK." I said quickly.

"Hey, calm down alright. I will help you I owe you that and don't worry mom is going somewhere tomorrow so no worries and about the dress I will give you mine. But don't think this changes anything between us do you hear that?" She said the last sentence with anger.

******************************
"Hey wake up ," I heard someone saying while hitting me on my back lightly.

I woke up and stared at Cally,
"What do u want it's so early in the morning,"I asked her

"Hmm, don't you want to get ready for your date, less work for me." Cally said.

"Oh shit! The date, I had completely forgotten about it, thanks,"I thanked her and quickly got in the shower leaving Cally going through the dresses she came with I think.

A few minutes later

"OK done, you look gorgeous, whoever he is he will be drooling at his first glance,"Cally told me but I didn't believe her till I looked at the mirror. I looked good. I almost didn't recognize myself.

"OK thanks I won't forget this favor bye we are meeting by the lake," I told her and made my through the door eager to see Drake.

" Hey" I greeted Drake who was giving me his back

"Hey," he replied turning around and like Cally said he did drool ha-ha.

"You look gorgeous."

"Thank you, and you too."

"Hey a man isn't gorgeous but handsome u just pricked my ego baby," he said with a frown on his face.

"Ha-ha OK sorry you look handsome. There happy?" I said.

"Very, lets go," he took me to his car. Oh I forgot to mention he drives BMW.

"Hey we've been on road for a whole hour now,where are we going?" I asked him but like before, he  told me to have patience. Something i didn't  have. A few minutes later the car stopped. We were at a place that looked abandoned but it wasn't as there were buildings around just not near each other.

"Hey why did you bring me here?" It so_,"I said but he cut me off

"Quiet I know. The perfect place for a date isn't it,"

"Yes but, "

"No buts just follow me. You trust me right?" he asked

"More than my life,"I answered and followed him to a cave. When I entered the cave drake had the same look he had on our first meeting. Something in me told me to run but I ignored it and went to stand near Drake.

"Hey, where is the food?"I asked him, "I am kinda hungry."

"Food?"

"Yes,"

"Hmm, we didn't actually came here to eat,"

"What?Draaaaake am actually hungry," I muttered.

"You won't be for long," he replied with a mysterious smile on his face that made me move away from him but he tightly held my hand squeezing it to the point I felt like it was breaking.

"What is wrong with you Drake? Why am I here?"I asked him.

"To kill you of course he replied with no sign of regret or fear on his face.

"What!" I jumped afraid of what he just said, " You are joking right?"

"Ha-ha you are so naive my dear. Does this face tell you am joking, " he shouted giving me a murderous look .

I started crying not knowing what to do "oh don't worry I will make it easy . You will only feel pain for some minutes and then you'll say bye bye to the world," he whispered in my ear that made me cringe.

"W-w-hy?"I asked him, " what have I ever done to you? I love you and you said you love me too then why this? " I shouted at him

"Heyyy," he shouted back pointing a knife at me," don't shout at me, do you hear me?"

"Y-y-yes p-please don't kill me,"I pleaded.

"Sorry but I can't do that. If I can't have you no one can, "he replied with a blank look on his face. " You see am supposed to marry this girl. It is going to be good for my business. Her father is very rich and she is the only heir so if I marry her all her property will be mine. Business, money and so on. I love you but you have nothing to give me and if I can't have you no one can and so the the only way to assure that is to kill you. Any last say?"

"Yes ,you are sick,"I told him and with that I could feel the knife entering my stomach. Who said it wasn't that painful, it hurt like crazy. I looked at him but his face held no guilt and instead he had a smile on it. He took the knife out intending to stab me with it again and so I closed my eyes hoping it will pass quickly and I can die;get free from my ex of a monster but I felt nothing. At first I thought I had died already but when I opened my eyes I couldn't believe what I saw. No I wasn't dead. Something worse, my mother .She knocked Drake unconscious and was now in front of me.

"Hey you," she asked but didn't finish as I had fallen down due to the knife stab.

"Mother? What are you doing here? How did you find me? Why did you hit him?"I found myself asking.

Hey slow down I was at the neighbouring building when I thought I saw your face entering this cave so I came here to check. This place is dangerous dear what are you doing here?" she asked me with a worrying face.

"D-drake is my b-boyfriend and he brought me here for a,"I spoke but couldn't finish as I was loosing conscious.

"Hey please don't die, don't leave me please, " the mother cried.

But y-you should be happy am dying you hate me." I softly spoke hoping she heard as it hurt to speak.

"No no no I don't hate you please don't die on me. Am sorry for how I treated you all this time . Please forgive me. Your father will hate me if you die like this please forgive me. I have no explanation or an excuse for how I treated you but we can start afresh please,"mom pleaded crying. I could see it in her face that she meant what she was saying so I decided to forgive her.

" It's OK I forgive you just tell me w-why,"

"What do u mean, "my mom answered with her teary face.

"Why now ?Why all of a sudden you changed?"I asked her.

"I know you may not believe this but when I saw that boy wanting to stab you I broke. I couldn't imagine you not in my life. I realized then that I really love you as your mother and all the hate was not worth anything, it isn't worth losing you "my mom explained crying. " I know I have been a bad mother but I promise to be good to you and to Cally and I know deep inside she loves you too please forgive me."

"Hey mom, calm down I forgive you. We will be a family again and as for Cally I know she loves me deep inside I have seen it even if it was just for some minutes so don't worry."I said. On hearing that mom hugged me. "M-mom I think am gonna sleep now I can't take the p-pain anymore."

"No don't, stay with me ," my mother pleaded , "you will be fine dear, the paramedics are coming just hang on."