Broken

Chapter 1 Maria's POV: Life In A World of Hate

"Maria get your ass down here right now you little brat!" My bastard father calls.

I quickly jump out of my bed in the attic and rush down the stairs already knowing what is to come after school. I definitely do not want to get a beating on a Monday morning before school. Oh right, sorry! My name is Maria Sanchez and I've been getting abused since I was 12 years old, after my mother passed away in a tragic car accident.

Before my mom died, our family was like every other, not perfect but happy with our lives. After my mom died, everything changed and my dad started to drink. I can still remember the first time that he ever hit me and my first official beating for not doing the dishes.

For the past 5 years, I have been working as a waitress at a diner in our hometown called Sweet Home, which has a decent paycheck from the business we get. The money I get, I try to hide from my father to put in a bank account for college. Most of the money that I get ends up going to my dad's alcoholic needs. Currently I have $150,000 in my bank account from my paycheck and my other side jobs like babysitting. Unfortunately, I am in my senior year at Portsman High School, where I also get bullied for other people's pleasure.

"Where's my breakfast at?!" He demands questioningly. "You were supposed to make it an hour ago!"

"Yes, sorry sir. I woke up late today." I reply quietly.

"So that's your excuse for being late! You were sleeping in instead of making my breakfast. I can't have breakfast because you haven't made it yet!" he spits out resentfully.

I speedily get to making him breakfast before he gets even more angry with me. I decide to make eggs, sausage, and toast since that is all we have left in our fridge and cupboards. When I bring it to him and he sees what I made him his eyes are flames of rage. He stands up furiously and throws his chair across the room.

"What is this?! This looks like something that came out of the garbage. I want real food not this trash." Before he can yell or throw anything else at me I grab my things for school and run out the door. The second the door shuts I hear glass shattering against the door, startling me and making me run as far from the house as I can so he can't catch me.

As soon as I arrive at the school I go straight to my locker and grab my books and other supplies that I will need for my classes. As I am closing my locker all the items I was holding in my hands were smacked out of my hands and I was shoved into the edge of my locker. I fall to the floor and feel someone lift my head where I am then met with a hand that leaves a hand print on my right cheek. As soon as this happens I know that it is Bianca Levista, also known as the queen bee and principal's daughter.

"Look who it is girls!" she says calmly, "It's little Miss. Goody-Two-Shoes."

She's been bullying me since I was 13 years old, which was about a year after my mom died and my dad started abusing me. As I get lost in my thoughts they are broken by a deep, husky voice.

"Let her be Bianca or you're gonna regret it later."

As soon as the words hit my ears, my head whips up giving myself whiplash. Who I see surprises me because it is a very well known person in our school and town. It is Alex Cole, the wonderful town's bad boy.

"What are you going to do about Alex?" Bianca challenges.

"Simple, I'll tell your dad what you actually do on the weekends and when you are not at home supposedly studying with friends.... Because we all know you are not studying. Right?" Alex bites back.

"You wouldn't dare!" Bianca screams angrily.

"Oh, but maybe I would. So I would recommend you don't challenge or underestimate my abilities." Alex snaps with an icy glare. "I mean, we all know your dad does not really trust you very much right now... so we all know who he would believe."