Summary: Bella never wanted to go to Forks. But forced by her mom after an incident that ended with her in a Psych Ward, she has too. And then there is also Bree, the voice in Bella's head that never stops criticizing her. Can Edward save Bella from self-destruction, or will Bree be able to triumph over Bella for good?

Just a note: there will be angst, violence, and rape in this story. If these are themes that make you uncomfortable, I suggest you find something else to read.

Further, this chapter has been edited for content pretty heavily since it was originally published. While not perfect, it will likely be touched up again in the future, along with the other chapters in this story.

It's Like the Pot Calling the Kettle Black

By: Pinkster Lily

Chapter One:

Meet Bree

"Bella?" a voice called through the bathroom door. "Are you okay?" Charlie.

He knew about my stay in the institution a few months ago – in time for my seventeenth birthday, yay! – and as a result was anxious enough to be constantly asking me how I was. Constantly. For the last week.

I was emotionally unstable, not a child.

I eyed my short hair in the mirror, trying to smooth it down. It had been long only a few months prior, but I'd chopped most of it off – part of the "episode" that had ultimately led to my involuntary commitment to the psych ward of the local hospital back in Arizona. That was the reason I was here in Forks, Washington, the dreariest town in North America. Also the wettest, by chance.

My mother, Renee, had sent me here to live with my father because she thought I was insane. That's what I gleaned from it, anyway. I didn't think I was, crazy that is, but it's not like anyone believed me anyway. That what crazy people always said, right?

I was willing to admit that I was a bit on the far side of sane, but I wasn't crazy. I didn't have visions; I didn't see hallucinations. I did hear voices – okay, not voices, but a voice. As in, one. But that's not my fault; it was my mother's ex-husband's fault. Her new husband, the third one, was a lot nicer, his name was Phil and he played baseball.

Anyway, the incident that got me landed here, in the worst town on the face of the planet, after Renee essentially gave up on me. There was more to the institutionalization, I supposed, but after spending three months in that joint I didn't want to think about any of it much. Charlie's worried looks just solidified my resolve to put it behind me. I knew he was concerned by my old habit of muttering to myself, something I knew was considered strange by everyone else. I'd worked hard to ignore Bree whenever I could, or at least to limit my interactions with her to purely mental ones. But that wasn't my point. My mother took me out two months ago and eventually decided that "maybe the city wasn't the best place" for me and sent me here.

Basically, she was tired of dealing with my shit.

Honestly, I'm average. I'm boring. And apparently my constant mental criticizer wasn't going to shut up today. Bree. I swear I didn't chose the name; I would have gone with something more along the lines of Satan.

Bree didn't like me much and the feeling was mutual. She was the one that had convinced me I wasn't good enough and made my cut off all my hair. All the muttering Renee had heard was me talking to her during it all.

Bree had taken up permanent residence in my head after Renee married James. James was your average guy with a job. To everyone else, he was the nicest guy around. The ideal husband, father, worker, friend. To me, he was the devil incarnate. He had made my life living hell almost the entire time he was in it.

I felt Bree take over; my hands stopped smoothing my shoulder length hair and mussed it instead. "Yeah, I'm fine, Dad. I'll be out in a minute." Bree turned me back to the mirror. Ugh, you're so plain, she told me, and a swell of sadness swelled in me.

I know, I murmured back. Why couldn't I be better for Charlie? I was his only child and I was the plainest girl around. Depressed, I didn't care as Bree took the razor I was using and finished shaving my legs.

She was the one that was cool. She was everything I wasn't and more. Daring, likeable, unique, and smart. Not crazy. I was stupid, careful, and plain. Bree said goodbye to Charlie and skipped breakfast.

Too much fat, she said scathingly to me, as if it was my fault.

It was Monday and I had already been to school once since I got here, on Thursday; I was in time for the start of the spring semester. Every student was excited about my arrival because the school was so small. Obviously, they didn't know about my visit at the institution, or else they would be staying clear of me just like they did back in Phoenix.

I regained control in first period as Bree muttered to me to not be an idiot and mess up the test we were about to take. It was almost like my body was really Bree's; she was in control of it more than I was. She let me have control of it if I behaved. Sad, but true. I ignored the grumbling of my stomach as I completed the test in five minutes. I had studied all weekend so that I could pass.

Soon it was time for Spanish, where Bree took over and talked to Jessica Stanly, who sat right next to us. Bree and Jessica got along really well. Bree liked to talk (again the opposite of me) and so did Jessica. I hated it when she did this, I wanted to be in control of my own damn body.

Shut up already, Bree moaned. Can't you just be quiet for once; she's telling me about the Cullens.

Oh, the Cullens. I remembered them. The beautiful, certainly not crazy, yet so far absent Cullens.

Exactly, now be silent.

And I was as I also listened to Jessica talk. "They are the hottest people I have ever seen. It's a pity that Edward doesn't date. He's the cutest."

Bree smiled and asked, "Remind me, which one is Edward?"

Jessica's face lit up and she gushed, "The bronze haired god. He's so..."

I tuned her out after that. The bell rang soon enough and we walked with Jessica to the cafeteria to get food. Bree let me get lemonade and an apple to calm my aching stomach. Then she was back in control and I was watching as she flirted lightly with Mike Newton before turning him down as he asked us out. And yes, it was weird that it was always us, but that was the way it was. We came as a package, since whenever Bree was using our body I was always around, waiting.

The Cullen family was sitting at the far end of the cafeteria. As far as I knew, we had no classes with any of them. The only class we had that even had an empty seat in was Biology, but I was sure that had always been an empty spot. None of our new friends had said otherwise and I was sure Jessica would have said something if that wasn't the case.

They were all so beautiful, so perfect, and I wished suddenly that I could be like them. Flawless, smart, and not slowly losing their minds.

Will you be quiet, she snapped at me and I retreated back so that it was harder for her to hear me. That's better. And stay back there.

As soon as lunch ended, Bree let me take control. Bree didn't like science in general – or school, really – so she routinely let me handle that part of the day.

Mr. Banner began lecturing us on the stages of Mitosis as soon as the bell rang and everyone was in their seats. Everyone in this class had a partner but me, so my book bag was on the empty desk beside me as class began. Bree sighed and muttered about how stupid Biology was. She wanted to take Art or something instead, but I kept telling her it was required. I tried to tell her to be quieter as I attempted to take notes, but she wouldn't listen. She was just starting to get annoying, when the door opened and distracted us both from our notes.

Okay, this was an idea that I've been toying with for a few days. Should I continue? Review, and let me know what you guys thing of the story.

Signed,

Pink