I stared into my half empty glass of diet soda, taking a deep well deserved breath, the first one since I started this 'trip'. I sighed, using the straw to play with ice, reeling over how I ended up driving all the way to some hick town in Louisiana.

=Earlier Yesterday=

I came home tired, from my shift at Danni Diner, as I walked from my car to the front door. It was pretty late, Mom's probably in bed now. I put my key in, but before I could turn it, the door open to see my father, whom I hadn't seen since I was 8.

"Princess?"

I groaned, under my breath. "Not anymore." I pushed him out of the way, as I noticed Mom was lying on the floor in the kitchen. "Mom?" I ran to her.

"Oh she was threatin to call the police, had to stop her." The Man calmly walked toward the kitchen.

I leaned down, to see her head bleeding and a frying pan a few feet away. I stood up, glaring at him. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Don't you-"

"Shut up! You left us, high and dry." I looked up at him then back at Mom, as I tried to see if she would be alright.

"I had things to do for the family."

"Bull! All you ever did was drink, and when you weren't drinking, you abused Mom. Then to top it off, you'd act like nothing happened when you were with me. I was only 8, and I knew the word bastard, you were the definition! AND YOU DARE COME BACK?"

"This my house! I will do as I please!" The Man came closer to me, as I backed up. "I am the rule maker, and you will do as I SAY!"

"Fuck that!" I grabbed my bag, pulling out my cell, and started to dial 911, before I could press call, my cell was slapped out of my hand. Then I was hit in the face, throwing me backwards against the kitchen counter. I hear Mom quietly groan, he moved in her direction, as my anger drew a fire inside me. "LEAVE MY MOTHER ALONE!"

My blood was growing to a boil, as the fire grew. I jumped on his back, clawing at whatever exposed skin he had, his neck, arms, face and anything else, before he threw me to the floor, almost a yard or two away from Mom. He glared at me. "She's useless, she always was! All I wanted to do was end her! And you had to stay by her side!" He pulled out a gun from his pocket, it looked like a small revolver, as he pointed it at Mom.

"BASTARD!" That was my breaking point, my whole body felt like it was burning. I lifted my hands toward him, and out of no where, flames covered him. His screams so loud, so painful, as he ran frantic around the house, trying to get free of the fire but causing worse on the house. I was speechless, but I grabbed my bag, my cell and whipped Mom on my back. I walked out the back door, as my childhood home and the man that brought me constant fear were both burned to bits. I put Mom down, as she started to wake up.

"What? Huh?" She looked at me, noticing the now forming bruise on my face. "Hunny,"

"Shush, Mom. Are you feeling ok?" I dialed 911, and just said our address. I grabbed my handkerchief out of my bag, as I patted her head wound, she took it from me and did it herself.

"I'm fine. What happened to your father?"

I turned my head to the burning inferno, as she turned, her sobs began. "I tried to protect you, he attacked me then held a gun to you. I pushed him against the stove, somehow he ended up causing a fire." I stared at her, hoping she'd not question me.

"Oh," Mom's face seemed so torn, it reeked of heartbreak and loss. I grabbed my keys, and stood up. "Where are you going?"

"I'm getting the hell out of here." I pulled out my check from this months shifts, and put it in her hand. "Get yourself an apartment, Mom. Just start over." I stared deeply in her eyes, she seemed out of it as soon as grasped her gaze, she nodded.

I ran to my car, 2000 Black Honda Accord, jumping into the drivers' seat, turning the key and driving out of Bolton, MA. Hitting the highway and let the concrete lead me away.

-Presently-

I groaned as I felt the pain in my cheek, it was worse then when I got my braces off. I chugged my soda, wanting to go to the bathroom and see how bad I really looked after all that happened the last 32 some odd hours. I got up and started to the bathroom, but ending up bumping into a blonde girl.

She dropped her plates and glass everywhere, "Oh darn. I'm sorry."

"My fault, honestly." I bent down picking up the plates that weren't broken, stacking them in the process. "I'm sorry for bumping you. There's so much broken. I'm such a klutz."

"It happens more times than you'd think. It's no problem." The girl laughed a bit, her southern accent was so deep. She put the plates I stacked on her tray, and stood up, she looked at me, curiously. "I've never seen you around before. You new to town?"

"Yeah, I just got in town a little while ago, had to have a bite before finding a hotel." Fixed my hair so it was covering my right cheek, just in case my cheek was as bad as it felt, I didn't want to cause a scene.

"Well, if you're stayin for good. I know someone who can rent you out a place." She smiled bright, her brown eyes glistened.

I noticed her hair in a bun, she looked nice for a waitress in a bar like this. I had never been one to go to bars, always stayed on my best behavior, no alcohol for me. But she looked nice in the shorts and white shirt, which seemed to be the uniform for Merlotte's, if I remembered the name right. "That's so nice of you..."

"Sookie Stackhouse. And you are?" Sookie put her hand out.

"Ava Henderson." I shook her hand, her eyebrows tensed. "Something wrong?"

Sookie's expression seemed confused but the went back to her bright smile. "Everythin's fine. I have to clean up this mess, but after my shift I'll introduce you to Sam, he's got houses for rent just down the way."

I sighed, walking to the bathroom and locking the door behind me, so I could fix myself.

I looked at my reflection; I looked like Death met The Undertaker and had a nice fight. My normal shoulder length dark brown locks were horribly greasy from the lack of a shower. I quickly put my hair in a ponytail, seeming less dysfunctional. The bags under my eyes made me feel 10 years older, even though I was only 26. I dabbed some cover-up, then looked to my cheek. I was surprised to see no bruise, maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought. Anyway, I fixed my clothes, which were a black tank top with black sweatshirt loosely on me, then dark blue jeans, with a pair of fishnet Air Walk sneaks.

I stared at myself for a little bit, left the bathroom, and went back to my new glass of soda. This time, I read the menu, seeing as I had to wait for Sookie.

Author Note

Hello everyone! This is my new story, As you can tell, Ava is going through a lot of things, and now of all the places, she's in Bon Temps. We will just have to wait and see what happens to our darling Ava. Please fave, alert and review the story if you like it. Hope you stay for the next chapter. Later Readers!