This is the reverse side of Final Words. Same song, second verse, a little bit louder and a little bit worse...

--

Liz sat on the couch, amusing herself by making marshmallow snowmen while her two friends, Korimi and Catty, and their respective boyfriends Rei and Kai were out of the house, 'shopping'. Which translated as snogging. But that's beside the point.

Liz stuck a toothpick through one and began adding raisin buttons and eyes, finally finishing it with a Twizzler scarf. She suddenly stopped as she smelled something strange. She stood up, trying to sort through the scents floating through the house. Seeing as she didn't have her friends heightened senses, this was slightly difficult.

The front door opened just as she thought she had the scent, and her friends were slightly surprised to see her race up the stairs and down the hall and began banging on Tala's door.

"TALA! OPEN UP!" Liz cried, banging on the door even more. The smell was stronger now, and Catty, Korimi, Kai and Rei winced as they caught it. They looked worried now as well. Liz tried the doorknob when they heard no movement from within.

The door swung open to reveal Tala sitting, propped up against the bed, a silver knife in his hands. The floor around him was red-soaked. The room smelled overwhelmingly of the metallic scent of blood. Tala's head lolled to the side and his eyes tried to focus on the newcomers.

"Bye..." He said softly. A gentle smile graced his lips. "I'm outta here you idiots."

"Tala! You can't do this!" Liz cried, kneeling by his side and grasping his shoulders, shaking him slightly.

"It's too late moron. I've already lost too much blood." Tala said, almost arrogantly. Liz closed her eyes. She looked at the four who were standing in the doorway. The girls were shocked and had tears in their eyes, Rei was looking worried, vaguely relieved and guilty all at the same time, and Kai was doing a remarkable job of showing indifference.

"You can't dye like this Tala! Damnit!"

"Just know I did it for you." Tala murmured, bringing a blood-soaked hand up to caress Liz's face.

"Tala... you're delusional... but you can't die!"

"Why not, love?"

"Because I l—would miss you. And so would your sister... and your future brother-in-law... and your friends!"

"Too... la..." Tala didn't finish his sentence as he let out his last labored breath. Liz let out a choked sob and hugged him close, ignoring the cuts all over his body that still dripped blood. Kai turned to Rei.

"Call the police." He said sharply. Rei nodded and went downstairs, only hesitating the barest moment. Korimi openly sobbed into Catty's shoulder, who was doing her best to comfort her despite crying herself.

Liz was sobbing into Tala's blood-soaked shirt, heedless of Kai's order to let him go. She finally leaned back enough to look up at Tala's no peaceful face. She let out another choked sob and leaned forward. She gently pressed her lips against his. She nearly screamed when strong arms came up and wrapped around her, pulling her closer. She felt Tala smile against her lips. She pulled back, terrified.

"You're DEAD!" She cried. Tala smirked.

"Stage makeup and good acting." He said. Liz turned sharply to glare at Catty and Korimi who were giggling hysterically, the tears now revealed to be of laughter. She glared. Tala directed her face back to his and kissed her again. "Finally." He muttered playfully. "I didn't know if I could hold my breath too much longer." Liz, almost against her will, returned the kiss.

When she finally drew back she vaguely noted that their friends had left them alone.

"How long were you planning this?" Liz asked.

"Since I realized that we were the only ones in this house not paired up." Liz glared hotly at him, so he amended: "And since I realized how pretty you are when you get mad..." Tala kissed her again. Liz finally giggled.

"If you say..." She said before standing up. Tala got to his feet as well and looked down at himself. "I'd better clean up..." He said. Liz giggled again.

"And I left my marshmallow-men out..." Liz said almost sadly. Tala chuckled lightly, planting a kiss on her forehead.

Liz smiled, but stumbled slightly as she felt a sudden sense of vertigo. She blinked. "I'm laying down?" She asked. Tala looked at her, confused.

"No?" He said. Liz rolled her eyes before collapsing o the ground.

"OUCH!" She cried, blinking.

She found herself laying on the floor by the couch. She looked around. The metallic smell of the fake blood was nowhere to be found, and nor were the traces of it on her clothes. She sat up, staring at her marshmallow men.

"Weird... I could have sworn I was... Kissing? Tala??"

"Someone call me?" Tala asked, poking his head in from the dining room. Liz looked up at him. There was no trace of blood anywhere on his person. Liz stood and walked over to him. He looked confused.

SMACK!

The resounding slap echoed for a moment.

"What the HELL was that for?!" Tala cried, holding his cheek.

"FOR TRICKING ME LIKE THAT!" Liz cried before stomping upstairs to her room, leaving a very confused Tala.