That night Violet sat on the front steps, wrist held tightly to her chest. Her dad didn't say anything as he wrapped it up and Moria cleaned up the blood. "Don't tell your mother." He had said when he finished. "She doesn't need more stress."

So Violet shut her mouth during the silent dinner she didn't even eat. There had been so much blood. It still filled her nostrils making her queasy.

Crack!

Violet stared straight ahead at the unslowing figure headed directly for her. His teeth gleamed white in the darkness. Before reaching her he turned sharply to the path leading to the backyard.

She followed.

It was Tate. Who else would come so late at night?

There were those psychopath killers wanting to reenact old murders that had happened in the house's gory past. But Tate had saved her. How he got into the house? She doesn't know. Violet was just glad he had been. Her heart began to race.

Tate heard her following behind him. Violet hadn't seen his face, didn't know it was him. Yet she followed him all the same. His pulse sped along with his quickened breath. What would he say? What would he do? Kiss her? Kill her? Embrace her? Push her?

"Tate!"

Her voice sounded uneven. Rough. She had been crying. He turned and pulled her into a tight embrace. A light flicked on outside on the porch.

Tate drew her into the shadows. Her mother, Vivien, had come out onto the porch. "Ben?"

"What is it Viv?"

"Is Violet in her room?"

"As far as I know." With that they walked inside.

"'As far as I know'? He saw me go outside." Her hushed tone was hurt.

Without thinking Tate took her face in his hands. "You're beautiful." Than he kissed her. It was sweet and slow. Perfect. "I swear you're perfect."

"I swear you're dangerous."Tate chuckled pressing his forehead to hers stroking her hair gently. "I am."

She kissed his lips gently. "I don't think you are."

"You're a very stupid girl, Violet."

She looked down gaze on her arm. "I'm sorry."

He had told her what she wanted to hear.

"What happened? Did your dad touch you?" He felt rage chewing on the ends of his sanity.

"What? No!" She answered shaking her head.

Tate's gentle calloused fingers touched her arm where Violet's gaze lingered. Tugging the sleeve back he revealed a wrapped wrist. Blood had bled through the think gauze. "What did you do?"

Her lips trembled with the battle she fought with her emotions. "You know I cut."

"Not this much damage though. I need you to keep living for me." He whispered drawing her against his chest.

"What if I don't want to keep living?"

"Don't say that." He held her tightly feeling tears prickle his eyes. "Don't ever say that."

"Don't ever leave me." She whispered hiding her face in his chest as a blush painted her pale cheeks.

"Never dreamed of it." He kissed her forehead feeling at peace with himself, with the world for once.

"Tate?"

"Yeah Violet?"

"Come inside with me."

"What?" Tate answered her astonished.

"I don't want to sleep alone." She told him and it was the truth. She couldn't bear to be alone anymore. "They're asleep by now. I just need you Tate. Just tonight."

His lips touched hers as he pulled her closer. "Whatever you need I'll be there."

Laying in her bed she could hear Tate's steady heartbeat in her ear. He was still lightly stroking her hair as her eyes fluttered shut.

Morning light flittered through the curtains as Tate laid Violet's sleeping head on her pillow. He didn't want to leave. He never wanted to leave her. But he had to go before her parents came in to wake her. She couldn't get in more trouble than she already was. Tate kissed her forehead and arm before he went to write on her chalkboard.

Stay strong. He wrote before slipping away into the morning light.