_Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed_

To the guest who gave me the comment about Viola-I totally agree. She wouldn't be the type of person that throws herself at him. Not at all. Thank you for the input.

(Todd)

The ship we arrived in was much bigger than the one that Bradley had. I still was a bit dizzy when I woke up. Ben told me there was gonna be a party for me. Like I was a hero. Down on New Haven.

I'm a bit nervous.

"Don't be." Ben says as we land. I look down at my hands. They're all sweaty. I wish she was here to comfort me.

But I drove her away.

Stupid effing-

"She's out there, Todd." I look up at him. "Where?"

"In New Haven. Waiting to see you."

That made me get my legs to move. Made me stand. The promise that she'd be there.

"Behind that door you're a hero."

"No I ain't"

"That's what the people think-"

"Well they shouldn't. I ain't no hero"

As soon as I was up I felt the door open and sunlight blinded my eyes. I staggered a bit, but Ben caught me before I fell.

There were so many people.

Cheering.

Roaring.

For me.

But where was she?

"Todd!" I saw Bradley right below me. "My god, it's been forever." I get down and shake his hand. "How are you? Good? Spackle taking good care of you?"

"Ya, ya." I respond still looking for her.

"Come with me." Ben said. "Let me introduce you." As the cheering died down I could hear the noise a bit better.

Todd Hewitt some were saying.

Boy.

War hero.

And some of them were thinking-

"People of New Haven. May I present to you, our recovered war hero Todd Hewitt!" There was another roar. It almost hurt my ears. I guess I wasn't use to it anymore.

The noise started to die down and everyone was paying attenshun to me. I wish they wouldn't. I ain't a hero. I ain't.

"Todd Hewitt is a man I have only known for a short time, but in that short time I knew that he is a man who will fight for you. Until he can't anymore." I heard footsteps and turned towards the sound. And my mouth fell open. Cuz there she was.

Right there.

Wearing a…dress, I think.

Her hair was short.

She was clean.

I started to smile cuz she was just so beautiful. It almost made me want to cry

Shut up.

"Hi Todd." She folded her hands in front of her. Smiling widely.

Viola Viola Viola.

And I run to her. And take her in my arms like I've wanted to since I woke up.

I'm sorry I'm sorry. I shoulda-

"It's ok, Todd." She says over my shoulder. "You had just woken up." I look at her "Let's take things one step at a time." And there was that surge again. In my noise. It almost hurt. Cuz it was so strong and so bright...A rumble of noise came from the men in the crowd. Whispers from the women. I wasn't really paying attenshun tho. Cuz here she was. Right in my grasp. Mine.

Mine.

Todd. I heard Bradley's noise say impatiently.

She pushes me towards the podium and smiles. They were all silent now. I could hear the buzzing of their noise as they listened to the pause. I look at her again cuz I just can't stop.

Cuz she's here.

She's not a dream.

Yer Here. Yer Here.

She takes both of my hands in hers and smiles again. "You're here. Really here."

"Come on." She took my hand and pulled me into the building. "This is the capital building." She told me "Bradley had the church repaired. It was probably the first thing they fixed." It looked different, warmer. This had been where they asked people but you can't tell that from just looking at it. She lead me down a hallway. One I had never seen before. At the end of the hall was another opening. Inside was a table, a chair, paper.

"What is it?"

"Your office."

"My office?"

Office?

"It's where people work. It's where you'll work."

"I'll work here?"

"Yes, Mr. Hewitt." She teased. "Bradley wants you at his side. On the council."

Me?

"Yes you. He trusts you. So do the people."

I don't want this.

"I don't know if I can…"

"Of course you can. I believe in you."

"Viola…when I was with the mayor…in control… I started…I-"

I controlled them. Sent them to their deaths.

"Oh Todd. You never meant any harm. I know you didn't. But people need a leader, now more than ever." Viola said. "Todd?" I hated when she said that. "Todd?"

She made me feel so-

"Nothing. I was just thinking."

"Don't feel bad about what you did. It's all in the past."

"I think I want to be alone."

There was a pause. My noise filled it by taking in the room. The table, the chair. The books.

I can't read.

(Shut up)

"I'll leave you alone then." She said quietly and closed the door.

Viola?

Don't deceive me

Oh never leave me.

I don't know how long I stood there. I looked through all the books. All the papers. Of course I couldn't-

I found a book with a bunch of numbers and names, I think. I found mine

Todd Hewitt

- 24th

14

I found Viola. At least I think it was. Ben showed me her name's shape a long time ago…

Viola Eade

- 22nd

14

"Todd?" It was Ben.

"Ya?"

"Why are you in here?"

"I don't know. Thinking."

"Well there's a party starting outside. You should come out."

"I don't really feel…I'm not going to stay here. I want to leave."

"I know you're overwhelmed right now. And you have every right to feel that way."

"He told me I was gonna be a leader. That I was just like him. I don't want to be him, Ben!"

"And you can never be because you're not as lonely as he was. You are the better person."

"But-"

"And he was not wrong about your leadership skills. The question is will you use them for good or evil?"

"That's not the problem" I said annoyance all over my noise. "I don't act good when I'm in charge." And I remembered the day when the spackle attacked. James. I killed him. It was all me.

"Not yet." I turned away from him, annoyance all over my noise. Effing Ben. Effing Viola. They don't understand.

I wish they did…

(Shut up)

(But I do)

"Come out and join the party Todd. Let your worries go for a bit." And I heard him leave. And I looked out the window and I saw her standing outside looking at me. I saw her say my name.

Viola.

Oh never leave me…