A/N: So this is super long, FYI.

Guest: Thank you :)

Lila:Not a problem and thank you very much :)

HunterRaven: -Jane was insulted by Lyn's judgement of Aro. Later, she noticed that Lyn didn't like the career field she put herself, so she saw her opportunity to make Lyn even more upset by getting her further into the career: "Marketing with a minor in Psychology." She listed off easily, as though it were second nature. Jane, ever the sadist, noticed the slight drop in her shoulders and her suddenly down cast eyes. So the little girl didn't like her choice, didn't like the life she roped herself into? Fantastic. Time to make it worse.
-
As for the attraction, that's up for you to decided, I guess. And we are going to know more about Lyn's appearance throughout the story and this chapter in particular, but I don't think it will be anything that drastically stands out to you, so you can can ignore if you want to. And the whole thing with her answering his question- no questions asked- is discussed in this chapter.
-I was going through a really old scrap book (like, that-thing-could-very-well-be-haunted old) and saw this creepy picture of a baby who was apparently Cousin Ethel. Ethel led me to Ellen which led me to Lin which led me to Lyndel. So, yeah, pretty random, actually lol
-Fixed the "Elzar" mishap lol Oops *is shot*
-Glad you liked it :)

LadyCoraline:Done.

LadyJoa:Lol, isn't jealousy wonderful? And yeah, I'm going to try to make Lyndel kind of a weird-smart, because in my head she's that socially inept sweetheart that is much happier in a library than a club, although the library is always more fun if she has friends with her.
Also, I always kind of saw Ciaus as the bank guy- you know, the corrupt con artist and such. Aro always crossed me as the one who was really sneaky in his control and always liked to do it the elegant way. Seeing as fashion has control the human race in a way of the labeling of social class and promience since clothes were invented, I've always thought it was more of Aro's...style ;D *is shot again*

Larcian:You don't even want to know what I've got lost in my bookmarks...Anyway, thank you :)

~Shameless self-advertising alert~

FYI-again-:

The O'dark Thirty revamp is up. It's called Haunted Hill and it's still Alec/Oc Marcus/ 2nd Oc with witches and shiz, I'm just taking it in a different direction.

So, uh, yeah...check it out, maybe.

Polyvore links on my profile for those interested in Lyndel's outfits.


Her heart beat pounded in her ears as she rode in the elevator, anxiously awaiting their arrival to her floor. Painted nails spun her ring and picked at her bracelet as nervous eyes glanced at her watch for the seventh time. She was going to be five minutes early. Was that too early? Who did she talk to when she arrived? Would anyone help her? Were they nice or would the next stage of her life be filled with cruel, egocentric people? Oh dear Jesus, why did she do this?
As they neared her floor, Lyndel nervously adjusted the lay of her cropped, black blazer against her burgundy skater dress. A 'ding' snapped her back to reality and she straightened- fixing her posture- before exiting the lift. Any feigned confidence dissipated and the sight before her.

An opened office floor that was filled with decorated desks and cubicles had people running around it. Interns and managers and assistant managers and whoever the hell else were all dashing and speed-walking and speaking either with excessive volume or in hushed tones. And she just stood there, all of her 5'9" (with the heels adding a delicate two inches to her alright above-average height) body consumed with fear and intimidation. Her large, hazel eyes scanned faces and office name plates as her muddled mind tried to decipher who the hell she should approach with her questions. She could feel her hands go cold as fretfulness took a vice grip on her heart.

"Excuse me…" A female voice said in her ear as a delicate hand touched her arm. Lyndel whipped her head around and was blessed with the familiar face of Miss Renata, the CEOs secretary. The noirette smiled up at her. "Ms. Parker, how are you this morning?"

"I'm alright, thanks. And yourself?" She gave the long-practiced response and smile.

"I'm perfectly alright, thank you." Renata gave a similar reply before motioning down a hall of cubicle walls, "If you'll follow me, I'll introduce you to everyone."

Relief overtook the 21 year old as she smiled and nodded gratefully, following behind the smaller woman.

"Chelsea Davis is the head of HR," Renata spoke as they weaved through desks and people, "She's a short woman with light brown hair. Rather personable until you piss her off. Her husband- Afton- works with Santiago in handling security for the company heads."

The small woman opened the door of a small conference room that currently housed three people- one man and two women. They all looked up at the intrusion.

"Everyone, this is the newbie. Lyndel Parker. Lyndel, this is Demetri, Heidi, and Kate. Demetri and Heidi are two of our best buyers and Kate runs the magazine." Renata introduced. Lyndel smiled kindly at the three people and waited for someone to make the next move. The brunette woman- Heidi- walked up to her and stuck out a pale hand.

"It's wonderful to meet you," She smiled as they shook hands, a faint German accent decorating the sentiment. Demetri followed her lead, giving the woman a wink that painted her light beige face a faint pink. Kate smiled sternly before returning attention to whatever the three were discussing when they were interrupted.

"Come, Ms. Parker," Renata's soft voice called to the young woman, "I'll take you to meet the Head of Marketing."

Lyndel smiled gratefully as they left the suddenly cold, tense room.

The two women traveled down the commercially carpeted hall- in silence, this time- towards a large corner office.

Quickly, Lyndel read the door-mounted name plate.

Eleazar Camargo- Marketing and International Affairs

Her hands went cold once again as more fear and intimidation scrambled her mind. The only thing that broke through the haze was the sound of light rapping- Renata knocking on the door.

Oh God, oh God, oh God. Lyndel thought frantically as she the small noirette entered the office.

Running on autopilot, the 21 smiled kindly at the man behind the desk as he stood and greeted her. In her head, a mantra of Firm handshake, kind smile, good posture was playing relentlessly as she tried to focus on what the supposedly Spanish man was saying.

"Mr. Volturi has a lot of confidence in you, Ms. Parker." Mr. Camargo told the slightly shaking woman. The fear was obvious in her eyes and timid smile. Regardless of her concerns, however, the smile was still there. And for a fresh out of college young woman, that meant a lot.

"Speaking of Mr. Volturi," Renata interrupted, "He wanted me to make sure you were on top of the current project, after what happened…"

"Yes, yes, everything's under control," The man waved off easily, "Tell your boss not to worry his pretty little head off."

A quiet giggle drew attention back to the now blushing Lyndel Parker. She looked between the two amused people staring at her and giggled louder.

"He's pretty." She admitted with an embarrassed shrug.

Eleazar observed the young lady with a critical eye. Her warm, blonde hair fell into a mess of curls that were pinned back from her smooth face. A small and comfortable- if not embarrassed- smile tugged at her peachy lips and optimistic, yet wise, hazel eyes gazed out the window-wall of his office.

Simply said, the older man could see where Alec's attraction to the young lady came from. She was a quiet, assumedly smart girl-next-door. She was the poster child for an All American Girl. Just the 23 year old's type.

"On another note," Eleazar began, changing the topic, "Ms. Parker, you will be working under charge of Riley Biers. He and his team should be assembling in Conference Room B now."

She nodded her head and bowed slightly.

"Thank you, sir." She said before Renata led her out of the office.

"Riley Biers," The noirette began as they walked back down the hall, "Has a history of being a royal dick. There have been a few minor complaints that were officially filed, but it's mostly just water cooler chit-chat."

Fear shot through the girl for the umpteenth time that day as she began to respond. "Have you ever worked with him?"

Renata shook her head. "I've never spoken more than a few words to the guy at any given time." She turned to face Lyndel as they stopped in front of Conference Room B. "Just…be strong, alright? And don't be afraid to go to someone if you think he's being out of line. Demetri hates the guy, so he'll always be there for you." She laughed, wishing the girl good luck before walking back to the elevators.


"How is she?"

Renata laughed quietly and continued filing through the different papers on her desk.

"She's fine. A nervous little things, but fine." She answered honestly.

Alec nodded and continued to pester. "And you introduced her to people? To Eleazar?"

The assistant sighed dramatically, but smiled. Her boss had a little crush. It was sweet.

"Yes," She told him patiently, "She's met Eleazar, and he likes her. She's also met Demetri, Heidi, and Kate. But she is working with Biers, so…"

"What's wrong with Biers?" The CEO snapped, blue eyes blazing at the thought of someone giving the young woman a hard time on her first day.

Renata shrugged, uncomfortable with the idea of partaking in office gossip with her superior.

"Well, ya' know, just that he can be a hard ass sometimes, I guess…" She trailed off, trying not to give her emotionally- charged boss a reason to do something rash. "I'm sure she'll be fine. I mean, she handled you, didn't she?" The woman joked, trying to lighten the mood.

It didn't work.

"Yeah, but I wasn't being a dick. Is he going to be a dick?"

"Okay, Alec, calm down," Renata said, rising from her chair and pulling him into his office, "Listen, I don't know what's going on in your head, but you can't let it mess with your job and you know it."

"No, no, I know," he admitted, shaking his head and sighing, "I just…I don't know."

The noirette assistant smiled kindly as her frazzled boss paced the room, the poor young man trying to make sense of his suddenly messed up world.

"I mean, I get it, okay?" he started again, running a hand through his brown hair, "I understand that I have some sort of crush on this chick. What freaks me out is that I can't get rid of it."

The assistant giggled.

"Alec, you can't get rid of a crush. You just have to let it ride out on its own."

The younger person nodded sullenly and shook his head once more as he tried to switch gears.

"Yeah, okay, so what's going on with that project Eleazar stared?"

"He says all is going well," Renata relayed, "And for you to not worry your pretty little head off."

Alec chuckled.

"Yeah, Ms. Parker got a kick out of that, too." The woman smirked, turning and leaving her now embarrassed boss to himself.

Jostling his brown locks again, Alec walked to his desk and sat down. As thoughts raced down the highway of his mind- three thought pile up at the corpus callosum- he started turning in his chair, absent mindedly spinning in circles as he tried to work through the mess his professional life had turned into.

Everyone he's talked to- Aro, Eleazar, and now Renata- said it's just a crush. If that's the case, this is one monster crush.

He had had crushes before- what 23 year old hasn't? - and none had felt like this. They hadn't made him this protective, this desperate, and this fucking horny. Ever. So what was different? What did Lyndel Parker have that no other woman in his life did?

Well, she had legs.

He noticed them when she walked in, and he was damn certain every guy she walked by that day had noticed, too. While her skirt was of modest length, the view of her creamy and toned calves may as well been as provocative as a mini and stilettoes.

And her ass.

Hot damn.

Whatever the hell that woman was doing to get those legs and that ass, she better keep doing it. For the good of all sight- enabled men everywhere, she had better keep doing it.

But, beyond that, she had eyes.

Beautiful, gorgeous, innocent eyes that pleaded for someone to protect her. Was that what he wanted? Someone to protect? To care for? Goddammit, he was twenty-three! And the CEO of one of the biggest fashion houses in the world! He had enough shit to take care of, already!

Sighing, he planted a foot on the carpeted floor and halted his chair. Blue eyes scanned the city skyline outside his window as he leaned back in his chair and allowed himself a few moments to crumble under the suffocating, overpowering pressure that seems to have taken over his still young life.


Lyndel sat silently, willing away the tears that stung her eyes. No one enjoyed being degraded and publicly humiliated, but she had always been particularly susceptible to the emotional effects of discipline.

So obviously, having a boss call her pathetic and her opinion worthless was not something she could take in stride. At least, not right away.

But she wasn't going to cry. She wasn't going to be perceived as weak by her new peers. Maybe that shit was to her advantage in school, but it wouldn't do her any good to be like that in a competitive career field.

When her roaming eye caught two looks of sympathy from the other end of the table, she mentally slapped herself. She had failed, they knew, and she was fucked.

Riley Biers called the meetings and everyone at the able stood, gathering their things before heading out. Lyndel was planning to take a moment- once everyone left- to gather herself in silence; however, as the eyes of her two sympathizers zeroed in on her slumping form, she knew she wouldn't get the alone time she craved.

Reluctantly, she sat up as the two approached, the girl smiling kindly and the guy giving her a warm, apologetic look.

"Hi," the girl said brightly, "I'm Bree, and this is Diego."

Lyndel gave them a tight smile as she swallowed the tears that had been forming.

"We wanted to apologize for Riley," Diego told her softly, "We know he can be a bit of a dick-"

Only a little, she thought sarcastically.

"- but he means well. He just gets overwhelmed sometimes."

She considered his words as Bree rolled her dark eyes dramatically.

"I, on the other hand," She began bluntly, "Will not attempt to defend him. He's a dick. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it."

Within a single heartbeat, Lyndel's mind battled an epic war.

Now was the tie to respond, she recognized. What she said in the next few moments would set her in their minds.

Should she try for a joke? If it didn't land she'd be screwed.

Accept their apologies? Well, only Diego apologized, really. If she timidly accepted a half an apology one someone else's behalf, she'd be labeled a pushover.

But if she didn't accept it, she'd be rude.

And then there was the question of if she should say anything, or if the disruption in her still very delicate internalized emotional ecosystem would be disastrous and open the flood gates.

"I get it," She said calmly, rising from her seat as smothered tears and shakes sent small shocks through her body, "No worries."

At only a slightly quickened pace- so as to avoid drawing attention- she walked out of the conference room and to her tiny cubicle that was brilliantly labeled "Empty Space 36" on the metal office plate.

In the security of solitude, she sat, trying to complete the menial computer tasks assigned to her as her mind dwelled on her humiliating verbal lashing. All she had done was make an indirect suggestion on the definition of the group's target market and then hell broke loose in the form of a very irritated Biers.

According to him, it wasn't her place to question the big kids. All she was to do was sit her "perky little ass in the back," silently observe and wait for coffee instructions.

To say she was insulted would be a waste of breath. She wasn't hurt by the little man's big words, only enraged by them. What led her to the unshed tears was the knowledge that- reiterated by Bree- there was nothing she could do about it.

It made her uncomfortable- claustrophobic- knowing that there was an injustice in her world that she had to live with. Her mother never dealt with someone's bull. She always found a way to get what she wanted, what she felt like she deserved.

That wasn't something Lyndel inherited.

She got her mother's hair- thankfully not her height- and even her engagement ring, but not her grit.

While her mother always expected the best from her life, Lyn-Lyn was much more content avoiding conflict. She'd often mold to anything, bending to most requests and demands without a word of complaint. A thought or two…or ten…but never a word.

She was too meek. She'd never fight for herself. For others, yes, but never herself.

Sighing, she slid the pearl ring off of her right hand and into her skirt's pocket. She didn't deserve to wear it, not right now. Not when her silence in the face of adversity may as well have been spitting on her mother's grave.

Taking a deep breath, the young woman cracked her neck and set her fingers on the keyboard, returning to menial data research and organization.


"Hello, Sad Clown."

Lyndel looked up from the anonymous text message and scanned the bar for her familiar faces.

Although received from an unknown number, the message itself was an inside joke. Tate or Briana was here, and they had friends.

Her hazel eyes first checked the booth they were at last time, only to find it occupied by a double date. She then scanned the bar, which housed two off-duty (at least, she hoped they were off-duty) detectives and a lonely old man.

A quick run-through on the faces that inhabited the pub turned up the same negative results.

They weren't here.

But they were here.

So where the hell-

A high pitch screech sang from her startled vocal cords as something grabbed at her waist.

She whipped around and saw a laughing Demetri, accompanied by a giggling Mary-Alice.

"Come on," Alice beckoned, "We're outside."

Following the two out the door, Lyndel stuffed her recently ungloved hands into her jacket pockets and braced against the Northeastern autumn chill as her two companions led her down a small alley and around a corner, exposing her to a nearly empty parking lot- save for a few cars and a slight gaggle of people in the back.

"Found her!" Demetri shouted to the gaggle, causing them all to turn around.

Instinctively, she ran through names and faces.

Brianna, cigarette in hand.

Jasper, staring longingly at the cigarette.

Unknown, tall and built, but friendly looking.

Heidi, smiling.

Bree, watching her with guarded interest.

She internalized a groan.

She didn't want to see Bree, not after this morning. Was the girl going to bring it up and embarrass her further, either by accident or on purpose? Or was she just going to stare at her all night, like she was right now?

"So Lyn," Heidi called bringing her out of her frantic thoughts, "How was your first day?"

Bree's stare intensified, waiting to hear her response.

Apparently, Demetri noticed.

"Bad?" He asked, sincerity and concern in his brown eyes.

"Not good." Bree snipped before Lyndel had the chance to respond.

"Why?" Brianna asked as her cigarette dwindled away in a mass of smoke and ash.

Lyndel shook her head and tried blowing off the concern.
"Just this guy being a prick. It was nothing."

"Who was it?" Heidi asked, not letting the topic drop.

Lyndel opened her mouth to respond- and say she didn't remember- when Bree cut her off once more.

"Riley."

The atmosphere went tense- Brianna even stopped breathing mid-drag- as everyone looked to one another.

"You're working with Biers?" The big guy asked, cocking an eyebrow and holding her gaze with an intensity that frightened her. Or maybe it was the mere size of him that had her quaking in her skin, she couldn't tell. All she knew was that she didn't want to anger him.

And so she nodded her head.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Heidi watching someone with worry and turned to see who it was.

Demetri was beside her, shaking with rage. She remembered what Renata had said about how he hated Biers. Confused, she looked to Jasper and Mary-Alice.

"We're going to go inside," Alice announced, laying a hand on Jasper's arm and leading him out of the group, "Get Jazz away from the smoke. Lyn, wanna come?"

Ever thankful, she smiled slightly and nodded, following the (what she assumed to be) couple back in the bar before asking her question.

"So what's the story behind Biers?"

The uncomfortable silence and downcast eyes told her a story of betrayal. Biers fucked someone over (probably Demetri) somehow.

"Riley used to be engaged," Alice told her quietly, "But the chick got back together with her ex. Apparently, Riley began whoring around and eventually ran into Demetri's little sister, Tanya. Demetri warned him to back off, but Riley didn't care. His ego had been mutilated and he had gone crazy trying to heal it.

"Now, getting Tanya was no easy feat, mind you," Alice continued, "The girl has standards. You have to earn her love."

"He did?"

Alice nodded solemnly.

Hazel eyes darted between the city girl and the cowboy as Lyndel waited for further explanation.

"And…?"

"And Biers is a bad guy, little darlin'." Jasper warned, "It was all a game to him. As soon as he won her, he left her. Broke her heart and threw Demetri into a rage. The guy nearly got fired after he put the bastard in the hospital."

Lyndel was taken aback. He put another employee in the hospital? She may not have a lot of work experience, but she could guess that in any other scenario, that be immediate grounds for dismal. No "nearly" anywhere in sight.

"What saved him?" She asked.

"Jane," Alice replied, "They're really close, so Aro knows the guy on a personal level. That connection saved his skin, but barely. Since then, we try not to bring Biers up in conversation. Rather not have a replay, ya know?"

"But, if no one wants Demetri to flip on Biers again, why did Bree bring him up?"

Jasper smirked.

"For many people, their hatred of Biers outweighs their affections for Demetri."

"So he's tossed to the wolves under the pretense of taking one for the team?"

The blonde boy with the southern drawl nodded and Lyndel dumped her chin in the palm of her hand, dejected.

"Solid group of friends I've got myself tied-in with, here." She mumbled.

"Best there is." Alice smiled brightly as she waved a server over.


She took another breath- her third one- and stared at the door a little more. Her hands were clammy and shaking, and her knuckled white as she nervously squeezed her fingers. A shock of pain caught her as she was reminded of the ring on her middle finger. She quickly released her grip and started massaging the now indented area.

"You're going to be fine," Renata whispered from her own desk, smiling kindly up at the panicking girl.

"Fine"? It was her second day on the job and she was already called in to have a one-on-one with the big boss. Something told her that that wasn't "fine".

Still, in effort to avoid conflict, she nodded and started her preparation once more.

Deep breath.

Square shoulders.

Light knock.

Delicately, her boney knuckle rapped against the wooden door before she slowly opened it.

"Sir?" She called out meekly as she popped her head, "Mr. Camargo said you wished to see me?"

He looked up- his blue eyes catching her hazel ones- and ushered her in.

"Yes, Ms. Parker. Please, take a seat."

She obeyed- though her squared shoulders fell into a slump as she did- and moved to the one of the chairs in front of his desk. Her heart fluttered and her eyes tinged with the precognitive thought of tears that she really did not want to shed.

Nervously, her fingers drummed against her brown, plaid pencil skirt. She remembered being nervous in this office before, but she liked those nerves better. She was in control of those nerves- her first and last relationship being Exhibit A in that testimony- so she was in control of herself and, if she was good enough, the situation.

These nerves, however…oh, they killed her.

They always had, ever since she was little. Her father used to give her crap for crying at every little thing, but she could never help it. Even when she really wanted to, like during school. And now work. Fan-flippin'-tastic.

"Ms. Parker," Alec Volturi called out in annoyance. Swiftly, she realized that her mind had wandered and he had probably been talking this whole time.

Once again: Fan-FLIPPIN'-tastic.

She looked up from under her side swept bangs and- for a split second- caught his blue eyes in her gaze. Her eyes darted away. Those eyes made her nervous. The good kind of nervous, mind you, but she was wound up enough as it was. She didn't need singing ovaries causing her more problems.

"You're very nervous," The CEO commented as he gave her tight, slumped body a once over, "Do you have something to be nervous about, Ms. Parker?"

She shrugged, honestly not knowing the answer to his question. She hadn't thought she had done anything wrong, but Biers seemed very confident yesterday that his actions were perfectly called for. Maybe she had spoken out of turn and, thus, done something wrong.

Apparently, Mr. Volturi's train of thought was on the same track.

"Demetri is friend of mine, Ms. Parker," he told her softly, leaning across his desk and giving her a warm, comforting look, "He told me what happened. However, I do need your account."

Lyndel took a shaky breath and nodded before trying to turn on her apathetic mode.

"Mr. Biers' group was in Conference Room B," She began, monotonous, "They were discussing a new product line and had gotten to the topic of the parameters for the target market. Someone had suggested an age range that I found to be a little skewed, so I offered a counter range into consideration. Mr. Biers told me that I was out of line and sit my 'perky little ass in the corner' and wait for coffee instructions."

After that, they sat in silence. Lyndel's eyes were still downcast, so she couldn't see her boss's boss's boss radiating the rage he was.

How dare he speak to her like that? Unless there was a string of curse words and racial slurs she forgot to mention, nothing she could have said would be out of line. And just who did he think he was, thinking about her ass? That ass wasn't there for his pleasure, the son of a-

Alec stopped his unrightfully territorial train of thought and returned back to Lyndel.

"Ms. Parker," He began professionally, "From what I can gather, the only person who was out of line in that conference room yesterday was Mr. Biers. You are perfectly within your rights to share your opinions with your colleagues, especially when working in a group. And if Mr. Biers treats you like that again, tell him to shove it. Okay?"

She nodded, but didn't move from her seat.

"Is there something else you would like to talk about?" Alec questioned.

He watched as she took a steadying breath. Her eyes- swirling with determination- grabbed hold of his own and he swore he could feel all of his blood rushing south.

"Please don't call him in." She requested- though it sounded more like a demand. Before he could gather a response, she continued, "From what I could gather, nobody likes him leading me to believe that if you had enough to fire him on, you would have done it by now. If you call him in to talk about this, all it's going to do is make my life more miserable than it would be because then his ego would be wounded and he would be pissed. So, please, don't call him in."

Even though it was nearly smothered to death under grit and fire, he could still hear the faint tone of desperation in her words. She sincerely did not want Biers to know what was going on. And, seeing as she was the only victim here, he had to listen to her. If she didn't want anything, he couldn't do anything.

He gave her is word that, for the time being, Riley would remain in-the-dark about these going-ons and she thanked him quietly, her grit having sunk as quickly as it arose. The young woman stood from the chair and began wobbling in place. Alec stood and rushed to her side, gripping her arm as he tried to steady her.

A low roaring over took Lyndel's hearing when she stood and her vision began to black out. So this is what tunnel vision is…not cool.

She could see enough to notice Alec Volturi rising from his seat and coming to her, and she could hear his mumbled voice through the prominent sounds of her head rush. She knew he was asking her something, but she couldn't decide it would be "Are you alright," or "Do you need to sit down".

Lyndel was never one to admit to a physical weakness- a trait from her father- and simply gave him a strong 'I'm fine' before gently pulling away and walking out of his office with cautionary steps as she tried to see through the little hole of sight that she had left.

Once she made her into the empty elevator, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.

She remembered talking about head rushes in a few Bio and Anatomy classes she had taken. Presyncope, blood pressure, tilt tables and viscosity.

Considering she's never had blood pressure problems before, she was going to venture a guess that the viscosity level of her blood was too high.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and was greeted with full vision. Blurry vision, but at least it was all there.

The elevator 'dinged' when it reached her floor and Lyndel gingerly stepped out of it, her legs trembling in her heels (she cursed herself for deciding to have worn flats yesterday). Carefully, she made her way to her cubicle and sat down, reaching into her purse and snatching up the bottle of water she always kept with her.

She took a long swing of the water and sat back, letting the liquid work its magic and keep her out of the doctor's office.

Viscosity, eat your heart out.


^ Like I said, random knowledge.

If you don't know, Presyncope is when you feel faint, but don't actually faint and tilt tables are a way doctor's test for the cause of presyncope and syncope (actually fainting). Blood pressure and high viscosity levels of the blood are the most common causes. Viscosity is a liquid's resistance to flow, and the higher the viscosity, the higher the resistance. Ex. Maple syrup has high viscosity. Water does not.

Yeah, I actually remember that from an Anatomy teacher's ramblings a few years back. It's weird what sticks with ya, huh?

And I'm sorry if anyone is different than you imagine them or if I confused you with the whoel Demetri and Tanya being siblings thing. That could very well happen a lot, so I suggest you just go with it and don't look too hard for any rhyme or reason, cuz there probably isn't any...

Much Love.

Please Review.

Also: Haunted Hill.