"Hey sleepy head." Vivian said as a messy haired, tired Violet came stumbling into the kitchen. Violet rubbed her eyes, and yawned. "Hey mom." Violet took her seat at the counter, and stared out the window. Vivian smiled at her daughter, and placed a nice warm cup of coffee in front of her. "Your dad's out of town again." Vivian said with a little hurt in her voice. Violet rolled her eyes. "Doesn't surprise me mom." She said while picking up her cup and taking a sip of the warm drink, it was just right which made Violet smile.

"Yeah, I suppose it shouldn't surprise me either. But you would think with everything that has happened over the past couple of weeks he would be willing to stay and "protect" us." Vivian said, as she walked towards the refrigerator, and pulled out some eggs, and vegetables to make omelets for herself and Violet.

"He's an asshole." Violet huffed. "He stopped treating Tate ya know. And his excuse was that he could no longer treat someone who was seeing his daughter, and also "broke" into his home." Violet rolled her eyes, and let out another long huff of air. "He's so ridiculous…Tate didn't even break in, the back door was open. If he didn't hear all the noise that was going on here, he probably would have never showed up… which means you and I would probably be dead right now! Ben is so ungrateful, why did you even marry him?" Violet asked with anger.

Vivian closed her eyes as she cracked the eggs over the pan that was sitting on the stove top. "I know, I just can't get over it Vi. All of it, it just feels so surreal. I can't even tell you how grateful I am that Tate was there…and your father, I just…I can't believe how rude he is, how pissey he's been with Tate. Like you said, if it wasn't for him we probably would be dead and Ben can't even accept that." Vivian paused for a moment as she flipped the eggs onto their uncooked side. "You know what it is Vi." Vivian began again, while turning around to face her daughter, spatula swinging back and forth in her hand. "I bet you it's because your dad is jealous. He's jealous that he wasn't here to be the big hero of the day. He's jealous that a seventeen year old kid was the one who helped us." Vivian sighed.

"You're right Violet, Ben is an asshole…and he's so pathetic."

"I'm sorry." Violet said, there was concern in her voice, and she knew how upset her mom was. "You're not weak. If anything, you're the strongest damn woman on this earth mom. You have to deal with him, and all the bullshit he put you through…you've had to put up with my bullshit. You've lost a baby, and you're pregnant again. If I had to go through the things you've dealt with…I wouldn't be able to do it." Violet said and let out a little chuckle.

Vivian smiled at Violet, and walked towards her. "Thank you." She said, as she hugged her daughter's shoulders and planted a sweet kiss on the top of Violet's head. "I pray you never have to go through the things I have." Vivian said as she walked back to the oven to check on their meal. "I wouldn't allow it Violet. If a man hurt you, and put you through the type of hell your father has put me through…I'd kill him. I wouldn't be able to handle seeing my baby in pain. But you know what, I'm glad you found Tate because he is a wonderful person." Vivian said as she scooped up the omelets onto a serving plate, and brought it to the counter. "Tate may have a couple of screws loose, but I know he will be okay. From what you told me it seems like that poor boy has had a terrible childhood."

Violet nodded her head, as she grabbed an omelet and placed it on a plate for herself. "He has, he still does. Constance may seem caring when she comes over here…but mom you should hear about the awful things she's done to Addie, and her other son Beauregard."

"Who's Beauregard?" Vivian asked as she finally took her seat next to Violet, and began to serve herself.

"Tate's older brother, he died when they still lived here. I don't know if it's entirely true, but Tate told me that Constance had some guy she was seeing kill him."

Vivian raised her eyebrows in suspicion. "Constance may not be the kindest or most enjoyable person to be around Violet, but come on I don't believe that for a second. No mother would ever want their child to die, and let alone have somebody kill them. That's nonsense."

"Like I said, I don't know if it's true or not. Tate used to do a lot of heavy drugs because of his depression, and he claims this house is haunted, that he's seen and played with his brother's ghost…and others. He even said himself it was probably whatever drug he was on at the time screwing with his mind. All I know for sure is that his older brother is dead, and that Constance is an alcoholic, and that she's cruel towards Addie and Tate."

"Not every mother is perfect…or responsible." Vivian said as she began to eat again. "There's nothing you can really do about it." Vivian sighed. "On a lighter note, what are you doing today? Any special plans." Vivian asked, now smiling at Violet.

Violet looked at her mother with confusion. "Special plans? It's not my birthday." Violet said, still confused, while her mother laughed at her.

"I know it's not your birthday…Its Halloween! Aren't you going to go to any parties or a haunted house…dress up, go trick or treating?" Vivian smiled at Violet whose face was as blank as a stone.

"I don't have any friends, so going to a party is totally not happening, and don't you think I'm a little too old to be going trick or treating?" Violet asked, her eyebrows raised and her sleepy eyes staring at Vivian as if she was crazy.

"Violet you're never too old to have fun! Why don't you and Tate go out and do something, you won't have your dad here to protest against it." Violet laughed at her mother's words. It was true; if Ben was here he would have "grounded" Violet again and forbid her to go out with Tate especially on Halloween.

"Fine. I guess I can see what he's up to." Violet said while smiling at her mother, and getting up to put her empty plate into the sink.


-Hey loser, what are u doing today?

Violet texted Tate after she got out of the shower, and plopped herself on her bed. Her navy blue towel was still wrapped around her semi wet body and her honey blonde hair was still damp, and looked two times longer than what it was when it was dry. Violet yawned as she stretched back onto her bed and stared at the ceiling. It didn't even take a minute for her phone to chirp out notifying her that she had a new message.

-Hey buttface, don't call me a loser :] and nothing, why?

-My mom told me we should go out and do something...basically a subtle hint telling me to stop being a loser, and go out and actually participate in society for once lol

Violet laughed at her response, and got off her bed, and began to rummage through her closet for something to wear. Her phone was still in her hand, so that she could read and reply to what Tate had to say right away.

-Lmao, but participating in society sucks ass. Haha I was actually going to take Addie to go trick or treating since she keeps bugging Constance about it, but of course the bitch just ignores her. I wouldn't mind if u came with ;)

-I'd be honored to come with :] What time should I meet u guys?

-8, and you better wear a costume :p


At about six o'clock, while Vivian and Violet were watching TV a knock came from the kitchen door. "You don't think it's them?" Vivian asked. "It's too early isn't it?" Violet shrugged her shoulders, and got off the couch to open the door.

"Hi Violet! Can you make me a pretty girl? Tate doesn't know how to make me a pretty girl." An excited Addie said, as she made her way pass Violet and entered the kitchen.

"What are you talking about Addie?" Violet said confused while she shut the door behind her, to follow Addie.

"I want to be a pretty girl for Halloween…and you're a pretty girl, so I thought you could make me one."

"I can try." Violet said while smiling at Addie.

"Who is it Vi?" Vivian called out from the living room.

"It's just Addie; she wants me to help her with her costume." Violet said, while she and Addie began to walk to Violet's room.

"Oh okay, well have fun!" Vivian called out.

"So what do you want me to do?" Violet asked as her and Addie reached her room.

"Make me pretty, you know…like all the girls in magazines."

"Ok…I can try, but I'm warning you now I'm not that great at doing peoples make up." Violet said as she pulled out a chair for Addie to sit on.

"That's fine." Addie said with a grateful smile on her face. As Addie sat down, Violet went around her room going through her dresser drawers, and closet trying to find whatever makeup she owned to use on Addie.

"Tate really likes you." Addie said while Violet was pulling out a box at the top most of her closet.

"Really? Well I would hope so." Violet said smiling as she jumped off the chair she used to climb into her closet in the first place.

"Yeah he does, it makes me happy. You make him different Violet. He's happier now."

Violet smiled again, and she threw all the makeup she was able to find onto her bed.

"He makes me a lot happier too. Now shhh, you want me to make you a pretty girl right?"


I think I did a pretty good job. Violet thought to herself as she finished putting a light shade of pink lipstick on Addie. I did great for someone who's never done anyone's makeup and for someone who doesn't wear any that often.

"Are you ready to see yourself?" Violet asked Addie, as she reached for a mirror on her bedside table.

"I'm so excited Violet! Thank you!" Addie said as she awed at her new self in the mirror. "Damn, I look hot!" Addie spoke again, as she stood up to spin around. She was like a little kid on Christmas, so happy and excited over something so little… it made Violet happy to see how she was capable of making another human being happy.

"What are you going as?" Addie asked, shaking Violet out of her thoughts.

"Ummm, I'm not sure yet. Maybe you should help me." Violet said with a huge grin on her face.

Addie placed a chubby finger on her chin in thought. "You should go as a witch!" Addie said in excitement. "All you really need is a dress, a hat and a broom!" Violet nodded at the idea, she liked it was simple.

"I actually have the perfect outfit, and I still have a witches hat from when I was younger…it's in the attic, you want to come with me?"

"Of course." Addie said with a great big smile. She really was a pretty girl.