Tate had infuriated me that morning. He didn't get it. As much as I wanted him here and I know as much as he wanted to be here, he couldn't. He would regret it. I know he would regret it and then eventually resent me or something of that nature. I wasn't willing to take that risk. I couldn't turn this around and be selfish. I couldn't let Tate die just so I wouldn't be alone in this house. He didn't understand what he was giving up; and so willingly. If I had his choice I would pick life. Any life is better than an eternal one wrapped in chains.

"Ellie, why have you been ignoring me?" A voice called from the entrance to the attic.

I thought about becoming unknown to him, just so I could save myself another fight, but I didn't.

"Because of what you said the other day." I huffed, rolling the ball to Beau.

"Ellie you just don't get it," he sighed.

This was the last straw. That comment immediately made me snap. I stood up and faced him, "WHAT DON'T I GET?" I yelled.

I realized how easily angered and scary I could get. I scared myself, actually. Tate jumped back at my sudden change in mood. He was at a loss for words. Nobody in the house had ever seen me so mad and angry; especially not Tate.

"What you don't get Tate is that you're throwing your life away. Whatever life it may be, it's a fucking life. I'm not letting you just throw that away willingly. If I had the chance to breathe again I would. Seeing you alive and wanting to be like me is disgusting. Why would you want this? Do you want to be stuck in this house for eternity like me? Throwing a ball around to Beau and Thaddeus? Walking and roaming the halls aimlessly every day? Eating and drinking food, but not fully tasting it? Do you really want this? Do you really want to die when you could go to college, be successful, get married and have a good and long life; A long, normal life?"

He didn't speak. In this moment we both knew I was right, but I felt like he was still going to be stubborn about it. I felt like he still was going to take the easy way out with his problems. He sighed and sat next to me, gently taking the red ball from in front of my feet.

"Then I'll spend as much time with you as I can for now." He smiled.

I was going to say something along the lines of him having to go out and be social, but I wasn't going to push it when he had agreed to not let himself die in the house. I smiled back, although it was faked.

A week later I was sitting up in his room around the time he should be getting home from school. A nice, fancy car pulled up to the house. I peered out the window as I saw a tall and very skinny, well dressed woman step out of the car and make her way to the front door. Constance was out at the hair dresser while Larry was at work. I heard the knock on the door and I decided to answer it. Why not?

I pulled the door open and she immediately seemed familiar, although her face was foreign to me.

"Ellie?" She breathed.

I knew that voice. "Cassie?"

She nodded quickly and pulled her arms around me in an embrace. I hesitated to, but I did as well. I could hear her start to cry.

After we were done hugging I led her into the kitchen for a cup of tea.

"Danielle told me everything. I never thought you were dead, I'm so sorry. This is too weird though. How are you still…here?" She said while stirring her drink.

"This house…has a hold on me. It has a hold on anyone who dies here. I'm basically stuck here, forever." I responded.

She nodded.

"How come you never told her about me? Why did she have to come here for answers?" I added.

She hesitated before responding, "Well, after you left mom and dad didn't know how to handle the situation. You know they were always bad at dealing with conflict. And they deal with it by pretending it never happened. So to them, you don't exist anymore. I promised mom and dad I would do the same. They wanted to throw out all of your old things, but I didn't want to go that far, so I have them all in my house. I guess if you want them you can have them. Danielle, being nosy as she is, went through all of it. When I refused to tell her what had happened she went searching for answers herself."

"She's beautiful. She looks a lot like you, from when you were younger." I smiled.

She smiled too, "Yeah, I know. I wish you could have seen her grow up."

I laughed quietly, "Yeah…"

"How did it happen? Not to be pushy, but, I see the scar on your neck." She said. I saw her shift in her seat uncomfortably. Her deep blue eyes pierced into me for answers.

"He did it. He murdered me. I think some of the ghosts in this house influenced it, they made him crazy. But he killed me one night and he left. I don't know where he is or what he is doing but he killed me and left." I paused, "Don't tell me I told you so because I don't need to hear it. I know I was stupid and I probably had it coming."

She shook her head as tears started to form in her eyes. "No, honey, I always hoped the best for you and Hunter. I always wanted you to be happy because that is what you chose of your life. I never wished for you to be miserable or to die."

I hugged her. I didn't say anything after that. I hugged her so tightly, I didn't want to ever let go.

When we eventually did pull apart she wiped away some of the tears that had escaped down her cheeks, "Well I should go. If you want me to drop off your old things I will. And I'll visit again, too, okay?"

I nodded, "You don't have to visit often. Whenever you can I guess, I'll always be here. And I would love to see some of my old things, yes. Thank you, Cass."

She hugged me again and then left. Just as she pulled out another car pulled in the driveway. I figured it was Tate. I was right, but another person emerged from the car with him. A brunette girl in a cheerleader uniform followed quickly behind Tate with her school bag. I followed them up to Tate's bedroom. The both sat on the floor and pulled out binders and notebooks from their bags.

"You know, I could just do the project myself, Chloe. You don't have to help." Tate said.

"No, I want to help, okay?" She breathed, obviously annoyed by him. I figured she was one of the popular kids that made fun of Tate. He rolled his eyes at her response. For the rest of the night they worked on their project together for History. The girl named Chloe eventually warmed up to Tate and they joked and talked.

"You know, this house is haunted." Tate teased.

She laughed, "Well you'll protect me, right?"

He shrugged. She let out a fake gasp and playfully slapped his chest. Before she could pull her hand away, Tate grabbed it. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. The whole room became quiet and I could only hear them breathing. Tate leaned in and their lips connected. My heart shattered, beaten, and was ripped into tiny little pieces all at once. My whole body became hot with jealousy for this pretty, perfect cheerleader. Their bodies were right up against each other while their hands explored each other's bodies.

I exited the room and slammed the door. I listened to hear them react, but there was nothing, they continued on. My worst though immediately led me to think that they would have sex. I didn't want him to have sex with her. She didn't deserve him, especially when she could easily be one of the popular kids that makes fun of him on a day to day basis and school.

I stormed up to the attic and pulled on the chord to turn on the light. Beau sat chained to his bed and got excited instantly when he saw me, "Play?"

I nodded and forced a smile, "Of course."

He rolled the ball to me and I rolled it back. This went on for a while, I lost track of time. I was pulled out of the daze when I heard a car engine start. I moved to the dusty window and cleaned it off a bit with my hand to get a clearer view. Chloe was leaving. I then heard footsteps up the attic ladder, "Ellie? Are you there?"

He saw me. He had this big and beaming smile on his face. I had never seen him smile so bright before in all the time that I've known him.

"Yeah," I breathed.

"I had the most amazing night. I kissed the girl I like and it was amazing, but we didn't go all the way because I was way too nervous because she's popular and stuff."

"Is she one of the kids that makes fun of you?" I asked, ignoring his comments about their make-out session.

He hesitated in responding, "She's in that general group of friends, but she never personally has said anything mean to me. Ah, she's just the most gorgeous girl at school and she kissed me. I'm so fucking happy."

"Girls like that kiss everyone," I said very rudely under my breath.

He obviously heard me, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means don't get your hopes up." I said.

"You're my friend, you should be happy for me, not being a bitch." He hissed.

"It's called reality Tate. She's popular. I know her type." I said back with just as much venom in my voice.

Without another word he stormed back downstairs and closed the folding stairs to the attic so I was left alone up here. I sighed, I knew I should have been more supportive for him, since he really likes this girl, but I let my jealousy get in the way.

I continued rolling the red ball back to Beau for the rest of the night, letting myself calm down.

A/N: If it wasn't clear, Chloe is the cheerleader that Tate later kills in the Westfield High Massacre. I always wanted to know Tate's connection to these kids, since he told Ben that he killed people that he liked. Yeah, just my opinion on that whole thing! I wish the dead breakfast club got a more solid story line.