Author's Note: I need your reviews because I'm very nervous about this chapter... However if you really like Violet and disapprove of her attitude in this chapter... Well, too bad.

Drip.

This was it. What else was there? All this time built up behind me, but now there was nothing. Years upon years, but that was all gone. Poof! Wasted on an accident.

Nothing mattered anymore. Just sitting on the island, watching the kitchen sink leak. No talking, no moving. Only tensed up, waiting in anticipation for the next drop of water.

Drip.

I hadn't meant to disappear. I wasn't one who would run from Tate, I wasn't a coward. Violet ran from Tate. I didn't run from Tate. I would've let things play out.

Tate had started to lean towards me, but Beau had moved. When Tate glanced over at him, breaking eye contact, Beau had looked at me. "Go hide, go away!"

Drip.

He had only been trying to help. He understood that I had come up without thinking, that Tate wasn't supposed to see me. He didn't mean for me to go away, just for me to hide, like I had been doing. I wasn't angry.

So now this was it, sit and watch the sink. Let the drops lull me away into the depths of my mind.

Drip.

Tate wasn't going to look for me, I assured myself. He had never looked for me. No point in hiding.

When I reappeared in the kitchen, I just plopped in a chair at the island, folded my hands and brought my chin to them. The water dripping made sense. It was easy. Simple.

Drip.

"Lily?"

He had looked so cute, so confused, so curious. That could've been my moment.

Did he remember me? Or had he just been repeating back a name he had heard in the halls?

Maybe he remembered me. Maybe he would come and find me. I wasn't hiding anymore. Why should I? The jig was up. He had seen my face.

Drip.

What was he thinking? Where was he? He obviously hadn't gone to the basement; I would've seen him pass by. I would've preferred that. If he were to walk by and ignore me, sitting here, at least I'd have answers.

This was simple though. Sitting here, not moving, not thinking.

Drip.

Nora. When did she walk up to me? How long had I been sitting here?

"I just wanted to thank you, dear." She sat beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Whatever you did to Thaddeus, he's actually acting like a child now."

I didn't respond. No thinking, no moving.

She stood, smoothing her dress. She leaned in to me and kissed me on the cheek. "You've saved my baby," She whispered. She straightened. "If only someone could save you…"

Drip.

I stood beside the table, empty aside from him. What should I say? Hey, I'm Lily, we hooked up Saturday, I don't know if you recall? I never got your number and you're the prettiest boy I've ever seen… so, hi?

No, no. Those were not the words. He was eating quietly, eyes focused on a book that lay open on the table.

Birds.

I stepped up beside him, tray in hand. "I like birds, too."

He tilted his head back and stared up at me. "Why?"

I grinned slightly. "I bet you think I'm going to say because they fly."

He raised his eyebrows. "Why then?"

"Sexual selection." I didn't break his gaze. So what if he thought I was weird? "The male has to be pretty impressive, or else the female won't pick him and he dies weak and alone."

A smile cracked across his face, leaving dimples in his cheeks. "Twisted." He pulled out a seat for me. "Here."

I sat down, placing my tray on the table. I still didn't look away from him. His eyes were so dark, so hypnotizing. They made me feel… right. Like I was a puzzle piece and I had finally found my slot.

He leaned into me and brushed his lips across mine. "I'm glad I met you." He laughed slightly as he pulled back. "I was afraid you wouldn't talk to me again."

I was confused. "Why wouldn't I?"

He gestured to the empty table.

I shook my head, then glanced at my tray and started picking at my plate.

He dumped his bagged lunch on the table. "Here, I bet this will taste a lot better." He slid me an apple.

I went to take it from him, but he didn't let go. Instead, he intertwined his fingers with mine. "Gotcha."

I smiled and leaned in to kiss him. "Good."

We didn't eat much that day. We were too busy getting to know each other better. The end of lunch came to soon though. I got up to leave, taking what trash we had onto my tray. He remained seated, glancing back at his book.

"You aren't coming?"

He shook his head. "Study hall." He glanced back up. "I'll walk you home, if that's okay." He looked vulnerable for a moment.

I nodded. "I'll meet you out front after school?"

His smile returned as he nodded.

I headed towards the trash cans by the door, dumping my tray and stacking it neatly. Most of the people had left the lunchroom.

"Lily."

I turned back at the sound of his voice. "Yes?"

"A lot of them mate for life, too."

"Yes." My now permanent smile grew. "I like birds a lot."

"So do I."

Drip.

"Miss Lily, where have you been?" Moira appeared beside me. "Ben's been looking for you, Violet's been looking for you. Beau seems upset. What have you been doing?"

No thinking. No talking. No moving. No feeling.

"I'll make you some tea." Moira moved to the cabinet.

It didn't surprise me, I was too numb. Moira was now an elderly maid in a frumpy uniform. I didn't say anything.

"Have you been sitting here all week? Nora said she saw you right there three days ago." Moira filled the pot with water, then twisted the handle far enough for the dripping to stop.

I felt a pressure building up inside of me. With no water, nothing would make sense. At least the drops meant something, I understood them.

Moira turned towards me. She was blind in one eye as well, it appeared. 'If you want, I'll go get some of your drawings. Or just some pages, you can draw."

No responses. No movements.

The tea was done quickly and she placed it before me. I didn't want it.

"Don't you want to go see Beau? He really misses you."

Did I want to see Beau? No, that would be too easy. Tate would run into me again eventually.

After several minutes in absolute silence, Moira sighed. "Let's go check on Tate, which always cheers you up."

I felt myself tense.

We sat there for a long time. The tea eventually stopped steaming and the tea grew cold. It was a wonder how fast time passed when you knew time was never going to end.

"Here, let's go see Master Tate." She knew that saying that always made me giggle. Not this time.

She tried to loop her arm under mine and pull me out of the chair.

I pulled away roughly. "He saw me." I went back to my pose. The only act of its kind, Statue Lily!

Moira stepped away. "Oh… Oh, dear." She took the cup and went to the sink and dumped its contents out. She suddenly threw the cup into the sink. I heard it shatter but didn't flinch. She left quickly.

I didn't move. How long had I been sitting here?

I knew it was bound to happen eventually. She wasn't dumb. She would know.

I stared at her angry reflection in the glass of the window. No feelings, no fear.

I blinked and she was in front of me. I didn't move.

Her hand cupped under my chin and forced my eyes up to meet hers.

"Hello, Violet."

She shoved me back, and the stool underneath me brought me to the ground with a crash. "Lying bitch!"

That was fair.

Violet knelt over me and brought her fist up. I didn't even bother to dodge her. Nothing mattered, nothing made sense. "Why would you pretend like you didn't know him?" Her fist hit the side of my cheek. "Why would you lie?" And again.

The pain was good though. It was sensible, if Violet's knuckle met my jawbone, it hurt. This was good, this was easy to comprehend. I also understood that I should not hit her. If I did, I may further muck up my chances with Tate.

"Answer me!" Her hands gripped my shoulders and she shook me.

I blinked, staring at her. "Answer what?"

She screamed in frustration. "I'm tired of the act, Lily! You knew him!"

"Knew who?" I grinned internally.

This got me hit again. "Him." Distaste filled her voice.

I tasted blood in my mouth. "You know, Violet, I'm surprised at you. I didn't think you had this much violence in you."

"You know, I should've known." She shook her head, still sitting on my chest. "You're just like him. Erratic, bipolar, psychotic." She yanked the collar of my sweater down. "And this fucking thing." She dug her nail into the spot where my tattoo lay. "I should've guessed."

I nodded. "You're whole family is pretty stupid, I understand."

"You must've been the one who killed those people. I already know about how you go around killing people in the house. Everyone knows now. Just one piece of the puzzle left." Her face flushed with anger. "So, what are you? Constance said she had four kids, are you the fourth?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

She shook me again. "Don't play dumb. Are you his sister? His friend? What are you?"

I stared at her for a long moment before I realized the pure hilarity of the situation. I started laughing.

Violet leaned away quickly, startled. "What are you laughing about?"

I kept laughing. Where had she drawn that conclusion?

Violet looked angrier as I continued.

I relaxed after a few moments and focused back on her. "Violet, Tate's my boyfriend."

The anger washed from her face and was replaced by shock.

I took advantage of the opportunity and shoved her off of me, standing quickly.

She reacted swiftly, lunging at me again.

I gripped her wrists in my hands and pushed her up against a nearby wall. "Don't you get it, Violet? Weren't you paying attention?" I shook my head, pressing her wrists into the wall. No violence, just defense. "I am Tate. Everything I do is Tate. I love Tate. Do you love Tate?"

She looked angry again, beginning to struggle. "You can't hurt me! He'll kill you! He still loves me!"

I felt all of it piling up once again. If I said the wrong thing, I was ruined. If I said the right thing, who knows?

I took a breath. Nothing mattered. Nothing. "Are you sure about that?"

Violet kicked me in the shin once it registered what I had suggested.

I pulled away. She came at me, shoving me back. I didn't counter attack.

Her fingers somehow found there way into my hair. She pulled back, and I was forced closer to her.

"Violet, I don't want to fight you!" I shouted as she pulled me into the counter, my side catching hard on the corner.

I can't hit her, I can't hit her. Stay calm for Tate.

Suddenly, Violet had me up against the wall. Her hands were up against my windpipe.

I gasped for air quickly before I started speaking. Come on, Lily, push her away. "I was Tate's girlfriend...In real life. We actually, physically dated… 8 months, but then I...He killed me. I still love him. So, that's why I.. hate you...Violet. I'd wish you dead, but...you know. Tate's mine, though." It was strained, but I got it out. "And I will hurt you. Ask anyone."

Violet pulled her hands away and stared at me. Her eyes looked as if they were rimming with tears.

"You told him to go away, Violet." I stared back at her, catching my breath. "Why are you so angry?"

Violet seemed as if she was about to answer. Instead of words though, she spit in my face.

Before me flashed everything. Tate. Meeting him, knowing him, loving him. The shooting, my death, the house. Cameron, Tony, Missy, Violet, Ben, Constance, Moira, Beau, my mother. Every moment flashed in that second. But in the end, it was all Tate. Smiling, happy Tate.

I opened my eyes and wiped my face.

The violent side of me woke up. The one who was out for blood, the one that fed the voices, the one that I would do anything to get rid of.

It was surprising. Violet was scratching and biting and kicking. There was hair pulling and screaming and we were throwing each other all over the kitchen. Things were smashing and I could taste blood…

"Hey!" A pair of hands gripped me by the elbows and pulled me away from Violet.

I spun around quickly, ready to hit whoever it was.

"Stop it." A hand gripped my fist, scolding. It was Travis.

"You stupid bitch!" Violet screamed behind me. I spun back around, ready to face her again.

Travis grabbed my elbows again. "Cool it, ladies."

Chad had a hold on Violet. "Seriously, you're breaking my house."

Violet and I were both breathing hard.

"He never would love a freak like you, you stupid two-timing bitch!" Violet shouted at me.

Travis pulled me closer to him. "Don't answer her. You're better than that."

I bit back my rage.

Violet stilled as well. "I'm cool." She snapped at Chad, yanking away from him.

Travis let go of me, but I stayed against him. I didn't want angry Lily back.

"You lied to me!" Violet shouted.

I stepped towards her. "You slept with my boyfriend!"

Violet spun around towards the stairs. "DAD!" She screeched.

It all happened to fast. Somehow, she spun back around and the drawer was opened and out came a knife. I couldn't comprehend how, all I knew was that it was quickly plunged into my stomach.

I fell back into Travis, who caught me just in time.

My mind registered the pain just as she stabbed me again.

Travis was yelling. Chad had run off.

She stabbed me again.

"No… I don't want to go to the nowhere place again…" I felt myself fading away. Blood came out of my mouth in globs.

She stabbed me a fourth time.

I found my voice and screamed as she stabbed me a fifth time.

"Tate! Help me!"