A/N: Ok, here's ch.4. And thanks for the reviews!

Conversations, Lies, and a Smile

Charisma walked into the classroom.

Her auburn hair caught the light, as she surveyed the room for her mystery guy. Her heart flew as she saw that he wasn't there. She looked at the clock; one minute 'til class began.

He wasn't coming again.

'Okay that's the third day in a row he hasn't been here, and it's only the fourth day of school. Where is he?' She thought as she sat down and faced the teacher.

*****

Lily came into the kitchen to find Samantha sitting at the table reading and drinking coffee. The microwave went off, causing a bright flash to light up the room. Samantha calmly reached behind her, opened the door and pulled out some take-out. She grabbed the fork that she had evidently put there and started to eat her food. Never once did her eyes leave the pages.

Lily shook her head at the older woman; most people didn't even know that she was deaf 'til she had to talk. She was completely normal in every way: she could carry on conversations perfectly, and her hearing didn't affect her even one bit. She acted as though she had been deaf all her life, even though it had only been 10 years since she had lost it completely.

Samantha raised her eyes and saw that Lily was studying her, or that what she appeared to be doing. She smirked; Lily was daydreaming.

Lily noticed that Samantha had raised her eyes to hers, but didn't react. She was always startled to when she saw Samantha's eyes. Gil had her eyes, but his weren't bright anymore. His had turned to a dull blue-gray, almost milky.

She shivered as she thought about his eyes; they were cold, lifeless.dead.

Samantha frowned as she saw her friend shiver.Lily was thinking about Gil. She knew Lily loved Gil as a brother, but she thought he was.Scary. Lily knew that Gil was not scary, it was just things in the way he acted when he was touched, it was the way his body moved, period. It was the bruises on his body, the cuts and scratches that gave away the secret life her baby boy was living. The part he kept secret, that was the only thing that was scary about him; his secret life.

Lily met Samantha's eyes. Samantha started to sign,

[He didn't go to school today did he? And he hasn't gone for the last two days, has he?]

Lily nodded, they weren't questions; they were statements.

[What did he tell you? You know I saw him, don't you? You know I saw how he carried himself!]

Lily's heart broke at the look of grief Samantha was wearing over her child.

[Look Sam, I wanted to tell you, but he said not to!]

Samantha nodded.

[I know. I know! But I wished he trusted me enough to tell or at least show me. I haven't seen my son in three days.] Her head flew up and she quickly signed [How bad?!]

Lily gulped and signed, [I asked if he wanted to go to the hospital. He said no, and I dropped it. It was bad. He'll go tomorrow, but he won't be totally healed for another week. He could barely move when I picked him up. I called Billy but he said he couldn't do anything until Gil gives him some names.]

She sighed and sat down.

[And knowing Gil, he never will get those names.]

A tear ran down Samantha's face as she thought about the chances of her son getting out of high school alive.

*****

Gil winced as he looked at the clock. 4:30 A.M. Groaning, he turned over slowly, being careful not to jar his ribs too much. God, why did moving hurt so much? He sniggered lightly and winced at the pain that shot through his chest.

"Probably, cause I got the shit kicked out of me!" He said to no one in particular.

He slowly got out of bed and went to the restroom, hobbling the whole way. He flicked on the light and looked at his reflection: his face was pale; his left eye wasn't swollen shut anymore, though it was still purple. He had a cut running over his right eyebrow that was now starting to show the healing, his bottom lip was busted, and his right cheek and temple were covered in a yellow bruise.

He shook his head slowly, 'I feel pretty, oh so pretty!' He hated that song!

He pulled off his shirt, showing off a mass of yellow and brown. At least those were healing quickly.

He pulled off the remainder of his clothing and stepped into the shower. Wincing as the hot spray his face and bruises, he let his mind wonder. A girl: with dark-gray eyes and dark-auburn hair.

She was gorgeous! She was also the new kid, and it wasn't everyday his school got a new kid. So, of course he knew he name. It was Charisma Chase. She reminded him of Rebec- Wait! No, he wouldn't think about her! It still hurt too much.

When he left the house it was 6:00 A.M. Still to early to wake his mother and to late to go back to bed. He walked down the street to his school.

Watching as the neighbors, who had wanted an early start on the day, stared at him as he passed. He hated when people did that, it made him uncomfortable. He much rather be in the shadows, where no one would bother him and he knew he was safe. Well, for a while at least.

He just wanted to melt away.

*****

Charisma looked up just in time to see her mystery guy walk through the door. Her eyes filled with tears. He looked like absolute shit. His face was covered in bruises. And she wasn't the only one who noticed.

Mrs. Smith took him to the side and asked him if was okay. Wait did she just say his name? Yes, yes she did! And there it was again! Something with 'il' sound at the end: Lil? Phil? Nil? Bill? Gil?

Gil! That was it, his name was Gil! She sighed as she was finally able to put a face with a name. Gil. She liked it.

He nodded to Mrs. Smith and took his seat at the back of the class. Charisma turned her head to look at him. Even with the bruises she still thought he was sexy. God, she would love to just throw him-

"I'm sorry but could you send Gil Grissom to the principle's office, please?"

"Crawling through this world as disease flows through my veins I look into myself, but my own heart has been changed I can't go on like this I loathe all I've become

"I've woken now to find myself In the shadows of all I have created I'm longing to be lost in you (away from this place I have made) Won't you take me away from me

"Lost in a dying world I reach for something more I have grown so weary of this lie I live"

'Away From Me' by Evanescence

*****

A/N: I'm sorry for all who've waited for like 3 weeks. It's been crazy. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter!