'The room sure looks different,' she thought silently to herself as she taped up the last box. It was finally time to move out of school and time to start her life again. She heard Zo yelling at her mom in the hall. Gena made her way to her friend's room, the one that she always went to when things went wrong.

"Hey there Zo, need any help?" Gena picked up one of Zo's many boxes. The girl couldn't live in her dorm with out having all the amenities of home. Zoë was surprised that she didn't just bring her whole room.

"It's ok, G. I've got it covered. My dad took most of the boxes to the car already. So, I heard you and Philip had a fight. What a way to leave."

"Yeah. C'est La Vie. What ever happens is going to happen. You can call it fate I guess."

"It's still sad though. After all this time seeing you apart. But, now you have Gavin. He's a nice guy; more your type anyway."

"He's really something." Just thinking about him brought a sweet smile to Gena's face.

"You never were that happy when you thought about Philip. I think Gavin really is the one, although it does seem kinda Matrix like."

"Well Zo, here's the number where I'll be living. I have to go finish packing and get ready to leave." Gena pulled Zo into and embrace. The two friends held each other close, each feeling a mutual love and respect.

"I still can't believe you have a house already…stupid family inheritance. I'll call you when I get a phone, Salvatore."

Gena went pack to her packing. She was anxious to get started on this new path of hers, while reluctant to leave all she had at Magnolia.

"Hey, why so glum?" Gavin came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her. She was enveloped in his warmth.

"Oh, nothing. I'm just reminiscing."

"It's ok to do that, sweetie. Just think about all the fun we are going to have after school." He moved his hands up and down her arms, causing a slight shiver to run through her entire being. She felt herself turning around to face him and then felt his soft lips slightly graze hers.

"Oh, I get it, so he's the reason why you left me." Philip stood in the doorway carefully taking in the scene. The lovers were caught.

"Left him?" Gavin looked down at Gena with a questioning gaze.

"Gavin, Philip and I were going out, but …" How could she explain what she had done. She always forgot completely about Phil as soon as Gavin took her in his arms. It was inexcusable. Her face brightened as red as the scarlet letter she wore on her soul.

"So you did have a boyfriend and you never mentioned it to me at all. Not once. I would have never done anything with you if I'd known you were with someone else!"

Philip strode up to Gena and looked her in the eyes. His hand raised and she felt the sting of his palm upon her face.

"You're a whore. Don't you ever forget that." Philip turned and walked out of the room.

Gena stood there, rubbing her already swollen cheek. A memory flashed through her mind: Dante standing in the room slapping her and calling her all sorts of heathen names. Her gaze landed on Gavin, whose eyes she dared not meet. He had stood there, saw Philip slap her, and he didn't do anything to defend her.

"I never meant to hurt you. Gavin, I…I'm sorry."

"Not as sorry as I am." He paused to pick up a box, not meeting her eyes. "Come on; let's get your car packed up."

They carried her belongings down to her car in silence. At one point, there hands had brushed against each other in the struggle to pick up the same box, and he pulled his away in disgust. Unwelled tears blurred Gena's vision as she finished the last of her belongings. The pair stood in front of her car in uncomfortable silence.

"Here's the number of my house," she said as she handed him the folded piece of paper. He took it from her and threw it in with his luggage.

"I don't think I'll ever need it."

Before she left campus, she took one last walk through the halls. In the main hallway was a set of portraits that she had never seen before. One was of an older man and the other two were of young women. She read the names of the people. The sullen blonde girl in the old-fashioned red dress was Lilea. Gena continued down the row until she came to one that made her blood cold. It was the portrait of Katarina de Swarte. She stared it, her mouth hanging wide open. The portrait's cold blue eyes stared back at her, piercing her already damaged soul.

"It can't be," she said aloud.

She couldn't deny it because she knew that woman in the painting. Katarina de Swarte was none other than Katherine Von Swartzchild. Katherine must have used the old man to live off of and somehow Lilea found out she was a vampire. No wonder she had felt a connection to Lilea; they had been hurt by the same evil person. With that, she left the building and fled to her vehicle.

Gena got into her new car and began to drive. The tears she had held in for so long finally released as she was driving, making it hard for her to drive. She never looked back at Magnolia when she drove off. If Gavin was the one, he was gone and she was alone once again.