Notes: This is my favorite chapter, so far. Oh, there is a bit of bad language in this, so be warned. Enjoy! I'll have the next chapter up soon.

And you asked me what I want this year

And I try to make this kind of clear

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

Cause I don't need boxes wrapped in strings

And desire and love and empty things

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days.

- 'Better Days' by the Goo Goo Dolls

Olivia shivered under the covers. Karen had offered to sleep in her room again, but she told her that she didn't need to. It was now five in the morning. She hadn't got any sleep at all. She sat up in her bed, and buried her face in her hands. She didn't want to talk about Kyle. She didn't want to confront him. She didn't want anything to do with him. If she tried to bring him up in court or something, he would surely kill her. He was a very aggressive boyfriend after all. She quickly made her way down the hall to Karen's room. She had to tell her this. She had to tell her no.

Once she got to her stepmother's room, her heart started to pound. Karen is a very stubborn woman after all, and surely wouldn't hesitate to tell anyone for me, the stepdaughter she has always ignored up until now. Olivia scolded herself for these thoughts, thinking about Karen's heavy drinking and dysfunctional childhood, or so she'd heard, about Karen's mother being a con-artist. Not that I didn't have a dysfunctional childhood she thought. Olivia's breathing became heavier as she stepped toward a sleeping Karen. She looked at Karen's face for a moment. Her makeup was washed off, and Olivia had to admit she did look much better without it. She carefully placed her hand on her stepmother's cheek. Karen shifted in her sleep, but didn't wake.

Olivia's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back with success. She kissed Karen's forehead gently, and prepared to leave the room, when Karen's eyes slowly opened. She looked around for a minute, a bit annoyed at being woken up, then her eyes fell upon Olivia.

"Karen…" whispered as a sob caught in her breath.

"Olivia, what's wrong?" Karen asked softly.

"I really…really….wish you wouldn't….tell anyone about Kyle…"

"I know it seems like he'll come after you" Karen said seriously, "but I promise you, I won't let him anywhere near you. And besides, this guy has a problem….he could end up doing this to other girls. We're not protecting them by-

"Oh don't feed me that crap!" Olivia hollered, "all about this, 'you could protect other girls'…its stupid. It's not my fault he's a sick bastard! He is the only one that could prevent it!"

Then, there was silence. Karen looked at her stepdaughter, stunned. She had always spent a little time with Olivia when she was a child, and had never seen her this angry, or this brave. Olivia was shocked at herself. She had always had strong opinions, but she never had a chance to voice them.

Olivia's stomach twisted with guilt when she saw the rather confused look on Karen's face. "God, I'm sorry…I'm sorry….Karen….I just…"

Karen bit her lip. "Olivia, come here."

Olivia walked shyly over to Karen's bedside. Karen scooted a little to her left so Olivia had space to sit. Once Olivia had perched herself on the bed, Karen took both of her hands in both of her own. "Honey, listen to me. I can't ignore this…you can't keep going to school with him. I'm sorry….I have to protect you. Tomorrow, don't you have a Christmas assembly or something?"

"Yea, the middle school kids are doing some play" Olivia said solemnly.

"You don't have to go to school tomorrow. Then, you will have a week off of school for Christmas break, right?"

"Yea" Olivia replied softly.

"Honey, I'm really sorry about this, but its for your own good."

Olivia nodded in defeat, shaking uncontrollably. "Can I stay here?"

Karen nodded, and lifted the covers. Olivia lay down next to her, and Karen wrapped her arms around her waist. Karen let her chin rest on Olivia's shoulder, and softly kissed the back of her neck, muttered a short goodnight, and they both went to sleep.

Rosario stepped into Karen's room, and smiled happily when she saw Karen holding Olivia. She shook her employer's shoulder very gently, and Karen's eyes opened.

"Dammit Rosie! I was havin a good dream!" she whispered. Rosario smiled.

"Miss Karen, Cathy came to pick up the children today, and I told her Olivia would be staying over the break. She took Mason with her. There is a boy at the door, I think it's for Olivia. His name is Kyle."

Karen's face darkened. "I'll be right down. Tell him to wait."

Rosario nodded, and raised an eyebrow, wondering what bothered Karen so much about this teenage boy.

Karen disentangled herself from Olivia, and got a robe from her closet and wrapped it around herself. She let her hair down from its ponytail, stepped out of the room, and walked down the stairs to the front room. Kyle sat on the plush couch by the Christmas tree, holding a bundle of roses in his hands, waiting patiently.

"You" Karen snapped, and he jumped. He turned to face her.

"Are-Are you Olivia's stepmother?" he stammered.

"Get out, you little son of a bitch!" she yelled.

"What did I do?" he asked innocently.

Karen had never wanted to hurt someone so bad in her entire life.

"You know what you did, you little shit, so GET OUT!" she screamed, her face a bright red.

"She-she told you?" Kyle asked, too frightened to show his temper.

"No, she didn't. I'm standing here screaming at you because you're wearing two different pairs of SHOES!" Karen gestured to his unattractive footwear, "OF COURSE she told me! So GET OUT!"

He stared at her, before leaving the roses on the coffee table, and bolting out the manse's front door.