You asked how it could get worse. You're about to find out.

Will it EVER get better?

The next morning Todd and Serena were at the park again. Todd had been explaining to Serena what had happened the previous night. "We almost killed each other. But thankfully, Tabitha was there to stop us."

"What happened?" Serena asked him in awe.

"Lance and Pietro got into an argument and Pietro pulled a knife on Lance." Todd illuminated. "I came down to tell them to stop yelling and I saw what was happening. I told him knock it off but he wouldn't. So I grabbed a knife and held it to his throat. And Lance took one and held it to mine."

"He did?" Serena gasped. "Why?"

"Dunno," Todd said running a hand through his hair. "I guess he was mad at me because we had been arguing earlier, and he was high on shrooms at the time so he probably just wasn't himself."

"Then what happened?" Serena pressed.

"We just stood there, glaring at each other. One slip and who knows what would've happened. And for a moment I was scared. Scared for them both, and scared for myself." His face darkened at the memory. "And then, Pietro said something horrible and I just snapped. Then we just traded punches until Tabitha got home and broke it up."

Serena turned over his hand to reveal the cut on his palm. "So this is from…"

"The knife? Yeah."

"Oh Todd," She hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry."

"I thought that us being together would make everything better." Todd said glumly. "Instead it's only gotten worse."

Serena shook her head. "Not entirely. I've finally stopped having nightmares. I'm actually getting sleep. I can breathe again."

"Yeah," Todd agreed. "I had almost forgotten what it's like to get a good night's sleep."

"So… what could've made you so angry with Pietro?" Serena asked him curiously.

Todd shifted his gaze onto the ground. "I saw him…. with you."

"Wh-what?" Serena let go of him.

Todd nodded dolefully. "Yeah. I saw him in the alleyway kissing you, or a girl that looked just like you."

Serena took a step back. "No. That's impossible."

"But that's what I saw." Todd found he was unable to meet her eyes.

Serena put her hand to her head. "It can't be…"

"I saw him kissing you," Todd recapped, "touching, holding you, my insides constricted, my throat tightened, my eyes burned. I was so sad… and angry. I couldn't believe it. And then I started seeing you two everywhere…"

"Stop…" Serena shuddered.

Todd didn't hear her. "…holding hands, kissing…"

"Stop it!" She suddenly screamed.

Todd stopped and looked away. "I'm sorry."

"Todd…" Serena gently turned his head so that he was looking into her eyes. "Do you trust me?"

Todd nodded. "Yes."

"I swear I would never do anything to hurt you. Never. I would rather die. That person you saw with Pietro was not me, understand?" Todd nodded. "I love you, and only you."

"Serena…"

"Augh!" Serena grabbed her head in pain.

"Serena?" Todd asked worried.

"No, not now…" She whispered.

Todd stared horrified as he saw, or at least he thought he saw, Serena's face change. Back and forth as if it was flickering. But that was impossible. "I'm must be seeing things." He told himself.

"Todd…" She whispered faintly.

Todd grabbed Serena and held onto her tightly. "Serena hold on! I'll make it stop. I promise. I would stay with you forever… If you wanted me to…" For a split second he could've have sworn he saw another face looming right next to Serena's. But it must have been his imagination because it disappeared.

"Ugh…" Serena groaned.

"Serena?" Todd asked anxiously.

Serena smiled at him weakly. "I'm okay now, thanks to you."

"What's wrong?" He asked apprehensively.

Serena looked down. "For the past few days, I've been feeling weird… like something's happening inside me."

"You sure you'll be alright?" Todd asked her.

"Don't worry, I'll be okay," She said hugging him. "As long as you're there."

Todd pulled her away slightly so he could look at her. "But if I'm not… promise me you won't give up."

"I promise," She said. "But why wouldn't you be there?"

"If they find out about us, we can't be together anymore," Todd her pulled her close to him again. "But my feelings for you won't change. They'll be the same as the day I first saw you." As Todd held her Serena let a single tear slide down her cheek. She hurriedly wiped it away and lifted her head.

"How about we go for a soda later?" Serena suggested. "And we can talk."

"About what?"

"Nothing in particular." Serena shrugged. "Just talk. We haven't done that in a while."

Todd smiled. "Sounds like fun."

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Later that afternoon Rogue was lying on the couch in the living room of the mansion reading her book for English class. She was so enraptured in it she almost didn't notice Serena walking by cautiously. Serena was almost to the door when Rogue lowered her book and asked, "And just what're you up to?" Serena froze. Rogue gave out half a laugh. "Did you really think I didn't see you there?"

Serena spun around looking slight embarrassed. "Oh, hehe. Hey Rogue"

Rogue set her book down. "So where are you going?"

Serena shrugged. "Oh you know, just… out."

"No need to be a stranger." Rogue said getting up and approached Serena. "Come on, where were you heading off to?"

Serena couldn't help but grin. "Don't tell anyone, but Todd and I are meeting at the ice cream parlor for a soda."

Rogue's face fell. "Again?"

"Well we don't always meet there." Serena explained. "Sometimes we go to the movie, or the pool, lots of different places. But today we decided just to grab a soda."

"But didn't you already meet him earlier this morning?" Said Rogue raising an eyebrow.

Serena faltered. "Well yeah, but we're just gonna grab a soda. No big."

Rogue gave a sigh. "Serena, I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Serena's smile seemed to slacken. "Why not?"

"Well," Rogue chose her words carefully. "It's just you've been going to see him almost every day."

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?"

"Everyone is getting suspicious." Rogue said.

"Suspicious about what?" Serena asked.

"About where you go and what you do everyday after school or in your spare time." Rogue said.

Serena's face suddenly looked cold. "Well, tell them to them to keep their noses out of it because it's none of their business."

"Serena couldn't you just, I don't know, put off seeing him for a while?" Rogue suggested.

Serena looked at her with a pained expression. "Rogue, we spend most of our time ignoring each other pretending nothing's going on. Do you know how hard that is?"

"Well yeah but…" Rogue began.

"Don't you think we deserve a break?"

"But not everyday."

"Rogue, when you find someone you deeply care about, it's hard to stay away from them. Surely you must know what that's like."

"I do actually." Rogue related. "I know exactly how that feels. You can't stand it when you're not with them, and when you are you never want to leave them again."

Serena nodded in assent. "So you understand?"

"Yes but, with me it was entirely different. This situation is much more serious."

"Look, no one's going to find out." Serena reassured.

"How can you be sure?" Rogue asked her.

Serena's eyes narrowed. "I'll make sure."

"Serena, please don't go." Rogue pleaded.

"I have to." Serena said turning. "He's waiting for me."

"Can't he wait a little longer?" Rogue asked desperately.

"All I know is that I can't." Serena said a little fiercely.

"Listen to what you're saying." Rogue told her sternly. "You're not yourself."

"I'm fine." Serena said flatly.

Rogue made one last ditch effort. "You have no idea what the cost might be if you walk out those doors."

"What ever it is, I can handle it." Serena said forcefully.

"But…" Rogue began.

"I said I can handle it!" Serena suddenly snapped. "Now back off!" And without another word she turned from Rogue and stormed out of the mansion.

Rogue stared after her in shock. Flood had been right, Rogue didn't know a thing about Serena. Everything Flood had said about Serena and Todd was true. She sighed and sat back down on the couch letting her book slide off onto the floor. Rogue felt confused and didn't know what to do. She had two choices: She could betray her promise to Serena and tell everyone about her secret and where she was going, or she could wait for some one else to get hurt from accidentally getting in Serena's way. Rogue knew it was a lose-lose situation. She had the feeling that either one she chose, it would end badly. She contemplated over what to do. Flood's words echoed inside Rogue's head.

"I promised I wouldn't tell." Rogue said to herself.

She'll do anything to stay with him.

Rogue closed her eyes. "I shouldn't."

Some secrets weren't meant to be kept.

Her eyes opened in realization. "But I have to."