Tate cornered the upstairs hallway head down, big puppy dog eyes as usual planning on going to see if he could find anything of the Kozlowski's interesting. Violet headed up the stairs, Tate was not visible. He watched her quietly as she walked casually pass him her IPod blasting in her ears, he loved her and she loved him back he knew it she even said it though that was also the day she told him to go away. He knew he shouldn't follow her, but he did anyway. Violet entered grace's room, Grace still sleeping, she opened the closet door and pulled out a book from Tate's view he couldn't tell what it was. Grace wasn't the only one with a hiding place violet thought as she grabbed the second book, a black rose fell from the high shelf she slowly picked it up turned around and paused. She was looking into Tate's eyes, Tate confused wasn't sure if he should say something or not. Grace's alarm went off he glanced at her then back at Violet, but she was gone.
Grace made her way to the kitchen to find her mother and Charlie sitting quietly, just then the doorbell rang. Claire got up excited and swung open the door "Mark!" she said enthusiastically. Charlie looked toward grace and rolled his eyes "hey kiddos!" mark said entering the kitchen; mark was older than their mother darker brunette hair, and a little scruff on his chin. The two were both silent not even making eye contact "how are you doing Gracie? I heard about the 'break in'." he said using his fingers as quote marks. "Okay seriously," said Charlie "have you two ever seen a picture of these ghosts?" "Or even know their names?" added Grace both joking "it really was a break in, and how can you be more concerned on what or who it was than the safety of grace?" he finished as he got up angrily "what is with him?" Claire said to Grace "Can't imagine what…" she said sarcastically.
There was another knock at the door "Hello Constance!" Claire said mark behind her "Oh dear I hope I'm not interrupting anything!" she said inviting herself in "this is my brother mark, mark, Constance Langdon." "Nice to meet you, now are you going to be living here too?" asked Constance "No, I will be staying a mile or two away from here, places like these overwhelm me." Mark said "hmm" said Constance "so you're like a ghost hunter?" she said "I prefer paranormal navigator." Replied mark "well I must be going I just wanted to drop off some cookies" said Constance "I'll walk you out. I'm leaving anyways. Just wanted to stop by see how big the house was." Mark said as he started out the door "so, were you close to any of the families that lived here before Claire?" "No." Constance said sternly walking down the sidewalk "but, let me tell you whatever you're trying to do, don't." she walked up her porch. "Phony!" she murmured under her breath maybe she should call Billie jean sometime soon.
"Paranormal navigator?" laughed Ben to his wife "why are you so stressed" asked Vivien "I don't know I was just thinking maybe, we could try and share this house for once." "You mean let them stay here?" "Yeah. Who knows maybe violet will make a friend. With that uh, Grace girl" He said "I don't know." Said Vivien "remember the last time a broken family moved in here?" she smiled at her baby. "Uuggh, Charlie!" grace yelled knocking on his door clutching the pug "what?" he yelled over his music "your little rat tore up my new pair of jeans!" "Then put him outside, not my problem." Frustrated Grace went downstairs walking through the kitchen her mom had left a note: unpack all your things by the time I get home from work. Their mother was a publicist for the fresh stars "right." Said grace crumpling the note and tossing it in the trash she opened the back door and let down the dog down she looked up to see a boy at the end of the yard looking up at a tree. It was Tate "excuse me?" grace said slowly walking over to him slightly paranoid since what had happened the night before "Sorry for coming in your yard," he started "I'm Tate, I live in the neighborhood." He said remembering how violet introduced herself to Gabe "did you know this is called a Tulip Poplar." He said pointing to the tree Grace shook her head "I've seen a couple before, but this one is beautiful." Grace didn't know what to say I mean, she was normally socially awkward with people she knew, but this was a stranger "I'm grace" she said holding out her hand Tate turned and shook it "well I'll go now." He said leaving. Grace went back inside the house to find Charlie in the kitchen "who was that?" "A neighbor his name is Tate."
"What the hell was that?" said Hayden stepping slowly down the basement stairs "don't start." Said Tate "Why? Because you know what I'm thinking? I mean really that girl is not violet I know it and you know it, oh wait I see now you're trying to get violet jealous?" she smiled "leave me alone." "Is that why?" "no." he said "then why? Does Tate want a new friend? I'll kill her if you want me to." "Well I don't want you to so, leave her and her family alone." He turned as Hayden vanished
"Tate?" said Charlie "yeah, I don't know it was weird." She said leaning on the counter opening an aspirin bottle "by the way when are you gonna give me my twenty bucks?" "Twenty bucks? I don't owe you twenty bucks?" "My jeans… "She replied popping the pills in her mouth from a migraine. I'm going to go unpack." Charlie said ignoring the conversation he walked through the house about to go up the stairs when he saw the basement door open looking around he made his way to the bottom of the stairs until he found a light switch. he flicked it on and looked around there was a lot of corners and sections for a basement he thought he heard a strange noise far back and decided to go see what it was. The lights went out "grace?" he said he heard little giggles of what sounded like children taking a slow step back his eyes started to readjust to the darkness seeing a very small figure he squinted "BOO!" said Grace poking his back "Jesus… grace" he said with a voice of relief they shared a laugh and headed back up the stairs.
They woke up early the next morning for their first day at Westfield High school .Grace put her hair in a long side braid to make sure none of the stitches would be seen. She walked into the kitchen where she saw Moira "good morning" she said "Thanks for making breakfast for me, but I don't feel too well." Grace said taking more aspirin "is your head still bothering you?" asked Moira "yeah, I think just first day jitters too or something." "Well good luck." She said as Grace left the kitchen "Charlie are you ready to go?" she yelled from the front door Charlie rumbled down the stairs, you could tell he was a little nervous too starting in a new school for anyone isn't easy, but also most of the time when Grace and Charlie entered a new school people didn't assume they were related because of their physical differences, but that they were dating or something it was really humiliating.
Coming out of the main office they were relieved that they had no classes together "see ya" Charlie said turning the corner. Grace turned around and bumped into a tall brunette girl shadowed by her big floppy hat "I'm so sorry!" grace said embarrassed "it's okay" the girl said quietly looking up finally. There was a streak of white hair grace could barely identify "are you okay?" she asked "yeah." The girl walked passed her "hey if it isn't too much trouble where is the science wing?" the girl turned around "I'll show you." She said. "So first day?" "Yep." Replied Grace "uh, just out of curiosity where were you headed to?" Grace asked though she knew she sounded pushy "I was planning on skipping class to get some cigarette time in." she said. Two girls came out of the bathroom and giggled as grace and the girl silenced "so I guess it's like this in every high school." Grace said "they think I'm a freak, though I don't blame them at times." "Been there." Grace said "what was your name?" she asked "I'm grace." She held out her hand "Leah." The girl replied as she shook it.