CHAPTER SEVEN

Surprisingly I got a really good night's sleep, which is a first since my mother died.

Tate was rubbing my side while staring at the ceiling when I woke up, "How long have you been awake?" I startled him out of his thoughts.

"Oh not long, did I wake you up?" He answered me.

"No, don't worry." I felt him relax a little bit.

"So did you sleep well?" He was rubbing my side again.

"Yes I did for the first time in a while. Thank you Tate." I had no doubt that he is the reason I was able to sleep well.

He smiled at me, "No problem, it's not like my mom ever cares where I go." I knew there was a hidden meaning to that.

So I finally decided to ask Tate what's been on my mind for a few days, "Tate can I ask you a question?" I was a bit hesitant at the moment.

He didn't seem to notice this, "Yeah go ahead."

I was starting to doubt myself again, "Umm okay. I know there are a lot of spirits in this house. There is a part of me that thinks that you may be one of those spirits. So please tell me the truth, did you die in this house?" He obviously wasn't expecting that question.

It took him a few minutes to respond, almost as if he was trying to figure out what to say. He took a deep breath, "Okay yes Lily. I died in the house, I'm a spirit. Are you sure you want to hear my past, it's pretty gruesome?" He asked me still looking unsure about it.

"Yes and like I said before, I won't judge you." He nodded and went on to explain it all.

"I lived in this house with my mother and my sister when I was 17, but it was anything but an ideal life. The house really messed me up, not that I wasn't messed up before. Anyway I set a guy named Larry on fire and nearly killed him. My mom was using him for one of her games, and he thought he had the right to act like my father. After that I snapped and ended up shooting and killing some kids at school. The police followed me home and found me in my room, which is now your room. Then they shot and killed me right in front of my mother." I could see this was hard for him to tell me about, and it was very shocking to say the least. After that he told me all the things that he has done as a spirit, and he told me about Violet. I remember Moira telling me about Violet and how she fell in love with a dead boy, and now I know that Tate was that boy.

"Tate that is a really messed up life." I said because it was the only thing I was able to actually say.

"I understand if you hate me." I didn't like that he said that. The truth was that I could never hate him, even after all the stuff he has done.

I touched his arm, "I don't hate you, Tate. I just believe you had a dark life, and I completely understand it." He smiled when I said that.

It was weird to think that Tate has been in the house ever since I moved in, it was also a comforting thought. I knew that Tate would keep me safe, even if I died in the house but I wasn't going to let that happen. Tate and I spent the next couple of weeks with each other, well that was until my father and that bitch came home.

My father requested that I have dinner with him and Jennifer, so I kind of had to comply with that.

I sat on the opposite side of Jennifer and she just glared at me, "So did you mess anything up while we were gone?" She asked being really snotty.

"No, what the hell is that supposed to mean?" I said through clenched teeth.

"Oh your father told me about the time you completely destroyed your old house, nearly killing him as well." She spat. This is something that never happened, so I know she is just making things up.

"That never happened. Is my dad feeding you lies now?" I sent a glare to my father and he didn't seem to care.

Jennifer put her hand on my father's arm, "He would never lie, he is a very truthful man."

"Truthful my ass, all that bastard does is lie. He has probably lied to you so many times." I managed to spit out.

My father looked pissed off now, "THAT'S IT YOUNG LADY!" He screamed scaring me a little bit, "You have been nothing but a shame to this family. You're the reason your mother killed herself." For once I just listened to him and took in all his words. Out of nowhere Jennifer came up and slapped me hard enough to knock me off my chair. There were tears in my eyes now. I got up and ran from the room, slamming my bedroom door and collapsing on the bed in tears.

A second later I felt a comforting hand on my back, I thought it was Tate but when I looked it was a woman who looked no older than my mother and she hand long auburn hair.

"Honey don't cry." She spoke in a very soothing voice. I tried to stop crying but I couldn't stop myself so she just continued to rub soothing circles on my back.

I was finally calm enough to speak, "Who are you?" I was curious since I have never seen her in the house until now.

"I'm Vivien Harmon, I know you've heard about me." This confused me because I thought that she was alive. "Oh honey me, my husband, and daughter died here as well. We try to stay out of the way, but you seemed so sad that I just had to comfort you." She explained.

Suddenly a younger girl of about 16 and a man that looked Vivien's age appeared, "Lily this is my husband Ben and my daughter Violet."

I studied them, Violet had long light brown hair and I could easily see how Tate fell in love with her. Wait a second, am I jealous?

"We just wanted to let you know that we are here for you." Vivien said before they all disappeared.

I sat there unconsciously touching my burning cheek, thinking about Tate. Was I starting to fall for this dead boy? My thoughts were interrupted when I felt someone sit beside me, I looked and found Tate.

He was giving me a worried look, "Are you okay?" He asked touching the forming bruise on my face.

I shook my head, "No, I'm starting to think it was my fault my mother killed herself." The tears began to fall now.

Tate pulled me into his arms, "Don't listen to him. You know she did it because of him." He said gently rubbing my cheek.

"He really hates me, I know he blames me for my sister's death. If only I had kept a closer watch on her then she wouldn't have walked so close to the road." My emotions were just so high right now, that I was just letting everything I was thinking about come out.

He pulled me closer, "I doubt he blames you. How did he take it when it happened?"

I had to think back to that horrible day, "Umm well, the day she died he was away on business. I remember my mother calling him, and she got upset because it was like he wasn't even affected by it. Like he didn't care that one of his daughters was dead." The tears just continued to fall.

Tate lifted my head and wiped my tears away, "Don't cry Lily, I'm sure your sister is alright. Your mom is probably with her right now." It was then I remembered about the spirits.

"So she isn't trapped here like everyone else?" I asked happy and sad about that.

"Normally anyone who dies in this house is stuck here, but your mother is not here. We think she passed over to be with your sister." I nodded glad that she got to be with my sister.