"That's kinda what I wanted to talk about on stream tonight. Violet, did you really do that?"

"I snapped," she said to her lap.

"What was that," Heather asked.

"I… I snapped," she looked up, tears streaming down her face, she tried to catch her breath, "I was… thinking about… my friends I lost… boyfriend… how I didn't do any-anything to help… to help Lucy. Wanted to be numb and… forget. I saw her and… and… I got mad! H-how could… she hurt Lucy, how could I… run away…"

"Damn. At least you got her before she got you," Sally said.

"Right," Peppermint Patty agreed.

"If I didn't do it… if I didn't… Charlie wouldn't be in the hospital," she started crying.

"We don't know that, Vee," Lucy spoke quietly."

"Didn't they already want to fight her for telling on them," Schroeder asked.

Lucy shot daggers at him.

"All my fault," she shook her head, "I made it worse."

"It's not all your fault."

"Well…" Frieda started.

"Frieda, to be honest… they started this for you, because of what I did."

"There's no way you think this is okay, Ree-Ree. Look at her. I'm tired of violence and hate," Patty hugged her.

"It's only fair," Violet cried, "nobody's going to help me, everybody hates me."

"I'm going to help you. I'm scared too, but I'm going to," Lucy said.

"Are you sure you can fight with those stitches in your arm, won't you rip open that gash," Heather asked.

Violet looked at Heather and Lucy, "what stitches?"

"Did I screw up? I thought she knew?"

"I… haven't had time to tell her any of that, yet, no biggie."

"What stitches," Violet repeated.

"I'll tell you later, okay? It doesn't matter right now."

"I think if you guys are willing to give Lucy a chance, Violet deserves one, too. If you're going to be friends with Lu and Pat, then you're going to end up dealing with Vee, anyway. I feel how broken her soul is," Emily explained.

"My soul is broken?"

"I'm getting the feeling that you're alone, scared, feeling empty because right now your life has no real meaning- are you getting that Lamar?"

"Hmm? She does have those vibes, her lifestyle didn't have true meaning, it was all material, now she seeks substance."

"I'll pray to the gods for you, Violet, be strong," Emily said.

"I'd have never thought some of the people we know could be this cruel, given the chance. We all should know trauma when we see it; a person broken down and ripped apart until not much of them are left, and they're never the same after that," Linus explained.

"Everything I've seen is far worse than what Lucy and Violet has ever done," Franklin added.

"I think I'll stand with Violet, I think she's more than sorry for everything she's done. I don't think I can take another… accident, we'll call them," Peppermint Patty said.

"If you're going to, so will I," Roy agreed.

"Aww, babe," she kissed him.

"I don't blame anybody for not wanting anything to do with me, I was a horrible person. I should just take my beating. I abandoned you Lucy, because I'm such a coward… I deserve it. I deserve to be alone. I really did think money was everything, and I've probably missed out on so many things and real connections with people, more interested in being worshiped. I'm as bad as my parents."

"They're probably just doing what they think is right, I'm sure they love you," Heather said.

"I'm not sure if they even do. They just buy me stuff, let me do what I want, as long as I do what I'm told. I can't remember the last time I even had a hug, or… like… being proud of me- good job, like I work for them. Daddy, I finally passed the driving test after the fourth time; good job, you're not driving my Bentley. Daddy, I made Cheerleading squad; good job, I'll have Jennifer be there for you. Daddy, mom, Charlie almost lost his life saving me from being hit by a truck because these girls wanted to jump me; is he okay, you seem to be okay. I told them everything and they said it would be a fitting punishment for ditching school. Jennifer is always proud of me… I wish Jennifer was my mom."

"I didn't know your home life was like that, Violet I'm so sorry," Heather said.

"I should call Jennifer, I hope she didn't lose her job because of me, I hope she's not too mad, I hate when she's mad at me," Violet started to cry again.

"Did you know this," Schroeder looked at Frieda.

"Kinda… it always seemed like they were never home, and when they were, they just left us alone. I've never heard her open up like this. They sound like… like your parents, Lucy."

"They're worse," the three siblings said.

With lunch eventually over, Violet clung to Lucy while she walked her back to class.

"What happened to your arm?"

"I was cutting… and I… cut too deep. Linus came in my room and scared me. It was an accident."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"It actually brought me and him closer, although I was expecting and kinda hoping he would've ignored it and left me alone. But Sally didn't let him, they had Trish take me to the hospital."

"Couldn't you have died?"

"I wanted to, after my fuck ups."

"If you die… Pat would be heartbroken, so would me and your brothers."

"Yeah… I'm sure Patty would be the first, if not the only one to jump in my grave, saying take me with you," she chuckled.

Violet let out a little giggle.

"I can't promise you anybody will care about you, but we do, and I bet Charlie does. You're not alone."

"I guess I can't go off dying now… he didn't save my life for nothing."

"That's the spirit."

"Do you think we should actually give Violet a chance," Peppermint Patty stood with Linus.

"I'm leaning towards yes."

"Is it to make Lucy happy," Schroeder asked.

"No. It's her homelife. I think the way Violet has always acted is her parents fault, see; she sought popularity and praise because she doesn't get it at home, she's mean and nasty because it's probably internalized anger and sadness, she's so materialistic because that's all she knows. They're creating a monster. And Jennifer isn't a strong enough positive force to help."

"Sometimes I think you're too smart, Linus," Peppermint Patty said.

"Yeah, well… it comes in handy."

Frieda found a few of her friends to talk to, before fourth period.

"Can I ask you girls to please stop being so hard on Lucy and Violet?"

"Are you serious," Tapioca looked incredulous.

"Yes."

"They're finally getting a taste of their own medicine," Lydia explained.

"They're getting an overdose. Have you not seen Violet, it looks like she's going to have a panic attack at any moment. You don't like them, fine, just ignore them, or at the very least, keep your hands to yourself, I know for a fact that they've never hit anybody."

"Violet should be scared," Lydia said.

"No she shouldn't, not to the extent that she is. I promise she's learning her lesson. Why bully somebody so relentlessly… Lucy almost killed herself. I stopped being friends with them because they were bullies, just to be friends with more bullies. I get that you don't like them, they treated me no better, but I'm not out for blood. You all are pushing them too far, damn it. There's no excuse for pushing people over the edge- they weren't even that bad," Frieda walked away.

"I need to talk to you, Violet," Peggy demanded.

"I didn't do anything, please don't hurt me!"

"I- what? Wow… no."

"I don't want Shermy back, if that's what you're here for. All I did was apologize for being a bitch, he does deserve better than me. And I… I didn't look for him either."

"I guess that's it," she shrugged.

"Ummm… Peggy?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry I called you a redneck, or whatever, I was just mad, I was hurt. I don't want any trouble."

"Just leave my man alone, and we're good."

"I'll avoid him best I can."

"Glad we could have this talk," she went to pat her on the shoulder and made her flinch, "yeah…"

"Lucy."

"Yeah Frieda?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I did try to talk to some of the girls, but I can't make any promises."

"At least you tried. Thank you Frieda."

"Yeah, well… yeah," she walked away.