Aphrodite was rushed to the showers as Violet stood by the bathroom door.
Aphrodite: What am I a little kid, I don't need a guard.
Violet: I'm not a guard, I'm a spotter like when you lift weights I'm the person who makes sure you don't hurt yourself again.
Aphrodite(Throwing her clothes on the floor) What do you care Mrs. Parr?
We see our first real vision of Aphrodite's body as cut after cut surrounded it and were scabbed up.
Violet: Why do you want to kill yourself?
Aphrodite: Because it's something I can't do, which makes me want to do it more.
Violet: Why do you oppose authority so much?
Aphrodite(Turning the shower on) Oppose?
Violet: Defy, not listen to, hate older people, why is that?
Aphrodite's head turned as we see even more cuts and chunks of her hair missing.
Aphrodite: I guess it's because all the older people in my life hurt me one way or another.
Violet: So you hate all older people because one person hurt you?
Aphrodite's pale skin turned a darker red when the water hit her.
Violet: That's weird, why does your skin change colors?
Aphrodite(Yelling) Your the Super you tell me.
Violet: Does it happen often?
Aphrodite: Yes teahcer, now tell me what's going on.
Violet: Do you change colors to your enviorment?
Aphrodite: Sometimes but what does that have to do with me changing colors.
Violet: Have you heard of Chamelion's?
Aphrodite's body became as white as the tiles on the shower as she got out of the shower.
Aphrodite: Yea they change colors to blend in big whoop.
Violet: They blend into their enviorment when their scared, it's a defense mechanism.
Aphrodite: Is this going anywhere quick?, because I'm tuckered out and listening to you drone about lizards is making it worse.
Violet(Taking Aphrodite's hand) I think we should open up some closets, to make sure the skeletons come out.
Aphrodite: You may not like what I have to say.
Violet: You can tell me anything you want, I'm not going to judge you.
Aphrodite: Would you prejudge me?
Violet: Not a lick, now come on I have pizza and soda waiting for us.
Aphrodite: Are we going to be eating any salads here?
Violet: Not unless you want to, see here at Violet's Home For Orphaned Supers the kids make the menu.
Aphrodite: So anything I want?
Violet: You'll get, how does that sound?
Aphrodite: It sounds pretty rightous to me, anything I want to eat I can have.
Violet(Opening the door to her office) Well step on in and let's get to know you a little better.
Aphrodite took one end of the table as Violet took another and slid her a pizza box, a Pepsi bottle, and a journal.
Violet: That journal's for documentation, it'll help you understand your powers a little more.
Aphrodite(Sliding the journal back) I know more than I can stand about these powers, I can't die pretty much sums it up.
Violet(Walking up to her) Then I want journal entries describing how life makes you feel, and why you want to die at a young age.
Aphrodite: You said we were searching for skeletons in my closet right?
Violet: That's right, are you ready to open up?
Aphrodite: If your ready to listen, I think I can handle opening up my closets.
Violet: Go back to the begining, when did you discover your can't die theory?
Aphrodite: 2001 I was five and learning to ride a bike without training wheels.
As Aphrodite explained the scene we're brought into her mind's eye as birds were chirping and she yet again fell on her driveway.
Aphrodite(Sighing) I am never going to learn to ride a bike, never, never, never.
A group of boys were walking up to Aphrodite's picket fence as she picked her bike up from the ground.
Boy #1: Well, well, well fella's what have we here a tomboy trying to fit in?
The other boy's laughed as Aphrodite slolwy peddaled hoping she could keep her balance on the bike.
Boy #1: Hey Freakazoid I'm talking to you, are you dumb or just playing stupid?
Laney: Aphey sweetie come in here and get some lunch, then you can come back out and try to ride you bike later.
Boy #1: I think she's a freak, she doesn't talk to anyone, and she dresses like a boy.
Laney: Yea well why don't you mind your own beezwax, she's not a freak by any means.
Aphrodite slowly walked into the house and up to the bathroom to wash up as Laney knew that look on her face, it was lonliness.
Aphrodite(Grumbling) Stupid boys think they own the stupid world.
Laney: Hurry up Aphey, I made your favorite fish sticks and potato puffs.
Aphrodite turned the water on as hot as it would go hoping to hurt herself as she doused her hand in it and quickly pulled it back to see red skin.
Aphrodite(Gloomy) Maybe now he'll come back and tell me how sorry he is for leaving.
Laney: Aphey would you get down here?
Aphrodite(Mimicing her mother) Aphey would you get down here, Ugh I hate that nickname.
Laney was at the bottom of the stairs tapping her foot as Aphrodite slowly got to the last step and was lifted from it.
Laney: Those boys don't know what their saying, you aren't a freak in my eyes.
When Aphrodite looked into her burned hand she saw white skin again and decided to try another expieriment.
Aphrodite: Mommy can I cut my own fishsticks?
Laney(Handing Aphrodite a knife) Just be careful with it sweetie, knives are very dangerous to little girls.
Aphrodite placed her pinkie finger on her plate as the phone rang.
Laney: All right Aphey eat up, mommy's going to get the phone.
As soon as Laney's back was turned Aphrodite slammed the blade on her pinkie as blood squirted everywhere and her pinkie fell to the floor.
Laney(Looking over at Aphrodite shocked) Ohhh my God mom I have to call you back Aphrodite's bleeding everywhere.
Aphrodite(Holding her hand) It's cool mommy watch my pinkie will grow back.
As soon as she said it Aphrodite's nerve endings blended together to make a new finger.
Aphrodite(Flexing her fingers) Awesome mommy, I can cut myself and not get hurt.
Laney(Grabbing a dishtowel) Aphey sweetie never scare mommy like that again, you made me believe you really cut yourself.
Aphrodite(Picking up her other pinkie) Look I did cut myself, but my finger grew back.
Laney: Aphey sweetie what were you thinking, do you want to die?
Aphrodite: Relax mommy it grew back didn't it?
Laney: How did it grow back?, I mean how could it?
Aphrodite(Shrugging her shoulders) I'm going to take another try at bike riding like a big girl.
Laney: Just keep away from that spoke on your bike young lady.
Aphrodite: All right mommy.
We're brought back to Violet's office where oddly enough Aphrodite is smiling.
Aphrodite: You should have seen her face, she was freaked to the extreme when she saw that I cut my pinkie finger.
Violet: When you burned your hand, exactly how long did it take to get to a normal temperature again?
Aphrodite: A matter of seconds, I didn't think it'd go away that quick.
Violet: And what made you try cutting your pinkie that day?
Aphrodite: Pure adrenaline, and I wanted to see if getting burned and getting cut had the same consequence and they did.
Violet(Taking out a slice of pizza) These boys that were picking on you, were they neighborhood bullies?
Aphrodite: Yea most of them, some just tagged along to get a look at me, I was crushing on one of the onlookers.
Violet: When did they stop coming around?
Aphrodite: When I started dressing like a girl and not a tomboy.
Violet: What made that come about?
Aphrodite: Laney the super mother did, she hated the way I was dressing, so she dragged me to the mall to get some skirts and dresses.
Violet: The last day before you came here, can we talk about that.
Aphrodite: If we must, my brother and sister were doing their homework when I got home from the bus stop.
We're brought back to Aphrodite's mind's eye where a door slammed and she stormed in drenched.
Aphrodite(Clenching her teeth) Jules- where- is- our- darling- mother?
Aphrodite's little sister pointed to the kitchen as Aphrodite stomped that way.
Laney(On the phone) Mom I just can't take everything and leave her there on a whim, this isn't a vacation for her.
Aphrodite(Grabbing the phone) She'll call you back, she has other problems to deal with at the moment.
Aphrodite slammed the phone on the charger as Laney looked at her dripping wet daughter.
Aphrodite(Mimicing her mother's voice) Sure I'll pick you up from school today honey, I don't want you walking home in the rain, sound familliar?
Laney(Throwing her hands on her forehead) Your school, you know when I picked Julie and Nick up I knew I was forgetting someone.
Aphrodite(Grabbing a paper) Violet Parrs House For Orphaned Supers, what the hell is this?
Laney: I will not tolerate that language in this house young lady, and it's a home I'm sending you to.
Aphrodite(Fuming) A- home- what am I the elderly?
Laney: Aphey this orphanage will place you in a better enviorment then your in now.
Aphrodite(Throwing a glass on the floor) I- told- you- to- quit- calling- me- that!!!!!!!
Laney: All right Aphrodite just calm down, your going to scare your brother and sister.
Aphrodite(Throwing her wet clothes at Laney) Oh puhlease your more afraid of me than they are.
Laney: Get packed you'll be leaving tomorrow morning and I don't want to do the two minute shuffle.
Aphrodite: Maybe this Violet will remember not to leave me waiting for her in the pouring rain.
Laney: I'm going to dry these clothes, can you handle dinner or do I have to cook too.
Aphrodite: Your going to cook too, because your the mother and I'm the daughter, the mother cooks and the daughter does her schoolwork.
Laney(Throwing a report card at her) I'm really glad you talked me into letting you do cheerleading, it's the only class your passing daughter.
Aphrodite: Well you know when you have a power you can't explain it kind of get's in the way of your schoolwork.
Laney: Fine I'll order out, that way it's win win.
Aphrodite: Yea Tofu squares and salad is making my mouth water
Aphrodite stomed up the stairs only wanting a hot shower as she locked the bathroom door.
Aphrodite: Looks like I'm getting out of this madhouse for good.
Aphrodite found a shard of glass laying on the side of the sink as she turned it over in her fingers.
Aphrodite(Weeping) The only time she cares is when I hurt myself.
Aphrodite brough the shard of glass across her arm as blood gushed onto the tile floor and she slumped into the tub weak.
A[hrodite: She doesn't understand how much I love her, and she treats me like an orphan who doesn't need love from her.
When we're brought back to Violet and Aphrodite tears are streaming down her cheeks.
Aphrodite(Crying) I started it because I thought it was cool, now I just want her to feel bad for me, even for a second.
Violet(Handing her some tissues) You mentioned being treated like an orphan, who do you think your family is?
Aphrodite(Sniffling) I'm not sure, it was just something I was turning over in my mind that day
Violet: Do super powers run in your family?
Aphrodite(Shaking her head) No my mom's so intent on hiding them I wouldn't know.
Violet: And your dad?
Aphrodite(Chewing on some crust) Never met him, he was stupid and decided to go and get himself blown up.
Violet: I'm so sorry, how did it happen?
Aphrodite: He was trying to take a baby and the mother was a super, his cape got caught in a jet motor and Boooooommmmm no more dad.
Violet: Is your mom's name Mirage?
Aphrodite: No it's Laney, but we do get Mirage's mail from time to time.
Violet: Is she ever gone for long ammounts of time?
Aphrodite(Nodding) She calls that her I need to get away from my children time.
Violet: What if I told you your mom was training to be a super villian?
Aphrodite: I'l laugh in your face, what would my mom want with being a super villian?
Violet: The mother who saved her kid, it was my mother, and that kid was my infant brother Jack Jack, we beat your dad so now she holds a grudge.
Aphrodite: I hope you can make one of those blue force thingies around the orphanage.
Violet: It's a force field and I'm sure I can handle it with another force fielder helping.
Aphrodite: And how are you going to teach the munchkin to use her powers?
Violet: The same way I learned with lots of practice, she'll have it too, all of you will.
Aphrodite: I'll make you a deal, if you promise nothing bad can happen to me here, then I'll stop the suicide attempts.
Violet(Holding out her hand) It's a deal, now go get some sleep, it looks like you could use it.
What happens when Matthew sneaks out read part 4 Dire Consequences and reply to part 3