I could hear them chatting mindlessly behind me but I forced myself to concentrate on the road. I'd always been a loose cannon; any little thing could set me off. Something about this Joe made me really angry and I was trying so hard to swallow the acidic fury rising up my throat.

"What exactly is this city you were talking about, then?" I heard Violet question, her voice far more animated than it had been a few hours ago. I don't know why he excites her so much, I grumbled mentally.
"I can't believe you really don't know," I saw him shake his head as my eyes flickered to the rear view mirror for the fiftieth time that minute. "The City is this huge place where all the bosses of this world live. Big houses, cars... Everything," Violet's eyes were wide as she drank in every word he spoke. I refrained from rolling my eyes; it all sounded like bullshit to me. "There's this fountain, right, this huge fountain, guarded by like a hundred security men."
"Why's it guarded?" Violet probed.
"They say that it's the only way to get back to... Well, you know. Back to life before."

At this, I had to let out my snort of disbelief. "You're kidding, right?" I couldn't help myself. This guy must have overdosed and came out the other side still high. "We're dead, dude. There's no going back." I rolled my eyes, which I knew he saw in the mirror.
"Wait, wait," Violet interjected, the excitement in her eyes gone. "'They say'? Who is 'they'?"
Joe shrugged. "I don't know. Just... Everyone."
Violet half laughed and half sighed. "So you're going off some crazy rumour. Shit," she said, folding her arms and turning her head away from him, glaring out of the window. I bit back my smile at her annoyance. I also fought back the memory of Violet herself saying something about a way out of here. Did she not believe it anymore? It was crazy, so why the heck should either of us swallow it coming from a random guy we picked up?

"Fine, be sceptical," Joe shrugged again. "All I know is I'm not meant to be here and I'll do anything, fucking anything to leave." Violet's eyes flickered sideways and I knew she pitied him. She felt the same about herself – she wasn't meant to be here. Her suicide wasn't truly intentional. I guess I pitied them both.

It was getting dark now and my legs were aching after driving for so long. We were out in the middle of nowhere; there was no getting a motel tonight. There was a little dip in a field beside the road, just secluded enough for me to park the car for the night. I pulled in smoothly and pulled up the handbrake, switching the engine off.

I turned towards the back to find Violet and Joe asleep, Violet's head leaning on his shoulder. I observed them for a minute; Violet was so peaceful in sleep that it was almost impossible to imagine her being so full of attitude. She looked like a little girl. My heart twinged as I thought about how much she must want to go home. I turned back around and slumped in my seat, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. I couldn't fold the chair back any more without hitting Joe. I closed my eyes and visions of Violet danced in the blackness behind my eyelids. I wished I could give her what she wanted; make her happy. I also wished that she would talk more and let me in; there was only so much I could give her when she built these walls up so high around her. I wanted to know her. I wanted her to know me.

I woke up with a start and my eyes shot open. As I adjusted to the darkness I made out a figure in the passenger seat beside me. Violet.

"I didn't mean to wake you," she whispered, already looking at me. I could see the whites of her eyes more distinctly than anything else.
"You didn't, I woke myself up," I assured her, sitting up in my seat and feeling the ache in my back from my bad sleeping position. I didn't see her nod, but I heard the rustle of her hair.
"You look different when you sleep. You don't look so sad."
I didn't know if I was embarrassed that she had been watching me sleep; she certainly wasn't embarrassed to admit it. I just blinked at her.
"Why do you never talk to me?" she asked, her eyes wide and shining in the moonlight. Her voice was strangely soft, not her usual ferociousness.
"You scare me," I grinned. She smiled back and laughed under her breath. I imagined this is how she was before she died. Light-hearted.
Her smile faded. "Do you like me?" she asked. I swallowed hard.
"Of course I do." I didn't want to her to think I was obsessive or weird. I gauged her reaction but she gave nothing away. She glanced over her shoulder at Joe, who was still sleeping. "He stinks," she muttered. "I had to move."
I snorted. "I think I do too," I admitted. I could see her smiling at me. She was just looking at me and smiling. I wanted desperately to know what she was thinking.

Out of nowhere, before I could predict her actions, she leaned forward and kissed me softly on the cheek. She smelled like dirt and sweat but it wasn't unpleasant. She sat back and looked at me again. "I don't believe you killed all those people to be bad," she whispered. "You're not evil."
I didn't dare to talk in case I said something to make her change her mind. She chuckled and shook her head, shuffling down in her seat to make herself comfortable. She took one last look at me then closed her eyes, turning her head towards the window away from me. I felt her little hand creep over and hold mine but she didn't say anything else. I stayed like that until I heard the soft snuffles of her sleeping.

Two parts in two days- my gift to you. Lol, I had a review expressing their concern that we might never see Tate and Violet progress. We will, I promise! I'm trying to make it gradual whilst not giving the plot away. Forgive me. (Thank you for all reviews. Love You)