Fighting The Darkness

Chapter One: Forgiveness

Violet paced around her room, unsure. Thoughts bounced around her head as she wrestled with herself. She was being watched by an invisible boy, with shaggy blonde hair and dark eyes.

"Nora?" Violet called.

Almost instantly another spirit appeared. She had shorter hair and dressed as if the year was 1920. Nora noticed Tate, as he was only invisible to Violet, who paced even faster. Tate smiled at Nora, who kept his secret.

"What's the matter dear?"

"I don't know what to do. Should I forgive him? I mean.. ugh!!" Violet groaned in frustration. She stopped pacing and plopped down on her bed, narrowly missing Tate, who slid back against the pillows in order to stay hidden.

"Honestly I think since you are both going to be in this house for eternity.. Its best to keep a good relationship with everyone in the house. After all, you're going to be here for a very long time. Lately, all you do is sit in your room and pine for him. You don't talk to anyone. He made a few mistakes dear, and he knows it. He misses you Violet, just like you miss him."

"Is it really that easy?"

Nora laughed. "If only you knew. He spends his days following you around making sure everything is okay. In fact he's here now, on your pillows. You almost landed on him when you plopped down."

Violet turned and saw nothing. Tate shifted uncomfortably in his seat, which moved the pillows. Violet caught the movement.

Would she care?

"Why can't I see him? I'm dead too."

"Because you sent him away, dear. Of course he stays invisible to you. He doesn't want you to think he's stalking you or something. He doesn't want to anger you further. Just make sure its what you want before you ask for him. Please don't break his heart again. He nearly lost himself."

Violet nodded and Nora vanished. Tate continued to watch Violet, unsure.

Violet took a deep breath, ready to make her choice.

"Tate, I know you're there."

At once the boy appeared, looking terrified. He avoided her eye contact, avoided looking at her altogether.

"I didn't want you to know I was protecting you. I would have stayed away. But I heard Hayden one day, and knew that if I didnt protect you she would have tortured you. She made me nervous, Vi. I'm sorry. I know you were mad at me. I tried to stay away Violet. I couldn't. "

Violet smiled. If her heart still worked, it'd be pounding.

"I know, Tate. I'm sorry I hurt you. I shouldn't have sent you away. You were there when I died, were there when no one else was. I was just.. when I found out what you did to mom.. to dad.. I just lost it. Why?"

"Nora wanted a baby. I tried to get one when Chad and Patrick lived in this house, but when they started having problems I knew it wasn't going to happen. When you and your family showed up.. I knew it would be a perfect chance. Your parents were having problems. Why not? I mean, it worked out because now Nora can help take care of the twin that didn't survive. Your father lost everything when your mom died. He realized that he had lost his wife. But he still had you. Of course, he didn't know you were dead. He tried taking you away. Hayden came to me and wanted to make him pay for killing her. For leaving her in Boston. I agreed to help her.

"When you sent me away I didn't know what to do. You kept me sane. When we were together, I didn't hear the voices. I was more alive with you then I ever was. Nora kept me from losing it. She followed me around, wouldn't let me out of her sight. She kept the demons of the house away from me, and hid the rubber suit. To this day no one has found it. I think she got it out of the house the first halloween without you when we were all able to leave the house.

"I'm sorry I hurt your family, Violet. I didn't want any of this to happen. If you hadn't met me you'd still be alive, probably in college, able to come and go as you please. Now you're all stuck here, and it's my fault."

Tate hid his face in his hands then, letting the guilt take over. Violet inched forward and pulled him close.

"I won't send you away ever again. I missed you so much. It got to the point where my depression was far worse than when I was alive. You kept me sane, Tate. I don't talk to anyone anymore. I didn't go anywhere either halloween because the memory at the beach was too amazing to ruin. Mom brought me back cigarettes and new books and cds both times. Freedom wasn't the same without you."

Tate embraced her then as tears began streaming down her face.

"Promise me you'll forgive me. Your mom has. It took her awhile, but she has. Promise me you won't send me away again."

"I sent you away, but I never said goodbye."

Tate finally looked at her then. He smiled down at her, and wiped her tears away.

"I never thought I'd be holding you again, never thought I'd actually be able to talk to you again. Even if we can't be a couple again.. just being your best friend again will make me happy."

"We can start over."

Tate smiled. "I'm Tate. I'm dead. Want to hook up?"

Violet laughed. "I'm Violet. I'm dead too. Is that your only pick up line?"

Tate chuckled. "It worked the first time we met."

"We probably won't yet, but give it time, okay?"

"We're stuck in this house for eternity. We've got nothing but time."

Violet yawned. No one ever told her how exhausting forgiving someone was, or letting go of all your anger. She snuggled closer to him, breathing in his scent.

****

January 18th, 2003

She finally forgave me after all this time. I can't believe it. I never thought she would. As of this point, the voices are gone.

Can I finally be normal? Can I finally be sane? I know its possible with Violet. Anything is possible with Violet.

At the moment, she's fast asleep. Later we're gonna have a snowball fight, like old times. And who knows? Maybe we can be together again. Maybe she can love me again. All I have to do is show her who I can be.

For now, she's forgiven me. For now I'll be her friend.

As long as it takes.

-Tate