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JOANNA WAS sure that her world was slowly starting to come crumbling down. Upon hearing that there was a strong possibility that the Harmon family would be moving away, Joanna grew upset. She couldn't let them go away. Especially not Violet who had become her first real friend. If she left, Joanna would be left alone all over again.
Even before she had died, Joanna had practically been invisible. She had been able to hide in plain sight and slip in and out without anyone noticing. Being dead only added to that ability, it seemed.
Speaking of Violet, Joanna had found the girl sitting outside and talking with Ben. She was used to eavesdropping from time to time. The girl had a gift for it.
"Creepy much?" Tate remarked from behind her, causing Joanna to jump slightly.
"At least I'm not the one sneaking up behind people," Joanna argued.
"To be fair, you're the one sneaking in and listening to their conversation," Tate replied, nodding his head over to where Violet and Ben were, "Makes us about even, right?"
Joanna didn't answer, looking away from Tate.
"What's got you in a bad mood lately? Sad about your girlfriend moving away?" Tate continued.
"Shut up," Joanna replied.
"It wouldn't have lasted long anyways. Not with her finding out what we are," Tate said as he looked over to where Violet was.
She knew that he was right but that didn't make his words hurt any less. Violet was alive, in more ways than one, and Joanna was long gone by now. They could never work. Not unless Violet were to die too and that was the last thing Joanna wanted. Cursed to spend an eternity in a house of darkness, always looking over your shoulder and never getting rid of the coldness that settled in your bones was something Joanna wouldn't wish on even her worst enemy. Violet deserved to live. To grow old with someone who loved her and have a family of her own.
