We get interrupted by a knock on the door. A harsh knock. James opened the door and I felt the urge to run.

I was right giving into that urge and running back to Reed's bedroom. I put my ear to the door so I could eavesdrop on the conversation happening.

Turns out, I didn't need to eavesdrop.

"WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?" I heard. Oh crap. I knew that voice.

Penelope found me somehow.

"I am not your daughter." I said, coming out of Reed's room.

"Oh really. What's your last name, Valerie?" Penelope said, getting in my face. I backed up and leaned against a wall.

"Salazar-Roland." I said confidently. A little too confidently.

"Via, what the heck are you doing?" Reed whispered to me. James cut her off and told her to be quiet.

"I'm not Valerie Rafferty anymore." I said. "You're not my mother, Penelope."

Why was I being so confident all of a sudden? And around Penelope of all people?

"And your new parents took out that pump of yours? So irresponsible! I'm surprised you're not dead by now!" Penelope said, cackling manically.

"I got a heart transplant." I said matter-of-factly. "Now can you leave?"

Penelope walked up to Reed and pointed to her. "Who's this little friend of yours?" Oh no. There was no way I was telling my cruel, abusive former foster mother that I liked girls and was dating one.

"Hi. I'm Reed Adler. I'm dating her." Reed said.

Which was a mistake. A huge one.

The room went dead silent. Penelope turned to me and said, "I am so mad at you, Valerie...didn't I tell you being gay was wrong?"

"I'M NOT GAY!" I screamed. Which was the truth.

"Oh really?" Penelope snapped. "Then why does this lovely lady say you're dating her?"

"I'm pan! Pansexual! I like all genders!" I yelled back. "And you don't get to be mad at me anymore! You're not in charge of me!"

It was around this time I realized I was speaking with my accent. Now I was really in trouble.

"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT THAT STUPID ACCENT?" Penelope yelled. I felt tears begin to form. I never thought I would ever see Penelope again, George made that promise to me when he first took me in.

But since Luna was working for Penelope, and knew all my secrets, I was doomed.

"Is this..." Reed asked. I nodded frantically.

"Valerie, Valerie, Valerie. You have a choice right now. You...or that girlfriend of yours." Penelope said.

"What do you mean?" I asked. 

Reed looked at me with a troubled look in her eyes and we both said, "Me." at the same time.

"Alright, since you two obviously cannot make a decision, I'll choose for you."

Penelope dragged me to the top of the stairs and shoved me down. 

"VAL!" I heard Reed scream, right before the world went black.

_______________________________________________

George's POV

"We're safe." Will said, coming into the room. "Penelope's arrested, we're safe." I sighed, wondering what happened to Valerie. Is she okay? I don't know.

All I could do is hope.

"Where's Val?" Will asked.

"She's at Reed's. I don't know if..." I said, then I trailed off.

"What?" Will asked, then it hit me.

"Penelope doesn't know Val has a girlfriend, does she?" I asked. We both shook our heads. 

"I hope not. Val told us Penelope was really homophobic." Will said.

Suddenly, my phone started ringing. It was Valerie. I sighed in relief, Val was okay.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hey, um, it's Reed. I'm at the hospital." the girl on the other line said. My heart dropped again. If Valerie couldn't even call us, then something must be wrong.

"What's wrong, Reed?" I asked.

"Um...Penelope shoved Val down the stairs...it was bad...the doctors said that there's a 50/50 chance she'll make it...I'm so sorry..." Reed said. I gasped, trying not to cry in front of Val's girlfriend.

"Can I..." I asked, and I was cut off by the sound of Reed sobbing.

"I just got kicked out. She can't have any visitors right now. I'm scared." Reed said. Then she hung up.

"What's going on?" Will asked.

"Val's in the hospital. They're not sure if she'll make it." I said. Will gasped and started crying.

Twenty minutes later, I got a text. That one text made me start sobbing. I showed the phone to Will and we hugged each other, sobbing.

"Tell Stephanie, Gerard, Lauren, and Katlyn. It's the right thing to do." Will said. I took a deep breath and opened my messages.

Me: She's gone. Val's gone. She died ten minutes ago.

I turned off my phone, not wanting to believe I even had to send that message.

AN: I'M SO SORRY! I'm so, so sorry. I promise, it will have a happy ending. Hope you enjoyed! Catch ya later!