Roman Godfrey's accident spread like wildfire, being a Godfrey had it pros and cons as well. Chantel didn't know how to feel about it—because if she was in Roman's shoes, she wouldn't want the entire town to know about her misfortunes. But that's the price you pay to be a Godfrey.

Zach had dropped by Chantel's place to say his goodbyes before he left for Pittsburg. He'd embraced her and she wanted to breakdown because Zach wasn't him. She fucking hated him for making her feel the way she did.

Ever since Roman's coma, Chantel and Shelley had been exchanging text messages to and fro as the fifteen year old kept updating Chantel about her brother's condition. Chantel did visit him regularly after school; she'd talk to him about her day, fill him in with the stuffs that's going in and around Hemlock Grove or play music. 'Running up that hill' by Kate Bush has become their jam.

If I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places.

She'd without a second thought, swap places with Roman. Because ever since he was gone, she'd tried everything. She drank, smoke, drove 100 on the freeway. Anything to suppress the ache.

That evening at the manor when Susan had brought her change of clothes, she went to Roman's room to take a shower and change into fresh clothes but she'd broken down. She found herself smoking one of his foul cigarettes, Chantel had tried smoking before and it wasn't her thing—she didn't like the smell nor the taste of it.

But maybe, she missed Roman so damn much that she lighted one of his cigarettes just to feel something. That night when she went back home, she fiddled with the pack of cigarette she'd lifted from Roman's room as she scrolled through their photos and videos from her laptop.

Suddenly, she was crying. It was already love.

🏴🏴🏴

"Honey, we're here." Susan pulled up in front of the building. Hemlock Acres, the main rehabilitation Center of the property. The property was huge and had buildings spread out across the area but the three story concrete building was the main attraction. Like every major thing in town, Hemlock Acres falls under the Godfrey name and Dr Norman Godfrey was the spine behind the rehabilitation Center.

Christina Wendall had been admitted here after she attacked Tyler White, and the scruffy man who Chantel and Roman crossed passed with the night of the dance had also been admitted here for sometime. Before he took his own life.

Chantel walked into the building as Susan waited for her in the car. The place had an coldness to it that Chantel couldn't shake off, even after all this time. She remembered her first night here, it had been an unpleasant experience for her.

Chantel gave the door a knock. "Come in Miss Channing." Norman called from inside his office.

She walked into the room, that had shelves rising from the floor and touching the ceilings—filled with all kinds of books. It reminds her of the library from sleeping beauty.

"Please take a seat," he nodded as she sat down. Norman looked up from his file, the man was in his 40's but in his golden days—he had been an eye candy to the ladies, he still is somehow. "How are you?" He asked.

"Good," Chantel replied.

"How have you been feeling after our previous session?" He furrowed his brows.

"Better," she responded.

"Tell me miss Channing, do you still blame yourself for Roman's tragedy?" He asked her kindly.

Chantel had confessed to Norman that she felt responsible for Roman's tragedy because if she hadn't reacted the way she did, he wouldn't have gone on a mad-dog tear that resulted in his coma.

"I don't know," she admitted. "Maybe..."

He took off his glasses, "I told you before and I'm going to tell you again, it's not your fault that he's in a coma. He was the one who mixed alcohol and narcotics even though he knew the risks."

"Do you..." she bite her lips, "do you think Rome's gonna wake up?"

Norman took a deep breath and said, "well, I think that's upto Roman now."

Chantel sunk deeper into the chair.

"Hey," Norman looked at her. "If Roman Godfrey sets his mind on something, he does it, so let's not lose hope. Heh."

She gave him a nod.

Norman jotted down something on his little notebook and said, "I'll let you continue your pills and I'll see you next week."

"Thank you dr," she thanked him as she rose up from the chair.

"Chantel," he rose up gently. "I just want you to be open with me. You know your secrets are safe with me, right?"

"I know," she mumbled.

Norman gave her a warm smile, "if there's anything, call me, I'm always available for you."

She smiled at him and walked out of the room. Before she left the building Chantel decided to meet Christina Wendall since the girl had been admitted at the institute, and maybe, it'll help seeing a friendly face. The seventeen year old was on the bed reading the papers when Chantel walked in.

"Hi," Chantel said.

"Hey," Christina looked up from the papers, from the look on her face Chantel could tell—the girl wasn't expecting to see her.

"Cool view." Chantel commented as she took a seat on the sofa.

Christina was on the top floor, the same floor where Chantel had been before. Here, the patients were given their own personal room or they share rooms with another patient. Christina was on her own because the bed next to her was empty and the view from her room was the old abandoned chapel.

During her stay in Hemlock Acres, Chantel used to take walks around the old chapel—there she met Letha Godfrey and they became friends. That was a year ago, when she first moved to Hemlock Grove.

"Yeah," Christina agreed with a nod.

The girl had more white streaks on her hair than the last time Chantel saw her.

"Mmm," Christina murmured. "I'm sorry about Roman."

Chantel let out a sigh, "yeah."

She fiddled with her fingers, "I know that feeling...helplessness, sorrow."

Chantel gave her a small smile, "thank you."

"So why are you here?" She asked Chantel a bit confused, "because I'm sure you didn't just drop by to see me."

"Yeah," Chantel said. "I'm here for my sessions with Dr Norman."

"Really?" She looked at Chantel surprised, "are you okay?"

"Yes," Chantel nodded.

She pressed her lips, "I never thought that someone like you, would need therapy..."

Chantel let out a soft chuckle, "we all have our bad days missy."

Christina smiled at her, "thank you."

"For what?" She raised a brow.

"For making me feel less like a weirdo," Christina giggled.

"We're all weirdos somehow," Chantel gave the girl a little wink.

The nurse walked in, "time for your medications Miss Wendall."

Chantel rose up, "get well soon, I'm rooting for you."

Christina nodded, Chantel gave her a wave as she walked out of the room. She really hope, Christina would be out of that place asap.

🏴🏴🏴

Letha Godfrey and Peter Rumancek were having a jolly good time. The duo can't seem to keep their hands off each other, they were just making out and hooking up everywhere. They were in their honeymoon phase which wasn't going to end anytime soon.

Chantel and Gia had walked in on them hooking up in the music room, they both had a clear view of Peter's buttocks.

Gia had commented, "don't poke the baby."

Letha flushed a shade of red.

Chantel had grabbed Gia's wrist and dashed out of the room as quickly as possible. She just wanted to erase Peter's ass from her memory. But Gia was quite entertained as she kept laughing.

Girls always slips in notes, letters, photos into Roman's locker on a daily basis. His locker was next to Chantel's so every time he opens it, Chantel gets a glimpse of what's inside. There were times where Chantel had seen some very questionable photos, and she wondered who in their sane minds even leak their own nudes. She knew the combinations to his locker, but she stopped herself from opening it. She didn't want to see anything unpleasant after witnessing her two best friends hooking up.

"Hey," Ashley Valentine appeared.

"Hey." Chantel responded.

"I just wanted you to know how sorry I am. I'm kind of sick about the whole thing. I was trying to think of the last time I talked to Roman before this and...it wasn't pleasant." She explained. "Uh, anyway I made him this." She handed Chantel a hand made card. "If you wouldn't mind brining it to him..."

"Yeah. Of course." Chantel nodded as she took the card.

"Thanks. I really...I hope he's okay," she huffed.

Chantel gave her a small smile.

"See you," she said as she walked away.

"What was that about?" Gia asked surprised as she walked upto Chantel.

"Evidently, Ashley Valentine does have a soul." Chantel mentioned as she displayed the handmade card the girl had made for Roman.

"When it comes to Roman Godfrey," Gia quoted as she leaned on the lockers. "Anyway, how's he?"

Chantel shrugged, "he's...I don't know."

Gia put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He'd come back to you. I know it."

Chantel smiled at Gia.

"Let's get some vitamin D shall we?" Gia offered her hand. "Not that kinda vitamin but you know what I mean?" She smirked.

Chantel chuckled and took her hand.

They sat on a bench and gazed at the students coming in and out of the school building, snacking on masala peanuts that Gia brought from home. Chantel loves Indian snack, they were spicy and savoury at the same time.

Chantel reached into her pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarette. "When did you start smoking?" Gia asked surprised.

"Ever since," Chantel didn't have to mention it, Gia understood. She took a stick and lighted it, "I used to smoke those flavoured ones before strawberry, grapes, chocolates."

Chantel pulled out a stick, "never tried those."

"The aftertaste is horrible," Gia chuckled taking a deep puff.

"I disliked smokers, I disliked the smell of cigarettes..look at me now." She lighted the cigarette.

Gia turned to her, "shit happens, remember how I flipped when Zayn stood me up?"

Chantel chuckled. "Of course."

Over the summers Gia had been talking to a guy name Zayn from San Jose California. He was going to fly over to NY over the weekend to meet up with Gia and they'd planned everything but Zayn backed out last minute. Chantel assumed he got cold feet but that doesn't excuse his behaviours.

Gia lost it and went on an IG rampage for the whole weekend, until she finally calmed down realising Zayn was not worth her time or efforts and it was better for her to shut him out of her life forever. She blocked and deleted him ever since and hadn't been happier.

"Full moon's on its way freak!" Harry yelled following Peter out of the building.

"You got spunk in your ears, Rumancek?" Josh spat following Peter as well. "I'm talking to you, you dirty gypsy piece of shit."

Of all the bullies breeding in high school Josh and Harry always take the cake. They hadn't learned even after Roman mesmerised Josh to kiss Harry in front of everyone back then.

"Aww he's probably just down cause his girlfriends in a coma." Harry added, making a teary face.

Chantel and Gia killed theirs cigarettes and headed towards the boys.

Peter was jogging away. "Need to run home and suck sleeping beauty's dick?" Josh spat at him. "You deaf, faggot?"

"So where's the wolf half come from anyway, right?" Harry asked as Dennis and Roger joined them.

"Excuse me," Chantel said as she and Gia squeezed into the crowd and made their way towards Peter.

Josh put an arm around Peter and said. "Yeah, your mom toss a steak between her legs and say, come and get it boys?"

Peter couldn't take it anymore he stopped on his tracks and hit Josh right in his ball sack as Josh collapsed on the ground, cradling his balls. The other guys Harry, Dennis and Roger started punching and kicking Peter who was now on the ground as well.

"Stop!" Gia yelled as she pulled Roger away from Peter.

"Leave him alone!" Yelled Chantel trying to push Harry and Dennis away. Peter was rolling on the ground, with bruises on his face and blood dripping from his head and mouth.

But Gia and Chantel couldn't stop the boys from attacking Peter. Then out of the blue Matt and Tyler appeared, the boys fled as soon as they saw them.

Chantel squatted down, "you okay?" She asked Peter as she pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his bleeding mouth.

Tyler offered his hand and pulled Peter up. "Thanks," Peter huffed.

Tyler gave him a nod and said, "you'll live."

"Thank you," Chantel thanked Tyler, she wasn't expecting that from the captain of the football team because of what he did to Peter back then at the gas station. But people can change and Chantel is a strong believer of that.

Tyler gave her a little salute, "anytime princess," and left with Matt.

"Let's get you home," Gia told Peter.

Chantel got a ping on her phone. "Mmm, Gia can you please be a babe and drop Pete off." She looked at Gia, "I've this thing."

"Sure," Gia nodded.

"Thank you," she smiled at Gia and then gave a flying kiss to Peter, "take care Pete."

Peter smiled, "I will, thank you."

Chantel got into her car and drove home as quickly as possible. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! She cursed as she pulled up on the driveway and walked into the kitchen. Susan was waiting for her fumingly holding a strip of sleeping pills. "Young lady, you've a ton of explanation to do!"

Shee-it! If only she could go into a coma and join Roman Godfrey at this very moment.