Lucky for Chantel Channing she'd carried the pack of cigarettes to school, unlucky for her she'd left her strips of sleeping pills on her bedside table drawer. Her mother don't usually go through her stuffs, so she had no intentions to hide them and now she was caught—ever since her emotional breakdown she'd not been having the pills but Susan was not buying her story instead, she was so infuriated about everything that—she started blaming Roman Godfrey yet again.

Susan thinks that the boy had been a bad influence in her daughter's life and ever since Chantel befriended him, her life was going downhill. That wasn't true but Susan doesn't get it, she just wanted someone to blame—she couldn't accept the fact that Chantel had demons of her own, guess, like every other parent out there—even Susan wants to think that her child was without flaw.

She was grounded, and her mother forbade her to even drop by the manor to check on Roman, no surprise. She had to go to school and come straight back home. Chantel was furious at her mother but this was inevitable and as much as she wanted to see Roman, she knew she can't go on breaking the rules because her mother might put her back in rehab—she couldn't wait to turn eighteen.

But Shelley did FaceTime her every night so that she could at least see Roman, even though he's in a coma. Seeing him and hearing the beep of the machine, soothes Chantel's grieving heart. She looked at him as a friend until she realised she loved him. And she was so afraid to lose him even when she knew, he wasn't hers to lose.

Chantel didn't know what to wear when she rose up, or maybe, she was just losing her will to go on. "Alexa play hold on by Justin Bieber," she said.

"Playing hold on by Justin Bieber," the virtual assistant responded as the music started to play.

She picked up the denim dungaree she brought over the summers and never got the chance to wear. "Today's the day," she said to herself as she wore her white tank top and put her dungaree on. She tied her hair up in a high ponytail and had her medications, at least she looks good on the outside even though she felt terrible within.

• Hemlock Grove High School •

"It's almost like a dream, we're all just passing through the motions of our days like shadow puppets or ghosts of who we were." Chantel said softly as she and Shelley walked across the crowded hallway.

Shelley typed something on her tab, the voice responded. "I miss him too."

Chantel looked up at the tall girl, "think anything can ever be the same?"

Shelley just looked down on Chantel with knitted brows.

"See you later." Chantel tipped toed and caressed her cheek gently, Shelley glowed with a smile.

Chantel advanced towards the cafeteria, she wasn't sleeping or eating properly and she felt exhausted as shit. She needed a can of redbull so that she don't pass out. She sat alone in the cafeteria, sipping the energy drink recollecting old times; her first meeting with Roman Godfrey at Pennsylmania was annoying, he was too flirtatious and cocky. Their second meeting at the nursery was just tragic—she actually witnessed him fucking a girl in board daylight. Then came their third meeting, where something unexpected happened:

On her first day of school, Gia offered to drive her to school and show her around since Chantel was a newbie. Chantel didn't really know what to wear because in boarding school, they all wore uniforms but Gia had told her to dress up as herself. So she wore a micro black body con dress with a navy blue oversized varsity jacket, her hair tied low with a white ribbon.

When Gia had seen her, she'd commented that girls in high school don't usually show their legs but most of them don't know how to dress and mostly wear boring clothes. Except for the cheerleaders and the sworn twins, who were a pain in the ass. Gia's style was boho and it really matched with her personality. The first thing Chantel noticed as she got out of the car was people eyeing her, she was a newbie no wonder and her hair was very light. Everywhere she goes, her hair catches everyone's attention.

Gia looped her arm around Chantel as they walked towards the courtyard, and the brown girl explained the history of the school. There Chantel saw the boy from her wildest dreams, a cigarette hanging loosely on his lips. He's so tall and handsome as hell, he's so bad but he does it so well. I can see the end as it begins. Taylor's lyrics running through her mind. She brushed off her thought quickly. What the hell was wrong with her?

"Hello sweetheart," Roman Godfrey appeared before her as dashing as always, she was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't see him coming.

Gia looked surprised but didn't comment.

Chantel exhaled, "what do you want?"

"You know exactly what I want," a sly smirk appeared on his face as he killed the cigarette.

Chantel huffed a breath of disbelief as she grabbed his forearm and pulled him towards the side. The other students were now staring at them. What a way to start the first day of school.

"Listen, I don't know what's up with you but I really...really don't want to be a part of your evil schemes," she muttered.

"What evil schemes?" He asked amused.

She rolled her eyes, "I know you're Roman Godfrey and girls swoon over you and you fuck whoever the hell you want. I'm not judging," she crossed her arms, "but I'm not like the girls you hang around with, so please, just leave me alone."

"I know," he nodded in agreement, "that's why I just can't leave you alone."

"Seriously!" Her patience was at an end. "What do you really want playboy?"

A devilish smirk appeared on his face, "meet me after class."

"No." She was quick to decline.

"Just do me this favour and I promise, I'd get out of your hair." He gazed at her, his eyes twinkling in the sunlight.

"Okay." She exhaled, wanting to get rid of this distraction asap.

"But you wouldn't be able to let me go," he gave her a flirtatious wink.

Chantel rolled her eyes and walked past him back to Gia, "let's go." She called.

As they walked towards the building, Gia asked curiously. "You know Roman Godfrey?"

"I met him at Pennsylmania," Chantel mentioned.

"Hmm," Gia mumbled.

That afternoon, after class she met Roman at the basket ball court against her will. As usual he was smoking one of his foul cigarettes, making smoke rings and waiting for her. She regretted wearing such a short dress on her very first day of school and with Roman eyeing her, she felt uncomfortable as shit as if he was staring at her naked.

"Let's get over with this," she said as she stood in front of him.

"Sweetheart, these things take time," he licked his lips. "We need to savour the moment."

She longed to throw something at him: a chair, herself?

After what felt like forever, he killed his cigarette picked up the ball. "You ever play basketball?" He spun the ball on top of his index finger.

"No," she exhaled.

"Wish me luck," he gave her a quick salute and then tossed the ball right into the ring.

Chantel crossed her arms, "you wanted to show me that?"

"You got something else on your mind, love?" He raised a brow.

"I'm leaving," she pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingertips, regretting why she even came here.

"Chill!" He picked up a brown paper bag and handed it to her.

"What's this?" She asked skeptically.

"Not a lubricant, if that's what you're wondering." He said cockily.

Chantel huffed a breath of disbelief, as she took the package, whatever was inside she'll deal with it. She hesitantly opened the paper bag and was surprised to see that it was a book. Not any book but a first edition copy of 'The Shinning' by Stephen King in mint condition. Chantel froze, she couldn't really believe it. She thought of the worst thing possible but instead, it was the best thing ever.

Back in Rosewood Stephen King's books kept her company, it was weird to find comfort in horror/thriller books but for some odd reasons Chantel did. But she'd never thought she'd see or hold a first edition copy in her life before, they were expensive and hard to come by.

"Shelley told me Stephen King is your favourite author, it belonged to my old man." Roman said, "I thought you'd like it."

"I...I can't accept it," she shuddered.

"Shelley is prohibited to read such books and I'm not a book person," Roman looked at her. "But with you, it has a loving home."

Chantel had told Shelley back in Pennsylmania that Stephen King was her favourite author, and she collected his works. She gently flipped through the pages, there she saw it; it wasn't only a first edition copy but signed by the author himself.

She fought her mind and heart, her heart wanted the book but her mind screamed no. But if she didn't accept it, Roman might just toss the book back in his car and completely forget about it. He was that kind of guy. So by accepting this book, she was doing everyone a favour. Or she told herself so.

Then she was smiling and hugging the book. "Thank you, thank you." She squeaked and unintentionally hugged him. In a fraction of a second she realised what she'd done but before she could pull away, he'd hugged her back and there—she swore, his arms felt like home.

A ping on her phone knocked her out of her dream state as she pulled away awkwardly and checked her phone. Gia was waiting for her at the stairs. "Uh, I gotta go." She murmured.

A smirk appeared on his face. "I told you, you wouldn't be able to let me go."

Chantel was a tad bit annoyed but there was something about Roman Godfrey that she just couldn't shake off her, she started to laugh. She knew from their first meeting that he was different, and underneath all those cockiness—there was something deeper, something that's pulls her towards him like a magnet.

She said sheepishly, "thank you, I'll cherish it forever."

He leaned forward, "just don't run the next time you see me, love."

"If you promise, you won't hit on me every five seconds." She raised a brow.

Roman showed her his pinky, "pinky swear," she couldn't believe that he did that, that was her thing. She let out a chuckle and gave him her pinky, "super pinky swear."

When Gia saw her, the brown girl's mouth agape. "Were you with Roman Godfrey? Oh girl! You're in deep waters."

Was she that transparent? Chantel thought. She gave the girl a nod and asked, "why'd you say that?"

"Because he's Roman Godfrey, and he chooses you, you don't choose him." She crossed her arms.

"We're just friends," Chantel emphasised on the word friends.

A grin appeared on Gia's face, "you said, you met at Pennsylmania and now you're friends. I'll ask you the same question, in a couple of days."

Chantel rolled her eyes, "can we please stop talking about Rome."

"Oh Rome," Gia said grinning still.

"I mean Roman...you know what I mean," she shrugged.

What's up with her? Why does she always end up calling him Rome?

"I know exactly what you mean," Gia winked as they walked towards the car.

They were friends who turned into best friends in a short amount of time, but there was a part of her that liked Roman more than she should have and now—she realised, she might even love him and it sucked because he was Roman Godfrey. How could a heart like his? Love a heart like hers?

Sheriff sworn, could you address some of the wild rumours going around about the nature of these attacks? Is this in fact a wild animal, or, as the fringe have suggested, is it some maniac mimicking a werewolf?
Forensics tells us the attacks are animal in nature, but the pattern of the last two months can't be denied.
Meaning what exactly?
Meaning a curfew will be in effect for all minors as of sundown. Non-minors on the street after sundown will be expected to have a damn good reason to be.
Thank you, sheriff sworn. You heard it. Stay inside and lock your doors.

Now at the cafeteria as Chantel was listening to the broadcast, Shelley appeared. "Come on," the fifteen year old called.

"Where?" Chantel questioned but the big girl grabbed her hand and excitingly pulled her towards the hallway, Chantel was trying to keep up with Shelley's steps but in comparison to Shelley she was a midget. Chantel had never ever seen Shelley this hyped, she wondered what was going on?

The gentle giant stopped on her tracks and pointed Chantel towards the back stairs.

"There?" Chantel asked in confusion.

Shelley gave her a nod.

Chantel didn't think twice, she was not even in the right state of mind to think. She pressed on but froze. Roman Godfrey was looking up at her, as immaculate as ever with piercing eyes.

"Sweetheart," his voice as smooth as she could remember. All these time, she'd thought to herself; she'd rather hear his voice, than hear her favourite song. Chantel's mouth couldn't form words as tears filled up her eyes. Roman's expression crumbled at the sight as he walked up a few steps and embraced her, "it's okay, I'm fine," his lips brushed against her hair.

It was him, it was really him. She could feel the warmness emitting from his body, she could smell the comforting scent of spicy and woody oud wood.

They stood there for a long moment, she wanted to bury herself into his chest. The first time they hugged at the parking lot, his arms felt like home and ever since—her favourite place was inside his hug. "I hate you," she finally let go of him.

"I know." A small smile appeared on his flawless face. "I didn't want you to worry, but I'm really okay."

"When did you wake up?" She asked in a state between confusion and surprise.

"Thirty minutes ago." He said softly. "I came here as quickly as possible, to see you and Shelley."

"Does Olivia know?" She looked at him, he didn't look like he woke up from a coma. In fact, he looked like himself as always put together and screaming like a billion dollar.

"I have something. I need to do first." He told her.

Chantel knew what that was and she hated him for it. "No," she bite her lips. "Don't go."

"I'm not going anywhere, but I started something I can't walk away from." He said, taking her hand on his gloved hand. "And it's really important you still believe in me. Okay? Nothing is more important right now."

"I can't lose you again," her voice heavy.

"Shhh," he gently rubbed the back of her hand with his gloved thumb. "You won't."

"I_" she sniffed.

"I'll come back to you. I promise." He took off his gloves and caressed her cheek lovingly.

"I'll kill you, if you don't." She warned.

"I know you'd be the death of me," he almost laughed as he pressed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Rome..." she mumbled.

"Yeah?" He asked gently.

She pressed her lips, "I'll tell you, when you return."

"That's something to keep me going," he winked as he walked down the stairs.

"Be good," Shelley's voice tablet said.

Roman turned. "Yeah, that's the idea." Then he smiled warmly, "I love you girls always," and walked out of the door.

Chantel saw him disappearing from view but she could still smell him on her, she didn't know if she should rejoice he's back or worry that he's gone again. Her own death doesn't frighten her. But his? Oh, that is her greatest, deepest fear.