Chapter 52

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Lizzie's POV

"Dad?!" That face was incredibly familiar. I had seen him for the last time when I was seven, maybe eight. A decade ago. Wow.

"Hey Lizziegirl" he smiled and spread his arms for a hug but I stood where I was.

"You disappeared from our lives. You have no right to be here" my face turned serious.

"I heard what happened. Maybe you and your sister need some place to stay" he said.

"You're ten years late. It's sisters, by the way. Mom had twins. You just left before you got to see them out of her belly. You weren't there during their whole life. There's no way I'm trusting you with them. We're at my place and we're fine"

"You are taking care of them and doing all the chores alone?" He raised a brow.

"No..." I answered truthfully even though I didn't want to tell him about Pippa. I just wanted him to leave. He had never been there for me. He was out of the house every day. I barely saw him even when he lived with us.

"Then who's helping you?"

"I don't need to tell you" I crossed my arms.

"I think you do need to tell me who's taking care of my daughters right now" he took a step closer.

"You may have had a part in their creation but they're not your daughters if you don't know them" I stood my ground.

"Elizabeth Chase Barnes. Tell. Me. Where. My. Daughters. Are"

I shrank into myself when hearing my full name.

"At home..." I answered, my voice small.

"With who?"

"With... my girlfriend..."

⚠️TW: Homophobic Behavior & Strong Language

"My daughter is a fag?!" His face turned red with anger and I could see the vein popping out on his forehead.

"Hey! That language is very offensive, dad. I'm your daughter!"

"How are you even my daughter? I did not teach you this. Now, you're going to take me to your place and I'll take the twins with me before you and your girlfriend infect them" the way he pronounced girlfriend made me want to cry. Was I really the daughter of this homophobic dirtbag??

⚠️End of TW

"Homosexuality is not a disease, dad. And it's up to them to decide who they love. If they love a girl, that's fine. If they love a boy, that's okay too. They could love a person that doesn't identify as either of those genders and it would be perfectly okay too. Love is love. No one can choose who they fall in love with" I glared at him. I wasn't going to let him take the twins. What was he even going to do with them? He didn't even know them!

"If you don't give them to me, there will be consequences, Elizabeth"

It made me sick to hear my full name come out of his lips again. He turned towards the door and before he left he said one final thing.

"Be smart, Elizabeth. I'm sure you don't want the people you love to suffer"

I didn't have time to answer, he closed the door behind him.

I turned to mom, who was still unconscious on the bed.

"Mom, please. Wake up" I cried "We need you. Dad- dad is going to do something horrible. I'm sure... But letting the twins go is definitely not an option. Who knows what he will do to them?" I sniffled.

When I went back home I decided not to tell anyone anything. Pippa was still a bit mad at me and I didn't want to worry her. Finally, I left the twins to play with dolls in the master bedroom and I got some alone time with Pippa. We sat on the couch, with a bit of distance between us. She avoided eye contact and didn't react when I placed a hand on her thigh.

"Pip... I'm really sorry" I gently cupped her cheek and turned her face so she looked at me.

Her eyes were red and full of tears. She had been crying while I was out.

"Being sorry isn't enough, Liz!" she sobbed "You- you... You say you're sorry but you keep doing it... I don't know how to help you anymore... I've tried to help you. I've tried to get you to make healthy decisions but, you go the wrong way every time and I don't know how to avoid that! Is it Nadine what you want? You regret choosing me and you get drunk to imagine her instead of me? What did she give you that I can't seem to give you now? I'm trying so hard!" tears streamed down her face, making my heart break in a million pieces.

"Is it sex what you want? Huh? Because I know that Nadine loved it. You probably do too" she started unbuttoning her shirt "If you want it, have me! I'll give you anything! Just- stop hurting yourself... stop making these horrible decisions..."

I put a hand over hers to stop her. She was already halfway through the buttons and I could see her white lace bra. I gathered myself and took deep breaths as I started buttoning up her shirt. She just let me do while quiet tears rolled down her cheeks and her eyes drifted to the floor.

"Pippa" I softly called.

She kept her gaze on the floor.

"Pip"

Still no answer.

"Phillipa" I pronounced her whole name slowly, softly and with care.

I never called her that so she shifted her gaze to me with wide eyes.

"It's not you. I'm the problem. It's not your fault. It's mine. I'm just... not ready to share this with anyone. But you'll be the first person I tell when I feel ready. Okay?" I took her hand in mine.

"Do you promise?"

"I promise"

She let out a small sigh.

"We have the interview with Playbill next week. Saturday morning. Don't forget. I'm going to bed" she gave me a little peck on the cheek and got up from the couch to head down the hallway.

I felt bad for keeping what my dad had told me from her but she was already so stressed. I shouldn't worry her. It was probably nothing and dad just wanted to scare me.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Your POV

Ava got over Damon's death pretty quickly. We had daily rehearsals for the spring production and now that Ava was part of it, we could rehearse at home too and it took her mind off of things. The performance was next Saturday. I drove her to school. She had been skipping some rehearsals at school after the murder. But she was better now and I was more than happy to drive her to school and hear her sing while we had lunch.

"Remember, we have rehearsals during the second period" I reminded her.

"I know. We've been rehearsing for two months. You can stop reminding me. I remember" she laughed.

"It just feels unreal that you are in a production with me and not as a last-minute replacement. I can't fully believe it yet" I smiled.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

When the second period came, a new teacher greeted us at the door and gathered all of us in the classroom. She had blonde hair in a ponytail held by a red elastic, blue eyes and wore a red and white outfit. She kind of reminded me of Carla.

"Hi, I know most of you are confused to see me here. I recognize some of the faces but there's a lot of new ones. Ms Hunter transferred to another school, further north, near Albany. I'm your new teacher, Ms Clarke. Ms Hunter filled me in with most of the details so I think we won't have any problems carrying on with the production. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me" she explained.

I hadn't seen her before but a bunch of students greeted her like they already knew her so during the scenes where I wasn't required, I asked around.

"How do you know her?" I asked someone.

"She was a teacher here two years ago. She's very secretive and even the oldest students won't be able to tell you much. She keeps her life and a lot of stuff to herself" they explained.

"She's really intimidating at first but she's pretty nice once you get to know her a bit and get on her good side" another student said.

"Okay..."

On my crusade for answers, I didn't get much information but a girl in my class named Emily, who was a part of the ensemble, told me an interesting thing.

"No student really knows about her. Teachers don't really do either but I think Ms Sanders, the music teacher, knows what's up with her. They hang out a lot after school. Like, a lot"

Now that was interesting. Having romantic relationships with coworkers was forbidden in this school. Were they something more than friends and she turned extra mysterious because she didn't want to get caught and get Ms Sanders and herself fired? That was some drama. Marley would have loved to share that rumor to the whole school... I sighed at the memory of my little slip costing Lizzie her reputation.

Between scenes, I filled in Ava and part of The Gang in what I had found out.

"Wow. That being true would actually make my life one hundred times more interesting. I'm getting bored of routine" Kate said.

"Yeah, it would be cool if that rumor were true..."

"How about we find out? I mean, most of us have no plans this afternoon. We can stay a bit after class and wait hidden outside to see if they go out together" Kate suggested.

"I mean, sure. I'm really really bored lately. Any plan seems good" Ava agreed.

"I actually recently switched Science with Music so I have class with Ms Sanders in the last period. I could text you what exit she gets out of on my way out" Lizzie suggested.

"Yeah, that's good. You do that. We'll meet at the football field when school is done" I answered.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Lizzie's POV

After rehearsing for the hundredth time and a long math lesson, I had my class with Ms Sanders. I had been in her class for about a week and she was the nicest teacher I've ever had. She always smiled and greeted everyone at the door when we came in and waved goodbye when we went out of the class.

She spoke about music with such passion that learning was so easy. She was so passionate about this subject and she would quietly hum while waiting for all the students to be in the classroom. She was so cheerful and bright. Just the opposite of her looks. She had long dark hair and black eyes that contrasted with her pale skin but she always wore colorful clothes to make up for it and always stayed happy. It was hard to imagine such a nice person with the reserved and secretive drama teacher.

I sat down on the first row and she gave me a warm smile as a welcome. I smiled back and pulled out my neatly organized notebook. My life wasn't really organized but I always made sure my schoolwork was. We worked on some scales and instruments in the class and after everyone left the classroom, I stayed for a second.

"Can I help you with something?" she chirped.

"Um, yeah. I was actually going to ask about the extracurricular classes that you're giving"

"Could we talk as we walk? I'm sorry but I have a date in a bit" she apologized.

"Of course, yeah. Sure" we started to walk and I asked her to excuse me for a second while I texted y/n what exit we were heading to. Maybe Ms Sanders wasn't in a relationship with Ms Clarke and they were just really good friends. She had a date now, after all. When y/n told us about the rumor it sounded far fetched to me and now I was more sure of it.

"I was wondering if I could join the piano class. I started some lessons a few years ago and never followed up. I think it might be good for me if I took lessons again. I remember it being really relaxing" I said.

"Yes, of course, you're welcome to join anytime. I'll gladly help you" she smiled.

"Well, thank you. I'll head home now" I waved goodbye and she waved back.

She continued her way down that hallway while I went through another exit to find y/n and the gang hiding behind some bushes.

"She should be coming out of there any second now" y/n pointed at an open door on the side of the building.

"Nice"

We hid and watched as Ms Clarke turned the corner and Ms Sanders came out of the high school. They smiled at each other and cautiously looked around. We ducked to hide better and when we raised our heads to look at them again, Ms Clarke cupped Ms Sanders' cheek and they shared a gentle kiss, then pulling away with a wide smile.

We hid again.

"Oh, my God. I knew it" y/n whisper-shouted.

"But what are we going to do with this information?" I asked.

"Well, um... keep it, I guess. I just wanted to spy on the teachers because I was bored. This doesn't change anything. I'm just really bored lately. It's all routine and we do the same things everyday..." I frowned "I mean, of course, someone got shot at my place but that's not the thing out of routine I was hoping for..."

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

We went back home and I found Pippa, home alone, waiting for me. We had taken the twins to school together and they got out of there later than me so I had some time with Pippa before having to go pick them up. I was nervous though. Dad could find their school and take them before I got there to pick them up... Or maybe something worse, like going inside their school with a gun...

"Is everything okay?" Pippa gave me a worried look. I realized that she had given me a welcome kiss but I was too busy overthinking to kiss her back.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was just thinking about something" I gave her a quick kiss and went to my room to leave my school bag there.

"Are you sure?" Pippa leaned against the doorframe.

"Uh, yeah... I should make lunch now. Wanna help me?" I smiled.

"Yeah, okay. I'll see what we have in the fridge" she walked away towards the kitchen and I plugged in my computer, still thinking of the twins and every way dad could take them away from me. From us...

I shook my head to push those thoughts away and headed to the kitchen to help Pippa with today's lunch.

"Look, I know you said you're not ready to share what's going on, but you're worrying me. Can you tell me... I don't know... a tiny part of it? Is there some way I can help you?" Pippa took my hand in her soft one and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Um..." Even if I told her, how was I going to tell her that my dad was back and he would probably kidnap the twins sometime soon?.

"Nevermind, I'm sorry... I'll be patient" she waved it off with a nervous chuckle and went back to chopping vegetables. I put my hand on hers to stop her chopping.

"No, you're right. You deserve to know what's going on. Hell, I need your help after all, you're taking care of them too. More than me..."

"Is this about the twins? Are they in some sort of trouble? What's happening?" the hand she was holding the knife in shook unsteadily.

"Pippa, first I need you to calm down" I gently opened her hand, finger by finger and took the knife from her to place it on the counter before leading her to the nearest chair and making her sit down.

"After our argument yesterday, I went to the hospital to visit mom..." I started "I watered the flowers and talked to her for a bit and..." I took a deep breath "my... my dad showed up..."

"Y-your dad? As in the parental figure that has been absent your whole life?"

"Yeah..."

"What did he say?" she asked.

"He... um... asked where the twins were. I told him the truth- I-I told him they were with you and..." my voice broke as my eyes got teary "he- he got really homophobic and was yelling at me-..."

"I'm so sorry, Liz..." she got up from the chair and gave me the hug that I so desperately needed. I sobbed on her shoulder.

"He told me that there would be consequences... that the people I love would get hurt if I didn't hand him the twins before we infected them... I don't want him to hurt you but I don't want to give him the twins because god knows what he will do to them..." I cried.

"Lizzie" she sweetly called "It's probably nothing. He's just trying to scare you. He doesn't know where we live and he doesn't even know what the twins look like. He can't take them from us unless you give them to him. Everything will be okay" she rubbed circles on my back and gave me little kisses on my neck.

I closed my eyes and melted into the hug.

"Y-yeah. It's probably nothing. You're right" I sighed "Thank you, for always being there for me"

"Of course, Lizzie. It's my responsibility"

"But it shouldn't be... I should be able to take care of myself but for some reason I can't... I'm sorry for being such a burden. I-"

"You're anything but a burden, love" she pulled away to look me in the eyes and gave me a sweet kiss. When we pulled away, I smiled. I didn't really like compliments, I had always thought those were just lies to make me feel better but... this time I believed her. I believed that she really wanted to help me. My smile grew as we went back to preparing lunch.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

We picked the twins up and made some snacks for them. They ate in silence as Pippa and I absently watched, sometimes taking some crackers from their bowls for ourselves.

"Do you feel like watching Pippa's show again tonight?" I asked. I really wanted to go tonight. It felt like a good night to go to the theatre and I loved to support my girlfriend in her career and in what she loved to do.

"I'm sorry but watching the same thing twice is not that cool... Could we stay and play with dolls instead? Pleaseee?" MK begged.

"Okay" I laughed "I'll call Olga to keep an eye on you two so you don't burn the house down"

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Pippa stepped forward away from everyone in the stage for the gasp at the end. It was more beautiful and emotional each time I saw it. I smiled with tears in my eyes as she locked eyes with me.

"He has a gun!" someone yelled several rows behind me.

I heard the gunshot and time stopped. I heard a loud beep inside my head as everyone screamed and before I could realize what was happening, I heard Pippa's body drop to the floor of the stage. Everyone screamed and ran. The cast disappeared in the wings of the stage and the audience started running towards the exits.

Pippa's light blue dress from the finale was stained with intense red from the blood that was still flowing out of her body. She coughed a couple of times and I finally reacted. I jumped onto the stage and pressed a hand to the open wound in her stomach.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry... It's all my fault. I-I should have gotten shot, not you..." I kept repeating as tears uncontrollably flowed.

"I- it's not your f-fault" she whispered between coughs, caressing my cheek with a bloodied hand "It's o-okay" she weakly smiled, taking in a shuddering breath. I felt her blood trickle between my fingers and I pressed harder into her wound but a pool of blood was already staining the beautiful wooden stage floor.

No. She couldn't go like this! I raised my eyes and saw dad with his gun pointed at me.

"I told you there would be consequences" he said, taking a step forward "Now. Hand the twins over to me"

"No" I glared at him.

"Here" I softly said to Pippa, taking her hand to her stomach "Put pressure in there as much as you can. I'll be right back"

She gave me a shaky nod and I saw the muscles in her arm get a bit tense as a sign of the effort she was making to keep herself from bleeding out. She took big shuddering breaths as she neared the line between life and death.

I walked towards dad with no fear. I didn't care if I died. I just had to protect Pippa. The theatre was empty now. Everyone had run away.

"Elizabeth. Elizabeth- stop" he started getting nervous since he had cocked the gun in front of me and I didn't show signs of fear.

"Stop or I swear I'll shoot you"

I didn't listen. I grabbed the gun from his hand and hit his arm, making his hand open as a reflex and taking the gun from him.

I pointed it at him and he raised his hands in surrender.

"How can I be sure you'll never come near us again?" I asked.

"You can't" he gave me a bored look.

"I'd rather be sure" I pointed at his head.

"Come on" he laughed "we both know you won't shoot. You don't have the guts"

"Don't I?" I smiled and pulled the trigger.

He dropped to the floor and I didn't even bother to look at him. I ran towards Pippa and called an ambulance.

"Help is on the way" I said between sobs as Pippa's face got paler.

Her eyes started closing but I cupped her cheeks.

"No, stay with me. Pippa, stay with me... please"

She weakly opened her eyes again and slowly turned them to me, locking them with mine. I could swear I saw the twinkle in her eyes falter for a second.

"Please Pippa, don't go..." I sobbed.

She took little slow breaths and her hand fell to her side, making blood flow again. I pressed both of my hands to her wound and kissed her cold lips between sobs.

"Pippa, c-come on... You'll get out of this. You- you'll be alright, I swear. I'll make sure of it" I took a big breath in "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. If I hadn't accepted being in the media with you and kept your private life private, dad wouldn't have found out that we were together..."

I heard the siren outside and some seconds later a couple of paramedics rushed inside.

"Please help her!" I begged "she got shot" I didn't take my hands off the open wound. Pippa's eyes were now closed and her skin paler than ever. Tears flowed down my cheeks and I applied even more pressure.

"Okay, sweetie, what's your name?" A paramedic asked me.

"L-Lizzie"

"Lizzie, I'm Gabby and this is my partner, Leslie" she spoke slowly, trying to calm me down "we want to help your friend but you'll have to trust us and leave this to us. Okay?"

"O-okay" I carefully took my hands off the wound and just a bit of blood flowed now. Pippa had lost a lot of blood...

"She's lost a lot of blood, get her on the monitor" they started giving commands to each other. They put her on her side for a second.

"There's an exit wound. The bullet's out"

They checked her vitals on a monitor and saw that her heart was still beating. The heartbeat was very weak but it had the right rhythm.

I sat at an audience seat and didn't take my eyes off Pippa's face, just in case her eyelashes fluttered or her lips parted or her cheeks got their color back. Something that would tell me she was okay...

They listened to her heart and lungs with the stethoscope.

"Pulse is weak, we have to stabilize her. There's a mask in my Ambo Bag"

One of them went to fetch the mask while the other kept listening to Pippa's organs.

"Damn it. She's got a pneumothorax, her lung is collapsing..." the paramedic mumbled to herself.

She cut Pippa's dress enough for her to work and see the bullet wound. She covered the wound with a patch and took out a needle from her bag.

Pippa's pulse slowly got weaker and her heartbeats became irregular until the monitor beeped and showed a straight line.

"She's flatlining" she mumbled, dropping the needle and starting to do chest compressions.

I jumped out of my seat and ran to her with tears in my eyes.

"No, no, no, no! What's happening?" I tried to reach them but the paramedic that just came back with the mask grabbed my shoulders to keep me in place.

"Hey, we're doing everything we can. Don't worry"

"Don't worry?!" I snapped "My mom almost died, my dad just did and now my girlfriend might too?! I can't just relax and not worry!"

"Defibrillator. Now" the paramedic doing chest compressions demanded.

"Stay put" the other one said, giving me a pat before getting the defibrillating kit.

They opened her dress to expose her chest and attach the pads.

"Charging... clear!" they coordinated themselves, switching from chest compressions to an electric shock.

I buried my head in my hands and let the tears flow, sobbing uncontrollably.

"We got a pulse!" one of the paramedics announced.

She touched around Pippa's upper chest area for the right place before sticking the long needle all the way in and air hissed as Pippa's chest fell to then slowly rise again.

"She's stable" she announced while putting the oxygen mask on her.

"Let's bring her in"

They put her on a backboard to then gently place her on a stretcher and rush outside. I followed them and saw them putting Pippa in the back of the ambulance.

"Could I- could I come with?" I hesitantly asked.

"Sure" they let me in the back of the ambulance and I took Pippa's cold hand as I listened to the slow beeps of the monitor that showed her heartbeat.

I didn't let go even when we got to the hospital and they carried her in. I stayed by her side, holding onto her limp hand. But at some moment they had to take her away to a room where I couldn't follow. I sat on the floor, my back against the wall and looked up at the ceiling while tears streamed down my face.

I wanted to believe she would be okay but her hand was limp. Her skin was extremely cold and she had lost so much blood. I wasn't sure anymore... I hugged my knees tighter as I listened to the muffled voices of the doctors in the room who were doing everything they could to save Pippa. I heard the monitor flatlining again and buried my face in my bloodied hands. A doctor came out of the room while others performed chest compressions inside.

I tried to get into the room.

"Is she okay?!"

The doctor pushed me outside and closed the door.

"We're doing everything we can. You should go home and get some rest. Leave your phone number at the front desk and we'll call you if-... when Miss Soo is stable. Okay?"

"O-okay... Thank you. Sorry..."

I went to the front desk and found one of the paramedics that helped Pippa filling out a form.

"Oh, hi. Do you have any news?" she asked, lifting her eyes from the paper.

"I was about to ask you the same thing..." I looked down to the floor and fidgeted with my fingers.

She noticed my blood covered hands and gave me a sympathetic smile as she put the pen down.

"We should get that washed away" she signaled at my hands "let me help you"

I just nodded and followed her to the bathroom. She opened the tap and we waited until it was warm.

"It washes away easier with hot or warm water" she smiled.

"Thank you" I muttered as I washed my hands to get Pippa's blood off.

"Could you... tell me what she had? Do you think she'll be okay? Be honest with me, please..." I looked at her metallic tag "Shay?" I read.

"The name is Leslie, Leslie Shay. Your girlfriend...she's very strong. A lot of people wouldn't have survived losing so much blood and then flatlining. I can't speak for the doctors here but... I think she'll be okay. Maybe she'll even come home soon" she comfortingly smiled.

That was the comfort I didn't know I needed. I was about to cry my eyes out again. I dried my now clean hands and quietly sniffled.

"Can... Can I hug you? Please? I-I need it"

"Of course" she opened her arms and I hung onto her, imagining she was Pippa and sobbing against her soft uniform.

She rubbed circles on my back, just like Pippa did. That made it so much easier to imagine Pippa in her place. But her voice stopped my fantasy, even though the words were comforting, I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"She'll be okay. She's very strong"

I pulled away, red in the cheeks with embarrassment when I realized that I just made her hug a complete stranger who was breaking down in tears every two seconds.

"God" I choked out "I'm so sorry, this must be so uncomfortable for you. I'm really sorry" I took some steps back.

"Don't worry, I could see how bad you needed it. I'm happy to help. I'll make sure the hospital updates you on your girlfriend's situation. The doctor that's treating her is a friend of mine, I'll convince her very easily. You should go home and rest" she rubbed my arm and opened the bathroom door so we could come out again.

"Okay..." I sighed, finally convinced.

"She's in good hands. I promise"

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

I walked back home in the cold night thinking of all the ways I could have kept this from happening. How I could have done something instead of forgetting about dad's very real threat. At least he wasn't a threat anymore... I didn't feel good about making my kill count rise but I didn't feel bad either. He deserved it. He killed-... almost killed Pippa... I took a big breath of the cold and humid air of the night and continued my way home.

_______________________

Heyy! Avamax_blackstar here!

After the previous chapter, any other chapter seems so short lol. This one is 2500 words less :)

The previous one was 7500 words long and this one is about 5000 words total :)

Writing Pippa getting shot made me cry for real oml

Also, oooh teacher dramaaaa

I'm running out of inspiration and you can see it a bit too clearly here lmao

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Votes are appreciated but comments are the best :)

Stay happy and healthy!

Love you so muchh <3