After breakfast, Fallon wandered up into the library she had just seen and she felt relieved when she was able to find it again. Isabella still had to finish her tour but Fallon had a good understanding of the rooms with just small descriptions. One thing did linger on her mind though, she wanted to go to school physically. Though, staying at home alone was her dream it just didn't feel right. After hearing how Isabella was basically stuck at the mansion all the time it made Fallon crave just a bit more freedom, it was ironic. Wait, did Fallon now call this mansion her home? What was going on? Why was she moving on so fast? 

     "Hey," Fallon didn't notice that Lloyd had entered the library with a warming smile. "The funeral is ready, are you ready?"

     "I am," Fallon swallowed the ball in her throat as she quickly stood and followed Lloyd down the hall and outside into the garden. She couldn't fully process everything that's happened in reality, she had to learn how to live without her mom the only protector in her life. 

     At the garden, the boys dressed in black suits and Chris had stayed as far away from the casket as he could, Fallon didn't blame him as he most likely felt so guilty. Lloyd offered his arm so Fallon could grab it, to his surprise she actually did take it as they walked to the casket. Her fingers were shivering but was it from the nerves or did she feel cold? She felt the wind get kicked out of her when she finally made contact with her mother's face. Her mother's face seemed painted pale, a color that didn't look well on her but she looked at peace. 

     "You can rest now, mom." Fallon leaned down to whisper, a tear was threatening to slip out but Fallon kept her composure. "I'll be okay, I'll make it up to you okay? They say they'll get your ashes after the funeral. I'll keep you close to me okay? Don't go stalking me, but I'd love to feel your presence sometimes... Listen, I'm sorry for my mistakes- I won't ever get over them but I can try. I'll make you proud." 

     Lloyd smiled softly glancing at the girl as she looked up at him, "Mom, this is Lloyd you probably saw him... He and his friends over there plan to take care of me okay? I'm going to train, I will be stronger and then I'll be able to see the world like you wanted me to."

     "Hi, I promise I'll be by Fallon's side. She's quite rebellious already- Ah!" Lloyd started talking making Fallon purse her lips and playfully punch him. "See! She's already started to get physical!"

     Fallon pulled Lloyd back into place because of his bad stance he was practically tipping over, he looked at the girl fondly before staring at the casket and then at her mom. With a few more words, Fallon proceeded to close her casket slowly and lean against it, her heart was beating faster by the minute and it was now starting to sink in. Her mother was gone, there would be no more calls or texts, no more hugs, and her mother wouldn't be there to console her. 

     After the funeral, she walked to her room almost dragging her feet against the floor. She didn't want to talk to anyone but sit in her own misery, she had closed her door and laid on the bed staring at the ceiling. She had tried to act like everything was okay because everyone around her looked perfectly fine, she tried to fake the peace she showed to others but this time while we were all alone she could finally fix her thoughts. 

     "I really miss you, Mom," She whispered to herself as she silently sobbed, her hands touching her cheeks and wiping them gently. She didn't want her sobs to grow louder so she clasped her hand on her mouth as the tears flowed down, her right hand ran through her hair as she looked all over her new room. It wasn't home at all, it didn't look so different from her house but it did look fancier. Between the huge bed and the fancy dresser, the huge TV, and the big bathroom that was built into the room. God, it was like she was blessed and cursed at the same time! 

     After a few hours passed by and it was clear Fallon wasn't getting up from her bed, a knock on her door made her shoot up from the bed. It was time to put on a show and act like everything was okay when it was not. 

     Chris opened the door and stared right at the girl who couldn't even hold a glare at him, he closed the door before apologizing to her about opening it before she could talk.

     "I needed to make sure you were okay," He walked closer to her and at this point, she was shuffling a bit back on her bed and her head hit the headboard, her hands found their way to her legs. "It's stupid to ask I know- But how are you holding up?"

     Fallon's eyes widened a bit as they moved from looking at her bed to Chris and she could tell he was crying but why? What did he cry about?

     "It is stupid," She sighed looking out the window. "I don't owe you anything."

     He walked closer and ended up at the side of her bed, she felt his gaze burning her skin but she didn't want to look at him. She was trying so hard to not start crying again, it was like every time she looked at him she was reminded about everything, and the stress built up.

     "You don't," He agreed. "Can we talk though?" 

     "Talk about what?" She felt a sick chuckle fall out of her mouth. 

     "I want to make sure you're healing correctly-"

     "Are you my therapist?" She finally turned to look at him and he swore he'd never seen her face look so... lifeless. 

     "I'm not, I'm your new boss so you have to follow my orders," He furrowed his eyebrows before sitting on her bed. "Everything you have here is because of me, you will have nice things because of me."

     "And did I ever ask for any of it?" She challenged and pointed around her room. "I don't ask much of you, just leave me alone."

     "I will not," He stared at her again. "I know what it's like to lose a parent, Lloyd does too and I've seen how close you guys have got... I don't want you to think I'm not sympathetic I know I am-"

     "I don't like the way your tones switch," Fallon admitted and sighed, her head fell into her right hand slowly caressing her temples. "I can understand why you switch up sometimes but I don't deserve it. You know I don't deserve it."

     "You don't," He spoke softly as he nodded. "I apologize, if you don't mind I'd like to know more about you."

     "More about me?" She tilted her head as they locked eyes, it almost felt like time had stopped and her heart beat quickly. "Okay."

     He sat criss-cross in front of her, it was quite cute to see coming from him since he had such an intimidating aura but Fallon enjoyed it. 

     "I don't like loud noises, I can't handle loud weapons of sorts... I'm not sure if I'm doing well in friendships I would like to have genuine friendships around here. I don't want to be a burden and I want to be able to grow because it's what my mom would've wanted, I didn't even realize I had survival instincts until now." She rambled on as Chris nodded softly, he listened to her carefully and tried to understand her feelings. 

     It had been over 5 minutes until she finally ended with, "I'm not sure why I am this way, I don't want to be weird and everyone at school called me weird... I wish I weren't like this but it's just how I was born it's all I've ever known. This doesn't mean I will accept this fate though, I want to change and be better and confident. I don't want to be scared of loud noises, I want to be good to people."

     "Okay," He replied quietly. "I'll have you start with Myles then." 

     "Myles? The hacker?" Fallon questioned. "Why him?"

     "I need you to show me how smart you are and how fast you learn things, when I see your pace then I'll assign you a new position but mind you- A new position could mean going out on our missions which means they'll be loud noises and loud weapons. I cannot have you ruin our mission, respectfully I cannot put my men's lives on the line for you." He tried to explain rubbing his hand behind his neck. "I want you to feel safe in this house, it'll be a hard time to adjust but I'll make sure that by the end of this month, you feel better." 

     "And if I don't feel better?" Fallon looked at him sadly. 

     "Then I'll be here," He reassured. "And you can lay down your worries, I need to make sure everyone here has a good mentality okay?"

     "Okay," She smiled softly. "I can live with that."

     They both stared at each other with small smiles like they both for once could understand each other, maybe he wasn't the worst guy here at all. Chris could finally understand that a lot of Fallon's issues are not her fault, she was simply born like that and he needed to condition her to this new life bit by bit. It would be a long process but he felt like it was worth it.

They both felt like it was worth it.