The sun had far since set and the rain had stopped by the time the girls entered the Harbour residence later that night. Neither girl saying anything to the other until they were safely back inside Millie's bedroom.

"What was that back there?" Lilia asked. "Why'd you pick a fight, princess?"

"D-don't call me that." Millie didn't look at Lilia, her eyes had settled on a picture.

Lilia followed her line of sight and sighed. "What's your deal with this Maddie chick? I mean she's obviously not around anymore meaning she doesn't care about you."

Millie whirled around to look at Lilia. "Shut up!" She practically yelled, tears threatening to spill over. "S-she's dead." That was the first time in the past year and a half that Millie had said those words aloud. "She's dead, Lilia."

The blonde girl wasn't really sure what to say to this. "Millie, I-"

"Don't even say sorry to me right now." Her voice shook as she spoke. "J-just leave me alone."

Lilia stepped forward, gently wiping the fallen tears from Millie's cheek. "No." She carefully pushed the other girl down so they were both sitting on the bed. "Tell me about her?"

Millie didn't talk about Maddie, not to anyone. Maddie was her secret, her story to replay in her head on long nights; but she found herself wanted to tell Lilia everything about her.

No she wouldn't especially not to a stranger.

"Let's just go to sleep." Millie suggested then flipped out her light and laid down.

❦❦❦

"Princess?" Maddie walked into the bedroom. "What did he say?"

"He said I can't go because of the big storm that's suppose to be headed this way." Millie sighed, pouting a little. "But it's perfectly sunny outside."

Maddie smiles softly. "I know, my angel, but he only worries about you." She gently kissed Millie's lips. "I'll see you tomorrow regardless and we can go swimming then."

Millie looked up at her with puppy dug eyes. "Do you have to go? We could just watch movies and cuddle?"

"I would love nothing more to lay in bed with you and do that, but I promised Kenz I would take her to the lake." Maddie explained, tucking a few strands of hair behind Millie's ear. "Call me if your father changes his mind, yeah?"

Millie ran her fingers through Maddie newly dyed blonde hair and smiles. "Yeah I will." She kissed her again. "I'll see you later, baby."

❦❦❦

The next morning Millie was awoken by her father's heavy boots trudging toward her bedroom door.

She quickly got up and began to get ready. If he knew she wasn't up already even on a Saturday she would be in trouble.

Just as she was slipping on her socks the bedroom door opened. "Mills, you awake?"

"Yeah dad I'm up." She called from the bathroom, shortly afterwards swinging open the door. "I'll make breakfast. You deal with the ex-con." She pointed to where Lilia lay asleep on the bed.

She left before her dad could answer, heading straight for the kitchen and the bagels that lie inside.

"Morning, brat." Rachel sat at the island eating a poptart while doing college work.

"Morning." Millie replied, getting out the bagels. "Have fun with Brooklyn last night?"

Rachel gave her a bored look. "Shut it before Dad hears you." She hissed.

Millie returned to popping bagels into the toaster. "Why because he'd skin you alive if he knew."

Rachel opened her mouth but before she could speak a scream came from upstairs.