I'm anxiously bouncing my knee up and down in the drivers seat of my mom's car as we idle outside of Liam's house. I see they have boarded up the the windows but they've managed to replace the front door. Teddy is hiding in the backseat while Liam remains invisible in the passenger seat. We've been sitting here for almost ten minutes and they both keep urging me to move from the car.

"Ellie, you can't wait forever. Your mom will kill us if we aren't back by four." Teddy reminds me but it's not my mom killing me that's keeping me in my seat. Although I'm glad he seems to be more terrified of my mother than sticking a needle in the arm of the most terrifying man in the paranormal community.

"This all just seemed to happen too fast," I confess while staring at the steering wheel. "Two days ago I was in a fake relationship, worrying about Liam and believing Topher was across the country. Now, my boyfriends, real and fake, are sitting in the car with me and we are all united to go stab Topher in the arm. I haven't had time to process all this. We went from zero to sixty in like...a second." I catch Teddy looking over to the passenger seat and he seems cool as a cucumber.

"The opportunity presented itself Ellie. This plan has been in the works for years though. Remember this really didn't happen all over night," Teddy reminds me, but my palms are still sweating.

"Hey, I'll be right next to you the entire time. I didn't let anything happen to you in that locker room and I'm sure as hell not going to let anything happen to you today okay?" Liam says and even though I can hear his voice, I can't see him. I nod in his direction and he says, "Now, you have to keep your mind closed Ellie. You have to be a shield or this will all fall apart."

"You two aren't making this easy on me you know!" I whine as I glance out the rear view mirror to the car Stephanie and Ryan have parked across the street. Ryan has a navy baseball hat with dark aviators on and Stephanie has morphed herself into a woman we saw jogging around the mall. They aren't recognizable at all.

Liam is to come into the house with me and then signal to them if Topher is in the house or not. Liam's bedroom has a large window that faces the street so Stephanie and Ryan will be able to see him from the car.

I take a long deep breath in and let the air pull my anxiety from me. I exhale slowly hoping to calm my nerves a bit but it doesn't seem to help. I feel Liam's hand on my knee and he gives my leg a slight squeeze. I know Liam would never let anything happen to me but try all he might, he might not be a match for Topher. I also know my weak mind can ruin all of this for everyone. If something goes wrong, I know it will be because of me. I glance in Liam's direction once more, hoping to meet his eyes in the empty space.

I leave the keys in the ignition so Teddy can take my car back to meet us after all of this goes down. Liam gave Ryan instructions as to where a safe place would be and we all decided to meet back in Highland Park High's school parking lot. We figured no one would be around and it's a short distance to my house. I objected to Ryan bringing everyone to my room as I did not need my mother finding two strangers in my bedroom.

I push the car door open and wonder if Lisa already knows I'm here. I pulled right behind her Porsche so if she's walked by the front door in the past ten minutes, she's seen my car. I let my door stay open a few moments so Liam can climb out and make his way next to me. I walk slowly hoping he keeps in stride but I don't know where he takes his place.

I pull my shoulders back and try to walk to the door with confidence. If I want to pull this off, I need to demand a truce and stand my ground.

I rap my knuckles hard on the door and take a step back. I peer into the new glass panel they had replaced but I don't see any movement. I find the button to the doorbell and hear the chimes echo throughout the house. I hear movement come from somewhere inside and moments later the door is pulled open. My heart stops for a second when my eyes meet Topher's. I'm already thrown off not to be meeting Lisa.

"Eleanor. Did you come to do more damage to the property?" He says shortly, in a tone that proves I am nothing more than an annoyance to him.

"Actually I was looking for Lisa but I guess you'll have to do," I snap back and I watch his eyes narrow.

"Lisa is inside, I can go fetch her if that's who you wish to speak to," he utters and once again, I'm thrown off to have not been invited inside. I need to get inside the house, but I know Liam can already see Topher and Ryan and Stephanie might be able to too.

"I can speak to either of you actually, but I know she can be more level headed. So if you'd like to get her that would be appreciated." I say with a quick fake smile and I watch his lips go into a flat line. I'm hoping he'll invite me in, but his arm is holding onto the door and the foyer is all I can see from my stance. I have no idea if Lisa is listening in.

"What do you want Eleanor? Shouldn't you be at home preparing Thanksgiving dinner? Setting the table and folding napkins like good little girls do?"

I roll my eyes at him and cross my arms over my chest, "Yes, that's what I should be doing but instead, I'm here dealing with an immature bully that went and told my mommy on my bad behavior. Someone who tried to have the police fight his battles." Topher lets out a bold laugh but I continue to glare at him, "And since you decided to play dirty, I'm here to call a truce. So if I may, I'd like to speak to both you and Lisa about keeping my name out of police records."

Topher's arm drops from the door and he finally shifts his weight so there is an opening into the house. I tilt my head to him and boldly cross the threshold. I don't know if Liam made it in behind me but I jump when I hear the loud heavy door swing shut. I'm officially in the house and I don't know if my back up is next to me.

I lead the way into the kitchen and instantly spot Lisa planted on the large leather sofa. I quickly see why she isn't the one that came to the door, as her feet are submerged into a small bubbly foot bath. She looks relaxed on the sofa and I watch confusion spread across her face when she finds me striding toward her.

"Ellie? What brings you here?" She asks and I can't tell if she's happy to see me.

I flick my head behind me and see Topher settling onto a bar stool. I move around the coffee table so Lisa is directly in front of me but I can still see Topher as I speak, "I'm here about Liam." The mention of Liam has Lisa interested and she pulls herself forward on the couch. Her feet stay in the bath but she looks interested in what I am about to say. My gaze flicks between the two of them and I continue, "Look, the police came to my house yesterday and we all know I can't explain what happened to them or my parents. I also can't have all these charges against me if I plan on going to law school and finding a good job after I graduate."

"Ellie you did do thousands of dollars of damage to the house and to clarify, the neighbors called the police. Not me," Lisa snipes, "But don't come over here trying to weasel your way out of what happened." I now know she isn't on my side. She knows I couldn't control what happened but she still must want me to pay up.

"I'm not trying to weasel my way out of anything. I came here to call a truce and beg you two not to get the police involved. You know my parents can pay for the damages but I can't have a criminal record. This has been taken way too far," I say calmly, hoping to convey that I am over all of this. Lisa looks to Topher and their silence forces me to continue to beg, "Look, I have a new boyfriend now, I'm doing really good in school and truth be told, I'm fighting someone else's battle. Liam and I lost touch months ago and I realize I'm no longer able to have any say in what he does with his life."

"I find it hard to believe that you and Liam would have split so easily. As much as you'd like to continue this charade, I'm not buying that you two are no longer in contact," Topher says flatly and I roll my eyes at him.

"My new boyfriend is at my house now meeting my family for Thanksgiving. Liam and I wanted different things. My new boyfriend is normal and allows me to be normal. That's what I want. I'm done with all this. I've never wanted any part of this paranormal crap, Liam did. But I'm done with it, I want to move on."

I look to Topher as he says, "So what are you trying to do here? What do you want?" I want to tell him that I want to talk long enough so Ryan and Stephanie can get inside but instead, I answer, "I told you. I'm calling a truce. I think I've thought of a solution to all get what we want."

"And what is that? You have nothing we want. Except money to pay to fix my house," Lisa snaps but I shake my head at her, "Oh but I do have something you want Lisa. I know where Liam is and if you want to find him you'll agree to my terms."