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“But it was just a dream Vivian, right?” Jeremy said trying to console her while also trying to help her understand reality.

“No! It was real! He is real!” she shouted hysterically again.

‘Who is he?” Jeremy asked.

“Lucian…the devil!” she yelled maniacally.

Jeremy was extremely concerned about Vivian’s state of mind now. He thought Vivian had completely separated herself from reality at this point and he wanted to try to bring intellectual reasoning back to her.

“Vivian, I really don’t believe that this Lucian, the devil, is the reason you can’t remember. We’ll just go see Dr. Goodwin in the morning and everything will be okay,” Jeremy said calmly to her.

“I knew it!” she shouted. “You don’t believe me! I sold my soul to the devil so that I could have more time in this world with you. I didn’t care about the afterlife because I was angry with God. I didn’t want to be in a place that would allow such horrible things to happen, like my mom dying and my cancer. Don’t you see I gave up everything to be with you?” she said disappointed that he didn’t believe in her.

“Vivian you know God doesn’t control things here in our world. And you also know that this is just all part of a bigger plan. Don’t be angry with God Vivian, he doesn’t seek to hurt you.  I know you believe this
Viv
,” Jeremy said knowing how strong her faith had always been.

“I did Jeremy, but not anymore!” she said broken by her feelings.

Jeremy reached for her but she turned and pulled her arm away from his grasp.

“I thought I could come to you.  I guess I was wrong,” Vivian said before running away.

“Vivian!” he shouted.

Jeremy tried to run after her but his ankle gave out, sending him to the ground in pain. He pulled himself up using the bumper of his car, striking it with his fist in frustration and shouting “Damn it!” Jeremy hobbled into the house and grabbed his car keys. He knew he had to find Vivian or at the very least make sure she arrived home safely. Jeremy rolled out of the driveway with his lights off so he did not wake his family and then drove slowly down the block. He only lived two blocks from Vivian and figured she was home already, but he looked out his window searching for her on the way to the Thorne’s.

Jeremy arrived at Vivian’s house and he parked in the street looking up at her bedroom window, hoping to see some movement. The light was on which was a good sign that Vivian was indeed at home, safe and sound. Then he saw Vivian’s silhouette in the window looking back at him. Jeremy waved from the car and “click” the lights went out. Jeremy knew she was angry but he took a little comfort in the fact that she was home.

He sat in the car thinking about all of the craziness that was coming out of Vivian’s mouth. “Pacts…with the devil?” he thought about what she had said. The Vivian Jeremy knew was the most level-headed, honest, and grounded person he had even met. While he was having trouble believing her story, he was having even a harder time believing Vivian would lie to him. He drove home figuring he could sort it all out in the morning when he saw Vivian at Church.

Meanwhile, Vivian was inside and she was a mess. “If Jeremy doesn’t believe me then who will?” she thought to herself.  Vivian couldn’t help but think that the predicament she had gotten herself into was more than dismal, it was hopeless. She fretted about what to do, trying desperately to figure out how she could reverse what she had done, but it was no use. There was nothing she could do to change the course of events she herself had set in motion. Then she walked over to the alarm clock and set it for five minutes.  Feeling defeated, she went back to sleep.

Henry entered her room minutes later shaking Vivian and telling her to wake up. The alarm clock was blaring in the room as Henry fumbled about trying to figure out how to turn it off. It was 2:35 a.m. and Vie opened her eyes.

“What happened,” she yelled jumping up in disarray.

“Honey, I was trying to wake you. Your alarm clock was going off and it’s 2:35 in the morning. Why would you set your alarm clock to wake you up at such a time,” Henry asked bewildered.

Vie looked at the alarm clock, perplexed at by what she saw. The alarm clock was set but for five minutes later than what she had set it for. “Now how did that happen?” she wondered still shaken from her dream. She told Henry she must have set it by mistake and he kissed her and told her to go back to sleep. “Well that’s not going to happen,” she thought to herself before responding, “Okay daddy,
goodnight
.” Henry turned out the light, closed the door and returned to his room. She jumped up out of bed and switched on the light. She stood in front of the mirror and looked
at her reflection.  For some strange reason she felt like someone was watching her. She moved closer, staring into the eyes of her reflection and then she saw her.  It was Vivian staring back at her. “She was here!” Vie said without a doubt.

Morning had come and Vie was getting ready to go to Sunday mass with Henry. She was excited because she would be seeing Carter again today after church. Henry called down to her to come and eat breakfast so they could be on their way. Vie loved breakfast and Henry made the best waffles ever, covered in strawberries and a light fluffy whipped cream. Gabriel teased her about enjoying the pleasure of eating and usually it bothered her to be different, but not today. Today she only felt pity for the other Guardian’s for not being able to experience the simple pleasure of eating. She finished her breakfast and they headed out for church.

Mass was over and Vie was thoroughly excited that Carter would be picking her up. She ran out the door telling Henry she would be home for dinner and saw Carter perched beautifully in his jeep smiling at her as she came out. Vie stared down the steps when out of the crowd, Jeremy approached her. He asked if he could talk to her for a minute. Carter looked on, not happy about Jeremy’s intrusion, and sat patiently waiting.

“What’s up
Jer
?” Vie said casually.

“I just wanted to say I was sorry,” he said sincerely.

“Sorry? What are you sorry about?” Vie asked puzzled.

“About not being there for you when you needed me…you know,” he said giving her a weird look as if she should know what he was talking about.

“Okay….” Vie said trying to go along with him.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry and to let you know I am here for you always,” he smiled endearingly at her.

Carter was getting impatient watching Jeremy smiling at Vie. “What is he doing?” Carter thought to himself looking on.

“Apology accepted,” Vie said hoping that was what Jeremy needed to hear.

“Good, now that we have that out of the way there is something I would like to ask you,” Jeremy said still engaged in his smile.

“Would you do me the honor of going to the homecoming dance with me?” Jeremy gave her his official and proper invite.

“Gosh
Jer
, I don’t know what to say,” Vie started.

“Say yes!” he said with excitement in his voice.

“I can’t
Jer
you know that,” she said.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I’ve already said yes to someone else…Carter,” she said unsure why Jeremy would not have made that assumption already.

Jeremy was confused and upset by her reply. He looked over at Carter sitting all suave and debonair in his jeep, seeing him more like a vulture stalking his prey, stalking his Vivian. Then he looked back at her and saw the look on her face, the look that said it all.  She was in love with Carter Stone and not him. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of game she was playing with him and why? “Why did she come to me last night and profess her love?” he wondered flashing back to the night. He didn’t know who he was angrier at, Vivian for leading him on or himself for believing in her again. Frustrated, he told Vie that he didn’t think they should be friends any longer and said he was sorry he ever met her and stormed off.

Vie was worried about Jeremy but she was more worried about what had happened to make him spiral out of control like that. Last time they spoke he had seemed to be accepting her relationship with Carter and now this? “Hmmm…”she wondered. “What is going on with everyone?
First Gabe and now Jeremy?
Something was wrong, something was very wrong!” Vie thought. She looked over and saw Carter with worry lines on his forehead, obviously wondering what Jeremy wanted. She walked over to the Jeep. Carter opened the door for her and kissed her on the cheek.  Carter looked back and saw Jeremy glaring at him with rage in his eyes. The two off them had a short standoff before Jeremy turned and walked away.

“What was that all about?” Carter asked Vie.

“I’m not sure,” she said thinking the exact same thing to herself.

The day was over and Carter had dropped Vie off at home. She went to her room, opened the door and inside was a huge white box with a big red bow tied around it. Henry knocked and then came in the room.

“That came for you this afternoon, special delivery,” he added.

“Well aren’t you going to open it?” he asked excited for his little girl.

Vie’s
eyes were filled with excitement as she untied the bright red bow on top of the box. She lifted the lid and there lay the most gorgeous dress she had ever seen. She took it out, whisking it around her and looking in the mirror. It was a wispy version of the lightest violet matched perfectly to the color of
Vie’s
eyes. It draped and tiered to the floor in layers of thin chiffon. Vie was especially fond of the delicate hints of lace framing the neckline and the hidden texture undulating beneath each tier.
It’s
angel whispers, feminine grace, and diaphanous ghostly elegance all in one.

“
It’s
beautiful daddy, simply beautiful!” she cheered and thanked him for her new dress.

“It is beautiful honey but it’s not from me,” he confessed.

Vie went back to the box and saw there was a card inside that read, “Every princess needs a gown to wear to the ball.”
Vie’s
face lit up with joy and for the first time she felt like a real princess and it was all because of Carter Stone. Henry smiled with approval and told his daughter that he knew Carter loved her because he could see it in his eyes.

“You know honey, the eyes are the key to one’s soul,” Henry said looking deeply at Vie.

A week had passed and the big day had arrive
d. Most of the students at Newc
astle High were excited about the football game but Vie was just developing a bad case of nerves about the dance that
was to follow. It was strange for
Vie to feel such a mix of emotions about the Homecoming Dance. She was nervous about it for sure, but also a little excited too. Vie had promised Carter that she would attend the big game even though she hated watching grown boys run around like Neanderthals. Vie could tell it was important to him so she phoned her friend
Kade
and made plans to attend the game.

When they arrived, Vie noticed quickly that seats were limited. Something she learned about small town living was that the entire town showed up to support their high school football team.
Kade
wedged her way into a row up front where they could see Carter play up close. Then Vie heard a familiar voice say hello to
Kade
.  It was Jeremy and he purposely snubbed Vie.
Kade
could feel the tension and asked Vie if she wanted to move, but she said it was fine. Partly because she felt horribly guilty for the way Jeremy was feeling.

When the Titans came out onto the field, everyone yelled and cheered
while waving
flags and holding up signs. The cheerleaders started jumping and doing their cheers and Tess was shooting Vie and
Kade
snide little looks every chance she got. It was easy to ignore her ugliness once Carter took to the field. Vie saw him looking out into the stands like he was searching for someone and then his eyes stopped directly on her and a huge smile was painted on his face. Carter ran up into the stands and planted a kiss on Vie, leaving the crowd going wild. That was about all Jeremy could take and he got up and left the game. Vie felt horrible. “Hang in there Jeremy, Vivian will be home soon,” she thought.

The game was all tied up and it was the late in the fourth quarter. This was a make it or break it play and Carter was getting his team riled up for a victory. He waved his hands up and down signaling to the fans to cheer louder. Then he huddled with his team and gave them the most inspirational speech they had ever heard. Carter was a true leader and his team flocked to him. They positioned themselves on the field and Carter called out for the snap. Carter got the ball and stepped back, looking desperately for someone to pass it to, but no one was open. The defense was coming at him and his offensive line was trampled to the ground, so Carter did the only thing he could do…he ran the ball. Vie had never seen Carter run that fast and neither had the
fans. He raced down field, darting back and forth in a
zigzag
pattern trying to avoid being tackled. Carter could see the end zone but was had three defensive backs in front of him.  Then he did the unexpected. He jumped up and over the tall defense as the entire crowd gasped with amazement. He landed perfectly on his feet, scoring the winning touchdown as crowd went wild. Swarms of people flocked to the field, lifting him up and down, cheering his name. Carter looked at Vie and shrugged his shoulders and Vie shook her head and smiled back at him. Carter Stone was not only the town hero, he was her hero too.