AN: So I'm trying to take this stuff slow and not further a bunch of the Lilith plot too fast. The shows timing and pacing for huge plot points and major changes didn't happen overnight. And I want to have a bunch of scenes with the gang without Lilith I don't want to push her into every scene. This is after all, about George. Enjoy.

Chapter 3
No George is an Island…

Fucking Valentine's Day! This hearts and kisses holiday takes the gold medal for shittiest 24 hours. I look around the office and see the decor of the reds, whites and pinks and feel my stomach cramp. I take a sip of my coffee, easing the burning feeling I could feel from the acid eating at the back of my throat. "vday" as Deloris has so efficiently renamed, makes my life a living hell for one reason. And YES, all I need is one fucking reason. Valentines is one of those holidays -if you really want to call it that- that takes advantage of stupid people everywhere. The fuckheads that have shit to give to others are so distracted by gifts, flowers, balloons, and giant heart shaped boxes of chocolates that nothing gets done. And let's not forget about the lonely saps either. I don't envy those reapers in the suicide department. I don't know the numbers but I'm sure a lot of people off themselves because they are alone…again. I guess I'm not far behind them; February has given me nothing but headaches and acid reflux. Stupid human condition making people do things for stupid reasons…oh yea, I'm winning this battle. I'm taking no prisoners today.
"Don't you fucking dare," I said between my teeth. Scott from two cubicles down was just about to stick a red card into my "vday" mailbox. The mailboxes were Delores's bright idea. I couldn't get out of it, so I covered the cheap tin in black with little black hearts and gray glitter. Earlier this morning Deloris came by shaking her head in disappointment looking at the grim box; the sad thing was I had actually put some creative thought into it. I made up some lie about how "vday" reminds me of grade school when no one ever gave me cards or candy. Wait, how is that a lie?
"I made you this Millie. I think you'll like it," Scott said opening the blood red card. It was plain enough with the words "Happy Valentine's Day" arched over the top of a giant heart in the center. My face unclenched from its scowl and relaxed into a playful smirk. The word 'Valentine's' had been crossed out in thick black marker with the word SHIT in place of it, and the giant heart in the center had a face and an arrow going through it like a wound with a little blood on each side of the arrow. I took the card out of his hands quickly and looked at it. I held the card close to my face, thinking it would change once it got into my hands. I looked up at him with a smile…I think I was freaking him out.
"You, like it Millie?" Scott said backing away slowly. In his mind this could go either way. I wish I could see myself in this moment, and how dumb he and I look right now. Fucking Valentine's Day!
"Thank you Scott. It's very nice."
He released the air in his lungs and relaxed his body. I put the card in the mailbox, gave him a fuck off smile and turned back to my work. He started to say words but all he could manage was a bunch of airy vowel sounds and then walked away. I stopped typing on my computer and looked up again, trying to find Scott. He was passing out cards to everyone, but from what I could see mine was the only one that was made with darkness in mind. No! No smiling! My phone rang. "Millie," I answered.
"Happy Valentine's Day Georgia," Daisy's silky southern voice came out of the phone. My classic scowl is back on my face; I knew I was going to have to see her at some point today; I just wanted it after I had finished my coffee and morning sulk. I let out a sigh, greeting her without acknowledging what day it was. "Oh, Georgia take that frown off that pretty little face, you'll get wrinkles." My head shot up with lightning speed looking around for anything tall and blonde. There she was, holding Crystal's phone over the receptionist's counter smiling and waving at me. She returned the phone to Crystal giving her a spirited grin and walked toward me. So much fucking pink was all I could think about as Daisy sashayed down the hall. There she was in her pink clingy dress, with pink flowers in her hair and fucking pink shoes. Someone out there made her Queen of this day just to piss me off. I let my rigid body relax by tossing myself back into the chair swirling around trying to expel some hostility. Daisy looked down at the gruesome mailbox that was near the outside of my desk. It was an eyesore on the otherwise empty and desolate desk that I called sanctuary.
"Oh no, look at this." She picked up the box turning it on all sides. I flinched as she held it fearing she might damage it in some way. Wait, why do I care? "Georgia, you really should be in a brighter mood when it comes to Val-," I cut her off by snatching the box and placing it back on my desk. My cruel reaction didn't alter her attitude. Instead she reached out touch the object once again. "Really Georgia, where do you even find such morbid glitter?" She was shaking her head. I reached into my pocket and took out two post-it's placing them on my desk.
"Here, take whichever one you want and leave," I said coldly, turning back to my computer screen.
"You didn't look at these did you?" Daisy said holding both side by side.
With annoyance and curiosity I arched an eyebrow, and shifted my gaze to her. "No, why?" I was ready to find Lilith and put my foot up her ass. It was she who told me Daisy wouldn't make it to breakfast and asked if she could pick it up later. "What's the catch?"
"No catch," Daisy shrugged. "They are just at the same location a few minutes apart." An image of my head repeatedly hitting a wall entered my mind.
"Of course that's my post-it," I took one out of her hand, glancing at time and location. "Well at least it's after 5. I get off work at 4 because of…the party." I turned my head toward the break room which had been adorned with cut out hearts in all different sizes hanging from the ceiling.
"And you don't want to attend such an event?" Daisy questioned teasingly. I ignored her, for a second trying to think about the reaping that I had to do today. Daisy saw I had less patience today than normal and took the lead to direct the conversation. "You want me to meet you here around four then?" She said placing a hand on her slender hip.
"No, I'll meet you there. I don't need you distracting me anymore then I already am today."
"Distractions," Daisy looked around with arms wide. "I do believe I brighten up this fluorescent nightmare quite nicely, Miss Sour Georgia Peach." In any argument that was a burn. I showed my shame and this made her smile again.
"Fine, meet me here and we'll go together. Just don't bring Mason. This day does weird things to him," I completed.
Daisy nodded and then shook her head. "Gotcha, no Mason, it'll be a girls day. Just you and me, Georgia," Daisy leaned down to hug my shoulders. I looked around and I had captured the attention of a handful of co workers around the office, including Delores who was getting up from her desk. I took Daisy by her shoulders and put her back outside my bubble.
"Daisy, it's time for you to go. I'll see you around four, okay?" Daisy felt my urgency and bowed out, leaving before Deloris could reach my desk.
"Millie, that young lady looks familiar, where do I know her from?" She asked sweetly.
"Oh, it's possible you've seen her around." I was going to beat a dead horse with the AA crap again but here goes. "She's part of my sober living house, just a little shopping list to give to her," I said waving the post-it. I put it back in my pocket not wanting Deloris to catch a glimpse of the poor unsuspecting person that was going to get their soul taking. It's in this time of uncertainty I call upon the immortal words of Gandhi, "Love sucks. Sometimes it feels good. Sometimes it's just another way to bleed." I think that was him. Fucking Valentine's Day!

Go-Kartland was the place to go after the school bell rang. Roxy stood out wearing her nicely pressed blues in the middle of the horde of kids running to and from arcade games and the race tracks. A mass group of girls burst through the entrance doors laughing loudly and drawing the attention of most of the teen boys. As they broke out of formation, like an airman fleet Roxy looked down at her post-it once again.
A. Chang 2344 Raceway Drive. Go-Kartland ETD: 3:23pm
There was a good chance that one of these kids was going die. No one likes taking kids before they really have a chance to live but death has no decimation toward race, age, or gender. A flicker of Roxy's thoughts went to George and how death snuffed out her life and ended it before she could start anything.
"Amy Chang you get back here!" An adult cried out above the crowd. Roxy turned to see the young teen that was being shouted at and saw a young girl dressed in uniform with a scarf and gloves to match. The man, her father; Roxy assumed was her father, walked passed her toward his daughter.
"Excuse me Sir, may I have a word with you and your daughter?" Roxy watched as Mr. Chang's posture went from fun and playful to worrisome and paranoid.
"Is there any trouble? My sweet Amy is a good girl."
"No, Sir. I'm just asking if she's seen any strangers hanging around here. We've had complains and are trying to get an I.D." Roxy applauded herself for her smooth and improved delivery of the lie. She was even more pleased that he seemed to believe the story and called his daughter to her.
"Amy, this office has a few questions for you." She was just a sweet as she could be smiling up and Roxy. Before any doubts or nerves made her wince she took the girl by the shoulder and took her soul before the wreckage begins.
"I was wondering if you've seen an older man between the age of 25-30 hanging around here? Hanging on any of the school girls; or talking to them?"
"No, but a lot of the girls that come here have boyfriends at the school so they are kinda all together. I can keep an eye out and tell my friends."
"That would be helpful, thank you Amy."
"Can I go? My friends are waiting for me." Roxy gave her a nod and a blessing for her to go and what could only be her last ride. "Dad, I'm going to be in the blue car, watch me okay?"
"Sure sweetie." Her dad said as Amy was running toward a group of kids and climbing into a sparkly blue race car. "So what else are the police going to be doing about the predator around here?"
"Like I said Sir, its just a report and I'm just asking questions. I could have been an older high school student hanging around. These kids are looking so old these days." She said slipping into pleasent conversation. After all, Mr. Chang was in no hurry to be panicking about his daughters safety...just yet.
"You're so right," he agreed.
"Well I best be moving on, thank you for your help." Roxy moved out of site from the spectators leaning against a wall and waited.
The screeching skids and thud of impact was quick. Roxy sat with Amy for a long time. She let her cry about all her lost loves that she would never get to experience, then when she was done Roxy gave her a bit of advice.
*"I've learned that people forget what you do or say but remember how you made them feel. Your parents and your friends will remember and love you because you made them feel loved. Now come one girly, I think it's time you find your lights." Roxy and Amy walked with smiled as Roxy showed Amy her lights and promised her that what she needed was in them.

Daisy was chatting up with Crystal the last five minutes of my work day. Her punctual nature was becoming infuriating as her laughter was filling the open workspace with cheer and I could feel my stomach churn. I push aside the last few folders that need to be inputted, grabbed my bag and headed over to Daisy.
"So then I tell her..." Daisy pauses for dramatic effect. Someone should tell her it just makes her sound as dumb as a rock. "You're just an extra dear!" Her words received cheers and laughter. I narrowed my eyes and give her the lets-the-hell-outta-here glare. "Well, it's been a true pleasure to entertain the troops but I have to take Miss Millie to her meeting." She took me by the shoulders with one arm and guided me into the elevator. "Tata, all!" Crystal waved her plump fingers above the desk counter saying goodbye.
Pulling my seatbelt around and locking it in its place I go to pull out of the Happy Time parking lot and find a large smelly brown blanket in my backseat. Seriously! I start beating the blanket and up come the stowaway Mason. Mason was squalling from the assault as I pulled the blanket off him.
"Come on Georgy! Come on now! I want in on the fun too!" I leaned back into my seat. I was happy to be reaping again but here I was feeling like I needed a vacation again. "Plus I have a massive sweet tooth right now.
Looking at the post-it a little more carefully I saw that Daisy and I's reap was at a local candy store called Sweet Adventures.
The tiny shop on Main Street was busy with people behind the counter wrapping baskets filled with treats and chocolate covered strawberry bouquets. Candy lined the walls with tiny slots in which to take handfuls at a time, and kids and parents came and went with bags of candy filled to the brim. Young and old left with sweet tastes in their mouths and wide candy colored stained smiles. As I stepped in, Mason brushed past me heading for the walls and all the candy that he could fit into his pockets. Daisy and I got to work looking around the crowded store searching for our names.
A. Locklear 43 E. Main Street. Sweet Adventures E.T.D 5:35 pm
C. Kolde 43 E. Main Street. Sweet Adventures ETD 5:38 pm
"I vote that someone trips on one of these tiny treats and BAM! Meets their sticky 'nd right on the floor."
"Mason, I'm a little busy. Go bug Daisy."
"I'm about to, really. But I need your advice on what I got her for Valentines Day."
"No, I'm not going to help."
"What, why not?"

"I fucking hate Valentines Day. The last thing I need to do is see whatever your dumb ass stole that Daisy is going to hate anyway." I paused, corning him between the Sour Patch Kids and sour gummi worms. "And you know what she's going to do with your little present? She's going to take it and put it lightly on the ground and smash it into a thousand little pieces. Then she's going to take your puny half hearted heart and smash that too." The air after I finished was defining and it made me feel alive again. Happier A small bit of what I felt for this holiday was released with spewing harsh words to Mason. His dropped his head in defeat. Damn.

"So, what you're saying is that I should find something that won't break so easily." I narrowed my eyes, feeling my frustration reach critical mass. I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut wishing that he had turned into a giant chocolate Mason that was hollow in the middle. "I'll go look around, you seem a little busy."

"Thank you." It was simple enough of a reply and Mason was on his way.

There are reasons that I demand that Mason not come along to things. And it is for the safety of myself and more importantly others.
Moving around the store from the back to the front counter I glance at name tags hoping to get lucky. Nothing.
"Georgia!" Daisy yells from across the store, signaling me to her. I take my time getting to her and lucky for me she notices and frowns making me smile. "Georgia this is Aaron Locklear he's an E.M.T and he's looking for a gift for his partner and can't think of what to give her. I said that these chocolates would be perfect but I also said that you would know best." I took the hint and brushed his hand and reached for the nuts and chews heart shaped box.
"Get this one. There's no fruit in it; the fruit ones suck." It was all the lovey dovey I could muster for the poor guy. After all the likely hood of him getting to the register was slim.
He gave us a toothy grin and headed toward the front of the store.
"Thanks for finding mine but we still need to find yours." I told Daisy. She waved it off like there was plenty of time instead of three minutes left until the action started.
"Where do you think its going to happen Georgy?" Mason said over my shoulder. I shrugged him off still looking to help daisy find her reap. Three children with one lonely gaveling trailing behind blasted through the door with loud and abrasive voices.
"Can you believe it! A tire hit her right in the head! Come on I need sugar!" One of the kids said running toward the walls. I glanced at Daisy pausing and praying that none of these kids were who we needed. "Carol you tard!" The kid lifted one of the candy spouts and lets too many jawbreakers fall onto the floor.
"It's stuck!" yelled one of the friends. Our brave and noble E.M.T came to the rescue as wells as the angry manager as Mason was tugging at my jacket.
"Dumb kids!" Yelled the manager. He and the E.M.T were gripping the lid of the candy dispenser tightly trying to close it when the graveling who was lying on the floor playing marbles with the candy flipping one up into the mouth of one of the kids. All the attention on the spout which by that time had zero candy left was on the choking kid. Aaron being trained for these types of moments went behind the child and performed the heimlich maneuver. With one forceful push the ball came flying out of the kids mouth making A. Locklear trip on all the round candies on the floor and breaking his neck.
I could hear the grim reaper theme song above all the noise as Aaron was beside me now looking at his dead self.
"Stupid kids." He said. "And on Fucking Valentines Day!"
"Well thats the way the cookie crumbles. " I said not making him feel any better. And for the first time in a long time I felt a twinge of pity for the guy. "Look, if it makes you feel any better I'll give your partner her box of chocolates." His face lit up and I tried to keep from feeling like the grinch; my heart growing three sizes today.
"Her name is," and before he could get her name out I'm pushed out of the way into a candy wall and away from shattered window glass. A cyclist hit it dead on smashing and it exploding at everyone inside.
"Dammit! The Fuck!" I turned looking at the massive bloody mess that was now two still bodies in Sweet Adventures. Daisy came running over and took the bikers soul from the body and he lifted right up taking daisy's hand.
We helped everyone into their lights and Daisy, Manson and I were walking back to my car.
"I should tell Lilith about what happened, its not my best reap."
"It would have been my best." Said Mason cramming a chocolate bar into mouth.
"Of Course it would have been yours. My personal best is on a higher level Mason. You can't help yourself, its part of your unfortunate breeding." Daisy said strapping herself in. I took to the streets; my eyes adjusting to the light pinks, yellows, and oranges of the sunset and my hair blowing in the wind as the top was down and the february air silencing everyone in the car for a long moment of joy . "Georgia I think you're doing a nice thing by taking that box of candy to that dead E.M.T's lady. And as much as I crave to see you explain it to his lady love I wish to be dropped off at the waffle house to grab some food."
"May I join you Daisy?" Mason said poping up his collar and brushing off stuck on dirt from his sleeves. "Or are you otherwise occupied this evening?"
"Mason, dear dear Mason." Daisy turned around facing him and his boyish smile. I glanced at Daisy and for a split second I saw her pause from beginning her belittling attack and sighed. "Mason, you may join me for dinner." She said giving herself a smirk. "I'll even buy you a waffle in the shape of a heart." She continued now with a charitable smug upright posture.
I dropped them off but not before seeing Mason pull out a DVD that had Daisy giggling and looking astonished at him. I was surprised that the burnt out brain cells managed to find a movie that she cameoed in, but frowned when I foresaw the rest of my night watching her scenes over and over again. I went to the address that A. Locklear gave me and walked up the pavement to the door.
"I wasn't aware that reapers now delivered." Lilith was behind me with Rigor smelling the lawn beside her.
"It's not a big deal, I was just going to leave it here on the doorstep."
"Why not ring the door George? Why not explain that that box is from her dead valentine?" She said softly. I hated how she lectured in a sweet voice. It was like a kindergarten teacher telling me not to play with scissors, but instead she was telling me about the boundaries between the dead and the living.
"Look, I get it. I'll just put them in the mailbox and move on. She won't know anything about it." I walked away from the door and opened the shiny white mailbox and shoved the chocolates in it and slammed the lid shut. "See the world has yet to end, because of my involvement in the world of the living."
"My issue with your deceased footprint in the world of the living as you put it, is not about being caught or the ability to explain to the living your reason for being here and the message you have to bring about her dead friend. Its not about the rules, or me wanting to stop you from having any fun. What it is about is you learning the rules and where you can bend them. You know that going up to the door and chatting to this lady is a no no, but for some reason a random act of kindness wasn't earth shattering enough to cause reprimand from anyone upstairs."
"And yet here you are lecturing me about it." I said matching her pleasant tone and a smile.
"If you were listening I was giving you a bit of advice." She said smiling again. I smashed my face confused about what she had said. I relayed our conversation and was still confused.
"Why do you care if I know the dimensions of the rules and how I can maneuver around them?" I asked moving toward my car, resting on the passenger side door. Lilith tugged on Rigor's harness and started walking away; down the street.
"Because I like you Georgia Lass. And I think that its time you stopped playing in the dark." She was getting farther, leaving me with her words that lingered like a fart. "Happy Valentines Day Georgia." She shouted down the street.
I drove home passing glowing street lights and restaurants with crowds rolling Lilith's words in my head over and over again. I was tired of playing this game without knowing anything. Rube, Roxy, Daisy, and Mason were content with living that way; but it left me empty at the end of the day. Lilith would be the person that had the answers that I craved. The shitty part was that I had be a nice little student and learn from her.
I make it home safely and hear Mason and Daisy laughing inside. Tapped to the door I see a red card with Georgia written on it. I rip it off and uncover the card that was inside of it. A tiny black pug that looked like Rigor was on the cover, quickly I flipped it open and saw Lilith's words.
*You can not study the dark by flooding it with light.
When you friend Betty jumped into that other persons lights she landed alright. Happy Valentines Day from Lilith and Rigor
Fucking Valentines Day.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. -Maya Angelou

You can't study the darkness by flooding it with light. - Edward Abbey

AN: the only reason this got finished was that I was reminded that people like this story. So more to come. Just give me some time. Sorry for this chapters raw nature, I just found myself writing a lot more than editing. Enjoy.