Here we go. This is the end. 2 years later. So I started this story the summer before high school and now I am about to be a senior and I've really grown a lot as a writer. I've had a few english classes and more importantly, a psych class that told me I WIDELY misrepresented schizophrenia. I'm not gonna say this is my best work. And this ending might suck. But I'm proud of my epilogue, and this is a journey I'm so glad I took. Thank you all for sticking to the end. And BRING BACK ZACK am I right? If you want more I would also recommend you my short romance story I wrote in 10th grade creative writing, "Inside Out", which serves as sort of Lilac and Phoenix's backstory. It has been a pleasure writing for you. You people are the sweetest, most beautiful people I've ever written for. Stay beautiful

(fictionpress)s/3201201/1/Inside-Out

May 30, 2008

4:15 pm

"I told you Selena was bad news." Lilac says quietly, her arms crossed across her chest. She and Phoenix had been wandering the halls for the past hour, avoiding anyone who wanted them to do something, urged them to paint or read, but more importantly, anyone who wanted to separate them. Being together was the real struggle when all the other therapists insisted their relationship was toxic. Unfortunately, this only brought them closer.

"What does that matter? You know I only have the eyes for you." Phoenix pulls an arm around her and holds her close. She smiles, the warmth calming the knots in her stomach.

It was hard for her, as a troubled adolescent, dealing with depression and problems of self worth to think that anyone would love her, but with Phoenix she was always sure. No matter who batted their lashes his way or invited him up to their door, she knew that he would never break her heart. None of her therapists would hear any of her romance with a fellow psych patient, but if they did, it'd be enough to be a breakthrough. She was locked up for her inability to form relationships with others, and several attempts at self harm or suicide, but to her, Phoenix made it all go away. He was her reason to stay.

"Shit." his words startle her just as she leans her head on his shoulder. They're standing next to a barred window overlooking a particularly gloom side of the parking lot, a pair walking towards the door catches Phoenix's eye. "I bet he's back for me again." he remarks, recognizing Agent Seeley Booth.

"Ugh." Lilac groans. "When will they give up?" she pushes away from him and her stomach turns again. She knows it all means more questions, and more time away from feeling like a normal person again. Phoenix takes her by her shoulders and kisses the top of her head.

"I really wish I could spend more time together, but I gotta look like I'm doing something productive here. If they're here for me, I can't be breaking the rules. It'll look so bad for my case." he tells her. Lilac lets out a heavy sigh.

"I know." her eyes go to the ground.

"My lawyer's already up my ass about breaking the rules." he pauses to look at the girl, the way her green eyes gleam, or how her messy hair rolls down her shoulders across a wrinkled white uniform. "I love you." he tells her. Lilac glances up and meets his gaze.

"I love you too." she can't help but smile. But Phoenix is late. He plants another kiss on her cheek and dashes around the corner. Lilac wants to walk back to her room in an all new daze, but she doesn't make it there before she feels something. That odd, tugging feeling like someone is watching her. She turns around.

"How sentimental." It's hard to recognize the woman as Candace Clarke because her hair isn't in it's usual tight bun. It's wild and in her eyes, squinted in rage.

"Oh I was just—"

"You know that's what everyone wants isn't it? Love?" she pulls from behind her a knife, it's origins unknown. It stops Lilac in her tracks.

"Where did you—"

"It's what I had, until that piece of slime went and cheated on me. God I'd give to have what you have. But apparently I can't have it. Not after Ben." she's walks closer still, close enough to reach out and touch Lilac. Lilac is white as a sheet, she watches the knife while Candace's words rattle in her brain.

"It was you." is all she can utter as Candace takes her hand.

"Of course it was." her voice is quieter now as she lifts Lilac's hand to examine the paper engagement ring Phoenix made. "I left behind too much evidence. And now, I'm afraid, they're here to arrest me." her voice is disturbingly calm. Lilac can feel her heart beat in her ears. "This is cute." she locks her bony fingers around the ring.

"It's mine, Phoenix—"

"Oh I know all about that." she says, snatching the ring from Lilac's finger. Lilac doesn't do anything to get it back for the fear of any sudden move triggering the hand holding the knife.

"I wish I had what you had." Candace whispers, crumpling the ring in her hand. Lilac's skin crawls at the words. What you had. "At least," the thin lipped woman continues, "at least I can make things even."

The knife is cold against Lilac's skin, which surprises her. She's sure it'd be red hot in possession of the devil. But she has little time to be surprise, she needs to act. But she can't move. Her body is paralyzed. What can she do? What can she do that won't make this woman hurt her more?

"It's a good thing you're a cutter. They'll just think you did it yourself." she just smiles, while Lilac holds onto tears. "Honestly, what are you gonna do? By the time they find you you'll be transported somewhere Phoenix will never see you again, be it intensive care, or a place far beyond life itself." She drags the knife down Lilac's arm. Blood runs down Lilac's arm like the tears down her face. "What are you gonna do?" Lilac answers with an ear piercing shriek.

This starts the footsteps down the hallways. It startles the knife from Candace's hand.

"You little—" she rushes to pick it up, her only weapon, while the first pair of eyes assess the scene.

"Hey…HEY," Special Agent Seeley Booth is just drawing his gun as Candace disappears around the corner, he speeds after her, followed by a staggering Charlie Thomas. "Why doesn't this facility have a decent alarm system?!" he continues to shout, he turns to Lilac. "Oh my god are you okay?" Lilac's arm is torn apart.

"Please, go after her! It was her! She was the one that killed Ben." Lilac screams, clutching her arm. Charlie rushes to her side. Booth puts his trust in his new friend.

"Charlie, we lost your supervisor down the hall, go find her, get her to a doctor immediately. I swear to god, do not hesitate for a minute." But the two are already on their feet, both robes covered in blood.

Seeley's quick to find Candace stumbling down a flight of stairs.

"Get back here!" he shouts to her, "I warn you I am armed," but she has a destination, a place Booth knew the route to all too well. He follows her to Zack's room shouting her name and warning her the dangers of running with knives. By the time they make it to Zack's room, time seems to freeze in that moment.

Candace appears in the doorway first, a sight sure to shock everyone in the room. Followed by Agent Booth who was quick to threateningly place the gun near her head. She drops the knife with a smile.

"Did you solve the case yet, Mr. Detective, or did I spoil it all for you?"

"You could never get me to believe it was on of my friends that killed Ben." Zack responds quickly, looking her up and down. "But I'm glad you've made the whole thing easier. I was getting worried you'd pull together some stone cold team of lawyers."

"What did you think would happen if you locked me up." she asks as she puts her hands in the air, "They'd deem you sane and worth it and pull you from this hell hole? Don't you realize? Once you're in here you don't get out! Things will never be the same for you. You can't just solve crimes from here, you can't just have parties with you buddies and wait for the murder to come to your door! I may be crazy but I'm pretty sure this," she throws her arms around to gesture to the room, "is against visitor regulations."

Seeley has her hands in cuff, and the rest of security are on the scene. Candace gives Zack a wink as they take her out.

"And the Lilac girl?" Booth asks.

"I think she's gonna be okay."

Epilogue

A later date…

5:00 pm

"Look Doc, we're matching!" Lilac takes a seat next to Zack in the front row and lifts a lacy leave to reveal her arm wrapped in bandages that somewhat mirrors her companion's covered arms. Zack is initially startled.

"I thought you were supposed to be a surprise for everyone, isn't it how these things work?" it's not the bandages that startles him, its her whole appearance, a pristine white lace dress that covers her arm and drapes across her delicate, pale shoulders. The hem chases the floor. Her hair is brushed for once and wrapped up high on her head. They even let her wear a little makeup. She looks ages older than she really is.

"No, just for the groom, which sounds a little sexist, now that I think about it." she laces her fingers in Zack's. "Phoenix is crazy superstitious about this kind of thing, so I don't think he'd be out here. I just wanted to see how you were doing. You've been a little glum since everything happened."

"Maybe I miss the chase." Zack gives Lilac's hand a squeeze. "I'm glad you made it out alright." he remarks. Lilac smiles and sighs.

"I really thought I was gone. Which sucks because I finally— I don't know what's happened. Maybe it's him, maybe it's you, maybe my meds are actually working but. I'm just so happy now." Zack smiles.

"You should be. It was all so miraculous."

"Yeah I know. It's just a feeling I'd never thought I'd have before." she beams, and she glows. Something more miraculous than her recovery. "But you, what about you? I can recommend you a doctor you know. I guess you're a doctor too though. What are you a doctor of?"

"I'm not that kind of doctor, I told you."

"But you're smart."

"Maybe not that smart."

"It's just something Clark said. I just. I'm scared that this is where it all stops for me. I'll just be here til the end, destined to be forgotten about. I'll just disappear from their lives and their stories. They'll stop visiting they'll stop— and all my work was for nothing."

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean I wasn't a hot shot investigator in my previous life. But now, now I'm nothing. I'm a name without a face and soon, I won't even be a name."

"That's some bullshit." Lilac spits. "You are the most amazing person I have ever met, next to my boy, Phoenix, of course. Who cares about your old group, who cares if they fade away, never let that shit define you. Let you define you."

"Philosophy was never my strong place."

"And neither was making friends but for some reason, those people love you. And I — no — we here, we love you." she gives he's hand another squeeze and he turns to her. Zack is on the verge of tears, but he won't let her see that.

"You look beautiful, Lilac." he tells her, her face lights up and she kisses him on the cheek.

"I better go. Don't want Claire to think I took her seat!" she beams maliciously.

"Sorry this is who's seat?!" but Lilac refuses to acknowledge this, rushing out of the room. Zack leans back in his seat, unable to fight a smile.

"And Zack?" Lilac says, stopping at the door and turning back to him, "Don't listen to that psycho. You are always relevant to me. You may not be the king of the real world, but you're the King of the Loony Bin."