"If you want to pass this semester you'll have to work harder on the final exam or you'll fail Ms. Y/l/n."

"All right sir, I'll try." You approached the exit.

"Y/n," he said, causing you to look at him.

"This is your last chance. Don't screw it up," he said calmly while adjusting his tie.

You nodded reliably and left his classroom.

"Asshole."

"What?" Lilith rushed past you holding a stack of papers, giving you an amused look.

"Wait, Lilith," you took a step back.

She turned back and raised an eyebrow.

"I..." you could hardly get a word out in front of her.

"Stop calling me that. What do you want the other teachers to think? It's Ms. Ritter for you."

"Right, whatever. What are you up to today?"

"What happened?" She studied you closely.

"Things didn't go well with you and Evelyn, did they?" she guessed.

"Oh actually everything went well. I wanted to ask you if you could help me with my exams after school.

I got the correction and well I messed it up. It's going to take a little longer...so could we go to your house?"

She was silent and seemed to want to understand you but you could see that she was confused.

"We're friends, aren't we?" You smiled proudly.

"You're acting strange today Ms.

Y/l/n. We'll meet in the parking lot after your class." You remembered the time you were chatting with Lilith in the parking lot.

You had no idea then that she was on the bad side.

"Great, thanks," you turned around and walked a few steps while wearing your smile.

But as soon as you boosted around the corner, your forced laughter died instantly and your lower lip and hands trembled.

It took a lot of effort for you to talk to her and pretend everything was fine.

As long as Lilith didn't have a clue, everything was fine.

"Hey what's up Y/n, are you having a panic attack?" It was Luke who came towards you with a grin.

He was the last one you wanted to see. Raising your eyebrows, you walked past him without saying a word.

***

"Sorry to keep you waiting." You opened the door of Lilith's car and looked at her. Something was different.

Whether it was her blue sweater or her nails that weren't painted, somehow she looked more innocent than she usually did.

"It's fine," she pointed to the passenger seat and you sat down.

Even though Lilith was dangerous, it wasn't hard for you to pretend you liked her because you did. You liked her.

Besides, she had actually done the same thing. She gave you some hope until she eventually threw you away like you were an old toy.

"Is Rina at home?" you asked politely.

"No she's with her father." You looked out of the window as something strange caught your attention.

As luck would have it, Evelyn, or rather Elisabeth, drove towards you.

The brief eye contact felt like a forever. And when you looked at Lilith you realized that she noticed Elisabeth as well.

"Are you okay with that?" You fought the silence.

"With what?"

"That you have to share Rina with your husb- with her father..." you answered.

"I think so," she replied curtly.

"And do you think-"

"Do you mind if we go to the grocery store before we drive to my place?", she skilfully interrupted you.

"Sure," you said.

"So you mind?" To get your attention since you weren't looking at her, she lifted your chin with her hand.

You looked at her and you saw the truth. She wasn't able to hide her feelings, otherwise she wouldn't look at you that way. And at the same time you felt afraid that by looking into your eyes she would immediately know what you were actually up to.

"No we can go," you saw her satisfaction after hearing your hoarse voice. It wouldn't be easy to blow someone like Lilith.

But if she was responsible for these parties taking place then you should do something about it.

***

"Y/n are you coming or do you want to stay here for the rest of your life?" you heard Lilith talking while staring at a small silver chain.

It seemed so lovely that you couldn't take your eyes off the necklace.

It was as if you would be under a spell. Even when you heard Lilith's heeled shoes approaching, you used every second you had to look at the silver thing.

"What are you looking at?"

She looked down at the chain.

Lilith had some things in her shopping cart. You noticed everyday products such as vegetables, cereals and wine. If Lilith were an alcohol, then she would be wine. Dark and deadly on the outside, but sweet and mysterious on the inside.

"It's beautiful," you tensed as she abandoned the cart, going behind you to get a better look.

"I forgot to take milk, would you be so kind as to get it quick? It's on the other side of the yogurt section." Her index finger pointed to a shelf.

"All right," you set off, taking as big steps as possible so Lilith wouldn't have to wait too long for you.

Suddenly the choice of milk seemed incredibly difficult. Hopefully Lilith didn't care which one you took.

You met her again at the register.

After shopping, you loaded the products into the trunk and drove to Lilith's house.

When you saw a stranger's car parked in front of her garage, you became quiet again.

Lilith had visitors.

"Stay in the car," she ordered before quickly getting out and entering the house.

Should you have followed her?

***

It was an eternity before the front door opened. A strange man left the house with a person you know.

It was Rina.

Behind him stood Lilith, intimidated like you've never seen her.

You ducked down immediately and waited until Rina and the stranger got into the car and drove away. Rina hadn't been to her father's yet. He had probably just picked her up.

The car door opened, making you twitch.

"We can go in now..." she said calmly.

You helped her carry the groceries into the house. You put the things on the big empty kitchen counter and Lilith started putting some things away.

"Was that your husband?"

She stopped, holding a box of cereal.

It took her a long time to answer yes.

"Miss Ritter? You walked in already, I didn't even notice you!", a surprised older woman with curly black hair came into the kitchen and eyed you closely.

"Are you giving violin lessons again, Miss?", the curious woman, who looked a lot smaller than Lilith, took the pack from Lilith's hands and began to arrange the products herself.

"No actually this is a student from college, she needs some help with her homework.", Lilith answered.

Did she had a housekeeper?

And what did the houskeeper mean by violin lessons?

"Thanks Maya," Lilith said exhausted and looked over at you.

"Do you want to upstairs?" Her hand went to the back of her neck.

"Sure," you took one last look at Maya before following Lilith up the stairs.

***

After Maya served you tea while Lilith looked over your exams and you sat quietly across from her, you began to doubt Evelyn's supposition more and more.

But Lilith probably knew what she was doing. She behaved inconspicuously and so you would never find out what is behind all this.

"I think you're right about El- Evelyn," you lied.

"Are you thinking about Evelyn?"

"Listen, if you don't want to then we don't have to. I'm sure Evelyn can help you with that too." Lilith put your exam on the table and took one cup.

"Forgive me. I am very grateful to you for helping me," you replied.

"It would be better if you sat next to me, then you could watch and understand what I'm explaining to you." Lilith took the exam again.

She looked at the empty seat next to her.

"Oh yeah sure," before you knew it you were sitting quietly next to Lilith, letting things be explained to you. You quickly realized that you couldn't fully concentrate while she was sitting next to you.

"I find Evelyn really strange, Ms. Ritter." You spoke again. This time she put the paper next to her and sat closer.

"Y/n I appreciate that you confide in me, but you know that in the end it's your decision. It's up to you what you do. You have to know what's right for you, and nobody's pushing you to decide something immediately. Take your time. Remember, don't let yourself be influenced by others, neither by Evelyn...nor by me," She supported herself with her elbow.

"But...I'm afraid," you said honestly. It was not an easy to think bad of Lilith as Elisabeth told you.

Because Lilith wasn't a bad person.

"If you need help with anything-"

"Thank you. But you're right. I'll find out the truth sooner or later." You looked her up and down. You expected a startled or surprised look on her face but she said nothing.

Your eyes wandered around the room. It was the second living room you noticed in Lilith's abode. This room contained a fireplace and a luxurious dark red armchair next to it. It wasn't until you looked to the right that you noticed a soot-black little violin hanging on the wall.

"Do you actually play an instrument?" You looked at her lips, which she licked with her tongue.

"I used to play the violin but I quit." Her voice was warm and calm.

"Why did you stop?"

She said nothing.

"I'm sure you play amazing," your hand automatically went to her thigh.

She closed her eyes and hesitantly put her hand on yours. At first she seemed to take your hand off her lap, but instead she just squeezed it. Your head was propped against the sofa while your eyes were already lost in hers.

You forgot why you came here in the first place.

"Play me something," it came out of you quietly.

"Are you insane? What are you trying to do?", she took your exam and gave it to you.

"I think you got everything explained from me. I want you to go now. You made me tired.", she got up from the sofa and so you got up immediately.

Lilith took your arms and led you out of the room to the door of the upstairs living room.

"Lilith, why did you have a revolver in your pocket?" You were hoping for a simple explanation because you still had hope that Lilith wasn't bad.

Your eyes burned as the woman was ready to slam the door in front of you at any moment.

"Have you been sniffing around?" Her voice sounded even angrier.

"N-no! I-"

"What!?"

"I'm sorry if I interfered in your private affairs, I just-"

"Get out right now, I don't know what got into me that I let you in here. I don't want you to come back. And don't poke your nose into things that don't concern you.", as you had imagined, the door slammed violently in front of your nose.

You pressed your hands against the wood, unable to contain the pain. Salty tears ran down your cheeks and hit the white marble floor.

A sniffle. Another sniffle.

Another, deeper sniffle.

And then there was this melody.

A wild, rapid sound could be heard. You knew the piece from music class.

Summer by Antonio Vivaldi.

The third movement.

This is exactly how you imagined Lilith to play. Full of emotions, passion and love.

How gladly would you have opened that door and jumped into her arms despite everything. You would have told her that you could never think badly of her. Evelyn had suspected a completely innocent person.

There was nothing more for you to do in this place.

When the music stopped you turned around. You walked away as you heard the door violently open behind you before her hand grabbed your arm and longingly pulled you against her body.

It was like a colliding of two

completely different planets.

You gasped, kissing her like you were going to kiss her for the last time in your entire life.

"You're confusing me," you whispered breathlessly.

"I want-" she cut you off with another kiss while running her hands over your back to your neck. Her taste, her warmth, her passion- you just went crazy for her.

***

"When did you first get these letters?"

"It started when I started to teach at this college. The letter was inside my letter box. I told my colleagues and then I found out that everyone already knew about it. I wanted to see what was going on there and..."

"And then?" you asked curiously.

"I don't know...I don't know why I keep going there."

Despite that, she didn't give you much informations. It felt like she wanted to hide something. She didn't even had a reason to go there.

"I can't figure you out."

"Why are you going to these parties,

Y/n?" she suddenly asked.

"Me? I don't know. Because of you I guess."

She released your hand and clasped her hands. "That's not the only reason."

"I really don't know. Everyone goes to this party. I have to support Harmony, sometimes I feel like she's lost without me."

"Don't you think you're more lost without her?" She smiled.

"Hey, what are you trying say?"

You playfully clung to her arm.

And you knew it wouldn't last long,

this glorious feeling.

Because sooner or later either you or Lilith would realize again that what you were doing wasn't the right thing to do.

Not for Mr. Ritter, not for Rina and especially not for you.