[Tate starts to feel that panic clench him inside, the same panic from when he anticipated what Violet would tell him to do inside her bedroom the night she told him to go away. He feels that same shock of shame and upset, where he kept trying in his own head to flip things around to make it work out and it never did. It's happening again and he doesn't know what to grasp for to keep himself afloat. His teeth chatter together and his nostrils flare, tears wiped away from his face.]

No- I am honest. I-I'm not a coward!

[He reacts vehemently to being called a coward, hurting vividly in response - Derek's hurt but he just cut back, salting the wound by reminding Tate that nobody else here gives a shit about him. That the closest thing he had to a new family is disintegrating right in front of him and it's all his fault. His heart hammers against his chest violently and his hand curls into a fist at his side.]

I'm being honest. But you're using it against me, you're making me feel guilty for making my own decisions. You don't think I can do that? You can't tell me how I feel, you can't... you can't...

[He breathes shallow, raspy and with a flicker of trouble as he struggles to calm down. Struggles not to start screaming or to clear the table with a swipe of his arm like he oh so desperately wants to. He wants to smash things. To hurt, to bleed, to make someone else suffer the way it feels inside. All these emotions, thrashing around.]

I wanted Violet. She said no. I couldn't ask you. I already asked so much of you, and I wanted - I want the bite. I'm not lying. I swear. You can do it. You can do it right now if you want, if it - if it proves anything. Bite me. Just don't leave. Don't be mad.