Chapter 1: Caught Again
Violet stood in front of her mirror in her dump of a room. Her clothes scattered about in piles, her make up and hair accessories spilled over the top of her dresser, she was lucky that she could find her bed let alone anything that she needed. Her long dark hair framed her make up covered face. Heavy black eyeliner with mascara and the over use of blush. Right now, she was applying the bright red lipstick.
She was getting ready to head out for the night, with her tight black halter top, dark green short shorts, and black sandle wedges.
The clock read midnight. Perfect. As she stepped back and checked herself over in the mirror, she listened for any sign of her mother still being awake. Silence. She was able to go finally. She opened her window and climbed out into the night.
Ooo
There was a knock on the door at three in the morning. Nora held her robe closed as she walked down the stairs and into the living room, where she turned on the lights. She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light.
"Hello?" she groggily greeted, opening the door.
"I believe she belongs to you," the police officer stated.
It took Nora a second, but she eyed her daughter standing there in handcuffs with her hair messy and make up smeared. "Yes officer," she sighed. What bothered her most was that Violet didn't even look scared or disappointed. She wasn't ashamed of herself any more.
"All right," he replied. "This time I'll let her go, but next time I'll take her in. You can't keep letting this happen Mrs. Harrison."
"I know," she dryly responded. The only reason that Violet hadn't ended up in jail yet was because everyone was aware of the fact that her father had just recently ran off with some waitress. No one wanted to be the one to cause Nora any more stress than she already had to deal with. "Thank you officer for bringing her home again."
As soon as Violet was freed of the handcuffs, she rushed in past her mother and headed straight for the kitchen.
"Violet Raschelle Harrison," Nora began as she stormed after her daughter.
Violet, who stood at the sink with a glass of water, rolled her eyes. "What is it this time?" she asked, turning around to face Nora.
"I don't have to ask what you were doing anymore. I know you were at some party with people you don't know in an area you shouldn't have even been in!" Nora yelled.
"Then why the hell are you even talking to me? You know where I was at and what I was doing. I was about to drink with some guys. Big shocker!" Violet replied and then started walking towards the stairs.
"You're seventeen Violet!" Nora called to her, causing her to stop. "You're not even an adult yet and you're already throwing your life away! Don't you care?"
Violet stood there and crossed her arms. "So because I'm not a perfect little princess I'm throwing my life away?" she spat.
Nora sighed, this girl was already giving her a headache. "You cannot seriously be that stupid," she said. "You know better than this. You know that you can't be going out and drinking and doing God knows what drugs every other night. Especially with people that you don't know! Do you even know what could happen to you out there? You could end up dead!"
"I could also die from tripping on the stairs at school. What's your point?"
Nora just looked to her. This was not the same girl from a year ago. Ever since her father had left, Violet had been on a downward spiral. Her grades had dropped, she lost weight when she didn't even have much to begin with, and she had stopped caring. All she wanted to do anymore was drink and smoke. "You know what? You're right. I don't even know why I ever try talking to you anymore," she replied in defeat.
"My point exactly," Violet remarked and then started up the stairs.
"I should tell you, this is going to be our last few days in this house. I'm going to sell it and get an apartment closer to my parents in Washington," Nora announced.
Violet stopped and ran back down the stairs. "You can't do that!" she cried. "I like it here! I like living in California with my friends!"
"Well obviously you can't handle it!" Nora pointed out to her. "Besides, it'll be cheaper living there than it is living outside of Sacramento and I'll have my parents there to help out."
Violet huffed and looked off to the side. Moving, to her was the worst idea that her mother had ever had.
"Since I'll be busy moving, and getting a new job, I'm not going to be able to keep an eye on you."
"And you were doing such a good job watching me here," Violet sarcastically cut.
"Not many of our relatives are willing to have you stay over with them a second time. The first time was enough to make them sick of you, so I had to find people that hadn't watched you yet. You're going out to Chicago tomorrow to stay with my cousin Emily," Nora informed her.
Violet stood there and watched Nora. The fact that some of her relatives wanted nothing to do with her did hurt, but she wouldn't show it. "I guess Chicago doesn't sound too bad," she said.
"Just have your things packed by ten," Nora instructed.
Ooo
"Emily, I really don't want to have a teenage girl that I've never met before staying here with us for a couple of weeks," Bob complained as he watched her get the den ready to be a guest room.
"Come on Bob, she's seventeen," Emily stated as she finished making the bed. "It's not like she's going to be a little kid that we'll have to constantly watch. Besides, Nora's husband ran out on her a little while ago. It's not like I could have said no to watching her kid while she moves."
"You're cousin ran out on her. Shouldn't she be cutting off times with your family?" Bob questioned.
Emily rolled her eyes. "Violet's still my second cousin. I can't just turn her away," she explained.
Bob sighed in defeat. "I guess it won't be so bad," he said. Emily was right, it wasn't like they were watching a little kid, and it was only for a couple of weeks. He still didn't like having someone that he had never seen before staying with them though.
There was a knock at the door. "You think you can get that?" Emily requested.
"Sure," Bob responded as he turned and headed out through the living room. He opened the door to Violet. She was wearing a short, low cut spaghetti strapped black dress with the same dark make up that she had on when she was last arrested. "Honey! Come out here! Morticia Adams is at the door!" he called back to Emily.
"Oh boy, cousin Bob's got a sense of humor. Wonderful," Violet remarked. She offered her hand. "I'm Violet by the way."
"Bob," he said, accepting her hand.
Emily walked out and paused for a minute, looking over Violet. "Violet?" she implored, just making sure. The last time she had seen Violet was about ten years ago.
Violet sighed as she rolled her eyes. "I sure do hope so," she replied.
Emily continued over to the door and stood beside Bob. "I'm Emily," she introduced herself.
Violet looked to her for a moment and then smiled. "Yeah," she laughed. "I actually remember you. You were the idiot that let Grandpa in on the surprise party and ruined it for everyone."
Emily's smile faded. "Yeah, that would be me," she quietly stated.
Violet laughed and then picked her suitcases up off the ground. "You think I can come in?" she inquired.
"Yeah, uh, I'll uh, I'll show you to your room," Bob said. He turned and started leading the young girl back to the den.
Emily just watched as the walked across the room. Now, she was wishing that she had listened to Bob. Nothing bad had happened yet, but she could tell that this was about to be a long two weeks with this girl.
