~~~~~~~~~~Dan's POV~~~~~~~~~~
When I stumble from the floor after rolling out of my bed, I exit my room rubbing my eyes. I close my door after getting into the hallway and head off into the living room. Violet is not on the couch, I go to the apartment entrance and there's a sign stuck to the door with blue tac.
'No worries, I saw a bank and I've went to go and get some money out. I'm headed to the diner for breakfast considering it's across the street. Come and get me when you're ready to head to Arin and Suzy's.
Regards,
Violet xxx.'
"Oh right, I'll pin this on Barry's door just so he knows." I yawn and head to my roommates door. I open it. "Oh, morning Barry." I smile.
"Hi, Dan." Barry says putting his slippers on. "Is Violet alright?"
"Oh, she's at the diner across the street for breakfast. She says when were ready to come and pick her up."
"Dan! How long have you been awake, knowing this?!" Barry replies.
"Umm, about 5 minutes." I say picking the blue tac off the paper before crumpling it up. "Do want to head straight out?"
"Alright, you can go and get Violet. Meet me at the normal parking spot." Barry said shuffling past me.
"I will, what time is it?" I ask.
"Pfft," Barry looks down at his watch. "Half past 9. You'd better get moving." He shuffles into the kitchen.
"Ok, you'd better be ready and out of here by the time I'm coming out of that diner!" I shout pulling my jeans on, I pick up my red and black flannel and put it on. I grab my wallet, phone and keys from my side table and sit on my bed. When I reach for my shoes, I realized they are half way across the room and not where I usually keep them. I decide to spend five minutes trying to get them on with my foot alone while trying to figure out where deodorant can's dispensing hole is. Once I figure it out and apply the deodorant where it's necessary, I grab my coat and head on out to the elevator. I wait and input the number for the ground floor.
When I reach the bottom of the complex, Mrs Cranbury wasn't at the desk, yet. The sun was blazing hot, I really hoped that Violet had remembered her parasol. I cranked the vehicle after getting inside, shutting the door and fumbling around with the keys. I know it was only across the street but after we picked up Barry, we were all headed straight to the grump house.
I drove to the diner and parked where the nearest space was. I looked inside of the diner before getting out of the car and it looked like 3 tough men getting shunned by Violet. I chuckled before hurrying inside. "Darling, are you alright?" I ask pretending to be in a relationship with her to ease the situation a bit more.
"Yes Danny, babes. Aside from this jerks killing my morning." She just carried on with the falseness I had set up. "Why don't you guys leave those shitty fucking looks at home before I punch them out of you?! Get out my fucking way!" Violet looked down.
"Oh, so you don't know them. They better back the fuck out of here!" I growl as they remove themselves from the diner.
"Danny." She seethes through her teeth. "Don't you ever do that again, I can deal with them. You could just text me that you were there!"
"I'm sorry, Violet!"
"Stop being fucking sorry, don't act like a total pratt when you know I'm probably stronger than you!" Violet said before muttering the word fuck and sucking on the end of her middle finger. When I properly looked at what she was doing, there were many tiny drops of blood on the table and cross-stitching equipment in her hand. "I gotta pay attention to this instead of having a go at you, I'm sorry, Dan. Come on, sit down on the other side." She pointed to the seat adjacent to her. I sat and twiddled my thumbs as I knew saying sorry again would piss her off
"Are you alright, there's dots of blood all over the edge of the table?" I enquire with a worried expression.
"Yeah, I've impaled myself with this very needle hundreds upon thousands of times, I'm good." She said looking at the sketched out pattern on the table. "Shit, I don't have the purple thread, mother fucker! I guess I'll carry on with the black for now." She sighed.
"What are you sewing there, Violet?" I tilt my head to try and make out the layout of the pattern.
"Something for Arin and Suzy, to show my appreciation after letting me stay over. I started this last week. After you guys left. You, Barry, Holly, Ross and Kevin I mean." She says squinting at the sketch. "Right, a quarter stitch now… Dan you know what festinates me more than the end product on the front?" She asks.
"What does?" I ask staring at the food she had left on her plate.
"The back of course. Take a look." She lifts the material so I can see the back. "I'm trying to make it so that the frame has glass on the back and front… the front is obviously more important but, those little extras can mean so much."
"Yeah, yeah! I see what you mean, the pattern is really cool." I express what I feel.
"If you want, I'll teach you some time." She says putting the fabric back down the way she had it before she showed me.
"My fingers might be a bit big." I sigh.
"No worries, you don't need to have small fingers. I'm sewing and I have man hands. You just need good sight." Violet sniggered while pushing up her glasses. "I'm kidding… well ya kinda do, artificial or natural." I sniggered and then she put her headphones on. She hummed in the tune of My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music.
"You like The Sound of Music?" I ask and for once she actually hears me.
"No, I just like the song- mixed with another one- I found it on an anime that I adore. I learnt to play it the instants I heard it. On both piano and drums." Violet replies and the speed of her humming gets faster, quicker. After the humming she puts the cross-stitching on the table and taps her fingers as if she was making a drum beat.
"The next time Brian gets over to the US you can have a jam session with us, if you like." I offer.
"Sure," She says, her voice sounded croaky and fucked up.
"Are you ok? You sound - off." I suggest.
"Hanging out of that window did give me a cold, I didn't tell Suzy 'cause she'd not let me leave their house until I was better. I'll be fine until, like 7 'o' clock. Just know if I curl up, I can't be arsed- right." She says rubbing her eyes, the needle in her other hand.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" I question.
"It means that my cold is starting to worsen but for all Suzy knows, I didn't sleep as much as I would have liked." Violet stared behind me. Her hair was blown by the wind after a stranger opened the door to leave. She shakes her head, looks down and blinks several times.
"Hey, for now I need to cheer you up, listen to this classic NSP song." I look at her directly.
"Sure, what's it called?" She asks.
"You'll see when I plug it into your headphones… it's not something I can just say out loud in public." I say as her iPod nano is turned off.
"Ok, let's hear it." She said as I find the song, connect the headphones and press play. I slide the phone over to her. No Reason Boner is the song I wanted her to listen to. I made sure I could faintly hear it so I mouthed the lyrics at the right time. Violet's sniggers developed into the laugh I adore so much.
'Oh my god, Violet. I fuckin' love your laugh, don't ever stop, it's beautiful.' I think to myself whilst grinning.
~~~~~~~Violet's POV~~~~~~
'Oh Violet, SHUT THE FUCK UP! Stop laughing you know he's smiling to cover up his embarrassment. SHUT UP!' I think to myself whilst laughing at the song uncontrollably. I couldn't stop, that was the problem. Soon we load out of the diner after I pack my massive hand bag and pick up my parasol.
"So, what did you actually eat?" Dan asked.
"Well, fuck… Goddamnit brain… I can't remember, don't blame me- blame the cold… So basically blame me." I giggle. Dan chuckles as we hop in the car, both in the front and set off to pick up Barry. "Oh, don't tell Suzy and Arin I'm cross stitching for them, alright?"
"Yes, captain. So what are you actually sewing?" Dan looks at me raising an eyebrow for a split second.
"Oh, I watched a Table Flip episode and thought the outfits are super cute, I'm stitching you guys with the message 'Thank You!' underneath." I tell.
"Why aren't you in it?"
"I haven't been in Table Flip, yet, have I?" I say whilst assessing the damage that I made with the needle.
"You have all of those cute dresses… Like the one you're wearing, for instance." Dan smiled.
"Don't. Even. Go. There." I looked away.
Barry was in front of the passenger seat door. He opened it, when Dan stopped the car, ready to get in. "Bitch, don't sit on me!" I exclaim.
"I usually ride shotgun when heading to Arin and Suzy's! Let me ride shotgun!" Barry said in a childlike manner.
"It's a seat, sit in the back for once, Jesus Christ!" I say like this childlike Barry's mother. Barry did as I told him to. Having a cold meant I get madder in a shorter period of time. Barry posed to be an utter annoyance and made me a sudden threat. Dan was driving, Barry was poking the back of my head and I was seething just about ready to bust open Barry's lip. Dan looked deep into the rear view mirror with a worried expression after looking at my body language- arms crossed tightly, eyebrows looking angry and pursed lips. My eye started twitching not too long after that as my view darted out of the window trying to ignore Barry, I couldn't for much longer.
Dan stopped at some traffic lights and tapped his fingers awkwardly on the steering wheel, I completely lost it.
"BARRY, FUCKING QUIT IT!" I yelled turning around, back handing Barry hard in the face. "YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW I FEEL AND THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT ME. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME, PATIENCE OR ENERGY TO BE FUCKING ON RIGHT NOW! WHAT IF I DID THAT TO YOU, HUH? I'D BE OUT THE FUCKING DOOR BY NOW. IF YOU'RE SO JEALOUS ABOUT NOT HAVING THE FRONT SEAT, WHY DIDN'T YOU MOVE YOUR SCRAWNEY LITTLE ASS A BIT FASTER SO YOU COULD HAVE THE MOTHER FUCKING SEAT! DON'T EVER FUCKING TALK TO ME ONCE TODAY BECAUSE I WON'T TALK BACK!" I turn around after blasting the man-child and shut my eyes. They feared me a little more than they probably should have. No one retaliated, they didn't even try. Barry sat rubbing his face where the bright red hand mark was. Dan stared at the road and his view never changed.
When we arrived at Arin and Suzy's, I didn't say hello or make any eye contact. I ran into the grump room, where I put Mortal Kombat 9 into the Xbox 360 and began to play. Anger was the reason I played it, making sure that I won every round, finishing with a fatality. Then I remembered. I couldn't be playing this as it was the first ever game I played with the one who annoyed me so much, 20 minutes before hand. I heard muffled disappointed and worried tones of voice outside the room.
"Violet, are you okay?" A worried Arin called. I paused the game, locked the door and sat in front of it. Arin then tried to open the door. "Violet, open up. You didn't have to get out here today if you're not well." I wanted him to fuck right off but he was persistent. I felt like I could pass out, no seriously like, I was barely alive as it was still very early in the morning. I blubbered gripping my stomach with one of my arms, the other unlocked the door before I shuffled away. I landed face first and rolled over. I screamed because my muscles in my stomach tightened. Arin ran in and lifted me back onto the couch. I had done too much in one morning, including attack someone. I cried some more.
"I'm so sorry," I whisper with a croaky voice.
"You really aren't well." Arin said. "You're really pale."
"I- I promised Suzy that I'd get my ass over here, it's my fault that I'm ill. I got the cold from dangling out the window." I mutter before keeling into a ball. "I'm so sorry!" I sobbed.
"It's alright, it's alright Violet you're here now. If you want you can grump with Dan and me, today." Arin asks hugging me after sitting me up.
"Only if you want me there, no one really wants me with them, that's all…" I sigh.
"Of course we do, your one of the family now!" Arin persuades. Well I couldn't exactly say no, could I?
"Oh alright. Let me sort my sorry ass out and then I will, okay?" I say shivering. "Gimme time to think about what I did. I'll see you back in here in an hour." I say gathering my bag and parasol, walking out of the room with my head down. I literally run to avoid them and go into the room which used to be mine. I lean the parasol against the bed after locking the door and taking off my shoes. My bare feet were sore and needed air from the tight shoes I had on. I stretched my legs and picked the cross-stitching stuff out of my bag. Crossing my legs on the bed and shoving the thread through the eye of the needle, I begin to think. 'Well, Barry got the shit. I'll apologize the best I can and Dan had to watch it happen so I have that to do as well…'
Half an hour later, I was ready. I stuff the equipment into my bag but leave it in the room. Clearing my throat, I head to the door in which I unlock. Heading out, I listen to the muffled voices. "She just ran upstairs, is she still okay?" Arin asks.
~~~~~~~~Dan's POV~~~~~~~~
I was facing the stairs when Violet slides down the banister, her curled hair behind her head and dress skirt flowing in the breeze she created. "Yes," She smiles. "Arin, I am still okay." Violet hops down as she speaks.
I stare with amazement. How could she go from sick, to this? "Of course I'm okay." The middle of the purple and black ruffled dress' skirt which was pinned together with safety pins before was now released so that her smooth but scarred and shaved legs were clear to us all. She comes close to Barry and caresses his face where she slapped him. "Oh, Barry. I'm sorry." She gives him a tiny peck on the cheek and moves over to me. "Danny, boy. Thank you for saving me at the diner. I apologize, alright?" She says before doing the same to me as she did to Barry.
~~~~~~~~Violet's POV~~~~~~~~
They both blushed quite clearly. "Barry, I'll give you a hand with editing later." I bring the boys closer together so that I could put my arms around one each of their shoulders, jump and wrap one of my legs around one each of the men's hips only, unexpectedly, for them to hold me in the air. "Danny, Arin kindly offered for me to join you in the grump's videos today. So, boys. To the couch!" I shout smiling as they take me where I wanted to go. "Come on Arin, don't be a slacker!" I call. The two men dump me on the couch as I get comfortable and sit like a man would. Dan sat on one side of me and Arin joined us. We played Gang Beasts we decided to get Suzy in the room and it was to become an official Steam Train series.
"Hey, everybody! Welcome to Steam Train not Ross edition! Woo! I'm with Suzy, Dan and my newest co-hosting person thing, Violet." Arin began.
"I want my grump head to be put on to the guy's head on the wolf job picture, Barry!" I interrupt.
"Oh, Barry make a kinda Smash Bros. Brawl fighter intro with that on." Arin says and we all laugh.
"So, yeah. I've heard Violet sing before." Dan made a conversation.
"Dan shut right the fuck up." I swear.
"Write the date down. The first time Violet swore on Steam Train." Suzy giggled.
"Come on Violet sing for us then." Dan persuaded.
"Dan were 30 fucking seconds in to the video, no! Oh, yeah to all of those at home, I just want to thank these guys. They have literally changed my life. I almost feel like I'm just a lucky fan. But they call me family." I state.
"Grump family for life," Arin says. "Barry put that on a t-shirt and make burgie wear it."
"Come on, Violet. Please sing." Dan persuades.
"Fine, Dan. You sound like a fan girl talking about NSP. Calm down." I say. "What do you want me to sing?" I ask and Dan whispers in my ear. "I'm sorry to all the viewers with headphones, this with go horribly." I apologize and begin to sing.
"You guys see what I mean, she's great. Violet you might see yourself as a guest on the next Starbomb album." Dan says.
"Oh shut up and let me kill you already!" Arin says while trying to get Dan's character to die in the game. I mash buttons so that my character in the game was trying to escape from Suzy's characters grasp.
We had so much fun and laughter filled the room. I was a guest on Game Grumps later on as well. I didn't speak all too much but when I did it was witty. After we finished up I thanked them and went straight to the office where Barry and Kevin sat editing on their computers.
"Hi, sup guys?" I ask.
"Nothing much." Kevin speaks. "Just editing really."
"Alright, do you want me to get you anything?" I ask while staring at the editing that Barry was doing. Meet-TokyoTrooper was at the top of the file name.
"Nah, I'm good for now." Barry claimed.
"When's this getting posted?" I ask.
"Tonight, I'm just making sure it's alright." Barry says scrolling through the footage. I sit down on Arin's chair and move myself behind Barry.
"Alright. I did here voice acting a while ago. Does this video involve it?"
"I thought you were asleep, Violet."
"Fuck that, I was checking Instagram. You guys are so gullible." I laugh.
"Yeah it was." Kevin laughed after me leaving Barry the only one who didn't find it as humorous as Kevin and I did.
"Violet. Are you sure you want this posted?" Barry turns and looks deep in to my eyes.
"Of course, before I wasn't quite sure but now, I'm fucking ready. It's done, isn't it?" I ask.
"Yeah it is." Barry replies.
"Well when it's time, get that shit posted." I speak enthusiastically even though I was nowhere near ready. I ran upstairs and asked Arin to come and have a look at it. We both arrived back down where Barry waited for us. Arin watches it right to the end.
"Barry, nice job man!" Arin high fives him. "Get that up on the channel, right now." Arin demands.
"Okay, I will."
"Wait, it's not finished. I have an idea!" I say picking up the camera and waltzing into the grump room upstairs, Dan wasn't there anymore as he was helping Suzy with dinner. They stare at me from the door way as I put the camera on the tripod and sit on the couch. I tell them that I will edit this and that they should go, closing the door behind them.
"Hey, guys. Its TokyoTrooper here and I just want to say, thank you for the support I may get not forgetting the constructive criticism. I will be helping out Suzy and the Grumps. I am really sorry if I have put you off the channel, but I will only be cameoing. I will not be staring in my own show as a host or co-host, do not worry, if you really don't want to see me, I'll stick to editing. Thank you for hearing me out, lovelies and I hope you enjoyed my intro video. If not you won't see my face or hear my voice anywhere aside from my channel where I have a couple of videos up. Bye, everybody!" I wave to the camera and shut it off. I exit the room and run into the office. "Guys, I have something that I'll edit onto the end of the bloopers. I'm gonna edit the bloopers anyway, but just thought I'd tell you."
The guys nod and let me at Barry's computer. I see the upload page pending the video on one of the other screens. I'm left alone with Kevin to edit it. My hair was getting in my face so I tied it up with a spare hair tie I had on my wrist. I watched the finished product over and over until I was convinced it was perfect. I began to upload the bloopers on the Grump Out channel once the actual video was up for two hours and knew Arin wouldn't be best pleased but I wouldn't be allowed to post the end part of the video. They'd just have to see it when it was finished uploading. I walked up the stairs at 6 pm and told them I'd already posted it. I began feeling weak, like I suspected, by 7 pm I'd have to go back to the apartment complex. No way in hell was I letting Suzy see me like this, she'd think I was incapable of taking care of myself. It seems like she'd be right.
It got the quarter to 7 and I was waiting for Barry and Dan by the door. This is the worst I'd ever felt, it could have just been a cold but I was beginning to think it was more serious than that. I knew it was all my fault, the bruise on my back was nowhere near faded and they didn't know that I still felt the pain. I looked out of the window, my pale face reflected and looking straight back at me. I looked so feeble and I could do nothing. Whenever I became ill at home and I was alone, I had to skip school. There was no other way of getting around the problem. All I could think was that I needed to leave, I just wanted Suzy to think I wasn't that bad. I was taken out of the trance I'd put myself in.
"Violet? Are you sure you don't want anything?" It was Arin. His cats swarmed around my feet meowing.
"No, no. I'm fine. I won't be needing any food right no-now. Urrk, l-look at the time." I say trying to keep Arin from seeing my now completely white face. "Nearly 7, tell Dan and Barry as soon as they're done that I'm ready to go."
"They kinda want to see you in the dining room right now, Violet… You might as well." Arin said going back into the room the rest of the grumps were in.
"O-ok." I made sure he was gone before getting up. I lowered my head and prepared myself before shuffling into the room in a 'half-assed' manner. "W-what do you need?" I asked trying to sound chipper but I just couldn't. They stared as if there was something wrong.
"Are you ok? Violet, you're as white as a sheet." Kevin asked.
"Just a cold… n-nothing more. Guys I'm ready to go when you are." I was almost completely wiped out. Leaning on the door frame, I sniffled a little bit. "Just a cold." I repeat. 'Or flu…' I think to myself. Arin wasn't sat down so he came close and helped me on to the nearest seat. I straight away put my arms and head on the table, that day had been very tiring and more tiring than it should have been for a cold. "Urrk, kill me." I mutter in a very sleepy tone. I look up.
"Violet, your eyes. They're blood shot." Dan says in a worried manner.
"I'm fine, it's just a-" I try to speak but I was interrupted by Barry.
"Flu, Violet. You've got flu." He'd finished his food and walked over to me. He began massaging my shoulders. "We need to get you home. Don't we, Dan?" He says after Dan took the last bite of his food.
"Yeah and, like, fast. It's not warm or sunny outside anymore, it's both bad and good." Dan says. Arin was on the other side of the room to make sure Suzy didn't try and keep me at their house. Arin knew Dan and Barry were capable enough of taking care of me. It was only small.
"Could y-you get my bag from upstairs. I don't want to leave it here." I look at Dan.
"Yes, Violet. Barry's gonna help you to the car." Dan says nodding at Barry who had just helped me up. I struggled to stand. Barry, out of the kindness of his heart, carried me out to the car.
"Thank you, Bar-Barry." I shiver as the man loaded me into the back of the car. "I'm really and truly so-"
"Don't apologize, I should for not noticing earlier." Barry said getting into the front after clipping my seat belt on. Dan ran out with my bag and parasol. Barry began driving once Dan sat in the back next to me. The 6"3 man put his arms around me after putting his seat belt on. I rested on Dan's chest as my energy was lacking.
"Danny," I whisper. He slowly looks at me trying not to frighten me.
"Hmm? What is it?" He asks, with concern.
"T-thank you. I guess you know…" I quietly whisper.
"Know what?" He hugs me tightly.
"Know that you are doing this right, this is how it should be done. Comfort for the sick." I whisper again. Smiling I hug him back, a guy had never done this to me before if we were counting my dad out. I wasn't a girl guys dated due to my very cautious, introverted and do-it-myself nature. I wasn't someone you could just get close to, especially when my life was at its hardest like the way it was at that moment. Danny was just so nice and comforting, I don't know what it was about him but I just felt obligated to lie on his chest and fall asleep.
~~~~~~~~Dan's POV~~~~~~~
When I realised Violet was asleep, I knew not to wake her up so when we reached the complex, I carried her to the apartment. I got bored waiting for her to wake up while in Barry's and my apartment so I decided to search her name on Urban Dictionary. This was what I found:
Violet
Violet is a beautiful, loving, socially conscious girl with a great sense of humour. She has amazing fashion sense and everyone wants to be her friend. While she is popular, she uses her powers for good, not evil. She steps in to help the nerds who are being bullied by the jocks and stands up for what is right. She is very intelligent and will likely end up going to Oxford.
'What an amazing girl - she must be a Violet!'
I nodded and got up. "Barry do you agree with this? I do!" I call. Barry has a look at the definition and nods.
"Dan, is that the serious definition? Aside from being the popular one, that is Blackwell to a T." Barry agreed smiling. I decided to keep looking, I found another one in which I read out loud:
"Violet
Violet is a beautiful, loving, socially conscious girl with a great sense of humour. She has amazing fashion sense and everyone wants to be her friend. She also is a person that has been through everything and overcomes life's adversities to become a better person. One who is very thorough in every aspect of life. A family person who loves unconditionally and with everything she has. When life kicks her down she comes back up immediately with even more strength and a better outlook on life. She is a real girl & sooo popular!
She dances like there's nobody watching,
Loves like she's never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And lives like it's heaven on earth.
IF YOU KNOW A VIOLET I GOTTA SAY YOU'RE ONE HELL LUCKY SON OF A BITCH!
*Violet walks down the street of Miami*
Everyone stops & stares"
Honest to god, not every Violet is or was popular. My curiosity made me look until I found the most accurate definition of the Violet I knew. Definition 3 and 4 were entries I wished to remember as they was almost just like life advice. 5, 6, 7 and 8 were loads of bullshit. Number 9 was something I wanted to remember, another bit of life advice. Number 10 was the closest I got to the way I first viewed her:
"Violet
A name reserved for only the real girls.
Violet is usually a breath-taking girl that when she walks down the street you can't help but stare.
Generally speaking, the name reflects the girl's outstanding beauty (like a violet), her talent for classical music (like the violin), and—occasionally—her unholy temper (like violence).
*Violet walks down the street of NYC*
O.M.G.
Everyone's head turn and she pretends not to notice."
I couldn't believe that there wasn't one that described her to a 'T'. Number 11 depicted her speed. I got curious- What did this website have to say about me? Some of those definitions are lude and some just plain rude. The 23rd definition sounded like something a girlfriend such as one that I wanted would write but one of them stood out to me-
'Dan
A great guy whom everybody loves. He is always smiling, even when he tries really hard not to. Most girls would definitely date him. He can be really confusing, but he's one of the best friends anyone could have. Don't get him mad at you, because it is usually pretty upsetting. He's funny and cute and all around great!
-That Dan over there, he's just awesome!
-Wow, you see that Dan? He's really great!'
Of course I don't read the entries about my name out loud. 'Some people thought highly about a guy named Dan.' I thought while looking at the sleeping women on my couch. I found another one-
'Dan
A man of unusual humour, consistently finding strange, and lewd comments amusing and/or entertaining in a way as to provoke violent and uncontrolled outbursts of laughter.
The Dan could not control him his mirth as he viewed the movie "Old School's" lewd comedy.'
I mess on with a couple of the apps on my phone while noticing how cute Violet looked when she was sleeping. Taking a picture would've been stalker level. Plus I respect colleagues, friends and women in general more than the scum bags.
"Hey, Arin." I texted my buddy. "How's you and the missus after what happened?"
I get almost an instant reply. "I'm fine." I raise an eyebrow thinking that's all Arin had to say. "Suzy is a complete mess, to say the least."
"What do you mean?" I type and send.
"She keeps asking why I was holding her back, she wanted to help Violet. How is Violet?"
"Sleeping. Hey, so there was this thing that Violet was listening to in the diner." I begin.
"Why are you telling me this?" Arin replies.
"I got too afraid to ask to listen to it. She said it was 'My Favourite Things' mixed with something else that she could play. Apparently it was from an anime, that's why I'm asking you about it."
"Oh, now I get why." He takes two minutes to reply. "Do you mean this? watch?v=xOf3MVMPGOc" He sent a link that went straight to a medley, the one Violet made it sound like at the diner. To think that Violet could play it was amazing.
At the start of it I didn't realize that Violet had woken up, I generally thought it was louder when a character spoke. "この曲..." She whispered. (It means "This song…")
It got a little bit further into the medley and she spoke again. "しかし...それはその後やったよりも全く別の音..." ("But… It sounds totally different than it did then…") I still didn't notice the women. "これは、2つの王子が主張のようなものだ、快くとして帰ってきます..." ("It's like two princes arguing, good-naturedly as the come back home...") When it ended Violet was now somehow behind me, touching the small of my back smiling. "Hehe- you didn't see me there. Did you, senpai?"
"Huh, no. No I didn't what the fuck, you were on the couch 3 minutes ago!" I was really freaked out. "Even when you're ill, you're crazy fast!"
She said the most obvious thing a Sci-Fi loving person would say. She doesn't even like Sci-Fi. "I teleport." Violet leaned on me, one of her arms on either shoulder. "Meow." She smiled. "I'm fuckin' knacked after that."
I dragged her back to the sofa. Violet sat down and Barry flipped up the recliner for her. "Cheers, mate." Violet breathed. Her purple and still blood shot eyes looked at her hand.
"I'll get you some soup, Violet. Alright?" Barry smiled flipping down the laptop screen.
"I'll get you your blanket and some extra pillows." I say walking into my room. Once I collect what I need, I see Violet cross-stitching. "You don't have to do it when you're ill."
"I don't see it as a chore, I enjoy cross-stitching. It's fun." Violet yawns and accidently prods herself with the needle, drawing a little bit of blood.
"Before you cover me up," She stands avoiding the recliner part of the chair. "I'll get some pj's on, sleeping in my second best dress is not a good idea." Violet opens her suitcase and pulls out red and black checker shorts and a white vest top. "Fuck it, I can't be bothered to move that far." She begins to remove the dress. It reaches her feet and I swivel around. "Dan, I'm sure you're 35 not in elementary school, it's alright to look." She enjoyed catching me by surprise. "One day- you'll see it as nothing… one day." She smiles and gets closer towards me to add insult to injury.
"I respect that you don't care, but could you just not. I feel uncomfortable." I say shuffling to make the same distance as before.
"I never thought I'd hear someone such as yourself, say that." She jokes. I just look at her. "Oh, the classic death stare, nice one Danny. You go to pretending I'm your girlfriend to the death stare. One joke changes everything." She glances at me before sitting back down with the pj's on. I smile and throw a pillow at her face, then I went go to sit on her, playfully. Violet manoeuvred out of the way so I fell on the couch.
~~~~~~~Violet's POV~~~~~
I bent down and my boobs, practically falling out of my bra and vest top (not literally), hit each of Dan's knees. It became awkward as Barry walked in at that exact moment. I fell to the side of Dan only to also fall on to the couch. The curly haired man put the pillow behind my head and blanket on my lap.
"Danny, pass me my phone from my bag please hun." I ask and Dan obediently passes the phone. Barry puts the food on the coffee table before switching the TV on.
"Is there anything that you'd like to watch Violet?" Barry kindly asked.
"No, I'm okay. I'm trying to read some comments on the video, that's all." I reply while rubbing my eye, I then tap the side of my face. "Crap, Dan pass me my bag." Dan is again obedient. I search around for my glasses, find and eventually put them on. "Let me see." Dan looks over my shoulder.
'Urgh, another useless women.' One comment said. "Well, son. You can kindly go fuck yourself!" I say in a pissed off tone. 'This is why I stopped watching, we don't need another one. Suzy's bad enough.' "I'm gonna beat your mother fucking ass as well sir."
'Claiming to be a war angel, what does she know about war?' That comment set me off as I gasped. A single tear ran down my face. I instantaneously replied. 'My father is a soldier, dick bag. Before I met the grumps, I was planning on fighting for the UK too. I know more about war that your whole fucking family knows about you. Go suck a cock. Asshole.' I brought my knees up to my face, Dan read the comment.
"Violet, it's okay. Allow me." Dan began but Arin had already tailed after my comment. 'Look, don't you ever go offending one of my friends. EVER. Do you understand?'
Dan decided to try but Suzy got there before he did. 'Violet is a wonderful person, don't you go saying things like that!'
'Yeah, Violet is amazing. Don't you ever say something like that.' Holly typed.
'Come at me scrub lord, I'm ripped.' Ross replied.
'You made a grump family member cry, that is the lowest of the low, man.' Dan typed.
I finished. 'My father is in a coma because of war. Be gone, demon. I have friends who stick up for me, I'd be surprised if you even have any at all.' My last reply got so many likes within the first minute, it was insane. "That is the power of the game grumps, BITCHES!" I call. "Even when you can't see them they're there for you, Dad always wanted me to get some friends. I never thought I find some like you guys." I smile.
"Where would you be without us now?" Dan got curious.
"On the front line, following in my dads footsteps. I'm glad you saved my ass, though." I sigh with relief.
"How? Miss saved-your-ass." Dan teases.
"Well, it wasn't really me that you saved. It was my dad's sanity. You're still helping me cling on to mine right now." I pick up the food tray. I blew on some tomato soup that was on the spoon. "Thank you." I smile before stuffing my face. When I finish up Barry takes the bowl in and I continue the cross stitch.
"Violet, you're not going out early tomorrow. It won't help you get better." Barry urges. "You need sleep, anyway. I'm heading off to bed earlier tonight, giving you some respect… Ya know?"
"Thank you and how abou-" I interrupt myself by burping. They looked really surprised as I begin to giggle. "Pardon me, Jesus Christ. Like I was saying, when are you sleeping tonight?"
"It's 8:30 pm now, so probably… hmm…. 2 hours." Dan looked at Barry, I didn't catch what the glace was supposed to say but I knew he did it. I kicked back to relax a little more but then there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it, Violet. Don't move, alright?" Barry said moving out of the room. I turned to look at Dan and he returned the glance. We waited several minutes keeping the same eye contact throughout it. Barry walked back in with three letters and a parcel. "Violet, here you are." He gave me two of the letters and the parcel. I just stared at the label, reading what it said over and over again, to make sure I knew who it was from. It was almost as if I got stuck in a trance again but Dan shook my shoulders. He then released me from his grasp.
"Huh, Whuyt?" I asked looking slightly scared. Dan just looked at me with pursed lips and his eyes glanced towards the package. "Oh, right. Do you guys know about this?" I question and Barry nods.
"They sent it to Arin and Suzy's house and it arrived last night, when you were in the office editing Suzy told me to put this in the boot of the car without telling you. I think her goal was to make it look like it got sent straight to the complex…" I raise an eyebrow. "Mrs Cranbury delivers mail to all of the apartments, something to keep her busy, you know?" Barry sat back on his seat with the laptop. The package was only small, round about 35.5cm x 40cm, with neat writing on the tag. I was really scared to know what the package had to offer. I looked at the letter and put the parcel to the side. The first letter was from the owner of the complex, Mrs Cranbury, herself while the second one- I couldn't tell until I opened it.
A printed letter with two addresses, one was Arin and Suzy's, the home address was the army. I took one of my fake nails and slid it under the seal flap of the envelope slowly and nervously. Dan put a hand on my shoulder, polite and caringly, I nod after turning to look at him. I sit back slowly taking the letter, and another folded bit of paper that I didn't unfold quite yet, out of the envelope in which go set aside straight after. I read it in my head:
'Dear Ms Blackwell,
We are sorry to inform you that your father, Marcel Marco Blackwell, has passed away. The coma was fatal. We wish for you to give us the information on his burial. Again, we are sorry for your loss.
All due respect,
The Great British Army.'
A/N-I'm not quite sure how that letter would go, it's something that happens though… You get the point.
I couldn't believe what I'd just read, "No… Dad, no. Your-" I whisper after bending down and putting the letter on the coffee table. I picked up the neatly folded bit of paper that was behind it. Opening it, my eyes were shut. I stared, unbelieving. "Dad, please. Dad, no-no-no-no-no-no." I whisper again. Dan picks up the letter as Barry walks over towards us, setting his laptop to the side. The pair heads slowly turn to look at my face, not crying no, the expression that was clear: Shell Shock and more pale than I was when I was sickly before.
"V-Violet?" Dan was almost crying. I shivered, my mood wasn't set for eye contact. I breathed but it was shaken as that's what I did.
"My dad's d-d-dead. He's gone…" I shudder. I pick up the package and open it. His dog tag style necklace, hat, photo of me and him, engraved rifle shells and the plush I had made for him when I was 16 sat inside the box. I turn to the guys beside me, still no tears, and thud straight into their chests. Only then do I begin weeping. My silent sobs and jolting body movements were uncontrollable.
"I think you should read the oth-" Barry began but I interjected.
"Tomorrow, not right now." I whisper. Dan hugs me, full throttle, taking Barry from my arm. The tall man rested his head on mine and I feel small drops on my back. I was gripping tighter and tighter, almost as if I was trying to suffocate Dan. I calmed down so that Dan and Barry went to bed. After I knew they were asleep though, I hugged the pillow that Dan gave me to sleep with, crying silently all night.