We're halfway to my apartment when I realize I forgot something at Vi and Caitlyn's place this morning.
"Shit."
"What now?"
"I forgot my keys at your place," I mutter.
"Awesome," Vi says, turning the wheel around, doing a full 180 degree turn in the middle of the road.
"That was really illegal," I say.
"So is killing people and blowing up buildings, but we don't talk about that, do we?"
"Okay you know what, fuck you, Vi. I get that you're jealous because I have a date while your sweetheart is fucking someone else-"
Vi stops the car. She turns her head to look at me, but to my very surprise, she doesn't look angry. She's smiling. A twisted, evil smile.
"Get out of my car," she says in an oddly calm voice.
"What?"
"You heard me."
I look at her in stunned silence, not moving.
"I only bruised your nose yesterday. You want me to break it? Because I can."
She raises her fist.
"Do it," I hiss.
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY CAR!"
She gets out of the car, tears the passenger side door open and pulls me out of the car by my hair, then drops me like a hot brick. I fall to the ground, bruising my shoulder. Vi speeds off, damn near running over my legs.
Staggering, I get to my feet.
Great, what now? I've never navigated this part of Piltover on my own. At least not while thinking straight.
I just start walking in what I assume to be the right direction. It takes me a good hour but I eventually find Caitlyn's place. Vi's car isn't here, she probably drove to the office. I just hope Caitlyn is here... someone needs to open that door for me.
I take a deep breath and ring the door bell. Once. Twice. No reaction. I'm just about to give up when the door opens.
Piltover's Sheriff looks at me like I'm some kind of disgusting bug.
"What do you want here?"
"I forgot my keys this morning. They're on the coffee table, if I could just-"
She leaves me standing in front of the door, and within not even ten seconds, returns with my keys. She quite literally throws them at me and then slams the door. Quickly, I put my foot in between the door and the door frame.
"What?!", she hisses.
"I just – you saved my life that night. I owe my life to you-"
"You ruined my life. And Violet's. And so many others. I shouldn't have saved you. So, if you want to do me a favour in return – do what I couldn't do. Kill yourself."
She slams the door shut.
Yep, Vi was right. I should not have brought this up.
It takes me a second to get over what she just said.
Maybe she's right. I should kill myself. And it could be so easy, too. If only I had my guns …
STOP. What are you thinking, Jinx? You got out of the loony bin. You're attending college. You have a date! You got this.
I take a deep breath and then start walking. Not quite sure where. I'll find my way home, somehow. I hope.
But instead of finding my way to my apartment, I end up at Piltover's police station. Let's be real here. I have no idea how to get home. And my feet are already hurting from walking so much. I need Vi to drive me home.
Taking yet another deep breath, I enter the police station.
Immediately, all eyes on me. Most of the people in this building know who I am.
The guy at the front desk looks at me as if he's about to grab his gun and shoot me.
"I – uhm... Is Violet here?", I ask.
"I don't think she wants to see you."
"Please?"
He sighs and picks up the phone, dialling a short number.
"It's her. She wants to see you," he says, "I know, I told her. But I don't think she's leaving if you don't come see her."
He hangs up the phone and points to his right.
"Room 006."
"Thanks."
I walk down the narrow hallway. Room 006's door is ajar. Carefully, I poke my head in.
"Vi?"
She doesn't react. I enter the room.
"Uhm... I'm a little lost, I don't know how to get home. Can you drive me?"
Still no reaction.
"Please?"
Nothing.
"Vi, I'm sorry about what I said earlier..."
Still acting as though I don't exist, she gets up, grabs her car keys and leaves the room. I assume this means that I should follow her to her car.
She doesn't say anything the whole drive. No matter how many times I apologize or try to start a conversation, she flat out ignores me. When we arrive at my apartment complex, she closes the door behind me as soon as I get out of the car, doesn't even give me a chance to say Good Bye. So much for fixing our relationship...
My legs feel heavy as I walk up the stairs. I hadn't even realized how late it was. I spent almost three hours wandering through Piltover.
I unlock my apartment door, dropping my bag as soon as I'm inside. Sighing, I let myself fall onto my bed. I stare at the ceiling for a while before I remember that I have Olivia's phone number in my pocket.
I take the little piece of paper out and stare at it. Even her handwriting is beautiful.
Do I call her? Or do I text her? Should I wait until tomorrow?
I grab my cell phone, type in her number and save it. She's one of three contacts in my phone. Vi, my therapist, and now, Olivia.
I start typing a text message.
"Hi :)"
No. Too cliche. Backspace, backspace, backspace. Try again.
"Hey, it's J," backspace, "Hannah. :)"
I hover my finger over the 'Send' button. Is it too early to text her? She said would could go to the café tomorrow. So... I should message her now so we can agree on a time to meet, right?
I tap the button. Sent.
I lock my phone and practically throw it across the room. Oh God. I'm nervous like a little kid.
I stare at the little device that's resting at the foot of my bed. For about ten minutes that feel like hours, nothing happens. Then, the screen lights up and a little sound plays. It makes me jump about three feet in the air.
I grab and unlock my phone within the split of a second.
Okay, Jinx, chill. Do you want her to know that you've been staring at your phone ever since you sent that message? I close my eyes for a while before I read her response.
