Internal Debates & Jealous Remains

Once everyone started to feel the weight of sleep, room situations were quickly figured out and the house was soon quiet. Violet, Jo, and Ellen were put up in a fairly empty room upstairs where they had just enough space to roll out their sleeping bags. Ellen was snoring before the two girls had even really gotten situated.

"It's so nice to see you," Violet murmured, rubbing Jo's shoulder. Her words were tinted with sadness, though, and Jo picked up on it. She didn't need to ask why.

"It's nice to see you, too. We'll kick butt tomorrow, you'll see. And we'll laugh about it in a couple years. The boys won't know what to do with us," Jo joked softly.

Violet desperately wanted to believe Jo's words, but something sinister and sickening had settled in the pit of her stomach like she'd poured antifreeze down her throat. She smiled at Jo anyway, wanting to revel in the time she had with her. Make the most of it.

"Speaking of those boys," Jo began quietly. "I'm really not sure what to do with Dean. He gave me the last-night-on-earth speech." She laughed at the ridiculousness of it. "I'm pretty sure it was the beer talking, but it was just too funny."

"Silly Dean," Violet managed to squeeze out in a friendly tone. Meanwhile, something else was stirring darkly inside her, something by the infamous name of jealousy. Raw, thick jealousy. Her blood became molasses and she suddenly wanted nothing to do with the both of them. Quickly she tried to reason with herself.

It's not Jo's fault. Dean approached her.

So then it's Dean's fault. That doesn't make it any better. How does it feel having another girl walk in and knowing he went after her in that way? He's never gone after you like that.

Well, they've known each other longer.

You're merely justifying things now, sweetheart. You've been with Dean longer. They don't see each other that often, so realistically, you know Dean better.

Regardless, Jo and Dean are still my friends.

And how would you feel if Jo had accepted Dean's offer? Hmmm?

Violet didn't have an answer to that. At least not one she'd readily admit. She didn't know how she'd feel. Bad, probably. Betrayed, at least by Dean. Jo wouldn't be to blame because she didn't know of Violet's attraction to Dean. Overall, though, Violet was eternally grateful that Jo still had turned down Dean's inebriated offer without even knowing anything more.

"You're awful quiet," Jo commented, yawning into her hand.

"Yeah. There's just a lot of things to think about lately," she explained vaguely.

"I hear ya."

Within moments, Jo had followed her mother down the river of sleep. Violet was left wide-awake for hours afterwards, pondering tomorrow and who wouldn't come back home.