Violet's POV

I absentmindedly stare out the window of my mom's car as she drove me to my first day back at Westfield High School. We only decided to move back to my old neighborhood after my mom caught my dad cheating. Who could blame her? We moved away because my dad had a great job opportunity, and it was too far of a drive from our old house. In the event of having to move away, I had to say goodbye to my school, my neighbors, and most of all, I had to say goodbye to my best friend, Tate.

Tate and I grew up together, living right next door to each other. Our parents never got along, but Tate's mom, Constance, paid my dad for private shrink sessions since Constance believed that Tate was "troubled". I understand why Constance would want Tate looked at - he was experiencing violent fits of rage, suicidal thoughts, and an urge to harm people. I remember hearing my dad recording an audio log following Tate's final session before we moved, and I heard him say something about "psychopath" and "borderline personality disorder". Of course there was nothing a five-year-old would know about those things, so I ignored them and continued to hang out with him. Tate never made me afraid of him. In fact, Tate used to be my biggest protector when other kids picked on me for dressing differently. Typically, teenagers in LA dress in the latest fashion and wear certain clothes.

Not me.

Kids at school would bully me and call me names because I didn't believe in looking like everyone else. Why would I? I liked what I wore and how I wore it. But Tate used to come to my defense against them. A lot of the bullies were older and bigger, but he had this almost supernatural strength to him, and he would bring them down like dolls.

"Violet?" I heard a distant voice. "Violet!"

I snap out of my thoughts. "Yeah Mom."

"Are you okay?" I nod. "Are you sure? We've been parked outside the school for about five minutes."

I look out my window again. Only this time I wasn't watching traffic pass, but I catch the features of Westfield High, and all the kids showing up and walking through the front doors. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle this after everything that happened.

I hug my mom goodbye and step out of the car. My mom waited a moment before taking off. I stand still for a bit, looking around and everyone passing by me, bracing myself for everything to pick up where they left off.

Tate's POV

I take a drag of my cigarette, because God help me if I can get through today without it. It was only a month into my junior year, and I was already hating it; the people, the teachers, everything! There wasn't a single thing about this stupid hellhole that could make this year any better.

That's when I saw her. My hand stopped halfway to my mouth when I caught a glimpse of the dirty blonde hair that was so unique and beautiful, it could've only belonged to one person. I took a drag and continued to watch the girl, hoping she'd turn around to confirm my suspicions. And when she did my heart came to a complete stop. I let my smoke fall to the ground and I jump to my feet, hoping I wasn't imagining things. It had been ten years since I last laid eyes on her, and I'll be damned if I didn't seize this chance to do it again.

After watching the girl awkwardly look around her, she finally graced me by looking around in my direction. I felt my eyes drying out out from not blinking for so long, but it was too hard to imagine blinking once and she'd be gone again. My best friend disappeared from my life because of her selfish parents and I haven't seen or heard from her in a long time, that seeing her now could only be a blessing or a curse.

"Violet!" I called out. She didn't heard me. "Violet!" I called louder. She was making her way inside the school, so I followed her from a distance. I didn't want to get too close in case I was wrong somehow.

As I followed her through the halls I was watching as her hair swayed like silk, watching how her black cardigan hung off her shoulders, and how her leggings clung to her legs. That's when I realized that she was so much skinnier then the last time I saw her. How did she get so thin? All she did was eat as a kid, and now she looks like she barely eats at all. I continue to stay close to her without her noticing me or anyone getting suspicious, but when she stopped at her locker I stop dead in my tracks and hide behind the closest corner. Watching her go through her things was interesting because as a child she was so sociable with others, and now it's like no one exists around her.

What the hell happened to her?

I take a deep breath and step out from around the corner when I feel a hard jab to my shoulder. I whirled around to find Kyle Greenwell, captain of Westfield High's football team, followed by his fleeting entourage of jock assholes. I suppose I can't be too surprised, since pussies always traveled in groups.

"What's the story, Langdon?" Kyle asked. His eyes looked towards Violet, who still hadn't noticed me. "Chloe says you've been following that girl around since she got here. You a stalker?" he teased.

I just glare at him. I also took a glance at Chloe Stapleton, who had Kyle's arm draped around her shoulders, with an egotistical smirk on her face. Sometimes I just want to -

Ring! Ring! Ring!

Saved by the bell.

"Catch'cha later, stalker." Kyle bumped past me to get to class. I was watching him walk away when I realized that Violet was gone!

Shit! Where did she go?

Violet's POV

I was leaning over the toilet waiting for bile to come up. Tears were streaming down my face from all the heaving and choking I had just done. I sat on the floor for a few minutes in case I wasn't done. I heard the bell ring outside the girl's washroom, but I couldn't bring myself up off the floor in time. My first day and I'm already late. Damn it!

When my stomach finally calmed down I carefully lift myself off the floor and head to the sink to rinse my mouth out. When I was done I caught a look at myself in the mirror and what I was looking at caught me off guard. I hadn't really looked at myself lately, so this was a bit unnerving. My face was paler than normal, my cheeks were sunken in a bit, and my eyes look as if I haven't slept in days. Wow, what a train wreck.

I leave the bathroom and make my way to my first English class. I took some quick looks in the other classrooms on my way to English and didn't see anyone I recognized, but then how would I? I've been gone for years, so it would be amazing if anyone even remembered who I was. I finally made it to my class as my teacher, Mr. Alden, was finishing the attendance. Everyone in the room was staring at me and it made me very uneasy, on top of already feeling shitty.

"Can I help you, young lady?" Mr. Alden asked.

"I, um...I'm supposed to be in your class," I said in a small voice. "My name is Violet Harmon."

I awkwardly stayed in placed as Mr. Alden looked through his attendance sheet. He erased something on the paper and put something on it before he closed the folder and ushered me to take a seat. I was carefully making my down an aisle of desks, when I saw an empty one and sat down. I was waiting for the lesson to start when I felt something odd about this place. It wasn't disturbing, but I was having the strangest feeling that I was being -

That's when I finally noticed him. There was no mistaking those blonde curls, unusually dark eyes, and pale complexion to match my own. On the other side of the room, Tate Langdon, my best friend from childhood was looking at me. His expression was unreadable, but if I knew Tate I knew he was feeling the same thing I was feeling.

Our mental reunion was short-lived and interrupted my Mr. Alden beginning his lesson for today.

...

The bell rang and I was finally free from my second period algebra class. It was finally lunch time and instead of going to the overcrowded cafeteria, I decided I wanted to go outside and find a nice shady tree to sit under by myself. I'd be lying to myself if I said I didn't want to go looking for Tate. I haven't seen the guy in years since I moved away without much of an explanation. Being young children, you don't really understand what it means for people to move away for a job. But Tate was always smarter than most kids, so I thought he understood.

I unwrapped my lunch and my stomach felt queasy as soon as I looked at it. Jesus, even looking at food was enough to make me want to be sick these days. I took out the granola bar and put everything else back in my bag. I took a bite of it and felt a little better, but still feeling a bit shitty. I made it about halfway through the bar when I voice came from behind me.

"Finally," came a voice.

I looked around to find Tate standing there. God, it was like looking at a giant. Even after I stood up he still towered over me, and it was hard to imagine since the last time I saw him he was smaller than I was. Even his chubby cheeks had disappeared and were replaced with sharp cheekbones and a chiseled jaw. I could even see his physique through his shirt.

"I finally found you." His mouth broke out into a huge smile; pearly white teeth shining as he did.

"Tate..." I said almost breathless. I could feel tears burning my eyes and I fought everything in me from running into his arms. Ten years and somehow it would seem awkward to hold him. He was like a stranger yet somehow still familiar.

"Violet," he said taking a step towards me. "I can't believe it - where have you been?"

"I..." I was at a serious loss for words. How do you casually tell your best friend something after not speaking for ten years?

"Violet?" Tate called. "Are you okay?"

I opened my mouth to say yes, but nothing came out. Instead, I just grabbed my bag and took off running. I'm not sure how long I ran for but I kept going until I felt sick. What had come over me? Tate was my best friend, the person who knew me better than anyone else on the planet, and I couldn't say a damn word to him.

I hid somewhere nearby until it was time for my next class. I can't risk running in to Tate before collecting myself enough to actually have a conversation with him.