Violet's POV

When I got home I saw the my mom wasn't home from work yet. She works as a firm receptionist, so I imagine she'll be home late. No big deal.

I threw my bag on my bed and made my way to the kitchen to grab something to drink. Luckily I found the last Gatorade in the fridge and took it back to my room with me. Shutting the door behind me, I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop to start my homework. I wasn't too far into my assignment before I found myself distracted by my thoughts.

Why did I run away? Why couldn't I talk to Tate?

How is it that after all these years I forgot how to talk to people - especially the people I knew?

When I finished my homework it was already after seven o'clock and Mom still wasn't home. I wasn't feeling too tired or hungry so I hopped in the shower to cleanse myself of the hectic first day I had. I stood in the hot water for a while before I actually started cleaning myself off. When I felt clean enough I turned off the water, wrapped myself in a towel, and went back to my bedroom. I threw on a pair of track pants and an over-sized t-shirt. I went to the living room and turned on the TV when I realized how hungry I was. I guess the shower helped my appetite a bit. Too bad it didn't work that way all the time.

I made my way to the kitchen and made myself a sandwich, parking my butt back on the couch.

Tate's POV

I could hear my mom and Larry having their usual nightly argue downstairs, which is why I locked myself in my room. I sat down on my bed, elbows on my knees, my leg shaking like crazy as I thought about the events that occurred at school today. Violet finally came home. But why wouldn't she talk to me? Did I do something to scare her? I would never scare her. I'm not sure what to think, especially since I pictured our reunion involving us hugging each other, and laughing, and...

My phone was ringing in my pocket.

I looked at the caller ID and answered.

"Hey Hayden, what's up?"

"Hey, I'm not sure if you realized it today, but I was out sick. Can I borrow your notes for history?" After a long pause I heard her say, "Tate?"

"Yeah sorry," I said. "Um yeah, I'll have them ready for you when you back."

"I'll be back tomorrow," she assured me. "I'll meet you in the morning."

"Okay."

"Is everything okay, Tate?" Hayden asked. "You sound distracted."

"N-No I'm good," I stammered. "It's just been a really long day."

Hayden stayed silent for a moment. "Okay then." Another moment of silence. "Call me if you need me." She hung up.

...

All night I tossed and turned. I couldn't sleep. All I wanted to do was see Violet again, and my mind wouldn't cease until I figured out how. I don't even know where she lives. The neighborhood isn't that big, but it was definitely big enough to hide someone who didn't want to be found.

I sat up in bed and scratched my fingers through the curls of my hair, trying to ease my frustrated mind. I thought about different things I could to help me sleep, but all of my immediate wouldn't help. My body has a huge tolerance to weed and smoking at night makes me anxious. My only other option was to go for a run around the block a few times. So I decided to quietly walk downstairs to put my shoes on, when a light in the living room went on, making me jump. Constance was sitting in her usual chair by the fireplace smoking a cigarette and nursing a drink.

"Where do you think you're going?" she said in her usual drunk Southern drawl.

"For a run," I muttered. "I can't sleep." I stepped into the room and noticed she was alone. "Where's Larry?"

A smirk appeared on her face. "I gave him something to help him sleep."

Crazy bitch. "You drugged him?"

Constance laughed. "You could say that." She took one last swig of her drink and stood up, making her way over to me. She put her hand on my cheek like she always did when she was feeling sentimentally wasted. "Oh my baby boy," she whispered. "What has gotten you so anxious tonight?"

"What do you mean?"

"I haven't heard you use the I'm going for a run excuse in years." She took a drag of her cigarette. "Not since -"

Something dawned on her and a look of realization appeared on her face. I braced myself for the one-woman army that was Constance Langdon, the woman who despised my friendship with Violet, but only tolerated it for my therapy sessions. Over the years I tried to understand her dislike of the Harmon family, but all I ever got was "they're no good". No matter how many times I tried to confront the woman about it she never seemed to have a good enough reason for me. At times I wondered if she just needed someone to take her hate out on whenever her and Larry fought. Beau's not around anymore to take the beatings, and Addie moved away with one of Constance's old boyfriends, so good for her. Now it was my turn to take the brunt of it all.

"It's that girl," Constance growled. "I thought that family was gone for good!" She ran a hand through her hair in frustration, looking around for something around the room. "Where is she?"

Calmly, I said, "I don't know. I only just saw her today."

She pointed her finger at me. "You are not to see that girl again."

"We go to the same school and we share a class together." I could feel my anger slowly bubbling up. How dare this bitch try and dictate who I can and can't see. Besides, she's one to talk, considering her toxic relationship with that wannabe actor she calls a fiance.

"Then we'll have you transferred."

The anger was rising. "No."

She scoffed. "Who are you to tell me no, boy?" She swayed towards me. "I am your mother, and you will -"

"I will not be bullied by you because of some twisted sense of righteousness."

"I do not -"

"I'm going for a run." I headed for the door.

Constance followed me. "If you walk out the door, I -"

I whirled around on her. "You'll what? Lock me out? Go ahead," I snarled. "But believe me when I say that I know this house a lot better than you do. Trust me, I'll find my way back in." And with that I left and slammed the door behind me.

The Next Day...

Violet's POV

I didn't feel quite as rested as I should have this morning. I vaguely remember falling asleep on the couch, but when I woke up it was morning and my mom was cooking breakfast. Of course with my shitty stomach and lack of appetite these days, I passed on it, much to my mother's protests about having energy.

She dropped my off at the front of the school as she did the day before. We said our goodbyes and I went inside the school to exchange some of my material for class that morning. I was a little disappointed when I didn't see Tate on my in, but I also felt relief. I still wasn't sure how I was going to approach him or even answer anything he wants to ask. While I exchanged my books my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw the name I have been avoiding for the last few weeks.

Kevin.

I turned my phone off and threw it in my bag before I shut my locker and headed for English. I was halfway to class when I decided to take a short detour around the building. Since I had time to kill before the bell rang, I stopped to light a smoke. I had maybe about three drags before I heard a voice nearby.

"Hey!" There were three girls approaching me. The one who was clearly the leader was a bit taller than me with long brownish-red hair, and she definitely had the look of a coke head. The other girls looked similarly dressed, but also had their own style.

"Student Council granted a rule about smoking in public," the leader snapped.

"Sorry, I didn't know. I'm new here." I stomped out my cigarette.

"What is wrong with you?" she snapped again. "People sit here! Nobody wants to walk by and see or smell your death sticks!"

Now I was confused. "Why are you doing this?"

One of the other girls spoke up. "Leah's grandmother died of lung cancer."

"So that's an excuse to throw a bitch fit?" I quipped.

The leader, Leah, grabbed my hair and whipped my head down, forcing me to bend over. She started yelling at me about how smoking kills and how she was going to kick my ass for being so rude to her. I tried to stand up straight but she only pushed me back down harder. I noticed my cigarette was still burning on the ground, so I reached out as far as I could until I grabbed it. I grabbed her hand, held it still, and pushed the cherry of the cigarette down on her hand. All I heard was her screaming as she let go of my hair and backed away from me.

Without a second thought I took off running towards the building while I heard her screaming after me. I made it through the side doors of the school and through another set of doors. As I opened the doors, I bumped hard into someone's chest. I opened my mouth to apologize until I looked up to see Tate. Once again words failed me and I was left speechless. I rubbed my forehead to ease the throbbing and took a step back. He reached a hand out to make sure I was steady, but I held up my other to hint that I didn't need it.

"Violet," he said.

"That's my name," I hissed.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just had a run-in with these bitches outside."

Tate laughed. "Same old, Violet. Never afraid of a fight."

"Yeah well...my brawling days are over." After a moment of silence, I looked up to see him watching me with concern. His eyes may be dark, but they held so many emotions it was almost hard to tell what he was thinking.

"We need to talk," Tate finally spoke.

That was my queue to walk away, and as I turned on my heels I could hear Tate keeping stride behind me. I still wasn't sure what to say to him and I definitely wasn't sure where to start when I was. I finally reached the classroom with two minutes to spare, but as I stepped into the room I was gently pulled back out.

"Violet, you disappeared from my life years ago," Tate said. "I'll be damned if I let you get away again without an explanation."

I looked around the hallway to see a few people watching us, while everyone else was slowly making their way to their first classes. I looked back at Tate who moved a hand up to rest on the wall beside my head. He clearly wasn't letting up that easy - he had always been that way.

"Tate, I -" The bell ringing interrupted me. I went to head into the classroom again, but Tate pulled me out again.

"No," he growled. I don't know what it was about his tone, but something in my stomach flickered on.

"I can't -"

"No," he interrupted again. "I am not letting you go until you tell me what happened."

I looked around again. This time I saw Mr. Alden coming down the hall with his briefcase in hand. My heart started to race a little, not knowing if I was going to class or if I was going to run. Either way, I needed some distance between Tate and I.

"Come on." I grabbed his hand and led him out of the school and to the closest coffee shop.