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We were eating ice cream at Freeze! Which was a nice place that was heavily populated with students. Luckily, we were able to find a seat. Violet ordered a vanilla ice cream with sprinkles on top, Kit ordered Cookies 'n Cream, and Tate ordered Strawberry flavored ice cream on a cone. I ordered Rocky Road and we sat down at a booth by the window and tucked into our ice cream.
We re-count the day all laughing and smiling.
"You guys did really good! Just like Ms. Laveau said, you guys have so much chemistry!" Violet declares. I blush and give her a friendly dig in the ribs with my elbow, "Violet!"
"Look! Tate's blushing!" She squeals pointing at him.
"I'm not! It's just really hot in here," He huffs, turning away from us.
"Oh really? At an ice cream shop?" I snort, finding this hard to believe.
This earns laughs from the table, even from Tate. Except for Kit that is, who scowls.
"If you guys have so much chemistry, why don't you two just go out already?" He gets up, finishes the last few licks of his ice cream and tosses it into his bin. "I'm going to the bathroom." He announces and hurries away.
I look after him, non-plussed. What's with Kit?
"He's just moody," Tate shrugs, scowling after his brother. We nod in unison.
Still, I sneak a glance at Tate. He was still an asshole, by all acounts, but he looked really good with his slicked back hair. He caught me looking and I blushed, reverting my gaze to my fingers.
Just then my dad pulls up in a black outdated BMW. SHIT!
How did he know I was here?
He gets out of the car, but before he can get inside, I bolt outside, meeting him with my arms crossed.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Violet, you need to come home now. We need to talk about… things." He casts a wary glance at my friends, and then he turned a ghostly pale as he locked eyes with Tate Langdon. He narrowed his eyes, coughed and then turned back to me.
Kit returned from the bathroom to join us.
"Mr. Lowe, Hi, I'm Ki—"
But my dad just waved him off.
"I know who you are!" He snapped, gruffly.
"Violet," He continued, "You need to come home right away!"
"I heard you the first time," I grumbled, but never the less, I walked towards the car. He shot me a scathing look, and then turned to look back at the Langdon's with an unreadable expression. I got a strange sinking feeling as I walked past him.
"You better go home, too, Miss Harmon. It's not safe to be out so late." He said, addressing Violet.
"Why's that?" Violet asked, sounding scared.
"It's just best to be home. I'm sure you're parents will be worried about you, after what happened to your teacher." My dad says flippantly.
I glare at him in indignation.
"Oh come on! It's 4:30 dad, no one's out to get anyone."
He shot me a look and then ushered me into the passenger seat. I waved goodbye to my friends, who looked a little scared and confused. Except for Tate, he was looking at my dad with a look of… Anger? Hatred?
Dad pulled out of the shop, and turned a left. I had been enjoying a relatively quiet drive when he suddenly went off on me.
"God Ainslee! What the hell are you doing with the Langdon's?" He turned to look at me, furious.
"They're my friends!"
"Well I say you CAN'T be friends with them. Absolutely not! The Langdon's are… are…"
"Are what, dad?" I said sarcastically.
He slammed his hand on the dashboard, "Jesus H. Christ, Ainslee. I'm just trying to keep you safe!"
"From what?" I glared at him. He was being so unfair, he didn't even know them! Not like I did.
He shook his head.
"You stay away from them. If you want to be friends with Violet, than that's fine. But stay away from Kit and Tate. Especially Kit!"
"Why?"
"Stop asking questions," He said, ominously. "The less you know, the better."
A chill ran through my spine.
Once we get home, I bolt up to my room.
"AINSLEE! GET BACK HERE, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR DISRESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR! YOU BEHAVIOR IN THE CLASSROOM WAS EXTREMELY EMBARASSING TO ME AND TO YOURSELF!" my dad roared from the bottom of the stairs.
"Screw you, Dad! Why should I respect you, you… you drunk!"
I slam the door behind me and jump into my bed. I wish it had been my dad who had died nine years ago and not my mom. I bury my head into my pillow and let out tears of frustration.
Hours pass. Just before I'm about to fall asleep, I get a text message. I frown and look at it. I don't recognize the number. It says
"ONE DOWN. WHO'S NEXT?"