"Finally," Violet mutters to herself as she exits the most awful class on her schedule. Although Tate has annoyed her, she secretly hopes he is waiting outside the room so he can walk her to her next class. However, when she scans the hall for his welcoming face she doesn't spot him. Instead of moping she grabs her crumbled agenda and makes her way to the next class.
By the time she makes it down the long hall the warning bell has already rung so she only has a few seconds before she's late. Luckily Violet spots the correct number plate for her class and runs in before the final ring.
Of course, Leah and her friends are in the class, but to her surprise she finds Tate sitting in a desk in the corner and even has his bag placed on the chair next to him. "Anyone sitting here?" she asks in a slightly joking manner.
"Actually, yes," he grunts and then turns back to the window.
A pang of confusion and anger run through her at the sudden change of character. How dare the boy who has been begging to get her attention suddenly treat, her as if she was a burden. Just as she walks towards the front to sit as far as possible from Tate, he calls her name.
As Violet slowly spins around, prepared to release her anger, she stops herself at the sight of Tate's large grin spread across his smug face. "Come back! I was kidding," he shouts while gesturing her over.
She nods her head and takes a deep breath, relieved that she does have a friend. "Very funny," Violet hisses when she plants her bottom in the cold chair.
Just as Tate is about to change the subject with her, the professor walks in.
"Good morning class. As you all know this subject is religion. We will be discussing why Christianity is the only way."
Violet immediately rolls her eyes at the teacher's ignorance. She could already tell Ms. Koster was not open-minded. After all she is a woman who appears to be in her seventies and seems like she hasn't updated her style since the 1950s. From what the new girl could tell the lady was never married and rarely gets out. It's sad to see someone waste his or her life that way, Violet thinks to herself.
"Ms. Harmon?"
Jolting up from staring at the ceramic desktop, she glances to the professor who is getting on her nerves. "Yes, Ms. Koster?"
The old woman clears her throat and places her hand on the shiny teacher's desk. "I was just asking the class if they believe Jesus Christ is their lord and savior. Everyone spoke up but you dear. So what is your answer?"
The moment the teacher finishes her sentence the entire class turns to stare at Violet. She immediately curses in her head but forces a fake smile. "I'm sorry Ms. Koster, I was dosing off. But of course I believe Jesus Christ is my lord and savior," she says while trying not to grit her teeth from the artificial grin plastered across her pale face. She figures that if she says otherwise she'll be even more of a laugh and possibly get kicked out of this school.
Violet got lucky that her mother picked a high-class institute but if she is expelled she knows her mother and Luke won't be so considerate.
Tate watches as she sketches a drawing in her notebook, so focused on the delicate stroke of her hand. And he even tries to peek at the page until realize she's drawing an eerie looking forest that resembles his common hang out spot. "Tate," a female voice whispers, pulling him from thoughts of Violet.
He turns towards the noise and finds Leah facing him a few seats down in the next row. As she rests her elbows on the desk and leans forward Tate furrows his eyebrows. What could she possibly want? They haven't spoke since the end of the last school year. Tate and Leah's relationship was complicated, to say the least. "Tate," she whisper-shouts again. He mouths what and makes sure the professor isn't watching. "Wanna hangout tonight? Come to my room. I have some things to share," Leah murmurs with a smirk.
Instantly, chills run down his spine and his erection begins to grow. He's not entirely attracted to Leah since she's a crazy bitch, but she does have a decent body and from what he's heard she's a good fuck.
However, Tate feels someone's eyes burning onto his cheek and instantly turns his head to find Violet staring with her shiny, amber-brown eyes. By the looks of it, she had heard everything and even noticed Tate's growing problem.
Trying to explain himself to Violet for conversing with the girl who attacked her less than twenty-four hours ago, she instantly turns her attention to the board the moment he met her eyes.
Once the class ends Violet bolts from her seat and to her room since they're on lunch for the next hour. When she's almost to her dorm hall Tate's deep voice stops her in her tracks.
"Violet!" he shouts once more. As she turns around she tries not to scream at him; although they never said they were friends and they've only known each other for a day, she feels betrayed. Tate seems like he really liked Violet, as friend. But he seemed like he considered ditching the study plans he created to hangout with the bitch.
"Hey," he pants after grabbing Violet's shoulder.
"Hi," she mumbles, and squirms from his touch.
"Why did you run off so fast?"
The half smile spread across his face reveal a beautiful dip on each side of his lips, which only appears when the tips of his mouth curve up.
"Just wanted to relax in my room," Violet snarls, ignoring how attractive he is. She has thought herself to anger on the way to the dorm.
"Are you alright?" Tate asks while reaching for his phone to check the time, knowing very well why she's acting tense.
"Just tired," she retorts with a slight attitude. She's not very subtle.
"Listen, I know you heard Leah. I want to let you know it's not what it looks like. We're not friends and I wasn't contemplating her offer," he insists.
"Whatever. I don't care Tate. I'm going to lie down. See ya around," she grunts before gripping the handle on her door.
"Wait, Vi, are we still on for tonight?" Kit pleas.
"No," she hisses and then slams the door in his face. He doesn't have the right to call her that nickname but she doesn't want to make extra conversation.
A few hours later Violet wakes up from her nap and realizes she has missed the afternoon classes, and on her first day! Normally she wouldn't care but since she'd rather stay at Briarcliff than go back home, she becomes nervous. For the first time she actually regrets skipping.
"Hello?" Violet chirps when she hears the ringing from phone stop.
"Yes, this is the Dean's office. How may I help you?" A woman, who sounds rather young, answers the phone.
"Um, hi, yeah, I didn't go to class because I didn't feel well. I'm new and forgot to tell someone. Uh, w-who do I tell?" she bites her nails as she waits for an answer.
"Oh sweetie! You don't have to tell anyone! However, if you want the absence excused you must get a note from our nurse or on-staff physician. You are allowed five non-excused absences a semester and six excused."
Her frown and shaking instantly ceases and instead replaced by a smile. "Oh, okay. Thank you for your help!" she practically screams.
As Violet runs down the stairs to catch the nurse before she leaves, she spots Tate and his friends from the corner of her eye. She half expects Leah to be on his lap but surprisingly she's nowhere to be found.
Tate had been hurt by Violet's gesture but is trying to accept that she's not an ordinary girl. She doesn't care about material things or other people's opinions. She's a badass and that's HID favorite quality in her.
After a receiving the nurse's note, smoking a cigarette, and taking pictures of the sky, Violet decides there's nothing else to do but head back to her room. On her way up she walks through the student center and glances at the table Tate normally sits at. However, all his friends are crowded around it but he's missing. A pang of jealously washes over her, as she understands that he's with Leah.
"So much for a study session," she grumbles to herself.
Once she reaches her floor she digs through her satchel for her keys and continues walking without paying attention. This backfires when she bumps into someone. Mumbling a sorry, Violet continues on. However, she feels the light grip of the person on her wrist. "Violet," the person, whom she has now identified as Tate, blurts.
"Tate?" she chokes. She would've bet money that he was with Leah right now.
"I really hoped that you could hang out. I don't want to study. I want to spend actual time with you, Violet," he announces with a wide smile that has really grown on her. She inhales deeply and begins to formulate reasons why she can't, but Tate cuts her off before she can start. "Don't lie to me. It's Friday. We have no homework since it's the first day of school. Come on! Live a little," he insists. "Violet, I don't want to be some guy you talk to just to pass time or get help for school. I want to be your friend," he admits.
Violet looks down as Tate runs his hand through his ash brown locks that are perfectly messy.
"I'll corrupt you," she croaks. "I do that to everyone apparently."
Studying her face, Tate notices this is a touchy subject for her. "Well," he begins, "You can't corrupt someone who's corrupt," he says with a smile.
"Wha-what do you mean? Tate you're a good person. You're not here for bad things."
"You don't know much about me," he mutters.
"But I want to," she replies and places her delicate hand on his shoulder.
"I don't want to take things slow Violet. I want to be your friend," he insists while staring into her glossy chestnut eyes.
"What do you mean?" she asks while furrowing her brows. Is Tate trying to say he likes her? She thinks it's far too early for anything of those feelings and is now freaking out at the thought of her only friend having a crush on her.
"Let's sneak out and go to the cliff. It's a fifteen-minute walk from here. A lot of my friends go there, but if you want we can sneak off alone. I don't' want to overwhelm you with a lot of new people." His dimples that form a reassuring smile give Violet the boost to agree.
"Okay," she answers before running into her room to change to proper attire.
Once she is ready, Tate stares at her outfit and admires the way she carries herself. Violet can go from a skirt or dress to a t-shirt and leggings, and Kit thinks she looks beautiful either way, although he won't admit it.
"So how exactly did you discover this getaway?" Violet inquiries as they warily walk through the empty student center
"I'm pretty sure people have been sneaking to the cliff since this place opened, but I found the private spot we're going to last spring. I love my friends and all but sometimes I need quiet. I need solitude," Tate confesses as his cheeks burn scarlet red. He's never been so open to someone he's just met. In fact, he hasn't been so open to anyone.
"And you're taking me to your sanctuary? How adorable," she teases and even elbows him.
Once they exit the building and creep through the parking lot, Tate explains how they must be extremely quiet and light on their feet. The Dean's building is just before the exit and apparently she hears everything.
The common feeling of adrenaline pumping through Violet's veins ignites as they climb the brick wall enclosing the campus. she hasn't done anything this exciting since she left her home and she had surely missed the rush.
Upon entering the woods, Tate grabs two mini flashlights and hands one to Violet. "In case you get scared," he jokes and turns to notice an eye roll from Violet.
Again, he thinks to himself how much he enjoys this girl and that he must learn more. Minutes later Tate makes out the familiar landscape and moon light reflection off the man-made lake. "We're here!" he shouts before running to the large rock.
Violet, being the competitive person she is, instantly puts her former track star techniques to use and catches up with Tate. They both arrive to the destination at the same moment, and as they pant Violet notices a glimmer in Tate's eye from the moon shine.
His dimples make me melt, she thinks to herself and nearly speaks it.
"Lie down," Tate commands while staring up at the starlit sky. Violet obliges by slowly laying her head on the hard surface and allowing her sandy brown waves to sprawl on the rock and her back.
"So Tate, you seem to know a lot about me. What about you? What are your beliefs?" she remarks while counting the stars.
"On what?" he questions while inching closer to her.
"Anything. Everything. This school, religion, God, life, me, others. Anything Tate!" she yells. She's not necessarily upset but she likes to instill rage in others so she can understand their passions and logic. There's no better way to study a person than when one is worked up.
"I'm sure you know I hate this place. Sure it's better than back home but some professors insist on reporting to my parents. It's frustrating and makes me wanna leave. I don't believe in organized religion. Why would God want that from all of us? I still appreciate God by praising his creations. You know?"
Instantly, Violet sits up and stares at Kit. She's shocked that she has met someone who has the same views as her- right to the bone.
"Tate," she breathes out, "I feel the same way. Like look what religion has done to people! I can't imagine that God had planned that. It is the people's fault!" she exclaims and hopes she's not being too deep. From experience Violet knows that most people don't like to have intellectual conversations often, especially when they first meet.
"Exactly! It's just crazy. I mean look around, this world is beautiful! The stars are perfectly fitted into the sky and the trees are exactly how they should be- giving Oxygen," Tate finishes and then glances at the beautiful girl before him, who is admiring their surroundings. He notes how adorable she looks when lost in thought.
Then without notice, Violet hops off the rock and begins to slowly walk towards the edge of the cliff. Jolting up to carefully watch her every move, Tate is making certain she won't do anything stupid. However, when she inches dangerously close to the end Tate jumps off and runs to her. "What are you doing!" he howls.
Instead of answering she walks with one foot in front of the other and her arms up at each side. "Violet!" he shouts, scared that she's going to hurt herself.
Just as he thinks she's going to jump, she plops down on the edge and then looks back at him with a smirk. She knows she scared him momentarily and loves that.
Tate, being angered but also amused, slowly walks towards her and sits down. "They say it's time to grow up and stop with these foolish game," Tate begins.
Violet looks up from her dangling feet and at his serious expression. She fears that he's saying he going to become like the others.
"But I say they're wrong," he finishes, which earns a wide smile from Violet. She's grown to like Tate, as a friend, and she doesn't want to lose her only companion.
"Tate?" Ruby whispers while gazing at the lake lit by the moon.
"Yes?" he answers while also studying the scenery.
"Let's make a pact," she states. Violet enjoys confusing the clueless guy and seeing what he thinks she means. It allows her to have some sort of insight to the inner workings of his mind.
"What do you mean?" Tate asks warily. He's never had someone so open and exciting in his life before so he doesn't want to mess it up by saying the wrong thing.
"You know..." she trails off in hopes of him coming up with an answer.
"Like a friendship pact? Like a bucket list?" he questions and hopes she doesn't mean something more because then he just screwed up.
"Yeah!" she squeals from being happy that he didn't say some kind of perverted suggestion. "We have to promise to live life the way we want to and to the fullest. We have to live like we are right now: on the edge."
Tate nods his head and then stands up. He peels all his clothing off except his boxers and then stares at Violet. She is looking up at him confused and is assuming the worse. Sex isn't what she meant.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" he huffs and then jumps off into the cold water.
She giggles and sighs when she hears the splash, which causes her to immediately strip. And although she feels semi self-conscious she brushes it off since Tate seems accepting. Violet likes to pride herself as fearless when it comes to activities such as these, but she does feel the familiar nervousness of doing something new. She looks down and watches Tate waving and paddle in place.
Staring up at Violet's slightly curvy body and feeling his member grow at the sight of her breasts. He hadn't realized how filled out she was under her loose clothes; plus, the way her milky skin hugs her hip bones nearly sends him over the edge.
Without thinking any longer Violet walks backwards a bit and then runs. While in the air, she feels free for a moment- like all her troubles have disappeared and that she is done with hardships. However, reality comes backs when the painfully cold water hits her skin like thousands of pins poking at her delicate skin. Violet has never been fond of swimming, since she hates the feeling of wet hair, but she had promised to live in the moment and what better way than this?
Ten minutes later they crawl out dripping in water and quickly climb up to their belongings. Tate allows her to use his t-shirt as towel and wears his hoodie alone. They slowly walk back to campus and realize it's midnight.
Feeling relieved when they step into the student center at the fact that they successfully snuck out and back in. The two giggle and bump shoulders as they make jokes about one another.
However, Tate notices a figure lurking in the corner and become nervous, but not about possibly being caught but for Violet. He can tell she genuinely enjoys being here now that they are friends.
When Violet realizes Tate isn't paying attention, she tries to figure out what is distracting him. Being confused she darts her eyes around the room until she too spots the person in the far distant. "What is that?" she whispers.
"I don't know but let's walk faster," he answers.
They move in silence and constantly look back, hoping that it isn't the Dean or a snitch. When they exit the student center the figure is close enough to nearly make out who they are.
Immediately looking to Tate for a plan, he nods.
"Go! Go! Go!" she shouts, and the runs off to her building.
Since they're both bolting in opposite directions the mystery person gives up.
Besides, Leah doesn't care about Tate and Violet that much anyways.