"We made our mistakes
It's not too late
We had to learn the hard way
Bridges will burn
Now it's our turn"
The next morning Tate wakes up to several texts from Violet. After he arrived to his room he fell asleep right away incase the Dean would come accusing him of leaving campus. However, now he wishes he stayed up because Violet was asking him to meet her for breakfast at eight but now that it's nine thirty am he's sure she's long gone. Yet he stills texts her and apologizes for not answering and even asks if she wants to meet up.
Lucky for Tate, Violet is still knocked out and even slept through two alarms. However, knocking on her door wakes her from slumber. She grabs a cardigan from her closet, drapes it over her nearly bare body, and cracks the door slightly. When she realizes it is Tate she opens the entrance widely and welcomes him in. "Hey," she croaks after yawning and stretching her arms. "What're you doing here?"
"I just saw your texts twenty minutes ago and didn't want you to think I ditched you, but I guess you slept in too," Tate explains with a grin. Violet responds with a chuckle and then excuses herself to change but not before Tate gets a glance at her bra and underwear from under the cardigan.
Although his initial thought of Violet was how attractive she is, he's grown to love her personality and presence- pushing inappropriate thoughts from his mind.
"So," she calls as she walks from the bathroom. "What do you wanna do today?"
Tate doesn't answer since he's lost in staring at her body clothed by shorts, a somewhat lose tank top, and a new cardigan. Violet never looks like she puts too much effort in but always manages to look stunning. "Tate?" she says a bit louder, shaking him from his daze.
"S-sorry. Just thinking of what we can do. How about we stay in and watch movies," he mutters while looking around the room. Once he notices all the drawings hung up on her wall an idea grows in his head. "And you can draw me later."
"Woah," Violet responds with a smirk, "I only do that for people I like."
Tate instantly pretends to feel hurt, but when she picks up her sketchbook and plops on the ground, while allowing a grin to take over his face. "Don't pose like that! Just sit on the bed," Violet demands.
As she sketches every detail of his face she realizes how flawless it is. The perfect definition of his jaw line and cheekbones is nearly impossible to replicate, although she tries. And the darkness of his eyes compliment his pale, milky skin, but Violet's favorite feature to draw is his deep red, plump lips that are curved into a slight smile, which reveals his two dips in his cheeks.
While adding finishing touches, she decides to draw a different outfit- one that is much more revealing. Tate's navy t-shirt is replaced by an unbuttoned, white dress shirt paired while khakis that she bunches up in the crotch area. Before dating the picture she adds small definition to his abdomen and even draws lipstick marks on the collar of his shirt.
"Here," she murmurs as she sticks out the masterpiece. When Tate grabs it she becomes extremely nervous and wonders why she drew him like that. It's not like her to get so carried away.
"So this is what you think of me," he boasts. "I like it. Maybe you'll even get to see this in real life some day," he finishes with a wink.
"Funny! I just thought you looked like Channing Tatum in that one movie s-so I drew you like that. Don't flatter yourself!"
"Right," he mumbles before hopping of the bed. "Shall we begin the film marathon?"
Twenty minutes later Violet is nuzzled into a pillow next to Tate with a blanket carefully draped over both of them. They're watching Scream together when a knock on the door startles them both but Tate still makes his way to answer it. "Must be the pizza," he declares.
However, something in Violet clicks and she launches to Tate. "No. It could be the Dean or a teacher. I'll get it."
Lucky for the two, Violet was right and there before her is one of the school nurses.
"Violet Harmon?" the older woman in a vintage looking nurse's uniform asks.
"Yes?" Violet answers, constantly glancing to the closet that the forbidden teenage boy is hiding in.
"I'm here to check on you. I hear you're sick," the woman says while forcing herself in the room. "Have a seat on your bed," she commands.
Violet does as instructed and waits until the nurse walks over with a thermometer, a brief case, and blood pressure monitor. "Lie down," the older woman demands in a monotone voice, which initiates thoughts of how boring it must be to have an actually conversation with her.
As Violet lies on her back, she looks anywhere but at the lady since she's begun poking her with all sorts of things.
Meanwhile, Tate watches from the crack of the closet door as Mrs. Bracco gropes his new best friend, who appears extremely uncomfortable with all the sudden attention. "Well you seem fine to me but the note for yesterday still stands. Don't make it a habit." With that the old nurse walks out and slams the door.
"You know," Tate begins as he steps from the closet, "if that's what it takes to get a feel then I guess I'm going to be a nursing major."
Tate loves to joke, especially with Violet although, but part of him wasn't kidding around.
"In your dreams Langdon," she retorts and then presses play for the television.
After a second movie the two are exhausted from using all their attention on the television, so Violet begins to think of other ways to have fun. "Let's play twenty questions!" she announces while straightening her back.
"Fine but I ask first."
Violet nods in agreement while Kit ponders the perfection question. "How old are you?" is all he can come up with.
"Woah, have you been itching to know?" she says with raised brows. He glares at her and motions her to continue. "Fine. I'm seventeen. What about you?"
"Ah, ah, ah no re-asks. You'll have to wait another turn."
"Fine," Violet pouts with crossed arms until the look on Tate's face rips her from the fake emotion with giggles. "Where are you from?"
His smile fades once he's reminded of home. "My family lives in Boston. So close but they never bother to visit." Shifting his gaze all around the room except on Ruby's face, thoughts of his family flood his brain- the people who abandoned him.
"I'm sorry," she coos while rubbing his arm and nuzzling her head into his shoulder. Tate truly appreciates her caring manners and how easily she can cheer him up.
"Do you have a boyfriend? Uh, you know, back home?"
Violet looks up at him and notices how his demeanor changed. She opens her mouth to answer but then remembers Gabe and also how he betrayed her. "No," she grits and tries her best to suppress tears, but a few fall down her face. She assumes Tate hadn't noticed but he does and chooses not to say anything. Instead, he rubs circles on her back and pulls her close.
"How old are you?" She smiles through the few tears.
"Eighteen," Tate announces in a singsong tone. "One year older than you!" he jokingly brags.
"Not for long! My birthday is in December," she announces.
"Violet? Why are you here?" Tate asks, moving on from their small moment, to understand her better. He's sure it's not the best subject but he needs to know.
She takes a deep breath and searches for the right way to begin. "It started when I was young. I loved my father so much- he was my role model and the perfect parent. I definitely favored him over my mother. However, a year ago my folks got a divorce. Viven, my mom, went around claiming he cheated on her and was the reason our family was torn apart, but I found out that she lied and it was because of her constant need to deceit that he called an end to the relationship. Of course, being the psycho bitch she is, Viven turned it around on him. She brainwashed me into hating him for months! She wouldn't even allow me to see him!" Violet screams with many tears staining her face. "When I found out the truth I made it my mission to make the psycho's life a living hell. And boy did I accomplish that. It started with stealing small things like bracelets and make up, but then I felt that wasn't enough so I went to Macy's and stole a bunch of clothes. After the third time I was caught and nearly arrested but my mother's boyfriend persuaded them. Yeah she got a new man a month and a half after the divorce announcement." By now Violet's make up is streaked down her red face and her eyes are shut.
"Violet," Kit cuts her off, "you don't have to tell me the rest. You could-"
"It's okay. I want to." Tate nods his head and allows her to continue. "I had to move up a notch in crimes but couldn't think of anything good. That is until one night I snuck out to a club and met this guy, Gabe. He was a real charmer, but a douche. He showed me the ways of vandalism. I spray-painted anything anywhere. One night when I was doing it on a bridge cop sirens began to move closer. Since I was on a latter that Gabe was holding I couldn't get down easily. But Gabe- that prick- he ran. He left me to rot. I was put in the slammer for a night until Alan, my mom's new toy, got me out. I was shoved around, but not really beaten." The beautifully sad girl before Tate begins to laugh in anticipation of her next sentence. "They grounded me. As if that would work. I snuck out every night to drink with Gabe and his friends. God, I got so drunk I hardly remembered any of the events. Those assholes dared me to drink an entire bottle of tequila and then forced me run from store to store. I was belligerent. Of course, I stole and wrecked a shop. This time Luke, Viven's boy toy, wasn't so kind. He let me stay in jail for three days without any notification of if or when they would get me out. Finally when the lovely couple decided to end my misery, they put me on lock down. That's when I began to plan my runaway. That's the day I was shipped to this hell."
When Violet finishes and feels somewhat relieved. She's never told anyone her entire story- not even Gabe. Now, she feels like she can trust Tate with anything, but his lack of response makes her uneasy.
"Vi," he says in a breathy voice. "I'm so sorry that happened. I can't imagine how you felt. I just wish... I wish I was there with you." She smiles at his pleasant response. "I was so stupid. So, so stupid. My friend, Chloe, she...she was murdered. My parents believed the rumors that it was me. Apparently Chloe rejected me and I lost it, but that's not true! We were only friends! I never had feelings like that! The truth is her boyfriend, Kyle, killed her! He put on a mask and tried to rob her of cocaine- even threatened her with a gun, but Chloe wasn't afraid. She never was. He shot her for a hundred dollars of drugs! His own love- or so he claimed her to be. A-and I know this because I was in the car waiting for him. Before dropping me off he told me everything. He was going to try to pin it on me. Luckily, there was no evidence against me, b-but my parents- they didn't care. They were convinced I was guilty. Probably because of-"
Tate cuts himself off as a loud knock on the door interrupts him. "Pizza?" he asks with a smile.
"Let me check," Violet shouts as she walks towards the door. Thankfully it's the delivery guy with their lunch, and Tate, being the gentleman he is, steps in and pays for the food.
As they stuff the delicious meal in their mouths, Violet says between bites, "It just sucks because I have to learn the hard way. I just wanted love but my mother was and is incapable of loving anything that doesn't benefit herself, and since I obviously couldn't keep her and my father together, I became useless to her. But I'm done with that chapter of my life. I won't look back, and I honestly hope I never see her again."
Finally, Tate begins to understand Violet and how her past affects her very much. He knows he should have finished his story but he doesn't want to continue dwelling on unpleasant things; he wants to move on to having fun. "I'll always be here, as long as you want me to," the new girl's best friend assures with his hand over hers. "Now, let's watch more movies!"
After an hour the two become restless from sitting in the same position so Violet inches closer to Tate and nuzzles her head on his chest. They both love the feeling of their skin touching but neither will admit it aloud. "You know," Tate begins and tries to speak over the sound of The Interview, "I really am glad that we're friends. All I've ever wanted was gold. Not literally, but its qualities, ya know? I've been craving something real and raw and Vi, you're it. Our friendship means the world to me, and although we've only been friends for a few days I know it'll last a life time."
His sweet and thoughtful words cause Violet to instantly perk up and wrap her small arms around him. "You're the most amazing person I've ever met," she whispers in his ear.
The mere thought of her being so close causes the hairs on his neck jump and a small jolt run to his crotch. Every time he tries to push the sexual thoughts of the walking siren away, they return shortly with more power. However, before he can respond to her, she jumps off the futon and grabs her cross-body purse. "Let's go for a walk around the pond!"
Once the two reach the student center Violet becomes nervous because she notices Tate's friends and hopes they don't spot the two. But of course, one of his good friends, Billy, shouts his name and waves the two over.
Instead of following, Violet stays behind as he walks forward, thinking she's behind him. "What's goin' on?" Billy asks and then shifts his eyes from his friend to the spunky new student, and Tate immediately turns expecting Violet to be directly behind him but he frowns when he finds her across the room.
"What do you mean?" he asks with his eyebrow raised.
"You guys screwin'?"
"What? No!" Tate immediately comes to Violet's defense because he doesn't want rumors going around that'll ruin their friendship and more importantly upset her.
"Good because she seems crazy. Leah told us how she attacked her out of nowhere. What a psycho bit-"
"Shut the fuck up Billy. Leah's is a lying slut and you know it. She started shit with Violet because she felt threatened. You better stop the rumor now or I swear to Go-"
"Dude, calm down. I'll stop it. What has gotten into you?" Billy replies and takes a step back. He hasn't seen this side of Tate since he arrived.
"You don't know her. She's a sweet girl and I won't stand here and listen while you judge her. We're all here because we did something bad," Tate snarls and clenches his fists at his side.
"Sorry," Billy murmurs and scratches the back of his neck. "I was gonna ask you if you wanted to go to my place next weekend since it's our outing week. I'm gonna have a rager," he finishes with a half smirk. "You can bring you her," he adds very quietly.
Kit looks up from the ground where he's been staring in order to resist punching Billy and begins to formulate an answer. "I wou- No thank you. I'm going out with Violet. We've already made plans," Tate lies. Although they haven't discussed if they're hanging out next weekend, he hopes Violet would be okay with it and maybe even be the one to conjure up the idea.
"Oh, maybe next time."
"Yeah, maybe," Tate utters while walking away.
Meanwhile, Violet hasn't moved since Tate went to speak with friend and, in fact, has been listening the whole time. She's absolutely touched by his true caring and kindness, so when Kit returns to her she finds the urge to hug him tight extremely hard to resist. However, she does hold back because she doesn't want him to know she was eavesdropping and wants him to admit it himself. "What was that all about?" she asks while slowly starting to walk forward.
"Oh nothing. He invited us to a party tomorrow because- wait do you know about the outing weeks?" Violet shakes her head and furrows her brows. "Twice a month there is an outing week. Basically, Friday and Saturday we can leave campus- but we have to be back by eight."
"That's cool," Violet mumbles as they sit on a bench by the water.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence Tate speaks up, "the sunset is so beautiful. I want to record the sunset in every state one day, and make a small movie of it for myself,"
Violet absolutely loves when Tate shares his aspirations with her because it almost sounds like he wants to include her. "I want to travel to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. It's so beautiful," Violet adds with a smile. "Let's promise to check these off our lists once we get out of here," she insists.
Tate nods his head and then asks, "Together?"
Violet giggles and rapidly nods her head back. "Together!" she declares.