Chapter 17: Over

Violet stepped out the door to Howard's apartment. She had to go see if Emily was all right. The previous night, she had been kept awake by the thoughts of what she had caused, what was going on with her life, and what was going to happen. Nothing was truly going as planned. Today, she had to talk to Emily and Bob, and she had to talk to Scott, and the finally, Nora.

Right as Violet was closing the door behind her, she spotted the door to the Hartley's opening. It made her freeze, expecting Emily to step out and see her. Once she saw it was Nora with her luggage, a smile touched her face. "Oh look at that, the trash is getting taken out," she sneered with disgust.

Nora closed the door behind her and set her things down beside her. "Laugh while you can, because there's no way in hell that I'm allowing you back into my house," she informed her.

The announcement had no effect on Violet. She stood there and shrugged. "It's not like you can kick me out," she flatly argued. "I'm seventeen. Besides, what would those neighbors you care so much about say? You might have to actually tell them the truth for once," she sneered.

Nora huffed. "Fine, come back to the home that you constantly complain about. Come back with me and bitch the whole time," she gave in to her. Right now, all she wanted to do was go find somewhere to stay. She had already made plans for tonight and wanted to be able to get ready. There was one point that she felt she had to get across to Violet though. "I just hope you know that things are gonna be different," she threatened.

Violet smirked, beginning to laugh at just how pathetic Nora's attempt at trying to control her truly was. "You're right. Thing's are gonna be different. Not in your favor though, I can assure you that much," she poisonously responded. She then crossed her arms, watching the dull stare that she was receiving. Nora had no idea what to say. "Don't worry, there is nothing you can say at this point. Now just go and hope that the scum you're meeting didn't lace your drugs. Then again I guess it doesn't matter, you were gonna let him plow drive you until you were numb enough to forget about what happened anyways."

Nora nodded as she grabbed her luggage. "Just remember, a little over a week ago, you were doing the same damn thing, getting wasted and letting men have their way with you," she jabbed at her before turning and leaving.

Violet just dropped her arms to her sides, the smirk instantly disappearing as her mouth hung slightly ajar. Her eyes blankly watching Nora as she walked away from her. Desperately, she wanted to argue, but couldn't. Scott's words to her were circling in her mind, reminding her that she was no better.

Hesitantly, she turned and went for the door. Her guilt had gotten even worse in the past few moments. She had to talk to Emily, give her a better apology, wait for Bob and apologize to him and then go and apologize to Scott for wasting his time. She had to get out of this place and never look back to those she had hurt. All it did was open her eyes to what she had been hiding from herself. To be honest though, it wasn't news to her. Violet had always known that she wasn't much better than her parents. She ran away from everything, fooled around, never stepped up and actually confronted her problems.

The young girl stopped at the door, looking down as she brushed her hand through her hair, making sure to collect herself before she went in there. Once she looked back up, she didn't even bother to knock. It was obvious that the door was unlocked. "Emily?" she called as she slowly opened the door.

Emily stopped in her tracks. She had been heading towards the bedroom but, there was something in Violet's voice that scared her. Almost a desperation. "What is it?" she carefully asked, turning to face her. Sympathetic eyes searched the young girl.

Violet sighed, making eye contact as she attempted to gather her words. She wanted to be able to apologize for everything. She wanted to go back to the moment that she knocked on that door with her suitcase and stop herself, tell herself to leave. "I should have never came," she flatly announced before lowering her head and leaving towards the den.

"Now just hold on a minute," Emily ordered. It was obvious at this point that simple requests did not work with Violet. She waited as Violet stopped and hesitantly looked back to her. "What are you talking about?"

Violet laughed. "Oh come on. You really want me to believe that you don't agree?" she questioned.

Emily sighed. "All right Violet, what do you want me to say?" she questioned. She was starting to get tired of trying. It was obvious now that what ever she said, Violet would immediately push it aside and argue.

Violet crossed her arms, canting her head slightly to the side, chewing on her bottom lip as she thought for a brief second. "I want you to admit just how much damage I have caused here," she steadily responded.

Emily rolled her eyes. "Look, you caused some stress. That's all," she answered. She walked over and leaned against the back of the couch. "I don't know how to tell you this Violet, but you did not break up my marriage, I am still pregnant, and Bob and I both still have jobs," she calmly stated. "And if I'm not mistaken, the apartment and everything in it, is still here," she added, looking around the room.

Violet just nodded. There was no need to fight back now. She knew the truth. Whether or not Emily saw it, that was up to Emily. "I see," she replied and then turned to go towards the den.

Emily just sighed. She was going to have to wait to send Bob in there to talk to her.

Oooooo

Bob stepped into the den, carefully looking around the room. "Violet?" he called.

Violet, who had been sitting on the bed, her back to Bob, looked over her shoulder to him. "Your wifey send you in?" she questioned, more flatly than normal.

Bob just stood there for a moment. "N-no. I uh, I, I chose to come in here. She just told me what happened earlier," he informed her.

Violet nodded. She moved over to the edge of the bed, turning to face him. "Listen, I'm not here for much longer. I'll talk to you tonight if I really feel like it. Right now though, I just can't," she explained.

Bob did not know how to take this. She seemed weak and desperate. There was a new sort of brokenness about her. He respected her wishes though. "All, alright then. Emily and I were going to take you out to dinner. It's up to you," he offered.

"Thank you," she distantly replied. "I think I would rather just go for a walk right now, if that's okay," she told him.

"Sure," Bob answered.

Violet got up and walked past him, hurrying to the door. For some reason she was starting to feel like she was trapped and as soon as she got out those doors, she would feel better. She was right. The outside air was refreshing, and instantly made things seem better. It was easy to just roam the streets, lost in her thoughts. She ended up walking around for a good three hours.

It was once she got to the park that she stopped. Something seemed odd, almost wrong to her as she looked out over the playground. There was a little boy with blonde curly hair. He was cute, but for some reason, she found herself instantly mad at him. No matter how hard she tried, she could not shake those feelings, and she was started to get mad at herself. She kept trying to remind herself that he was just a little boy, one that had never even seen her before. How could she even be upset with him?

Her eyes widened. That was the moment that she found out why she was mad at him. The lady went over to get him. That lady that Peter had run away with. That woman. That was her son. "Oh my God," she softly gasped.

Instantly, she started walking over to her. "Cathy?" she called, seeing if she would get a response.

The woman looked up, agitated the second that she saw the girl. "Look! I would appreciate it if you would stay the hell away from me," she warned, glaring to her.

Violet slowed her pace and held up her hands in surrender. "I'm not going to insult you or anything like that. Especially not in front of the kid," she calmly stated. "I just have one question, that's all," she informed her.

Cathy huffed. "All right. What's your question?" she curtly asked.

Violet looked down to the little boy and offered him a smile. She then meekly looked back up to Cathy, nervous of what her answer was going to be. "Is that kid, is

he...?" she started.

Cathy shook her head. She could tell where she was going with this. "He's mine. You're father had nothing to do with him," she assured her.

Violet nodded. "Well, I hope that he treats him a lot better than he treated me," she mentioned.

"Peter's very nice to him," she responded.

"Peter!" the boy chided in with excitement.

Violet crossed her arms, nodding. "I see," she whispered before turning and leaving. She was glad for the little boy, but at the same time, she hated the fact that Peter was distant with her but so close to this kid.

Oooooo

Violet made her way back to the apartment, telling Bob and Emily to go out by themselves. She needed the alone time. Thankkfully they were quick enough to get ready and leave before she couldn't hold herself together any longer. She needed a release of some sort. Scott. She had to call Scott.

This was when she decided to go out, one last time while she was here. "Scott?" she asked, as soon as someone answered the phone.

"Yeah?" Scott asked.

"Are you alone right now?" she questioned.

Scott got a little nervous from that questioned. "Yes?" he answered, the uneasiness evident.

Violet softly laughed, finding it cute. "Look, I just wanna hang out, okay? Nothing too much. It's my last night here and I wanna see ya," she explained.

Scott smiled. "All right. Well, my parents are gone for the night," he said.

"Good," was all she said before she hung up the phone.

Violet quickly went and dumped her make up bag out on the table. She quickly snatches the items that she needs and rushes to the bathroom where she furiously palms away at the tears. In an attempt to calm herself, she briefly closes her eyes, taking in a few deep breaths. Once she opens her eyes, she sees her beat red face staring back to her in the mirror. Unable to handle the image, she looks off to the side to see all her belongings tossed about and crumbled up on the bed. It was a familiar sight that brought on an odd amount of comfort.

Violet turned back to the mirror, going on to apply her heavy eyeliner and mascara, with her blush and bright red lipstick ready. Once she finished, she made sure that Bob and Emily were still gone. They were, allowing her to easily slip out the front door unnoticed. Her first stop before getting to Scott's, is to get a bottle for herself. She couldn't bring herself to steal one from Bob and Emily, so she stopped at a liquor store along the way.

She got to the counter, her eyes glazed over as she uncomfortably eyed the man behind the counter. He wasn't bad looking, he was probably about early thirties, fit enough. "Here's the deal, I'm gonna get straight to it," she began, getting the man to look over to her. She bit her lip, hating herself for what she was about to do. "I'm not 21, and I don't have any money, but I want a bottle. Don't matter which one, you can decide that later. I'm willing to make sort of a trade off, if you get where I'm going," she told him, forcing a smile to try and give off that she might be flirting with him.

The man smiled to her. "A sorta, lets see how ya do and I'll rate you according to bottle?" he asked, suggestively smiling.

Violet wanted to cry, she wanted to run away, but she didn't. Instead she leaned in, propping her chest up on the counter, tracing little circles on the counter top as she kept her eyes down. "Believe me," she responded, finally looking up to him. "I'll earn top shelf," she said, receiving a nod from the man.

Oooooo

Scott sat on the couch in his apartment, staring at the television, but not really watching it. He was waiting for Violet to get there. This was her last night there and he wanted to spend it with her. As soon as he heard the knock at the door, he jumped up off the couch and ran to the door. "Violet?" he questioned with concern.

On the other side of the door stood Violet, one hand supporting her as she leaned against the door frame, the other holding a half empty bottle of liquor. Her lipstick was partially smeared, her mascara and eye liner wrecked from crying earlier. "That's me," she softly laughed, raising the bottle. She tossed her head back, taking a gulp of the vodka. "You want some?" she offered, holding the bottle out to him as soon as she was done.

Scott just looked to her with disgust and disappointment. "Why would you do this your last night here?" he inquired.

Violet just shrugged as she pushed herself away from the door frame, stumbling into the room. A soft, spiteful laugh leaving her lips. "You're really surprised aren't ya? Maybe you should get to know me better. I thought you had a good idea of me yesterday night," she replied, making her way over to the couch.

Scott closed the door and the slowly turned and watched her plop down on the cushions on the couch. He couldn't believe that she was doing this. Cautiously, he went and sat down beside her. "Well now what?" he questioned, not really wanting to join her in her drinking.

Violet turned to him and smirked. "I think you know," she slyly responded, wrapping her arms around him. "I now need it from someone I actually like," she told him. She kept her eyes on him as she set the bottle down on the floor. "I need it bad," she whispered, running her fingers through his hair.

"Stop it Violet!" Scott snapped, grabbing her wrists. He wasn't about to do this now. Not while she was drunk.

Violet aggressively pulled away from his grip. "What? Am I not pretty enough for you? Huh? Am I, am I too fucked up for your liking?" she spat. Sitting back, she shook her head. "If I'm not good enough for you, how about you go down to the local high school and get some pom poms bitch that'll suck on ya for a dollar a minute?" she sneered.

Scott looked to her with disgust. "What the hell is your problem anyways?" he angrily questioned. "I mean holy shit! This was going to be our last night together for a while. Maybe ever, and you come in here so fucked up that you probably won't even remember stepping through that door!"

Violet swallowed hard, trying to conceal her pain. "You really think it makes a huge difference don't you?" she asked. Her expression softened as she turned to face forward. "All this was gonna be was some happy memory to take back with me to my shitty life," she added, lowering her head. "It's not as though anything would come of it. If anything it woulda made it that much harder to leave."

Scott just stared to her, not sure how to take what she was saying. It wasn't as though she were wrong. Tonight being nice wouldn't have changed anything. All he wanted though was to be able to enjoy tonight. Enjoy everything right now and not worry about what would happen tomorrow or next week. None of that should have mattered.
"I'm sorry I fucked up your night," she sarcastically stated. Violet stood to her feet and gathered her things. "I'm just gonna go."

"You don't have to do that," Scott told her, turning to face her. In all honesty, he was worried about her. He wanted her to stay so that he could make sure that she didn't do anything stupid. He wanted to make sure that she didn't get hurt. "We can still hang out."

Violet stopped at the door, turning back to take one last look at him. She shook her head. "No," she softly argued before walking out the door. She did like the invitation, but she just could not do it. There was too much going on in there right now. In a way, it freaked her out that he wanted this special night, as if he had plans of them actually having some sort of serious relationship. It was something that hadn't really crossed her mind until now. Then again, she wasn't thinking as clearly as she normally would.