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Under Your Skin

Chapter Three

Violet didn't know where she was going. She was just following behind Kyle. The bartender.

That was probably how she was always going to remember him. She had managed to start a pattern though. She'd take about three steps, then glance nervously at the dog hanging in Kyle's arms, before flicking her eyes over Kyle, a somewhat miffed look on her face.

Kyle glanced at her right as she went from nervous to miffed. He rolled his eyes, "You should be at school."

"No offense," Violet began, scoffing, and folding her arms over her chest in a you-can't-fool-me kind of way. "But you seem like the kind of guy to just leave the dog if I wasn't on your case about it."

He didn't though. Violet just didn't want to go to school yet; she would take all the time she could get. He looked at her, incredulous, "In what way is that not offensive?"

Violet shrugged, nonchalant, "It was more so you couldn't claim I intentionally offended you."

"Except you did," he said drily.

"Hence, my disclaimer of 'no offense'."

They continued like that the whole way to the vet. It wasn't a particularly long walk, but it seemed to stretch out as they occasionally filled the silence with pointed remarks. Violet stroked the dog's fur, noticing the lack of a collar. She mused, "Do you think she has an owner?"

"Probably."

"Why would they let her out without a collar or anything?" Violet demanded of him, suddenly angry with these owners. As far as she was concerned, all the pain this dog was suffering was their fault.

"How am I supposed to know?" He grunted. His arms were probably getting sore. Poor baby.

"What do you think her name is?"

"Do you always ask so many questions?" He quirked an eyebrow at her. "How am I supposed to know?"

She just ignored him, "She looks like a Lulu to me. Don't you think?"

He just groaned, exasperated. "If you say so."

Violet sighed, muttering, "I'd get better responses from a freaking wall."

He ignored her that time.

They were almost to the vet's when Violet's phone rang. The lyrics to the All-American Rejects song 'Dirty Little Secret' rang out, startling her, and making her drop her backpack to the ground to scrounge around for her phone. She grimaced at the screen when she saw it was her dad, and Kyle snorted at her ringtone.

"Hey," she warned, her voice a threat. "This song is awesome." Then she answered the call. "Hey, dad," she said slowly.

"I got a call from your principal. Imagine my surprise when she said you weren't in school," he said, his voice like a brewing storm.

"Was today a school day?" Violet asked innocently, her voice appropriately puzzled. Kyle snorted. Yeah, she wasn't winning any awards for her lying abilities. "Wow, I guess I'm still exhausted from the move."

"Violet." Her name was a warning, and she sighed. They'd discussed school this morning.

"I have a good reason!"

"This'll be good," he muttered, and she harrumphed.

"I found this dog, and she's injured. I'm taking her to the vet."

"All by yourself? You don't even know where the vet is."

"No, uh…" she glanced at Kyle uncertainly. Should she tell her dad about Kyle? She didn't see why not. "The bartender is with me. Kyle. He's carrying the dog."

"Oh. Well." He sounded like he was about to scold her or tell her to get to school right then. But then she heard people shouting in the background, and the sound of one of those beds being wheeled at a fast pace. It was a familiar sound, and she knew she'd avoided a telling off for now. "Just make sure you get to school straight after, okay?"

"Sure thing, dad. But wait!" She said quickly, before he hung up. "If she doesn't have an owner, can we keep her?"

"Violet, this really isn't the time. I'll talk to you tonight. Get to school."

Then he did hang up.

They pushed the door to the vet's open, and brought Lulu in. They answered some questions, filled out some papers, and then they took Lulu in to be examined. She started to get skittish when the vet came towards her, whining and wiggling in Kyle's hands to get away. Violet automatically tried to calm her, muttering soothing words and stroking the fur of her head. She settled, but only a little, and the vet suggested she go in to keep Lulu calm. Lulu whimpered as the vet examined her, explaining that she needed to have surgery on her leg.

Ten minutes later, Violet was walking back out again, asking the receptionist to inform her about Lulu's progress, and whether they get a hold of the owners or not. When she turned around, Kyle was waiting there still, by the door, his arms folded. She walked past him, going back outside and feeling the difference between the air-conditioned building and the warmth from the sun. She blinked against the light, glancing at Kyle. "What are you doing?"

"Not even a thank you," he rolled his eyes.

"Thank you, Kyle. It was so nice of you to take half an hour out of your day, to stop and help an injured dog. Such a big heart," she mocked, shaking her head like she could hardly believe the size of his heart. "Seriously, what are you doing?"

"What's it look like?"

"It looks like you're stalking me," she said, crossing her arms defensively in front of her chest. "Are you stalking me?

"Don't flatter yourself," he said drily. "I'm heading in this direction."

Violet didn't look convinced. But sure enough, they parted ways, and she was left to walk the rest of the way to school by herself.

.::~*~::.

She walked through the deserted grounds, looking for the entry so she could find the receptionist or something. Actually, now that she thought about it, it would be the principal she wanted to see. The sound of a spray can being used filled the silence, and she was grateful for the noise. It meant there was someone nearby that she could ask for directions. She rounded the corner and came face to face with a guy wearing a different uniform.

It threw Violet for a second, and her cheeks warmed as she thought she'd ended up at the wrong school. She was going to kill Kyle for allowing her to head to the wrong school and not tell her! But then she remembered that students from Mangrove River were also at Summer Bay High until their school was fixed. That must be the different uniform. He wore a blue buttoned shirt, though the top couple buttons were left undone and Violet could see a white shirt underneath.

He was in the middle of spraying graffiti over the school wall. She eyed it critically, before glancing back at him. He was smirking at her. "Can you tell me where the principal's office is?"

"It'll cost you," he grinned, leaning casually against the wall like he hadn't just been caught breaking the school rules. "Twenty bucks."

"How 'bout you tell me where it is, and I won't tell the principal who spray painted the walls in that hideous shade of yellow? Because I'm going to get there eventually, anyway, and whether I sing like a bird is up to you."

"Woman knows how to bargain," he grinned again, then gestured his head to the door further along the wall. "Take your first right."

"Pleasure doing business with you."

She walked away, and he went back to spray painting. The principal's office was where he said it would be, so Violet kept her side of the bargain and didn't say anything. They'd find out eventually anyway. She knocked, and the door swung open to reveal Mrs. Scott, the principal; a tall, blonde woman, in a professional blazer.

"You must be our new student, Violet Jones," she said automatically, and Violet wondered if she knew each and every one of her students by name. She probably did.

"Yep. Sorry I wasn't here sooner," Violet apologized.

The principal nodded, "Your father called. Come in and take a seat."

Violet did as she was told, going inside the office and taking a seat. The principal handed her a timetable and other information, going through the usual stuff, like where the classes were, what was expected of her, the school uniform, etc. When they were finished, the first lesson was ending, the bell ringing. The principal opened her door, and they stepped out.

"Maddy!" The principal called out to a girl Violet's age. She was wearing the Summer Bay uniform, and she had to be opposite to Violet in about every way looks wise. She was fairly tall, with blonde hair, tanned skin and a slender body. Violet was paler, with black hair, while being short and curvy. "Would you mind taking our new student, Violet, to her classes and showing her around?"

"Sure," Maddy said, smiling at Violet.

"Actually," Violet spoke up, going to say that her name was Vi. But they weren't paying attention. She sighed, giving up. She may as well just be Violet. That's what everyone already knew her as.

"Have a great first day," the principal said, before going back into her office and leaving her there with Maddy.

"Thanks," she said. "I'm Violet Jones."

"Well, welcome to Summer Bay High. What subjects are you doing?"

"Um…" Violet scrounged around through the papers clasped in her hands. "English, chemistry, biology, math, history and art."

She took the paper from Violet's hand easily, looking it over. "We have English, biology, math and art together. But English has already finished, so I'll show you to your chemistry class. Did you want me to come back after, and we can walk to biology together?"

Wow. That was the quickest she'd ever been extended an invitation to walk to class with someone. It was nice, and a little of the stress faded away from her shoulders. If she could make a friend, then the day would be marginally better. Violet grinned happily, "I could kiss you right now!"

They laughed, and a Mangrove River student, the guy Violet had caught spray painting, slowed, turning around to walk with them. He grinned at them, "Oh, I wish you would."

"Just ignore him," Maddy said, her surprisingly pouty lips curling in distaste, her arm wrapping protectively around Violet's shoulders and guiding her away from the guy. So, she was one of those types; who sticks up fiercely for her friends. Violet thought she was going to get along great with her. "He's an idiot."

Violet glanced over her shoulder at him, who was watching them walk away. "You're gonna have to keep using your imagination, mate."

He made a face at her like she'd wounded him. Violet grinned, laughed and turned back to Maddie, who was staring at her with an odd grin. "What?"

"It's just…" Maddy said, pushing her hair behind her ears. "Uh, well, I think most girls would have blushed, embarrassed, or told him to go to hell. Not…laugh."

Violet shrugged, "It's just niggling. It takes more than that to throw me."

"Okay," Maddy laughed. "I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, this is your chemistry room. I'll come back when the lesson is over, so just wait here." She gestured at the door we came to, and I nodded. "I'll help you with your locker at lunch."

"Thanks," Violet said, grinning at her gratefully. "I appreciate it."

"No problem," she smiled, and turned around with a spin and walked off.

Violet entered the room, looking around at the half-filled class, wondering where to sit. That was always the hardest thing about coming to a new school; deciding where to sit. Usually, Violet knew what kind of personality traits she was going to amplify, and that would dictate her choice. But now, she was just confused and nervous. She bit her lip. A girl with red hair in a Summer Bay uniform smiled at her.

Violet glanced behind her, to make sure there was no one behind her that the redhead could be smiling at. That was a good sign, so Violet made her way over, looking around the room. There was an obvious line between the Summer Bay students and the Mangrove River students. Literally, someone had drawn a line on the linoleum.

Violet sat down in the chair beside the girl, who turned to face her, sticking out a hand, "Hi. I'm Tamara."

"Violet," she replied, shaking her hand.

The teacher walked in then, and all conversation was cut short. The lesson passed quickly, the way all classes pass quickly when you're really concentrating. Then the bell was ringing, and Violet was gathering her pens and books up, shoving it into her bag. Tamara asked, "What do you have next?"

"Um, biology, I think."

"Did you want me to show you where to go?" She asked kindly, and Violet smiled at her.

"Thanks, but Maddy already said she'd take me. It was nice of you to offer, though."

"No problem," Tamara said. "I'll see you around."

"Definitely."

Maddy was waiting just outside, and she smiled at Violet as she exited the room and walked over, "How was your first ever class here?"

Violet groaned. "Don't even. It was chemistry."

Maddy laughed, and they walked to their next class together.

.::~*~::.

Violet was relieved when it was lunch time. In fact, she was ready to go home. But she couldn't, for obvious reasons.

Instead, she met Maddy's friends. Sasha and Spencer and Tamara, though Maddy didn't seem all that close to them. Sasha had black hair, pulled back into two braids and in a way, she kind of punked-up the school uniform to her own quirky style. Her and Spencer, who was cute, were dating, and Tamara I'd met in chemistry. She was about as short as Violet was, and it made her more comfortable.

After a while, Violet noticed that they weren't all that close at all, really. When Sasha and Spencer left to do their own thing, Tamara left not long after, muttering something about the library, and Maddy took the time to fill Violet in on everything. Well, almost everything. The bell rang before she could finish.

Violet tried really hard to keep up with it all, but they led complicated lives. Whoever said nothing happened in small towns was dead wrong.

"So let me get this straight," Violet said, her eyes wide in incredulousness. "You dated Spencer first, and now Sasha is dating him. And you were dating Josh, but he keeps choosing his brother over standing up for you, so now that's not happening. And before that, Sasha was interested in a guy called Casey, but Tamara ended up dating him. And then a whole lot of other stuff happened, and Tamara ended up dating Kyle, Casey's brother, but then she ended up with Casey again, and now she's not dating any of them?"

"Pretty much," Maddy laughed.

"Weird," Violet muttered. "And this Kyle, does he work at a place called Angelo's?"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

Violet grumbled, "He wouldn't sell me a beer."

"But you're not old enough to drink, are you?"

"Well no," Violet began, a wry grin tilting her lips. "But I like beer. And you'd be surprised how many places I've actually convinced the bartender to give me one."

They looked at each, silently assessing the other's background, working it out in their heads. Then Violet grinned, deciding to just come right out and say what was on her mind, "I think we're going to be great friends."

"Me too," she agreed, before laughing. "I like how blunt you are."

"Thanks," Violet said, flattered. "I like how protective you are."

"Protective?"

"Yeah, this morning, when that guy said about us kissing, you steered me away protectively. It was nice. I can totally handle myself, but it was just nice." Violet explained, laying back on the grass and looking up at the tree above their heads. She hoped there was no bird up there getting ready to poop on her.

"Oh. Thanks."

Then the bell rang and they went to class.

She also shared history with Sasha, Spencer and Tamara.

By the end of the day, Violet had noticed a pattern. Only people wearing Summer Bay uniforms had approached her and said hello or offered their help with getting to class. Aside from that one guy, who'd wanted to stir up some trouble, that was the extent of Mangrove River's attempts at friendliness.

There was some obvious segregation going on between the two schools, and it was causing tension.

What did you think?

I know, this chapter was short and boring. I hate it. But I needed to set up the foundation of a couple things, and introduce Violet to some people. The next chapters will be longer.

I don't know how I'm going to do this; sometimes I'll follow the episodes, sometimes I'll make up my own plots and stuff, but I don't know.

Anyhow, I'm going to try to get all the chapters up to where it's at now, including the music festival stuff, before Monday, when it starts back up again. Bear with me. I'll probably fail. But I'd love to know your thoughts on the chapter!

Review-replies:

Teddy bear 007: Thanks! I wasn't sure about the first chapter either, but I'm glad I managed to get you interested with the second chapter! Thanks!

Rebeccabraxton: I'm glad you liked that side of her in the second chapter! I'm stoked you're loving this story and that you think it's awesome! I'm so flattered! Thanks for reviewing again! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Charlie: Thank you! I'm glad you think the second chapter didn't disappoint! Yay! I'm glad you think Violet seems perfect for Kyle. I like to think so too :D Thanks for reviewing!

Izzy: Thanks! I'm glad you loved it! oh, definitely, there's some love hate there, and more will be on the way soon enough! Thanks so much for reviewing! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Koryandrs: Thank you! I'm glad you thought the use of detail was good! Thanks for reviewing this story as well :D

Waterlooroadfan2012: Thank you! I'm stoked you loved it! thanks for reviewing, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter too!

Guest: Thank you so much! I'm flattered you think my story is clever, and I'm stoked you love it and seem to want to read more! Thanks so much for reviewing! I hope you liked this chapter too!

SweetSickNightmare: Thank you! I'm glad you love it :D I hope you liked this chapter too, though it was way more boring!

Rebeccabraxton: Haha, sorry! I know, it took me forever!

Sheerio4ever: Hey! I'm really glad you like this story so far (I love Kyle too! Gah!), and thanks so much for taking enough of an interest to PM me about it! it's super flattering, thank you! In the next couple days, I think (I hope) there's going to be a rush of chapters. Thanks so much!

Guest: Thank you so much! I'm stoked you think it's a really great story! I'm not planning on giving up on it anytime soon, I'm just, unfortunately, unreliable as an updater. As much as I try to be reliable, it never seems to work out. Thanks so much for reviewing! I hope you liked this chapter too!