Violet did her best not to lose pride, but by third period, the milk stain started to smell, students noticed and teased her, a student tripped her, she stumbled into Joe.
"I knew you'd fall for me," he caught her in his arms.
"Let go, you creep!"
"Have it your way, doll," he lowered his arms.
Violet fell, everybody laughed.
"Joe!"
"Hey, that was your own fault," he laughed, "whew, did ya shower this morning?"
"Of course I did!"
"You smell rank, and that perfume ain't covering it up," he walked off.
"Stop laughing at me, damn it," Violet screamed.
Violet rushed to get to her next class, breezing past Peppermint Patty and Roy.
"Somebody's in a hurry, watch where ya goin', Violet!"
"It's not that serious," Roy added.
"Can I just knock her out?"
"Not yet."
"I wanted to ask you something, Patty," Charlie walked up.
"Sure, anything!"
"I was wondering if you could give Lucy a ride… I'm going to run to the junkyard after school and find something for Lucy's saddle."
"Lucy…"
"I know you're still not okay with her, but I want to see if I can find something nice, Heather said she might be able to fix it."
"I did say anything, didn't I?"
"Thanks," he hugged her.
"You're going to see my stream, right?"
"Patty, I'm going to be there," he let go.
"And don't forget Saturday, okay?"
"I won't."
Violet walked lonely to lunch, she stood lonely in line, was made fun of alone, she saw Charlie, Lucy, Marcie, and Shermy sitting together.
"Shermy, honey," Violet walked up to them.
"Hey, Violet."
"I don't mind you sitting with your friends, but I miss you."
''You want me to sit with you?"
"It would be nice, Shermy, especially when you're chatting it up with Lucy."
Lucy glared and looked away.
"What, I can't be friends with Lucy anymore?"
"She slapped me, and yelled at me!"
"And I've dated you despite how you treated my friends."
"So?"
"So‽ I'm your girlfriend! You know what… whatever, it's whatever. I love you, and I need you, but it's fine," she walked off.
"Man… it's always something with her," he huffed.
"Violet's having a hard time, she just doesn't wanna show it. I'd get angry like that, sometimes."
"Let her be angry… she's just mad she isn't getting her way, like she always does," Lucy snarled.
"You're right, that's all it is. She'll just need to get over it," Shermy agreed.
"Well, anyway… Lucy… I have something to take care of after school, you don't mind getting a ride from Patty, do you?"
"Patty? I guess not… if she's cool with it."
Violet, still angry, disgusted at the sight of everybody went to eat outside.
"I can't believe he acted like that, some boyfriend he is! Doesn't he know I need him, right now‽"
She wanted to cry, but wouldn't let herself, instead choking down everything that wasn't anger, and nearly choking down her lunch, if it wasn't for the fact she wasn't too eager to go back in.
Shermy tracked down Peggy-Jean after lunch in the halls, she was talking to Three and Four, when he poked her in the side from behind.
"Now who's messing-," she turned around, "Shermy!"
"Hey, can I talk to you?"
"Sure. I'll catch up to you girls later."
"See ya Peggy," they said walking away.
Peggy and Shermy walked to the stairwell out of view.
"So I'm done with her… I said I was going to end it soon, but I'm doing it real soon."
"Good, because I don't like being the other woman, and it doesn't feel right."
"I know. We're supposed to be better than this."
"Mm-hmm, and I'm better for you, I've been on your side all this time."
Just then Joe came down the steps and overheard them talking, he peered over the railing.
"I've been here for you, I love you, and I cain't stand seeing you unhappy."
"I know Maggie."
"Do you," she placed her hand on his chest, "I want better for you."
"Is this what I think it is… and they call me scum," Joe thought.
"You're better for me, you do make me happy, Maggie."
"Sweetie-pie," she pulled him into a kiss.
"Maggie? Sweetie-pie," Joe thought as he watched them make out.
"I'm getting all hot and bothered, these quick kiss sessions are just nothin' but a tease!"
"We won't need to hide anymore by Monday, and all the kisses are yours, all the time," he smiled.
"We should get going."
"Right. See ya later?"
"Yeah."
They shared one last kiss before parting. Joe knew he had to play it off, rushing down the steps.
"Watch out, putsch!"
"Excuse me, Joe," Shermy glared.
"What's the excuse," he quickly went through the door.
Violet was still miserable, and the argument with Shermy just made it worse. She was thankful there was just one more period left in the day, after this she has the whole weekend to recover. At this point she didn't even smell herself anymore, but the first thing she plans on doing is burning that top, and taking a long soak in the tub. After class she was ready to go, and Joe was looking for her, to tell her what he saw.
"Violet, hey Violet," Joe ran up to her.
"Joe, I don't have time to deal with you right now," she rolled her eyes.
"Aye, jus' hear me out real quick."
"No… I'm not trying to date you."
"I don't wanna date you."
"Really‽ Because you were hitting on me earlier, and I have a boyfriend."
"No, I was just messin' with ya, I might be a asshole sometimes, but I don't believe in cheating- friends is what I wanted, but if ya left'em, that's a different story."
"So you wanted to be friends… pass, now are we done here?"
"No," he followed her to the student lot, "that's not what I wanted to talk about."
"Last thing I need right now is to be associated with you, of all people!"
"This shits important, Violet! I don't give fuck all how you feel about me, but I'm trying to look out for you."
"Why? Why do you care about me?"
"Look… I do have standards, ya foolish broad, and I'm trying to save ya heart!"
"My heart- okay I'll humor you, what are you talking about," she stopped and turned.
"I saw Shermy and Peggy-Jean in the stairwell earlier."
She scoffed, "they're friends."
"They were kissing. I saw tha whole thing."
"No… he wouldn't do that. You're fucking with me," she turned to walk away.
"I'm not, I'm serious, I saw the whole thing."
"I don't believe you."
"She said she's been there for him, and wants better for him, he said she'd better and makes him happy, she called him sweetie-pie, and they kissed," he listed, "it was just, like, two periods ago."
"Yeah, still don't believe you."
"Okay, what if I get proof? If I'm wrong… you caaannn… kick me in the balls twice. I'm telling you the truth! I'll get proof, I swear!"
"Kick you twice?"
"Yeah!"
"In the nards?"
He nodded.
"Take my number. You better hope you're not lying."
"I hope I can get proof."