Violet was walking down the dark street, arms wrapped tightly around herself. She walked and walked with no destination in mind. Cars were racing by her, tires screeching and horns honking. Violet didn't think much of it, but what happened next caught her by surprise.

A speeding black Mustang pulls up to the curb beside her and comes to a complete stop. Violet stepped over a few steps and kept walking.

"Excuse me," the driver called.

Violet turned around and slumped, walking back to the car. She leaned to see the driver and was shocked by what she saw. This man was beautiful. He had a pale complexion, curly blonde hair and dark brown eyes. He was dressed in a pale gray suit with a crisp white shirt and red tie.

"Can you tell me how to get to The Black Dahlia?" Violet could easily tell that this guy had been drinking. She could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath and began taking shallow breaths.

"Um...you take this road down to Main Street, turn left on Donnie Avenue and you're there." She straightened up and moved to walk away without another word.

"Hey, wait!" the stranger called.

Violet stopped and walked back.

"I don't think I can remember all that. How about you climb in and show me." The beautiful stranger opened the passenger door for her but she hesitated.

"It's not hard," she said.

The stranger smirked at her. Violet always hated the looks she got from people who had money. She always despised the arrogance and asshole behavior she got from the other kids at her old school.

Violet tapped her foot on the floor for a moment before she slid into the car. The strangers smiled and headed towards Main Street.

"Turn left here," Violet said.

It was about three streets before they reached Donnie Avenue. When the car stopped, Violet looked out her window and saw the sign for The Black Dahlia. She reached for the door handle and turned back to the handsome stranger.

"Well, there it is." She pointed. "I'm sure you'll be fine from here."

"No wait," called the man. Violet stopped. She heard about these men: they'll keep you in the car long enough to figure something out before they jump you. But this guy didn't seem like the type to do something like that.

Nobody ever does.

"Come and have a drink with me," he said.

She frowned. "I'm eighteen."

The man raised his brows. "Eighteen, huh?"

Violet rolled her eyes and moved to get out but the man caught her wrist.

"Let me go!"

"Please, just one drink."

"You're crazy," she spat.

"Come on, it's my best friend's wedding reception and I don't want to show up alone."

Violet looked in the stranger's dark eyes and saw that he was disappointed by her rejection. She wasn't sure if this was part of some rape plan but it's not like she had much to lose. She didn't have a proper home, she didn't have a boyfriend and she had no friends.

She agreed and the stranger pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. Violet moved to get out but the stranger stopped her.

"Wait here," he said. He jumped out of the car and moved around, opening the door for her. She took his outstretched hand and climbed out of the car. The man paid the valet and she followed him inside.

The restaurant was crowded with people. A man from a nearby desk called out the man who brought her here. He excuses himself, promising that he'll only be a minute and goes to speak the other man. Violet looks around the crowded restaurant. She watches as cheerful people dance around on the dance floor having the time of their lives. She wondered what it would be like to actually live a lifestyle of wealth and popularity, but then she questioned why she would want that. The job she has now wasn't the best she could have been given but she was making good money and she was hoping she wouldn't have to do it for much longer.

She felt a hand on her lower back. She turned and saw the man who brought her in standing behind her, smiling weakly. She gives him an awkward smile in return. The music is so loud that Violet reaches up onto her toes and he leans down to listen.

"You never did tell me your name," she says into his ear.

The man pulls away and smirks. He holds a hand out to her and they shake. "My name is Tate Langdon." Violet takes her hand back. "And yours?"

Suddenly, she blushes and looks around at the dancing people around her. When she looks back at him he's waiting patiently for her response. "It's Violet."

He's smiling now. "Like the flower."

"I'd rather not think of it like that," she says.

"Why not?"

Violet shrugs. "My mom used to tell me that I was like the flower..." She trails off and folds her arms across her chest. Thinking about her mother made Violet upset. As much as her parents' divorce hurt her, she still missed them a lot and wished that her life had taken a different turn.

"And?" Tate asked.

Violet shakes her head, quickly dismissing the conversation. She wasn't sure what she was doing with this guy anymore. Suddenly, she just wanted to go home and go to sleep; she didn't want to be part of a such a high-class social scene anymore. She turned around and was about to leave when a large group of people walked in through the door, startling her and blocking her way. They were cheering as they strode in. There was a man dressed in a tuxedo and the woman at his side was dressed in a beautiful white dress that reached down to the floor. Violet moved out of their way to give them room.

"Tate!" the man in the tuxedo called out the curly, blonde man beside her.

"Kyle." Tate steps forward and takes his friend in a manly hug. They slap each other's backs and Tate moves back to Violet's side. He looks down at her and wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "Kyle," he says, "I want you to meet..." He drunkenly waves a hand for help.

"Violet," she says.

"Nice to meet you, Violet," Tate's friend, Kyle, says as he offers her his hand. They shake and Violet flushes a little when she sees the look on the bride's face. "Are you joining us for dinner?" Kyle looks between her and Tate.

"Oh no, I-I couldn't-"

Tate nudges Violet closer to him and smiles wide at his friend. "Of course she is." He smiles down at her.

He leads her as they follow the group of wedding guests into a private room with a large table set up with many chairs around it. Everyone moves about the room and finds a seat while the bride and groom take their places at each end of the table. There are two empty seats on either side of Kyle and Tate sits Violet down on one side before moving around to sit on the other.

"So," Kyle says, looking Violet. "How do you know Tate?"

Violet looks cautiously at Tate but he's too focused on the menu in his hands to even bother noticing the conversation. Her cheeks heat from the feeling of pressure and embarrassment, but she decides to give it her best shot.

"He got lost on his way here, so he stopped and I gave him directions."

Kyle nods and turns his gaze to his friend. He's about to question Tate about the whole thing as well when two waitresses walk into the private room, each carrying a tray of white wine. Kyle looks down the table at his bride and gives her a confused expression. Violet watches as a waitress hands her a glass of crispy white wine.

"I had the pleasure of ordering drinks," the bride says. Violet gulps and looks at Tate. He nods, reassuring that it was okay.

Violet shakes her head. "I, um...I don't drink."

"It's Kyle's wedding, Violet," Tate insists.

Violet thought about for a moment before picking up her glass of the bittersweet liquid and follows suit as everyone raises their glasses, following the bride. She stands gracefully, her eyes set straight on her husband. She's grinning like a fool but she still looked beautiful and Violet felt intimidated.

"To my loving husband," the bride says, "without whom I would not be so happy." She raises her glass higher. "Here's to us."

Kyle raises his glass. "To us."

Everyone clinks their glasses together and sip their drinks. Violet hesitates for another moment before taking a careful sip. The wine tastes strong and bitter at first, but she manages it down. She finds that it doesn't taste as bad when you drink a little more. But Violet had never had a drink before now in her life; she was in for an interesting night.