~~~~~~Violet's POV~~~~~~
I woke up, sprawled out on my bed. "Urrrgh… What year is it?" I joke to myself. Someone skids their feet along the floor into my room.
"2014." I heard his voice and roll around to see Barry leaning in my rooms door frame.
"I've slept in my tight dress… It has to come off before-" I stopped and covered my mouth with both hands, I couldn't swallow the vomit until I got to a good place but I didn't want to throw up in my bedroom. I got up and ran to the door still clutching my mouth. Barry was delayed to move but he still slid to the side. I made my way to the bathroom and kicked the door open. Leaning down to the toilet bowl, a hairy hand lifted the lid for me. He then left the room for a couple seconds while I began to barf. He came back in as I stopped for a few seconds to turn around and see him with my purple hair brush and a hair tie or two in his hand.
"I'm gonna try to fix your hair up so you don't have to wash it today." He smiled.
"Thanks… Hey do you know what happened after my 3rd glass 'o' Sake?" I ask.
"Nope, do you know what happened after my 4th can of beer?" He returns the question before tugging the brush through my hair and I again start to puke. Aside from my barf noises, there was silence between to two of us until my hungover friend broke it. "Your hair's tied up now, you wanna take a look next time you have a break?" He asks getting his phone from the living room. I nod when I know he's in the room again. He takes a photo of my hair after asking me to keep still. I rise my head for a breather and I get shown my hair style.
"Wow, Barr. Twin tails, huh? Pretty cute. They're some on-point shit right there… for a guy anyway." I smile. "Later, I'll turn it into odango atama's."
"Excuse me? What now?"
"Oh, I mean Sailor Moon's hairstyle."
"Ah, right." Barry understood immediately.
"Before I start chuckin' my guts up, could you help me out of this tight mo' fucka? It's not like you haven't stripped me of my clothes before." I lightly tease.
"Could you please not refer to it like that, it makes me sound like a…" Barry began.
"A creepy pervert? I sincerely apologise. J-just help me." I stutter. "Please hurry."
"O-o-oh, alright." Barry said. "Where's the zipper on this thing?" He asked hurriedly and in a panic.
"Calm down dude, umm…. It's on the… right of my back, I'm pretty sure." I try to help him out. "Stop panicking, it's not like I'm gonna chuck up on you. And if I did there'd have to be a bloody good reason as to why I did so. Just settle."
"Why do you wear tight dresses like this? Especially when you knew you were gonna drink at the party?" Barry asks, still panicking.
"Because it postpones the sickly feeling until the mornin' after. Just so I don't ruin my clothes before I come to my senses." I speak and he latches on to the zip, pulling it down. He tries to remove the dress. "A-ah, Barry. There's a button on the side as well. Undo that and then you can take it off. The buttons on the left."
"Why is it on the opposite side?"
"You'll never understand. I have qualifications on the matter." I start throwing up again. "Ick-gack-urk." I choke while helping Barry with taking my birthday outfit off. After my dress and flower patterned net sleeves were taken off (My shoes were removed the night before), Barry rubbed and patted my back.
~~~~~~Barry's POV~~~~~~
I didn't know what alcohol getting in to her system did to Violet, until now. Although, it was disgusting and the room absolutely reeked, I promised to stay with her unless she needed me to do something.
Even though I felt super wrong, the angelic side of my thoughts battled with the demonic and disgusting side of them. 'Urgh, she's sooo pretty. Why can't you just make it stop for her? Violet doesn't deserve this puke infested torture. She is an innocent.' The angel in my head spoke until the devil took over straight after. 'The boobs, man. They're just so fucking motor-boat-able damn it! They're right there, it wouldn't hurt to grope them… What am I thinking? She'd beat the shit out of me if she knew what I'd just thought. I'm super perverted right now. Stop Barry, just stop!'
"I can hold out for the rest of the day after this last round." She panted and finished barfing. "Right. Help me up." When I helped her up, her knees cracked. "Don't worry that's normal."
"Do you want me to go and get some clothes for you to change into?" I ask.
"Yeah, your top and the sweatpants Suzy gave me should do." She smiles. I sit her down on the couch.
"Stay put." I bluntly reply.
"Yes captain." She nods. When I was looking through the chest of draws for the specific items of clothing Violet whispered from the other room: "SHIT."
"Violet, is everything okay in there?" I reply worriedly.
"My head's about to explode. Ow." She says and then tiredly wines. Once I grabbed the clothes, outside caught my attention.
"What the fuck? I-it's been snowing? That explains why it got suddenly cold. What in the worlds name? How?" I mutter.
"You alright?" She asks from the living room.
"I'd ask you to look outside, but I want you to stay put. It's been snowing. I thought you would have noticed the drop in temperature."
"I did but assumed you thought it to be normal." Violet replies with wide eyes when I entered the room. She was sat up, rubbing her arms with her hands and forced a lump down her throat. "I-I'm freezing but my heads on fire, Barr-san. Ow, my head."
I rushed over to her, laid the clothes down beside her and put my hand on her head. "You're right. You're burning up." I bring her head close to my chest. "Don't worry, I'll take care of you."
"T-thank you, senpai." She looked up and smiled.
"First step: Let's get you some clothes on." I stand her up, get my baggy top and unfolded it. "Raise your arms as much as you can, I don't wanna hurt you."
"I'm pretty capable of putting clothes on by myself." She smiled and I put my hands on her shoulders.
"I've just said, I'll take care of you." I convince and put the T-shirt on her. "If you feel uncomfortable with it, you can but the pants on yourself."
"Thank you, I will." She spoke and snatched the sweatpants out of my hands. "Please, can I use your shoulders to balance…? I'm afraid I'll fall over."
"Okay." I say becoming more midget-like than before. Her tongue creeps out from her mouth and her forehead wrinkles as if she was deep in concentration. Violet placed the right hand on my right shoulder and holds the sweatpants with the other.
"I'm not very good at balancing when I'm tired. I'm sorry about that." She speaks for the first time in a minute.
"Don't apologise because I don't think anyone can balance that well in the morning." I smile and Violet giggles slightly, still concentrating to her best ability. Her right leg is lifted, almost in a ballet stance, and inserted into the correct side of the sweatpants. She swaps the hand on my shoulder, her left hand on my right shoulder, still. Violet's quick reflexes help her to catch the sweatpants' waist band before it hit the floor. After, she puts her other leg into the sweatpants and properly pulls them up, Violet slams down on her couch.
"Welp, I'm knackered." She sighs.
"Step Two: Get you some food." I wander towards her kitchen.
"No-no, you don't have to. You really don't." She almost was begging for me not to walk in.
"Yes, I do."
"No, you don't."
"I will and that's final."
"Please don't yell at me."
I walk into her kitchen. "Why would I yell at y- Violet, have you eaten this week at all?!" I yell noticing no plates or general dishes in the sink.
"Yes, I have." She nervously said.
"When did you do the dishes, then?" I challenge.
"Umm, yes-ter-day… I believe." She says in a nervous tone.
"You were busy all yesterday." I correct.
"Well, then the day before."
"You really haven't. Have you?" My tone of voice was disappointed.
She sighs. "No… I haven't. Don't be angry with me."
"I'm not angry, just disappointed." I reply, looking in the cupboards.
From the other room I hear clattering and muttering. "Oh no, epipen-epipen-epipen-epipen-EPIPEN!" Violet yelled.
"Where are they?" I ask.
"I-in the small cupboard on the right." She panics. I figure out which one she means and then look inside. There was condiments, an open cardboard box and her epipen stuff. I grab her what she begged for and reached the doorway. "Throw them to me!"
"It's dangerous. What if you don't catch?"
"Just throw them!" She demands. I throw them and a second after she catches, her apartment's entrance way opens. Rose and Dan run through the door.
"Baby girl!" Rose yells running past me. By now, Violet had prepared the needle. The dark haired women squints before gabbing herself with the epipen. Violet's sister leaps at her. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"I-I'm fine…" Violet looks at me.
"Yeah, what in the hell happened?" I ask.
Violet rubs the back of her neck. "You know how I am with praline ice cream sis." She jokes.
"You what? You know that has nuts in it." Rose shuns her sister.
"Doesn't mean to say I can't eat it." Violet relaxes.
"Oh, V. I've never ran so fast in my life for you." Rose hugs her sister. Dan and I exchange a look that can only be described as she's-such-a-moron.
"Can you- urr- kindly get your weight of my stomach? I've never threw up so much in one morning in my life."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Rose slouches to the side.
Dan enters the kitchen with me. I open the small cupboard and shut the door. "Dude, what're you doing?"
"I wanted to look in the box." I admit.
"Just reminding you of how bad of an idea it is." Dan turns his head.
"What harm could it be?"
"It's Violet were talking about here, not anyone else."
"I know, man. I worry about her, ya know." I look at the top of the box. "What the?" I mutter when reading what was written on it. 'Box of personal stuff. If you look in this and your name is not Violet Lisianthus Dahlia Hellebore Veronica Blackwell, well, Violet is probably dead. If Violet finds out you looked inside of this box, she will not hesitate to murder you.' And in red pen on the other side it read in massive capital letters: 'YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED'.
"Dude, you are fucking persistent to open it."
"I'm worried about her, and that's all I care about." I look at the coding on the inside of the box. 'Pink= Failed suicide attempt letters. Purple= Depression notes from teenage years. Blue= Recent depression notes.' My eyes widened more than Dan's did. "How couldn't she tell us about this?"
"I know she's entitled to secrecy but Jesus Christ." Dan spoke in a whisper. I pick one of each out of the box. "What are you doing?"
"I'm gonna read them through. I think we all deserve to know." I stuff the papers in my pocket. "I promised to make her something to eat… Aside from yesterday, she hadn't eaten all week."
"Make her French toast or something, it's one of the very little things you can make, dude."
"At least I cook." I get bread out and put a pan on. "I've had an idea."
"What now?" Dan sighs.
"We can have Violet teach us how to cook, meaning we know that she's eating and eventually we'll be able to actually make food."
"Yeah, it'd be an excuse to be in the kitchen at the same time as her."
After I finish making her food and hand it to her, Violet gets a text. "Guys, Suzy wants us all to come over to talk. Meh, I'll go but I feel like shit."
"Violet, you don't have to." Dan said.
"She texted me, specifically meaning I have to attend. Imma eat this first and then we'll go… Hey, Rose you wanna come?"
"I see no harm." The blonde happily replies. "Dan, Barry. Maybe you guys could go freshen up."
"You should too Rose, you fuckin' minger. Borrow some of my stuff… Not my band t-shirts, dresses or jeans though." Violet smiled
"Well, what can I wear?"
"Some shit that I haven't worn in years but have for collector's sake."
~~~~~~Violet's POV~~~~~~
The guys went upstairs to change and Rose went in my room to do the same. "Yo, sis." She called.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Mum managed to meet a new guy."
"Really? How did that go?" I was sarcastic.
"She's still with him, you dummy."
"What's his name? What's he like?"
"His name is Aydan Isaac Bruce Gardenar. He treats me like his own." She smiled from the doorway.
"Hmm-hmm. There's more, isn't there?"
"How did you know?"
"The tone of voice is so very suggestive."
"I'll tell you once I'm ready. Gimme two minutes!"
"I'm counting." I joke in a sing song-y tone. She manages to finish before the two minutes were up and sat on the couch. "So."
"We have a little brother."
"Excuse me, what?" I almost spit out the French toast.
"His name's Ash Rowan Hawthorn Forrest Bush-Gardenar. He's fucking adorable, for a twelve year old anyway."
"To replace me, huh?"
"Not at all, she would've named him similar to you if she had him to replace you."
"Fair enough." I smile and we just talk for a couple more minutes. It turns into a friendly insult battle.
~~~~~~Dan's POV~~~~~~
Barry and I return to Violet muttering something I don't think either of us can unhear. "Rose you're such a fucking wank-stain."
"Excuse me you fucking asshole." Rose laughs. "Oh my god, where did you learn such an amazing insult?" She slams her hands on to her chest. Violet began giggling in an extremely moé tone.
"Umm, girls?" I ask.
"Yeah Dan?" Rose replies.
"When you're ready to go, just tell us, okay?"
"Alright. So, sis. You're not kidding me, right? We have a little brother. Correct?" Violet asks.
"Yes." Rose nods. Barry and I exchange surprised glances.
"100%. You're not shitting me, no?"
"I'm 100% truthing right now. His name is Ash."
"You mean, like, an Ash Tree?" Violet again questions her sister who slowly nods. "I like ash trees. They're pretty!"
"Umm, that's all nice and cool and stuff but… I'm bored." Rose begins twiddling her thumbs.
"Well." Violet raises from the couch, pointing one finger in the air. "Let's fucking roll."
"You sure V? You look fuckin' knacked. And surprisingly both cold and weak."
"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU TRYIN' TO-? Fuck it, you're right." Violet drops her hand to her side. On queue she starts shaking. "Urgh, let's go." Violet goes into her room for round about two minutes and comes back out with at least two hoodies and her fluffy dressing gown on. She also is wrapped in her blue blanket.
~~~~~~Barry's POV~~~~~~
"I'm cold." Violet looked around her bedroom door.
"We can see that sis." Rose was sarcastic about the way she spoke. "You ready?"
"Yeah, come on lets head out." Violet marched towards the exit after picking up her bag. We all followed her smiling face.
"Sis, don't you care about what people think, like, at all?" Rose sped past Dan.
"If I don't feel like it, well, no."
"That's a fair enough explanation." After Rose spoke, there was silence as we waited for the elevator. Dan stood with his arms folded while impatiently tapping his foot. We all gathered into the elevator trying not to make eye contact with the strangers who were already inside. Violet leaned on the side of the elevator and looked down. Her soft face looked as if it was unhappy about something. She stayed like that the whole time the elevator was going to our destination, even when people came and went from the small space.
I had to alert her about reaching the right place. "Earth to Dahlia. You preoccupied or something?"
She looked up and carefully stepped out of the elevator after breathing out of her mouth, in a surprised manner. Her hands over-lapped above her thighs as she tried to catch up with us. Eventually, I lost sight of her (from the corner of my eye) as we went down the complex's entrance way stairs. Rose and Dan were involved in idle conversation when I looked back to see Violet staring out at the drops of rain that scarcely fell from the sky. Her face looked as if she remembered something.
~~~~~~Violet's POV~~~~~~
'It's almost like I've got amnesia. I usually remember something when looking out at the rain. What the fuck?!' I think to myself. 'I remember one thing: That Saké is and always has been a bad thing to drink… Even worse when you have people around you that care now. Mother fucker. Goddamnit, this is complete bullshit. As long as you have friends, Saké is a no-no. What do I work as again? Oooh yeah, I youtube.'
"You keep spacing out, you alright?" Barry asked, looking up at me from the bottom of the steep stairs. I look down, to make sure my footing was spot on, and made my way down in absolute silence. I continued to where Rose and Dan looked back at us.
'God-fucking-damn-it. Make this short term memory loss stop. V, do you remember where Dan keeps his car…?' I look around a bit, my head actually moving. 'No? Well shit. This is just great.' I groan to myself, frustrated with the amount of Saké in my system. 'Keep walking and: Don't. Look. Back.' I slowly walk trying to stay in front of them all, even though I was clueless as to where I was headed. 'Maybe I should tell them. Oh, I don't know… No, I shouldn't. It's best to keep shit like this to myself. They all care way too much.'
My hair blew in the soft breeze, then I realized how annoying it was. I stop in my tracks and took my uneven twin tails out slowly. The wind carried my hair to the right and gently lifted it. Dan was laughing before he crashed into my back. "Hey, watch i- urr. It's just you, Lizzie. Could you, keep walking, maybe?"
"Oh, umm. Sorry Dan. Yeah, I'll pick up the pace. No problem." I rush to the side, letting my sister and him through. 'For fucks sake. What the hell? I don't understand who I am anymore. Countless glasses of Saké later, and I am completely out of it. You've gotta hold it together... I should just sleep in Suzy's place, I'll avoid any questions that way.' I watch them pass, my head follows the smile on Dan's lips. I almost felt as if the people around me were strangers. 'This amnesia has induced later than expected.' I smile and think of Host Club again. The thought of that anime always makes me smile, sometimes even giggle and this time, I giggled.
My hands covered my mouth with a slap as I began sniggering. I remembered that everything my laugh was about was in my head and tried to hide it. I brushed my purple strands of hair out from behind my ear, they always fell in front of my face. The wind blew my black side fringe into my eye line for me. Barry walked past with his hands in his jean pockets. Just as he was out of my sight a sickly feeling hit my stomach again. We weren't too far away from Dan's vehicle as my stomach churned more and more at every millimetre the others stepped away from me. If I didn't swallow the vomit that filled my mouth, well, let's just say if I did they'd immediately send me back to my apartment. I really wanted to see Suzy today, I had no specific reason why either. Maybe, she made me feel safe… She was really like a mother to me, Arin was a lot like my dad too. They made me feel at ease.
I was alerted by my sister to, as she said, 'Hurry the fuck up and quit daydreaming.' I made it to the car and shoved my hands into my front pocket. The guys were in the front and my sibling and I were at the back. The conversation was very hollow. And by hollow, I mean it was non-existent. The outside was prettier than the boring conversation inside. I looked at my reflection and noticed the start of dark circles under my eyes. 'Oh no. This is not good. No wonder why he walked straight past me.' For once, I cared about being ignored.
I was the first to get out the car when we got to the house. Arin answered the door after I forcefully knocked on it. "Hey, guys. What's wrong with you?"
"I'm cold." I say speaking. "Hey, my sisters here too. Do you mind?"
"No, not at all. Hello, Rose." Arin smiles letting us all in. "Head to the office, Suzy and Ross are waiting." I lead my sister down stairs while rubbing my eyes.
"Hey, V. How are you? Oh, and Rose and the boys too! Hi guys." Suzy smiles.
"You're surprisingly… cheerful, Suzy." I reply throwing myself down on the couch.
"And you're not? I know I was a little hung over but, I've sorted myself out."
"To tell you guys the truth…" I begin and Ross turns around. "I… I always suffer after a lot of Saké."
"What do you mean?" Arin asks.
"I… I… am suffering from minor amnesia. Particularly from last night… I can remember up to the point of my 3rd Saké and how I danced with each of my male friends and from then, it's all gone to shit." I stare off into the distance.
"Well, I'm sure Ross can help you with that. And Arin and Dan too." Suzy smiled. "But amnesia? Are you sure?"
"Yes. I know its amnesia. It always induces later than actually waking up. That's why I may have been slightly awkward this morning, I've kind half-forgotten who you all are, a little." I admit, in shame. "Everyone but my sister. Eventually, I'll recover all of these memories but… Saké… it just… helped me… forget. Ever since I met you, aside from last night, I've never drank since. It would've been a real pain for me, thank you."
"Of course, you still wanna know what happened last night, right?" Dan asked and I nod in agreement.
"Piecing together what we've already discussed on the phone," Ross began. "It was really something. A vibe that I never quite pictured a careful girl like you having."
"Alcohol changes me. I believe it shows what I would've been like if my life had've went right. I think… I think I'm better off the way I am, don't-cha think?" I smile and look up to Suzy and Arin nodding. I stand up, throwing the dressing gown off and shaking my hair around to fit the shape of my head. 'Maybe, just maybe I can remember something now. If I'm inside, looking out at the rain, instead of being outside. That's it!' I clamber up the stairs without giving them any warning. I run to the window, nearest the door. I stare and the droplets of rain on the window and the others in the air.
~~~~~~Arin's POV~~~~~~
"Darn it. Still nothing. There's me never drinking Saké again." I caught up to Violet and saw her at the window next to the door. Was this, like, de-ja-vu or something? She spots me and flicks her head around to face me. "Oh, Arin. You alright?"
"I was more gonna ask you the same thing."
"You'll be the first to know this but… I look out at the rain, as it always leads me to an important memory… but drink, dude. It ruins my life." I look at him as he's confused at how calm I sounded, delivering the information like Nagato Yuki. "Hey, you don't have to believe me. Especially after what happened last night…D-did we go to the beach afterwards? It just came to me now!"
"Yeah, you did. You decided to kick sand castles out of existence." Arin smiled.
"I remember now. It was a lot of fun." She laughs. "It doesn't surprise me, ya know? I've hated almost everything to do with the sun. Ever since that day… Dad never let me be alone in the summer months until that day. When I learned that all of my parasols, actually, meant something. The first night of my eternal loneliness (not really) I went down South Shields beach and kicked the shit out of every sand castle the eye could see." She grins at me. "Arin! I remembered something! I finally remembered something Arin!" Violet cheered like a child. "Arin, I did it! My soul isn't completely black!" She jumped at me and hugged me. "Arin! I did it, dude!"
I just accepted the embrace I was in… The fatherly embrace that she thought she couldn't have anymore. As much as I didn't want to ruin it for her, I saw Suzy being reflected in the windows glass. My wife stood happy, but confused. Violet noticed her. "Suzy! I remembered something! The amnesias leaving me again. Suzy, I remembered something before yesterday lunch time!" The women who still held me close with both arms joked around.
"That's amazing, Violet!" Suzy sounded unsure but tried to be comforting.
"I think now I know valuable bits of information are in my brain. I can take in some more as it's pretty much empty!" She finally let go and I got to see the joy on her face. "Let's go, I've kept Barry and Rose waiting long enough." She races back down to where the four other people sat waiting and confused.
~~~~~~Violet's POV~~~~~~
I joined them on the couch where after Dan and Suzy exchanged places, we ended up spacing out so much that I actually was sat on a leather bean bag. I was starting to feel slightly tired at this point, not too bad though. They explained what happened, and what I heard before I fell asleep was basically nothing normal but nothing funny or interesting.
I dreamt of something that I knew fanfiction had too much to do with. It was like, a gender bent version of Arin, Dan, Ross, Kevin and Barry in a magical girl form. Suzy and Holly were in it too, and they aren't too bad looking as guys. It gave me an idea, I was going to create exactly what I saw. 'I'm going to create a magical girl anime. After lots of fanfiction research, that is.'
"-iolet, Violet. Why didn't you tell us you felt like that sooner?" Suzy shook me awake.
"Huh? What do you mean? Huh!" I sprung up from my position. My cheeks went bright red with anger and my fists tightened. Suzy moved away from me as I stood up. "WHO LOOKED IN THE BOX, HMM? WHO LOOKED IN THE- HUH? Did you-?" My shaking finger pointed at Barry who had a blue sheet of paper in his hand. "How? How could you?! I trusted you, Barry. I fucking trusted you to get it right. But, why the fuck should I trust anyone in here that listened? You're not supposed to know how I've felt this whole time! And what you did… was… it was uncalled for." I ran up the stairs and hid in the broom closet.
'It can't be… I trusted you Barry. You threw it all away. I can't trust anyone. Goddamnit, I knew that cupboard wasn't a safe place to keep them.' I thought and then a tear trickled down my face. I tried as much as I could to keep composed but it didn't last. I curled up into a ball. Even though I made no sound, I was sobbing. They shouldn't know about it, my true feelings don't matter. "I don't matter." 'They won't find you if you don't make a sound.'
I heard them calling for me and it was killing me not to say something. Eventually they stopped calling, thank god. But someone had a better idea than giving up. "I wanna go home." I complain. "Now's the time I wish I was dreaming."
"I'm just gonna get something from the broom closet, Dan. I think that's why the captures screwed up." Arin said. 'Oh good mercy.'
"Alright Arin." Dan replied from far away. 'FOR FUCKS SAKE, THEY'RE ON TO ME.' I shuffled into the darkest corner of the broom closet hoping he wasn't gonna see me, but I'm fucking stupid. He opens the door just as I realised my feet were sticking out. FUCK.
"I found exactly what I need Daniel." Arin said grabbing on to my hand.
My head sank as I sighed. "You found me. Good job."
~~~~~~Arin's POV~~~~~~
She looked up at me and I saw the hurt in her eyes. I knew we were in the wrong for listening to Barry read them out and he knew he was wrong for taking them. I worried about her all too much and I was well aware of it. When Violet stood up, she just stared behind me. I looked at her confused before she floated out of the broom closet and into the grump room.
I found Dan trying to talk to her. Her legs were crossed, her eyes shut and her head drooped. Violet was in that position on the far end of the couch and her arms lay limply to her side. It seemed as if she wasn't going to forgive anyone.
Dan turned to me when he realised that I was in the room. Her covered arms moved into a folded position and Violets eyebrow raised. I slammed down on the couch.
"Violet, were going to start the episode now, okay?" I smiled and bent forward the pick the controller up. The woman slowly nodded before pulling her phone out of the hoodies front pocket. I lost sight of what she was doing.
~~~~~~Violet's POV~~~~~~
I got my phone out and just as I went to go and check the time, I notice something abnormal. Was it a bruise or something? I instantly recognise this red-purple mark. The only way I could get out of that room, quickly and without question, was to pretend to almost throw up.
I sat up quickly and put my hand over my mouth very lightly. I slowly got up.
"Are you alright Violet?" Arin asks and I shake my head calmly. I manoeuvre out of the room without another word. I keep my hand in the same place as I see Kevin and Suzy talking down the hall. I brace myself and remove my hand before slowly walking down the hallway with my head down. Under my eyes were still a little bit puffy. They stared at me as I passed, trying to further they're conversation. I let out a little sigh before going up the stairs.
I get into the bathroom and hope for 2 things. One: That Suzy left her foundation in there. Two: That no-one comes to check on me. 'How in the hell did I get a Love bite? Who did I get it from? Why did I notice it now? I can't show Ross or Arin or Dan because they'll laugh or freak out. It wasn't Kevin, he has a girlfriend. Shit, there's no foundation. What do I do now?' I was frantically trying to think. 'Now, I can't even take my hoodies off, because no foundation on my arms and neck equals a noticeable hickie on my neck and noticeable cuts on my arms.'
"Violet, you okay in there?" Someone asks. 'Shit.' "You alright?" They knock this time. I face the fact that there was no escaping from the person outside. I became pale. 'Oh well.' I opened up the door to find Rose and Suzy outside. "Arin said you were about to puke, you okay sis?" Rose asked.
"False alarm, don't worry 'bout it." I fake trying to smile.
"Those hoodies aren't gonna help you, get them off." Suzy suggests.
"No. I'm fine. They have to stay on." I bluntly lean on the door way, waiting for my escape to the office. My sister and co-worker look at each other in a confused manner. I decide to push past them. (Rude, I know.) Running down the stairs, they called after me. I stopped running once I hit the bottom step, just to walk in a more civilized manner.
I reached the office and it was completely silent. I crept down the stairs thinking that I didn't quite belong in that area at that time. For a moment I considered leaving, but it was way too late, I was in the room and there was no turning back. The single editor grump was still in the office and, guess what, he didn't have anything to say. I casually sat back down on the bean bag and hoped it wasn't me that had to make conversation.
I was not going to apologise they hurt me, he hurt me, badly. This was where the waiting game began. I just sat on the bean bag, checking my nails. It's not like I could disturb Barry from editing though, 'cause Arin would get pissed and I didn't want that. I wanted for him to know I was there but didn't know how.
Poogie, the plush pig, was on his desk. It sparked the fuse in my head. I walked over to his desk slowly and when I reached my destination, I stole Poogie from Barry's desk. I returned to the bean bag. Hugging the plush, I hoped my plan worked. Rose entered just as my face sunk into Poogie's side.
It was then when I remembered: I still had no clue of what happened last night because I stupidly fell asleep. I couldn't just ask about it. What was I to do?
I decided that I didn't have to know everything and that last night isn't everything that I needed to know. Rose sat on the couch next to me. "V, I'm sorry alright. I know I shouldn't have listened but-"
"Shh, I don't want to hear it." My head lifted before speaking. "You can't apologise. One mustn't fret on a low life, like myself. That's not how it works." It slowly became awkward and I was tempted to walk away. That was until I noticed Barry had his headphones off and was looking around his desk. As much as I wanted to tease and ask him what he was looking for, my feelings were still shattered. It didn't matter that he may have forgotten about it, it really didn't. All that mattered that a valid explanation and an apology came through.
Barry set eyes on Poogie and then realised I'd captured the plush. His face seeped into a pale white as I clenched onto the pig plushy. He stood completely still, probably considering his choices of action. I wanted to cry, due to the fact that he stared right at me. My sister immediately got up and left the office. It was just me and Barry, a plush between us.
"Hey, look, Violet." He eventually started after about five minutes. "I'm sorry. I should try to respect your privacy a bit more. I just worry about you because- because some days you go quiet and it's not like you. Other days, you just don't act yourself. After finding those letters, I kinda get why you're like that. You don't have to be like that anymore. Okay?" I felt a single tear drop.
I didn't know what to think. He didn't understand. Nobody understood. Nobody. I just looked down, making him know I was still unimpressed. The apology was lame. "That's not the whole truth, is it?" I look up remembering vaguely where he was. My vision was blurred.
"No."
"Why lie?"
"Well, it might be because you wouldn't like the truth."
"I like the truth, even if it hurts. You know what I like more than the truth?"
"What do you like more than the truth?"
"When the person tries to lie and I can't detect it, maybe you should work on that."
"I'll try. Soo-"
"You're not jumping to conclusion. I want the truth." I was sharp and not at all subtle.
"Well. I guess there isn't a reason. I was just curious." He says before I stand up and rub the tears out of my eyes.
"You know what I do to curious mother fuckers, right?" I say in a vicious tone. He was startled and began backing away from me.
"What do you do to curious people?" He asked in a tone that sounded so help-me-please-this-is-not-good that it was too hilarious to handle.
In a more upbeat and happy tone I say, "Why, I forgive them of course." While skipping towards Barry and then hugging him. "Just don't look in that box again, alright?"
"Right."
"I can now officially establish the feeling of forgiveness." I smile letting go. As I step away, my face returns to its normal position.
"Hey, Violet, how tall are you exactly?" Barry asked. I went pale. 'Here goes… Oh god.'
"Umm, I'm actually 4 foot 8. Yeah, I'm short but I wear tall shoes to keep people from calling me a midget. My dad gave me a nickname a while back…" I put my hand under my chin trying to think. "What was it again?" I never noticed that a few people walked into the office. "Hmm…" I slam my left hand down on to my right hands palm. "Oh yeah, my dad always called me his little midget gem." Noticing the people who looked at me surprised and on the brink of laughter, I sighed. 'Darn, I shouldn't have said that out loud. Crap.'
Dan and Rose were the first to start with the obnoxious laughter, and then Ross joined in.
"Hey! I'm 4 foot 8 and fucking proud of both the height and the nickname! I know it's funny, but there's no need to laugh…" I couldn't help it, even I found it hilarious. And before I allowed myself to laugh at my height, I said the following: "Fuck it, it is funny. I don't give a shit."
"I need to inform Arin of this." Dan sniggered while heading up the stairs.
"Wait up for the midget!" I ran after him.
When I reached the room I found Arin trying not to laugh on the couch while Dan was speaking. "Dude, she said her dad called her a midget gem!" I put my anime girl face and adorableness to the test when peaking round the door.
"And I'm 4 foot 8. I think it's something to be proud of don't you think. Definitely not something to fret about. I'm the smallest grump… well, so be it. I like being petit, it helps with my line of work! It just means people are more likely to misjudge me. I like it that way, hehe!" I giggle.
"How are you that small?" Arin asks.
"I stopped growing after I turned 14. It's weird, I know."
"How much do you weigh then?" Dan asks after his fit of laughter.
"What is this, eh? A -fucking- sudden questionnaire?" I retaliate.
"I'm just curious."
"You can tell you and Barry live together. Too curious for your own good." I mutter and Dan groans with defeat. "And I weigh at round abouts –pfft- maybe 115 pounds. I would be lighter be I didn't have these to weigh me down." I stare down at my boobs for a split second. "But I guess they're keeping me down to earth… I'm not answering anymore of your questions now, alright?"
"Just one more, c'mon!" Arin teases.
"Nope. I have work to do."
"You have no work to do. Suzy still has things to discuss with all of us. That's why she called you guys over remember?"
"Oh, yeah. That's why!" Dan mutters as I wander out of the room. I just nod in realisation before catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror. 'Aww, shit. My hairs started to fade out on the roots. Thank god it looks brown. They mustn't know that, naturally, I'm actually a ginger nut. Fuuuuuuu-'
"Violet, you look like there's something bothering you." Dan said while putting his hand on my back and leading me to the office.
"I need to dye my hair again. My roots are comin' through."
"Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter." He smiles, trying to be comforting.
"To you yeah, but my black hair is everything to me. It goes vibrant quickly and I hate it."
"What colour is it usually."
"The colour of disgust"
"Nice one. But seriously." Dan says, making me panic.
"If you must know, the sickening colour of light brown." I lie and he didn't notice. 'Few. Crisis averted.'
We make it down to the office and Arin and Suzy eventually join us. "We have a cool announcement to make." The married women begins. "The official grump space has become a reality!"
"Whoa, really?" Ross asks while slurring his words on purpose.
"Don't play stupid Ross." Suzy smirks. "Seriously, it's happening."
"So, I don't get to be here anymore?" I ask, sulking.
"Violet, you were employed to help me on my channel. Your possibly gonna be the person who sees this place the most, aside from Arin and I." She smiles.
"Cool. Is there anything else?" I ask.
"Well, next week. I'm going to see my sister for a week."
"You have a sister?" Rose asks, surprised.
"She's my identical twin to be exact."
"Woah."
"Yeah, sis. Get with the programme." I say pretending to know.
"I don't believe I told you, Violet." Suzy looks confused. I mouth "Just go with it." And she relaxes.
A/N I know that the grump space has been a thing since August 2014 (last year) but it only became a thing in my head a week ago. Oops!
After we left the house and returned to the complex, Rose and the guys left me in my apartment alone while they were upstairs. I went online to buy somethings as well as just looking around. I bought the cameras that I needed for my 'going-missing' prank, you know to check up on how their sanity is holding up. And I purchased a laptop to take to my, for now unknown, hideout to watch over said cams.
I found out that the hair dye that I used was only sold in the UK. (I mean brand and shade.) I didn't like to order it just in case the wrong shade was sent to my apartment and there was no refunds, it was just a self-security thing. This was to be the end of days. Eventually, I'd be completely ginger and I wouldn't be proud. Luckily the purple strands only had to be done every 18 months due to the amount of dye I used on them. After realising this, I quickly bought a grey beanie.
"I can't let them see full ginger mode engaged, especially not Rose. She'll be forever teasing me. Fuck." I lie back on my bed. A few moments later, Rose enters my apartment without knocking.
"Hey, Sailor V." She teases. "Can I borrow your hair straighteners?"
"Why? If you want to straighten your hair, I'll do it for you. To get some bonding goin' ya know."
"I was busy talkin' to B and Dan and we haven't quite finished yet. Besides I'm a big girl, I can do it myself."
"Ugh, whatever." I was disappointed, wanting to have fun with her hair. "The straighteners are in the draw and the heat protection stuffs in the third small basket on the cabinet over there."
"Which basket?"
"The only black one there." I sighed after having to simplify it for her. My sister thanked me and left.
The hair dye problem was really beginning to get to me the more I thought about it. It scared me enough to think that my colleagues would make ginger jokes and laugh at me before I even considered kick-a-ginger-day. I was always a victim at school until I convinced my dad to let me colour my hair, and the day came when I was 15, or maybe even 16. All I know is that I hate the way I naturally look and I can't say it's because of other people.
It was 2 and a half hours later that my sister returned from doing two things: Finishing her chat with the boys and collecting her stuff from the hotel she originally planned to stay in before I offered her the spare room in my apartment. She apologised for forgetting to bring my hair straighteners back down, but they were safe with the boys. I mean they wouldn't use them, right?
~~~~~~Barry's POV~~~~~~
"Ya know, Barr?" Dan began. "I like Rose. She's nice and has a good feeling about her."
"She's always looking out for her little sister. Don't get me started on the relationship advice Dahlia and I get from Rose." I smile. "I know what you mean."
"Dude, I'm hungry. Imma make some food." Dan gets up and goes to the kitchen. "Umm... For now, how about popcorn?"
"Sounds cool to me. You know how to make it? If not it's on the back of the pack."
"As much as I appreciate the help, I think I got this."
"You sure?" I tease smiling. "I think I know how to use V's hair straighteners."
"What are you implying?" Dan says in an equally curious and terrified manner.
"That while we eat popcorn and talk about this, I could straighten your hair."
"That's an oddly feminine thing for you to suddenly want to do."
"It might be because I'm tired and in a stupid mood. I don't know man. It just seems easy." I awkwardly continue.
"Alright then, just be careful. You know I'm only growing it out for charity."
"I know, man. Hurry up with that popcorn, I'm hungry." I complain like a child.
"Oh shut up." Dan replies laughing. "It's not like I can hurry up the process."
Once the popcorn was done and Dan had sorted it into bowls, I set up the flat iron. My roommate had sat on the floor in front of me and began talking while I dragged a comb through his hair.
"Dude it's just a lot of fun talking to her, it's like she gets me. I mean, she seems as if she likes talking to me." He stated.
"I know what you mean, Dan. Could this be you actually pursuing a relationship?" I tease in a joke-y manner.
"Maybe." Dan smiled, not realising I was joking. "What about V, huh? What about you and V?" He whispers knowing she may hear him.
"What about me and Violet, huh?" I reply, half threatened, in the same tone.
"I mean, how you feel about her."
"I'm not quite sure yet. I think she's a little bit too stubborn for my taste."
"There's nothing wrong with a little bit of stubbornness. I mean, if she gets too much, she's small and light meaning you could easily pick her up."
"You seem to have forgotten about her kickboxing skills. That's what I really couldn't handle."
"Mm, yeah, I know what you mean… Have you noticed?"
"Noticed what?"
"In her videos she seems so relaxed and normal when she speaks. But when she's around us, it's easy to tell how unsettled she is."
"That's another thing. Violet has a tendency to keep secrets. Especially when they're about how she feels. We only found out how tall and how light weighted she is today." I began to straighten the combed Jew-fro.
"Eeh, I see what you mean but, aside from that, I think you'd be awesome together."
"Be careful, dude. I could burn your head… I have the power." I grit my teeth.
"Shit, you do. Welp." Dan looked down.
I pull his skull back up. "Keep still, will ya."
"Sorry, man."