Violet cracked the lid to the water bottle and took a long gulp. The water sliding down her throat soothing the ache that lingered there from the coughing fit.

"Tate..." was all she said before a genuine smile spread across her face.

Who knows, she might end up liking this shit-hole town after all.

IV

Six days.

It had been six days since Tate had seen that girl sprinting like a maniac down the street. She looked so..so lost, like a little puppy angry at the world. He watched her pant, her lungs probably on fire from how fast she was going. She obviously wasn't used to running. He snickered at the thought of her being on his track team, going up against him, and knowing within ten seconds, she'd have dust from his shoes in her path. He hadn't quite understood why he was so fascinated with a girl who looked no older than sixteen. He gave her his last water bottle which was very out of character for someone like him. Not to mention, it made him look like a freak, and the look the girl gave him said it without needing the words. Tate hadn't even gotten her name and here his thoughts were. Stuck on a barely legal girl who took his last water bottle, which he willingly gave her.

Out of which emotion? He wasn't too sure.

He was now sitting in his too cramped apartment against the window sill where the breeze blew against the nape of his neck, moving the blonde waves against the bone where his spine began. He had received word of his new student files coming in for the 2011-2012 semester. So Westfield Academy was where he spent the last two hours of his day, his class prep took time, considering class began next week, he needed to get it done. For the most part it was. Being an English teacher fresh out of college with his Master's degree at just twenty-one was rather unheard of, but it was accomplished by himself, and he was damn proud of it. English was always so inviting for him. From visiting the works of Keats, Poe, Shakespeare, and Sophocles the thoughts and possibilities were endless in allowing his imagination to wander and his dreams to become a bigger part of his routine for the classroom.

When the Academy called him and asked if he would like an interview, he jumped at the opportunity and came out an hour later with a job. Another unheard of scenario. He felt as if he was in a dream to good to be a reality, especially his. None the less he was blessed and thankful to be doing something he loved that didn't require sitting at a small tiny cubicle for eight hours typing worthless shit into an ancient computer that hadn't worked properly. He'd seen that a thousand times with Larry Harvey, one of his mother's old live-in flings when he was about fifteen. Bastard would always complain about his boss, and how he was unfair and had shown cowardliness towards him.

The relationship hadn't lasted long when he had gotten a new secretary that tested the boundaries with her new boss, which so happened to be Mr. Harvey himself. Moira O'Hara was her name, and my god, Constance was furious. Her lover had run off with the little whore secretary, and she was left doing as little as she was before. Sometimes Tate wouldn't eat, and when he did, it would be a scrap of food a mutt wouldn't want. His mother's fairy-tale life was shot to hell. She was no longer on the arm of a successful business man, but on a drunken black-out which Tate was forced to watch his mother become unhinged.

At the young age of sixteen, he vowed to himself he would never become so dependent on one person, he would work for something he had an interest in and live for just himself It was exactly what he ended up doing and Constance was less than pleased with his choices.

Just like every other time he had done something even remotely successful. He would tell Constance what was new when she asked and she would just shoot it down with a harsh word and a flick of her hand. Leaving Tate to feel like an utter disgrace. Making the sick lust of the razor blade that much more tempting.

TxVxTxV

Student files were spread out among the school clutter of lesson plans and routines. It was around nine in the evening, Tate propped his feet up on the table flicking through some of the newcomers, singling the troubled from the good, the bright from the dull, and finally the workaholic's to the slackers.

His eyes scanned over the young girl's file in front of him. Stephanie Boggs her name read on the label. Her picture was like something out of a gothic magazine. Her pale blonde hair, and jet black ends were pulled up in a messy fashion. Caked black eye-liner smeared under the bottom lid of her eyes, Black lipstick covered her lips, and her clothes were something quite head turning. Purple hoodie with a black undershirt, along black skinny jeans and combat boots. She would definitely stand out from the rest, that was almost self assured.

She enjoyed poetry, art, and cosmetic studies. Her strong suit was English, and her weakness was Science.

He smiled as he read further. She was like him in many ways, coming from a shitty home-life, who also found an escape him school. He was already starting to like this school year and it hadn't even begun yet.

The majority of the files after hers were less than appealing. many of them were football stars and cheerleaders who struggled heavily with learning and general, he would have to step up the learning styles in order for these kids to graduate. Luckily English class was a necessity to obtain the diploma at the commencement ceremony in June.

One file he picked up hadn't had the picture of the girl, just her educational background, or rather, lack of.

"Violet Harmon." Tate's voice rang heavily throughout the empty apartment as he tasted the name on his tongue, each syllable rolling against his teeth in a way that he liked. She was cocky, sarcastic and witty, along with a high suspension risk. Tate read her history (Which was so appreciatively thrown in on Ben's behalf.) She had thought school was a waste of time, and wouldn't allow it to get into her life more than it had too. She had no dreams of attending another outside school when graduation was done. Lovely.

"Violet is out of control when it comes to teacher's, principal's, along with any other authority that tries to tell her what to do. She challenges anyone who fears her, or shows it. She also has the power to know her teacher's weakness and will play it against them to get what she wants. " Tate read aloud once more, laughing as he did so. This girl had spunk, and he immediately was drawn to her personality. Luckily he wasn't some pansy who would bend backwards for a little girl's meaningless threats.

He could already tell this girl had a bark and no bite. Meeting her would prove it. His smile grew wider as his heart beat thudded loudly in his ears.

"If it's a challenge you want, then challenge accepted, Violet Harmon."

A big thank you to my lovely reviewers again. This is the most fun I have had writing this, I am really glad you all enjoy it. Just a few clarifications.

-Stephanie's character will have a major twist to the plot. Don't worry, I will forever and always ship Violate.

-to the reviewer who wanted them to be in the classroom this chapter, I'm sorry, but I can't rush the plot line but I can and will promise next chapter, school is insession!So be happy!

-If there is anything you would like to include, PM me, and I will work on it. Also, I know I made Tate 21, but it's fanfiction, so it seemed fitting he'd be a few years older.

-Finally, there will be smut in later chapters, fantasies for now ;) (as long as you all want them.)

Thank you for reading. Please continue!

4-5 reviews for the next post!