Eighteen year old Violet Harmon types absentmindedly on her laptop while Nirvana tracks blare from her outdated stereo system. Barely hearing the knocks that come in three on her bedroom door. The girl sighs, swinging her body from the swivel chair. Her cotton shorts and tank-top fitting loosely against her skinny frame. She opens the door with a click. Her father Ben stands there bemused.
"Sweetie, it's almost midnight. Can we at-least turn down the music a few notches? I have to get up tomorrow to visit aunt Jo. She's been calling non-stop to make sure i'm still coming down. Ever since your mother passed, she's been helpless..." his voice trailed off.
"Her being gone isn't easy for me either dad." she said in a sharper tone then she intended. Her father flinched. "It's been hard. I understand, but Travis is behind bars. That's the best we had since then. Mom would've been proud." she laid a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry Violet. It's just...God, without her here. She was my wife. My lover, my best friend. I miss her more and more everyday, and you. You look just like her. You're a fighter like her. I'm proud of you."
"I love you. Go to sleep. I'll turn down the music."she smiled sweetly, kissing his cheek.
"Goodnight honey." just like that, he was gone, disappearing down the hall, his door shut behind him. Violet did the same.
"Jesus, I'd thought he'd never leave." said a male voice, making her nearly jump out of her skin, her blonde hair flinging to the side as she whipped her neck around so fast it almost gave her whiplash.
"For fucksake, Tate! What are you doing here? In case you haven't noticed my dad is right down the hall. Asshole." Tate Langdon smirked at his girlfriend of three years. His dimples sinking into his cheeks as his smile stretched revealing teeth
"Sorry." Although the tone in his voice told otherwise.
"Why are you here?" her arms crossed over her chest. She tapped her foot impatiently.
"I was watching The Exorcist and couldn't help but think of you." Violet snorted loudly.
"Which part, where the chick spews green slime or where she spins her head around?" came her sarcastic retort.
"Babe, c'mon. A guy can't see his girlfriend without a motive?"
"Everything you do has a motive Tate. What if Constance finds out you're here?"
"She's passed out...bourbon does that shit to her." Violet rolled her hazel eyes. She kissed Tate swiftly on the mouth.
"You really need to go. If my dad catches you in here, we're both dead." Another smile.
"I love a little risk...it adds spice to the relationship." he picked her up effortlessly, winding her legs around his hips.
"Tate." she whined as he set her on the bed, hovering over her, kissing her lips heatedly.
"I love you, Violet..." he whispered, his hands roaming her body with need. She felt something burn within her core as she pushed Tate's chest. Missing the disappointment evident in his eyes
"Okay, Romeo. Calm down. I love you too. But, before we do anything stupid. I want to stay a virgin a little while longer. No R-rated stuff right now." Tate grumbled, sighing, he got off the bed and walked towards the window. Night air ruffling his curls.
"I respect that. I just want to prove to you how much I love you." Violet blushed.
"I'll let you soon. Just not now." Tate nodded once more before making his exit down the window before Violet stopped him.
"Can we work with something a little more tame?" she slipping her tank-top over her head, letting her chest be exposed to his hungry gaze.
"You naughty tease." he mumbled, her laughter was the last thing he heard before slipping down the piping of her roofs gutter. Soon after, Violet fell asleep, not bothering to put her shirt back on.
XOXOX
"And I was like, no Janine, I will not do your math homework for an hour with your brother. He isn't that cute anyway, I can get better, I always get better. So then she goes- Violet, you listening to me?" Violet snapped her gaze on her bestfriend since preschool, Leah Johnson with a tired smile as they walked to school that morning.
"Sorry Lee, spaced out again. What were you saying?"
"Nothing important. So why are you so tired? Did Tate sneak through your window and fuck you senseless?" Violet shoved her playfully.
"No. He came over, yes, but no senseless fucking involved. He respects that." Leah scoffed.
"If Gabe was like that I would be on cloud nine, we have sex every weekend, sometimes it's just him doing everything. I barely get my pants off."
"He sounds so fucking romantic."
"Well he and your boyfriend are like brothers, maybe Tate can teach him a few things." Violet laughed.
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
"I forgot yours is already trained." the banter continued until they got down the street from Westfield High School. Gabe and Tate each waited for their respective girlfriends.
"Morning ladies." the guys chorused as Violet hugged Tate, and Gabe kissed Leah.
"Did you do Cromwell's essay for psychology?" Gabe asked Violet as they walked further.
"Yeah, finished it last night, and no Tate, you aren't copying. Same goes for you Gabe."
"Goddamn it." both boys grumbled agitatedly. Leah and Violet laughed.
"Hey, what the hell is going on up there?" Violet asked as soon as they got to the school's view. Seeing police cars scattered and teachers talking to newscasters and cameramen.
"You guys didn't hear?" came the voice of Stephanie Boggs, the resident goth girl that was currently coming towards them.
"Hear what?" Tate spoke, his arm wrapped around Violet's waist.
"Chloe Stapleton and Kyle Greenwell were murdered last night, some shit out of a fucking horror movie. Apparently Kyle's throat was slashed, Chloe went batshit and blew her goddamn brains out. Her parents found her dead hours later."
"Oh my god." Leah whispered. "She sat next to me in English."
"She talked to me back when I ran track." Tate murmured in awe. "And Kyle was a decent kid, he'd always be out practicing when I would do the 100 meter dash. He always said I would be famous."
"Damn. I didn't know either of them, but seriously, that's fucked up. They were kids, like us!"
"Tell me about it." Stephanie began. "They're interviewing everyone, no doubt the killer goes here."
"I doubt they went here. There are only one hundred and fifty students per grade. It would be easy to find out I would think."
"Well, whatever. Anyway, I thought I would tell ya's before the cops called you guys down to talk to you." and she was off, walking towards the way she came, Violet turned to Tate.
"I really don't want to be here Tate." she whispered.
"I know, but we have to be strong."
"Tate, my mother's anniversary is next week. This is all too much shit to handle." she ran a hand through her hair. "I need to go."
"Vi...Vi wait!" she turned.
"If you feel worse by third period, text me and I'll take you away." Violet smiled weakly before walking toward the entrance.
"This is truly a tragedy here today, as two teens from Westfield High were brutally murdered last night. The parents of Chloe Stapleton found their daughter and her boyfriend dead at around ten in the evening. It was truly a morbid thing to see. Although this is not the first gruesome murder to happen in the town of Westfield. Around a year ago, loving wife and mother, Vivien Harmon was brutally raped, tortured and finally killed, in her home. Discovered by her daughter violet in the bathroom of her bedroom." Violet's blood ran cold as she realized who was talking. Moira O'Hara. The newscaster who exploited her mother's death for profit. The young woman's bottled red hair curled to perfection, and her face in a cocky expression as she approached her.
"Violet! Do you think the death's of your classmates were an act of malicious behavior because of your mother;s anniversary is so soon?" Moira thrusted the microphone into her face.
"I'm not answering you Moira, get your top story from someone who gives a fuck to answer."
"Violet, do you feel it's your fault for the murder of your mother?" she asked again.
"Fuck off." Violet snapped coldly.
"Violet, do you think your mother would be proud to see you where you are today? Moping around and being miserable?" Then she snapped. Hitting Moira O'Hara in the face and treasuring the shocked look in her eyes when she dropped like a sack of potatoes on the ground.
That was when everything spiraled out of control and security grabbed her by the arms and secured her in a tight hold.
That was when Tate appeared, shoving his way through the crowd trying to get to Violet, and failing as he was thrown backwards and tackled.
The last thing Violet heard were the screams of her boyfriend muffled by the glass.