XOXO, Violet by Ginger Li
22Violet
“Who are you waiting for?”
I tore my eyes from the front window and adjusted the decorative pillows, unable to look my twin brother in the eye. “No one.”
“You’ve been staring outside for the past five minutes, Vi. You’re obviously waiting for someone. Also, the police called. They want you to stop abusing our pillows.”
Oh. I glanced down at the pillow I’d been squeezing. “Yeah. The pillow’s good. I guess.” I looked around the living room. “Where is everybody?” The fewer people there were at home, the less chance of us having an audience.
“Mom and Marcus are out buying groceries, and Dad’s in the den, trying to work out how to use the new printer.” Micah bit back a smile. “He’ll be at it for hours.”
I shook my head. “Aren’t you going to help him out?” Dad was one of the smartest people I knew, but he and technology had never got along.
“Nah. I’ll let him have a go at it. He’ll never learn anything if he doesn’t try to figure it out for himself. And stop avoiding my question. Who are you waiting for?”
I peered out the window again and studied the still empty street. “Wesley.”
“Really?” I could hear the glee in my brother’s voice. “And you’re talking to him, right after your date with Chase? Anything you’d like to tell your big brother?” As he walked over to the window and peered outside, a familiar blue Camaro pulled into the driveway with a pair of surfboards strapped to its roof.
“Nice. He got a chance to go surfing before it rained.” Micah squinted and leaned closer to the windowpane. “Is that Ash putting his feet up on the dashboard? Sheesh. Show some respect for the vehicle, man.”
“Yeah, right,” I said, absently agreeing as I held my breath and watched Wesley step out of his car. Dressed in board shorts and a sweatshirt, he ran a hand through his tousled blond hair.
Wow. He looked good. I tore my gaze away. This was it, the moment I told Wesley that I chose him over Chase. I smiled at my reflection in the window, and the girl with bright, hopeful eyes smiled back.
“Here goes nothing,” I muttered before eyeing my brother. “Shouldn’t you be doing something?”
“Nope. These pillows just look so inviting. Think I’ll hang out in the living room for a while. I find it’s the best place to eavesdrop on private conversations.” Micah plopped onto the couch and spread his arms along its back. “You go out and do whatever it is you need to do. I’ll be right here.”
Listening to everything, no doubt.
“Micah!” I hissed. “Get out of here.”
He peered outside and said a little too innocently, “Oh, look. Wesley’s about to come up the steps.”
“Jerk,” I whispered before dashing to the front door and out onto the porch.
Wesley stared up at me and paused, one foot on the bottom step. “Hey.”
I glanced toward the living room window and saw the curtains twitch.
“Let’s talk down by your car.” Away from listening ears. As I jogged down the steps, a few drops of rain fell on the pavers, creating a speckled pattern.
Wesley stepped back, giving me some space.
“Hi,” I said when I reached the bottom step, my voice breathy like I’d just run several miles.
Wes glanced toward the porch. “Are we alone?”
Well, sort of. Depended on whether you counted nosy brothers. My smile tightened. “Micah and Dad are inside. But, yeah, we’re pretty much alone here.”
“Good.” There was a tightness to his jaw and in the way he held his shoulders. My excitement fizzled a little. “You look nice,” he mumbled.
I glanced down at my blouse and skirt and tugged my jean jacket closed as more raindrops fell. I shivered, wishing I’d worn my bear jacket, but this one looked so cute with my outfit, and I’d wanted Wesley to see me in something nice. “Thanks. I went out for lunch before.”
“I know.” Wes tucked his hands into his hoodie and sighed. “Let’s get this over with, Violet.”
My spine stiffened at the unfamiliar bite to his tone. “A-are you angry at me?”
A small crease formed between his brows. “No, Violet. I’m not. But, geez, you’re making this hard for me.” He scrubbed his hand over his face and frowned. “Look, I saw that photo of you with Chase. Congratulations. #couplegoals, right?”
Was that why he was acting so strange? Was he angry that I’d gone out with Chase?
“You encouraged me to go on a date with him. Right here at my house, in fact.”
“Because you’ve liked him for years, Vi.” By now, scattered drops of rain fell everywhere, darkening the cement and the asphalt. Wesley pushed back his wet hair. There was something defeated in his expression. Something vulnerable.
“I’ve watched dozens of romantic movies, Violet. I saw the meet-cute at your plant class. Chase is the hipster musician. You’re the sweet and beautiful plant YouTuber. And I’m nothing but a dumb jock. How could I stand in the way of a love story like that? Chase’s perfect for you. You’re in the same classes. You both enjoy classical music. And you probably both do calculus problems for fun. The two of you together just makes sense.”
“Math problems for…fun?” I covered my mouth with both hands and stifled a giggle. “Is that what you think of me? That I’m just a big old math and plant nerd? Well, you’re right. I am. But you’re wrong about Chase and me being perfect for each other. The date was horrible. He doesn’t enjoy playing the cello. His glasses are purely decorative and he took me to a burger joint.”
Wes’s brows raised, and it looked like he was holding back a laugh. “Oh, Violet. That’s…awful. Chase doesn’t know you at all.”
A warm sensation spread through my chest as we stood there, gazing at each other. “No. He doesn’t.”
Drops of rain fell on my face and I brushed them away, determined not to let the weather stop this from happening. Then, out of nowhere, a strong gust of wind swept around us, causing my skirt to flutter about my legs. Shivering, I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stay warm.
“Violet?” Wesley stepped closer, and his hand enveloped mine, sending a jolt of energy surging across my skin.
“Yes?” I lowered my gaze to his lips, remembering the first kiss we shared.
“I—”
“Dude? It’s pouring. You and your hot tutor should go inside.”
That voice!I jerked my hand from Wesley’s as someone stepped out from his car. The intruder jogged up to us and raised his baseball cap.
No. It couldn’t be…
“Jason?” I whispered, staring into the face of the guy who’d made my life a misery in junior high. “Y-you two know each other?”
Wes looked over at his friend and grinned. “Yeah. Jay and I have known each since we were kids. He’s the friend who needed a math tutor.”
Jason’s smile turned predatory. “You’re Violet, the hot math tutor?”
“Dude,” Wesley hissed and shook his head.
Raindrops continued to fall on my face, but now, I didn’t bother wiping them away.
Granny Violet.
Your clothes smell like dead people.
Why don’t you go back to kindergarten so you can learn how to speak properly?
Emotions swarmedinside me like angry hornets—buzzing and whirring. None of this made any sense. “But you said your friend’s name was Jay.”
“Yeah. Short for Jason.” Wesley gave me a concerned look. “Violet, are you okay?”
No. I most certainly was not. Wesley knew Jason. The air left my lungs and I struggled to form words. “A-and you two are…f-f-friends?”
Wes nodded. “Yeah, we have been for years. I’m confused. What does this have to do with anything?”
Everything, I wanted to scream. This changed everything. Wesley was friends with the guy who’d bullied me so badly that I’d been forced to leave middle school and switch school districts just to claw back some semblance of normalcy.
I stumbled backward. Why hadn’t I noticed before? Seeing them standing there, side by side, the similarities between them became glaringly obvious. Both were well-liked, confident, and talented at sports. I’d thought Wesley was a good guy. But how could he be when he was friends with this monster?
“I can’t believe I fell for this again.” Had Wesley known all this time? When I’d told him about my past, had he been having a laugh about it with his old buddy?
Wesley stared at me, his brows drawn together. “What are you talking about?”
I placed my hands on my hips and glared at him. “Was this some sort of weird game to you? To finish what he started?”
His eyes darted from me to his friend. “Wait. Do you two know each other?”
Jason just shrugged and placed an arm around Wesley’s shoulders. “Come on, man. It’s pouring. We should get going.”
I sent them both a scathing look. “Yeah. You should get going. B-both of you. And don’t come back. N-neither of you is welcome here.”
“Dude, let go.” Wesley pulled himself from his friend’s grasp. “Violet, what’s this all about? Talk to me, please.” As he reached out to grab my arm, I turned and stumbled, landing on my hands and knees on the wet lawn.
“Just leave me alone!”
Around us, the wind whipped the surrounding trees’ branches into a frenzy while big fat raindrops fell everywhere.
Wesley took a step back, as though afraid of touching me. “Why are you acting like this? Is this because I pushed you toward Chase? Because I should never have done that when I liked you.”
I got to my feet and brushed my muddy palms against my skirt. “Seriously? You tell me that now? In front of him?” I glared at Jason.
“Violet?”
I whipped around to see Micah jogging down the front steps.
Oh no. My brother shouldn’t be here. He couldn’t see what was happening.
“You guys should come inside; you’re—” My brother froze, his eyes narrowing. “What are you doing here? I told you to leave my sister alone.”
Jason shrugged his shoulders. “As if I’d ever come here for her. I rode here with Wesley.”
Micah stormed up to Jason and placed a finger on his chest. “I warned you before. Don’t talk like that about my sister.”
Jason’s expression darkened and he slapped my brother’s hand away. “Get your hands off of me, man.”
“Get. Off. Our. Property.”
Jason seemed about to agree, but then he smirked. “Whatever. Violet might have gotten hotter, but she sure isn’t worth all this hassle.”
Micah moved quickly, landing a blow on the other guy’s face. I shrieked. As Jason scrambled to his feet, his light-blue hoodie covered in mud, Micah advanced on him again, readying his fists for round two.
“Dude, what are you doing? Calm down.” Wesley stepped between them.
Micah stared at him in utter disbelief. “You’re standing up for this jerk?”
“Micah!” My father ran down the stairs and placed an arm around his shoulders. “That’s enough, son.”
My brother scowled at Jason but allowed himself to be pulled away.
“Better listen to Daddy,” Jason taunted. “We don’t want you getting in trouble again.”
“The two of you need to leave. Now.” My father glared at Jason. “And the next time I see you here, I’m calling the cops.”
“Sure.” Jason smirked. “We’ll see what they have to say when your son’s the one who started it.”
“You creep.” Micah lunged forward, but my father held him back.
“Whatever.” Jason sauntered over to the car.
“Let’s head inside, Micah,” Dad said sternly. “Give Wesley and your sister a moment to talk.”
“Hold on a moment, Dad. Do you want me here, Vi?” Micah asked, eyeing Wesley.
“Go inside. I’ve got this.” I turned to the guy who held my broken heart in his hands. Wes looked shocked and defeated.
“I swear I didn’t know Jay was the guy from junior high. If I had, I’d never have brought him here.” He turned to his car. “Let me take him home. Then I’ll come back, and we can talk about us. I’m not like Jason. Give me a chance, Violet, please.”
My lower lip trembled. I felt like a deflated balloon. Overstretched. Worn out. A part of me knew that what Wes said was true. He wasn’t like Jason. But how could I look at him and not see the face of my tormenter? And how could I ever stop wondering if I was just another notch on his belt?
I shook my head. Jason’s bullying had shattered my spirit, but being hurt by Wesley would destroy me. Better to guard my heart against that than let my walls down. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to date. Maybe you’re not like Jason, but you go through girls so quickly, and I couldn’t cope with having my heart broken.”
Wes’s expression hardened. “Fine, if that’s what you want. But I can’t say that your decision doesn’t hurt. Yes, I have a past. But you’re the one who’s refusing to give us a chance at a future.”
He turned away and stalked over to his car, never once looking back.
As I watched him drive away, I told myself I’d done the right thing.
Then why did it feel like I’d lost something precious?