Chapter 2: Chapter 2

The week passed smoothly. No more surprises. Just the way she likes it. She picked up her phone and typed. A rewatch of The Classic tonight. Three little dots appeared on the screen. Not tonight. Another text went through. Calling.

Her phone buzzed. “Hey. What’s up? Is everything alright?” she asked Bella.

She and Bella share an apartment and Friday night is movie night. They take turns choosing which movie to watch. Tonight is Violet’s turn.

“Everything’s fine. It’s just today is Max’s birthday. You remember Max, right? My friend from college? We were from the same club? The girl who used to dye her hair every other week?”

“Of course, I remember. She used to always come to our dorm room and bring us food.”

“Right! Well, she just came back to town last week. She asked if we could come… uh, to a club. I said yes.” Total silence for three seconds. “Okay, before you say anything, I promise to be your humble servant for a week. I will cook, wash the dishes, clean the bathroom, even wipe your ass if you want. Just please, come with us? It will be fun!”

She held back her annoyance. Bella knew she avoids crowded places like a plague. She prefers to stay at home reading a book or watching a film. “I can’t. I’d be a lousy companion, trust me.”

“You won’t. We don’t even have to stay long. We just have to show our faces, take a few shots, and say our goodbyes. I know you hate it. It’s just… Max looked so eager to see us both, you know. I felt bad not saying yes. I’m sorry,” Bella explained.

Violet felt her resolve weakening. Max had been a good friend to them both. She was from a well-off family and knew that Violet and Bella had little money to splurge on food and stuff, so she always shared whatever she had. The three of them were almost inseparable for two years until Max’s parents sent her abroad. Now she’s back. Of course, Violet would want to see her again.

“Okay, fine. Just don’t expect me to mingle around, okay?”

“Okay! I’ll be home in half an hour. See you in a bit!”

Bella clutched Violet’s right hand and guided her through the throng of people lining the hallway and the mass of bodies filling up the room. Violet took big gulps of air. Crowded places are not her thing. They make her nauseous and out of breath. She told herself to calm down. Bella squeezed her hand and looked back apologetically at her. Thankfully, they reached the second floor and spotted Max at a table with three other people. As soon as she saw Bella and Violet, she jumped up in excitement and sprinted towards them. Max hugged them both, kissing Bella on the forehead and Violet on both cheeks.

For a moment, Violet forgot all the people around them. It was just the three of them. It seemed like it was only yesterday that they saw each other, not a couple of years ago. They stayed there huddled together, shrieking one moment and whispering the next. After the

excitement died down, they finally remembered there were other people waiting for them.

Violet forgot to bring her eyeglasses, so she couldn’t clearly make out the faces of Max’s three other friends from this distance. Only when she was three meters away did she recognize one of them. Those mesmerizing blue eyes under straight bushy brows, those high cheekbones and plump lips that seemed to perpetually wear a mocking smile, make him one of the most handsome men she had ever seen. She averted her eyes away from him.

“Hi guys, these are my friends from college, Bella and Violet.” Max’s friends, except Mr. Cranky, waved and smiled at us. Max pointed her finger at the man sitting at the farthest corner, wearing a Nirvana shirt. “This is Jack. We used to work in the same company.” Then she gestured to the woman to Jack’s right, “This is my cousin, Summer.” Then she patted Mr. Cranky’s shoulder, sitting beside Summer. “And this Devlin. We’ve known each other since childhood but he actually hates me. He’s here because he can’t be away from Summer.” She cackled at his exasperated sigh.

Mr. Devlin. Sounds more like devil, Violet mused.

She waved back at them and wore her most charming smile. Meeting new people is not easy for her, but she’ll do her best for Max’s sake. They all sat down after that brief introduction. Max regaled everyone with tales of her excursions abroad. Violet was entertained listening to their stories but she remained quiet. After downing some shots and constantly trying to hold back her increasing anxiety, she excused herself and told them she’s going to the bathroom.

Instead of the bathroom, Violet took the stairs going to the rooftop. She needed some fresh air. She could feel her breaths going shorter by the minute. She hurriedly climbed the stairs, taking two steps at a time. When she finally reached the landing, she pushed open the door and ran to the ledge. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. She repeated the exercise a few more times until she felt her breaths going steadier.

“Are you okay?”

Violet turned around violently at the sound of a man’s voice. “Who’s there?” she grumbled.

“Relax, it’s Devlin.” Ah, the devil.

“What are you doing here?”

“Getting some fresh air, same as you.”

“I’ll go, then.” Violet started walking towards the door.

“Wait.” Devlin stared at Violet, his brows furrowed. “You don’t have to go.”

“I, uh, have to go to the bathroom,” she lied.

“Using the same excuse twice?” he teased, his lips turning up to one side. Violet didn’t respond, just stared blankly at him. “You don’t like me much, do you?”

“What makes you think that? I don’t don’t like you. I don’t know you. There’s nothing much to like. Or dislike.”

He nodded. “That’s fair. I guess you just don’t give a fuck about me, then.”

“If that’s what you call indifference, then yes,” Violet affirmed. But the thing is, there’s something about him that puts her off.

“Great. You ready to go back down now? It’s chilly here.”

Violet nodded. She took a step forward but her left foot hit something hard. She lost her balance and an image of her face hitting the floor flashed to her mind even before it happened. But a hand stuck out to grab her left arm, twisted her around with enough force that she smacked right into his chest. Violet rashly took a step back which only added to her loss of balance. She swayed from side to side. Devlin snaked a hand around her waist to catch her. Their bodies touched as a result, and she suddenly felt sparks danced all over her body, right to the tips of her toes.

She lifted her eyes to look at him. Her head barely reached his shoulders. She couldn’t quite make out his reaction due to the darkness. Clicking sounds and lights flashing interrupted the moment. They both turned their heads to the door. Two pairs of eyes gawked at them, reporters by the looks of huge cameras clutched in their hands. Violet covered her face, shocked at the sudden intrusion. She heard more clicks before Devlin barked at them to stop. They scampered away like a pair of scared chickens.