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#NEXTDAY#
VIOLET’S POINT OF VIEW
By the time lunch rolled around, the entire school still hadn’t recovered.You could feel it in the air.Not loud anymore… not chaotic like earlier when everything exploded.
But quieter.Heavier....Like something had shifted and everyone knew it.
I sat at our usual table with Chloe and mira,absentmindedly pushing my food around my plate. I hadn’t taken more than two bites since I got here, and Mira had noticed. Of course she had.She always noticed everything.
“You’ve been staring at that rice like it offended you personally,” she said, leaning her chin on her palm.
“I’m thinking,” I replied quietly.
“About?” she pressed and hesitated.......Because I knew exactly what I was thinking about.Niana.What happened to her.What those Scarlett and her crew did.And how easily everything could have gone worse.
“I feel bad for her,” I finally said and Chloe hissed loudly while Mira didn’t respond immediately.......She just studied me for a second before sighing softly.
“Well I don't......well I actually think it serves her right after what she did to you the last time you wanted to sympathize with her” she admitted with a scoff.
“Me too.”Chloe said with a loud hiss looked down at my hands.
“I mean… imagine going through all that. Everyone judging you… talking about you… posting things about you…”My voice trailed off and they rolled their eyes.
“Well I don't care.....serves her right”Mira said and Chloe nodded slowly.
“Still,” I added softly,
“No one deserves that.”Mira opened her mouth to respond....But then her eyes shifted past me.
“Oh.”I frowned slightly.
“What?”
“Don’t turn around suddenly,” she said quickly.Which, of course, made me want to turn around immediately.So I did.
And there she was.Niana.Walking across the courtyard.Head high.Expression unreadable.Like nothing could touch her.
But I knew better.You don’t go through something like that and come out untouched.Our eyes met.Just for a second.
Something flickered in hers.cold.
Guarded.Then she looked away and kept walking.My chest tightened slightly.
“So annoying” Mira murmured with an eyeroll.
“Yeah,” Chloe whispered......But strength didn’t mean she wasn’t hurting.And for some reason…That thought stayed with me.
Notes I didn’t really pay attention to.
My mind kept drifting.Until......My phonebuzzed........I glanced down. And saw that it is a text from Dylan, And my heart skipped......Just a little.....i immediately glanced back at him and he winked at me.I opened the message.
Hey… are you free this evening?A small smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it........I typed back.
Depends… what for?The reply came almost immediately.
A proper dateI blinked.......Then smiled wider.
A proper date?I sent
Yeah… I think you deserve oneHe sent and My heart softened at that.
Before I could respond again, another message came through.
Check your delivery later in the eveningI read and I frowned slightly.
Delivery?Before I could ask......He sent one last message.
I’ll pick you up by 6.And He went offline. I chuckled and glanced at him one last time before turning back to my book. Just then I heard a bing again and took my phone immediately thinking it was him but was disappointed when I saw that it was messages from the chat group.
What was that?Mira sent.
Damn I don't know what you guys are saying but that was romantic
What just happened between you both I kept on receiving text from Chloe and the rest and I chuckled and replied them.
"Dylan just asked me to an official date and it's happening tonightI sent and heard a shriek from behind....... I turned to see that it was Mira.
Damn you both are making me jealous
Wow Dylan is so serious
Wow he's the manThey kept on sending and I chuckled and shook my head dropping my phone, I knew if I replied back they'll answer with more questions.
#Evening#
I had almost forgotten about the “delivery.”Almost........Until the doorbell rang when I was watching TV with Sophie.
“Vera, can you get that?” My mom yelled and Vera was about to when I told her to leave that I will, besides I was looking for an opportunity to leave here since Sophie has tied me down to watching SpongeBob.
“Yes???”I opened the door....And froze. It was a delivery man.
“Good evening, ma,” he said.And just then, it clicked.
“Oh...hi,” I muttered nervously.
“Delivery for Violet Roland?”I nodded.
“Yeah… that’s me.”He handed me a pen.
“Please sign here.”I smiled and quickly signed.Then he handed me a neatly packaged box… and another… and another.
“…Okay.”I picked them up and walked inside slowly......Curious.......Excited........A little nervous.I placed them on the table and opened the first box.And my breath caught.
A dress.... .Not just any dress Elegant.....Soft and Flowing.
The kind of dress that made you pause just by looking at it.The second box......Shoes.Perfectly matched.The third.......Accessories.Simple but beautiful.
I stared at everything for a long second.Then I heard a shrill laughter Her lips curved into a knowing smile.
“Someone is serious.”She said with a grin I felt my cheeks warm slightly.
“He… sent them.”She walked closer, picking up the dress carefully.
“This is beautiful,” she said.Then she looked at me.
“Well?”I laughed softly.
“Well… I guess I’m going on a date.”I said and she chuckled.
"When did he say you guys are going?"She asked and I raised my eyebrows.
"He said 6"I said and she checked the time and gasped.
"It's 4:44 already, come on let's go get you ready"She said and I chuckled . Well I haven't really gotten used to the fact that she's cool with me going on date.
Getting ready didn’t feel rushed.It felt… special since mom insisted on helping.
“Sit,” she said, gently guiding me to the chair.
“ it's a good thing you just took your bath.......I’ll do your hair.”She said and I didn’t argue.There was something comforting about it.The way her fingers moved gently through my hair.The way she hummed softly.
“You like him,” she said casually and I froze slightly.
“…Mom.”
“What?” she smiled
“I’m just saying.”she said and I looked at my reflection.At the girl staring back at me,Smiling without even realizing it.
“…I think I do.”i muttered and She nodded like she already knew.
“Good,” she said simply.
“Just don’t lose yourself in the process.”She said and i nodded, now that's more like her.
By the time I was done getting ready…
I almost didn’t recognize myself.
The dress fit perfectly,The shoes,The little details.Everything.......And for the first time in a while…I felt beautiful.Not because of the dress,But because of how I felt inside.
Then......A car horn sounded outside and My heart jumped.
“He’s here,” my mom said, smiling and I took a deep breath.Then another.
“Go,” she said gently and I nodded and picked up my purse walking out of the room......The moment I stepped outside—
He was already there.
Leaning slightly against the car, he was operating his phone but when he looked up…He froze Completely.
His eyes widened slightly and for a second…He just stared.
“…Wow,” he breathed and I felt my cheeks heat up instantly.
“What?” I laughed softly.
“You… you look…”He shook his head slightly like he couldn’t find the words.
“Beautiful.”He said and My heart skipped.
“Thank you,” I said quietly and He opened the door for me.Still looking at me like I was something fragile......Something important.
And I didn’t know why that made my chest feel so warm.The drive was calmSoft music playing.City lights beginning to glow.Neither of us rushed to fill the silence Because it wasn’t awkward,It was… comfortable.
When we finally arrived....The restaurant was stunning......Soft lighting......Quiet atmosphere.Everything felt intentional.He pulled out my chair.Waited until I sat.And I couldn’t help but smile.
“You’re being very… proper today,” I teased and He chuckled softly.
“Just today?”
“Hmm… I’ll let you know.”he said and We both laughed.And for a moment.....Everything felt easy,Normal.
Right....But then…There were moments.....Where he’d go quiet.Like he wanted to say something.....Then stop,I noticed.......Of course I noticed.
“Dylan?” I said softly when I noticed that he was beginning to look really nervous and He looked up.
“Yeah?”
“You okay?”i asked and He nodded quickly.
“Yeah… yeah, I’m fine.”But something in his eyes…Didn’t match.Still.....I didn’t push,Not yet,Because whatever it was…I felt like he’d tell me when he was ready.