Envision

Chapter 3- Logan

Something wasn't quite right. I glance over at Violet and notice how jumpy she appears. Even weirder she has hardly said a word since she got in the car. Normally, she's talking a mile a minute using all kinds of crazy hand gestures.

If she's not busy with that she'll be rocking out to music or just doing something instead of sitting like some... nervous little bunny looking for predators.

"So how is the wonderful Violet this morning," I inquire stupidly. I look over again and she looks as if I hadn't said anything to her. I wave my hand in front of her and then poke her side. "Hey Earth to Vi, is anyone home?"

"Wha- oh hey Logan, sorry was thinking"

"Well you should try to save that for later 'cause we're at the mall already, and having fun!" I try to be joking about it, but she just gives me a sideways glance, trying to mask her slight annoyance. Great, now she's grouchy. I mentally kick myself. Why do I have to be so stupid sometimes? I suck at being the comforting one; I'm never good at it.

"Whatever," she mumbles, "let's just go."

After about five minutes of searching, we finally find our little group of friends sitting in the food court. As we walk up, I see David tossing food in the air trying to catch it in his mouth, only to have it land everywhere on the floor. I look around and notice people looking at him in disgust. A man starts to get up to move toward David and I cut off his path coming up behind David.

I casually toss my arm over his shoulders and say through gritted teeth, "Hey buddy, you should really try not to attract attention like that."

David laughs and says, "Oh come on! It's fun. Who cares who sees me."

"Whatever man, it's your life. But instead of standing here let's go annoy some other people in shops."

He grins, "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

We walk around looking for any mischief that would be of some moderate entertainment to us. As we make our way through a couple of the small stores messing with random products, I somehow manage to lose all of my friends in the bustle of people. Sighing, I look around for them but instead catch the eye of the guy I had cut off in the food court walking toward me. I now notice he appears to be over 6 ft and has the body of a seasoned athlete who could easily overwhelm anyone who might bother him. To add to his menacing appearance, he wears a black, leather trench coat, heavy combat boots, and dark sunglasses. I fumble to put away the saxophone and back up into a drum set, which ends up crashing down around me. I pick my way out of the mess and glance around worriedly. I dash into a side room frantically looking for someone else. I'm not really sure why I'm so freaked out, but something just didn't seem right about Mr. Trench Coat. Even stranger yet was that there wasn't anyone else around in the store. I mean seriously, it's the middle of the day, where is everyone? I round the corner and finally spot David giving a hug to Violet from behind. He leans down toward her ear and whispers something that makes her smile and gives a slight laugh. David pulls at her hand to make her face him. He mumbles something and bends down to Violet, who waits expectantly. I look back over my shoulder again and see the man is almost to me.

I laugh to myself. Fantastic. I'm stuck between an angry body builder or interrupting my sister. Story of my life I guess, I think ruefully. Stuck between those who don't like me and messing up others lives. I guess I just have to live with it and just let it happen. Without a second thought I rush forward and go right through the middle of David and Violet as they are about to kiss. I throw my arms over both of their shoulders putting myself in between them and start walking.

"Hey guys! I thought I lost everyone," I say, "what have you been up to."

Violet stares daggers at me. "Oh you know, just walking around and seeing what's here."

"Yeah we were having a great time looking around," David chimes in.

"Oh I'm sure you loved 'looking' around," I mocked, "just remember don't buy something to expensive. Oh and leave room for Jesus. About a bible width is good.

"Logan," Violet hisses, "what are you doing!"

"Whatever do you mean, dearest sister?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't act stupid you little-" she pauses and glances at David, "please excuse my brother and I for a moment." She smiles sweetly and grips my arm tight, dragging me off to the left in front of some tattoo shop. She stops and whips me around so I'm in front of her.

"Can you seriously be such an idiot?"

"I prefer to think I'm a mislead man with poor timing," I retort back.

"More like ignorant fool I think."

"Hey, you know what they say ignorance is bliss."

"Not when it interferes with others lives," she practically screams, "this really isn't funny and you may have just ruined a lot that I had finally got with David." I stand there dumbfounded. I had not expected this. Nor had I wanted to have it turn out this bad. I tried to think of something, anything that might help, but when I started to talk Violet cuts me off. She twisted around on her heel and started to march back toward David. I weakly reached out after her and ended up just letting me hand drop. As she got about five or so steps away there was suddenly a loud bang. I look over my shoulder just as the tattoo parlor behind me bursts into flame and the front is blown off. I'm thrown backward and land next to a bench. There is chaos all around me and I see flashes of people running around me. I try to see if I can hear Violet's voice but only manage to hear a distant ringing. I groggily move my head to the side and watch as a giant piece of a stone column comes flying right at me. I close my eyes and let a tear slip from the corner of my eye. I suppose it wouldn't be the worst way to die. As the column finally reached me, crushing me under its weight, I slipped into unconsciousness, wishing I could of not ruined everything for Violet.