Letting Go

Chapter Seventeen

"Hey" Violet said when she approached the house.

"Why are you standing outside?" She said moving past me to go inside.

"I just need the bathroom, I'll be back now." She said and ran to the guest bathroom down the hall to the right.

"Hey was that Violet just now?" My mom asked popping her head out the kitchen. I nodded.

"Yeah, she needed the bathroom." My mom chuckled. "Typical Vi" she said and went back to the kitchen. "Ready to go?" Vi asked me when she got to the door.

"Yep" I answered and shut the front door behind us.

"So what's the occasion that you are dragging me with you to go shopping? You must be quite desperate" I said jokingly. She laughed nervously

"Actually, I'm having dinner with Blake's parents tonight."

Oh.

"Vi, I didn't realize you guys were so serious." I said trying not to sound as surprised. Her face went red and she started picking at the skin around her finger nails, a habit I've noticed her doing when embarrassed.

"Aaww, that's so cute" I cooed trying to hide the disappointment in my voice.

Why couldn't that be me and... Spencer? Don't get me wrong I'm extremely happy for Violet, it’s just.. why wasn't that me? As if she read my thoughts Violet spoke up

"I didn't want to tell you because.. you know"

I knew exactly why she didn't want to tell me. Me, my pathetic self who can't hold a guy. One that she extremely cared for and who apparently cared for her yet couldn't be bothered to stay. I nodded and turned to face out the window.

"Sorry Jenna. There I go again, way to go Violet just run your mouth and mess everything up" she started lecturing herself.

"Jenna.. Are you listening to me? Earth to Jenna" She asked me snapping her fingers in front of my face. I must've zoned out completely.

"Sorry, what?" I apologized. "I asked how you and Aaron are?" She said annunciating every word to make sure I heard it.

"Oh, okay I guess" she nodded not really sure how or what exactly would be appropriate banter to the mall seeing as almost everything was qualified as 'too soon'. The rest of the car ride to the mall was an awkward silence which is strange for Violet seeing as she never seems to stop talking.

Ever since the breakup and Caitlin's death everyone has been so worried about me that they seem to be walking on eggshells around me. Like for heaven's sake I'm not gonna start cutting or do something obscene like that.
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We walked around the mall for what seemed like forever in search of an appropriate outfit for Violet and only once we got to the last shop on our list did we find something elegant but young enough for an eighteen year old.

"What do you think?" She asked stepping out of the cubicle.

"It’s perfect" I said pinching my thumb to my forefinger. I tried sounding as enthusiastic as I could be but just didn't make it.

"Jen, what's the matter?" Violet asked with an exasperated sigh.

"Nothing" I shrugged.

"No, you're gonna tell me what's going on. You've moped long enough and we haven't said anything. But this has to stop. You can't stop living just because your boyfriend dumped you." She said harshly.

Ouch.

Her expression changed drastically realizing what she just said to me. She got up from her seat on the couch next to me and began pacing back and forth.