haze / afi

part 18. we're not dating

it had been another quiet day at the store so far. violet arranging vinyls, sitting at the counter, becoming slightly bored after a couple of hours alone with no one to talk to. but, she had offered to watch the store for her aunt today, to make up for saying no when she was at ashton's house.

even though lisa told her many times, she had nothing to make up for.

although, today wasn't the best day for violet to be at the store. she'd barely had any sleep, up half the night walking around in frustration of not being able to clear her head. so, today, violet hasn't been very awake.

almost falling asleep multiple times, violet had rushed down to starbucks twice, getting herself an iced coffee. hoping the caffeine would keep her awake for the remainder of the day.

every time she looked at the time, it hadn't been very long. again, quiet days go extremely slow. she felt as if her aunt had been gone for hours, when that wasn't the case. it had only been two hours, not the five that it felt like.

just as violet starts to doze off again, the sound of the bell from the door wakes her up. she sits up straight, being startled, but to also make it seem that she'd never fallen asleep.

perhaps not only a customer, but one of violet's new friends.

luke hemmings.

he walks up to the counter, looking concerned. "you okay?" he asks. "it looked like you fell asleep, until i walked in."

"whaaat?" violet drags out. "me? asleep at work? no way!"

luke shakes his head with a laugh. "why're you here.. alone? if you're so tired."

"i told my aunt i'd watch the store today," she explains. "the last time she asked me to i had to say no, because i was at ashton's house, so this is kinda making up for it."

luke nods, convinced that she didn't really need to make up for it. but now she's brought up ashton's house, he'd ask her about that.

"how did it go at ashton's place?" he walks over to the vinyl rack opposite violet, she stays sitting. "i heard you two had quite the dance party."

"he told you about that?" she places her hands over her face, embarrassed that ashton had told luke about it. she'd hoped he wouldn't.

luke turns back to her, laughing, "it's fine to have a little fun, violet, you don't need to be embarrassed about it."

he walks around the rack, violet now getting up to follow him. "other than what he told you," she pauses. "everything was fine, i woke up to coffee beside me, he cooked breakfast and we just sat and talked for a while, it was good."

"good," luke smiles. "okay, i don't think i'm gonna buy anything today."

violet nods, being fine with that. she sits back down at the counter just as her aunt walks through the front door.

"i'm back! traffic was appalling today." she groans, placing her bag down atop the counter. "hi luke! find anything you like today?"

"not today, unfortunately." he leans against the counter. "but now you're back, would you mind if i steal your niece for a while?"

violet glances between luke and her aunt. first, wondering if lisa knows all of the guys she's now friends with. and second, where luke wants to take her.

"go right ahead." lisa smiles, practically pushing violet away from the counter. "have fun you two!"

violet looks back and waves. walking out of the store with luke by her side. he starts walking them in the opposite direction to what she's used to. not towards starbucks, which is where she hoped they'd be going.