𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭 ✰

𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧

VIOLETTA
January 1st, 2007 — Monday
Aged 16

"I'm not coming back."

"Violetta, my little Angel, you must stay." Said my mother, who sat with her legs perfectly crossed on a brand new leather sofa. Blonde waves cascaded over bony shoulders, dead blue eyes looking into my soul, waiting to crush my spirits once I've lost my guard and let it drop.

"I mustn't do anything. You can't make me stay." I mocked her faux ditzy, ritzy accent.

"Oh, yes. My apologies sweetheart, but your father can."

"He can drag me back by the hair of my head when he catches me, old woman." I gave her a serpentine smile and slung my purse over my shoulder, keys to my brand new Cateye Silverado in hand.

I left my mother behind, mouth gaping in the house. Right before the door slammed shut I heard her huff, surprised. She screeched after me, yelling my name through the door yet I just snorted a laugh and ran towards my neon Ruby-red Chevy.

On my way to my truck I unlocked it, grinning at the wonderful sight of her lit up warm white headlights and delighted beeps. I hopped in and started her, settling into my seat while she warmed herself on up and prepared for a long ride. We rode with the bass all the way up, rap and classic rock blasting so loudly you couldn't even hear the hum of the 35s running on cracked asphalt.

I drove until I could drive no longer and pulled off at a sonic a few towns over for some food. I parked next to a duo of teenage boys and one girl packed into the bed of a two tone brown and tan Chevy K-series. I rolled my window down to order my usual and one of those aggravating teenagers hollered out at me before I could make my order.

A tall black haired boy sitting on the edge of the bedside whistled at me, giving me a shit eating crooked grin. Odd. He looks familiar.

My face flushed scarlet and I waved, smiling wide at him. I was staring at him, way too much for it to be a mistake or considered respectful.

It wasn't until I finished ordering my food and spared him another glance that I realized who exactly that boy was.

Kai Malone.

The man my dad tried to set me up with, promising me as his wife the moment we both turned twenty-one years of age.

What's he doing here? He lives hours away.

I mean, I do too, but I have good reason. I'm running from my abusive, neglectful parents and cold home that was devoid of love.

"Violetta! Come over here!" One of Kai's friends shouted. He was loud enough anyone could've heard him yell for me. Who is this guy, anyway?

"Why?" Was my reply. Oh, how quiet I am. Why am I like this? Why am I opening my door? Why are my feet carrying me over to the bed of this two toned Chevy that's twenty-five years old?

"Aye, how you been darlin'?"

"Better, but I got over it when I saw you."

"Damn dude, she got yo ass!"

"She ain't get me for shit. What are you doing over here?"

"He," I shot the other boy a look, "told me to come over here."

"I mean why are you in town. You're supposed to be in Shire County."

"So are you! Why are you so mad about me being gone when you're gone too?"

"Are you leaving for good?" Kai suddenly asked. He looks.. sad? Huh. Odd. He's never much cared for me, nor have I cared much for him.

He's given a bland, bored response. "Yes."

"Why?"

I'm quiet for a long moment, trying to decide wether I should tell him the whole truth. I decide on answering his question with a question. "Why are you leaving? You're not supposed to be here either."

Kai looked down towards the truck bed. He stretched out his long legs, letting his boots scrape the scuffed up spray-on bedliner. Though I want to look away, I simply cannot. "My mom turned me away. Said I had to pack my things and go or she'd call the cops."

"And I can't afford to bail him out of jail. None of us can, really."

"Right. Ain't nobody got bail money now." Someone I didn't recognize said. She looked an awful lot like Kai.

The sun began to drop down, painting the world in a soft yellow glow. The sky was a melted blend of colors, yellow, orange, blue, pink and a pale red. Female Kai lookalike was staring off into the sunset admiring the wonders of the wilderness without a thought swirling in her mind.

"Why you leavin', love'?"

"Parents. Been giving me—excuse my foul language—hell lately, going on and on about things I can't control."

Why am I being so nice to him?

I hate Kai. I always have.

"Oh." He was quiet for a long moment before he continued and said, "I'm real sorry, Violet."

"You didn't cause it, don't worry about it."

STOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOP

Out of the corner of my eye I saw my waitress coming over with my ocean water and my burger, which I paid for and said thank you to her. She grinned and said no problem before she turned and left, rollerskates noisy behind her.

"Why don't ya join us?" Kai's friend asked me, patting the bedside as if it would call me over, like a dog. Without thinking I glanced over at Kai, who nodded ever so slightly.

Oh, why not? What's the worst that could happen? Not like I have anything to do or anywhere to go after this. I have no more home, no more family, no more.. anything.

Besides. I could use a little human interaction before dropping off the face of the earth for a few weeks and/or months.

Hold up. I'll be sad and angry and regretful later. Right now, I can put my worries about my future aside and have some fun with an old "friend" and his friends for a few hours.

Kai dropped the tailgate for me and held my food while I climbed up inside the bed, giving it back once I was settled. I sat Indian style on the dropped tailgate and quietly ate by myself while I listened to the boys go on about things they deemed important. The other girl kept quiet too. She seemed to like staying off to herself.

Mostly, Kai ignored me. His friend, who i learned was named Elio, joked a lot and liked making me laugh. He was entertaining, and the girl I learned was Azara. She was Kai's younger sister.

It was a good night.