Unbeknownst to their parents, Violet and Cole had a clandestine 9-month relationship before parting ways following Cole's injury, courtesy of Paige. Despite the messy breakup, Violet managed to maintain a positive connection with the Walters, except...
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Violet and Cole stood in the old treehouse, the one their fathers had built together when they were just kids. The wood creaked softly beneath them, weathered by time but still sturdy—a testament to the hours of effort their dads had put into it all those years ago. It had always been their shared space, a place of laughter, secrets, and memories. But now, the air between them was thick with tension.
It had once been their refuge, their little kingdom above the world. Now, it felt foreign. Violet crossed her arms, her posture rigid as she stared at Cole, waiting for an answer. Her ex-boyfriend shifted awkwardly, running a hand through his hair, knowing he'd already failed.
"Well?" she asked, her voice sharp.
Cole exhaled heavily, the weight of his guilt making it hard to meet her gaze. "I just... I blanked, okay? I forgot," he said, the excuse sounding weak even to his own ears.
Violet scoffed, her laugh harsh and incredulous. "You forgot?" She shook her head, disbelief etched in every line of her face.
Cole could feel the gap between them widening with each passing second. He sighed, trying to explain himself. "I know. I didn't mean to let Phoenix down, but I did. I'm sorry. I screwed up."
"Yeah," Violet said, her voice flat, but her eyes—once so full of warmth for him—now looked cold and distant. It was a look he'd feared, the realization that she was truly disappointed in him. And not just because of him—but because of Phoenix, her younger brother. A kid who had idolized Cole, seen him as a role model, maybe even a big brother.
Cole shook his head, feeling the sting of regret. He had always trusted that no matter what, Violet would be on his side. But now, she stood across from him as if they were nothing but strangers, all the history between them dissolving into hurt.
"Vi..." he started, desperate to bridge the chasm between them.
But Violet cut him off, her tone biting. "He's struggling, Cole. This wasn't about us, it wasn't about our history, or even about me. This was about him. Phoenix thought you were his best friend. And you let him down. I'll make sure to tell him not to hold people to such low standards next time."
Her words hit Cole harder than he expected. He'd known she was angry, but hearing her talk about Phoenix like that—about him like that—made the weight of his failure feel unbearable. He opened his mouth to say something, anything to defend himself, but the words died before they could form. The look on her face told him it wouldn't matter. He'd already lost more than just Violet; he'd lost her trust, her respect, and a piece of the bond he'd shared with her family.
He stood there, feeling the growing silence between them, realizing that maybe there was no going back.
Violet let out a long, weary sigh, her frustration boiling over. "Is that it?" she asked, her voice sharp, echoing in the small space of the treehouse. She motioned between the two of them, her hand slicing through the air as if to physically cut the final thread holding them together. "Because I'd like this—" her fingers waved back and forth between them, "—to finally be over. This is it, Cole. You've done it now."
