haze / afi

part 82. going home

leaving to go back to california shouldn't be upsetting because violet loves it there, she moved there to start a fresh, to have a better life. but this time, she's sad and doesn't want to leave.

these two weeks have been amazing, having fun with rose, getting to hang out with her friends in her home town, introducing ashton to her grandparents. all of these memories are good ones, and ones she won't ever want to forget.

violet woke up before ashton did, thirty minutes ago. she's downstairs, sitting on the sofa in the living room, bowl of cereal in hand as she slowly eats it.

michael is first to enter the room after she's been here for a while, "oh, violet, didn't think anyone else was up yet," holding a glass of water, he sits down next to her. "how're you feeling about going home?"

"okay, i guess," she tucks her hair behind her ears. "kind of sad this time. it's been a good trip, better than last time i was here."

"you'll be back again," he nudges violet's shoulder. "we've all loved it here, no reason for us not to see more of the city you grew up in."

violet smiles, glad that he wants to come back. she goes back to eating, enjoying this quite time, just with michael in here with her.

"you know, i'm happy things have gone so well between you two," michael says, sipping on his water.

"well, he's the one who has done a lot to make sure i'm happy—"

"it's not just him," violet frowns, confused. "you've changed a lot since you first started dating, you seem more accepting of things, or as though you know he really does love you."

"yea, i guess so. it's taken a while though, and things happened that i wish didn't."

"and you can't change that fact, but those things are what have gotten you to this point now, everything happens for a reason."

she shakes her head at him, that cliche line. maybe things do happen for a reason but either way, violet is happy to have ashton in her life. soon after michael stops talking, luke walks into the living room.

"good morning," he smiles, now his turn to eat some cereal. "isn't ashton up yet?"

"no, he's still sleeping," violet explains.

"you mean you left him to sleep up there all by himself?" she knew it was calum before he even walked through the door.

"yes, cal, he's asleep on his own."

he sits himself down next to luke on the other sofa, starting to scroll through his phone. next up, they could hear rose and lisa talking from the hallway, seeming to be talking about lisa's music store in california.

as they walk in the room, rose seems surprised to see everyone, "you're all up before me? shocker," she laughs. "where's ashton?"

"still sleeping," violet tells her as she stands up. "think i'll go check on him."

"he's probably just tired," lisa gives the logical answer. "we've had a busy couple of weeks."

"yea, think we'll be taking it easy for a few days once we're home," violet laughs as she heads into the hall and up the stairs.

she finds her way to the guest room she and ashton have been staying in, opening the door slowly to see ashton is awake, only just by the looks of things. he smiles over at violet as soon as he sees her.

"there you are," violet walks over to the bed after he speaks, climbing in under the covers to snuggle up to him again. "wondered where you were."

"was hungry when i woke up," she explains, laying her head on his chest as his arm wraps around her shoulders. "you seemed peaceful so i didn't wanna wake you up."