𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 ➶-͙˚ ༘✶ - Aiden Gallagher x Violet Blair (Y/N)

Chapter 1 : Unresolved Pasts

Monday - July 22nd - 2023

I ran my fingers through my warm, dusky hair and touched up my face with some Vaseline in the corners of my locker mirror. It was the last time I would do this before senior year. I had just handed in my final physics exam along with Zayd, who promised to drive me straight to Grace's house after exams were over.

"I think Grace will still let you in, even if your hair isn't perfect, you know..." he said mockingly.

"Could you not," I murmured.

Zayd snickered and playfully rolled his eyes. "Where is your boyfriend, anyway? Isn't it a tradition for you both to get ice cream together once the semester's over?"

He was right – that's what I would normally do to calm down after a stressful semester, but after what happened, that was no longer my safe space. In fact, he was no longer my safe person.

"I just don't feel like it, that's all..." I shrugged as I shut my locker, and motioned towards the exit. I gulped down the guilt - Zayd and I told each other everything, so this was strange.

Zayd threw an arm around my shoulder and gave me a tight squeeze.

He gave me a look that read 'I know you're lying'.

"Why do pretty girls always go for shitty guys?" he pondered.

I usually fight it; when my friends call my boyfriend, Larson Lorraine, 'shitty', or 'stupid', or anything of that sort, but today I decided to just give in. 

And I knew I'd have to tell him sooner or later. I don't like keeping things from him, anyways.

"Zayd" I gulped, "I need to tell you something".

"Yeah?" He turned to face me.

I felt my phone in the back pocket of my jeans, getting hot, as texts kept on coming through.

"Larson hurt me" I coughed out.

"What? Like he cheated or-"

"No, he proper hit me. I was at his place, and we were having an argument. Larson's been under a lot of pressure lately. His mum's back in his life all of a sudden, wants custody over him and Charlotte, and his parents are fighting. It's like everything's falling apart around him, and he doesn't know how to handle it. I think he just lost control." 

I felt a tear race down my cheek.

"Violet, why didn't you tell me earlier? When did this even happen-"

"And that's not all," I interrupted him, "I was scared, and he was too. He locked me in his bedroom and kept my phone. I told him I'd call the police, so he wouldn't let me out. I was so exhausted after screaming for about 4 hours, I passed out. And when I woke up, his dad was home from the clinic, and was then checking my vitals. He asked me if everything was okay, and..."

"And?" 

"Larson came in and told him. He told him everything he did to me - from where he hit me to what triggered him to lock me up."

"My God..." It was like Zayd clutched my heart. His grasp on me was so tight, it was as if someone was trying to snatch me away. He rubbed his chin for a moment.

I caved into the depths of my pocket to pull out my phone. I knew exactly who had been texting me.

Lars🖤

lottie im so sorry baby

im so sorry

fuck i hate when i get like this

i didnt mean to 

im sorry i just didnt want you to leave

can we please talk?

Maybe Latte Loft at 4?

did you eat?

Violet???

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Zayd peaked over my phone and skimmed through the texts.

"You aren't going to go back to him, are you?"

"I'm gonna need to think about it..."

"Violet."

"Zayd it isn't that easy. Yeah, I need space but we're going to work things out eventually. We always do." I murmured. 

I wish I could say this was the first time we've fought like this, but that would be far from the truth. At the beginning of our relationship, I used to think that I could getaway. I used to think that with 3 easy words - 'we're breaking up' - that it would all be over. But god I was wrong. A part of him will always linger. I have a soul tie with Lars, and it's not exactly something that you can undo so easily. I don't even know what not having him in my life is like. And no matter how worked up I get, I know that I don't ever want to lose him.

"Violet, he isn't going to stop. He won't change. It's just who he is." Zayd wrapped his arm around mine.

"I don't want him to, Zayd. I love him for him, but he just gets a little intense at times. He just gets so out of it, he doesn't realize what he's doing in the moment. But you're right, to get him to drop his abusive tendencies, he needs to take anger management..."

"Or therapy..." Zayd suggested.

"Eh, let's start with anger management classes"  I smiled at Zayd.

"That bitch has actually lost it now" Zayd tapped.

"Didn't you have a little man crush on him like 6 months ago?" I poked his ribs.

"Uh yeah, back when I didn't know he was a raging abusive lunatic..." 

"That's enough..." I gave Grace a call to tell her we'll be a little late. I'd have to tell her everything when I got to her house. I then quickly drafted out a text and sent it to Larson.

Lars🖤

lets talk later

Maybe dinner this wednesday?

You know it 

Where do you wanna go?

Soi Koi 4 sushi??

Sounds good

okay reserved

i miss u

see you then lottie

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