stars ; j.s.

6

V I O L E T

I wasn't sure where Bree and Jacob ran off to and quite frankly, I didn't care.

Okay, maybe I did care, but it wasn't like there was anything I could really do to stop it. It's been almost an hour since the two of them "went to get Bree's phone." She always has her phone on her and I happened to see it in her pocket as they were leaving, so I knew it was just an excuse for her to be alone with Jacob. I couldn't even imagine what the two of them were up to now and it was all I could think about as I watched the fireworks alone from my bedroom window. Surprisingly, I wasn't really affected by it because this has happened the last three years I've been here. Bree shows up, disappears with some guy she hardly knows, and then she leaves them in the dust when she goes back home the next morning. But I knew it was different this time. This time, she had a chance of fame. As soon as anyone found out that she knew Jacob Sartorius, she'd have fans flocking to her social media sites to follow. I knew all too well that she was about to use him.

After about 2 hours, I went back outside to help everyone clean up after the party. Jacob's grandparents were looking around, before coming up to me.

"Violet, have you seen Jacob? I thought I saw him with you earlier," His grandma asked me.

I thought about telling them the truth and getting him in trouble for it because that's what he deserved. "He, um, said he was really tired. He went home a little while ago so he could go to bed." Clearly, I decided to save his sorry butt instead.

"Okay, dear. Thank you." Mr. Sartorius added.

They began walking back home and I really hoped that they didn't check to see if he was asleep in his bed, not because I didn't want Jacob to get caught, but because I would've gotten in trouble for lying to them. He would have to pay me with all that stupid money he had if I ever had to take the blame. That is, if he hadn't given it all to Bree, because knowing her,  she probably asked for it.

I sat on the window seat in the bedroom I would unfortunately have to share until Bree left the next morning. I watched all of the lights in the houses slowly turn the town to black, the only things providing light being the flickering street light below and the stars above. Looking into the night made me want to take a walk to clear my thoughts. And so when I knew my dad was finally asleep, I quietly snuck out into the darkness.

As soon as I saw them, I knew this was a bad idea. I had walked pretty far, lost in the thoughts I was hoping to clear. I was never the type to be jealous and I didn't have a right to be because I hadn't known Jacob long enough, but when I caught them in a kiss a distance away from me I couldn't help it. I wished I could be like Bree, with raining confidence and a pretty face. I wished I could've had the courage to stop them from leaving the party. And though my feelings were only minor, I wished I felt nothing for Jacob.

I quickly hid in a nearby bush as they came closer, walking hand in hand.

"I better go home now, babe. Call me later?" I heard Bree ask. The way she thought she could call him 'babe' after a mere three hours of knowing him made me gag.

I heard him giggle. "I will. I'll see you later."

They kissed once more before parting ways and I could basically see the evil smirk she must've had on her devilish face.

I thought about how much I wanted to take the spider on my leg and shove it in her-

Wait.

"Spider!" I screamed, but quickly covered my mouth as I realized Jacob could hear me. I whispered curse words to myself as I heard him come closer.

He stared down at me in confusion, which was understandable. I probably would've done the same thing if I had seen a terrified teenage girl crouched down behind a bush with her hand over her mouth.

"Violet?" He asked.

"Yes?" I answered, my voice muffled because my hand was still over my mouth. I took it off once I realized the spider was gone.

"Why are you in a bush?"

"Oh, you know, just checking out the ground." I giggled nervously, pretending to examine the grass. "Don't you just love....dirt?"

"Were you spying on us?"

"No, of course not I was-"

"Violet." He deadpanned.

I sighed, knowing I was caught. "Okay, not intentionally. I wanted to go for a walk but then I saw you and Bree and I knew she would tell my dad if she saw me out here."

"She wouldn't do that." He said.

I was almost speechless at his words. He acted like he knew Bree like the back of his hand, yet she was the complete opposite of the facade she put on.

"How the hell should you know? You've known her for a grand total of three hours and suddenly you think you know more than I do?"

I started to get in his face because I was too angry to think about what I was doing or saying.

He looked shocked. "Maybe I haven't known her for long, but she's a cool girl. She wouldn't hurt a fly."

"Oh, you don't know the half of it. She's hurt more guys than you can count on two hands. You're next, pal."

He shook his head. "Don't even try to play that card. I refuse to believe you."

"Fine, don't. You're just lucky your grandparents believed me when I saved your ass." I looked him dead in the eye. "And maybe you're right. It doesn't take long for you to know someone because I've known you for two weeks and I'm positive you're an asshole."

I left him standing there in the middle of the dark street and walked back home to the only place where there was someone I could trust.