Reform

autumn (three)

I had been at the party- supposedly with Colton, although he spent most his time chasing Alice- for about an hour when Raphael ran up the staircase of the beach house, screaming a very loud, very charming, "EVERYBODY SHUT UP!"

And everybody did. Because if there was anything scarier than Raph's wrath, it was Grace's. That girl was a devil, wrapped up in golden brown hair, tan skin, and a charming smile. Not that I was attracted to her- I honored the bro code, and she was a great friend nonetheless.

"I'm sure you're all having fun in here, mingling and shit, but the bonfire has actually been started outside, so if you could all kindly move out there, that would be great," he announced, motioning with his hands towards the back door, Grace doing the same.

I had been having mindless chats with Violet for the hour, so I nodded to the door, offering my hand for her to take.

She took it, letting out a small giggle as we walked out the huge, glass double doors out to the beach, throwing off our shoes- myself wearing a worn pair of vans and her some strappy sandals- and walking onto the beach, a bonfire roaring close to the ocean.

"So, they have bonfires wherever you're from?" I asked, experimentally putting my arm around her shoulder as we walked through the sand- she didn't shrug it off, so it seems we're good to go.

"Well, I was born here, actually, but i've lived in Arizona for most of my life, so bonfire's weren't really a huge thing in a landlocked town with barely any rain. The risk they ran was a little high, and no one that threw the parties really liked 'em, so tonight, with you, is my first one," she answered, smiling sweetly up at me with those damn blue eyes.

"Well, hopefully, I can make tonight memorable for you," I quipped, rubbing her shoulder with my signature sorta smile sorta smirk, that I had perfected over time.

"You've done a pretty nice job so far, so, just keep it up, and who knows what'll happen?" she dared, resting her head on my shoulder as we walked the far end of the bonfire, everybody else curling up as close as they could to the fire, beers and other alcohol in their hands, toasting to the end of summer.

"For once, not me," I confessed, looking over at the beautiful girl. She really was beautiful. I had never seen someone like her before- beautiful, like she didn't know it, humble, and kind.

And here I was, Parker Waide, notorious fuckboy who knew he was hot and couldn't give a shit about other people's feelings. Honestly, the most committed relationship i've ever been in was with a fuckgirl - her own words - and was pretty much purely physical.

I may be a bad guy, there's really no doubt about it, but I don't want to ruin this girl. And if we progress even just a little bit farther from where we are right now, there's no turning back for her- or me.

"Look, Violet, I kinda have to say this in my last attempt to not be a complete and total dick, even though I kind of am already, if you look at any and all of my past relationships, but, anyways. I'm a fuckboy. It's my reputation, not just here, but out on Nantucket, in Massachusetts, too. You're new, and you're kind, you're almost innocent, beautiful. I don't want to mess that up. So, i'm giving you the chance- walk away now," I divulged, looking at her, seriously, eyebrows raised.

"Look, Parker," she started, half mocking, half serious. "I've been through shit in my life. I'm nowhere near innocent, even though I may come off that way. I like you. I'm pretty sure you like me too. Sure, you're a fuckboy. Let's see if I can change that," she proposed.

So, I did what any normal guy would do in this situation. I kissed her. Hard. And she kissed back.

Once we pulled apart, after an undetermined amount of time, I smiled back at her, giving a peck on the lips.

The noise that had been drowned about by the sheer intensity of the kiss was starting to seep back in, breaking the small little bubble we had created with just the two of us, nobody to mess anything up- including myself.

If I only I could savor that moment for one second longer, because it wouldn't last long before I would fuck it up, leaving me back where I started as a fuckboy that doesn't care about anyone- 'cept maybe Colton. Kid may be a dumbass, but he's my best friend, and has since he walked up and spilled juice on me in kindergarten.

Speaking of.

"Parker! Vi-Violet! Hey guys! You were just making out. What happened to not changing your ways?" He drunkenly ranted, plopping his ass down next to me on the other side of the log and throwing his arm over me.

Honestly, the amount and the volume he drank, you would expect him to have a much higher alcohol tolerance than he really does. I just recreationally drink a little bit, not doing the excessive shit De Muller always insisted on doing, making me have to be his designated driver and keep him out of doing shit.

I really didn't want to leave Violet behind, especially after everything, but I had to get Colton home, in bed, and sleeping before his parents found out.

"Vi, i'm really sorry, but i've gotta take Colton home. He gets any drunker, and he's puking all over the floor with no filter, just letting out his deepest secrets- and mine too, really," I chuckled, giving her a guilty look.

"Well, i'm not really all jazzed to be here, so, could you, maybe, drive me home too?" she asked, biting her lip.

"Yeah, of course. I can drop you off first, unless you wanna help me get a drunk Colton into bed," I joked, throwing a smile over my shoulder as I picked up Colton, him putting all his weight on me, mumbling shit I couldn't really understand.

"Thanks for the offer, but i'll pass," she replied, smiling.

We walked over to my car, her helping me push Colton into the backseat before I opened the passenger side door and let her in- which felt uncharacteristic. I'd never done that for a girl before, save for my mom, but I haven't since she died.

I hopped into the driver's seat, taking one glance over at the brunette beautify before putting my keys into the ignition and driving off from the party with De Muller mumbling in the backseat. 

-

and more than 20 days later i come in with chapter two after scrapping the 800 words i wrote about an an entire different idea.