Violet was carrying her luggage into her dorm room when she saw her best friend Alice already sitting on her bottom bunk of the bed.
"How are you already here?" Violet asked as she set her luggage next to her the bunk beds. Alice sat her phone down, sat up, and looked at her friend. It was the first time she's seen her all summer and felt like she couldn't recognize her anyone. Her hair was dyed from brown to blonde, she had bags under her eyes from an apparent lack of sleep, and her green eyes that were once full of light seemed dull.
"Wow nice to see you too," Alice said sarcastically.
"You know what I mean," Violet rolled her eyes.
"I was taking extra classes over the summer and could stay in the dorms," Alice explained. "Loving the new look by the way."
"Thanks," Violet said flatly.
"Welcome back my bitches," a voice said from the door way. "Been way too long."
"Honestly, how was your summer?" Alice asked as their friend, Oliver, walked into the room and sat on the bed next to Alice.
"It was good. A little boring just spent time with my family. How about y'all?" Oliver mentally slapped himself for asking the question. He knew how Violets summer went and would imagine that it wasn't near great.
"Fine, I just took extra classes over the summer," Alice said.
"So you mean boring?" Oliver teased as Alice rolled her eyes.
"Can y'all help me bring in the rest of my stuff?" Violet asked dodging Oliver's question. Oliver and Alice didn't seem to mind as the three walked to her car to help. While picking up boxes, Violet almost dropped hers when she looked over and saw the last person on earth that she wanted to see. Across the road she saw Alex helping the boys bring in their luggage to their dorms. Alex looked up and the two made eye contact. The feeling of Alex's stare made Violet freeze. She didn't know how to react. It was a big campus and she was hoping she could avoid him, but apparently she was wrong. She felt her heart start beating even faster when he started to walk over to her.
"Are you okay?" Oliver asked putting his box on the ground as Alice did the same.
"Violet! Hey!" Alex yelled as he neared her.
Oliver and Alice immediately tensed at the voice and glared towards it. Oliver was the first to step in between the two and Alice followed right after, both of their non confrontational personalities dissolving to protect their friend. Alex stopped in front of the two and smiled wider, knowing exactly what he was doing as Violet hid behind her friends shaking.
"You need to leave before I cut your face off," Oliver threatened, his voice dropping.
"This doesn't concern you Ollie," Alex said stepping forward to push through them to Violet. This time it was Alice who reacted and put her hand out to stop him again.
"If you come any closer you are going to have a big problem," she said staring up at him clearly smaller but not deterred in any way.
Alex looked at the two, knowing he would have a hard time fighting Oliver, let alone the both of them. Still grinning ear to ear Alex looked past the two at Violet who felt as if the world was closing in on her despite being outside.
"Don't worry Violet, I'll see you when we're alone again," Alex said the words piercing Violet, as she started crying quietly, feeling the way she did on the night that wrecked her. Every emotion, every feeling of terror and betrayal ran through her in waves reliving the moment again and again. Oliver stepped forward and grabbed Alex by his shoulders before driving his knee into his crotch as hard as he could. Alex cursed loudly and Alice chuckled as he doubled over in pain.
