Masks

Chapter 17

I wanted to leave,
To throw it all away.

  ~~~

"If you voice your thoughts and just tell her what you felt back then, I'm sure she'll understand."

Violet and Quinn found themselves at the same park Violet had told Quinn to meet her at when she first told him about her family. The walk there was silent—neither of them were able to start a conversation especially after not speaking to each other for a long time. They sat on the same bench, their legs inches from touching.

"So... who's starting?"

"You can, after all, you were the first one who said that you had to tell me something."

"Alright." Violet took a deep breath before she began. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" He asked.

"For not making time for you. I was just so caught up in everything that I almost forgot that you were waiting this entire time." She fidgeted with her fingers. "You must have felt betrayed."

"No! A-Absolutely not, I was just fine, really. I understand that you're new and still adjusting to everything, so if you can't make time for me, I won't get in your way. Although, I admit I felt lonely at times." He rubbed the back of his head. "But you shouldn't be apologizing, really. In fact, I should. That's what I wanted to tell you."

"No, you shouldn't be the one apologizing, after all, I started it in the first place." She shook her head.

"I had no reason to lash out on you like the other day. Probably my emotions getting the best of me. Guess I was just kind of bothered by that Olivier guy. He gave off a bad vibe, to me at least."

"You have every reason to be mad at me." She said. "I ended up making time for him instead of you, and in the end, I couldn't see past his act until it was too late. In fact, I thought you'd be all up in my face going "I told you so!" or something along those lines."

"Pfft, you didn't really think I'd be that mean, did you?" He smiled, trying to look hurt. "I never told you any of my suspicions in the first place, so I couldn't really call you out on it."

"Nah, you really don't seem like the type." She smiled back.

"Nonetheless, I'm still sorry I got mad all of a sudden, it wasn't your fault."

"I already said you didn't have to be." She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"But," He turned to face her, guilt written all over his face. "I hurt you. You even told me yourself that you were scared back then. Nothing I'd ever say could possibly fix that."

"Quinn, don't say—"

"I'm sorry, I think you'd be better off if we weren't friends."

She did not expect at all the words he had to say to her. Quinn's elbows were on his knees and his eyes were glued to the ground, avoiding her face. Sure, both had said this to each other at one point as an attempt to protect each other from the consequences, but it was different this time: he sounded completely serious.

  "H-Haven't heard th-that in a while, huh..."

  Quinn immediately shot up and looked at her in the face. He caught on once she began stammering, and found her crying a river. Tears poured out from her eyes as she continued to unsuccessfully wipe them away.

  "D-Did you really mean that?"

  He didn't hesitate to embrace her. She cried into his shoulder, much like she did when they first met face to face. Her hands still reluctantly wiped away tears.

  "W-We've only been f-friends for so long, b-but you've made a huge impact on m-me already. G-Guess it's because I-I never had a-any friends back home, b-but I can already tell that th-this friendship is d-different from a lot of others. S-Special, really. Y-Your friendship means e-everything to me, s-so when you suddenly said y-you didn't want to be f-fr-friends anymore..."

  "... I felt really sad."

  He hugged her tighter, eyes widening and his own set of tears beginning to form in them. He placed a hand on the back of her head, bringing it closer to the side of his own. She continued to cry over his shoulder, but she had calmed down a bit more, and her arms reached around his back.

  "I'm sorry. I should have heard you out first before I said that. In fact, I never should have said that in the first place."

  Violet's tears began to slow down. She simply shook her head in reply.

  "I hurt you again. I'm sorry for that. I promise to never do it again."

  She tried to smile again in an attempt to lighten the mood. "You're filled with apologies today, huh?"

  "W-Well of course," He stammered, "I did a lot things to make you feel bad about this whole situation."

  "Don't worry about it, you were just looking out for me. I forgive you." She closed her eyes, still resting her chin on his shoulder. "That is, if you can forgive me too..?"

  "O-Of course! You weren't in control of most of the circumstances. There's no reason for you to apologize in the first place. But if it gets rid of the burden, I forgive you too."

  She smiled, genuinely this time, once again on the verge of tears. "I'm glad we're able to talk like this again."

  "Yeah, me too."

  They stayed like that for a while, both pairs of eyes closed. Holding each other was all they needed in that moment.

  "RRRRRIIIIIINNNGGGG—"

  "S-Sorry, I-I'll get that." They both jumped when Quinn's phone rang with his home phone number.

  "Where are you, and why aren't you home yet? Dinner's almost ready, and Mother's getting mad."

  "Y-Y-Yeah! I-I'll be right there!" He hung up immediately. It wasn't until Ian called that they realized what kind of a position they were just in. Both jumped away with burning faces, stood up from the bench, looked down at the ground in opposite directions, and fiddled with their fingers.

  "W-Well, I-I should p-probably..."

  "Y-Yeah, m-me too, don't w-want Mrs. Waters yelling at me..."

  Both of them bolted back to their respective houses trying to hide their embarrassment, but it didn't do any good since they were next-door neighbours and ran in the same direction. Quinn hastily waved back at Violet once he reached his front steps, Violet doing the same. The let out a long breath once they got through the door, then smiled contently after, both faces still bright red from both the running and embarrassment.

  I really am in love with you.

  ~~~

I'm screaming as I write my own book man this must be unhealthy