Almost Unreal | Violentine One-Shots

It Hurts to Look at You - Part Two | Fluff

It's been a long day for Violet.

In fact, it's been a long year. After graduation everything happened so quickly, Minerva was offered a high paying job in the city, Louis moved into a luxury apartment, Brody and Marlon got engaged. Oh, and Clementine moved all the way across America to Wyoming. Violet guessed Clementine wasn't lying when she had told Violet last year she wanted to move out of state.

Clementine. Violet spends a lot of time thinking about her, thinking about her declaration, her feelings. She's visited once or twice over the past year but now that Violet knows how Clementine feels, (or at least how she once felt) it's different. And it's because Violet can't deny that there's a small part of her that wonders what life would be like if she was with Clementine instead.

Violet's been with Minerva for two years now, and the last few months have revealed the cracks in their relationship that had always been there, just hidden behind the honeymoon phase. Violet finished work forty minutes ago, but she's avoiding going to the apartment. Instead, she finds herself walking through the city, just picking a direction and seeing where it takes her. She doesn't want to go home.

Violet drags her feet as she eventually turns towards her apartment building. She takes the stairs rather than the elevator as she knows that will take longer. She thinks of all these little things she's doing to draw out the time she's away from Minerva. She knows that relationships aren't meant to be like this. It never used to be like this. She climbs to the third floor and rummages through her bag for her keys. Is it Clementine that's caused this? Has her declaration of feelings sent things spiralling out of control, Violet wants to say no but she knows deep down the answer is yes.

She unlocks her door and falters in her step when she sees Minerva sitting on the kitchen stool staring directly at her. "Hi," Violet says mustering all of the energy she can to sound positive. She realises how fake her greeting sounds and turns to close the door while she composes herself.

"Can we talk Vi?" Minerva says, she shifts awkwardly in her seat. Violet crosses the distance from the front door to the kitchen counter, the heel of her boots click against the wooden floor.

"Sure," says Violet, as she pulls out a stool and sits opposite her girlfriend. She goes to place a hand over Minerva's but the redhead slips them beneath the counter before they can touch.

"What's happening with us Vi," says Minerva, she taps her feet against the floor. Violet chews her lip and looks away unable to meet the piercing eyes of her girlfriend. "You finished work nearly an hour ago yet you've only just got back, I've seen you skulking around the town aimlessly, walking nowhere for hours and you never call or text me back." Minerva sighs and rubs her forehead with one hand, "It's almost like you don't want to be around me anymore."

Violet bites her lip, she has a reason for this, but she can't tell Minerva that the reason is she can't stop thinking about Clementine. "You've been so distant Vi," Minerva continues.

Minerva shifts in her seat, "I know I haven't been here for you; I know I've been just as unavailable as you have." Minerva bites her lip, "I know you feel like I'm not here to support you." Violet listens attentively as her girlfriend speaks, she thinks of all the times Minerva has stayed out late partying, how often Minerva sleeps in the spare bed rather than next to Violet. They never go on dates anymore and Violet can't even remember the last time they were intimate. Their relationship has ground to a halt, they're more like flatmates than lovers.

"Something is missing Minerva," says Violet, finally speaking up, "it's like we've both settled in this relationship because we fell in love at university, but since last year things have changed and it's like.." the blonde pauses, unsure what to say.