Green-Eyed | Violentine

Part Twenty-Five | Tension Rising

The drive back home is long and Clementine feels herself fading into and out of sleep as the soothing rhythm of the car gently rocks and calms her.

Every time she slips out of sleep she looks over to Violet, smiling at the blonde who's so focused on the road ahead that she doesn't notice Clementine watching her with utter adoration on her face. Louis sits in the backseat on his phone, reassuring his parents that the holiday home was left in pristine condition. He groans and lies to his mom on the phone, stating that the car is going through a tunnel just so he can find an excuse to end the call. He's tired, Violet is tired, and Clementine is tired too.

Clementine smiles and nuzzles her cheek into the leather seat and slips back into sleep, she's vaguely aware of Violet's hand resting on her upper thigh, thumb kneading her skin in a repetitive pattern. Rubbing warmth into her bare leg.

"Don't fall asleep Clem," says Violet softly, gently tapping her fingers on Clementine's thigh as she attempts to rouse her girlfriend, "we'll be home any minute."

The brunette sighs and reluctantly sits up in her chair, rubbing her eyes and reaching out to place her hand on top of Violet's. As her vision clears she becomes aware of the streets around her, the familiar shops and houses, the park where she last saw Minerva.

As the car rolls past the large park, her eyes catch a glimpse of fiery red hair and Clementine opens her mouth in shock. It's as if thinking of the redhead made her appear. Minerva is sitting by the swings watching Tenn as he uses his momentum to rise and fall on the swing. From afar Clementine can still make out her crimson lipstick and defined bone structure. She's smiling with a large grin and it makes Clementine feel sick.

The brunette becomes rigid and keeps her eyes trained on Minerva even as she fades out of view. Violet presses her fingers into the skin of Clementine's thigh as she notes her girlfriend's stiffness. "You okay?" she asks. Clementine swallows and tears her gaze away from the tiny park which is now far behind them.

"Yeah," she says watching how Violet keeps her attention on the road and quickly flits her gaze to and from her girlfriend, sensing Clementine's discomfort. Clementine decides not to elaborate on seeing Minerva. Instead, she keeps it to herself.

Violet nods and turns down a familiar street, gently slowing the car to a stop outside the stone brick house that belongs to Clementine's father. The brunette looks up at her house with an overwhelming sense of sadness. The holiday is over. Minerva is still around and Violet's about to head back home to her asshole father. Clementine can't help but feel down as she lifts her overnight bag from the boot and waits for Violet to see her off.

"This has been the most wonderful weekend of my life," says Violet as she comes to stand a few feet from Clementine and tentatively takes her hand.

Clementine smiles in an attempt to push all of her negativity to the back of her mind. "Mine too," she comments, letting her free hand come to rest on Violet's shoulder. She draws the blonde in and closes her eyes as she brushes her lips against Violet's. The gap between them disappears as Violet presses her lips delicately on Clementine's mouth, her hand entangled with her girlfriends. Her free hand sits comfortably at the nape of Clementine's neck, nestled amongst her curls.

When Clementine pulls away she focuses on remembering how Violet looks in this moment. The corners of her mouth upturned in a small smile, her green eyes mixed and highlighted with slight tones of teal and grey, so vivid and alive against the deep hue of cobalt that paints the sky behind her. Her lips which were on Clementine's moments ago are soft and plump and Violet gently bites her lower lip as she waits for Clementine to say something.

"So beautiful," Clementine breathes out.

Violet lowers her eyes and when she looks back up, they somehow seem even more mesmerising. "I wish I could stay here with you," she says quietly when she eventually finds her voice. She looks back to Louis who's moving the remaining bags around the interior of the car. He slides into the driver's seat and begins to adjust the mirrors and seating position.