The Certainty of Violet and Luke

Chapter 13

Violet

Things haven't been that bad for the last couple of weeks and that's saying something. I haven't heard or gotten any surprise packages from Preston either and the texts have stopped. Mira Price is behind bars for now, something that I've wanted to happen since I was five. I'm still dealing with my visit to her on an emotional level, the cast on my arm constantly reminding me of what happened. But it's strange. I'd been so angry and unstable at the police station, to the point that I'd broken my arm, but as the days go by, it almost feels like some of my internal scars are healing, right along with my broken wrist. I feel like a part of me was sort of set free in my outburst. Seeing Mira in that room, knowing she was there – knowing she's still there – is a small bit of justice for my parents, if only they could just catch the other person. I know that it won't bring them back and that's still another thing I'm dealing with, but after the drowning incident I'm trying to avoid testing my life at the moment, choosing to live life I guess.

The detective called me into the station for a little chat the other day to give me an update, which was basically so he could inform me that Mira was being an uncooperative pain in the ass. He's kept looking down at my casted arm and then suggested that maybe I should go see a therapist to help me go through this. I'd told him I was fine, since the idea of going and spilling my thoughts to someone is something I never wanted to go through. I remember the looks people used to give me when they found out I'd spent twenty-four hours in the house with my parents' bodies.

Pity.

Horror.

Fear.

But it turns out I might not have a choice. The publicity of the entire thing has got the University involved and it was 'recommended' by my school advisor that I talk to their counselor. Already being on thin ice, I agreed and I have my first appointment today.

The woman sitting behind the desk when I walk into the office is a bit different than what I expected. She's got fiery red hair, the kind you have to dye to make it look like that. And I can see a tattoo peeking out from the collar of her shirt. She's dressed in a pant suit though and her hair is pulled up into a bun, like she's half-business woman, half rebel, which kind of matches the dark but beautiful artwork she's got hanging up on the walls.

'Oh hey,' she greets me when I walk in as if I'm a friend not a client. 'Violet Hayes, right?'

I nod. 'Yeah, that'd be me.'

She smiles then leans over her cluttered desk to shake my. 'I'm Lana. Glad you could make it. Have a seat.'

I plop down in the chair and drop my bag to the floor, a bundle of nerves as I pick at my fingernail polish then start biting at my nails. I'm telling myself to put my walls up, be tough Violet, because this isn't a safety zone – this isn't like the time I spend with Luke.

'So what brought you in here today, Violet Hayes?' Lana asks as she sorts through a file on her desk.

'You don't know that already?' I put my hands on my lap. 'Because I'm guessing you do. Everyone knows me. Violet Hayes, creepy girl who lived while her parents were murdered. Stayed in the house for twenty-four hours.'

She smiles up at me, surprisingly not annoyed by my bitchy attitude. 'Sounds like you're a tough chick.'

'No, just blunt.' This is going to be harder than I thought.

'Hmmm ... maybe ... But maybe not.' She looks down at the folder again, reading a paper that's inside it. After looking it over briefly, she shuts it and slides it aside before overlapping her hands and putting them on the desk. 'So other than what the news says about you, what do I need to know about you?'