And Suddenly, I'm Sinking | Violentine

Part One | Violet

Clementine was introduced to Violet on a Wednesday.

It had been raining all day, long lashes of heavy droplets that pelted against the ground, soaking into the fissured dirt and softening the terrain into mud. Clementine presses the stick between her fingers harder into the grass, mindlessly tracing patterns into the dirt.

Occasionally she glances up at Violet, the new girl. Though in this situation it's Clementine who's the new girl. Violet's a returning member of the group, like a long lost puzzle piece slotting neatly back into place.

Clementine is the anomaly. The odd one out.

The stranger.

Clementine has spent the past few months solidifying friendships with Louis and Brody, and she thought that they were all great friends. But with Violet now sitting amongst them, laughing and sipping at a small bottle of vodka, Clementine couldn't feel more left out.

The brunette tilts her head to the side as she focuses on Violet. Clementine takes advantage of the blonde's distraction and lets her gaze land on the older girl. Violet's quiet, closed off, eyes flitting to and from her friends, skipping entirely over Clementine.

The brunette can't tell if it's because she's shy or simply because she's ignoring the newcomer's presence. Clementine pushes more pressure onto the stick between her long fingers and the wood splinters in her hands with a crack that draws all eyes to her.

"Shit," mutters Clementine as she looks down at the broken stick between her fingertips. She glances up, quickly catching the gaze of Louis, and Brody, but she doesn't focus on them. Instead, she lets her gaze linger on Violet, who instead of looking at the brunette, is gazing at the dirt at her feet. Inspecting the patterns marked into the mud.

"You all good Clem?" questions Louis. But Clementine doesn't really take note of the question, because she's too busy watching Violet's gaze move up her body. Washing over her legs and torso like a wave. Violet lets her eyes linger on Clementine's slender collar bones and as she reaches amber eyes, a smirk plays on the other girl's face.

Clearing her throat Clementine forces herself to look at Louis, despite the fact that Violet is still watching her intently. "I'm okay," she mentions calmly, though her skin is on fire and her fingers tremble under the adrenaline that pumps through her veins.

Clementine glances back at Violet. The blonde is still staring at her with a heavy gaze.

"Why don't you come and sit over here?" suggests Brody. "Come and meet Violet, I just know that you two will get along."

At the mention of her name, Clementine sets her eyes on Violet's. Drinking in the deep jade shade of her eyes, the way the flickering lights of the campfire casts colours onto her irises.

Violet's stare is intense.

It's a warning as much as it is an invitation. An invitation for Clementine to hold her gaze, drink her in. You can see me, her stare says, but you'll never really know me.

"Clem?" questions Louis as he leans forward, attempting to snap the brunette from her trance.

Clementine reluctantly pulls her eyes away from Violet, glancing at her friend at the blonde's side. "Yeah," she states, "I'll come over."

Pushing herself from the log the brunette makes her way around the crackling fire and towards her friends. Towards Violet.

The flames from the poorly made campfire lick into the cold night air and thick plumes of smoke rise into the late February sky. Only then for the smog to be washed away on the breeze, far off into the darkness of the looming night.