The Mystery Gang

Home Part I

After hours of interviewing, Violet leaned against the wall of the front of the academy waiting for Niall who was meeting Liam and Delilah in the dean's office to sort out any necessary details. The lawn that stretched across the entire campus looked abandoned and with the sun setting, the shadows created an eerie environment. Violet could start to see fog rippling in. There was no question that Bellermine was the perfect place for a haunting since every movement looked like a monster lurking in the shadows.

Violet nearly jumped when she saw someone sit on one of the benches in the distance. He just looked around with his arms spread out behind him on the back of the bench. Although he wasn't wearing a school uniform, Dean's facial features were illuminated when he held the lighter up to his cigarette. Violet had to admit to herself she was tempted to go over there and talk to him but she had trouble thinking of an excuse to start a conversation.

She racked her brain while her eyes were glued to the bad boy and she was too wrapped up in a line about asking which college he was thinking about to notice that Dean caught her. Violet shook her head and realized that if she didn't act now the consequences would be worse.

Violet trekked across to the side of the building where Dean sat. It was faced away from the brooding building and looking at the fence with ivy neatly grown on it. She sat down next to Dean and tried to not notice how his arm was touching her shoulder. She admired his black leather jacket and blue jeans. The cigarette hung from his chapped lips and he slowly removed the cigarette from his mouth and blew out smoke.

This woke Violet up from her trance and she coughed, "Hey."

"Hey."

"Are you allowed to smoke on campus?"

"What do you think?" Dean sighed.

Silence blanketed them and Violet felt the distance between them grow. He pulled his cigarette from his mouth and let it burn slowly as he pulled his bottom lip between his teeth in concentration and frustration. Violet felt empathy for Dean and wanted to relieve his frustration if she knew how.

"Why would I have it out to get this school shut down? It's the only place I actually have a home," he admitted.

"What?" Violet was confused by his sudden confession.

"Bellermine Preparatory is a piece of shit, don't get me wrong, but here people notice me. Unlike my parents who only see me during breaks when I'm forced to go home and when they write the checks for this stupid place. To my parents, I'm just another disappointment in an attempt to have a girl. Harry wanted a brother and he treats me like a god since the first year we met. All the students here respect me and all the teachers think I'm such a bad kid that they're afraid of me. I repeat to you, here I have a place, so why would I try to shut it down and force myself to find a new place?"

"Why did you just tell me this?" Violet wondered.

"I just wanted to say that," Dean shrugged.

"You are very sincere, your sorrow is very clear through your eyes."

"Read expressions often, huh?" He sighed heavily and finished his cigarette before he stomped the bud into the muddy grass below their feet. He turned his body slightly towards Violet and she turned to him carefully maneuvering so their bodies still touched.

Violet couldn't find the words to respond to him, she was still in shock from his touching confession.

"Now that you've had your fun, I want to have my own shot," he gandered at Violet's features, admiring how embarrassed she was that he was looking at her. "You're nervous, I know because you push up your glasses and tuck this piece of loose hair behind your ear." He demonstrated by swirling a piece of her hair around the two fingers that had previously been used to hold his cigarette before putting it in its usual place behind her ear. They were so close, Violet could smell his breath which had a mixed aroma of peppermints and cigarettes.