safe | l.h.

two

"i wanna breathe with ease again, i wanna get some fucking sleep again, you only ask forgiveness after it's gone wrong" - Dead and Gone / State Champs

---

-Luke-

I took Violet's hand in mine as we walked down the street, turning my head back towards Michael, Sydney and Calum, "Sorry, the restaurant is a little bit of a walk away. I promise it's worth it though. Violet and I come here any time we have an excuse to celebrate."

Calum wiped his forehead quickly, "It's not the walk that's getting to me, it's this heat. I don't understand how you could ever get used to this. By this time in Boston we are already wearing sweaters."

I chuckled lightly, "It's an adjustment, that's for sure. You keep thinking maybe one day it'll cool down, and it never does."

Our three friends had decided to stay for another night after the engagement party, and we were on our way to have dinner together before they had to get on a flight back home the next morning. Violet and I had been looking forward to this dinner all day, just glad to have some time with our friends without all the commotion. On top of that, both of us had spent most of our day entertaining our respective families, and the break was very necessary. As if reading my thoughts, Violet looked up at me as we walked, a very noticeable trace of concern in her eyes. This was the same look she had been giving me pretty much consistently since the night before, and I could tell she was waiting for me to talk about what happened again.

The truth was, there was nothing more to talk about. I had told my mom and brother the same thing while we ate lunch today. It was fairly obvious at this point that my dad didn't want to be a part of my life anymore, and that was just something I needed to accept. And I had accepted it, the second I saw the look on my mom's face when she showed up last night. There was nothing more to be said or done.

I sighed, looking away from Violet and straight ahead, lowering my voice, "You know, you don't need to keep looking at me like I'm some fragile person who's one wrong word away from a breakdown. I told you, I'm fine."

I didn't even have to look at Violet to know she was rolling her eyes at me. She matched her hushed tone to mine, "Well, maybe I don't believe you. And last time I checked, it wasn't a crime for me to be worried about you."

I knew she wasn't trying to instigate anything, but I could feel the tension building up anyway. I tried to ease it slightly, "Look, can we just enjoy our night with our friends? I don't want to ruin it by talking about or even thinking about things that don't even matter."

Violet's hand slipped out of mine, instead taking its place over her chest where she crossed her arms, "Fine. For the record, I think they do matter."

We fell silent, listening to our three friends behind us chatting instead. I heard Calum groan, "So are you guys really doing this again already? I thought last time was the last time. Although at this point, I guess I shouldn't believe you when you say that."

Michael just laughed to himself, "I don't know what to tell you, Cal. The heart wants what it wants."

Calum was trying hopelessly to talk some sense into them, "But Syd, aren't you still seeing someone else?"

I turned around then, one eyebrow raised and finally invested in the conversation. She just shrugged, "Barely, we hooked up once. I don't think it's going to break his heart."

Her and Michael exchanged another pair of smirks, resulting in a disapproving shake of the head from Calum. I couldn't help the light laugh that escaped my lips, but when I turned forward again I could tell Violet was still unhappy.