Violet
I was late, which meant I was about to be lectured. Bug was one of my closest friends, but she took punctuality seriously. Maybe it was because she was the eldest of six and raised in a military household. Even her artwork was meticulously planned, while I was more of a ‘wing it and hope for the best’ kind of girl.
Seriously, that woman could be terrifying, all five foot two of her.
Mum:
Where have you gone?
Hello?
*Missed call from Mum*
Shit.
Mum:
Violet, answer your phone!
This is serious!
They’re watching.
You need to come home.
Music vibrated through the floor, moving up my legs and settling in my chest as I pushed deeper into the club. The heavy bass eased some of my anxiety, muffling the sharp edges of my thoughts and letting me ignore my responsibilities. For the moment, at least. But then guilt gripped me with its vicious claws, dragging me to a halt in the middle of the crowd.
Mum would be livid if she knew where I was, that I was putting myself in imaginary danger while she fought her non-existent demons.
What she didn’t know couldn’t hurt her.
Right?
*Missed call from Mum*
Me:
I’m safe at the studio. I’ll be home soon, okay?
Love you.
“Vi! Vi!” Bug called, waving like a madwoman from across the dancefloor. “Over here!”
Putting my phone away in my bag, I waved back, only for a group of three girls to shove against my shoulder.
“Excuse you,” I muttered, the movement swinging the necklace around my neck so harshly the pendant clashed against my skin. Reaching up, I gripped the golden disk, my thumb brushing against the engraving of a single flower. A violet. A gift from mum.
“You made it!” Bug appeared, grabbing my wrist so shecould pull me into a hug. “And just twenty minutes late. Honestly, I was betting on thirty.”
I tried to reassure her with my smile, but from her pursed lips I’d say it wasn’t going well. “I’m sorry, I got caught up with mum.”
Bug swayed a little, any frustration immediately disappearing. “Is she okay?”
I nodded, my smile forced. Bug was one of the few people aware of mum’s condition, but until recently it had been all under control.
“So, where’s this booth then?” I asked, using her own excitement to distract her from the original question. Anxiety continued to scratch beneath my skin, my mind already racing ahead at mum’s disappointment if she ever found out that I wasn’t at the studio. That I’d lied and snuck out.
Maybe I needed to be distracted too. Luckily, Bug tugged me towards the corner, surprising me with a couple familiar faces from the warehouse.
