Confronting Luke.

VIOLET

The lawn outside the graduation hall was awash with sunlight, the golden rays casting a warm glow on the groups of graduates and their families. Everywhere I turned, there were smiles, laughter, and the constant click of cameras. It felt surreal, standing here in my cap and gown, a day I’d dreamed of and dreaded all at once.

“Violet, over here!” Ashley’s voice snapped me out of my daze. She waved her phone, her other hand on her hip. “We’re documenting your big moment, so cooperate.”

I sighed but smiled as she directed me to pose with my diploma. “Hold it higher,” she instructed, gesturing dramatically. “No, not like that. Hold it like you’re presenting it to the world!”

“Ashley, it’s not an Oscar,” I muttered, but her enthusiasm was contagious. I struck the pose, feeling a small laugh bubble up as she snapped the photo.

“Perfect. You’re a natural,” she said, smirking as she reviewed the picture. “Okay, now let’s get one with the family. Your mom and Max are waiting for their moment of glory.”

I turned to where my mom and Max stood nearby, her arm resting casually on his. They looked picture-perfect, like they belonged on the cover of a glossy lifestyle magazine.

My mom’s meticulously styled hair gleamed in the sunlight, her tailored dress hugging her figure just enough to exude elegance. Max stood beside her, tall and polished, the quintessential image of a businessman. Despite his imposing presence, his smile as he watched me approach felt surprisingly warm.

For a brief moment, I wondered where Ryan was. He’d said he’d meet us after the ceremony, but he was nowhere in sight. Probably caught up with some friends or just avoiding the family fanfare altogether. Typical.

“Violet!” My mom beckoned me over, her face alight with pride.

“Go,” Ashley said, nudging me. “Your family photo-op awaits.”

As I approached, my mom held out her arms, pulling me into a tight embrace. The scent of her signature perfume, a blend of jasmine and vanilla, enveloped me. “I’m so proud of you,” she said, her voice soft yet firm. “You’ve worked so hard for this. Look at you, my daughter, the salutatorian.”

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and mustered a small smile. “Thanks, Mom.”

Max stepped in beside her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder as he adjusted his stance for the camera. “Smile, Violet,” he said smoothly. “This is a moment to remember.”

The photographer directed us to adjust slightly, and I found myself sandwiched between my mom and Max, their presence towering yet oddly comforting. The camera flashed once, twice, then a third time for good measure.

As the photographer lowered the camera, my mom squeezed my hand. “You’ve made me so proud today,” she said, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “I hope you know that.”

Her words lingered, filling a part of me that had longed for her approval. But before I could respond, Ashley’s voice cut through the moment.

“Alright, picture time is over. We’ve got places to be!” She grabbed my arm, pulling me away with surprising urgency.

As we weaved through the clusters of graduates, Ashley leaned in close, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Okay, Violet, don’t freak out, but…”

Her tone made my stomach tighten. “What?”

Her gaze flicked toward the refreshment table, where a familiar figure stood with his back to us. His posture was stiff, his head slightly bowed as if he were trying to make himself invisible.

“That’s Luke over there,” Ashley said, her voice low but firm.

My heart skipped a beat. I followed her gaze, and as if he could feel my eyes on him, he turned. For a brief moment, our eyes met.

Luke’s expression faltered, a mix of guilt and hesitation flashing across his face before he quickly looked away, his gaze dropping to the floor.

Ashley gave my arm a little shake, grounding me. “So, what do you want to do? Because, honestly, I have a few choice words I’d love to say to him”

I didn’t respond immediately, my heart thudding against my ribs. My instinct was to retreat, to pretend I hadn’t seen him, but Ashley’s grip on my arm grounded me.

“Let’s talk to him,” I said, my voice firmer than I expected. “I need answers.”

Together, we crossed the lawn, weaving through clusters of people.
When he saw us approaching, his face paled, and the confidence he’d displayed during his valedictorian speech evaporated.

“Ashley. Violet,” he greeted.

Ashley crossed her arms, her tone sharp. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Valedictorian. Big day for you, huh?”

Luke flinched but didn’t respond to her jab. His eyes locked on mine, filled with a mixture of guilt and regret. "Violet," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me."

Ashley scoffed, stepping forward before I could. "Oh, now you care about what Violet wants? Where was that concern when you sold her out?

Luke flinched, his gaze flickering to me as if silently begging me to intervene. But I didn’t. I stood there, arms crossed, staring at the boy who had once been my close friend.

“What do you want me to say?” he asked finally, his voice cracking. “That I’m sorry? That I regret everything? Because I do. I swear I do.”

Ashley crossed her arms, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Wow, Luke. That’s so convincing. Did you rehearse that line in the mirror this morning?”

“Stop,” I said quietly, the word slipping out before I even realized it. My voice was soft, but it carried enough weight to silence them both. I took a step closer to Luke, my heart pounding in my chest. “Why, Luke? Why didn’t you tell us what was going on? Why'd you betray me? Betray us?

He dropped his head, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t want to hurt you,” he said weakly. “I swear, Violet. I didn’t want it to go that far.”

“But it did!” I shot back, my voice rising. “They tried to—” My voice broke, and I had to look away, the memory of that evening clawing its way to the forefront of my mind. Max and Evelyn’s cruel laughter, the sheer terror that consumed me.

Ashley placed a steadying hand on my shoulder, grounding me as she glared at Luke. “You’re a coward, you know that? You knew what kind of monsters they were, and you handed Violet to them on a silver platter.”

“They threatened me!” Luke exploded. “They threatened me. Max and Evelyn… they said they’d expose my past to the entire school. If they had, I wouldn’t even be here today. I’d be expelled. My future—everything I’ve worked for—would have been destroyed.”

Ashley scoffed, her disbelief cutting through the moment. “So you threw Violet under the bus instead? That’s your excuse?”

“I know it’s not justified!” Luke snapped, his composure cracking. “I was scared!. You don’t understand what it’s like to have your entire life hanging by a thread. I didn’t know what to do. And yes, I should have trusted you. I should have told you. But I panicked.” He paused for a while. “You think I don’t hate myself for it? You think I don’t replay that night over and over, wishing I’d done something—anything—different? But I was scared. I didn’t know what to do.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You could have told us. We were your friends, Luke. We would have helped you.”

He looked at me, the weight of his remorse etched into every line of his face. “I know. And that’s what makes it worse. I failed you, Violet. I failed both of you. I’ll carry that guilt for the rest of my life. But I wasn’t strong enough, Violet. I was scared, and I made the worst decision of my life.”

Silence fell over us, the weight of his words pressing down like a suffocating fog. My chest ached, torn between the pain of his betrayal and the faint flicker of the friendship we once had.

Ashley’s glare softened, but her voice remained firm. “You’ve got a lot to make up for, Carter. This isn’t something you can just apologize for and move on.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “But I want to try. If you’ll let me.”