Caught
VIOLET
I woke up feeling like my head had been used as a drum in some all-night rock concert. The light was too bright, my mouth was dry, and every pulse throbbed through my skull.
Mental note to self– Never take too much shots
With a groan, I sat up and rubbed my temples, then slipped out of bed, padding over to the bathroom. I flicked on the light and squinted at my reflection. It looked as rough as I felt—dark circles, disheveled hair, and that dazed look of someone who’s barely recovered from a long night
After brushing my teeth, I rinsed my mouth and splashed cold water on my face, trying to scrub away the fog clouding my mind. As I did, bits and pieces of last night started coming back. The laughter, the dizzy stumble to Ryan’s car… his hand steadying me as I teetered like a newborn fawn, and… oh god, the things I’d said. My cheeks flared hot as I remembered talking about pancakes and… his eyes? I groaned, pressing my hands to my face.
I froze, my toothbrush suspended mid-air. Did I actually say that?
"Oh no… I didn’t say that, did I?"
I buried my face in a towel, hoping that maybe, somehow, if I stayed hidden long enough, the memories would just disappear. But they didn’t.
With a sigh, I stepped out of the bathroom and made my way to the kitchen. I started brewing a cup of coffee, letting the warm, rich scent soothe me. At least the caffeine might help clear my head.
Just as I sipped my first glorious taste, I heard footsteps behind me. Turning, I nearly choked when I saw Ryan standing in the doorway
Just the last person I wanted to see this morning.
“Good morning,” he greeted, far too cheerful for my liking. “Hope you had a nice sleep?”
“Yeah, you?” I muttered, ducking my head, willing him not to bring up anything from last night.
Ryan gave a small shrug. “I had the strangest dream, actually,” he continued, his tone teasing. “Something about… pancakes. Or was it squishy bread?”
Heat crept up my cheeks, and I buried my face in my mug, muttering, “Please don’t remind me of that. Ever.”
“Relax, I’m just messing with you.” He gave a light wave and started heading toward the door, leaving me to wallow in my embarrassment.
After he left, I thought I’d have a moment to recover, but as I turned to head back to my room, I nearly bumped into my mom. She stood in the hallway, arms crossed, her expression far from pleased.
“Violet,” she said, her voice steely. “Where were you last night?”
“Huh?” I stammered, blinking at her, trying to buy myself time.
“When I came back from dinner, you weren’t home,” she continued, her tone sharp. “Which is exactly where you should have been. You weren’t feeling well.”
“Uh…” My mind raced for a plausible excuse. “I went to Ashley’s place. Thought I’d feel better if I got out for a bit, but I ended up getting home late.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Hmm.” She didn’t sound convinced. “I don’t like you lying to me, Violet.”
My stomach twisted. Somehow, she always seemed to know when I wasn’t being entirely honest.
“But that was the truth,” I said, forcing myself to hold her gaze.
She studied me for a long, uncomfortable moment, her eyes searching mine as if she could peel away every excuse I’d built up in my mind. I could feel the weight of her scrutiny, the silent accusation hanging between us.
“Fine,” she finally said, though her tone was still laced with doubt. “But don’t let it happen again, Violet. You know how important it is to me that you… you’re okay.” She paused, and for a moment, her gaze softened in a way I rarely saw. “If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can come to me. You know that, right?”
I blinked, caught off-guard by the shift in her tone. This wasn’t the usual lecture or judgment I’d come to expect. There was something else—a vulnerability that I didn’t often see in her. It felt… strange. Kind of sweet, even.
“Yeah, Mom. I know,” I replied, managing a small smile. “Thank you.”
She gave a slight nod, seeming almost relieved. For a second, the distance between us didn’t feel so vast. She gently touched my shoulder, a brief, almost awkward gesture, but one that left a warmth behind. Then, with a last concerned glance, she headed toward the kitchen, heels clicking against the tile floor.
I grabbed my phone and checked the time. My eyes widened as the time registered. I was late for school.
With a muttered curse, I darted back to my room, finishing the rest of my morning routine in a frantic blur. I pulled on a fresh outfit, brushed my hair into something presentable, and took one last glance in the mirror. Better than I looked an hour ago, at least.
As I stepped out of my room, I saw Ryan waiting by the door, already dressed.
“Ready?” he asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I muttered, grabbing my bag and following him out. The silent drive to school was marked only by the quiet hum of the engine, but there was a strange energy hanging between us. It wasn't tense like it's always been. It was better and strangely– comforting.
When we pulled into the school parking lot, I exhaled a sigh of relief.
“See you around, I guess,” I said, quickly hopping out before he could respond.
As I made my way to the class, a sudden grip on my arm startled me from behind.
“Violet!” Ashley's voice called out but her expression was all too clear—something was seriously wrong, and it had nothing to do with last night.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my brow furrowing in concern.
“You haven’t seen the news??”
“What news?”
She thrust her phone into my hands, and my eyes widened in shock as the headline registered. It was only then that I became acutely aware of the hundreds of judging eyes boring into me from every direction.
Oh, well damn...
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