Violet

Twelve

I was flying a mile high when I entered my house, as my thoughts had somehow found their way back to Aiden. I shut the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment. The smile on my face wouldn’t leave and it didn’t take much to assume that Aiden and I would be seeing each other again soon. Unless, of course, he thought I was weird or he was uncomfortable being around me and just played it off really well. I could only hope that he didn’t feel that way. My excitement about the night quickly came to a screeching halt when I realized I hadn’t given him my number, and he hadn’t given me his. 

“Stupid move Violet, how are you supposed to see him again if you can’t even call him?” I questioned myself in a low mumbled voice as I pushed off from the door. I began making my way towards the living room when I heard a shuffling coming from that area. 

“Where have you been?” I heard my mothers worried voice. 

“I have been worried sick about you and you didn’t even call me to let me know you were going to walk home!” 

“You should have called and then I could have picked you up. Who was that boy you were with?” 

My mother’s voice crashed over me and I gave her a moment to ask everything get everything off of her chest before I responded. 

“His name is Aiden. I met him with Elliot while we were at the library today. Elliot got sick and had to leave early and since I didn’t have a car Aiden offered to walk me home.” 

“In this cold at ten at night?” She questioned. 

“It’s pitch black outside, you just met this man Violet. You don’t just walk home with strange people you don’t know.” 

“Also, what kind of library is open this late?” She questioned.

Her mouth was set into a straight line and I had a feeling talking things out wasn’t going to go well. 

“There is a library a few blocks away. I can’t remember the name of it but I can look it up for you if you’d like mom.” 

“Yes, most libraries close earlier in the evening but this one doesn’t, which is why we chose that library in the first place. I’m sorry I didn’t call you and tell you that Elliot got sick and left early but I didn’t feel unsafe around Aiden. He offered to walk me home and I didn’t want to be rude to him.” I spoke up frustrated at her lack of trust in me. 

“This Aiden guy, does he have a last name?” She questioned, throwing me off guard. 

“Well, yeah, I am sure he does…but I forgot to ask.” I spoke up sheepishly. Her frown deepened. 

“Okay, then how old is he? Does he go to the high school?” She questioned with a raised eyebrow. 

I could feel my irritation rising at her barrage of questions. 

“He’s twenty-two.” I responded flatly. 

“I do not want you hanging around someone four years older than you Violet. You can hang around Elliot but not this Aiden guy.” She spoke up harshly.

“Also I want to meet Elliot.” She added with finality as she turned on her heel and walked to the kitchen. 

I remained where I was with a scowl on my face. I wanted her to treat me like an adult. I understand her concern, given our history, but I needed my freedom. I huffed in irritation as I made my way to my room, shrugging off any hope of resolving this tonight with her. Once inside, I dropped myself onto the bed and pulled out my phone, quickly typing a text to Elliot. I threw my phone down on my bed as I pulled myself up and made my way to the bathroom. I went through the process of brushing my hair and teeth and general body maintenance before I heard my ringtone blaring out from my bed. Curious to see who was calling, I quickly left the bathroom and clambered back to the bed. Without checking the caller ID first I scooped up the phone and answered it. 

“Hello?” I questioned as I flopped myself back onto the bed, choosing to get under the covers in a complicated way as I listened for a voice on the other end of the line. 

“Hey Vi, I was wondering if you had plans for tomorrow?” Elliot’s voice rung out from the other end of the line and I gave an annoyed huff. 

“I also wanted to apologize for ditching you at the library, I really wasn’t feeling well.” Elliot’s spoke up and I frowned. He didn’t sound like he was sick. 

“Well, it’s Sunday, I don’t really have any plans yet. I’m not sure if my mom has anything planned.” 

“Oh! I know this might sound weird and all but would you be interested in coming over to meet my mom?” I questioned hopefully. 

If he’d be willing to meet her, I wondered if it was possible for her to realize that not everyone on this earth is a threat. Elliot’s laughter was heard and I couldn’t help the embarrassment I felt. His laughing made me think he believed it was a stupid idea. It took only seconds for his laughter to die down before he spoke. 

“That’s funny, I was just about to ask you if you wanted to come over to my place tomorrow to meet my family. They’re hosting a barbecue for my nephew and a few other kids and…well… I really don’t want to be there by myself.” Elliot spoke up shyly. 

I briefly wondered why he didn’t want to be at his own family function alone but brushed it off when I noticed he was waiting for an answer. 

“That sounds great! Maybe we can do this instead. What if you came over in the morning and spent half the day here with my mom and I, then, after that I can go with you to your house and spend the last half of the day with you and your family.” I offered up the idea, hoping he’d say yes. 

“That sounds like fun! I’ll double check with my dad once we get off of the phone but he’s usually pretty okay with the things I do.” 

“Oh, girl, you have to tell me how the library was after I left.” Elliot spoke up and I found myself clamming up. 

“What do you mean?” I questioned lowly. 

“Vi, I’m not stupid. I saw the way you and Aiden were staring at each other. Both of you forgot I was even in the room with you two.” He giggled after he spoke and I felt a flush grace my face. 

“Look, I’m not interested in a relationship right now.” I responded defensively, not used to sharing how I felt about things, let alone how I felt about people. 

“Vi, stop talking to me like I’m some boyfriend you’re trying to break up with. We’re best friends now. So, stop clamming up and just tell me how you feel about him. You don’t have to pour your heart out to me. Just tell me the basics.” Elliot sounded exasperated. 

I let out a sigh and rolled onto my stomach. 

“Okay, you’re right. Uh… I think I like him.” I mumbled out. 

“Girl, I can’t hear you. Try again?” Elliot spoke up in a sassy voice and I groaned loudly. 

“I think I like him but I don’t know enough about him. I’m not used to these things and I don’t even know if I’ll get to see him again. I forget to exchange numbers.” I mumbled the last part defeatedly. 

“Also, he invited me to do the project in his father’s library.” I added. 

Elliot made a high pitched noise when I was done speaking, causing me to pull the phone away from my ear as I waited for him to speak up. 

“He’s really good friends with my dad remember? I can just ask my dad to invite him over tomorrow for the barbecue.” 

“No.” 

“Don’t do that!” I spoke up quickly. 

“Okay, okay, no need to yell. Why don’t you want him to come over?” Elliot questioned and I shrugged my shoulders. When I remembered that he can’t see me I spoke up. 

“You said the barbecue is for your nephew and I figured tomorrow is time I should spend with you, not time I should spend trying to get to know Aiden.” I finished with a huff. 

Elliot chuckled and I heard talking in the background. 

“Alpha…I mean Aiden will be here anyway because he’s good friends with the family.” 

“So wear a pretty outfit, spend time with me and get to know him.” 

“I have to go, the family is wanting my amazing attention.” Elliot spoke up in a rush and before I had a chance to speak, the line went dead. 

I dropped the phone onto my bed with a confused look. 

“Did he just say Alpha?” I questioned. 

“What the hell kind of nickname is that?” 

I was pulled from my thoughts when the sound a light knock came from my bedroom door. I rolled over into a sitting position as it slowly opened. 

“Violet, I am sorry for getting upset earlier. I was just worried about you. I’m happy you’re making friends here, and I want to support your friendships, as long as their healthy. I got a little protective is all.” My mom spoke as she nervously shuffled her feet at the doorway. 

Her arms were crossed over her chest and her shoulders were slumped forward. She looked tired, no, exhausted and I had no choice but to wonder if the exhaustion had anything to do with me or just from her general stress at being a single parent now. 

“I know being in this new town is scary. Especially after everything we went through but it’s important for you to be able to realize that Elliot and Aiden are good people from what I can tell, and if they’re not, it’s not up to you to decide that for me.” I spoke up then watched her as she frowned and looked down at her shoes. 

“I think it’s also important to remember that I am eighteen, mom. I love you and I want us both to be okay but you have to start giving me some freedom to work with.” I huffed out as I pulled myself from my bed. 

I made my way over to her and quickly pulled her into a big hug. She let out a soft sigh and gripped me tight. 

“I will work on it. Just please be careful with these men. I still want to meet them by the way. I’ll just work on not being so uptight about your freedom.” She responded and I chuckled softly at her response. I missed having moments like these with her. We hadn’t had them in a really long time. Moments where we could really clarify each other’s feelings towards the other without a ridiculous amount of backlash. 

“You’ll meet Elliot tomorrow. I was hoping it would be okay that he comes over in the morning and then he invited me over to his house in the evening for a barbecue his family is holding.” I spoke up and watched her carefully for any signs of disagreement. 

She was silent for a long moment before finally nodding her head once. 

“Yes, that is okay with me. Just please keep your phone handy in case I need you.” She replied and I nodded my head once as I silently gave her hug, hoping tomorrow would be a better day for the both of us.