In Memory of Reed Fray

Four

“Hi, I’m Reed Fray.”

Viola jumped and looked up at the guy leaning against the locker beside her. He wore a boyish smile, dark hair short and messy, dimples showing on his right cheek, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Viola pulled out her books and held them tightly against her chest, she shut her locker closed and turned around, leaving the boy. But whatever the hell his problem was, he followed her, “You’re new here right?”

“Go away,” she finally muttered and Reed was so surprised to hear her voice. It was soft and you might want to lean a little closer to hear it.

“But you’re new here and you might need my help. I’m part of the welcoming committee,” he replied, flashing her that dimpled smile again. As they were walking, Viola noticed that there were tons of students greeting him as he passed, she guess he might be popular. But with looks like his, it was more like stating the obvious than guessing.

“Thanks but I think I can manage.”

She quickly dashed to a classroom, hoping and praying it would be empty or it would be the class she was in. But no one ever does get what they want and she stood red-faced as 20 pair of eyes stared at her. She heard a low chuckle and she turned to the boy. He still had the boyish smile on his face.

“Ah, but I think that you really need it,” he said cheekily.

“Viola?”

She quickly looked up and was met by Mr. Carson’s concerned eyes, “I’m sorry.”

He nodded in understanding, “Another memory of Mr. Fray?”

She sighed. It was free period and unlike other students who crammed at the library or who gossiped in the hallway, she was stuck with counseling. She thought that she was getting better, she had been before Reed’s death. His demise caused the whirlwind of memories and emotions she had to resurface back up causing her to seek for the counselor’s help. He doesn’t really do much but he got her to talk and it helps.

“Yes,” she said softly, “And they’re way stronger than my memory of the past.”

He just nodded again, “Say, was Skylar Fray harassing you the other day?”

Viola’s eyebrows shot up, “What? No. He just wanted to talk.”

Mr. Carson didn’t say anything but reached out and touched her hand. Viola flinched at the touch but Mr. Carson didn’t seem to notice, “If he does anything to you, Viola, and I mean anything, don’t ever hesitate to come to me for help.”

Silence hovered between them as Mr. Carson just stared at her, concern flooding his eyes. Viola nodded meekly and hastily pulled her hand just as Mr. Carson’s alarm sounded off, indicating their session was done, “Well, I’ll see you next time?”

Viola just nodded, grabbed her bag and dashed out of the room. She didn’t really like being held or being touched. It was only Reed who managed to hold her, whose arms she found comfort in. She quickly dashed to her locker only to bump into someone. When she looked up, she was met by a pair of warm brown eyes.

“Careful,” he whispered softly.

Toby Dorscher.

Viola doesn’t really know anything about Toby except that just like her, he was also new here and that he was a bad boy. He seemed to love trouble. He has detention almost every day. He gave her a crooked smile and picked up the books that spilled out of her bag and handed it to her.

“Not everyone around here is an understanding,” he said with a wink and then strolled off.

Viola dashed to her locker, she had five minutes left and her next class was with Mr. Harley. She didn’t want to land another detention. When she picked up her books and was about to rush to her classroom, she felt a hand grab her wrist and pull her. Her heart raised, she had no idea who it was because the person dragged her in the janitor’s closet.

“Ow!” he screamed as Viola bit her. The light quickly turned on and she felt her heart squeeze when she saw him. Reed.

“Reed?” she whispered and Reed raised his brows and chuckled.

“No. Sky.”

She blinked and upon closer inspection, she realized that his hair was longer and messier and slightly lighter than Reed’s and his grey eyes were cold and didn’t have the same warmth that Reed had.

“What do you want from me?” she asked with a glare, “Look, I’m late for class because of you and this better be good.”

“I want to be your friend.”

Viola scoffed, “What the hell?”

Skylar rubbed his forehead with his palm, “Okay. This was a stupid idea. It sounded better in my head.”

Viola gave him a look. He exhaled loudly and looked at Viola evenly, “Look. I don’t do those small talks and gradual bonding or grand gestures. That’s Reed’s kind of thing and you can add constant pestering in it too.”

“And you think kidnapping me would get you to be my friend?” Viola asked in exasperation, “Skylar, whatever you want to do with me, it’s not gonna happen. If you want to be my friend, that’s not gonna happen.”

“Why are you so hell-bent on not having friends? What you want to win the Guinness Records of being the loneliest person in the world?” Sky asked, his voice rising, his temper rising, “Reed was your friend.”

“Yes, and I made a mistake,” she said, hating herself for allowing those words to slip out of her tongue, “Now if you excuse me, I have a class to attend to.”

“C’mon, just coffee or milkshake. You know we have this shack just near the school, they have the most amazing milkshakes ever! It’s like heaven on your mouth,” Reed said, that boyish grin on his face, grey eyes twinkling.

Viola exhaled loudly. She had allowed him to help her on her first day but he kept pestering her the days after. She tried avoiding him, skipping lunch so he wouldn’t see her but the library isn’t really a great hiding place. She tried the silent treatment but his constant pestering annoys the hell out of her enough to provoke her to say something.

“Look, I don’t know what your problem is but why can’t you just leave me alone?” she asked, staring straight into those grey eyes.

Reed stared at her amused. He had heard of that question a thousand times from her. He watched as her blue eyes filled with annoyance. Honestly, Reed has no idea what draws him to her. She kept pushing him away, avoiding him and he could get any girl he wanted. But there was something about Viola Rose that made her different, special.

“There’s just something about you that draws me in,” he murmured, stepping closer to her. She automatically stepped back.

“Well, I’m sorry but I’m not a vampire,” she said and faked a smile, turned around then stalked off.

“Viola!”

Viola watched as Tori jogged closer to her. She was clad in shorts and a grey tank top, she either must have PE or she’s in practice with the dance team. Viola flashed her a smile, “Hello.”

“You know, if you wait just a little bit for me we can go to my house and have dinner,” Tori suggested, eyes hopeful, “My parents liked having you around.”

Viola bit her lip. Tori had been so nice to her even before Reed’s death. But she refuses to be attached to anyone, not after Reed, not anymore, “I have detention, Tori. But maybe next time.”

“Detention again?”

She shrugged, “Let’s say Skylar Fray got me into trouble.”

Viola flashed her a small smile before heading off to detention. She didn’t really want to avoid Tori, nor does she not want to be friends. If things were different, if she didn’t have trust issues or scared out of her mind, maybe they could even be best of friends. And maybe if Reed hadn’t died, they would be riding under the sunset, happily ever after.

“So you’re my detention buddy now?” Toby asked once she sat beside him. Out of everyone in the room at the moment, he seemed to be more likely nicer.

She sighed, “If I keep zoning out and if Skylar keeps on bothering me, then yes, maybe.”

He raised a brow, “You actually speak.”

She was surprised herself. She never really talked much. The much talking she had was usually with Mr. Carson and Reed and sometimes Tori. Maybe Skylar since he had cornered her twice but she never talked to anyone just for the heck of it. She had consciously withdrawn herself from the world after her father died.

“Okay. Now you’re quiet,” he mumbled, running his hand through his black hair, “Well. We don’t have Mr. Carson today. I think we have Mrs. Fletcher on Mondays. Ugh. She sucks. Makes us write this sentence repeatedly until the time is over.”

It was exactly what they did during detention until the hour was over. Viola headed off to her locker, which was on the east wing of the school while the detention room was at the south. Groaning, she started walking her way through, “Hey Viola!”

She turned around and watched as Toby made his way to her. Leather jacket, motorcycle boots, black hair long and shaggy and brown eyes warm, “Need a ride?”

“No. My house isn’t that far. I can walk,” she rejected.

She turned around but stopped abruptly when he spoke again, “What is it with you, Viola?”

“What do you mean?”

He stuffed his hands in his pocket and looked at her, eyes even and focused, “You got Reed Fray’s attention. He wasn’t one to befriend newbies. He didn’t befriend me anyways.”

“If you wanted to be Reed’s best friend then you could’ve said something when he was alive,” she snapped.

He raised a brow and stepped closer, “Maybe he liked the feistiness. But there was something in you that drew him in. And then he died.”

Toby’s words sounded like an accusation and Viola could feel her heart beating rapidly. Her father’s death flashed before her eyes, the knife driven to his heart by the masked man. The court trial where she was accused of killing her own father, her only family. Her breathing turned shallow.

“I didn’t kill him,” she whispered, eyes frantic, “I didn’t kill him!”

“Woah, relax. I’m not saying that you killed him,” Toby said gripping her wrists to calm her down, “Just chill, Viola.”

She shook her head frantically, “I didn’t kill him! I didn’t kill him! I loved him! He was my only family!”

“What are you talking about?” Toby asked, “Viola calm the hell down!”

Tears spilled from her eyes. She was starting to shake uncomfortably. Toby pulled her into a hug and she sobbed on his chest. It took her a moment to calm down, to remember where she was and she quickly pulled away from Toby, drying her face with her hands, “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine,” he mumbled, “Are you gonna be okay?”

She just nodded bid goodbye and turned away. She quickly walked to her locker. She couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t had any breakdown for quite a while, the last one was with Reed. No. When she broke down, it made Reed hell-bent on finding out what had happened with her. What if the same thing would happen with Toby? Groaning, she opened her locker and a note spilled out. Picking it up and smoothing it out, she read.

I’m back, Elena Morgan.