The Path to Hue

Part IX

"Hey Rubes. You wanted to see me? Can we please talk about last night and what's up with you love? I'm so confused-'"

"Violet... What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"What?"

The silence is killing me. She stays standing at the door, and I have no idea what the next few minutes have in store for us. I gulp and place my trembling hands behind my neck.

"Please, for once don't play dumb. I know it wasn't cramps last night. Or this morning,"

"Ruby I can ex-"

"I thought you were interested in me Violet. I thought you liked me. And for you to, to go behind my back- to go behind Skyler's back and- and kiss her boyfriend? Not to mention all the shit Sky has gone through mentally, emotionally; how can you still call yourself her friend? My friend?"

She drops her phone and throws her purse towards me, it hits the wall behind me. I don't say anything.

"Do you realize you're not giving me the chance to fucking explain Ruby? I didn't know what I was doing last night. We kissed, so what? I got drunk on the way back! Haven't you ever kissed someone you weren't supposed to? I didn't think you actually liked me! I don't deserve someone as good as you anyway!"

"So your solution was to kiss your friend's boyfriend??"

"Fuck off Ruby, it's not like he's gonna be with Sky forever! Hell, it was you he asked to the dance!"

"That was freshman year!! You're fucking insane."

"Fuck you Ruby,"

"Why did you even do it? Was it even the first time you kissed him?"

"I've been with him for a few days Ruby! It's not that serious!"

"I told you I liked you!! Was this after I asked you out?"

She doesn't answer, I realize I've been crying this entire time.

"This was the night you asked me out, that's when we... he was going to get some snacks for Sky, I needed some iced coffee. I tagged along. I- I didn't mean to kiss him, I didn't want to, but now... I really.... I can't stop thinking about him...."

"Oh my god," I laugh, "You're fucking unbelievable. I can't- What even happened?"

"He- he wanted to smoke. I said yes. We were about fifteen minutes in- and really faded. He looked at me, put his hand on my thigh. I- I didn't want him to stop..."

"DID YOU FUCK SKYLER"S BOYFRIEND VI?"

She starts to cry, her mascaras already running. As much as I hate her right now, she shouldn't suffer alone. I take her in my arms and she holds onto me as if she'll fade away any second. I can feel her lungs collapsing irregularly. I've never seen Vi like this. I take her to the bed to lay her down, she doesn't let go of me. I settle beside her, and pick the plastered hair out of her face. She's such a mess.

"It's gonna be okay, you just- just need to accept what you've done. And know that it was wrong,"

She sniffles and burrows herself into my neck,

"You have to know, I don't trust you anymore, especially when you tried to hit me. And I don't think we'll be able to have a romantic relationship again. I don't think you wanted that anyway."

"Ruby, I'm so sorry-"

"It's too late for sorry Vi. You're going to have to apologize to Skyler at some point too. I'm sure Colin won't even think about telling her,"

"Yeah, I know,"

"Don't you regret it? You lost my trust, possibly both of our friendships... was it worth it Vi?"

She doesn't answer, and within the next ten minutes, she's asleep. I place her stuffed hedgehog where I was, pack a bag and I'm off again to Stella's country home. I can't stay in our dorm, and I shouldn't crash at Sky's. I'm sure Stella won't mind as long as I help clean up from the party. I get in my car, turn up the music, and drive.

-

The forest is so thick, and I forget what a pain it is to drive back and forth from the dorm's to her place. I pull over and try to relax. But how can I? Skyler can't be with me, Violet and Colin are in a secret relationship, and I'm stuck in the middle of it all. There is absolutely nothing I can do. I want to rewind time and make sure I never started crushing on Vi, made sure I kissed Sky at Color Block. If we actually let Jade beat the shit out of Colin. Colin. That fucking asshole. This is all his fault.

I hastily commit the most violent U-turn in history and head back to the school. I text Colin,

where r u, sky said we need to grab something for her

I hate to lie, but I need an excuse to get the truth out of him. He replies,

at the liquor across town, meet me there

You're damn right I'll meet you there, and I'm not gonna take up that offer to smoke out with you. I'm gonna find out why and how he came back into Sky's life.