A Symphony of Devotion: The Start [Demi Lovato]

[19] Violet

She's not here.

I scan the room, again and again, hoping that she's just late, then face the front again as a sudden urge to cry overwhelmes me.

In Math, the same thing happens again, but it takes until Lunch when I don't see her with her friends that I really begin to get worried. Worried enough to ask them if they knew anything about her whereabouts.

Julian has other plans, though. From his incessant chatter in my limo to his constant questions as I walk him to and from his classes, I can't catch a break off my seemingly never ending supply of worries.

Those two friends I ate with when Devonne and I were friends have long since stopped hanging out with me, mainly because I never went to the cafeteria anymore and spent most of my lunch breaks in the music room.

Today, I approach the group nervously. There are eight of them, and only the two I used to eat with show displays of welcome, although fear continues to linger in their expressions.

"Hey," I greet quietly, although I've managed to pull a smile up onto my lips. "This is my cousin, Lucas. He's from Britain and he's going to be attending school here for a month." The group of those five girls and three boys says nothing, and I quickly turn to the two I'm friends with. "Annabel, Sandy, would you mind taking him under your wing for this lunch break? I have to go settle shit with my Science teacher."

Annabel and Sandy both nod mutely, although Annabel's smiling readily as she gestures to the seat beside her.

I fidget on my feet. "I might take long, so if I don't make it back, can you show him to his next class? I believe he has Physics with Mr McCain."

"Can do, Kenzie," Annabel answers cheerfully. "I'll settle him." Then she winks at the boy.

I raise an eyebrow, but nod, anxiously playing with my fingers as I ready myself for my neext question. "And, uh.. Would you happen to know if D-Devonne's in school?" My voice drops to almost a whisper, but I fight to make myself look positive for my cousin's sake.

Annabel's eyes burn with what is definitely sympathy as she shakes her head. "No, sorry. I did try to call her, but she said something about alcohol and a girlfriend and kissing and just hung up."

I swallow the lump in my throat, and struggle to smile. "Okay, thanks. I'll see you later!" I manage to say, before leaving the cafeteria, trying to push down the sadness that rises in me.

She's not in school. She's really not in school.

The only thing making me hold on to everything was the thought that I'd see Devonne in school. But she's not here. She's really not here.

Tears blur my vision as I walk through the corridors of kids, vaguely aware that I'm heading towards my locker, and for once not giving a shit about all the eyes on me.

I continue, left foot after right foot, again and again, down the corridor, until I go straight into a wall. A soft, muscle-y one that reeks of cologne and isn't really a wall.

"Are you okay?" I recognize Julian's voice, and raise a shaking hand to wipe the crystal droplets that block my sight.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I say numbly, before pushing on.

Julian holds fast to my shoulders as he looks into my eyes, even though I advert my gaze. "No, you're not. What's wrong?"

Tears brim my eyes once again, as I whisper, "Everything," before Julian pulls me into his arms. I'm a whole head shorter than him, and I bury my face into his shirt as he lets me cry into it.

The bell for class rings then, and I pull away, wiping at my tears and silently thanking the genius who invented waterproof mascara. "I've got to get to class."