Call Me Vi | ONC 2024

Chapter 11 | Edited

I glanced at the time on my phone screen. It was eight-thirty. "Give us until five tonight. Please."

"Fine. At five, Violetta is gone."

Baxter's bitter words stayed with me while I managed to bring breakfast back to the room for myself and Violetta. My mind was so far from the hotel that it took me a moment to register that Vi was talking to me when I walked back into the room.

"Reagan." She snapped her fingers in front of my face.

I blinked to attention. "Hey, hi, yeah. I brought us back some food." I set it on the table as she continued to towel dry her hair, ignoring the heat that spread to my cheeks.

"Let me just throw something on real quick." Violetta disappeared for another minute while I set up our coffee and bagels. In addition to the order, the bagel shop down the road had thrown in a few Valentine's pastries free of charge after recognizing me as the "girl from the article with that one actress."

And they say language is wasted on the youth.

Violetta returned, wearing a lavender sweater and a pair of jeans. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders, and she smiled at me. "Thanks for breakfast, I owe you one."

I shrugged. "You ordered room service for us yesterday, this was the least I could do."

"You kept the braid in." Violetta reached back to tug at the end. "It looks cute on you."

"Thanks." I bit my lip as heat flooded to my cheeks. As I looked at Violetta, bare-faced and glowing from the shower, my heart pounded hard in my chest. Just the feel of her hand along my hair made me want more, a desire that started to push its way to the surface but like an iceberg stayed hidden.

"So, what do you want to do today?" she asked, changing the subject and adding cream cheese to her bagel. "Your hair looks great, by the way. You should braid it more often."

I was pleased with the subject change, but the flutter in my heart reminded me that we only had a short time left together before she would have to leave.

Before we both had to leave.

"If you think our pottery would be ready, maybe we could go back and paint it?" I suggested.

"Glaze," she corrected me. "Yes, I think that would be a lovely way to end our trip."

Our trip. Panic struck my chest.

"Rea, are you alright?" Violetta frowned at me. "You've been squirrely since you got back with breakfast. Did something happen?"

I shook my head and forced out a smile. There was no sense worrying her. "No, everything is fine."

We ate the rest of our breakfast in silence. Violetta could tell something was off, I knew it. Every few minutes, she took in a breath as if she were going to say something but then decided against it, covering the sound with a cough or clearing her throat.

When the food was gone and the room sufficiently cleaned, we left the hotel for the ceramic studio. For a Sunday, the sidewalks were surprisingly busy.

But then again, it was Valentine's day.

I gulped, staring at the couples who roamed along the streets. The ones who sat on benches kissing or just enjoying each other's company. The ones who jogged together.

Which of those couples would we be?

Violetta squeezed my hand, and I jumped. "It's the PDA, right?" she asked. "When you're not the one in the relationship, it feels so weird to witness. And you know for once I'm actually glad I'm not in the spotlight."

"How did you handle it?" I asked. "The spotlight, that is. When you were dating Jess. How do you...how do you keep yourself so level-headed?"

She let out a laugh as we continued down the path to the studio. "Years of practice. Don't worry, for you and me, I'll go after anyone who tries to hurt you."

I stared down at the sidewalk, letting my hand drop from hers. "I-I don't...um, sorry. I just, after yesterday, I'm still trying to figure this all out. Us."

Us. The words rolled over my tongue like the sweetness of a mango. It was something maybe I could get used to. Maybe. If only I didn't have Baxter's words hanging over my head.

"It's okay, Reagan." Violetta brushed her fingers over my cheek. "I meant what I said last night. This doesn't have to be anything we label. For once I think I'd actually enjoy that. We can just be having fun."

"Thank you. I think if we give it time, we can make this work," I said.

I want to make this work, I thought to myself. Dear god, please let this work out for us.