Now that it was December, it had gotten chilly. Fortunately, the classroom had AC, so it felt cosy. I was thankful for that because I felt like I’d freeze on my way to school. It was at times like this I envied Abby for living so close by while I had to take the bus.

As I sat on my chair, I looked at the empty chair that stood by my side. Today was the first time I had arrived before her. Assuming she wasn’t skipping again. Surprisingly, she was doing that less often. It was probably nothing but still, I worried a little. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I started to think if I should text her.

“Good morning, Violet.”

I lifted my eyes to see who greeted me. I felt a bit disappointed as it wasn’t who I was hoping. It was just one of my classmates. This one belonged to the relatively small group I still hadn’t had the chance to talk before.

Ever since I became friends with Abby, I’d sometimes get dragged into conversations people had with her, forcing me to interact like never before. Abby was, after all, kind of the class mascot due to her cuteness, personality, and grades.

“Oh… good morning, Mathilda. Erm… Abby hasn’t arrived yet.”

“No prob. I wanted to talk with you two, but you can tell her about it after she arrives.”

“Ok… what is it that you want to talk about?”

“You see, we’re planning on having a class Christmas dinner the weekend our holidays begin. Would you like to come?”

That was a somewhat loaded question. To me anyway. It sounded like a pain having to deal with so many people. I wasn’t sure I could deal with that. One on one conversations? Sure, I could handle that now. I mean, I was just having one. Social events, however? Most likely not. But on the other hand, I wanted to go. It sounded like a good experience to me. And most likely, Abby would be there too, so I wouldn’t have to deal with all the anxiety alone. Yeah, it wouldn’t be too bad.

“To tell you the truth, I might be working then, but I think I’d like to go.”

“Wait, you work?”

“Y-yeah, I’m a part time waitress in a restaurant.”

“Wow, I didn’t expect that! Do you like it?”

“It’s… ok, I guess.”

“I see. Well, you can tell me if you are available or not next Monday. Class is about to start, so I’m going back to my seat. See ya.”

“Yeah… bye.”

As she walked away, I sighed in relieve. Now I was realising how stiff I had been as I spoke with that girl. I even felt a bit tired. Would I really be okay if I went to that dinner?

A pair of small hands gently pulling me by the shoulders making my head landing on something soft snapped me out of those thoughts.

“Mumma Abby is very proud of Violet,” Abby chirped.

“Hi, Abby. Why do you say that?” I asked looking up confused.

“I heard all your conversation. You did well, holding a conversation with Mathilda without me around,” she said with a very pleased smile. “Did you two ever talked before?”

“Nope. First time.”

“Oh, really?” she said, now applying a bit more force on her squeeze as she gave me a wry smile. “Now I’m a bit jealous.”

“What!? Why?”

“I mean, it took me weeks for you to talk to me like that. How am I to feel seeing you talking so easily with some other girl?”

I realise that she was joking—well, about eighty percent joking—but that comment made me feel a little bad for her.

Maybe I should tell her it’s thanks to her that I could do that now?

Unfortunately, I couldn’t tell her in the middle of the classroom. Thinking that only made me flush as we stared at each other.

She seemed to catch my train of thought though, as her smile went back to a gentle, warm one.

“You’re welcome, but it’s also thanks to your efforts.”

I went full red. I was amazed how she could read me so well. I was now going to ask her to sit down as we were probably calling the attention of the whole class with us talking like that and me glowing red. I didn’t have to.

“Girls, I understand you might be having a nice moment between friends, but could you please keep it outside my classroom and settle down already?” said our annoyed math teacher. Rather, the same as always.

“Not wanting to rain on your parade Violet but are you really alright with that Christmas dinner?” she asked as she gulped her lunch.

“Yeah… I think so…” I said in a coy way. “I mean, you will be there… right?”

“Well, maybe. I have to check it out with my parents first. But we can’t just chat with each other all the time. We will at some point have to talk with other people.”

“That’s ok. It’s enough for me to know that you’re…”

I didn’t finish my sentence. Peeking at Abby, she was now leaning on the table, giving me a teasing smile.

“Come on, Violet, you can’t just tease me like that!”

“You already know what I meant!”

“No, I don’t! You didn’t finish what you were saying.”

“Yes, you do!”

“Tell me or I’ll strip and latch on to you!”

“Pease don’t! You might catch a cold.”

“Oh, Violet! My health is what worries you in that situation?”

“It’s the main one!”

“Hehe. I have such a nice friend.”

I couldn’t come up with something, so we just sat there staring at each other. Me beet red and she with a blissful expression of amusement.

She really likes putting me in this state, huh?

“Still,” she said going back to a more normal posture and face. “I’m still worried.”

“Why? I want to go, you will be there, so what’s to worry about?”

“For starters, I can totally see you forcing yourself to endure it and end up wrecked.”

She had me there. It was something I would totally do. Even more so with her there. That could really become a problem.

“So, I want you to promise me something.”

“Ok… what is it?”

“If things start to be too much for you, we’re to get out of there. And just to be clear, I’ll drag you out if I see that you are reaching a breaking point. I just don’t want to force you.”

“Ok, I can agree to that.”

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It really was the best solution after all. She would have some peace of mind, and so would I.

“Now, to the other issue,” she continued in a serious tone which was disconcerting to me. It was just too weird seeing her like that. Kinda remembers me when she held my face on our first sleepover. “It might end up late in the night. When is the last bus you can catch?”

“Well, now that it’s winter, the last one is at nine thirty.”

“That’s early.”

“Yeah, but there aren’t that many people outside at that hour, so there really isn’t any need for buses at later hours.”

“So, wait, how are you going home after work?”

“I just walk. They now let me leave before ten, so I get home no later than a quarter to eleven.”

“That’s so late! Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“It’s no big deal, Abby.”

“Yes, it is! You’ve been walking home alone at night! If you had told me about that, I would let you sleep here.”

“In that case I’d practically be living here during the week.”

“I wouldn’t mind. No, wait… I actually would.”

I didn’t ask what she meant by that. It was obvious by her troubled face as she spoke. She was thinking about her mother. I’ve only had a small glimpse how the two interacted that one time, and I had a good idea she would make Abby’s life difficult just because I was there. Or maybe I should say even more?

“No need to feel down Violet,” she spoke with a hand wave. “If pushes come to shoves, I’ll just deal with that woman.”

“That woman?” I repeated in my mind. She didn’t use a particularly cold tone but even so, it felt strangely harsh.

“Has she… commented about us?”

“Recently I just zone out whenever she goes on one of her tirades, so yeah, likely. But again, don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah, but…”

“No buts. I might not remember all our talks, but I hold dear to our promise.”

“I see,” I said as I went red once again as I remembered that night.

“Anyway, if it ends after that hour, let’s sleep here. You can go home in the morning.”

“But what about—”

“Again, I’ll deal with her if she starts splitting hairs.”

Is this what they call a “rebellious phase”?

There really seemed like there was no arguing with her, so I nodded in agreement.

“Good,” she said as she went back to her usual self. “Let’s finish eating so that we can have some fun.”

“Speaking of which, have you started studying?”

“Studying? We still have two weeks until the season for that and you’re already worrying over it?”

“Not everyone can study three days before a test and still get an almost perfect score.”

“You say that, but aren’t your grades the third best of the class?”

“They are? Well, if that’s the case, it’s because I study like crazy.”

“I know. You make me study too.”

“Right, well, I think we should study after we are done eating.”

“Can’t you just say that you want me to help you study?”

“…Please help me study,” I sheepishly asked.

“Hehe, sure. But I have some conditions.”

“Whatever they are, please be reasonable.”

“During breaks, I want to use your lap as a chair.”

“No.”

“But Violet! We only do a ten-minute break every time. So, pretty please.”

“…Oh, ok,” I said, not resisting her begging voice and puppy eyes. It’s at times like this, when she looked like a tiny animal begging treats that I found it the hardest to keep my resolve. Even if it led to my embarrassment.

“Yay! Will I also get it with your arms around me?”

“…Maybe. If you behave.”

“I’ll also be having a hug now.”

“Why?”

“Because you—”

“Smell nice, yeah, yeah,” I interrupted. Not sure why I always asked when I already knew the answer. Maybe I was just fishing for compliments? No, I wasn’t that kind of shallow girl. At least I hoped I wasn’t. Seeing that she was still with that face, I waved at her to come. “Fine, but I want you clothed. Fully clothed.”

“Gee Violet. You make me sound like I’m promiscuous.” She snarked as she snuggled in my arms.

“Now, why would I think that?”

“…You smell nice.”

“Right, right.”

Despite me acting bashful, I was starting to get very fond of these types of interactions with Abby. It was as she said once; it was comforting. I—who was constantly worrying about something, sometimes something really silly—felt that when we were embracing each other. Her cheerfulness and kindness filled me with a warmth that made me feel calmer. A bit nervous too, but calmer in the head, nonetheless.

“Violet?” she spoke hesitantly.

“Yes? You want me to hold you tighter?”

“Yes please!” she said with a cheer, before resuming her previous tone. “But also, try not to freak out.”

“…Why?” I asked, applying more force not because she asked, but because I was anticipating something bad.

“Again, there is no reason to freak out but… my father has been looking at us quite amused for a while.”

I didn’t react at the beginning. I had to apply some effort to rotate my body and head to look at the same direction as Abby.

By the doorframe of the dining room, I saw a tall middle-aged man wearing a suit and tie. Despite his amused smile, he looked like he would normally have a stern face. I also recognised him as being one of the restaurant’s regulars.

“So, you are Violet? It’s nice to meet you. And please, don’t mind me. I only came for some papers.”

“Ah, no. Sorry that you saw us like this. I’m Violet Evergreen,” I stuttered as I stood up and tried to push Abby away, to no avail. I should exercise just for this kind of situations.

“Ahaha. Abbigail, let your friend go,” he told her, which made the trick. “As she told you, I’m her father, William Gardener.”

“Nice to meet you. And… sorry for seeing that.”

“No need to be shy. It’s rare to see Abbigail so happy in the house, so I should be thanking you.”

“He is the total opposite of his wife,” was what I thought. I felt some relieve knowing Abby had someone that seemed that gentle in her family and not just her mother.

“Do you two have time to be frolicking?”

“Don’t worry dad. We still have an hour before class.”

“Well, ok. You two behave now. I’ll go grab my papers and be off before Elisa starts calling me. See you at dinner.”

“We will. Bye dad.”

“Have a good day Mr. Gardener.”

“Wait,” he said as he turned back to me. “You are that waitress from Le Perrot, aren’t you? I almost didn’t recognise you in that uniform and with loose hair.”

“Y-yes, it’s me,” I said a bit startled by him recognising me. “Erm… thank you for all of your generous tips…”

“It’s the least I can do after all you have to deal with. Sorry for my wife’s behaviour.”

“It’s all right. She just wants the service that is to be expected from me after all.”

He didn’t say a thing. He just stood there with a stern expression. When he finally moved, it was to talk to Abby.

“Abbigail, sweety? If your mum gives you another hard time because of this girl and I’m not present, you come and tell me immediately.”

Abby just looked surprised and gave him a nod. Apparently, we had her father’s blessing to keep our friendship. That gave me another wave of relief. Not just because we had someone giving us support, but because Abby had that support close by.

“Anyway, I’m off. Bye.”

He left us in a hurry. It only took a few minutes to see him dashing down the corridor and us hearing the door shutting.

“Violet?”

I looked at Abby. She was a bit pale. That scared me as I thought she wasn’t feeling well.

“Are you all right?” I asked as I held her by the shoulders.

“Yeah,” she said tearing up. “I’m just so… relieved.”

“Yeah… me too.”

“Can we… cuddle before studying? I don’t think I can focus right now.”

“Yeah…” I spoke softly as I pulled her in. “I think I would like that too.”

We didn’t study much that afternoon. We just sat on the sofa, me letting Abby use my lap as a pillow as she cried quietly. I on the other hand was worrying. Was her family fine? I didn’t know enough, but I had the feeling it wasn’t. If it all came tumbling down, would I be able to help her? Would I even be able to stay by her side? I didn’t know and that terrified me.

The next two weeks, we spent our free time studying. She even came to help me in my studies during the weekend for a couple of hours, although, to tell you the truth, she spent a good part of that time playing games and chatting with my father. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t bothered by it much. She helped me every time I asked, and it was nice seeing them both getting along so well. Were we to leave it up to him, she would have stayed overnight every time she came visiting. She never did, though. One thing I found weird was the fact she had an alarm set and, as soon as it rang, she’d dart off saying she had to go back. She never explained why, though. My guess was, it had to do with her tyrannical mother, but I was both too scared to ask her and ruining what I believed were the few moments of freedom she got to enjoy.

With those two weeks over and the tests done, the day I was going to that class Christmas dinner arrived. As I stood in front of the mirror, agonizing over how adequate was my outfit, I received a call.

“Hi, Abby.”

“Let me guess, you are tearing yourself apart over your clothes. Also, hi.”

“How did you know that!?”

“Violet will be Violet,” she said giggling. “It’s one of your endearing traits.”

“Hmm…Thanks?”

“Hehe, you’re welcome. Anyway, how about I give you my opinion?” and trying to mimic one of those sexy radio man voices, she added what are you going to wear?

I took me some time to be able to answer. What she said and the way she did made me laugh for a good bit.

“Well, I’m already wearing it. It’s some ankle-length boots, black stockings, a floral skirt, and a green V-neck with a tan coat.”

“…”

“Abby? Are you there?”

“Sorry, I was drooling a bit.”

“Pfft. What? What does that even mean?”

“It means I liked what I heard.”

“Then, why didn’t you say so?”

“Hehe. And where is the fun in that?”

Again, me asking what I already know.

“Just one more thing, Violet.”

“Hmm. Yes?”

“What are you wearing under all that?”

“…See you at the restaurant, Miss Abbigail.”

Always fooling around.

Despite that, I peeked under the shoulder of my shirt.

“Maybe I should change that… Wait, why? It’s not like anyone will see it,” I spoke out loud. “Well, maybe Abby will, but… Why am I worrying about that!?”

I walked over to my drawers. Opening one of them, I immediately found what I was looking for. That violet set I bought that time I went shopping with Abby stuck out aggressively amidst the all-white underwear I had, even though their tone was on the softer side. I had only worn them once, thinking about showing them to Abby while in the locker room at school, but ended up so embarrassed about what others would think, I ended up changing clothes in a toilet cubicle. Not sure why I was so embarrassed. In hindsight, they were very tame compared to some of my classmates. Anyway, I was now facing a dilemma.

“What would Abby say?”

That I already knew.

Just put them on.

It wouldn’t be so simple to convince myself, so… how about leaving it to chance? Flip a coin. Heads, they’d go, tails they’d stay. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea.

“Heads, I wear them. Tails, I don’t,” I kept repeating to myself as I rested a coin on my thumb.

With a bit more force than necessary, the coin spun in the air, hitting the ceiling before rolling on the floor and stopping at my feet. Tails side up.

“…Screw it! I’m wearing them.”