The Violet Hour (The Violet Hour Series)

by Wells, Andrea L

  “Rest of the week? Where are you going to be?” I asked, climbing into my car.

  “Jesse has football practice every day after school and Jack usually hangs out waiting for Jesse or catches a ride. On the days I don’t do either, I’ll catch a ride with you.”

  I felt my throat tighten slightly, but I spoke anyway. “You’ll catch a ride with me? So, you’re assuming I’ll take you home – I’m just a ride?”

  “Logan, be serious.”

  “I am.”

  “You’re not just a ride, you know better than that.”

  Did I? I wasn’t sure. I hoped for better than that, but sometimes hope and reality don’t go hand-in-hand.

  “On Thursday, we’re going up to the Tetons with your dad and Kate. We’ll be back on Friday around noon so we don’t miss the game,” Luke finished, as he backed out of the garage.

  “The second week of school and you’re already bailing for an early vacation?” I joked. “Wait… am I invited?” I pressed.

  “Oh, I didn’t mean it that way, we take off this time every year to go hunting,” he said, acting as if he knew there was no way I’d be interested in going hunting with them. He was right.

  When we got to the end of the driveway, Jesse’s truck was already out of sight. We drove in silence to the interstate before I built up enough courage to bring up Luke’s promise.

  “So… when are you planning to tell me about last night?” I asked with grave hesitation.

  “Not now, Logan,” he angrily replied.

  His eyes were fiercely focused on me when I turned to glance at him. His body was rigid and fists clinched on the wheel. It was as if I had just asked him to commit a crime. He jerked his eyes back to the road and I looked away, hurt.

  Shocked by his reaction, I didn’t speak another word the rest of the way to school. I hadn’t demanded to know, I’d simply asked when he was planning to tell me. Whatever was really going on was getting bigger by the moment. Someone needed to start talking and soon.

  He pulled into the school parking lot and headed toward Jesse’s truck at the back. Kids were already making their way through the front doors but Jack and Jesse stood outside waiting for us. As soon as we parked, I started to get out when Luke reached over and grabbed my arm, causing me to pull the door shut. I was frustrated by his mood swings.

  “I’m sorry about snapping at you, Logan. It was uncalled for,” he whispered as his brothers stared at us.

  “Just forget about it,” I replied flatly, edging toward the door again. I wanted to get away from him.

  “It is a big deal. It’s a really big deal. I didn’t mean to treat you like that.”

  “If you want to tell me about it, then tell me,” I countered, staring out the window.

  “I’m going to tell you when the time is right. I’m going to tell you because I have to tell you, not because I want to. If I had it any other way, you’d never know. I wish…” he paused in frustration taking a deep breath before finishing. “Logan just trust me, okay? I know you don’t really know me, but it’ll make sense soon. I’m asking you to just trust me. Please?”

  I turned and looked him deep in the eyes. I held my breath and went for it. “Look – Luke, you’re right, I don’t know you and more importantly, you don’t know me. I’ve never done something like this before… I mean, I’ve never said the things I’m about to say, before. I have never felt towards someone the way I feel about you. It’s hard to put into words but I trust you more than I probably should at this point. I don’t even understand why. I feel safe when I’m with you. In that crowded parade of people, when I was with you, it felt like there was no one else. I trust you, even though you’ve given me no reason to feel that way. And, as weird as this is going to sound, I know whatever you tell me will be fine. I don’t know why, but I know it will be.”

  Luke hadn’t said a thing or moved a muscle from the moment I’d opened my mouth.

  ‘Shit’ was all I could think to myself. I was certain I’d just ruined everything. Jesse slapped his hand on the trunk of my car as he paced impatiently. I felt like I was the size of an ant as another immeasurable amount of time in complete silence passed. I looked straight ahead, debating whether to get out of the car or kick him out and drive away. I realized, immediately, there was no debate. Silly of me to think he’d just get out if I asked and let me leave. I wouldn’t apologize for what I said because I meant it. I wasn’t sorry for that.

  I mentally began to make my move out of the car.

  Luke’s hand touched the side of my face, gently turning it toward him as he leaned out of his seat toward me. He shifted his body and pressed against me, pausing when he was so close I could only see his eyes. They were more gorgeous than ever. Shades of green sparkled from the center outward and a deep violet streaked from the edges inward, creating a tie-dye affect. His thick, dark lashes fluttered over them when he blinked and the tiny wrinkles by his eyes seemed too soon for his age. He let out a breath of cool sweet air and closed his eyes. Slowly he pressed his lips into mine. I kept my eyes open in shock, closing them when his kiss grew slightly more passionate. I traced my fingers through his messy hair down to his neck and pulled him closer – the warmth of his body taking my body temperature up a degree. When I opened my eyes again, he was looking into them. Pressing his lips to mine one last, short kiss he slowly pulled away. Smiling gently, Luke took one hand off of my face to brush a few stray hairs out of my eyes.

  “In a thousand years, I couldn’t match the words you just spoke. Like a coward, all I could do was kiss the lips those words escaped from and hope they would kiss me back,” he whispered.

  I smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek.

  “I promise you will know everything soon. Just give me time, that’s all I ask,” he finished.

  “I can do that,” I whispered.

  “One more thing,” he said, as his grin grew.

  “Getting a little greedy aren’t we?” I joked.

  “We need to get to class – shall we?” he asked as he dropped his hands from my face and jumped out of the car, leaving me breathless.

  I pulled myself together and stepped outside. Jack and Jesse were giving Luke a hard time. They may not have seen our exchange through the darkly tinted windows, but a small part of me felt like they knew. Luke waited for me to catch up while his brothers led the way. The closer we got to the building, the tenser I felt and the three of them encircled me when we stepped through the doors as if they were bodyguards at a club. They waited outside the front office while I went in to get my schedule.

  The women at the front desk dropped her mouth when I approached. She looked me up and down more than once before grabbing a piece of paper and stepping to the counter. Maybe I had overdressed?

  “You must be Logan Keller,” she said.

  I smiled and nodded, though I didn’t think she was asking. I wasn’t sure if she knew who I was because she’d seen me in magazines or if she knew because she didn’t recognize me at all and it was such a small school. She handed me my schedule, a map of the school, and proceeded to mark where we were and my first class. Behind the sheet was a parking pass form.

  “I don’t know the plate numbers on my car,” I said when I finished, filling in the other blanks.

  “Oh, don’t worry, dear,” she said, taking the form from me and reading it, “I can run outside and get it…,” she trailed off, as her finger stopped on the make and model of the car. She tried to hide her surprise, but her silence spoke loudly.

  “Lemme see your schedule,” Jesse said, soon as I walked through the door. He snatched it out of my hand before I could answer, Luke grabbed it back, and together they studied my classes against their own. Each one was in at least one of my classes, proving how small Sheridan was. I never had any classes with Lindsey.

  “I have first hour with you, I’ll show you the way,” Jack offered. Luke briefly touched my arm before Jack whisked me down the hall.

  My first class, Calculus
, drug on as did most of my morning. I hadn’t met anyone yet, but they all knew who I was. Every single one of my teachers made me get up in front of the class and introduce myself. Since I’d already missed a week of school, I had also missed everyone else’s introductions. One of my teachers, Mr. Harsh, informed everyone I was the only new addition to their senior class as if I were a novelty. He finally let me sit back down, mortified, and went on with the rest of Government until the bell rang. Outside in the hall, Luke was waiting for me.

  “Well, how is it so far?” he asked with a grin, as if he already knew.

  “Uneventful. I’ve had every class with either Jesse, Jack, or both. Everyone should know my name by now, but I don’t know anyone.”

  “You know me,” he whispered near my ear.

  “Is that going to be enough?” I joked before he got too far away to hear.

  Fear shot through me when we walked through the cafeteria doors. I felt overwhelmed by the crowded room because everyone in the school took lunch at the same time. I looked around and was grateful when I spotted Jack and Jesse already sitting, motioning me toward an empty seat with them. I was under the impression it was their regular table because Luke was already on the way there. Sitting beside Jack was a girl I didn’t remember seeing in any of my classes, but was so strikingly gorgeous I couldn’t have missed her. Shiny dark hair, bright amber brown eyes and dark olive skin made her stand out just as much as I did. Long bangs framed her high cheekbones. She didn’t move a muscle as we sat down.

  “Hi, Rachel,” Luke said when we settled into our seats.

  She wouldn’t even acknowledge we were there, let alone that Luke had spoken.

  “Gee Rachel, you’re always so pleasant to be around,” Luke said after a long awkward silence. She got up from her chair and headed silently to the soda machine.

  I opened my brown bag lunch and bottled water. I was used to not eating healthy for lunch, but that was apparently about to change. Kate had packed each of our lunches exactly the same. It made me chuckle as I looked around the table at the plastic sandwich baggies, carrots, apples, crackers and cheese. At least I wasn’t going to gain weight eating crap school lunches or fast food before I got back to L.A., I thought to myself.

  “Can’t you do anything about her?” Luke asked Jack once Rachel was out of earshot.

  “I can’t control her, Luke, you know that,” Jack replied.

  Rachel returned to the table with a bottle of water. I smiled when she looked at me, hoping for a sign she would be nice to me even if she and Luke apparently didn’t get along. Instead, she looked away. Rachel was easily the most gorgeous and best dressed girl in the entire school, wearing a white lace tank top and faded jean-shorts. Seemingly plain choices, she dressed it up with a multi colored silk scarf and silver hoop earrings that matched the silver bangles going up her arm. I was almost jealous of the tall tan cowgirl boots that finished her look. Trendy, yet she fit in well.

  “Rachel, this is Logan. Logan this is my girlfriend, Rachel,” Jack said flatly, as if dreading what was about to happen next.

  Rachel looked at me and I smiled. She was a girl I could see myself going shopping with, studying with and ultimately being friends with.

  “I love your outfit,” I said, hoping to break the ice.

  “I like your outfit too, Charlie Brown,” she said snidely. Jesse choked on his apple and I heard someone kick him under the table. My smile fell as I slowly caught on that I was wearing brown and yellow. One of the last fond memories of my mother ruined by such a careless remark.

  “That was rude. Why do you gotta say things like that?” Jack hissed.

  “Rachel, I’ve tolerated your nastiness before, but no more. This stops. Get used to Logan being around,” Luke said sternly as he got up and grabbed my hand, pulling me up with him. She said nothing, just smirked, while Luke took my things and walked toward the door. I followed him out of the lunchroom as he made his way down the hall. Rachel must have known I was coming, but everyone had failed to warn me about her.

  “What was that all about?” I asked. First Alexander, now Rachel. What was it about Luke that caused this reaction from people?

  “Nothing for you to worry about, I’ll tell you about it some other time,” Luke said, leading the way.

  “Just like you’re going to tell me about last night?” I muttered under my breath.

  He must have heard every word because Luke stopped dead in his tracks and turned back with a glare.

  “Hello,” a chipper voice said, “You must be our new student. Logan?”

  I turned to see a teacher walking out of my next classroom with Romeo and Juliet in hand. Finally, saved by Romeo.

  “Yes, I am,” I replied.

  She smiled and welcomed me into her classroom. Luke shuffled in behind us and I could practically see the fumes rolling off him. She informed me there’d be a pop quiz and to take a seat wherever I wanted. We were the only two students since everyone else was still at lunch. I headed toward the back of the room, assuming Luke would follow, wanting to finish what I started in the hallway.

  Luke sauntered over and placed his book on my desk. “Is this seat taken?” he joked.

  “Oh, have you decided to randomly be nice to me again?” I asked, jarred yet again by his mood changes.

  Luke pretended to grab his book and walk away but finally sat down next to me when he realized I wasn’t playing. He looked over at me and mouthed ‘sorry.’ How was it this guy could take my breath away with a simple gesture and yet be so fierce with his words at the drop of a hat? If that had been Brody and I in the hallway, we would have started wailing at each other, teacher or not, and then sat at opposites ends of the classroom. Or, Brody would have laughed when Rachel called me Charlie Brown to the point I would’ve went home and burnt the outfit I was wearing. Every day spent with Luke made it that much easier to get over that jerk, but whatever Luke was keeping from me was going to tear us apart if we didn’t address it. Soon.

  I still hadn’t returned any of Lindsey’s or Brody’s calls. Whatever was going on between them almost didn’t matter. More and more, I realized they just weren’t good people for me. I planned to tell them that once I got a little more over the whole ordeal. First, I needed to make new friends to help me forget about the old ones. Then, my slate would be clean in time to go back to Cali without the drama.

  Rachel entered the classroom and scanned the desks. She saw Luke sitting beside me in the back corner and opted for a seat at the front. The rest of the classroom began to fill as the warning bell rang. Mrs. Thomas invited me to the front of the room, just as the rest of the teachers had done. Begrudged, I gave a short speech about who I was and where I was from. The same speech I’d already given to more than half the class throughout the day.

  “Does anyone have any questions for Logan?” Mrs. Thomas asked.

  No one had asked me questions in any of my other classrooms. Rachel’s hand shot up out of the corner of my eye, smile smeared across her face. My stomach dropped. I froze; eyes on Luke, knowing this wasn’t going to end well.

  “Yes, Rachel?” Mrs. Thomas offered.

  “What happened to your mother?” Rachel asked in a sweet songbird voice. A few students in the classroom gasped while Luke sat up in his chair. He looked almost in pain. I knew I was.

  I held my breath, swallowed and turned to look Rachel in the eyes while my own filled with tears. She stared coldly back, waiting for me to either answer her question or fall apart. I turned and walked steadily out of the classroom. I could hear Mrs. Thomas calling order to the class as both my hands hit the bathroom door across the hall. I went into a stall, locked it, and slid down the door. I hit the floor and my head fell into my hands. My stomach burned, my heart ached and my mind raced. Why did this girl hate me? I didn’t even know her.

  I heard someone say my name outside the stall. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and stood up to open the door.

  “Are you okay?” a girl asked as she ges
tured to put her arms around me.

  I sobbed and walked into them. I wanted to get into my car and drive away from here. Far away from here. She turned to the sink, wet some paper towels with warm water and led me toward the counter. I started to catch my breath while she took the wet paper towel and dabbed under my eyes. She pulled my hair behind my shoulders and smiled.

  “Don’t worry about Rachel, she’s mean to everyone,” the girl said kindly.

  I looked in the mirror at makeup smeared down my cheeks and started wiping it away.

  “I’m Ashleigh, by the way,” she said as she put her hand out to shake mine.

  “I’m Logan Keller,” I said and took her hand.

  “I know who you are…everyone knows who you are,” she confirmed. “Mrs. Thomas said to take as long as you needed. She’s just going over the reading from last week and giving a pop quiz,” she said as she pulled herself onto the counter.

  I didn’t want to go back to class so I hopped up beside her. Ashleigh was tiny, with short bright red hair and mint-green eyes. She seemed genuine and sweet. Her fair skin looked gorgeous against the teal sundress she was wearing and it did her eyes the justice they deserved.

  “Are you and Luke Callahan dating?” she asked, shocking me speechless for a moment.

  “No…” I hesitated.

  “Huh.” Ashleigh sounded unconvinced.

  “Why do you ask?” I questioned lightly. I was unsure if we had a title. Maybe she saw us in the parking lot, I thought. I realized Luke and I had held hands briefly in the hall but he had let go before we got to the lunchroom.

  “It’s strange, I guess. Rachel usually never has anything to do with anyone other than the Callahan boys. She had a huge crush on Luke when the boys moved here last year. They started school right before Homecoming and Rachel very publicly asked Luke to go with her but he turned her down. I guess she started dating Jack over the summer,” Ashleigh proclaimed as if breaking headline news. Little did she know, she was.

  “I had no idea. I know the Callahan boys because they live at my dad’s ranch. I just got here this weekend, so they’re the only people I’ve really met.