Chapter Text
Violet Lanes, 13 years old
Caitlyn Kiramman, 14 years old
February 17
The teacher kept talking.
Vi nodded when she was supposed to, already replaying the punch in her head for the hundredth time. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, boot tapping against the tile, waiting for it to be over.
That was when she noticed the girl.
She was sitting on the floor by the lab door, knees pulled in, back resting against the cool metal frame. Neat uniform. Straight posture even while sitting on the ground.
“I get that you want to help your sister,” the teacher said, still going, “but violence is never the answer.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Vi muttered under her breath.
When it finally ended, Vi slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out into the hallway. The girl was still there, tracing something on the floor with the toe of her shoe, lost in thought.
Vi stopped in front of her.
“Kiramman?”
The girl looked up, blue eyes sharp but curious. “Yes? Vi right?”
She nodded toward the empty hallway. “Why are you still here? Classes are over.”
“I’m waiting for someone. You?” the girl said easily.
Vi dropped her bag next to Caitlyn and slid down the wall to sit beside her, shoulder brushing cold metal.
“Detention. I’m waiting for my dad.”
She tilted her head. “Why?”
“I punched a ten year old.”
The words came out flat, like it was nothing.
Shel stared at her, eyes wide. “Why on earth would you do that?” Her accent was so thick. Vi wanted to mock her so bad, she didn't.
“He was picking on my little sister.”
There was a pause. Then the girl’s expression softened.
“Oh,” she said. “Well… good for you, I guess.”
Vi smiled before she could stop herself.
“You got any siblings?”
Caitlyn shook her head. “No. But the boy inside?” She nodded toward the lab. “He’s practically my brother.”
Vi followed the gesture, then frowned. “Your parents don’t let you go home by yourself?”
“They do, I forgot my keys.”
Vi squinted at her. “Isn’t your mom the mayor? It’s past five.”
She laughed quietly, like it was a private joke. “Yeah. She works, eats, and sleeps in the office if she can.”
“Huh.” Vi considered that. “What about your dad?”
“Surgeon.”
Vi whistled low. “But you live in that huge mansion, right? Why get a house so big if you can’t even enjoy it?”
Caitlyn answered without thinking, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
“To make their daughter feel more alone, probably.”
Vi hummed, the sound soft and sympathetic.
“Sorry.” Caitlyn smiled.
Vi shrugged. “It’s okay Cupcake.”
Caitlyn blinked. “What?”
“Since you’re so sweet.”
She smiled then small, surprised, and something in Vi’s chest shifted.
The door at the end of the hallway opened.
“Hey, Sprout,” a voice called. “Sorry. I got the spare key. Let’s go.”
She stood, brushing dust off her skirt. “See you tomorrow, Vi,” she said. “I hope your sister’s okay.”
“See ya,” Vi replied.
She stayed seated until the hallway was empty again, staring at the spot where the girl had been, the echo of her laugh still lingering like something Vi hadn’t known she was waiting for.
Violet Lanes, 14 years old
Caitlyn Kiramman, 14 years old
May 20
Mr. Heimerdinger moved through the classroom with his usual precision, papers stacked neatly in his hands, glasses perched low on his nose.
“Great job, Grace,” he said, placing a paper face down on a desk.
He took a step to the side. “Serene, I’m hoping this is a one time thing.”
A pause. Another paper. “Caitlyn. Excellent as always.”
Caitlyn accepted her exam without looking at it right away. She already knew. She always did.
“Nelly,” he continued, “there’s improvement.”
Then he stopped briefly in front of Vi’s desk.
“Violet.”
He didn’t comment. He simply placed the paper down and moved on.
Vi didn’t look at it either. She shoved it halfway into her notebook and leaned back in her chair.
Caitlyn waited until the rustling died down before glancing at her own grade.
97
She hesitated, then looked sideways.
Vi’s paper was still visible. Folded carelessly. The number sat in the corner.
24
Caitlyn’s stomach twisted. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t even look at Vi again. She just waited, hands folded neatly on her desk, until the bell rang.
“Alright,” Mr. Heimerdinger said, clapping his hands once. “That’s it for today. I heard, due to the rain, practices will be indoors. Please don’t pile up at the door.”
The room exploded into motion anyway.
Chairs scraped. Bags were slung over shoulders. Caitlyn stood and scanned the room, trying to spot Vi but she was already gone, slipping out of the classroom like she’d planned it.
Caitlyn grabbed her bag and ran.
She found Vi at her locker, already shoving her gym clothes inside with practiced speed.
“Vi.”
Vi glanced over her shoulder, smirking. “Cupcake.”
Caitlyn inhaled. “Um.”
Vi waited.
Is there an easy way to go about this? Caitlyn thought.
“I saw your grade.”
“Oh.” Vi shrugged. “Yeah. I suck at physics.”
“Well,” Caitlyn said carefully, “I don’t.”
Vi blinked, taken aback. “Congrats?”
“Not like that,” Caitlyn rushed, looking at her feet. “I mean,”
Vi tilted her head. She wasn’t really known for her patience after all. “What?”
Caitlyn licked her lips. Just spit it out Caitlyn.
“I’d like to tutor you.”
Vi stared at her. “What?”
“I want to help.”
Vi leaned back against the locker, arms crossed. “Isn’t this usually the other way around?”
“Yes,” Caitlyn said. “Does it matter?”
Vi studied her for a moment. “What’s in it for you?”
Caitlyn’s thoughts flashed hot and unfiltered.
I’m lonely, for fuck’s sake.
“I need an excuse,” she said instead, “for my parents to let me out of the house.”
Vi snorted. “So you want to escape or tutor me?”
“I could tutor you,” Caitlyn said, “and then do my own thing after.”
Vi’s smile turned amused. “Your own thing?”
Caitlyn hesitated.
Vi leaned closer. “What do you want to do that’s so secretive, Kiramman?”
Caitlyn rolled her eyes. “For Christ’s sake, Violet.”
Vi laughed, hands up. “Okay, okay. Sure. Tutor me. I’m not turning down free tutoring.” She squinted. “It’s free, right?”
“Yes,” Caitlyn said quickly, smiling despite herself. “Yes, it’s free.”
They looked at each other for a second too long.
“Vi!” Vickie called from down the hall. “Come on!”
Vi glanced toward her, then back at Caitlyn as she shut her locker.
“You’re in the class group chat, right?”
Caitlyn nodded.
“Okay,” Vi said. “I’ll text you.”
Then she turned and jogged off after Vickie, leaving Caitlyn standing there.
Caitlyn turned and headed for the exit, gripping her bag a little tighter than necessary.
It wasn’t much. They weren’t friends technically, not yet.
But it was a start.