Now
VIOLET
THREE WEEKS LATER
How is Thanksgiving next week already?
For the past three weeks, I’ve filled up my time by working on school assignments, completing shifts at Sweet & Salty, and focusing on finding more clients for my business.
I spent a few days of week one texting Grayson for what felt like every two hours. I never got any responses from him. There were a couple of times where I saw the three animated bubbles pop up, but then they’d disappear.
Ultimately, I went no contact because I keep replaying what he said about vanishing from my life. I know I shouldn’t be angry at him, but I am. With every passing day, my emotions become more transparent.
I’m sitting in my teamwork, collaboration, and group dynamics course at this very moment. I’m contemplating my life choices and surveying my surroundings.
The classroom is similar to the size of a high school classroom, but a smidge bigger. I’d say around fifty students could fit in here. The professor’s desk is on the bottom left of the room when you walk in from the second floor.
For one of my marketing courses, we were assigned a project to create our own business, so I used my PR business for authors for it.
For this course, we were assigned to do the same thing, but as a team. We were put into groups of three, and we had to work together to create a fake business. One of the main objectives our professor wrote on the project guidelines was to learn how to compromise with other people.
I never loved working in a team because I always ended up being the one who did all the work, but this time is much different. My partners were eager to split the work equally amongst all three of us, which made me happy.
Our presentations are today, and my huge fear of public speaking has me dreading it. The irony is I’ve been told that I’m a great public speaker. I’m glad I’ll have my project partners, Julie and Bianca, helping me present our fake business to the class.
“Julie, Violet, and Bianca, you’re up,” Professor Crenshaw announces.
Ugh, I hope I don’t embarrass myself up there.
The first half of presentations wrapped up earlier than I thought they would.
“See, we did great. I saw Professor Crenshaw smile at us. That’s definitely a good sign,” Julie says.
Bianca smiles. “I agree! I think we were one of the best teams. There were some that didn’t seem like they took it seriously, which surprises me, since it makes up for a huge chunk of our overall grade.”
“I’m surprised the entire class didn’t hear how loud my heart was beating,” I say.
“You did an amazing job, Violet. It’s normal to be nervous when it comes to presentations and such. I get nervous, too,” Bianca says.
The bell rings, which means it’s time for me to grab lunch on campus or make something back at the apartment.
Oh, what to do.
I quickly decide I’m going to treat myself to a pizza bagel because I haven’t had one in at least a year.
I’m lucky to have the schedule I have this semester because I have my classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the late morning.
My shifts at Sweet & Salty are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Saturdays and Sundays are optional, depending on the time of year.
Since it’s almost Thanksgiving, I’ve been working most weekends.
The store has had days where we’ve had lines out the door, which is unreal to me. I can’t wait to see what happens when Christmas approaches.
Now, the nice thing about the restaurant that makes the pizza bagels is that it’s right around the corner from the business administration building where my last class is.
My phone rings and buzzes in my backpack, so I stop at one of the metal benches in front of the business administration building. Glancing at my lockscreen, I see Dani is trying to call me, so I accept her call.
“Hey,” I say.
“Where are you?”
“I’m on campus about to grab a bite by the business admin building. Why?”
“Do you want some company?”
“Yeah, that would be great.”
“I’m in the student union, which is right across from there. I’ll be there in less than five.”
“Okay, see you in a bit.”
“Bye.”
After I hang up our quick phone call, I run into the restaurant to order my pizza bagel.
It takes less than ten minutes for them to make it, which is surprising with how busy it is in here.
I can barely hear my thoughts because of the people chattering, the sound of music playing, and the way the walls make everything more echoey.
“I have an order for Violet!” a female worker shouts out.
“Thank you!” Grabbing my order, I walk out of the restaurant and sit down on one of the outside bench tables.
“Is this seat taken?” a familiar voice asks me.
I look up and see Dani smiling at me. “I was reserving it for you. There’s an invisible name card on the table. And you did say it would take you less than five minutes to get here, but you took ten minutes instead.”
“Glad to see your humor is thriving again.” She spots my pizza bagel as she sits down across from me, placing her backpack beside her. “Holy crap, that’s huge. And it smells good.”
Closing my eyes, I inhale the scents of melty mozzarella, herby tomato sauce, and the toasted plain bagel. I glance over at what’s in Dani’s wrapper. “What’s that?”
She unwraps whatever mystery lies inside, and it’s revealed to be a sandwich of some kind. “It’s a patty melt with no onions, and it comes with a side of fries.”
“Damn, I would’ve treated myself to three of those a few weeks ago.”
She takes a bite of her patty melt, chewing and swallowing it before she says something to me. “You still haven’t heard from him?”
“Nope, radio silence. I think this is how it’s going to be for now on.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I reached out to him multiple times that first week, and he never answered me. It’s one thing to not answer at all, but to start typing something out and have it turn into nothing is so painful.” I take a bite of my pizza bagel, and my tastebuds are dancing to show how happy they are.
“I’m sorry, Vi. Are you still going to Thanksgiving dinner at the Kaplans’ next Thursday?”
“As nice as it would be to see everybody, I don’t think it would be the best idea, especially if he’s going to be there and we’re still not on speaking terms. To be honest with you, the more I think about it, the more angry I get.
He’s right. He vanished from my life. That was a choice he made, and he can’t take it back. ”
“I figured you were going to say something like that, and I respect your decision no matter what way it goes. When you told me he did that, I might’ve given him a lot of shit for it.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Look, Grayson is one of my best friends, but so are you. I know he was hurting, but the way he took it out on you was childish. End of story. I will always stand up for my friends, even if it means having to confront my other friend who caused them pain.”
“Well, thank you. What did you say to him?”
She turns into the human version of the thinking emoji.
“If I remember right, I said something about what he did was stupid and immature. He didn’t even let you explain further about why you did what you did.
Man, if Noah ghosted me the way Grayson did to you, I would never speak to him again.
Ghosting has become such a crutch with our generation these days, and I hate it.
Did we forget how to properly communicate with each other?
” She pauses for a brief moment. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go off like that. ”
“It’s okay. I would break the no contact between us, but I did that once already. It’s his turn now.”
“It might be a little immature in a way, too, but you’re right. You did face your fears and reunite with him after six years. I know he’ll come around at some point because he cares about you, and I don’t think he can live his life without you in it.”
“He may have to find a way to live without me because I’m not going to forgive him so easily if he reappears again.”
“Anyway…how’s work at the bookstore been? I miss working there.”
“It’s been very busy because we’re on the brink of entering our super busy time of the year with the holidays and everything. When did you stop working there?”
“I gave Laura my two weeks’ notice over the summer because I knew I would have a full load of classes this semester, and I wanted a change. I loved working there, but it gives me the freedom to write more and explore other opportunities out there.”
I pick up the other half of my pizza bagel. “I don’t know how I’d handle it if I ever leave there. I love it too much. It’s hard to leave a home you’ve lived in for most of your life, especially one that helped you survive your adolescence.”
“Yeah, I get that. What’s it been like being the assistant manager?”
“It feels like a dream I haven’t woken up from.
I work alongside our events coordinator to schedule author signings, release day parties, and our seasonal author/vendor markets.
I’m in charge of making sure every book is fully stocked.
Honestly, it’s pretty similar to my previous role, but I have more responsibilities. ”
“Laura knew what she was doing when she promoted you. I’m really proud of you, Vi.”
I succeed at holding back my tears. “Thanks.” I smile.
We allow silence to peacefully take over, so we can finish our lunches. Dani gets up to throw her trash into the garbage can near us, and I follow suit after she sits back down at the table.
“Sage told you she’s sleeping over at our apartment tonight, right?” she asks, tilting her head at a slight angle.
“Yeah, she told me yesterday.”
“A whole day’s notice? Wow, I’m impressed.”
“I am, too.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to join us?”
“No, it’s okay. You guys have fun.”
“Okay.” She grabs her backpack and slings it over one shoulder, getting up from the table.
“Thanks for the company,” I say.
“Always. We’ll talk later or at some point tomorrow. Okay?”
“Sounds good.”
Dani waves goodbye to me as she walks away, and I wave back to her.