https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaaIUvuDOSw
Violet wakes to her phone ringing. She just answers it to make the sound stop.
"Hello?" She asks, feeling groggy and sick to her stomach.
"Hey, Violet?" Charlotte's unmistakable voice is coming through strong. "Can we get together and talk, please?"
"What?" It didn't register what is being asked of her immediately.
"I miss you. We used to have some good conversations and I'd like to still be your friend?"
Violet didn't know how to answer, but asks. "Why?"
"I'm sorry about what happened between you and Nick, and I just want you to know, I think he's an ass hole for it." Violet was hearing exactly what she would want to hear from Charlotte, if she wanted to talk to her.
"OK, and?" Violet isn't feeling well, and just wants to get off of the phone.
"The restaurants are opening again, and I'd like to take you out, have one of our girl chats, like we used to do?" Violet could hear her sincerity.
"Fine. Where, when?" Violet was passing into rudeness, because she felt like she was going to throw up again. "Wait? You need to excuse me. Violet sets down her phone on the bed and runs to the restroom. She lifts the lid and brings up what little was in her stomach. The sound of her dry heaves afterwards made it all the way to Charlotte's ears. The face she makes is of cringing and then concern.
Violet made her way back to the phone. "I'm back."
"Oh Violet, are you alright?" Again the sincerity came through from Charlotte's voice. "You aren't pregnant... are you?"
"Fuck no! I just had too much good Vodka last night." Violet stated.
Charlotte gave a little laugh. "Fair enough. So how about lunch, my treat?"
"Fine." They figure out a central spot to get food. Eugene had talked about sushi so much the night before, that she had the taste for it in her mouth now, along with that of puke.
***
Violet walks into the restaurant and almost walks right back out again, seeing that Steve is there too. Charlotte sees her come in and gets up to greet her. "Violet puts her hand up and doesn't want to hear anything from Charlotte as long as that bastard is here." And turns to leave.
"He's here to apologize." Charlotte said to her, quickly, before she turned around. This stops Violet. She turns and gives a scary smile to Charlotte. "Fine, I'll listen to him grovel."
Violet adjusts her pocketbook and marches to the table behind Charlotte. They all sit.
"Well?" Violet looks at Steve.
"Huh?" He was confused.
Charlotte guides the proceedings, "Violet is expecting your apology." His head drops in shame a little more than it already was.
"I'm sorry." He says.
"For what?" Violet demands.
"For talking Nick into sleeping with .... that other woman." The gut punch hit hard. Hearing him say it. She glares at him in pain and anger.
"There's more Violet." Charlotte was so excited, but she wants it to come from Steve. So something positive would be remembered about him. Steve began "The Adult Film Awards sent Four Suits Productions a letter. In that letter, they mention your videos being unique and daring."
"Violet is waiting for a reason to care." Violet wasn't trying to be rude here, no matter how it came out, she is just being honest.
"Violet, you have been nominated for Starlit of the Year!"
"Violet didn't want to seem ungrateful to her old coworkers, but she was." Violet reaches out for his glass of soda and instead of picking it up to drink it, she knocks it over into Steve's lap. The cold was shocking. He stands up causing a commotion which knocks over some plates on a tray for the next table when he bumps into the waitress.
"Apology accepted." She says while standing up, "Now stay the fuck out of my life ass hole."
"Violet!" Charlotte shrieks as it's happening.
"Fuck both of you!" Violet heads out to leave, with both hands up displaying her middle fingers, as Steve tries to dry himself off with the two napkins on the table and the assistant manager comes over to see what is going on.
Charlotte just looks at her, feeling sad that Violet has been hurt so much in all of this. Violet's anger was attached directly to her pain. She couldn't help herself anymore. Being a Taurus, the bull in her, only saw red.
***
Charlotte catches up with Violet in the parking lot. "Would you please just stop and listen?"
"Why the fuck should I?" Violet asks.
"Because Nick still loves you." Charlotte stops Violet in her tracks with that one. Violet starts crying. Charlotte hugs her. Violet accepts it. "I love him too." Violet admits out loud. "But I also hate him and never want to see him again." Violet pushes Charlotte away. "He didn't just fuck someone else, (sobbing) he and Steve with that (heaving sobs) video, (more sobbing) humiliated me. How could you bring him here like that? You know I hate him almost as much as I hate Nick. How could you bring him here? I trusted you!"
"So he could apologize." Charlotte offers.
"Fuck him and his apologies and fuck you too." Violet's rage is full in her psyche at the moment. She slapped away Charlotte's hand when she tried to stop her from leaving.
"Touch me again! I dare you!" Violet looks mad as she spat out the words. Not just the angry kind, but, the crazy kind of, mad.
Charlotte backs away quickly.
Violet gets out her keys and unlocks her car. She gets in and drives away, forcing Charlotte to move away from the car or risk being hit.
Charlotte just shakes her head, as Violet drives her car off the lot.