Free Violet is Blue (Hothouse series) by Tawny Stokes, Vivi Anna Page A

my bed by my feet.
    “It’s one o’clock, hun.”
    I opened my eyes and looked at her.
    “Are you feeling okay?” She reached over and laid her hand across my forehead.
    “Just a headache.”
    She removed her hand but she didn’t look convinced. Instead she handed me a small box. “This came for you this morning by courier.”
    I didn’t want to take it, fearing who it was from, but I couldn’t let her know.  I took the box, and set it down on my table. “Thanks.”
    “Violet,” she started, grabbing my hand. “Is there something you want to tell me? I know something is going on with you.”
    “Mom, I...just need some time, okay?”
    She patted my hand. “I’ll give you some, but remember I will never judge you. Ever. Whatever it is, you can tell me without consequence.”
    “I know, Mom.”
    She stood, and then kissed my forehead. “I’ll make you some crepes when you come down.”
    “Thanks. I love you.”
    “Love you too, baby doll.”
    When she was gone, I picked up the box. I shook it. Something moved inside it. Something broken possibly. I took a pair of scissors and slid open the box.  I opened it to find a bunch of broken glass inside.  Underneath it was a rose bloom and a note. I reached in to grab the paper when I nicked myself on a piece of glass. Blood beaded to the surface of my skin, and then dripped onto my bed sheets.
    The note read: A little souvenir.
    My cell phone rang and I dropped the box. Glass shards scattered over my bed and floor. I snatched the phone and answered it.
    “Violet?”  It was Dahlia and her voice was unsteady.
    “What’s happened?”
    “Jordan’s in the hospital. In a coma. Someone kicked the shit out of him last night.”
    “What?” I couldn’t believe it. “Oh my God.”
    “You don’t think Patrick did it, do you?”
    “No. He wouldn’t.”
    “I don’t know, V, he was pretty pissed off about his car. I mean damn, Jordan fucked up his shit.”
    “We don’t even know if it was Jordan who wrecked his car.”
    “Things are out of control, Violet.  You need to tell someone about what's been happening.  I know there's more going on then what you've even told me.”
    “I know.”
    “Do the smart thing and tell someone, today, before someone else gets hurt or worse.”
    Tears welled in my eyes. I rubbed at them to stop the tears from falling. I sniffled.
    “Do you want me to come over? I can be there in ten minutes.”
    “No.  Maybe later.  I'll call you.” I hit end on my phone, then quickly cleaned up the glass and put it back in the box.
    I jumped off the bed and went for the closet. I got dressed as quick as possible. There was someone I needed to talk to.
    I found my mom and Mark in their office going over some paperwork.
    Mark spotted me first.  “Hey, what’s up?”
    “Do you have Patrick’s home address?”
    He frowned. “Yeah, why?”
    “Could I get it please?”
    My mom looked at me then Mark. “It’s in your rolodex isn’t it?”
    That seemed to prompt him into action, and he flipped through it. “I didn’t know you two were friends.”
    “He’s helping me with a school project.”
    He gave me a smile. “I thought I was your project helper.”
    “I know how busy you’ve been, and Pat offered to help. So?”
    Mark handed me a card. “Here it is.”
    “Thanks.”  I took it, and slid it into my pants pocket.  “I’ll be back later.”
    “You don’t want those crepes before you go?” My mom asked.
    “I’m just going to grab a smoothie on the way.”
    “Okay, hun. See you later.”
    I gave her a small smile then left.
    As I drove to the address Mark gave me, using my Tomtom to get me there, I wondered if he suspected something. He hadn’t looked too happy to give me Pat’s address, or that he was ‘helping’ me with a school project. I mean, they both had to know that was a lie. There was only two weeks left of school, what kind of project could I possibly be doing?
    I drove past the cemetery where my