"Wait, so that Cole guy is definitely not for you and Gideon Sanders is." Bart said with a mock serious look as his sister finished her story of how her week had gone. Violet slapped his arm from where she sat at the foot of the couch in the living room.
Immediately Lucy and her friends had left, Bart made her tell her everything that was going on but he seemed to be more curious about Deon.
"You don't know but Gideon was very popular in my school."
"For being a playboy?"
"Why, did he make moves on you?"
Violet snorted. "As if." She smiled eating from the box of plantain chips Bart got her. "We tolerate each other because of Professor Matthew." Swallowing what she had chewed, she continued. "I won't say he's not handsome, I noticed he is, he's rude too so what's the probability that he's not a playboy?"
"Well, there were rumors. Figures he wouldn't hit on you though, you're not his type."
Curious, Violet paused on chewing the chips. "What do you mean?" Bart pursed his lips, looking down at her chest. Violet getting his meaning, threw a bag of chips at his head. "Idiot."
Bart laughed, catching the chips. "But that's not why he was popular though." He opened the bag of chips. "He's brilliant, he's one the youngest and successful consultants out there. Do you remember the Hassah Chemical Limited case where they came back from the brink of bankruptcy? That's Gideon Sanders for you and he has helped some other smaller companies get on track."
"Oh," Violet hummed, listening attentively. "I thought he was unemployed, seeing how often he was in his brother's office."
"No, he's currently working on something I heard." Bart answered, stretching himself on the couch so he was lying down with his head on the arm rest but angled in a way that he could see his sister. "Have you heard from Zino?" he inquired about their older sister.
"Yeah, she called the week after mom and dad left." Violet smiled. "Her and Zed have set a date."
"Cool."
"You guys are still not talking?"
"Meh." Bart shrugged.
"How mature of you both." Violet rolled her eyes, getting up off the ground. "I'm glad you're home anyway, the house often feels really empty."
"Of course it would, we spent a good part of our teen years here." And that was true, Zino, Bartholomew and Violet, the Woodsen siblings, had grown up together and spent almost every minute of their early years with each other. This was because their father had been strict about letting them go out of the house since they didn't live in such a nice neighborhood at the time and he didn't want them getting influenced by other kids around. The siblings, all two years apart didn't have much of a problem with it because they got along well. Bart and Zino fought a lot but still got along. When Zino was in penultimate year of high school, their father got a better job and they moved to The Grey Area where they'd also spent almost all their free time together until Zino left for University, then it was Bart and Violet left. Two years later, it was just Violet.
Bart smiled, closing his eyes. "I've missed you both."
"I missed you too Bart." Violet grinned and as she moved to her room to sleep, she asked, "How long are you staying this time?"
"I'm not sure."
"Don't disappear on me though." She said, moving into her room to get some sleep.
Bart opened his eyes once she was gone, staring blankly at the TV screen.
***
"Good morning." Violet smiled at her brother who was making breakfast in the kitchen.
"Hey, don't I get a hug?" Bart grinned at his sister.
"Of course." Violet went around the counter, wrapping her arms around him.
Bart chuckled, hugging his sister back. "I spoke to Zino yesterday night by the way."
"Ah." Violet let out a joyful yell, withdrawing a little to look up at his face. "I still don't know why you two were mad at each other."
"Ha!" Bart grinned, pressing her head to his chest so she stopped looking at him.
Violet sighed. "Are you okay bro?"
There was a moment silence before Bart answered "Yes."
"Are you telling me the truth?"
"Yes."
"I love you."
"I love you too." He stated before letting her go. "Okay, go set the plates."
"Yes boss," she saluted, moving to do as he said.
***
"I'm telling you, just to watch your mouth, I know your game, what you're about." Violet sang at the top of her lungs as she had been doing for the past thirty minutes while her brother watched and sometimes recorded her silliness.
"Well they say the sky's the limit and to me that's really true. But my friend you have seen nothin' just wait 'til I get through." Holding the karaoke mic firmly, she started to moonwalk. Or at least try.
Bart bust out laughing at what she looked like when she started 'moonwalking'. "Idiot" he muttered as she wiggled her eyebrows at him, pointing at him as she 'danced.'
"And the whole world has to answer right now, just to tell you once again, who's bad?" She nodded her head like a performer.
"Yo, the vegetable sauce will burn at this rate."
"I don't care about the sauce 'cause I'm bad." Violet later out a loud laugh before running to the kitchen. "Ow, ow, ow."
"Haiz." Bart rolled his eyes, getting up off the couch and disconnecting the karaoke machine. "Hey, bring it to the dining, let's have dinner early." He shouted so she would hear him over in the kitchen.
"Yeah, I'm hungry too." Violet said, carrying the pot to the dining table. Bart went to wash his hands and came back to see his food served. Putting a fork through the yam, he smirked. "As usual, you overcooked the yam. Oh dear, pity for the poor guy that'll marry you, he's going to be stuck with eating overcooked yam forever."
"Ya, is my job going to be to cook for him? I'm not going to cook, it's going to be fifty fifty we'll share the chores. You sexist, down with the patriarchy." Violet banged her fists on the table for effect.
Bart stared at his sister and she stared back at him after four seconds, hilarity ensued and they both burst out laughing, clutching their bellys as they did. It was an inside joke about their older sister, as she'd gone through such a phase. they stopped laughing and Violet made a sound after laughing that made them both start laughing all over again, tears in their eyes.
***
11:22pm
Bart checked on his sister to make sure she was sleeping before dropping a note on her table and exiting the room. Adjusting his backpack on his shoulder, he made his way out the front door, locking the door behind him.
Walking down the road, he ran a hand through his hair, finally letting himself worry about his problems. He knew that until he could solve his problems, he couldn't stay long in one place. After thirty minutes of walking, he arrived at the foot of an apartment building, taking the elevator up to the top and fourth floor. Pressing the doorbell, the door opened, revealing Deon who was clad in a turtle neck and jeans.
"Come in." He opened the door wider so Bart could enter, closing the door behind him when he did.
"Thanks."
"Would you like water or something else?" he gestured for Bart to take a seat in one of the bar stools, going around the other side.
"I'm good, thanks." Bart nodded.
"How is your sister?" he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
"She fine, sleeping when I left."
Deon nodded at this, pouring himself a cup of water. "You need to go dark for some time." he took a sip of water. "They'll search for you in this town first. I'll look after Violet."
Bart stared at him when he called his sister by her name. But Deon declined to satisfy his curiosity, moving on.
"I heard from Fredrick, I'd like to hear from you. Tell me exactly why they are after you."
"It started a month before graduation when..."
***
Violet woke up Sunday morning and went to the living room, expecting to see her brother watching TV and when she didn't, she made her way to his room. Seeing as he wasn't there either, she became confused and her heartbeat picked up pace. She had a feeling something was wrong, she had had the feeling since yesterday because she'd caught her brother staring off into space sometimes.
Going back to her room so she could get her phone to call him, she stopped midstep on seeing the note on her table. Picking it up, she read the content.
Hey V. I have some things to attend to, I'm fine, I'll come home soon. Don't panic call mom and dad either. Love you."
Violet let out a tight smile. She had just been getting used to having him home and now she has to miss him again. Picking her phone from the table and dialling his number, it came back not reachable, and that's how she spent most of her day; washing up, dialling his number; making breakfast, dialling his number; eating, dialling his number; sending the email Professor Matthew requested, dialling his number. When it was evening, she sat on the porch steps and dialled his number one more time but just like the rest of the day, it was unreachable. Putting her phone in one of the pockets of the baggy shorts she wore, Violet hugged her knees to her chest.
It wasn't until there was a constant honk going off that she raised her head. Seeing Deon in the Driver's seat, she stood up, making her way to the car.
Deon lowered the passenger side window and gave her a small smile. "Get your heart broken?"
Violet only scoffed, leaning against the fence. "Good evening."
"Hi. Are you okay?" Worry lines creased his eyebrows.
A lump formed in Violet's throat as her eyes filled.
"Oh." Deon unlocked the car doors. "Do you want to go for a drive?"
Violet nodded, going back to lock the door before getting into his car. As soon as she entered, she turned her face to the window, closing her eyes to prevent the tears from falling. She wondered if she would see Bart again, he seemed to be in some kind of trouble. Her chest grew heavy and hot the more she thought and a tear slipped out of her eye but she quickly wiped it. However this year seemed to be a catalyst as her throat started to hurt from the tears she was holding back.
Deon stopped the car in an open grassy area which was quiet and deserted, getting out and closing his door behind him as he leaned up against the car. Immediately he was out, he started to hear the sound of muffled crying.
Deon sighed, getting the urge to smoke. Digging into his pockets, he took out some peppermint and placed it on his tongue, letting out a breath. He looked at Violet in the car and his heart squeezed, when he saw her shoulders shaking as she buried her face in between her knees. 'Is this what I put Matthew through as well?' A jab of guilt stabbed at his heart then he looked away from Violet. He promised himself to get Bart out of this mess, he'd been there, it was a rough couple of years with blood and tears shed but he'd made it out alive. He knew that he'd put his brother and his wife through a lot, and was doing everything to make up for it. If he could take anything back, it would be them knowing what was going on that time and that was why he was glad Bart didn't say anything to Violet and neither would he.
A knock on the glass window drew him back to the present. He opened the door and shut it behind him once he entered. "Are you hungry?"
"Peppersoup." Violet smiled shyly.
Deon chuckled. "Okay, peppersoup."
*
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