Chapter Six

Panic.

Adrenaline began pumping its way through Noah's bloodstream. As it moved, each part of his body began becoming paralyzed. Within a matter of moments, his brain became clouded, the fuzzy haze of shock hindering his judgment.

Noah, what are you doing? Shitface, you're engaged! Or did you forget that quickly?

"Shit, Violet, stop!" His voice, although muffled by the kiss, caused the petite blonde to move back. She stared up at the fellow, panting and red-faced. "What the fuck was that?"

Noah was seething. He had just poured out his heart to this girl, and she pounced on him! Did she have no respect for her sister? Wasn't there a girl code that she was supposed to be following? Noah thought sardonically that kissing or sleeping one's sister's fiancee would be up at the top of the "Don't's" list.

"Did you feel anything?" The girl breathed out, placing her trembling hand up to the back of her neck. Sweat formed at her hairline. 

Noah's eyes squinted. Did he feel anything? Well, he had to admit, he now was turned on. But that would of been the result whether he had been kissing Violet or a random stranger off of the street. That was a result of his hormones. But did he feel any connection? When he kissed Shannon, he felt that spark. Tingles spread like wildfire; his knees almost buckled to the floor. Mentally comparing that kiss to Shannon's, he told himself that no emotions were associated with that kiss.

Right?

"No," Noah replied slowly, attempting to express his thoughts in an articulate way, "I...I didn't feel anything."

Violet nodded, slightly wide-eyed. Damn, Noah jested to himself, does she ever kiss guys? Or is she too busy hanging with her cats? She looks like she's about to pass out!

"Well," she replied, "uhh. Then this confirms that our night together meant nothing as well. No feelings means no guilt. It was a simple mistake."

Noah pretended to agree, nodding his head. However, because he had no romantic interest in Violet whatsoever did not make his tryst with her alright. He had betrayed Shannon, and he could not justify his actions.

And he had betrayed her approximately three minutes ago with that kiss.

Even if the kiss was intended to teach him a lesson.

The petite blonde jammed her hand into her pocket, pulling a rubber elastic. Tying up her blonde hair, she shot a I'm-sorry-for-making-out-with-you-but-thanks-for-dinner grin and grabbed her cheap purse from the floor. Without a second glance, she sprinted out of the room, slamming the door shut in a hurry.

Noah stood in the middle of his apartment, feeling as lost as ever.

"I can't believe what a mess I made out of my life. Shit."

And with that, a single tear drop formed from the deep blue ocean of his eyes and made its way down the side of his cheek. Soon, its friends followed, and Noah found himself kneeling on the floor, his hands on top of his face. He wanted to cover his face, cover his feelings, cover the guilt and pain that had been tormenting him.

Sobs began rumbling out of his chest. He desired to stand up, but for some unexplainable reason, his mind was blank. It wouldn't let Noah do anything except cry. So, he sat there, for hours it seemed, pouring out his emotions.

"Goddammit," he weeped into his hands, "What kind of man am I?"

Homeless.

Violet Weaver's eyebrows furrowed as that word rolled throughout her mind. She had to be dreaming, right? She pinched herself and felt the sting that accompanied that action. That sting was no way as painful as the sting of losing her apartment.

"Damn," Violet cursed, sitting down on one of her ruddy, tattered suitcases. Her eyes scanned the eviction notice for about the millionth time.

No matter how many times she read it, the pain she felt was as novel and intense as ever.

Why did she think that her landlord would've extended her rent duedate another week? Maybe, she thought that her disheveleved appearance--pale, almost tinted yellow skin, black bags under her eyes, lack of meat on her bones--would have indicated that an extension was her last resort.

But, no. The guy cackled for a moment before slamming a yellow paper into her hand and stating that she could have one hour to "get the fuck out" rather than twenty minutes.

How generous.

"Violet...Weaver?"

Violet looked up from her paper, doe-eyed. A blonde-haired, muscular man drenched in sweat stood in front of her. He pulled the lilac earbuds from his ears and wiped the perspiration from the back of his neck.

"Uhm," Violet muttered, pushing herself up from the luggage, "yeah. That's me."

His mouth open, his teeth scintillating as the light hit them. He had that smile, people would say, that invited people in. He had that melliflous voice, people would also contend, that would coerce anyone into spilling secrets.

"I'm guessing," the musical tone of his voice alluring Violet, "you don't remember me?"

Violet's eyes squinted. "I'm sorry; I don't."

He gasped, feigning offense. "Don't remember that hot, muscular guy whose football career was saved by prom queen Shannon Weaver? I used to spend weekends for three months at your house."

Violet rolled her eyes. Of course, she remembered him now! He was Tyler Mackinley, the star quarterbook of her high school football team. He had the ability, the good looks, and charm but lacked motivation and brain power. Shannon had tutored him for three months, trying to raise his grade from a 'D-' to a 'C+' in order for him to remain on the team and beat the school's rival, the Bears, in the semifinals.

"Uhm, yeah, of course!" Violet smiled back at him. "I remember how many failed tests Shannon had to salvage in the kitchen."

Tyler's eyes leered over her luggage. "I'm sorry," he paused, his eyes focused on the suitcase Violet was sitting on, "are you going somewhere?"

Violet spewed out, "No, because I'm homeless!"

Shit. Let me just tell this guy everything about myself. Like how I spend my Sunday nights--

"Bathing my cats until I get tired."

Tyler cocked his head to one side. "Uhm, I just asked you if you wanted to stay at my place? I was just visiting a friend in this area for the weekend, but I can leave early. Joe's spending all his time with this girl, so it's not the bro-weekend that I've been hoping for." He blanched in disgust, pondering over how someone could date one woman.

"Did I just say my thoughts aloud?"

"Bingo," Tyler chuckled. "Didn't expect you to be a cat person."

Violet huffed, her face reddening. Could this day get any worse? First, she loses her apartment. Next, she embarrasses herself in front of this totally cute, funny--

He's an idiot and a womanizer. Forget about him, Violet.

"Well?" he prompted, gesturing for Violet to reply. "Do you want to crash at my place? You can stay as long as you want to. I live by myself in a two-bedroom apartment. It's the least I can do. Shannon's tutoring allowed me to play in the semifinals, and at the semifinals, I was recruited to USC."

Violet pondered over her options. She could ask her parents if she could move in with them for the time being. Then, she reminded herself that moving back in with the Weavers meant continual admonishing and daily comparisons to Shannon. She could talk to Shannon. Then, she reminded herself that she slept with her fiance, and she didn't want to be even more indebted to her. Remaining homeless seemed the most appealing option. Until, Violet remembered that she could barely survive six hours in the forest on a camping trip in sixth grade with her Girl Scouts troop. She had left that trip with a face covered in poison ivy and a memory of a close encounter with a bear...

"Okay." Violet forced a smile on her face. "Thank you."