•flawed with benefits•

"Ok, so maybe you were right," Violet admitted as she smirked down at her coffee, stirring it more than necessary. "My head does hurt a lot."

"I'm not surprised," Cal chuckled. "You were pretty drunk and still drinking when I found you."

"I'm glad you found me," She replied with honesty ringing through her voice. When she looks up from her coffee, she sees the sunlight in his smile. "What would I do without you?"

"Who knows?" And if she'd had a heart that matched every other girl, it would have fluttered like the butterflies of summer. But Violet Griffin was not like any other girl, so she sat there with her lips pressed into a thin smile. The only indication of her reaction.

"So I heard that JJ was having a party this weekend, you going?" The rings on her finger tap against the white china of the mug to no rhythm in particular, just tapping and tapping and tapping. The sound would have been irrelevant to anyone else, but Violet listened to it and tapped even more.

"Of course," He responded. "Are you?"

She looked at him as if he were stupid and said, "If you think I'm not going, you're deluded." The familiar ping of a new text message sounded from her pocket, snapping her attention away in an instant. She reached it out of her pocket, her lips creasing into a small smile as she stood from her seat. "I'll be back in a second, it's Katie," She told him before stepping outside of the café that could only be described as hipster.

It was cosy, warm and decorated with a variety of old photographs of people Cal didn't recognise. The floor was old wood, plastered with patterned carpets that probably shouldn't have been together, but they worked because that was the type of place it was. The tables were wooden too, but worn down and with cracks showing through.

The counter was made from a dark oak, but that wasn't what caught Cal's eye. What caught his attention was the red-head with the nose piercing stood behind it peering right back at him. She looked away when she realised she'd been caught.

Taking one look at Violet stood outside, smiling as she spoke on the phone to her cousin, he made his mind up. After all, they were just friends. Cal stood from his seat and walked over to the counter, grabbing a bottle of water from the side and grabbing his wallet from his pocket. He handed it over to the red-head with the icy blue eyes.

"Will that be all today?" She asked as she scanned the bottle.

"Yeah, thanks," He replied and handed over the money. As she passed over his change, he glanced over his shoulder to Violet again before looking back at the barista. "Hey, could I get your number?"

A light blush crossed her cheeks. "Uh, sure," She replied with a much quieter voice than Violet. She scribbled down her number on his receipt and handed it over. "I'm Elora, by the way."

"Cal," He responded, tucking the receipt into his pocket. Whether or not he would actually call her he didn't know, but it was good to have the option. "It was nice to meet you, Elora."

"You too." She smiled, but it was nothing like Violet's smile. Her smile was sweet, simple and pure. Violet's smile was more of a smirk, like she knew every single one of your dirty little secrets.

When Cal turned back around with a grin plastered on his face, Violet was already sat waiting for him. She had her back to him, but he knew that she'd seen him talking to Elora. She sipped her coffee, not even turning her head when he walked past her to take his seat again.

"I'm surprised," She said, coffee mug still touching her lips. From where he sat he could see the rim of the mug covered in her lipstick stains, scars of the use.

"What do you mean? I'm allowed to ask for a girl's number, we're just friends," He snapped. A brief pulse of annoyance ran through him as he recognised the dash of a glint in her eye signalling that she was teasing him. She'd gotten the reaction she wanted.

Violet took another drink of her coffee, finishing off the mug. She placed it back on the table before looking directly at him. "If I minded you asking girls for their numbers, I wouldn't have fucked someone else last night." Her voice was too loud. Cal saw Elora look up from the register at her words with an expression that ranged between pity and confusion. "Cal, no strings, but if you're looking for a girlfriend then maybe we should call this whole thing off."

"Maybe we should," He replied quickly, stiffening at his own quick response. It seemed to take even Violet back. She folded her arms across her stomach and slumped back in her chair.

"So just friends, yeah?"

"Just friends."