(violet's outfit for this part of the chapter)

"Thanks for helping me out with this, Rocks." Violet spoke, smiling at the dark haired girl. She was currently in her bathroom with Rocki, who was helping her dye her hair a different color. She wanted to try a different style, and decided to dye her hair for a change.

"It's no problem, Violet." Rocki shrugs, smiling at her. "I'm glad I'm able to help you out with this. I can't wait to see the finished product."

"I hope I don't look too bad." Violet mumbles, frowning a bit. "I'm really nervous."

"Don't worry, you're going to look amazing." Rocki reassures her, giving her a comforting smile. "I've done this plenty of times before, so I know what I'm doing."

Violet sighs, nodding. "Okay. Thanks, Rocks."

"So, what made you want to dye your hair anyway?" Rocki asked curiously, wanting to know why her friend decided to change her look.

"I'm not sure. I just thought it would be fun to try something new." Violet admits. "And I've always wanted to have some kind of colorful highlights. I figured pink would be a good color."

Rocki nods, understanding. "It's not really my style, but I think it'll look good on you." She pauses. "Have you told Jackson about it yet?"

"No, not yet." Violet says. "I wanted to surprise him." She admitted. She hoped Jackson would like her new hair. She wanted to do something bold and different, and surprising Jackson with a new look felt like the perfect way to shake things up a little. She was always a bit self-conscious about big changes, but the idea of seeing his reaction made her excitement outweigh the nerves.

Rocki grins. "Well, he's gonna love it. You know Jackson's always supportive of anything you do."

Violet smiles at Rocki's words, feeling a bit more reassured. "Yeah, you're right. He's always been supportive." She was still nervous about showing Jackson her new look, but knowing that he was always there to support her gave her the courage to take the leap. She could do this.

After what felt like hours, the hair dyeing process was finally over. Rocki helped washed out the dye and helped dry and style her hair. As Violet looked into the mirror at the final result, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Whoa," Violet muttered, running her fingers through her newly dyed strands of hair. The pink highlights blended perfectly with her natural color, giving her a vibrant, bold look that she hadn't expected.

"You look amazing!" Rocki said, grinning. "I told you pink would suit you."

Violet blushes slightly, still processing the change. "Thanks, Rocks. It's definitely...Different. But I think I like it."

"Are you gonna show Jackson?" Rocki asked.

"Yeah, I think I'm ready." Violet nods, taking a deep breath. She was still nervous, but she was also excited to see Jackson's reaction. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face. "Thank you so much for helping me with this. I couldn't have done it without you."

Rocki smiles. "Anytime. I'm happy to help."

Rocki stayed over to hang out with her a bit more before her mom came to pick her up. Gia even commented on Violet's new pink high lights, telling her how nice it looked and Violet thanked her. She was happy at least Rocki and her mom liked her new look. She knew this was a big change for her. She was starting high school, she just wanted to try something new. She wanted to reinvent herself a bit, and dyeing her hair felt like the perfect way to mark the start of something fresh. As Violet looked at herself in the mirror, she felt a surge of confidence. The pink highlights made her feel bold, like she was ready to take on whatever challenges high school would throw her way.

****

(violet's new hair)

Later that evening, Violet decided it was time to show Jackson her new look. She texted him, asking if he could come over. Her heart raced as she waited for him to arrive, both excited and nervous about what he'd say. When Jackson finally arrived, Violet greeted him at the door, trying to act casual. His eyes widened in surprise the moment he saw her and his jaw dropped.

"Vi, you died your hair." Jackson gasped.

Violet bit her lip, trying to gauge his reaction. "Do you like it?" She asked, her voice shaking slightly. She couldn't tell what Jackson was thinking, and her nerves were starting to get the better of her. She fidgeted with her hands, trying to calm her nerves.

Jackson paused for a moment, taking in the sight of her. The vibrant pink highlights made her look even more radiant, and his amazement was evident. A wide, genuine smile spread across his face, lighting up his eyes. He felt like he was in a daze, and he couldn't take his eyes off her. His face flushed. "You look incredible."

Violet smiles shyly at him, her cheeks burning. "Really? You're not just saying that, are you?"

Jackson shakes his head, stepping closer to get a closer look. "No way. The pink really suits you."

"Really? 'Cause I wasn't sure if that was the right color and..."

Jackson cut her off, cupping her face and leaning in to kiss her. Violet melted into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and closing her eyes. As they kissed, she could feel all of her nerves fading away. All she could focus on was the feeling of his lips on hers and the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She felt a rush of warmth and happiness that made everything else fade into the background. When they finally pulled apart, both breathless and smiling, Jackson looked at her with a mix of admiration and affection.

"You've got nothing to worry about," He said softly, his gaze lingering on her. "You look amazing, and I'm really glad you decided to go for it."

Violet smiles fondly at him, her heart fluttering and blush getting deeper. "Thank you, Jax. I'm really glad I did, too."

They ended up watching some movies while cuddling on the couch and eating snacks. Violet couldn't remember the last time she had a night this fun. She felt a little nervous at first, but as soon as Jackson was there, everything seemed to fall into place. They joked and laughed together, enjoying each other's company. Violet was glad she decided to dye her hair and show Jackson. He made her feel even more confident about her new look, and she was grateful for his support. His hand reached up to tuck a stray strand of pink hair behind her ear and he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Violet blushed, smiling up at him. They exchanged a tender look, and Violet could tell they were both thinking the same thing:

This is what happiness feels like.

****

(violet's outfit for this part of the chapter) 

The next day at school, Violet was happy to find out Hartley and the others in band really liked her new hair. She had grown closer with the people in band each day which she loved. Being in band was like a family, she loved her band mates and was so happy she could be a part of it. In between classes she walked through the halls, noticing heads turning and whispers following her every step. It felt both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. Her pink highlights were definitely making an impression, and she couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious under all the attention.

In between classes and before lunch, she had accidentally bumped into someone since she wasn't paying attention to where she was going. She was worried, nervous, and anxious to show her new hair to DJ and the others. She knew DJ wasn't exactly a fan of people dying their hair like this, she wasn't really sure why, but she could only imagine what she'd say. Violet stumbled back and looked up to see who she had bumped into. It had been a boy she never seen before. She was taken aback by his good looks, his blue eyes shining. What also stuck out was his blue highlights. He looked like the typical bad boy. Dark clothes, leather jacket, ripped jeans, black combat boots, chain necklace. Everything. His eyes met hers and he smirked, his gaze trailing over her and taking in her pink highlights.

"Nice hair." He comments, his eyes still on her. "I like the pink. Suits you."

Violet felt her face heat up at his compliment, not expecting him to say something nice about her hair. She awkwardly stammers out a reply. "Thanks, yours too. I, uh, the blue brings out your blue eyes." She mentally kicks herself, her face flushing even more. "I'm sorry. I'm Violet, by the way. I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to run into you like that." Violet quickly apologized.

"Cute name. Don't sweat it, Violet. I'm Dean, by the way." The boy smirked, flashing her a charming smile. He was definitely easy on the eyes and Violet felt herself melting under his gaze. She couldn't help but think about how handsome he was, his blue eyes mesmerizing.

"It's, um, it's nice to meet you. Are you new here? I don't remember seeing you around, I feel like I would remember you." Violet stammered, her face turning red. She didn't mean to say the last part, she hadn't meant to make it awkward. She mentally scolded herself, cursing her inability to form coherent sentences in front of attractive people. She then mentally scolded herself for getting flustered around this boy when she is dating Jackson, who she finds really attractive and cares a lot about. She couldn't believe herself.

Amusement flickers in his eyes and he chuckles. "Yeah, I'm new. I'm a junior. You?"

"Oh, um, I'm a freshman." Violet mumbles. "But, really, um, I'm sorry for running into you like that. I was distracted." She nervously apologized, feeling embarrassed. She really hadn't meant to run into him. She felt bad about it. He was new here and she probably didn't make the best first impression.

Dean shrugs. "It's no big deal. It was an accident, don't sweat it. Anyway, it was nice meeting you, Violet. Maybe I'll see you around, Pink." And with that, Dean gave her a playful wink before walking away. Violet stood there, still processing the encounter. She felt a little flustered but also intrigued by the new student. His compliment had caught her off guard, and his charming demeanor had made a lasting impression.

As Violet headed to her next class, she tried to shake off the encounter with Dean. She reminded herself that she was happily dating Jackson, and that meeting someone new was just a part of high school life. She told herself not to get too caught up in the moment. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she and Dean ran into each other again. Would they become friends? She hoped so though she had a feeling he might end up being a bad influence on her, but that was the exciting thing about high school, wasn't it? That was the point, to make new friends, learn new things, and experience new things. Even if those things were a bit risky.

"Hey, Violet. Is everything alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Violet snaps out of her daze as she watched Dean walk down the hallway, turning around to see Jackson standing behind her, looking at her with concern. "I've been trying to get your attention. Everything okay?" He asked in concern.

Violet blinks, snapping back to reality as Jackson's worried gaze met hers. She shakes her head to clear the lingering thoughts of Dean. "Oh, Jackson, hey. Sorry, I was just a bit distracted." he said, offering a reassuring smile.

Jackson looks at her curiously. "Distracted by what?"

Violet hesitates, glancing back towards where Dean had walked off. Jackson follows her gaze, trying to figure out what had her so distracted. Suddenly spotting a boy he never seen before, he felt this weird, uneasy pit forming in his stomach at seeing the mystery boy look back at Violet and smirk. He wasn't sure what this feeling was, but he didn't like it. "Who's that guy?" Jackson asked, his gaze shifting back towards Violet.

"Oh, um, that's Dean." Violet explains, trying not to sound nervous. "He's new."

Jackson looks at Violet with concern, a feeling of unease washing over him. He wasn't sure what it was about the new guy, but something felt off. He didn't trust him, especially with the way he was looking at Violet. He didn't want him or anyone else to hurt Violet, especially when she's still a bit self-conscious. "Well, be careful. I don't trust him." Jackson warned, giving her a concerned look.

"He seemed nice enough. And you haven't even met him yet." Violet points out, shrugging. "Just because he's new doesn't mean he's not a nice person. People are always judged based on appearance, and that's not fair."

"That's not what I mean, Vi." Jackson sighs, frowning. "I'm just saying, be careful. He looks like trouble."

"What, because of his dark edgy style?" Violet raises her eyebrows at him. "I like it, I think it's cool and shows he doesn't care what anyone thinks."

"I didn't mean it like that, and you know it." Jackson frowns, looking at her. "Look, all I'm saying is be careful. There's something off about him."

Violet sighs, nodding. "Okay, I will."

Jackson gives her a small smile. "Thank you."

With that, they head to their next class. Later that day, she was heading back to class after heading to the bathroom when she spotted a familiar figure outside. She snuck outside to check it out and saw Dean sneaking around out back. She furrowed her eyebrows, glancing around for a moment, she quickly followed after him. She wondered what he was doing and wanted to know why he was sneaking around. She didn't want to judge or get in trouble, but her curiosity got the better of her. As she continued to follow him, noticing he was hiding behind the bleachers, she couldn't help but wonder why. She didn't want to get in trouble or anything, so she stayed a safe distance away, trying not to be seen or heard.

Suddenly, she sees him take a puff of something and her eyes widened as she realized what he was doing. Her suspicions were confirmed when he takes another puff of whatever he was smoking. Her stomach dropped, and she felt a sinking feeling. She couldn't believe he was skipping class to smoke.

"Hey!" She calls out, trying to sound confident and stern, but it came out a bit squeakier than intended. "What are you doing?!"

Dean whips his head around in surprise, his eyes landing on Violet and relaxes at seeing her. "Pink, hey." He grins, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Nice to see you again."

"Hey, you shouldn't be doing that. You'll get in trouble." She warned.

Dean looks over and smirks at her. "And what are you gonna do about it, Pink?"

"It's Violet, actually. And I'm not going to do anything, but you shouldn't be out here and you shouldn't be smoking. It's not good for you." Violet firmly replied. She knew she didn't really know him and this could go wrong, but she didn't want him to get in trouble or get hurt.

Dean looks surprised for a moment. He had to admit it was nice having someone act like they cared. He was used to being treated like an outcast, people assuming he was trouble just because of his looks and behavior. But this girl was different. He didn't know why she seemed to care, she didn't really know him. She had no idea what he was like. Maybe it was naivete or just kindness, but it was a welcome change. "No one's ever told me that before." He admits, looking at her, earning a frown and a confused look from her. "No one cared enough to, I guess."

"I do. And you shouldn't do things that could hurt you. I don't want you to get in trouble or hurt. Or die. So please don't smoke." Violet pleaded, her voice softening a bit.

Dean stares at her for a moment, contemplating. He had to admit, he wasn't used to people caring about his well-being, or even him in general. Most people wrote him off as a delinquent or a troubled teen, and he'd given up trying to convince them otherwise. But this girl, Violet, she was different. She didn't know him, and she'd only met him once, yet she was already trying to look out for him. It was a refreshing change, and he couldn't help but be intrigued. He was used to people judging him, but Violet didn't. He knew he shouldn't trust her, he shouldn't trust anyone, but there was something about her that made him want to. Something about her made him want to try and let her in.

Dean hesitates before sighing and nodding. "Alright, fine. For you." He smirked, and she smiled brightly, and he couldn't help but grin a little himself. She had a sweet smile, and he couldn't deny he liked seeing her smile.

Violet felt relieved and surprised he stopped. She wasn't sure if he would stop permanently, she would be even more surprised if he did, but she would be pleased if he did too. "Come on, back to class, mister." She grabbed his wrist to drag him back to class.

Dean chuckles, shaking his head as he let her lead him. "Alright, alright. Lead the way, Pink."

Violet felt a mix of relief and apprehension as she walked back towards the school with Dean in tow. She glanced over at him, noticing the way his smirk had softened into a more genuine expression. Despite the situation, she couldn't help but feel a bit of pride for having made a difference, however small. As they walked back to the school building, Violet couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and concern. She was glad she managed to get him to stop smoking, even if it was just for that moment. At the same time, she was nervous about the potential fallout if Jackson found out. She decided to keep this encounter to herself for now, hoping it wouldn't cause any trouble.

A/N colby brock with blue hair is guest starring as dean!