Violet's parents owned an inn and they let me stay. I wake up in the partially comfortable bed. For a moment I forget where I am until I sit up and look around. I hear a knock.

"Zane?" It's Violet."I-It's me. Are you up yet?"

"Yes. Come on in." She slides the door open and walks into my small room.

"Hi." She said, closing the door."Wanna come to the market with me? My parents need some supplies."

"Of course," I say and I follow her out of the inn and towards the outdoor market.

"Ya know, Zane," She says sheepishly."You're the first friend I've ever really had. It feels nice to know someone cares for me."

"We're . . . Friends?" I say.

"Of course!" She smiles warmly at me."What else would you be to me?" She grabs my hand."Look! Free flowers!" She tugs me towards the flower stand and she stares at all of them. I stare at her and smile.

A vase full of purple flowers catches my eye. They're violets. I pick one and put it into Violet's hair, just behind her ear. She jumps at the sudden touch and looks at me.

"W-what flower is it?" She asks, turning red for some reason.

"It's a Violet. I thought it would be perfect for you." Her face becomes brighter and I can somehow sense her heartbeat rising. I have never sensed this emotion in anyone before. What is it?

"Th-thank you, Zane," She looks away. What's wrong? D-did I hurt her or something? Why won't she look at me?"C-c'mon . . . We need to get some tea for my parents." We walk off and her face is bright maroon. Why is that?

And why does my stomach feel so strange?

I run into someone and fall to the ground. That someone groans.

"You again?" He scoffed."How many times do I gotta say? Watch where you put those clumsy feet of your's."

"L-leave him alone, Sol." Violet cries. The boy called Sol, looks at her and smirks. I am standing now but not saying anything.

"Are you talking to me?" He spat."Violet?"

"Y...Yes! I am!" She shouts and a few people are starting to stare."Shut up and leave him alone, Sol!"

"Make me," He said pushing her back and she falls down, wincing. Now that got to me.

"Leave her out of this." I finally speak up. He spins his head around at me and I see his brown hair reflect off of the sun.

"Oh yeah?" He says, walking up to me and I swear we are the exact same hiegth."What're you gonna do about it? You're just a homeless wanderer who just so happened to stumble into this sad town and persuaded this dumb girl to pitty you just to get a place to stay."

I've had enough.

"You're useless." As soon as the last word leaves his mouth, I growl furiously and tackle him to the ground. The crowd gasps in shock at my actions.

Violet stands.

"Zane! Sol! Stop!" Sol is on top of me now and tries to punch me. I am sensing fear inside of him.

"Enough!" A man cried. Sol and I pant and look at him. He has a long white beard and a straw hat. "That is quite enough of this." Sol got off of me and we stand. He shoots a glare at me.

"Yes, Sensei," Sol says. I look away

"No more of this violence," He walks up to Sol and softens his voice so Sol and I are the only ones who can hear it."That's two more hours of training for you."

"What?" Sol cried angrily."That's not--"

"Is too," The man says sternly."It is if you're going around bullying people." He walks away without another word. Sol turns to me, furious.

"This is your fault." He scolded."If it wasn't for--"

"Stop it, Sol," Violet cried, stepping in front of me, sheilding me."You've got no one to blame but your--"

"Stay out of this, Violet." He scowled."You can't protect him."

"Yeah I can," She cries."Leave him alone, Sol! He's done nothing to you!" He shoves Violet to the ground. She gasps and I rush to help her up. I scowl at Sol as she gets to her feet.

"You. I will get you for this." He stomped away.

"That guy is a jerk." Violet said. I turn to her and take her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" I ask.

"Yeah." She said, brushing herself off."I'm fine. Sol's always like this."

"What do you mean?" I say.

"Nothing. C'mon. Let's get the stuff and get back."

* * *

When we get back, Violet said she felt exhausted, so she went to her room. I looked at her parents.

"You two know of that Sol, right?" I say. Violet's father looked at me.

"I hate that kid." My eyes widen at his comment.

"Now, Tim," Her mother said.

"What?" He said, furious."That boy has hurt Violet so many times I want to just--"

"Tim," Her mother said sternly. He shut his mouth and she looked at me.

"Zane," She said, softly."Sol has bullied Violet for longer than he needed to. That's all that's needed to be said." I turn and begin to walk down the hall. I hear strange sounds. They're coming from Violet's room.

I press my ear to her door. I detect sounds of... pain and sadness. I open the door just the tiniest bit and I just want to fall apart. She sitting on her bed, hunched over with a hand pressed to her face, sobbing. No, let me rephrase that. Screaming. I thought I would never hear or see her cry, let alone this hard. I close the door and walk away, clenching my fists angrily.

I'm gonna kill that Sol.