For the first time since she arrived at Lunaris Academy, Violet woke up with a genuine smile on her face. Stretching thoroughly on the bed with a contented groan, she let herself bask in the rare feeling of happiness. When her gaze landed on her three roommates, she stopped and waved cheerfully, "Morning, roomies."
The room fell silent. Not just Ivy, but Daisy and Lila stared at her like she had sprouted a second head. This was uncharacteristic of Violet. No, it was the first time Violet had ever called them "roomies."
Usually, she offered a curt and impersonal "Good morning" to cover all three of them, and that was only on the rare occasions she acknowledged them at all..
Ivy prided herself on being the resident snob, but Violet’s icy demeanor made her seem warm in comparison
None of them dared say a word as they watched Violet saunter into the bathroom, humming softly under her breath.
"What is up with her?" Ivy whispered, turning to Lila for answers. Lila, after all, Lila was the self-proclaimed expert on all things Violet. If Violet were a subject at Lunaris, Lila would undoubtedly ace it with extra credit.
But even Lila was at a loss. She shrugged, looking genuinely baffled. "I have no idea."
"What is that?" Daisy asked, pointing to something sticking out from beneath Violet’s bed.
Lila moved to Violet’s bed, crouched down and pulled the object free, revealing Violet’s crumpled and dirtied uniform. She sniffed it and examined it with an analytical air. "She was out last night... under the rain," Lila observed, her voice tinged with intrigue.
"So she had sex," Daisy declared with startling confidence.
"What?!" Lila and Ivy both turned to her, eyes wide with shock.
"When women have sex, their bodies release oxytocin," Daisy explained matter-of-factly. "It’s the happy hormone. It reduces stress, promotes bonding, and improves mood."
"So, in one word, rain sex makes her happy?" Lila asked, her tone dripping with disbelief.
"If that’s the case, she should have it every day to keep up this charming personality," Ivy said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
At that exact moment, the bathroom door clicked, and the girls went into a panic. Lila, moving with lightning speed, shoved the uniform back under the bed and raced to her own. The room fell into a tense silence, each girl pretending to be deeply engrossed in something.
The uniform was not properly tucked in, but Violet didn’t seem to notice. She emerged from the bathroom, her phone playing soft music as she swayed slightly to the beat. She crossed the room to her wardrobe, opened it, and pulled out her spare uniform. Good thing she’d bought it as a backup, even if it had drained the last of the money Nancy had given her.
Grabbing the fresh uniform, Violet danced her way back to the bathroom. As soon as the door clicked shut, the three girls exhaled simultaneously, releasing the breath they hadn’t realized they were holding. For a moment, they had all been convinced Violet would catch them snooping and glare at them with her infamous icy stare.
"Sex is scary," Daisy muttered, shivering slightly.
"More like wonderful," Lila said with a dreamy look. Then her expression turned serious. "Although... I wonder who she did it with." Her eyes suddenly widened as a thought struck her. "You think it’s Asher?"
Ivy scoffed, jealousy dripping from her tone. "It might not even be with a cardinal alpha."
Daisy and Lila turned scathing looks on Ivy before shaking their heads in unison. It was no secret that Ivy had always been jealous of Violet.
"I mean," Ivy said defensively, "the cardinal alphas aren’t the only guys she hangs out with."
"Really?" Lila said, raising an eyebrow. "Name one guy Violet hangs out with."
"W-well..." Ivy stammered, floundering for an answer. Then she brightened. "That guy with the curly hair!"
"Dion?" Lila frowned, unimpressed.
"That’s the one!" Ivy said, nodding vigorously.
"Even a four-year-old could come up with something better than that, Ivy," Daisy tsked, shaking her head in pity.
Lila fixed Ivy with a deep frown. "If you want to tarnish Violet’s reputation, at least do it without sounding pathetic. Dion already has a girlfriend, and my Violet has taste. Period," she said with pride.
"Whatever," Ivy muttered, brushing off the jab and turning away. But the tension still lingered in the room, the mystery of Violet’s sudden cheerfulness left unresolved.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom.....
Violet belted the song playing on her phone at the top of her lungs. Her voice, though not perfect, carried a carefree energy that would seem strange to anyone who knew her usual reserved demeanor. The bathroom was filled with steam from the hot water as Violet sang and danced.
When Violet finally stepped out, a towel snugly draped around her, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. She paused, tilting her head slightly, and reached up to touch her lips.
They still tingled faintly at the memory, and before she could stop herself, Violet found herself smiling. The way Alaric had kissed her last night under the rain was something she wouldn’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Her fingers lingered on her lips as she relived the moment, but suddenly, Violet snapped back to reality. What the hell was she thinking?
Her brows furrowed, and she shook her head as if physically shaking off the memory. It was just a kiss. A fleeting, emotional moment. Moreover, she was sure Alaric had already forgotten about it, and so should she.
"I will not lose my mind over a kiss. I’m Violet Purple. Nothing bothers me," Violet said firmly, trying to convince herself.
With her mind made up, Violet grabbed her spare uniform and began dressing quickly. She couldn’t afford to dwell on "distractions" . Also, she was hungry, and the highly coveted dining hall of Lunaris Academy waited for no one.
Violet straightened her shoulders, and stepped out of the bathroom, ready to face the day with the cool confidence she was known for.