Page 44 of Love, Magic and Misfortune
“Violet?”
She blinked, realizing she’d been staring. “Yeah?”
Jasper turned and Violet’s breath caught because he was a little too close. They were always close, but… her heart was beating in her throat for some reason—heat glowing to life in her cheeks.
He smiled, his gray eyes glassy in the setting sunlight. “Thank you for coming here with me, and if anything happens… I mean, something where we can’t be friends anymore—”
“Jasper, nothing is happening. You just feel itchy, and the doctors say you’re fine—”
“I know, but, you… you let me talk about anything. Everything! And you don’t think I’m boring or weird or stuck-up, and you never say that I’m ‘rich and spoiled’ like the other kids at school do. You’re my best friend and you’ll always,alwaysbe. No matter what. Okay?”
Violet stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him into a tight hug. “I know, Jas. You’re my best friend, too. And the kids at school are stupid. They laugh when Freddie makes fart noises with his armpits.”
Jasper mumbled within her embrace.“That’snotfunny.”
“It’s gross,” Violet confirmed, hugging him a little tighter. “You’re okay, Jasper. Don’t worry.”
The wind swept through overhead, rustling the leaves as if the trees were whispering and sharing secrets in their own ancient and unknowable language. Jasper lifted his head from the embrace and took a deep breath, his smile bright. “I want to show you something on the way back. I think you’ll like it.”
As they walked down the long wooded path and toward Gram’s house once more, Violet grabbed his hand and clasped it tight.
Quietly, she kept sneaking glances at her friend, noting the straightness of his nose and the glimmer of his pale eyes. She didn’t know why, but she was wondering if, just maybe, she could convince him that they should try kissing sooner. Perhaps, even before they were thirteen?
22
Now
When Violet opened her eyes, the light of the room practically blinded her. Everything was white and fuzzy, like someone was holding a piece of printer paper too close to her nose. Her head throbbed and she groaned.
“You’re awake?” Rose’s voice rang out from her side. Literally rang, making Violet clench her eyes shut. She moved her head, instantly regretting it as the wave of nausea washed over her.
“The doctor says it’s just a good bump on the head,” Rose stated. “Maybe a very mild concussion. At least you didn’t break anything this time?”
“Ugh… too bright.”
She heard Rose stand, shuffle away, and soon the room was much darker. Violet opened her eyes, feeling a little relieved. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. What the heck happened? I got a frantic call to the house from Jasper, telling me you fell and he’d called an ambulance. Speaking of, I should call and tell him you’re awake. Poor guy sounded beyond distraught.”
Violet stared at the ceiling, her head still throbbing with its own pulse and intention. It was as if her skull had transformed into a subwoofer while she’d been sleeping.
Gradually, the image of what she’d seen before she fell came back to her. She sucked in a breath and closed her eyes. Her entire body trembled.
“Vi, what happened? Do you remember?”
For a long moment, Violet didn’t say a word. She didn’t know how to process what she’d seen. What it meant, or who orwhatit had been. She took a breath, pushing down the intense swirl of confusion. “I just tripped and fell backward. You know how I am, Rosie.”
“I do, but I thought you’d gotten better about that. Sheesh, Violet, you have to be more careful.”
“I know.”
“How do you feel?”
Violet considered. “Like I have the worst hangover in the history of hangovers—but without the wild partying to validate it. Feels like my elbow is burning, too?”
“Yes, you caught yourself on your elbow and saved your skull, thankfully.”
Violet tried moving, just a little, stretching her spine against the hospital bed. She took inventory. Aside from the massive headache and tingly elbow, everything else seemed to be in working order. “So, Jasper called you? He—he’s alright?”
