Page 1 of A Violet Obsession

1

LILY

10 years ago

“You are killing my vibe.”

“What?” I drag my eyes from watching Finn push the lawn mower back toward the garage and look at my best friend.

Emma pushes her sunglasses to the tip of her nose and gives me a cut-the-shit look before resettling on her towel. “It’s bad enough you like my brother, but could you be a little less dramatic about it?”

My face heats, and it’s not from the warm spring sun. “I’m not being dramatic.”

Emma lets out a groan and pushes up on her elbows again. “Look, Lily, I love you. And obviously, you have exceptional taste in who you hang out with.” She gestures at her bikini-clad body with a smirk. “But Finn? Really?” She rises to her knees and pretends to retch over the side of her back deck where we’re sunning ourselves.

“Yeah, I’m the dramatic one.” Despite my embarrassment, I can’t help but smile at her.

Emma folds her legs in front of her and pushes the sunglasses into her blonde hair like a headband. “Seriously, babe. You’ve got to snap out of it. There are so many other cute guys out there to crush on.” She scrunches her nose. “Even if I were to ignore the fact that he’s my brother, he’s a nerd. And the glasses—how do you even kiss someone with glasses? Like, where do they go?”

“You being an expert on kissing and all.” I roll my eyes.

“Fair point. But we’re fourteen now. It’s only a matter of time.”

For her, maybe.

With Emma’s perfect, golden skin, slim body, and waist-length blonde hair, she’s already getting looks from the boys in our grade and older. I’m not a troll, but I know that when I’m standing next to her, no one is looking at her chubby, pale friend with the frizzy, carrot hair.

I’m not jealous. Truly. Even if I didn’t love the girl like a sister, I’m not interested in any of those boys. The only boy I’ve ever cared about barely knows I’m alive. I swear, sometimes Finn looks at me across the Markham’s dinner table like he’s surprised to find me there, even though I eat at their house at least once a week.

“You and the sighing.” Emma moans dramatically. “You sound like those ladies in that weird vampire movie you made me watch.”

My forehead wrinkles. “I never made you watch a vampire movie.”

“Yes, you did. Last week. Those ladies in the lacy dresses.” She waves her hand in the air. “Using all those old-timey words, and they kept sighing over that pale guy with the sideburns.”

“Old-timey words? What does that even mean?” My jaw drops. “Are you talking about Pride and Prejudice?”

Emma’s face brightens. “Is that what that was? We’re supposed to read that for our spring honors project, right?”

I blink at her, not sure if she’s screwing with me. “That’s why we were watching it. You said you didn’t want to read it, and the movie would be just as good.”

“Huh? That does sound like something I would say.”

“Maybe if you hadn’t been on your phone the whole time…”

“Ooo! That reminds me.” Her face lights up, and she leans over her crossed legs excitedly. “When I was talking to Caleb yesterday, he said Tyler’s parents are going out of town this weekend, and he’s going to have a party.”

“No.”

“Liiilllly.” She whines, drawing out my name. “C’mon, please? I can say I’m sleeping at your house, and you can say you’re at mine. Everyone is going to be there.”

I groan. “My parents aren’t like yours. If I get caught, I’m dead. You know how strict they are.”

“We won’t get caught.” She flashes me a smile.

“Yes, we will. If everyone is going to be there, then we will definitely get caught. My parents will ground me for the rest of my life if they find out I was somewhere people were drinking. You know how they are about alcohol.”

Emma pushes her lower lip out in a pout. “What if I told you Caleb said Tyler was asking about you?”