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“And if you do it again,” Charlie added. “I’m going to punch you in the face. You’re a fucking bully, Elijah, and I spent my entire life getting rid of them. I did it for Lewis, and I’ll do it for Violet too. Not that she needs any help.”
Elijah’s face was a deep, painful red. “I - y-you know what,” he stammered, “I don’t even need you people! Fuck all of you!” He stormed off, obviously making a scene. They all sat in a thick silence for a moment, before Lewis spoke.
“What the hell was that?”
“That was Elijah,” Violet replied.
“I’ve never seen him act like that.”
“I have,” both Violet and Charlie said in tandem.
“Yeah, me too,” Liv muttered.
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I tried, honey.” Liv shook her head. “You were determined he was misunderstood.”
“Fuck that. He’s an asshole. When you said had broken it off with Violet, I thought it was a misunderstanding, not that!”
“Yeah, well… That was Violet’s story to tell.”
Liv glanced over at Violet, who was chewing on her lip. She had done well in the face of Elijah’s insults. She was good at dealing with drama in the moment, but Charlie knew it hit her later.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Violet said. “I’ll be in the bathroom.”
Charlie watched Violet go and moved to follow her when Liv did.
“Sorry,” Charlie said. “You go.”
Liv looked between him, and Lewis, who looked shocked he had witnessed his friend’s cruelty.
“Actually, maybe you should go. I think Lewis needs a gentler talk, and you still look like you’re about to fight someone.”
“If he comes back…”
Liv nodded. “You get the first punch. I want the second, though.”
“That may be reserved by Violet.”
“Fine. Then I get the third. You go. Good luck. She’s hard to crack when she’s hurt.”
“Oh, I know,” he replied. “I’ll do my best.”
“Yeah… I don’t doubt it.”
Charlie walked away then, needing to find Violet. He made his way through the people who had obviously witnessed Elijah’s meltdown. Their eyes were wide, and mouths open to ask questions, but he was only worried about Violet.
He found the bathroom, which was the only closed door in the apartment.
Charlie knocked. “Violet, it’s me.”
“What do you want?” She answered, her voice muffled.
“To be there for you. What can I do?”
There was a long moment of silence, and then the door swung open. Violet looked near tears, and Charlie stepped in, shutting the door behind him.
“I can’t believe I can’t make it through one party without fighting with someone.”
