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“Maybe I did - as a prank,” Lauren said. Violet had to stop herself from punching Lauren in the face. “But you kept it going. You two had plenty of chances to talk about it. I’d hardly say that was my fault.”
Charlie didn’t say anything, and Violet risked a glance at him. His anger had faded, and he looked like he was actually considering what Lauren was saying.
“Hang on,” Violet said. “When did you ever let us talk? Whenever we were at a party together, you were always there. If I remember correctly, you usually egged it on.”
Lauren rolled her eyes. “Of course you would try to blame me for your lack of communication.”
“You know what? Yeah, we suck at communication, but you also did something wrong. You don’t get to absolve responsibility because we also made a mistake. That’s not how this works. Yes, we should have talked it out, but that’s on us and isn’t a part of this conversation. You took Charlie’s laptop, edited my paper, and then lied about it for six years, letting us go on believing it was the other person. That’s not okay. You’re a grown woman, Lauren. Sixth graders have a better understanding of ethics than you do.”
Charlie was looking at Violet again, listening to her with rapt attention.
Was this how Lauren got away with everything? Would she twist words until Charlie questioned himself and why he was even angry?
Violet turned to Lauren. “You’re an abuser, Lauren. You’re manipulative, a liar and a fucking monster.”
“You don’t get to call me that with the things you’ve said to him.”
Violet didn’t need the reminder that she had been a bad person to Charlie. It hurt to hear it, but there was no doubt pain was exactly what Lauren wanted.
Immature people tended to try to get out of things by lying or throwing blame, so they wouldn’t have to bear the full weight of what they had done.
“I’m not perfect, but I’m the only one admitting that, aren’t I?” Violet shook her head. “You did a bad thing. What I’ve done is none of your business, and it’s between me and the person I screwed up with, and that’s Charlie.”
“Lauren, you still haven’t apologized for your comments on Violet’s paper,” Charlie said, finally finding his voice. “You’ve always talked down about Violet to me. You blamed her for everything that went wrong. You tried to stop me from apologizing, for asking what went wrong. And I let you.”
“Charlie, can’t you see she’s manipulating you?” Lauren said.
“Wow,” Violet said. “I am a lot of things, but I am not a manipulator. I don’t need to throw blame because I can easily say what I’ve fucked up on. But obviously you can’t.”
“Fine, then. I’m sorry for you two fighting all the time. I guess I’ll take all the blame!”
“Oh, shut up,” Violet said. “You’re not taking any of it. Try a real apology, Lauren.”
“I obviously already apologized. Nothing is good enough for you.”
“Because you’re saying it now that you’re caught. You made us look like fools for six years, but I’m done with it. You can leave.”
Lauren looked at Charlie.
For a split second, Violet panicked that Charlie wouldn’t back her up - that he’d invite her in to work this out.
Thankfully, she had another place to stay now. If he did forgive Lauren, Violet would leave. Easy enough.
“Yeah, you should go, Lauren,” he said, his voice hard.
Oh, thank God.
“What?” Lauren said sharply.
“I think we’re done here.”
“Oh, whatever.” Lauren rolled her eyes. “When you two are fighting again you’ll come crawling back.”
“No,” Charlie said. “I’m not going to come crawling back. We’re done with everything. This relationship, this conversation. Don’t call me again. Lose my number. Lose my address. I don’t even want to think of you again.”
Violet smirked. Finally!
“You’ll be alone once she’s gone,” Lauren hissed.
