Mr. Heartbreaker: Black Mountain Academy

“Go ahead then,” he growls. “I don’t need you.”

“I never imagined you did,” I tell him, thoroughly confused.

“Look at you,” he snaps, his voice even more bitter now. “You’re no better than Lindy after all. Going to try both brothers out, hey, Angel? Make sure you show him how good you can move. Give him the whole show.”

My body goes solid. It feels like he hit me and for a minute I can’t catch my breath. Then, before I can question myself, I pull my hand back and slap the hell out of him.

“I really like you, Violet,” Ida Sue murmurs in the background.

I can’t focus on her, I’m too busy shaking with anger and disgust. As my body trembles, Mike brings his hand up and rubs the side of his face. We stare at each other like that for a few minutes, my breathing almost as ragged as the quaking of my body.

“Stay away from me, Mike. I never want to see you again,” I tell him, proud that my voice, at least, was solid.

Then, I walk away from him.21Violet“Just drop me off at the bus stop if you don’t mind,” I murmur from the backseat while staring out the window.

The confrontation with Mike was intense and came out of nowhere. I don’t know how to react. I don’t even know why I like the asshole at this point.

Used to like him.

“Nonsense,” Ida Sue mumbles. “We’ll take you home. You don’t need to be riding a bus this time of night.”

“It won’t be the first time,” I laugh.

“Ida Sue is right. When Mike sobers up, he’ll never forgive me if I let you ride the bus home,” Parker adds.

“I doubt that very seriously, but I don’t really care what he thinks,” I answer, and I’m not lying – I’m done. “Mike Huntington can go suck a brick,” I mumble.

“I don’t think that’s the saying, Violet dear. I think you mean to say he can suck an egg,” Ida Sue intercepts gently.

Parker laughs, and I look up because nothing about this entire evening has been funny. His eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror and I can tell he’s trying to make me feel better – which just embarrasses me.

He’s trying to be nice to me. It probably makes me a bitch, but that just makes me feel worse. I want out of here.

“No, that’s not what I meant to say, but I was trying to be nice and not say Mikey is a dick. Brick was the first thing I could think of that rhymed.”

Ida Sue laughs. I like her. She seems like good people – not that I have many to compare her to, but I can tell she is. I have no earthly idea why she’s friends with the Huntingtons, but I’m trying not to judge her.

“Honey, I’ve raised so many kids that I even lost count, and most of them were boys. You don’t have to be delicate around me. Hell, I’ve seen way too many hot dogs.”

“Hot dogs?” Parker laughs, sounding startled.

“Well, I started to say Vienna sausages, but since you’re a man, I didn’t want to offend you, dear,” Ida Sue responds, and I can see her patting his arm, as if in apology.

“Gee, thanks, Ida Sue.”

“You’re welcome, although you have to know every woman realizes that’s what they look like in rest. Still, we’ll stick with hot dogs to make you feel better.”

“I appreciate it,” he mumbles, and I can tell – even in the mirror – that he’s trying not to laugh.

“You’re welcome, I can even refer to it as a footlong if you want, so you’re sure to keep your pride in one piece around Violet,” she suggests.

“I think I’m going to be a vegetarian from here on out,” I mutter, and this makes both Ida Sue and Parker laugh. I wasn’t trying to be funny, but if it gets us away from this conversation, I’m good.

“I’m just saying that when you get to be my age, the one-eyed, footlong snake loses all of its mysteriousness.”

“It doesn’t matter, I’m swearing off men. They’re nothing but trouble. They’re all assholes, and no offense, Parker, but it’s true.”

“I’m not an asshole,” he says quietly.

“You might think you’re not, but all men are,” I argue with a shrug. “And Mikey was the biggest dick of all. He’s your brother and all, but he’s a major asshole.”

“Mike has a hard time around my father,” Parker murmurs, and I can tell he’s not happy – but he can join the crowd. “I think tonight was extra hard for him and you kind of got the brunt of that. I’m sorry, Violet. I’m sure Mike will kick himself once he sobers up.”

“Do you always apologize for your brother?” I grumble, the apology meaningless. It would be even worse if Mike apologized, because I wouldn’t believe it, anyway.