77

VIOLA BENJAMIN

ONE WEEK LATER

THE SUN GLOWS INCREDIBLY bright on this Monday morning, the sunlight surprisingly refreshing regardless of its warmth. It isn't too sweltering so you'd sweat in places you aren't meant to but you also weren't shivering in your school shoes. It's the perfect spring day, the trees are bloomed with greenery and the sidewalk nature strips are painted with seasonal flowers. The front courtyard of Mercy Crest High School is covered in its students loitering the grounds, sitting in groups or kicking around a football amongst the boys. Girls are giggling and talking behind hushed whispers and the younger school kids hold books tightly against their chests, school bags hitched high on their shoulders.

This Monday morning seems surprisingly, perfect.

Viola plays with the hem of her pleated school skirt, a shiny red apple in her other hand as she crosses her legs lady-like underneath the lunch table, intently watching her newest YouTube subscriptions. She barely notices her best friend's presence when Genevieve flicks her forehead, letting out an even giggle as Viola looks up with a glare in her eyes.

"Ouch." She mocks with the roll of her eyes, finishing her apple down to the core before throwing it in the bin. "I was really enjoying myself, you know."

"You were just so focused," Genevieve quirks before sitting down on the opposite seat, dropping her bag to the floor. "I couldn't help myself."

Viola scoffs with a smile, turning her mobile off and slipping it into the pocket of her blazer, repositioning her school tie and leaning forward on her elbows. She stares ahead at her friend, who is retying her dirty blonde locks in a high ponytail atop her head, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

Genevieve pulls out a breakfast bar, taking a large bite from it. "So, where's lover boy?" She speaks around a mouthful of food and Viola cringes distastefully, reaching forward to put her hand underneath Genevieve's chin, closing her mouth shut.

"He should be here any," a pair of hands close over her eyes. "Second."

"Guess who?" A husky voice teases.

"Please tell me it's Cillian Murphy." Viola giggles when Ben scoffs in mock betrayal, removing his hands from her face and taking his rightful spot next to her on the wooden-panelled seat. He hooks one arm around her shoulders and places a tender kiss to her temple.

"You guys are so cute, I could vomit." Genevieve speaks dryly, a smirk etched into her features.

Ben hums, "you're just jealous she likes me more than you." Genevieve rolls her eyes for the umpteenth time and sticks her tongue out childishly, starting a circulation of arguments between the two.

Viola eventually zones out, looking around the school grounds at the different students that make up Mercy Crest. Her eyes quickly zone in on a certain brown haired, chocolate eyed boy who sits lonely on top of the brick wall that levels down to the grass. He has one leg pulled to his chest in order for him to place an elbow to his knee, the other dangling off the edge lazily. Eddie Caufield looks sad and it wasn't exactly a sight Viola was relishing in and she can't help it when she lifts herself from the wooden, discoloured lunch table, making her way to where he sits alone.

She ignores the sudden yelling of her name from behind her, refusing to halt her walk until she is practically under his nose, her presence startling him. Eddie's brown eyes don't hold the familiar spark to them like Viola is used to, but are instead drained, sad and full of regret. A shocked expression overcomes his features at the sight of Viola standing in front of him, her hands on her waist.

"You made a mistake and you said some things that were completely unfair." She looks back towards Ben, both him and her best friend staring intently at their exchange. "Things that were completely unfair to him. Either way, you still belong at that table and we'll be waiting when you're ready."

Viola turns and saunters her way back to where she came from, barely making it far before hearing the heavy footsteps of Eddie running behind her. He catches up with her, his bag on his back and a bind held to his hip as he eyes her cautiously.

"I'm sorry. You don't need to be so nice to me." Eddie says softly, a nervous edge clipping his words. Viola halts, staring back up at him with a small smile.

"People make mistakes Eddie, that's life, but no one deserves to be alone because of it. Imagine if making a mistake meant you had to be alone, the entire world would be lonely." With a final click of her tongue, Viola continues to walk until she's sat safely back beside Ben.

Eddie is the slower of her two, walking forward cautiously as if he was afraid his simple actions would cause chaos amongst the table. Ben motions towards the vacant seat opposite them, besides Genevieve. "Well, are you gonna sit down?" Viola looks up at Ben, a small smile sporting his gentle features.

He follows Ben's orders, an expression of pure relief and gratitude painting the pale skin of his face. Eddie places his hand out in peace and the two boys engage in a brief yet strong handshake, the simple interaction physically easing the heavy air between them.

A moment of silence passes as everyone accustoms to the situation, analysing whether this was an improvement or a poorly thought out decision. Viola settles confidently on the first option, pondering on her mother's advice.

"Well, if no one's gonna slap him I might as well." Genevieve speaks up before sending a thwack to the back of Eddie's head, a hard nip to his skull. Eddie's hand immediately reaches up, his eyes widening at the girl he sits next to. Viola laughs and Ben quickly joins, Genevieve grinning sheepishly as she sends a mere shrug in reply to Eddie's continuous staring.

"Fair enough." He chuckles.

The chuckling soon becomes louder and the air is no longer tense. It was as though every single piece was finally moving into its rightful place and for the first time in her life, Viola felt completely alive. She smiles under the warmth of the sun that blankets the gardens and people below, her hands clasped in her lap as she leans her head on Ben's shoulder. Genevieve keeps flicking the side of Eddie's temple, who stays occupied with swatting her hands away, laughing like it's the funniest thing in the world.

It's all of a sudden so—peaceful and Viola is determined to keep it that way for as long as she possibly can. Just like her mother said, mistakes are meant to be made—life's greatest lessons can quite possibly be learned at the worst of times. Unfortunately, life doesn't come with instructions, it is up to you to decide who the mistakes are.

For Viola, she decides that in this very moment, the three people sitting around her; most definitely aren't.

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