Archive of Our Own ^beta

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As Vi walked to the principals office, blood dripping down her face, she thought about why she got into this fight in the first place. Some jock was hollering at Caitlyn and Vi got mad.

Cait and Vi had been dating for about a year now but nobody else knew that. After all, Caitlyn was popular, smart, she wouldn't be caught dead with a mark lower than a %95. Meanwhile Vi had a C average and was constantly getting into fights. Besides Cait wasn't out yet and she needed to protect her reputation. Vi understood, even if it hurt a little.

"Ms.Kiramman, would you care to explain what caused your outburst today?" Vi didn't know why Silco had dragged her here for the millionth time. They both knew the drill by now. 2 weeks of detention and mandatory "Therapy" sessions with the school counselor. 

When Vi finally walked out of the principals office she saw Caitlyn strolling through the hall. "Hey cupcake." Caitlyn kept walking. "Please look at me." "I'm sorry." Caitlyn finally turned around. "You're sorry?" "Unless sorry can fix what you just did, those words aren't worth anything to me." Vi went quiet. "They're all gonna think we're lesbians!" "Well we are." "They don't know that!" Caitlyn speed walked away with a sour expression on her face.

For a lot of people home was where a lot of people relaxed. Not Caitlyn. Ever since her mom died her dad got 2 times more overprotective. He was well meaning but extremely overbearing. Caitlyn had managed to find a way around most of her dad's rules. That came in handy, especially tonight since Vi had asked her to come to a party with her. Even though she was still mad at Vi, she said yes.

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As Vi knocked on the door with her right hand and a six pack of beer in the other she thought about Caitlyn and wether or not Caitlyn had fully forgiven her by now. Vi felt like it wasn't that big of a deal but she would never say that to her. After all, things like this really mattered to Caitlyn.

When someone finally opened the door, Vi was appalled to see that was the same jock that had caused this whole situation between her and Caitlyn. The both of them made intense eye contact. He didn't look to happy to see her either. The jock was the first one to break the silence. "That better be some good beer if you wanna be let in." Vi rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Just take the damn beer." She swore under her breath before shoving the beer into his chest and walking off.

 As Caitlyn sat on the couch becoming increasingly aware of the juniors making out beside her with each passing minute. Eventually the crude noises coming from the couple became unbearable and she stood up to get herself some beer. She usually didn't drink and was certain she was gonna start spewing out nonsense (and her guts) after one bottle, after all her alcohol tolerance was shockingly low. It was something that Vi always made fun of her for. As she scanned the counter top for beer she finally found it. But in the hands of a smug quarterback with a black eye. Caitlyn recognized him immediately. The guy that was hitting on her. He sat the six pack down with a resounding thud and started making his way towards her. "So... I think we were talking the other day before being interrupted by your girlfriend." "Cut it out! She's not my girlfriend." Her tone had a kind of defensive edge she'd never heard in herself before. His eyes widened. "Hey relax, I just joking with ya, alright feisty."

Caitlyn looked away. She wanted to go home. She regretted coming here in the first place. She was about to walk away when she felt a tight hold on her arm. "Let go of me. Now." "You know I like them fiesty." A stupid smirk flashed across his face. She started to panic. He pulled her even closer. "Stop it. Now." She could smell the beer on his breath. Before she could say anything else. He kissed her. She used her other hand to sock him in the side of the head and ran into the bathroom.

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Vi slumped down on the door in front of the bathroom. She wondered if she was holding Caitlyn down. Vi took another swig of her beer. She didn't want to deal with her emotions right now. She would much rather get drunk. Before she stood up to go find some stronger alcohol. She heard a quiet sob. Caitlyn. Was it her? She had to take a chance. She opened the door, and found Caitlyn sitting on a toilet seat with her head in her hands. Vi felt like a jerk. "Cait, what happened." "Don't worry about it." Caitlyn tried to smile but it wasn't very convincing with her mascara running down her face. "God, I'm a mess." "No." "What?" Caitlyn cocked her head to the side in confusion. "You're perfect." Vi stared at her face with an expression that meant "I'm drunk and I love you." And Caitlyn got every word of it. Caitlyn wiped her face. "Let's go home. I don't want to have to deal with that ass again." "What ass?" Vi furrowed her eyebrows. "The dude outside. He kissed me and I punched him in the face." Caitlyn let out a sort of chuckle into a sob. " I guess we've both punched him now."

Vi stood up and walked out of the bathroom. Then she grabbed her empty beer bottle. What was she doing. She walked up to him. This was not good. She tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around. She needed to stop. She raised the bottle. No. Broken glass and blood spilt out on the floor. No. No. No. No. Jinx emerged from behind Vi. Her band was performing at the party. The momentum of what Vi had just done set in. Jinx cried out. "What the fuck! You murdered him. You goddamn did it. You killed him." Vi ran out the door. She ran past the block. Past the neighborhood. She didn't know where she was running. She didn't want to know. She just wanted to run.

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Vi stared aggressively at her forearm. Her palms were clammy and rough. Her eyes still under the mist of alcohol. She got up and started punching a wall. She didn't stop until her knuckles bloomed crimson patches of blood, dripping on the floor. The blood made her think of what she had done. She threw up, the taste of bile slick on her tongue. What happened after the party? She was so, so confused. She felt like she was about to topple over. A text buzzed out from her phone. It was Caitlyn. She didn't read the text for fear of feeling more than she already was. Her socks were damp, her face was bruised and so was her ego. She didn't have anywhere to go. She sure as he'll wasn't going to go to those assholes the government called her foster parents, and none of her friends could take her in without being in danger themselves. Maybe she could stay at a motel until the whole thing calmed down. Who was she kidding. She killed somebody. This would not calm down. She would have to skip town and she would fade into oblivion as a suburban legend. She needed to go home and pack an overnight bag.

   As she stood in front of the door, she sucked in her breath before fumbling to get her keys off her carabiner. She opened the door and saw Jinx and Ekko lying on the couch together. "Vi, where the hell have you been?" Vi stepped inside. "I need to get some things. I'll be gone soon." Jinx's eyes focused on the disheveled appearance of her sister. "You don't have to leave. There's a cabin on the outside of town. I could drop off food for you. We could even fix it up and put some of your posters on the wall." Vi thought about it. She was pretty much broke and had no way of transportation to another city. "Okay. I need to pack first." Jinx rose from the couch. "What happened to you?" Ekko was watching them from the couch still silent. The handle of the front door shook. They all looked to the door with the same panicked expression. Ekko ran upstairs to climb out the window like he normally did when their foster parents came back. Vi stayed put. She had something she needed to do. Vi's foster mother had the same reaction you would have when seeing a dead rat on the doorstep to Vi standing in front of her. "Why are you here. You are a disgusting disgrace to this family." Vi tilted her head and smirked. "This isn't my family. You aren't my parents." Vi's foster mother lunged at her and immediately started clawing. Vi tried her best to stay a moderate length away as she continued to smack her. A large hand fell on the woman's shoulder. She ceased the clawing and stepped back. Thump. Vi fell to the floor as the fist hit her face. Her foster father stood over her, his figure illuminated by the antique lamp behind him. Blood pooled onto the carpet. Jinx had started to cry, begging them to stop.

She would. Be able to get away soon. Soon.