Turn Me Bad

”I’m not making out anything!” Violet retorted.

“No? Well, maybe it’s because you’re looking down your nose at all the guys that they don’t want you.”

”If you think I’m going to be taking advice on men from you, you’re gravely mistaken.”

“What are you saying about Jeremy?”

”Nothing, he’s my brother and you found a good one in the end, but you took a few wrong turns on the way, didn’t you?” Violet asked.

”Oh, what are you implying now?” Caitlin spit back.

”I’m just sticking up for myself, Caitlin.”

”You’re suggesting your brother’s girl is a… a what exactly?”

”I said nothing of the sort,” Violet replied.

The truth was she had thought it a few times, but name calling was childish and she would not have said it in front of Jeremy anyway. Presumably, he saw some good qualities in the girl – other than the obvious curves and confidence.

Bite her lip she might, but Violet felt that she had fully lost the exchange. Not only had her opponent managed to put her down, she had somehow managed to gain the moral high ground at the same time. Also, with the audience being the man Caitlin was sleeping with, expecting anything but an indifferent ear was absurd.

Storming out of the room and upstairs because the odds against her were impossible, Violet lay on her bed trying but failing to calm down. All she could picture was Caitlin’s bragging face for getting one over on her, again. Not being a violent person, the urge to grab hold of the girl’s dreadlocks and drag her kicking and screaming like girls in a school playground was infuriating. Lacing her with an aggression she knew could be put to no use whatsoever.

Most probably it had been Caitlin’s plan to get Jeremy on his own anyway, which served up another image she really didn’t need. Her mind would just not settle without a distraction. A book or some internet chat room would not be powerful enough to do the trick, so instead she picked up the phone and called her best friend Abby.

She needed someone to talk to, and, although becoming paranoid lately that she owed far more compassion back Abby’s way, in one respect Violet was lucky in that her friend was also the most thoughtful person she had ever met.

”Hey, you,” came Abby’s bright voice on the other end, already soothing Violet’s aggression a little just through hearing it.

”Hey, my friend. Is this a good time?”

”It’s always a good time for you, sweetie,“ Abby replied, in that wonderful way she had of making her feel so at ease. ”What’s up? You sound a little tense.”

”You’re a perceptive girl, as usual. I just had to talk to someone; I’ve just had another argument with that–“

For some reason, she could just not bring herself to use the word ”sl*t” when referring to her brother’s girlfriend.

”With that Caitlin?”

”Yeah! Miss I’m So Free and Easy with My Advice – as well as other things.”

”You know she’s probably just envious of you, Vio.”

”Oh! Come on!“ Violet replied, managing a laugh in hearing that Abby could also be wide of the mark as well as perceptive. “That’s a nice try, but she’s not envious of anyone, unless it’s some Hollywood glamour model who gets all the celebrities she can’t reach.”

”I’m not so sure, you know. You’ve got all the academic achievements in the household. I’d say that’s riling her. You’ve all the brains and commitment she could never muster.”

”She doesn’t care about all that,“ said Violet. ”She just thinks everyone should be like her. I think she wants to wind me up so much that I run and jump into some bozo’s arms just for the sake of it. Then she and Jeremy can have the house to themselves.”

”Even if that’s true, it means you’re the one who’s winning, Vio. She knows you’ll always be first in your family’s eyes, no matter how much she gets her feet under the table.”

”Trust you to put a positive spin on things,“ Violet said, managing a smile.

”What is it that winds you up about her so much anyway?”

”Well, you know,“ Violet began, with the help of her friend feeling she could actually approach the core of her problem. ”I guess it’s because – in some ways – I know she’s right.”

”What are you talking about there? Don’t let her words poison your mind.”

”I’m not, but… she’s always going on about me not be outgoing and, I’ve got to admit, I’ve no idea how to put myself out there like her. I haven’t had a flirty conversation since that heavy breather who called the office last year.”

“Rushing these things can be far worse than taking it easy, Vio. If you’re desperate, you might just end up with the wrong guy.”

”I know, but if Mr. Right is out there, then how am I really going to meet him? I’m clueless, Abby, and I’ve started to get an awful feeling that time is flying by very quickly.”

”Nonsense.”

”Or maybe I just want to rub her face in it, you know.”

“Ha! More likely, but pay no attention to that bimbo. I know if I need advice which one of you I’d be listening to.”

Chatting for a little longer with Abby served to calm Violet down. By the time they hung up and she decided to get some sleep, much of the anger had dissipated, but there was still something nagging her. Perhaps not anger, so much as claustrophobia. Her breathing was heavy as if she was trapped but, worse than this, she keenly felt the burden of being alone with two young lovers so close by.