Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it


Violet


I woke up this morning feeling dizzy with the bland taste of alcohol left on my tongue. The room was spinning, and my stomach was doing triple back-flips. Afraid that I would puke all over the place, I decided to stay underneath the duvet of my comfortable bed for several minutes longer.


“Mmm. Violet?” Esther sleepily groaned from across the room. Before I could even attempt to respond to the call of my name, she grabbed the trashcan by her bed and threw up in it. “Shit. Are you—are you as hungover as I am?”

I mustered up what little energy I had to shake my head. “You were completely wasted last night, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t come close to becoming as drunk as you,” I said weakly.

“Are you sure? Because you seemed pretty shitfaced when I saw you dancing with that boy. Ugh, what’s his name?” She closed her eyes in an effort to collect her thoughts. “Harry. Yeah, that's it. Anyway, I didn’t know that someone like him could be your type. The two of you looked like you really hit it off.” My roommate winked at me, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

“Nothing happened between us,” I assured her as I forced myself out from under the sheets. Nothing too big anyways. I mentally noted.


I hated to believe I wasn't being 100% truthful when I told her that. Technically, what she was implying did not happen. Before we could get much further—not that I wanted to—Harry left the party, and I didn't try to stop him. It upset me that I barely knew the guy, yet I was ready to let him do things to me that a complete stranger shouldn't even have the opportunities to do.


“Hey, you know what?” Esther thankfully interrupted my train of thought. “I think today's the day we have to get our pictures taken again,” She announced before rolling out of bed and walking into the bathroom to fix up her hair.

“What pictures?” I inquired, slipping off my shirt, once she came out of the restroom.

“Didn't anyone tell you? We have to take a new I.D. picture every year. It's stupid if you ask me.”


The 'picture day' thing sounded vaguely familiar, but I guess it just slipped my mind. I started to walk toward my dresser but had to stop in the middle of the room because of the sharp pain shooting through my head. I winced from the migraine but proceeded with searching for some suitable clothes. I picked out a black leather skirt, a light red tank, and a navy blue denim jacket. I laid the clothes out across my bed and put them on before styling my hair into sock-bun and looking for a pair of shoes. I ended up deciding to wear my black converse because I really didn’t want to walk in heels all day. Hell, I didn't really feel like doing anything today.


“You look like a hot mess.” I heard Esther chuckle.

I studied my appearance in the bathroom mirror while quickly brushing my teeth and gargling with mouthwash. “I can't say I disagree with you there. They start photographing people at 10:30, right?” I asked her as I exited the washroom, and she nodded her head. “Well I’m going to head down there now because it’s 10:20. Are you coming with?”

Esther shook her head. “Nah. I met someone last night, and he knows that I’m going to be there, so I’m going to arrive fashionably late.” She smiled as she plopped back down on her bed, pulling out her phone.


I rolled my eyes before bidding her goodbye and leaving the dorm. I slowly walked down the stairs in the direction of the A.V. room. On my way there I stumbled across many people in the hallway who looked as horrid as I did, but I felt a lot worse than I led on. The nausea was still present, and all I wanted to do was throw up, especially when I felt an arm snake around my waist.


“Hello, love. How's the recovery coming along? You look great,” The deep voice beside me muttered into my ear.

“What do you want Harry?” I grumbled, choosing to overlook the false compliment. I just wanted to get my picture taken, go back to my room, take a hot shower, and fall asleep.

“Have we changed our minds about each other so soon, Violet?” His heart-shaped lips turned up in a smirk as soon as my name left his mouth.

“Yes, we have,” I responded in an instant.

Harry threw his head back in a laugh at my immediate response, dimples popping out of his cheeks. “Well darling, you might have changed your mind, but I certainly have not. The offer still stands. You should think it over,” He informed me before jogging ahead to chat with some guy by the A.V. room.

I sighed while trailing behind him. Why would I think twice about something so artificial? Lust is only fun until you get left for—“Ehem. Name?” I discontinued my thought to look up at the man with the brown clipboard blocking my path to the entrance.

“Violet Rivers,” I answered while crossing my arms.

The guy looked from me to the list on his clipboard and stepped aside. “Okay. You can go in there now.”


I thanked him before joining the rest of my classmates, most of whom were still hungover, in the crowded room. I walked past Harry, who was leaning up against the wall in deep thought, without exchanging a single word. Once I was seated in one of the office chairs, I yawned heavily into the palm of my hand. My head was pounding even harder than it was when I awoke, and I didn’t know if I could withstand the flash of the camera in my eyes.


“Excuse me, but are you Violet Rivers?” I heard a raspy voice ask. I peered up to find a beautiful man holding a camera in his hand.

“Yeah, that's me.” I rose to my feet, forcing a smile.

“I’m Hugo, and I’ll be taking your picture today,” The man said. “Would you mind sitting on that stool for me, so I can get you settled in for your photo?” he asked, pointing to the stool in front of the colored wax paper. I nodded my head and walked around him to sit down on the chair.

Hugo approached me and readjusted my hands, so that they were on my knees instead of folded in my lap and tilted my chin up a little, grinning. “Perfect, stay exactly as you are.” He walked back to where his camera stand was and snapped about three shots before meeting my eyes with a frown. “What's the problem?”

I was too embarrassed to admit that I was hungover, so I thought of something else to say on the spot. “Sorry, Hugo. I guess I’m just not feeling this whole picture thing,” I said truthfully.

The man chuckled. “You went to the Delta Nu Rave last night didn’t you?” he asked instead, and suddenly I felt my cheeks flush. “Okay, well, let’s try this again, and I want you to give me a real smile. Think of Love Actually or something. That shit make girls happy, right?”

I rolled my eyes at his cheesy attempt to get me to smile and frowned. “Not this girl.” I sighed again. “No matter how hard you try, this picture isn't going to come out nicely.”

He looked up from the camera lenses and told me on a more serious note that, “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” The sincerity behind his line made me grin, and he quickly snapped the camera, taking my picture. “All done, love. You’re picture perfect.” He beamed, earning another smile from me.

“Thanks.” I stood up from the stool to walk away, but then Hugo stepped in front of me.

“Hey, I'm sure you get this quite a lot, but I think you’re a pretty girl, Violet, and I’d love to see more of that smile,” He whispered in my ear before handing me a crumpled piece of paper. “So if you ever feel like showing me again, just call.” I bit my lip, and he sent me a wink before moving behind his camera again.


I blushed, failing to suppress the smirk that had just carved its way into my face, and stuffed the looseleaf paper inside my coat pocket. And I only smiled even wider when I walked by Harry on my way out of the Photography room. I recognized that look in his emerald eyes; it was a sight I knew insanely well. My mother always use to tell me 'jealousy brings out the worst in people,' but it wasn't until later this evening that I realized she might actually be right.

Notes

Here's the second update from me. And I hope you like it! The next update will be from M, and I am excited!! Please tell me what you think. -K. xx