⟡ ݁₊ . 💒. 𝓛ET 𝓣HE 𝓛IGHT 𝓘N. . . ୨ৎ .ᐟ
( 010. ) ━━ ❛ sharpest tool in the shed. ❜

violaharlow_

liked by honeysmith, christophersturniolo, matthew.sturniolo and 3,028 others

violaharlow_ ⸝⸝☆*:·👚♡🪡

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user gorgeous gorgeous girl
liked by matthew.sturniolo, julian7lahey

rorysant bitch gtfo chase atlantic is my thing
↳ violaharlow_ ALRRRRR IT FITS MY SITUATION RN OK 😣😣😣😣
↳ rorysant LMFAOOOOO
↳ christophersturniolo Rory quit beefing and go back to our book
↳ rorysant ew since when do you text with caps tf

user face card never declines i fear

ianp0rter now viola where were u when we were all getting high...
↳ violaharlow_ i got kidnapped by matt sorry ian 🫤
↳ ianp0rter that TRAITOR

user bro not the ian gallagher knockoff
↳ aelinslegend alr...

honeysmith WIFEYYYYYY

honeysmith can you like not serve for once
↳ violaharlow_ that's impossible i'm afraid! 😇

dani.anderson stunner
liked by violaharlow_

user me waiting for matt's comment likeee
↳ user bro ur psychotic

nicolassturniolo Ur just perfect
↳ violaharlow_ QUIT ITTTT UR THE CUTEST 💝💝💝💝

matthew.sturniolo Hi
↳ violaharlow_ hi

user HI???? ARE WE DEADASS
↳ ianp0rter shhh let him cook
↳ christophersturniolo Facts

matthew.sturniolo Thought you hated cold water
↳ violaharlow_ i still jumped in didn't i?
↳ matthew.sturniolo I have a feeling that the water temperature isn't the reason you jumped in
↳ violaharlow_ well that feeling is wrong!
↳ matthew.sturniolo Mk sure
↳ violaharlow_ STOP SAYING MK

matthew.sturniolo has posted to their story!

♫ . . . poison, brent faiyaz
❛ girl, you do damage to me
but i love it, yeah i love you
ain't nothing better for me now. ❜

♡ by violaharlow_, dani.anderson, and others

𝓐 𝓦EEK has passed, and viola has been breezing through life. she's not felt this alive since before julian dumped her, and speaking of him, she hasn't thought about the boy once. though how could she, after everything that's happened?

she stares at her reflection in the vanity mirror, barely registering the way her fingers twist absently, still reaching for the necklace that isn't there. the soft morning light spills through her curtains, painting her skin in a warm golden hue, but she hardly notices.

instead, all she can think about is matt.

it's ridiculous, honestly. it's been a whole week since that night at the lake, and yet the memory of it clings to her. she has every second of the moment memorized: the feel of the cool water against her skin, the moonlight glinting off his wet hair, the way he'd looked at her right before she kissed him — like she was something he wanted. like it wasn't fake anymore.

viola exhales sharply, shaking her head at herself in an attempt to dislodge the thoughts from her mind. it doesn't work. she's barely slept all week, because every time she closes her eyes, she's back in the water with her heart pounding and hands shaking. how she felt that night is unlike anything she's ever experienced, something that makes her chest feel like it's both too full and completely hollow at the same time.

the worst part of it all is that she has absolutely no idea what it meant, not really. it was just a kiss after all. a real one, sure, but matt hasn't said anything about it since. maybe he doesn't think it was a big deal. maybe to him, it was just something that happened. he's probably kissed a lot of girls, so this was probably nothing.

yet here she is, spiraling, and unable to think about anything else.

viola groans, dropping her head against the vanity. she knows she's being absolutely and undeniably stupid. she forces herself to sit up, starting to run a brush through her hair. she has important things to do today, the first being to attend deb rehearsals. the last thing she needs is to show up and look like she hasn't slept in days in front of evelyn and cassidy and all of the other bitches there she can't stand.

focus, she tells herself.

she moves absentmindedly through the motions of getting ready — applying moisturizer, some concealer, blush, mascara — but her mind refuses to settle. it drifts, like it's been doing all week, back to that moment in the water.

back to the way matt had frozen when she kissed him, just for a second, just long enough for her stomach to plummet with fear that she had made a mistake. but then, all at once, he had kissed her back, pulling her closer like he had been waiting for it. his hands on her waist, his body against hers, the taste of lake water on his lips — it's burned into her memory now, like an imprint she can't erase.

her heart races at the thought, a ridiculous rush of warmth spreading through her limbs. she can't help but think of how unfair this is. she's not sure she's ever felt this way about anyone before, and not knowing how matt feels about it all is driving her insane.

she wishes she could just ask him, without that complicating anything. she wishes she could be the kind of person who's able to just say what they're feeling rather than overanalyzing everything to the point of exhaustion. that's never been her though, and it's leaving her unsure of how to navigate whatever this is between them.

all she knows is that it's taking up space in her head, in her chest, in her whole damn body — and no amount of brushing it aside seems to work.

viola sighs, standing up from the vanity and reaching for a pair of denim shorts and a yellow tank top. the fabric feels smooth under her fingertips as she pulls on the clothes, then adjusting them until they feel right. she should be focused on the deb ball, not matt. definitely not matt.

but as she catches one last look at herself in the mirror, her lips tangle with the memory of his, and she knows it's hopeless.

a moment later, she's downstairs, yelling goodbye to her parents as she rushes out onto the street. she grabs her bike from the porch, wind whipping in her face as she begins to pedal. her car is still broken, and in the midst of everything else that's been going on, she's completely fogotten about it. so, she's stuck riding her stupid bicycle until she gets her life together and takes it to the shop.

besides, biking is sort of fun, and makes her feel like she's a kid again.

this lightness fades however, as she nears the country club. the moment she sees the grand entrance, memories start to creep in again. not just of matt at the lake, but the last rehearsal when she stormed out after evelyn and cassidy pushed her too far.

she continues forward, ignoring the tightening nerves in her stomach as she locks up her bike and heads inside. the rehearsal room is already buzzing with activity, with girls chatting and staff members rushing around. viola takes a deep breath and walks inside — only to immediately regret it.

the two blonde girls spot her instantly, and the smirks that curl onto their lips make her stomach twist.

"look how decided to show up," evelyn says, crossing her arms. "thought you ran off for good last time."

cassidy giggles. "we hoped you did."

viola's jaw clenches. she really doesn'y have the patience for this today.

"seriously, though," evelyn goes on, tilting her head. "is it weird? knowing you're playing happy couple with a guy your friend is in love with?"

"go fuck yourselves," viola retorts. evelyn and cassidy exchange an amused glance before viola turns on her heels and walks off before they can get another word in. her hands are unwillingly shaking, and she hates it.

she pointedly avoids daniella as she walks through the hall. not because she's mad at her — dani has done nothing wrong — but because viola has no idea how to talk to her. she doesn't know how to look her in the eye, knowing what she knows. knowing they like the same guy and that viola practically stole her from him, even if she wasn't aware of it at the time.

it makes her feel sick.

and guilty.

but before she can think too hard about it, she's intercepted by gloria, who frowns at her and crosses her arms.

"viola."

viola sighs. "i know. i'm sorry i ran out last time. it wasn't okay."

"no, it wasn't," gloria agrees, stern. "promise me it won't happen again."

viola forces a polite smile. "of course."

gloria eyes her for a second longer before nodding approvingly and walking off. the moment she's out of sight, viola rolls her eyes. she then proceeds to make her way toward the refreshment table, reaching for a glass of orange juice. she's just about to take a sip when she spots a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye.

he's across the room, helping stack a load of chairs, lifting them like it's nothing. his sleeves are pushed up, exposing his forearms. viola's heart stutters involuntarily.

she's just about to go over and talk to him when a figure suddenly blocks her path. she looks upwards, and finds chris smiling down at her. she blinks in surprise. "hey."

"hey yourself," chris grins, leaning against the table.

not entirely sure what to say and slightly scared she's going to accidentally blurt out i like your brother but we're in a fake relationship, so i don't know what to do, viola decides to ask: "how's the setup going?"

"ah, you know," chris shrugs. "boring as fuck, honestly, but at least i'm getting paid." he flashes her another grin, eyes twinkling with his signature charm.

viola can't help but laugh, a soft sound escaping her before she can stop it. she's been so confused and on edge about her feelings lately that the ease of his presence is honestly a relief. "fair enough honestly."

chris nods, letting out a small chuckle. a moment later, he leans in a little closer, voice dropping to a playful whisper. "seriously though, i gotta say — matt's really lucky to have you. you were always chill as fuck in high school, but also super nice to everyone, y'know?"

viola feels her cheeks heat up, and she shifts a tad awkwardly on my feet. "i guess," she murmurs. "i'm just..." she trails off, unsure what to even say.

chris gives her a knowing look. "trust me, whatever you're doing, it's cool. you like, bring life into a place, if ya know what i mean?" he continues to smile at her. "it's obvious to everyone except matt, i swear." he pauses, then adds, "well, he's not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to that stuff."

viola lets out a small laugh, despite herself. it causes chris to grin, clearly pleased that she's playing along. "what i'm really trying to say it, i think it's great that you two are—" he cuts himself off, scanning the room like he's trying to find the right words. "you know, hanging out and all. i'm glad to see him with someone like you."

the casual mention of hanging out hits her like a ton of bricks. matt. her and matt. hanging out. if what happened at the lake can even be called hanging out. she has no idea. it's driving her insane, but she refuses to let her thoughts drift away again, not with chris looking so genuinely happy for her.

"well, uh, thanks," she says, clearing her throat. "i think it's going..." she pauses, realizing she doesn't even know how it's going. "...good. it's good. i mean, we're just, um... figuring it out."

"yeah?" chris crosses his arms. "well, if you ever need any advice on dealing with matt's dumbass, i'm your guy. i know all his little quirks." he laughs then, shaking his head. "he tries to be nonchalant, but he's actually a bit of a weirdo, but i bet you've probably figured that out by now, huh?"

viola snorts, the sound slipping out before she can stop it. "yeah, i've noticed."

chris beams, pleased by her reaction. "i'm just glad he's finally got someone who's good for him." he pauses for a moment, his smile softening. "seriously though, if you ever need anything, let me know. i don't want him to lose you — you're good for him."

viola swallows, feeling a weird mix of guilt and warmth at his words. she feels bad — chris has no idea none of this is fake.

"thanks, chris. it means a lot," she says quietly, her voice betraying her.

chris just nods, the bright grin never leaving his face. "anytime. i'm always here to talk about matt's embarrassing moments, too. i've got a bunch, trust me." viola laughs again, this time a little more easily.

"i might take you up on that," she says with a smile.

"anytime," chris repeats, giving her a playful wink. "now go talk to him, huh? he's probably glaring daggers at me right now for talking to his girl."

viola hesitates, her heart fluttering at the thought of seeing and speaking to matt again. she swallows nervously, now unable to look chris in the eye. "yeah, i—" she shuts her mouth, unsure of how to finish that sentence. "i'll... see you around."

chris waves her off, already distracted by someone else calling his name from across the room. "later, vi!"

viola watches him go, the warmth of his smile still lingering, though it doesn't last for long. her gaze drifts back to matt, and her heart skips when she sees who he's talking to.

daniella. of course.

matt's easy laugh rings through the room, and it feels like a stab to