Chapter 32

* * *

It was almost three years ago to the day that I first met Violet, so I suppose it was only natural that I dreamed of her last night. It was one of those hyper-realistic dreams too – the kind where you wake up with a smell or a taste still lingering in your mind as if it were all happening again for the first time. Except for me it was a crystal clear vision.

There she was in the hallway, textbooks clutched in her long graceful fingers, hair so perfect, smooth skin almost glowing as she stood surrounded by her adoring entourage. I'd never met her, but I knew that her name was Violet Bleu. Everybody know her name – boys, girls, teachers – even a little fireplug like me who ran in completely different social circles was aware of Violet Bleu.