BROKEN BONDS

Oliver's eyes lit up. "Okay, okay! Alright, let's go!"

He followed Violet as she led him deeper into the forest. They walked for a few minutes until they stumbled upon a clearing, where a party was in full swing. Music was blasting, and students from the camp were dancing and laughing together.

Oliver's jaw dropped in shock. "What... how is this possible? I thought everyone was asleep!"

Violet grinned. "Let me guess - you're thinking everyone was asleep, and now you're shocked that they're all here?"

Oliver nodded, still looking stunned. "Seriously, how did...?"

Violet chuckled. "This is a teenagers' camp, remember? Anything can happen, even if the captains know about it."

Oliver shrugged, still trying to wrap his head around the impromptu party. "Okay..."

Violet's eyes sparkled with mischief. "How about we do something fun here?"

Oliver's curiosity was piqued. "Something fun? What do you mean?"

Violet smiled, her lips curling up in a sly grin. "You'll see..."

As Oliver and Violet walked into the party cabin, they were immediately immersed in the lively atmosphere. The music was pulsating, and the air was electric.

Oliver's eyes widened as he took in the scene. "Great," he muttered, looking around at the couples dancing and laughing together.

Violet chuckled. "Come on, let's go!"

As they made their way through the crowd, they stumbled upon a couple making out in the corner. The girl was moaning softly, and the boy was enthusiastically kissing her neck.

Oliver's eyes went wide, and he quickly looked away, his face flushing with embarrassment. Violet giggled and playfully teased him, "Oya, like a kid!"

The couple noticed Oliver and Violet's arrival and sheepishly stopped their makeout session. The girl smiled and waved at Violet, who grinned back at her.

As they walked further into the cabin, Oliver spotted a stunning, shimmering flower in a glass vase. The flower was an exquisite shade of blue and seemed to glow in the dim light.

Oliver's eyes widened in awe. "Wow, it's beautiful!"

Violet smiled, her eyes sparkling with delight. "It's a Luminbloom," she said, her voice filled with wonder.

Oliver's eyes widened further. "It's real?"

Violet nodded. "Yeah, it's real. I know it sounds like a myth, but it's actually real."

The couple who had been making out earlier approached them, still holding hands. The girl smiled at Violet. "You're the one who told us about the Luminbloom, right?"

Violet nodded, and the girl continued, "You said it would bring us closer together, and it really did."

The boy leaned in and kissed the girl softly, and Oliver looked away, feeling a little embarrassed but also happy for the couple.

Violet smiled at Oliver. "Want to dance?" she asked, nodding towards the dance floor.

Oliver's heart skipped a beat. "Yeah, sure," he replied, trying to sound casual despite his excitement.

After their dance, Oliver and Violet walked back to the Luminbloom flower, which was still radiating its soft, ethereal glow.

They sat down next to each other, and Violet asked Oliver about himself.

Violet shared stories about his little sister, who was still in high school, and Violet listened intently.

Then, Oliver talked about his cousin brother, William, who had wanted to attend the camp but had to miss it due to a dentist appointment.

As they chatted, Violet asked Oliver, "So, have you ever dealt with any girl before?"

Oliver hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He wanted to joke about it, but something about Violet's gaze made him feel vulnerable. "Are you okay?" he asked instead.

Violet smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yeah, I'm fine. So, you've never dealt with a girl before?"

Oliver shook his head, feeling a little embarrassed. "I've never really... I don't know, I've just never been good at asking girls out. I've never even thought about it, to be honest."

Violet's expression softened, and she leaned in closer to Oliver. "That means you've never kissed a girl before, either," she whispered.

Oliver's heart skipped a beat as Violet's face drew closer to his. He felt his pulse racing, and his mind went blank. He closed his eyes, unsure of what to do next.

Violet's lips brushed against his, sending shivers down his spine. It was a gentle, soft kiss, but it left Oliver breathless.

As Violet pulled back, Oliver's eyes fluttered open, and he looked at her in wonder. Violet smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and leaned in again.

This time, Oliver was ready. He returned the kiss, feeling a rush of excitement and nervousness.

As they kissed, the world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them, lost in the magic of the moment.

{END OF FLASHBACK}

Oliver jolted awake, gasping for air as he realized he was submerged in the pool.

Disoriented, he looked around, trying to remember how he ended up in the water.

He broke through the surface, his head above water, and took a deep breath.

Then, he hauled himself out of the pool, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.

As he stood there, dripping wet and shivering, Oliver's mind began to clear. He touched his face, feeling the droplets of water clinging to his skin, and suddenly, memories came flooding back.

He recalled his painful breakup with Violet, and how he'd been dreaming about their time together at the summer camp.

The memories of Snow, the party, and the magical night they shared all came rushing back.

Oliver's eyes scanned his surroundings, and he realized he was at the club's swimming pool.

The place was deserted, except for the bar attendants, who were watching him with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Oliver quickly grabbed his belongings and made a hasty exit, eager to escape the memories that lingered in the pool.

As he walked away from the club, he felt a sense of determination wash over him. He was ready to leave the heartache behind and start anew.

****

Snow stepped into the shower, feeling a mix of emotions swirling.

As she washed away the stress and anxiety, she heard Violet's voice immediately she came outside the bathroom door.

"Snow, how do you feel after breaking us up?" Violet asked, her tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Snow sighed, not in the mood for Violet's games. "I don't have time for this, Violet. I'm not really in a good mood this morning."

Violet persisted, her voice firm but controlled. "I'm not looking for a fight, Snow. I just want to know how you feel."

Snow emerged from the shower, wrapping a towel around her body. She looked at Violet, her eyes flashing with a mix of emotions.

"You want to know how I feel? I feel excited, happy... and a pang of horror at the celebration overwhelming me right now."

Violet raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Really? And why's that?"

Snow smirked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because I realized I should have done that sooner cuz I don't want you to be greedy, Violet. I don't want one of my friends to be selfish."

Violet shot back, her voice sharp. "Coming from the queen of selfishness herself."

The tension between them was palpable, the air thick with unspoken words. Snow continued, her voice firm.

"You were never willing to let go, Violet. And I hate people who can't let go, especially when they want to two things at once just like my mother. You know me, Violet."

Violet's expression darkened, her eyes flashing with anger. "We don't know you, Snow. We don't know what you're running from or what made you so cold. You're not our friend; you're just someone we thought we knew."

The conversation ended abruptly, with Violet storming out of the room. Snow watched her go, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She noticed Minnie standing by her door, but Minnie didn't butt in.

"I think I speak for Minnie when I say friend... Cuz I am out." Violet concluded before going into the bathroom.

Snow looked at Minnie but she didn't respond she only walked back into her room, shutting the door behind her.

Snow took a deep breath, feeling a sense of liberation wash over her.

She quickly went into her room, wear her dress and grabbed her bags leaving the suite, deciding it was time for her to move on.

Snow made her way to the lobby, her heart pounding with excitement. She hailed a cab and slid into the backseat, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

As the cab drove away from the hotel, Snow looked out the window, watching the city unfold before her eyes.

______

As Snow walked into her house, she was greeted by the sound of clinking glasses and laughter.

She paid the cab driver and stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room.

Her parents were hosting a gathering, and the living room was filled with guests.

Snow's mom stood up, a bright smile on her face. "Wow, oh, here's my daughter Snow!"

But Snow didn't even acknowledge her mom's greeting. She walked past her parents and the guests, her eyes fixed on the stairs. She didn't say a word, didn't even make eye contact with anyone.

Her mom's smile faltered, and she looked embarrassed. She turned to the guests and whispered, "I'm so sorry, she's having a bad day today."

The vice mayor, one of the guests, chuckled and said, "Girls are like that sometimes. They get moody, you know?"

The guests laughed, trying to diffuse the awkward tension. But Snow's mom was already hurrying after her daughter, her face worried.

As Snow reached her room, her mom burst in, her voice angry. "What was the meaning of that, Snow? You embarrassed me in front of our guests!"

Snow shrugged, her voice detached. "You guys never expected me, so just act like you didn't see me and move on."

Her mom's face turned red with anger. "Snow, I will not tolerate this attitude from you, young lady! You need to respect our guests and your family!"

Snow sighed, her voice rising. "Enough, mom! I'm not in the mood for all this drama. I just came to get my driver's license because the police towed my car."

Her mom's expression turned incredulous. "Who cares about your car? You should be worried about that rusty attitude of yours! Those guests downstairs are important people, Snow!"

Snow shouted back, her voice echoing through the room. "I'm important people, too, mom! And those guests are not important to my life. They're just a bunch of strangers!"

Just as it seemed like the argument between Snow and her mom was going to escalate further, Snow's stepdad appeared at the doorway.

"Enough, honey, please don't stop arguing with her," he said calmly, referring to Snow's mom. "The guests are downstairs, come on, let's go. Just let her be."

Snow shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Yeah, right. Hold your wife, give her something, anything to make her calm down. I don't want to see this drama anymore."

Snow's mom's face turned red with rage. "How dare you!" she exclaimed.

Snow stood her ground, her voice firm. "How dare I? How dare you always try to control me and act like a nice mom?"

Without another word, Snow's mom stormed out of the room, leaving Snow feeling shaken but relieved.

The argument had finally come to an end, but the tension between them still lingered.

As Snow walked out of the house, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had finally escaped the toxic atmosphere of her home, and she was eager to put the argument with her mom behind her.

She walked past the guests again, who were still chatting and laughing in the living room.

Snow didn't even acknowledge them; she just kept walking until she reached the front door.

Once she was outside, Snow hailed a cab and slid into the backseat. As the cab drove away from her house, Snow felt a sense of freedom that she hadn't felt in a long time.

The cab stopped at a junction to pick up another passenger, and Snow noticed a woman sitting down beside her.

It was Mrs Crownwell, William's mom, but Snow didn't recognize her.

Mrs Crownwell, a lively and energetic woman, struck up a conversation with Snow.

"You look like you're fitting to be tied," she said with a chuckle. "What's wrong, dear? You look like you've lost your last friend."

Snow didn't feel like talking, but she didn't want to be rude either. "I'm just heading to the police station," she said briefly.

Mrs Crownwell's eyes widened with interest. "Oh, do you have a case with the police? Did something happen?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

Snow shook her head. "No, I just need to pick up my car. I got a fine for speeding, and they towed my car."

Mrs Crownwell nodded sympathetically. "Ah, I see. Well, I hope everything works out for you. Speeding, huh? You must have been in a hurry."

Snow smiled wryly. "Yeah, I guess I was."

The conversation continued, with Mrs Crownwell chatting about her visit to Crestview University to see her sons. Snow listened politely, responding with brief answers and questions.

As they talked, Snow found herself relaxing in Mrs Crownwell's presence.

The woman's lively energy was infectious, and Snow couldn't help but smile at her jokes and stories.

"I'm so glad I got to meet you," Mrs Crownwell said, as the cab approached Snow's destination. "You seem like a lovely person. Maybe we can catch up again sometime?"

Snow smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Mrs Crownwell. "That would be nice," she said, as she gathered her belongings and prepared to exit the cab.

As Snow stepped out of the cab, Mrs Crownwell called out to her. "Hey, take care of yourself, okay? And don't speed!"

Snow laughed and waved goodbye, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

She was grateful for the distraction, and for the chance encounter with Mrs Crownwell.

It was just what she needed to take her mind off things.