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PartOne
THE HUNT
ChapterOne
The world is too big to stay in one place.The words from our valedictorian roll around in my head, taunting me as I stand and walk down the center aisle to accept my diploma. I don’t bother to look at the stands in hopes of seeing a familiar face there for me as I shake the principal’s hand.
Uncle John is probably passed out drunk on the couch. I learned a long time ago not to hope for any type of warm, fuzzy declaration of pride or love from him. He’s barely tolerated my presence over the past seven years since my parents were killed in an avalanche and he became my begrudging guardian.
He manages to hold himself together during ski season while he works as an instructor and ski patroller, but as soon as the snow melts, he’s drunk or high day in and day out. He tried to be a parental figure the first year, but his resentment seemed to grow with each degree of the summer heat. He would rather be down in the Andes, chasing powder year round than saddled with a sad orphan.
“Way to go, Violet!” Mr. and Mrs. Rosenbluth, my best friend’s parents, shout as my name is called. If it weren’t for Rosie and her family, I don’t know where I’d be. They are the closest thing to a real family that I have had in years, and my stomach sours as the guilt from my earlier thoughts hits me.
Mrs. Rosenbluth reaches down to hug me as I walk past. “We’re so proud of you, sweetie. I want you over for family dinner tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I squeeze her back gratefully.
Mr. Rosenbluth is next to embrace me. “Greg and Anne would be so proud of you. They’re looking down on you right now.”
“Thank you,” I say as my eyes sting with tears I’ll never allow to fall.
My cap is flicked off my head as I walk back down toward my seat and I feel him before I see him. West Larson. My bully. My first best friend. My nemesis.
“Have you fucked Rosie’s dad yet, Violet? Maybe you should have put a rhinestone ‘A’ on that cap.” He speaks just loud enough to draw the attention of our other classmates in the vicinity.
Angry heat erupts over my cheeks. “You wish I’d give you the time of day. The way you’ve followed me around since we were kids. You weren’t good enough then and you aren’t now.”
“I don’t need mounty trailer trash.”
“Come on,” Cody Matthews, one of West’s best friends and the second third of their triad of terror, wraps his arm around West’s shoulders. “Let’s finish this shit and find some pussy to pound before we go hunting.” The look he gives me with those honey brown eyes of his sends chills down my spine.
There’s a rumor going around that West, Cody, and Blake Adamson are planning a hunt this summer. I’ve heard everything from a regular hunt to picking a person to drop in the woods, chasing them like an animal. It could be nothing. I try to avoid those three as much as possible, but they make that really difficult because I’m their favorite target.
They make sure to remind me of my place at every possible turn. Painting ‘mounty trash’ on my locker, slashing the tires on my piece of shit car, and after one stupid, stupid night where I drunkenly got on my knees for Blake, photos were posted all over the school the next day. I was called into the counselor’s office and given a long talk on ‘respecting myself.’ The only thing I got out of that talk was that the patriarchy is alive and well in Roaring Forks, Colorado.
As the ceremony wraps up, I find myself staring off at Cascade Peak, the mountain my parents died on. I think about the platitudes I still hear regularly, about them looking down on me from above, being proud of me. But it doesn’t help. They’re still gone. I’m still alone.
All of our caps fly into the air with a round of applause and the cheers of my excited classmates. Two small arms wrap around me in a tight hug and my best friend’s excited voice sounds in my ear.
“We did it! We’re done with this place forever.” Rosie lets me go long enough to allow me to pivot and return her hug. Her short blonde hair somehow still looks flawless despite the cap and humidity. “Come to Jacob’s party with me.”
I don’t want to third wheel with her and her boyfriend tonight. “I can’t. I have an interview to get ready for tomorrow morning, bright and early.” The partial lie rolls off my lips easily enough. I don’t have an interview, but I am dropping off applications a town over at a country club and a few restaurants.
Her eyes dim for a second, no doubt sensing my lie, but then Jacob is wrapping his arms around her and twirling her ina circle. He gives her a sloppy kiss before looking over at me and extending an arm for me to join their embrace. I wrap my arms around both of them while he gives me a brotherly kiss on the head.
“You should rethink and come with us tonight. Everyone is going to be there.” He gives me his best puppy dog eyes.
“If you think telling me everyone is going to be there is going to entice me out, you must have been sleeping through the past four years.”
“Come on, high school is over.” He gives me a boyish grin, dimples and all. “All that bullshit is behind us now.”
I glance over his shoulder, about to give in, when I notice Blake, Cody, and West staring me down from across the field. The looks on their faces range from cool disinterest to straight malice. Jacob was a football star along with Cody so he’s always been in their good graces. He doesn’t understand.
“Nah.” I shake my head with a half-hearted smile. “I’m good. I might grab dinner with John.”
A group of ball players come up and grab Jacob who pulls Rosie along with him. She looks torn for a second until I wave her off. I’ll be fine on my own tonight. I always am.
“Violet,” a voice calls out to me as I open my car door. Jessica Larson, West’s mom, hurries across the blacktop toward me. “I’m so glad I caught you.”
