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For a week plus, Violet Purple avoided school. By law, all eligible eighteen-year-olds were required to apply to Lunaris Academy, but the law didn't specify that the chosen had to accept the scholarship.

The offer also came with a deadline: if the recipient didn't report to the academy within a week, the scholarship would be rescinded and given to someone else. No penalty was outlined for declining, perhaps the rule-makers never imagined anyone would refuse such an opportunity.

For people like her, the gutter kids, scraping by on the ruins of a broken world, Lunaris Academy was the dream. But not for Violet. She had no interest in going, especially when her reasons for attending weren't exactly noble. The scholarship deserved someone better.

As if the gods were on her side, Nancy had chosen to leave town at that moment. It wasn't unusual for her to disappear without warning or any explanation, often leaving no note about her whereabouts.

When Violet was younger, she used to think Nancy left because she was a freak, but as she grew up, she understood the nature of her mother's work.

Nancy would lose all sense of reasoning whenever she landed a wealthy client, staying with him until her services were no longer required—or, more often, until she overstayed her welcome and got kicked out.

Nancy had always dreamed of marrying rich, but with a job like hers, no man ever took her seriously. It was all fun in the beginning, but things inevitably soured.

The longest Nancy had ever been gone was a month, and Violet prayed she'd pull the same stunt this time so the scholarship opportunity would slip away before she came back. Nancy would be furious, no doubt, but by then, it would already be too late. There'd be nothing she could do about it.

However, Violet had no idea how Mrs. Florence did it, but her homeroom teacher somehow managed to get Nancy's number.

She called her ancient Nokia phone, which seemed to have survived since the '90s when the world was still bountiful.

The next day, a furious Nancy was standing over her as she lounged in the trailer, and the rest was history.

Call it a sixth sense, but something felt off about the scholarship. Despite not showing up at Lunaris Academy for a week, her scholarship wasn't revoked as she had expected.

To make things stranger, Lunaris Academy had even sent her a letter, politely reminding her that the offer still stood. They even suggested she contact them if she was facing any difficulties preventing her from attending.

It didn't add up. This wasn't how Lunaris usually operated.

They were almost chasing after her as if she were someone important.

But she wasn't. Sure, Violet was smart and good at sports, but there were smarter students back at her school—the nerds who spent every waking hour studying, all hoping to win this scholarship.

Yet, they didn't want them. They wanted her. It didn't add up.

Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about it. She was going to Lunaris Academy whether she liked it or not.

"Is that all you'll be needing?" Nancy asked, eyeing the open bag where Violet had packed her clothes and personal items. There wasn't much by the looks of it.

"Yes," Violet replied curtly.

If she and Nancy had barely been on speaking terms, it was worse since Nancy found out about her attempt to sabotage her shot at Lunaris Academy.

Nancy frowned, "Maybe I should buy more—"

"Leave it!" Violet snapped in frustration. "Why do you even care?"

A flash of anger crossed Nancy's face.

"Listen, kid, I might not be the best mother around, but you're heading to a fancy school, and I won't have some brat who's fed with a golden spoon looking down on you. Got it?"

Violet was stunned, unable to respond. Where had this side of Nancy been all these years?

Without waiting for a response, Nancy left. An hour later, she returned with a full bag stuffed with more thrift store clothes, accessories Violet didn't even realize she needed, toiletries, and her favorite snacks.

"You're wasting money," Violet grumbled, though it was her own way of saying thank you.

"Well, I don't have to pay two years of school fees now. I'd say I'm the one winning here," Nancy smirked.

Violet rolled her eyes, though a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. The tension that had been brewing for a week between them felt lighter, and Violet realized she was feeling much better compared to when she had been giving her mother the silent treatment.

"And now, for the pièce de résistance," Nancy said, theatrically holding something behind her back.

Violet feigned disinterest but couldn't help her curiosity. When Nancy finally revealed what she was hiding, Violet's face dropped.

"God, no! Nancy, what the fuck!" Violet cried out.

It was a condom. Not just one—an entire packet.

"Hey, hey," Nancy tried to calm her, but Violet wouldn't even look at her.

"I don't need this stuff! Are you seriously telling me to go whore around like you?" Violet snapped.

A flash of hurt crossed Nancy's eyes, but she quickly masked it. Grabbing Violet by the hair, she forced her to meet her gaze. "Now listen to me, young woman. I never said you should whore around—not that it's a bad choice in a school full of rich—"

"Nancy!" Violet growled, the warning clear. She hated her mother's job and despised it when Nancy trivialized it.

"Fine," Nancy sighed, composing herself. "The point is, you're going to be surrounded by hot werewolves."

"Who said they're hot?" Violet rolled her eyes at her mother's dramatics.

"They will be. You haven't related with one yet, but I have, and trust me, they'll knock you off your feet," Nancy said with such conviction that Violet frowned.

No werewolf in their right mind lived in their poor district.

Violet had seen them in TV and magazines, sure, they looked good but it was an exaggeration saying the whole race was hot.

Moreover, her district had been her entire world for as long as she could remember, and though she resented the opportunity to leave, there was an undeniable excitement too.

Nancy continued, "I'm just preparing you. Werewolves are virile, and humans are fertile. With a school like Lunaris, I'm not ready to be a grandmother. God knows I wouldn't make a good one, and you know it."

Violet's mouth twitched. She knew Nancy was right. Just look at the two of them. The idea of Nancy being a responsible grandmother was laughable, and Violet wasn't cruel enough to bring another life into her chaotic world.

"So, save us both the trouble and take this." Nancy pushed the packet into Violet's chest, and with a reluctant groan, Violet accepted it.

"Thanks," she muttered, stuffing the condoms deep into her bag where no one could stumble upon them. The thought of anyone finding them was mortifying.

"And, in case you're interested, I mixed them up. There are different fruit flavors—"

"Mom!" Violet snapped, her teeth gritted.

Nancy grinned mischievously. "Fine, fine. I'll leave my virgin daughter alone."

Violet shot her a glare, hating how much Nancy loved taunting her about her virginity, but Nancy only laughed and backed off, leaving Violet to finish packing.

Violet zipped up her bag with a sigh, the sound of the zipper was strangely final. She stepped back to look around the small, cramped trailer she'd called home for as long as she could remember.

The peeling wallpaper, the patched-up furniture, the broken clock on the wall, the sight of it caused a hollow feeling in her stomach. This place wasn't ideal by any stretch, but it was the closest thing to home she had ever known. And now, she was leaving it behind.

"You ready to go?" Nancy's voice broke through the stillness. She stood by the door, her usual tough features masking the awkward tension that lingered between them.

Violet glanced over and nodded. "Yeah. I'm ready." The words came out flat though, her heart wasn't entirely in them. There was something unsettling about leaving like a piece of her would stay behind in this rundown trailer.

With her bag slung over her shoulder, Violet followed Nancy outside. The two walked silently to the old bus stop near the edge of the trailer park, an awkward tension between them.

When the bus finally arrived, they climbed aboard and rode in silence to the train station. Lunaris Academy was in Aster City, a four-hour journey from here. A whole different world altogether.

At the station, they stood outside the train, awkwardly facing each other.

"So, I guess this is it," Nancy said, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, avoiding eye contact.

Violet didn't respond right away, the moment stretching between them like an elastic band about to snap. Their relationship had always been complicated, and messy, but this was the first time they would truly be apart. And for all the distance they kept emotionally, this separation felt...weird..

Violet couldn't find the words, so she did the only thing that felt right. She stepped forward and hugged her mother.

Nancy stiffened at first, but then her arms wrapped around Violet.

For all her faults, Nancy had taken her in when she'd been abandoned as a baby, raising her when no one else would.

She wasn't winning any "Mother of the Year" awards, but she had kept her alive, kept her strong.

And for that, Violet was grateful, more than she could ever say.

"Alright, child. Make me proud. And if anyone tries to put you down, show them how we ghetto folk do it," Nancy said, trying to keep her usual tough tone, but her voice wavered slightly.

Violet smiled, a lump forming in her throat. "I'll miss you."

"Me too, Violet. Me too," Nancy replied, her voice tight, fighting back the tears welling in her eyes.

For a moment, they just stood there, holding on to each other like they'd never let go. However, the blaring of the train's horn interrupted the moment, signaling it was time to board. Violet pulled away, grabbing her bag.

"I guess I'll see you when the term ends," she said, trying to sound casual, even though the anxiety of leaving alone was sinking in fast.

Nancy waved her off. "Nah, when the term ends, go off with your friends, explore the cities, and have fun." She added under her breath, "And let me enjoy being single again."

Violet snorted, rolling her eyes. Now that she wouldn't be around, her mother would probably bring as many men as she wanted into the trailer.

Violet scrunched her face, hoping they would not take their business to her bed.

At the same time, she also realized the sacrifices Nancy has made for her over the years for someone who wasn't even her biological daughter.

"Thank you, Nancy," she said it like she meant it.

"You're welcome, kiddo. Now go, before they leave your ass behind." she waved her off, a hint of sadness in her eyes..

Violet waved back and turned to head towards the train. She had just taken a few steps when Nancy shouted, "And don't forget what I taught you, child! When it gets hard, just give it a good suck!"

God, no. Violet froze, mortified as heads turned to stare at her, people's judgmental eyes flicking from her to Nancy. She shot a furious glare over her shoulder, flipping her mother the middle finger as Nancy burst into laughter, completely unbothered by the scene she had caused.

"Trust me, you'll thank me later." Nancy's laughter echoing behind her.

Violet ignored her this time and hurried onto the train, cheeks burning as she avoided everyone's eyes, wishing for the ground to swallow her whole. Of course, leave it to her mother to find a way to humiliate her.

Once she found her seat, she dropped her bag and slumped down, staring out the window. People were still boarding, but soon the train would start moving, and her journey to Aster City—and Lunaris Academy—would begin.