Violet knew something was wrong with her friend when he said it wasn't a big deal. Noah only said that when something was a big deal. Usually, he eventually spilled the beans after some coaxing, but this time he remained tight-lipped.

How bad could it be that Noah couldn't tell her? Was he dying or something?

His tension lingered throughout their hangout. It affected his game; he was usually much better, but he kept losing at everything. That was an obvious sign of distraction.

She stood on tiptoe and leaned close to his face, trying to decipher his expression. He was so startled he stumbled backward.

"What are you doing?" Noah stammered.

"Trying to read your mind."

He rolled his eyes, seeming more like his normal self. "Everybody knows mind-reading doesn't work, Vi."

"I'll achieve it someday," she said confidently, making him laugh—her goal all along.

Violet wasn't often silly, but she knew Noah enjoyed it when she was. He thought she was funny, unlike anyone else in her family. Nathan and Kaleb frequently competed for the title of "the funny one."

It was gratifying to have someone laugh at your jokes. Truthfully, it was gratifying to have someone like Noah validate her, in more ways than just her humor. He always understood her feelings.

As someone who often felt like an outsider, even with loved ones, his understanding was priceless. Violet valued Noah's friendship above almost anything.

So, when he began almost completely ignoring her texts in the following weeks, she was more than disappointed. Even visiting his house yielded no results; Jennica apologetically said he wasn't home.

What could he be doing that he wasn't home at nine o'clock at night on multiple days? Had he gotten a girlfriend and not told her? But why? Violet always told him about her boyfriends; she'd be happy for him!

Even spending almost every day with Jeremy and growing closer to him couldn't dispel her gloom about Noah. What was his problem? Hadn't he always confided in her before?

The day before Thanksgiving, Violet's father pulled her aside, his face etched with a tragic expression.

"Okay, don't judge me…but I couldn't convince Michael Gray not to come for Thanksgiving dinner. He said he wouldn't impose at Christmas, and I figured it'd be better now, since Jeremy will be here too, and he won't be the only guest."

"Dad! You're seriously letting someone you consider dangerous into the house?!" she asked incredulously.

"It's not like it's the first time," Aaron muttered. "He's been here before, when you were a baby."

Violet didn't understand. None of it made sense. And since she'd only seen Noah twice since their encounter with Michael Gray, she hadn't asked him about her dad's relationship with him.

Now she wasn't sure she would, considering he seemed to be avoiding her. No, that was stupid. He'd never avoided her before. He was probably really busy. She couldn't get paranoid.

"Dad…what aren't you telling me about this guy?" she demanded, hands on her hips.

"Please don't ask me that," he pleaded. "Just don't tell your brothers, alright?"

Aaron had never asked her anything like this before. He really didn't want anyone else to know. What was so horrible about this man that he couldn't tell the people he loved most?

Maybe Violet could get answers from her mother. So she sweetly agreed not to press him further, and he seemed relieved.

"Thanks, Vi. You're the best."

About an hour later, she made her move while her mother watered the plants on the rooftop garden. It was cold enough that the plants had lost their leaves, but it hadn't rained or snowed recently, so her mother felt the need to water them.

"Why is Dad so afraid of Michael Gray but still invited him for Thanksgiving?" Violet asked casually.

Her mother didn't look up. "Oh, he didn't. He invited himself."

Wait, what? Who would have the nerve to invite themselves to Aaron Hale's Thanksgiving dinner?! This was getting even more confusing!

"I feel a bit sorry for him. Your father is his only real friend, and he doesn't even like him," Keeley continued. "Don't mind Gray too much, alright? I don't like it much either, but he wants to be at least minimally involved in your father's life. We won't have to see him very often."

Violet's confusion deepened. She knew her mother would know more, but she had even more questions than answers. She didn't like this situation; she hated being left out.

"I'm not a child," she sniffed. "You can tell me what's actually going on. It's not like I'll tell the boys."

Keeley finally looked up and smiled ruefully. "I know you aren't. But your dad…he doesn't want you guys to have to worry about ghosts from his past."

Ghosts from his past? Violet knew his relationship with his parents had never been good; she'd barely met her Hale grandparents. That brief encounter in preschool was more than enough to tell her what kind of people they were.

But Aaron was an only child. He didn't have any other family. Right?

(The final promotional lines have been removed as they are irrelevant to the text cleanup.)