The Heartbreak Project

The Heartbreak Project (5)

Darren

Valerie continued glaring at us, her radiant eyes slowly scrutinizing each and every one of us - vaguely cracking her knuckles in the process. I gulped visibly, praying with all my heart that it was merely my eyes deceiving me and glanced towards Derek eagerly - hoping that he would at least try and handle the situation, considering she was his victim.

'Victim' sounded appallingly ironic in that moment.

He was a sickly shade of pale, looking awfully like he was going to throw up any minute, and I tried my best not to mirror that expression. She started walking in our direction and Willow and Nova - with rather amused glints in their eyes - tried to hold her back, attempting to whisper some sense into her but she gently tugged them away, a lethal scowl plastered on her features as she stalked up to us.

"Are you guys following us?" She interrogated expectantly, placing one hand on her hip. Colin cleared his throat awkwardly, avoiding her burning gaze. Bradyn started tugging at the edges of his shirt, and I started whistling a random tune, shifting my feet uncomfortably.

"Uh, I think I'm going to get some coffee - " Stephan begun uneasily, gesturing towards a small café nearby with a trembling hand.

"Nuh-uh. You are not going anywhere," Valerie interjected harshly, which caused Stephan to flinch faintly. He shot a tense smile in her direction and stayed put, instantly retreating his hand. When none of us responded, she turned to Derek with her hands on her hips and her eyebrows raised slightly, "Well?"

"Uh, we were just hanging out, you know? Free country." Derek mumbled in response, avoiding her blazing stare and suddenly finding interest in his shoes instead.

Valerie seemed to warily examine us once again, a hint of suspicion plastered all over her features. Then, momentarily glancing and Derek and seemingly contemplating on the thought, her expression softened a little, "Alright. But I swear to god, if I spot any of you enculés even an inch within my eyesight again - "

She headed straight towards us in a vaguely dramatic gesture, with her right arm slightly raised almost like she was going to strike us, subsequently causing all of us to take an abrupt step back.

"Okay, okay!" Colin shrieked, raising his arms in immediate surrender.

"Good." She responded, almost smiling in smug satisfaction. Eyeing us once more - almost like she waiting for one of us to revolt, she glanced back at Derek one last time. Then, having clearly made her point, she turned around dramatically and strode back towards her friends. Willow and Nova, who were formerly in hysterical laughter from having observed the entire show with plenty of amusement, hooked their arms with hers, trying to suppress their laughter but failing miserably. Corey just walked away, her eyes still glued to her phone and Acacia lingered for a little longer, waving at me a little flirtatiously. I plastered a smile, apathetically waving back and mentally gagging at her evident desperation.

"Well, that was interesting." Colin remarked as the group disappeared from our eyesight. We all laughed, unmistakably relieved and amusedly thanked Derek, who looked confused, but smug nonetheless.

"I'm starving, man." I tuned in suddenly, stroking my stomach lightly, "Kind of skipped lunch today."

"Yeah, same here." Derek added, faintly nodding in agreement.

"Let's go to the food court." Stephan suggested eagerly, "I actually wanted that coffee." We all ended up agreeing, and eventually headed towards the food court, a little hysterical due to the recent incident having shaken us up a bit.