𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡 | ✓

43 - In The Past

VALENTINA'S POV

I held my breath as I sped through the school gates on my motorbike only to find a huge crowd at the front of the school. Please tell me he's not here.

As I take off my helmet, I could hear the chatter of passing girls and I could already feel my heart beating faster.

"Oh my gosh, did you see his smile? He's so much more handsome without that mask!" one of them gushed and the others agreed eagerly.

My fists clench as I walk towards the crowd, and I pushed through to the front to see that the crowd was surrounding some of the jocks who were circling Francis. He was without his mask, revealing more of his face, more of his crucial identity.
I didn't know what they were talking about, I didn't care what they were talking about, and it only irritated me more as he stared at me with his beady contact lenses and snickered my way.

I walked into the middle of the crowd and grabbed him by the wrist, making him laugh loudly and he turned back to the crowd to farewell everyone. He got the praise and glory he loved so dearly as a result. I tried looking for a hidden space for us to talk quickly and sadly ended up in the janitor's closet.

"What are you doing here?" I ask through gritted teeth and glare at him, but my eyes drop to his lips, making them quirk upwards. "And without your mask!"
I poke his chest but in return, all I received was a devious smirk. I tried to ignore the fact that we were so close, but it was hard as my body was pushed up against his.

"Trying to win you back," he says in an overly confident tone and tries to grab my hand to kiss but I slap it away from him.

"That's not going to happen if you get caught, you idiot!" I snap but his smile still holds.

"You're saying that you care if I get caught or not?" Francis says, trying to swoon me but I shake my head, cursing myself.

"Just leave me the fuck alone," I demand and look him in the eye one more time and exit the closet, but he stays in and just before I leave, I hear him groan.

Thankfully school had started, and the halls were buzzing with students, so nobody noticed me slip into the crowd.
Looking at my timetable, my eyes travelled to the class, and I immediately froze.
Of course, it had to be English.

-

As I entered class, everyone stared at me and I held my breath, walking to the seat only to be greeted by the curious glares of Tyler and Chelsey, and Francis was nowhere to be seen, much to my delight. 

"What is it?" I ask but Tyler just thins his eyes at Francis who had entered the class and was now talking to the teacher. He scoots closer to me to lean into my ear.

"I've heard that somebody pulled the new kid out of the crowd in front of everybody," Tyler said covering his mouth and whispering into my ear. My eyes moved to where he was looking. They were concentrated on 'Francesco' who was glaring right back at him, he must've come in after me.

"I was just putting him in his place," I shout in a whisper before I was interrupted by Francis.

"Angel, I need help with this page," he says casually and looks up to see my eyes widened and shooting him daggers 

"Valery." He corrects himself but it's too late and I could see the pair next to me looking at me like they'd seen a ghost.
"Do it yourself." I snap and turn back to the two.

"It's not what you think," I say and Chelsey scoffs.
"Angel?" she mimics in a low tone "Then what am I supposed to think?" she says, and I glare at her.