All I've Ever Needed

Chapter 5

October 8, 2013

Val wiped the sweat off his forehead. He had spent the last two hours punching a bag in a bid to get rid of all his pent up anger. Anger that needed to be redirected. He had realized that blaming Zendaya wasn't a possibility. She hadn't done anything. These ... feelings he was experiencing. They were his, his fault. He couldn't blame her but he had to do something. He had to distance himself.

All of a sudden he was snapped out of his thoughts by a shrill voice.

"Oh my God Val! I did not know hat you work out here!"

Val turned his head, his best playful smirk plastered on his face "Coral. What a surprise. I never took you as someone who actually works out. Don't you just, do hand stands when you cheer?"

"Not if you wanna get these." She rolled up her tight pink tank top, revealing her ripped stomach. Val had to admit that the girl was in great shape, annoying as she was. She pulled her tank top back down, a little too much so that her cleavage was very apparent. That was no sports bra she was wearing.

"Like what you see?"

Val's head snapped up and he could feel a flicker of annoyance starting up in his chest. "I've seen worse. And better for that matter." He turned around, ready to leave but thought better of it. "You've got good posture but you really should think about wearing better support. Your back is one of the most important thing about your body."

"Oh" Coral drawled out while walking up to him. "What are the other most important things about my body?"

Val stared intently while Coral took her fingers and started gliding them over his chest. She arched a brow and Val knew what was coming next "That's rock hard. Anything else hard?"

He let out a laugh and let his head fall back, a million thoughts running around his head. How ridiculous is this situation? How pathetic are her come-ons? How stupid am I? He tilted his head back towards her and saw the assured smile grace her features again. She wasn't ugly by no means. In fact, she was kinda perfect. Why was he acting like this? Who in their right mind would walk away from her?

What the hell.

"Do you have a car?"

Coral seemed a bit taken aback but quickly put that smile back on her face "I don't have a car. I have a BMW. Daddy gave it to me when I raised my GPA up to 2.0"

"Of course he did" Val deadpanned before taking her hand and striding out of the gym.

"Val wait, I have to take a shower before we go. I'm all sweaty."

Val let out a rather cold chuckle, only turning his head slightly in her direction "No you don't. Not for this."

October 9, 2013

Zendaya sat down in her psychology class, noticing the empty seat beside her. Val hadn't been to school yesterday and it looked like he wouldn't be in today either. She felt a bit ... dejected about his absence. He had been uncharacteristically sweet to her in play rehearsal two days ago and since then she had wanted to thank him. To let him know that he had in fact helped her a lot. She had been going through a lot this past year and it had hardened her demeanour even more but the way he had talked to her, about her, had made her realize that she didn't have to hide away. Zendaya let go of all her thoughts when she saw Val walking into the room. Their eyes met and she felt shivers running down her spine. His normally fiery green eyes were cold. The man from two days ago was gone.