VALENTINA

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Say you hope I see the truth...
*Conor Maynard.

VALENTINA

"You should talk to him"Bree says. It's Monday during lunch time and after I told the girls about what happened with Theo they have been pestering me to talk to him.
I've been avoiding Theo,all day today it's kind of hard if you have classes together but I managed to dodge him still.
I know I have to talk to him but I'm not ready to face him,not after that kiss,not after the way he looked at me after.
"I will when the time is right"I say finishing off my fries.
"Well I hope now is the right time because Theo is heading towards our table"Mal says and I look past Bree and sure enough,Theo is heading here.
Before thinking of anything,I do what I've been doing today,each time I see him.
Run.
"I have to go,I have to change for self defense"I say swiftly standing up and walking away without looking back. I successfully exit the cafeteria but I'm not so lucky as I bump into Asher.
"Valentine,hey slow down"Asher says.
"Hi,Asher I'm kind of in a rush,so I'll see you later"I say attempting to walk past him but he blocks me.
"Are you avoiding me"he asks.
Frankly no,I've been busy avoiding Theo,I didn't even notice him.
"No,"I say hoping for him to move.
"Okay,I was wondering if we can work on our paper today"he asks.
"Yah sure"I say looking around to make sure Theo isn't coming.
"Same place ,same time"I add and before Asher can reply I make my way to the dorm.
I have a few minutes to spare before self defense,so I take my sweet time getting ready.
"That was rude"Bree says entering the room with Mal behind her.
"I know and I feel bad"I reply.
"Look,Val I don't know why you don't want to talk to him right now,but you have to talk to him soon okay"Bree says holding my shoulders.
"I will"I say.
"Now if you excuse me,I have to go change,see you in self defense girls"Bree says dashing off and I remain with Mal.
"Talk to him"Mal says pointing a finger at me going to the bathroom.
We get ready and head to self defense classes.
We find Bree there already and most people in this class.
"Alright everyone,gather around today we will be learning something different"Miss Jones says.
"We will be learning our body's weak spots in short,and how you can decapitate them"she adds.

"Does anyone know any?"Miss Jones says to the class and a couple of hands go up.

"Yes,may"miss Jones says pointing at her.
"The knee"she says.
"Please Explain to us how"Miss Jones says urging her to come forward.
" You must Thrust the sole of your foot towards the attackers knee to incapacitate him or buying just enough time to book it"May says
"And you have a higher success rate because unlike the groin and face region the knee is nearly impossible to block and people generally need a set of legs to chase you down so hit that knee"May finishes and we laugh and I must say I'm impressed.
"That was impressive"Miss Jones says smiling and people begin clapping.
We spend the rest of the class discussing more techniques we were sure to try in the next class.
The lesson is finally over and it's time for weapon management class.
I easily slip out of class without bumping into Theo and head to my last class of the day.
I arrive and apparently I'm five minutes late ,I find the instructor already briefing us on today's lesson.
"Alright so today we are focusing on guns now before anything else I hope you all still remember the gun rules especially the most important one which..."
"Always treat any gun as loaded"We answer simultaneously.
"Very good,so today we are going to work on our aim ..."our instructor starts and begins explaining to us the basics of aiming.
I'm sure I'll be terrible at this because I'm terrible at Archery but nonetheless I'll try.
We grab our noise cancelling headphones and pre loaded guns with fake bullets.
They are plenty of targets in here,so I find my own.
Like usual,I'm terrible at this, luckily our instructor is to busy with other people to notice me and that is how I survive this lesson with out being called out.
The rest of the day goes by fast and it's time for my meeting with Asher.
I head to the library where I find him waiting.
"Hey, sorry I'm late"I say sitting next to him.
"Hey Valentine,it's about time "he says sitting upright.
"Well I'm here so let's begin"I say.
But Asher doesn't reply.
"Did you not hear a thing I just said"I ask
"Why did you walk away from me at the dance"he asks and I'm taken aback by the question.
Why does he care anyway.
"I wasn't feeling too well"I lie.
"But I saw you dancing with Mendez"He says referring to Theo.
"Are we here to write an essay or interrogate me"I clap back  .
"what's going on between you too,I saw how he was looking at you"Asher says leaning forward.
"Look Asher,I don't know where this curiously is coming from but what happens in my life is my business not yours,so please can we just work on this paper"I say to Asher and he looks at me like I'm going to say something more but I don't.
"I read chapter one and two,we can start working on those"he says finally.
"Sure"I say and we begin discussing.
It doesn't feel like last time,it just feels like we are doing it for the sake,but then again this is how it should be.
After an hour,we have an impressive draft ready and we decide to call it a day.
The walk back to the dorms is silent.
We arrive in the common room and I see Theo on one of the couches typing .He looks between me and Asher before standing up.
Asher doesn't even bother to acknowledge him as he walks away to his dorm.
"Val,we need to talk"Theo says and I know at this point I can't run,I need to face the music.