VALENTINA

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

But she's beautiful,she looks kind,she probably gives you butterflies...
*Olivia Rodrigo.

VALENTINA

I couldn't sleep properly last night because I kept thinking of what Asher and Bree told me.
And to make matters worse,my period arrived today,and I'm everything but fine.

"Val,maybe you shouldn't go to class today,I could write you up a pass,"Bree says worriedly as we approach the campus building,so maybe I'm feeling a little sick,but that's not a reason for me to spend the whole day sleeping.

"I'll be fine Bree,"I say.

"Are you being serious Val,have you looked at yourself in the mirror,no offense but you look worse than you do on laundry day,"Mal says.

"Gee,thanks for the "compliment"and don't worry I'll be fine,"I assure them.

"Alright,just be okay,"Bree says and they head to their classes as I head to mine.
It's gonna be a long day.

Remember when I said I will be fine,well I lied?.
It's currently science class and I feel worse than I initially did.
It feels like someone is stabbing my abdomen,and this headache I have isn't helping either.
The class goes by excruciatingly slow and I would've told Theo to help me but I have not seen him all day.
"That's it for today class, enjoy your lunch,"Mr Baker says dismissing us.
I feel too  drained to stand up,so I put my head down to rest for a minute.

"Valentina are you alright,".
I slightly look up and I find Alexa looking at me with worried eyes.
I'm on the verge of crying right now.
"No,"I manage to let out.
"Do you need help? should I take you to the nurses office,"She asks.
"Yes,"I say and I feel a tear slip down my cheek.
"Okay,let me help you up,"She says and comes over to help me get up.
At this point the classroom is empty.
She helps me up,and we head to the nurses office.
After explaining everything to her,she gives me some painkillers and a pass to take the rest of the day off.
"And remember to take lots of water and rest Valentina,"the nurse says.
"Thank you,"I say getting off the examination bed.
"Let me help you to your room,"Alexa offers.
"I'll be fine,I've already bothered you enough,"I say with a weak smile.
"Please,you can never bother me too much,you're my friend and you're not well,I'm not going to let you walk alone in your state,"She says getting up and it's feels pointless arguing anyway,I need the help.
"Thank you,I owe you one,"I reply.
Alexa helps me to my room and the walk there is filled in silence, surprisingly not awkward silence.
We arrive and I change out of my uniforms into comfortable pyjamas before crawling into bed.
"Aren't you going to be late for lunch,"I ask Alexa who is sitted on my bed.
"I told Emma while you were in the nurse's office to bring you lunch here, because you're unwell,"she says.
"That's nice but what about you,"I ask.
"I'll grab some snacks from the common room on my way out,I'm not really hungry anyway,"she says happily and I look at her.
She's still as pretty as the first day I met her,short blonde hair,pretty eyes and a good heart.
The kind of heart but makes mine look selfish.
And before I can reply, someone knocks on our door.
"I'll get it,"Alexa says walking over to the door.
I can't exactly make out who's at the door,but Alexa returns with a tray of food.
"It was Emma,"she says laying the tray on my bed.
"Oh,"I say.
She opens the little lunch boxes and prepares  a plate.
"Here,"she says giving it to me.
Its times like these where I wish I was as nice as alexa.despite everything I did,she's still treating me with the same kind of love as when we were friends.
"Thanks,"I say sitting up.
There's some excess so she fixes up a plate for herself.
I take a bite of my food but the guilt I'm feeling makes it too hard to swallow.
"I'm sorry,Alexa,"I blurt and she looks at me confused.
"What for,"she asks.
"For everything,for how I treated you these past few years and yet today you've been nothing but nice to me,"I say but I don't look at her.
"For the past three years I've always wondered,what I did, Valentina,I know you don't want to talk about it,but please Val just tell me what I did, for old times sake,"she says and I look up to meet her eyes .She looks hopeful but how do I tell her that it's because of her.
"Val,talk to me,"she says reaching for my hand.
I want to Alexa,I want you give you the closure she deserves,even if it means admitting my flaws.

"Because I was jealous of you,"I say but it's barely audible.

"Valentina,..."

"I was so jealous of you,you are perfect,you're so pretty and kind and I just always felt inferior around you,"I admit and I feel like the worst friend in the world.

"Val,look at me,"She says and I look at her.

"I'm far from perfect Valentina,I have so many flaws,I'm sorry I made you feel so inferior, you're such a good person and friend Val,"she says and I can't help but tear up.

"And if you like I'd like us to be friends again,"she adds.

And maybe even after everything, giving our friendship a second try won't be so bad after all.

"I'd like that too,"I say and we hug.

And although not everything has fallen into place,it feels great to start from somewhere atleast.

"I have to head back to class,but I'll be back to check up on you ,"Alexa says before leaving.

I'm left alone so I decide to take a nap.

It's was a bright and sunny day,and today we were going to the playground.
I was pretty excited to go out.
We arrived and because I had no friends ,I was left alone.
Asher couldn't come today because he was at school.
I had no other friend apart from him.
I walked over to the swings,and no one was there so I decided to swing by myself.
Even though it wasn't very fun,I enjoyed.
"Get off the swings Everton,"I heard Gloria say,she was the oldest in my class ,so she would always pick on the younger ones especially me.
Before I could reply,I felt myself being shoved to the ground,I hit the ground with quite the impact and my knee bruised.
I tried not to cry but it was,useless the tears were falling anyway.
"Get up,Everton don't be such a weakling,"Gloria said pulling me up with my hair.
I looked around but no teacher or parent was in sight.
"You scared little Everton,"she said laughing in my face and I felt vulnerable I couldn't defend myself,I just stood there crying.
"Leave her alone,"I heard a girl say.
"And if I don't,"Gloria replied smirking.
"I'll tell my mommy,"I heard her say.
"Go ahead kid,but the time you run back and forth,I'll be gone,"she said grabbing my hair tighter.
"I said let her go!,"the girl said charging towards Gloria.
Before I knew what was happening sand was flying into Gloria's eyes.
"You little devil,"she said letting me go to rub her eyes.
"Run,"the girl said dragging me along with her .
She was wearing a pink dress and her hair in a braid.
"I think we're safe here,"she said as we approached a big tree.
"Thank you for saving me,I'm Valentina but you can just call me,Val,"I say.
She smiles,"I'm Alexa,nice to meet you,"she replied.
And that is how a beautiful friendship came to be.

And that day,I resolved that I would learn how to fight,no one was ever gonna bully me again.