VALENTINA

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

NEVER DOUBTED MYSELF SO MUCH,LIKE AM I PRETTY?AM I FUN BOY?
*OLIVIA RODRIGO.

VALENTINA.

The rest of the week went by excruciatingly slow and painful.
I have talked to Theo,a couple of times but I feel guilty,after I realised my feelings. Our conversations now seem strained in my head and I know it's not right.
We are going on our first  date today and I plan to tell him the real truth about, everything.

"I'm going to grab a snack from the common room,do you want anything,"Mal asks .

"Actually,I'll just come with,"I say.
I'm still in my pajamas but who cares it's Saturday.

"So, Gabriel,"I say teasingly to Mal as we leave the room."spill the details,"I say nudging her shoulder and she laughs.

"Well we've been spending time together, especially since we're lab partners ,and I guess I just started liking him,he's a good guy,"Mal says and I can tell she really likes him and vice versa.
I've watched their relationship grow for the past few days,and they are made for each other,just like Bree and Adrien.

We arrive in the common room and it's fairly packed considering it's the weekend.
Mal grabs some chips and I grab some candy from the vending machine.
We are about to head back when I see Asher approaching us.

"Valentine,we need to talk,"he says.

"Asher I'm busy,maybe later,"I lie.
I'm not busy I just don't want to talk to him.
I don't trust myself around him especially after I realised I'm still helplessly in love  with him.
"I'm not leaving until we talk,"Asher says firmly.i look over at Mal and she gives me the I'm confused look.
"I'll be in the room,"she says leaving me with him.

"Fine,you wanna talk let's talk,"I say crossing my hands on my chest.

"Let's go outside,it's more private,"he says and I roll my eyes before following him.

The lawn is empty,with a few students who are a safe distance from us.

"Why are you avoiding me,you didn't show up for our project and you ignored me yesterday in combat,"he says.

"I was busy,"I reply.

"With what kissing Theo,..."

"Why do you always have to bring Theo into everything,?"I snap.

"He's intentions aren't good,"he replies.
I'm really getting fed up of these vague answers.

"Then why don't you just tell me for crying out loud,Tell me the damn truth,"I say .

"You wanna the truth,huh about your precious little boy where here's the truth,he was just using you to get to me,...".

"You're lying...,"

"Look around you Val,he just started talking to you out of nowhere,asked you to go out with him and being all nice to you all of a sudden,don't you find this suspicious,think Val,"Asher says and I feel my heart break into pieces.
I may not have loved Theo but I regarded him in high regards. He would never do this to me,he can't use me like this.

"Why would he do this,it still doesn't make sense,"I defend him, some how a tiny piece of my heart still wants to believe Theo is innocent.

"He wanted to get to me because,I took something from him,"Asher says.

"Stop with the vague answers Asher just tell me the whole damn truth,"I snap.

"Theo,liked Alexa and I guess he didn't handle the news that Alexa didn't like him that well,he blamed me and he swore to take revenge on me by using you,that's why I hit him the other day,"Asher says and I'm failing to process all this.

"But why,me you weren't even my friend until recent..."

"But I always cared about you,from a distance,I guess he knew that,"He says with a sympathetic smile.

"No,Theo wouldn't do that,he's not like that,he's good,"I am still in denial Theo, wouldn't do this to me it's all a misunderstanding.

Asher puts his hands on my shoulders,"Val,I know this isn't the best news but he's not worth it,"Asher says.

I know I wasn't inlove with Theo,but I liked the idea of us,the idea of having someone to call my own.And that's why this betrayal hurts,I trusted Theo,he was supposed to be different,he was supposed to prove my love for Asher wrong.

"Why didn't you tell me this before,"I whisper trying to control my emotions.

"I tried,Val but you never listened to me,"he says.

He's probably right,I should've have listened.

"I'm such a fool,"I mutter to myself running a hand through my hair.

"No,you're not, Valentine,"Asher says.

"What's wrong with me,"I ask  looking at Asher.

"Nothing,".

"Then,why don't people love me,"I say and I feel my heart break.
It's the bitter truth,I know I sounded mad but I really wondered. Bree didn't have to try and yet she could easily turn heads,She has Adrien who loves her like crazy,and all Mal has to do is smile to drive boys crazy,and Alexa she's pretty without trying and even though she probably doesn't realize,she's turned Asher's head more than once.
They all don't have to try as hard as I do.

"That's not true...,"Asher says but I cut him off.

"Bullshit ,"I yell in frustration,Anger and sadness,.

"Val,there's people that love you like Bree and Mal,"Asher says .

And then it happens,I say something I regret.
"What about you do you love me,"I say looking at him.
I instantly regret it but I can't look away.
Asher looks like he's struggling with his words,and it's all the confirmation I need.
He doesn't love me.
Silence envelopes us and I tear my gaze away from him
I won't cry.
I won't cry.

"Val, listen I...,".
I won't cry.

"It's okay,Asher,you don't have to explain yourself,"I say blinking away the tears.
I won't cry.

"Valentine,can you atleast here me out,"Asher says reaching from my elbow.
I won't cry.

"I have to go,"I say running out.
My head feels heavy,and my vision is blurry.
I feel so stupid,how could I have put myself out there like that.
I'm about to quicken my pace when I bump into someone.
Timber and Apple.
That cologne smells too familiar.
I look up only to find Theo's blue orbs looking back at me.
All the Anger, frustrations,sadness and betrayal feels alot heavier now.
So I do the best thing ,I could think of.
I slap him.
I slap him hard.

And for the first time today,
I cry.
I cry hard.

Heyyy
This was hard to write🥺, somehow I feel her pain.
Anyway it's the darkest hour before Dawn right?
*Keep smiling.