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the last day of freshman year was today, for valerie and victoria, daniel and ashtray.
valerie felt relived, but somehow she also felt lost, like she was missing something and hadn't finished something yet.
she got ready for school, a smile on her face. she had always loved summer, it was her favorite season, aside from fall which she couldn't decide which one she liked more. but for the past few summers she always had victoria by her side, it was like a routine. every time the school year ended valerie would go over to victorias house and they'd watch a few of their favorite shows or movies and then when night time came, they'd jump in her pool, no matter if it was freezing cold or not.
so, knowing she wasn't going to be able to do any of the things she usually did in summer, she felt a little bummed out. but still, had a smile on her face.
she rolled up the bottom of her long shirt, making it into a crop top. as she did, the tattoo she had on her side showed. she froze for a second, reading the word 'always' and the memory of her and victoria getting the tattoo, together, coming to her mind.
she side, quickly tying the shirt and then putting on her shoes, rushing into the hallway to meet maddy who was already ready to go, dressed nicely and her makeup ready.
"summerrrrr." maddy sung, throwing her arm around valerie as they made their way out of their house and to maddys car.
valerie smiled, one of the very little things her and maddy had in common, was they both loved summer. maddy always loved going to the beach, putting on tanning lotion and sitting in the sun for hours to get that famous tan valerie was always jealous of. "you gonna go to the beach this year?"
maddy turned to her with a 'duh' look, "of courseee." she dragged, pausing. "we could go."
valerie furrowed her eyebrows, "today?"
"why not?" maddy shrugged.
it wasn't an idea that popped up in her head out of no where, maddy had been thinking about places her and valerie could go and ways the could spend time together before she moved, if she decided on it.
valerie agreed, "okay."
maddy blasted her playlist on the way to school, the two sisters singing together loudly. once they arrived, they both got out and walked closely together. valerie ignored the stares, knowing she was walking next to maddy, who had put a bit of an image on herself.
walking in the school doors, they split ways with maddy kissing her cheek, "see you!" she shouted, waving and walking off to kat.
valerie smiled to herself as she opened her locker, she stood for a second, before grabbing whatever she needed and started to close it, before jumping when she heard a voice.
"i still don't know why i have to fucking come to this shit."
valerie turned, before laughing. "it's the last day, ash, it'll be fun."
the night before, ashtray had told valerie he was going to skip since nothing important was happening and it was the last day, in his mind, there was no reason he was needed there. but valerie begged him to go, not wanting to be completely alone on the last day, but also wanting to celebrate the first day of summer break with him.
"fun?" ash squinted his eyes, "this shit is never fun."
valerie rolled her eyes, connecting their hands and swinging their arms as they walked together.
———
one hour was left of school, and valerie's leg was shaking, not being patient. she stood in the halls, waiting for the bell to ring so she could go to her next, and final class of the year.
she felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned to see a girl that looked really sweet, so she greeted her with a smile. "hi?"
the girl nervously smiled back, "uh, you're valerie, right?"
val nodded slowly, confused. "yeah..."
the girl didn't know how to ask the question she was about to ask, there was no right way to ask it. "um.. this is a weird question, but did you actually get raped by xander?"
valerie's heart dropped, immediately taking a step back. "what? no- who told you that?" she panicked.
"i heard it... im so sorry." the girl softly spoke.
valerie's eyes began to water, her hands shaking from anxiety. the rumor she was so scared of going around, was. and the fact that everyone knew who almost did that to her, somehow made it worse.
she quickly shook her head, pushing past her and everyone else in the hall and ran out the school doors. the day she had made up in her head wasn't at all happening anymore.
she wiped her face, running her hand through her hair and walking as fast as she could to her house. as soon as she got there she pushed the door open, mentally thanking god that her mom didn't hear the door open and question why she was home early.
she closed and locked her room door, sliding down it until she was sitting on her floor.
she felt humiliated, she didn't even know how long people had knew, and she didn't have no time to say anything, make people think it wasn't true. which it wasn't exactly.
not realizing how much time had passed, she looked up and wiped her eyes when she got messages.
my 🫶🏼 my 🫶🏼 wtf how you gon leave early after begging me to go 🤨 never again mf
maddyyy 💗 maddyyy 💗 wya ? did you leave early ? i'll be home later, love you
the big 3
vic can we all meet up and talk
valerie shook her head, silencing her phone and putting her head back on the door. no matter how much she tried to move on from what happened, and try to make herself believe it was all in the past, she was lying to herself.
