Nico Vaughan, the junior class "Nice Girl" wants to be free from her abusive and obsessive ex-boyfriend.
Valen Henford, the school's resident "Rich Guy meets Bad Boy" wants to spend his senior year with the girl he's been in love with for years.
W...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"A riot is the language of the unheard" (MLK).
|◁ II ▷|
Noted.
What in the world does that mean?
I know I'm staring, but I can't tear my eyes away. What does that mean?
Valen isn't looking at me anymore, his attention turned back to the teacher, who has started spitting out last-minute instructions and homework.
Noted.
A thought pops into my head. A stupid one. Does he have feelings for me? Is that why he would want to take a mental note of something I don't like?
No.
We've never spoken. Well, we have a few times over the years, but never a lot. And I hate to judge again, but he doesn't typically talk to girls unless he's going to sleep with them that day. And he's picky about his girls.
I am so self-centered for thinking that. I'm an over thinker. That's all it is. So stupid and selfish.
I unpause my music, deciding that it's more important than whatever Mrs. Plynto is assigning. I reach back into my bag and grab one of my books. I settle back in my seat, positioning the book lower than my desk so Mrs. Plynto can't see it and take it away. I feel a slight tap on my foot and look over at Valen. He smiles and waits. I pull one of my earbuds out.
"You like to read?" he whispers, glancing at Mrs. Plynto.
I fight the urge to be sarcastic. I am currently sitting with a large book opened in my lap. No, I actually hate reading. I like looking at the words on the pages because they're pretty and because it's an aesthetic hobby.
"Yes," I respond, not helping the way my eyebrows dip and my mouth does that "smiling, but not upturned" thing.
"I never knew that."
He sounds... confused? Surprised? A little sad?
I have no clue. I can't read people to save my life.
"Why would you?" I ask genuinely. "We've barely spoken before."
Valen goes quiet, that look I couldn't decipher earlier becoming more exaggerated. His eyebrows are down, making his eyes look sad and darker, some hidden emotion swirling in the water his eyes make me think of. There are small lines by his mouth, almost as if he is pursing his lips.
I can't stand it. I cannot stand whatever look he has on his face. "Well," I start. "I love music. And reading and writing. Those are some of the most important things in my life."
Valen smiles, a small, muted motion. He looks at me for a moment, his eyes holding mine for a moment longer than what's comfortable. "Those are some of my favorite things, too. Minus writing."
