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...
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"I'm starting to wonder if this is what being in love is. Being okay with ripping yourself to shreds, so the other person can stay whole" (Ali Hazelwood).
|◁ II ▷|
I keep my eyes forward, trying to look busy as I quickly pull out my pencil and start sketching in my binder. I listen to see where Hunter is sitting, but my heart drops as I hear him behind me.
"Hey, could you move, Eli? I wanted to sit near Nico, you know?"
"Oh, yeah," Eli says behind me, and my heart drops further. "Sorry, Hunter."
"No, it's good, man. Thank you."
I look over at Amber, and she's giving me a look. I shake my head, trying to indicate that I'm fine. I take a deep breath and turn back to my paper. I keep sketching and hope Coach Williamson starts class soon so Hunter can't talk to me.
Thankfully, Coach Williamson slowly makes his way to the VHR, pulling out a movie and placing it in. He turns the projector on, and people quiet down.
"Alright, guys," Coach says with a huge smile. "Today we're going to start the movie Jeremiah Johnson. This movie was a big hit in theaters in the 70s, and all the girls went a little wild over Robert Redford and his hat. Us guys had some competition."
He chuckles, and the class can't help but chuckle with him. He continues, talking about the movie and how it relates to history. I smile at the way his eyes light up as he talks about the movie, telling about his first time watching it in theaters with his friends.
Coach Williamson finally starts the movie with his usual warning about putting heads down on desks. I relax, soaking in the new movie. Coach Williamson is the reason I've fallen in love with 70s movies. And the few 50s movies he's shown from his childhood.
I feel a poke at my back, and my heart starts racing again. I ignore him. He pokes me again. I turn around, frustrated.
"What?" I snap.
He smiles his "charming" smile. Now, I see it for what it is. Manipulation. "Nico, I want to talk with you."
I turn around. "I don't want to."
He laughs quietly. "That's a little childish, Nico, don't you think? Especially when I'm willing to talk."
I ignore him, taking in Jeremiah Johnson/Robert Redford's beautiful face and amazing acting. A light tap hits my shoulder again. After a couple of taps, I turn my head. "What."
