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.
"And when nobody wakes you up in the morning, and when nobody waits for you at night, and when you can do whatever you want. What do you call it, freedom or loneliness?" (Charles Bukowski).
|◁ II ▷|
Bianca's beautiful blonde blowout is the first thing I see before I see her face. As she comes to stand beside Valen, she sees me. Her face changes, her eyes lighting up and a smile growing on her face. "Hey, Nico."
I smile back. "Hey, Bianca."
Her eyes are red. I feel my face pinch in worry. Before I can ask if she's okay, she turns to face Valen then looks back at me. "Uh, I'm sorry, Nico, but can I steal Valen? I have to, um, I have to talk—to him."
Valen steps closer to me and puts his large arm around my shoulder. "No."
I turn to look at Valen and find him glaring at Bianca. Confused, I look back at her. She's eyeing me nervously.
"Um, it's okay," I try. "I can leave."
Valen shakes his head. "Please."
I sigh. Bianca glances at me again, and I can see her eyes watering slightly. I want to give her a hug.
I move out of Valen's arm. "Can I give you a hug?"
Bianca nods, her face pinching together. I wrap my arms around her, and she wraps hers around me. I pat her back as she tries not to cry, but I feel the way her chest is moving. I avoid her hair as I drift my hand in small circles across her back.
She pulls away, thanking me. I smile, feeling my own eyes tear up.
Bianca moves her gaze back to Valen, who I now see is staring at me weirdly. I narrow my eyes at him.
I'm pretty sure he made her upset, so I understand the weird look, but I don't want to be judged for my action.
Bianca starts her conversation, and I try to keep out of it by pulling out my phone. I scroll on Instagram for a minute, but my ears are still hearing the conversation. I can't help it. I am a nosy person. I am ashamed.
But I'm not sorry.
From what I can gather, Bianca went to Valen's house last night and something happened. Valen told her he doesn't want to see her again. She's upset, but she's trying to apologize for something. He isn't listening. He keeps telling her to leave. Her apologies are growing wetter, and I can't handle it anymore when she starts crying out loud.
At this point, people are starting to roam the halls. Their glances are turning into stares.
"Valen," I try. "Why can't Bianca apologize? And this sounds like a private conversation between you two."
Bianca sobs, "Just let me say what I need to say, please, and I'll leave you alone."
