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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"Your eyes. Your eyes hold everything my soul thirsts for" (perry poetry).
|◁ II ▷|
I grab my bag and follow Amber out of the school until she heads towards the gym for volleyball. I almost skip to West's car.
It's Friday!
I'm actually kind of behind in some of my writing goals. I'm hoping this weekend I can sit down and—
My eyes pause on a medium-length black book sitting on top of the passenger side with a purple sticky note. I squeal and take it into my hands, letting my eyes wander over the suited man on the cover. My eyes burn. I've been wanting this book for so long. It's been at the top of my wish list.
It may be the first in the series, but it's a start. A wonderful start.
I jerk my head around, speedily looking for anyone around. My eyes catch movement, but it's Valen coming out of the side door to the building. I stare suspiciously, but he only waves and hurries to his car.
I can't tell if he's being weird or not.
I wave back.
It can't be him, though, as much as I was hoping it was. He just got out, and I've been with him practically all day.
Unless he snuck out of class or skipped a class...
Would he, though?
I'm an overthinker. I'm a dreamer. That's all it is.
Man, Nico. I tell myself. You always get your hopes up, darlin'.
|◁ II ▷|
My overthinking thoughts still stay stuck on the books through dinner before the game.
"Mom," I decide to start. "I think I know who the book-giver is."
I subtly gauge West's reaction. I know he's been feeding Valen clues about what records I want. Who's to say he hasn't been doing the same with books?
Except that's wishful thinking.
Or is it?
Urk.
Mom sets her fork down. "Who, darlin'?"
West remains stoic.
"Valen," I announce. "I'm sure of it. I got another one today."
A sharp laugh from West shocks me, and I turn to him with wide eyes. "What?"
West shakes his head, his laughter clinging to his eyes. "It can't be Valen. Jake stole Valen's backpack earlier today at school and dumped it out to annoy him. I saw the mess, and there were some interesting things in there, but there weren't any books."
