My Life Couldn't Possibly Get Any Worse... I Stand Corrected!

Chapter 3~ Reflecting on Myself and the Past

Picture of Kyle Checkoff to the side. --------->

(Yes, his eyes were edited and it wasn't the best.)

Chapter3~ Reflecting On Myself And The Past

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As class went on it became apparent that Calvin was Mrs. Norris' favourite student.  He raised his hand for every question. God, talk about a Hermione Granger*. Then it got to this question: "Rewrite this in factored form. The first factor is provided.

 3(x^2 + 4) (x^2 + 1) + 6 (x^2 + 4)^2", and crickets… Not even Calvin knew the answer. I stared at it for a bit when it suddenly hit me, I raised my hand in a flash.

Mrs. Norris stares at me in shock. "Oh, um… Y-yes Miss. Mortensan?" she asked shaking her head.

"Mrs. Norris, I believe I can solve this. May I use the white board?"

"Oh, um, yes. Go ahead."

And so I got up and walked to the white board, Calvin raising a questioning brow at me, and began to solve the expression:

Rewrite this in factored form. The first factor is provided.

3(x^2 + 4) (x^2 + 1) + 6 (x^2 + 4)^2

Step 1. Multiply

(x^2 + 4) (x^2 + 1) ==> x^4 + x^2 + 4x^2+4

3(x^4 + 5x^2 +4) + 6(x^2 + 4)^2

==> 3x^4 + 15x ^2 + 12 + 6 (x^2 + 4)^2

Step 2. Solve

(x^2 + 4)^2 ==> x^4 + 8x^2 + 16

==> 3x^4 + 15x^2 + 12 + 6(x^4 + 8x^2 + 16)

==> 3x^4 + 15x^2 + 12 + 6x^4 + 48x^2 + 96

Step 3. Add Similar Terms

==> 9x^4 + 63x^2 + 108

==> 3(3x^4+21x^2+36)

==> 3(x^2 + 4) 3 (x^2 + 3) ==> 9(x^2 + 4) (x^2 + 3)

People stared at me in shock. It was only a month in to the school year and we weren't supposed to even know how to solve that yet. Not to mention the fact that I had beaten Mr. Calvin Fescir to it. Wow, I had never really tried to be first in advanced… AND I got it right. Dear gods, my inner geek must be coming out. "Ha! Beat that, Fescir!" I just smiled in pride, said "I think I've earned my mp3 player for the rest of class", took it out and turned on Mambo Number Five, followed by Fireflies.

Finally the bell rang and I victory walked out, but not before Calvin ran up and asked me what my next class was. "Figures, I win one and lose another" My triumph instantly vanishes as I remember my promise to him.

"Fine, but keep your hands off of me this time" I warn him with a stern glare. On my way to my locker before Phys. Ed. I ran into someone do to my lack of looking where I'm going. I glanced up and froze. "Fuck." Every cell in my body froze as I stared into the hard, brown eyes of Kyle Checkoff.

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                                                    Flashback

"He's so sweet, Melanie." I whispered as we watched him.

"I know, Val, but something's off about him, darling." I stared at Melanie. I mean, how could she know? She hasn't even met him, so who was she to judge Kyle? I immediately got defensive.

"You don't know what you're talking about. Nothing is off about him. He's perfect."

"Darling, when will you learn that the perfect ones always have flaws. Really bad ones. You saw what happened to Crystal. Matt was perfect too, until he did that. Please, be careful, Val. I don't want to lose another friend."

I knew what she said was all out of the best interest for me, but I was too sucked in. Too lost already. There was no coming back. I knew it and Melanie knew it, she just wouldn't stop fighting for me. She loved me. We were like sisters. She wouldn't let anything happen to me if she could help it. Poor Melanie. If only she knew just how unsavable I was.

Kyle walked over and nuzzled me. It brought a smile to my lips like always. Melanie tried her best to not glare at him. I knew how she felt. It was horrible when we lost Crystal. It pained me to know what  I was doing to Melanie, to know just how bad I was screwing her over. It must have felt like I was sticking a knife in her heart. It would have been a lame excuse if I said that I couldn't help it. I shouldn't have gotten this involved in the first place. Right in that moment I wanted to reach out and say that I was sorry. That I was weak and I'm sorry, but at the same time I wasn't sorry. I mean, I had Kyle. Why should I be sorry?

In that moment I knew what I had to do. I had to end it with Kyle. If Melanie was this worried, then I should listen. Crystal didn't listen and look what happened to her. I would save myself. Yes. Save myself for Melanie. Save myself when Crystal couldn't. I have to, I can't do this and know the repercussions it will have on Melanie. As my face grew serious Melanie looked quizzically at me, then understanding came to her face, then concern. She was asking if I really wanted to do this. I nodded. I must, Melanie. For me, for you, for Crystal. A smile flicks across her face and she mouths "Thank you".

"Hey, Kyle. Can you meet me on the football field after school? We need to talk."

"Sure, babe. See you after class." He gives me his boyish grin and walks away. I sadly note that he won't have that grin for long.

"Thank you, Val. I really appreciate it. I just don't want to lose you." I smile at Melanie.

"I know. I should have listened sooner. I can't do to you what Crystal did to us." She smiled and pulled me into a hug.

                                                  End Flashback

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"Hey, babe. Long time, no see. Although, now I see that you're still as beautiful and clumsy as before. If not more." He said with a wink.

"Stay away from me, Kyle. How the hell did you even find me? You know what, never mind. I don't even want to know as long as you get the fuck out of here before I do something you'll regret." Calvin looked at me with this confused expression on his face and I couldn't help but flush in embarrassment.

I really didn't want my past to follow me here. Scratch that. I really didn't want KYLE following me here. Speaking of, how the HELL did he find where I was? Great, now I'm going to have to move again and I haven't even been in school for a whole day. I suppose Calvin picked up on my stress at seeing Kyle, or maybe it was the fact that I threatened him, but he stepped in between us and confronted Kyle.

"Hey, dude. I don't know who you are, but you're making Valarie really uncomfortable so I would appreciate it if you would step aside and leave her alone." Wow, I never thought an asshole could be so sweet. "That didn't sound wrong at all." I thought just as Calvin grabbed my arm and pulled me around our obstacle.

"Hey, keep your hands off of me. Thanks for defending me back there and everything, but I didn't need you to. I can take care of myself." I know I sound like a bitch, it's just I don't like people knowing my business, especially a cocky asshole like Calvin Fescir.

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* I do not own Hermione Granger or any other characters from the story Harry Potter.

Author's Note:

So, do you guys like Valarie and Calvin's relationship? What do you think happened between Val and Kyle? What happened to Crystal? Is Valarie just being stubbourn?

Comment, Vote, Fan and I'll see you guys next time.