Sunsets

Chapter Ten

New week, new projects, new assignments. Elaine had a positive attitude and hoped the week would go well. Well, it was great until she had to partner with Camille on a presentation. Elaine couldn't even start to describe how much she hated Camille. Although now, the blonde didn't seem as rude. She just seemed cold and nonchalant. Elaine was so annoyed just by the girl's presence but decided to be nice.

"What perfume are you wearing?" Elaine asked, trying to be polite.

Camille gave her a disbelieving and offended look, "You don't know what perfume this is?" Camille chuckled in disbelief, "It's Chanel No.5, come on, anyone should know this"

Elaine was amused by the girl's attitude. It was funny how much you can annoy someone with a simple question. Elaine couldn't focus, it was biology. She was terrible at biology. She could see Camille's frustration, it hung in the air. Elaine was feeling frustrated too, she couldn't help but get distracted by Camille, whether it was how her hands looked when they worked, the way her hair fell over her shoulder, or the way she talked. It was all too weirdly mesmerizing. The class felt very long. It was excruciating.

Elaine had a test in mathematics, she was convinced the universe wasn't on her side that day. That was until Valerie surprised her at lunch break. Valerie hugged Elaine and wanted to kiss her but Elaine shut her off quickly, saying people would see. As they were eating together in the cafe, Valerie asked how school was going. Elaine replied honestly, it was going hard and slow and exhausting. There was a huge load of assignments. Elaine knew she wouldn't have much time for Valerie, which she dreaded knowing how Valerie reacted to not getting enough attention. Valerie also shared how school was going for her. She went to an art school, which would never be Elaine's personal choice. Elaine held Valerie's hand over the table but her eyes kept drifting away as they talked. Elaine was only halfway through the day and already exhausted. Valerie was kind enough to pay for Elaine's coffee, the girl was too kind for her own good.
"I got so many assignments, it's insane. I think I'll go crazy" Elaine groaned.

Valerie stroked her hand with her thumb, "I got a lot of projects too" she hummed with understanding.

"At your art school, sure, must be so hard" Elaine's mouth was faster than her brain.

"Excuse me? What the fuck did you just say?" Valerie looked Elaine dead in the eyes and pulled her hand away.

"No, no, no, shit. I'm– I'm so sorry, Val. I-" Elaine stumbled as Valerie went to get up.

"Mhm, spare it. That alone told me enough" Valerie walked away.

"No, please... Val... I'm just so tired. I'm so sorry" Elaine grabbed Valerie's arm.

Valerie sighed and turned to look at Elaine. Her beautiful blue eyes softening at the sight of the sincere look on Elaine's face. Valerie walked with Elaine to the school and left, after hugging her.

After studying that evening, Elaine decided to text Valerie, but got left on read. Valerie either had communication issues or was just very petty. This went on for a week.

Until one night, Elaine had been working on assignment for hours and finally picked up her phone again and saw a bunch of missed calls and unread messages from Valerie. Elaine called Valerie immediately, panicked. Valerie picked up.

"Hi, are you okay? Why did you call so much?" Elaine asked, panicked.

"Oh yeah, I just wanted to talk to you, but I guess you don't want to talk to me" Valerie replied.

"No, I want to talk to you! I just got so busy with this essay, I completely lost track of time and my phone was on silent. I swear I didn't want to ignore you!" Elaine was explaining herself frantically.

"Oh, okay" Valerie said, her voice flat.

"Okay, listen. If you are going to be so rude to me just because I didn't know you called then I might as well just not talk to you right now. Bye, love you" Elaine hung up, and sighed.

She went to bed and fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

The next day, Elaine accidentally slept in and came in late to class. She had to sit down in the only empty seat in class, next to Camille. The now familiar smell of perfume and cigarettes hung in the air around the blonde. Camille had a black hairband in her hair, not her usual black ribbon. Elaine was very observant to details.

Valerie surprised her at the lunch break again. The two went to the beach together and ate food together. Elaine spotted Iris and Camille. Iris waved at Elaine with a smile, mean while Camille looked annoyed at Elaine. Valerie was drawing something in her sketchbook, mean while Elaine was admiring her and trying to count the freckles on her face, Valerie reached out to cup Elaine face but Elaine shook her head no.

"I'm not a fan of physical touch, sorry" She muttered, and just pressed a kiss to Valerie's lips. Valerie sighed. "Sorry, uh, how long of the break do you have left?" She asked.

Elaine checked the time on her phone, "I have class in ten minutes, I'll have to leave in five" She replied, "Don't you have school?" Elaine asked, curiously.

"Oh, we have a free day, sort of. We have the day off from classes to work on projects and stuff." Valerie explained.

"Well, shouldn't you be working then? Or are you taking a long lunch break?" Elaine asked.

"Well, I am taking a long break but I am also sketching so it's not a total break"

"Ah, okay" Elaine nodded and looked at the notepad, eating a strawberry.

Valerie left and Elaine went to class. She had chemistry, with Iris. Iris partnered up with her and talked her head off the whole class. Elaine liked Iris but felt very awkward. Then again, she felt awkward with most people. Iris and Elaine talked after class, until Camille came over to Iris. An uncomfortable silence fell when Camille made eye contact with Elaine. The tension felt thick. Then Jules walked over to Elaine and it got even more uncomfortable. Suddenly, Camille seemed to get nervous as Ines walked past. This was a crazy coincidence. Jules and Elaine walked away together without saying a word. The two found Louis and hung together during their fifteen minute break.

"I don't think Valerie and I fit that well together, we're too different" Elaine mumbled, as Jules was gently braiding her hair.

"Well, relationships don't always work out" Louis sighed, taking a sip of his iced coffee.

"Louis, this is your last cup of coffee. I don't want you jumping and running around like a rabid dog" Jules said.

"Leave me alone, I haven't slept properly in two days" Louis groaned.

"Why?" Elaine asked.

"They banned the guys from the girls' dorms, they caught on guys sneaking in, so Louis can't sneak into my dorm to sleep anymore" Jules explained, shaking her head.

"It's horrible" Louis groaned.

Jules finished braiding Elaine's hair and Elaine's phone received a notification. It was a text from Valerie. "Call me"

Elaine jolted up on her feet and walked away so no one could overhear. She called Valerie.

"Hello? What's up?" Elaine asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

"I'm breaking up," Valerie stated.

"Why?" Elaine asked, she felt tears forming in her eyes.

Valerie simply hung up. Elaine tried calling her again but it just went to voicemail every time she called, over and over again.

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