All's Fair In Love And War

4

Way Back From High School

Valerie ran as fast as she can, trying to reach her class in time. She had been late for the past few days, and she knew her teacher was not going to be happy with her being late for the fourth time that week.

When she reached her class, her English teacher was already standing in front of the whole class. She turned her head and looked through the door where Valerie was standing. "Well, it's great to see you this early, Ms. Kent," she said sarcastically as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"I'm really sorry, Mrs. Jackson. I was-" before Valerie could even finish, her English teacher shut her up.

"I don't need any of your excuses, Ms. Kent. You have been late for four days in a row, and you have never been late to any of my classes before. Whats gotten into you?" Mrs. Jackson snapped, and Valerie looked down in embarrassment.

Mrs. Jackson instructed Valerie to sit down, and the blond did as told. She could hear her classmates whispering about her, and she was trying her best not to cry right then and there. When the bell rang, indicating that their first period was done, Mrs. Jackson dismissed the class.

Before Valerie could step outside of the classroom, Mrs. Jackson stopped her, "Ms. Kent, I want you to meet me at the guidance council on your lunch break. Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am," Valerie replied before leaving the room and catching with the other students.

After a few more hours of torture, it was finally lunchtime. Valerie gathered her school supplies and placed it on her bag before walking straight to the guidance council. She knocked on the door and opened it, and was immediately greeted by Mrs. Jackson and the guidance councilor. Valerie sat and opposite to Mrs. Jackson and placed her bag beside the chair that she was sitting on.

"Ms. Kent, I heard that have been attending class late. Is that true?" the guidance councilor started with a cold tone.

"I'm sorry," was all Valerie could say.

"Valerie, is there a reason for this behavior?" her English teacher asked, but Valerie just stayed quiet.

She didn't know how to tell them that she had been late because her mother fucked up as a parent and left. She didn't know how to tell them that your father started becoming abusive. She didn't know if she was comfortable with talking to them about her family problems.

"Val, if you want us to understand why you had been coming to school late, you have to tell is the reason. This could cause your grades to go lower, because you know we decrease student's grade when they show up late. But you would just tell us, we could make it work and I'm not going to lower your grades," Mrs. Jackson said, her voice turning soft for the first time that day, as well as the expression on her face.

"I'm sorry... I don't know how to tell you, yet..." Valerie whispered, too scared that if she speaks any louder, she would break.

"Ms. Kent, I'm letting you off with a warning. But, if I ever hear that you're late again, I'm going to let Mrs. Jackson make a deduction on your grades. Got it?" the guidance council asked, and she nodded in understanding. "I will let you take your lunch now."

Valerie picked her bag up and stood up. She hurriedly walked out of the office, making her way straight to the game field, where she usually ate her lunch.

She used to love to eat at the school cafeteria. But ever since her now-ex best friend betrayed her by going out with her now-ex boyfriend, she couldn't stand eating there anymore. She would always see them across the room, and it always brought pain to Valerie's heart how the two people that she truly loved suddenly dated behind her back.

She sat under one of the bleachers, not wanting anyone to see her. She opened her lunchbox to see that there was only half of a sandwich. She wasn't surprised, though. She was the one who prepared and packed it.

With the situation with her and her family, she was trying her best to be as independent as she could. Before all the drama started, she was used to her mom preparing her lunch for her. But now that she left and her dad was always too drunk to care, she felt like she had no one to rely on. She felt like it was herself against the world.

She started eating her lunch, until she heard someone quietly singing close to where she was hiding. Her voice was captivating, she sounded so pretty.

Valerie finished the last bite of her sandwich and placed her lunchbox back in the bag next to her. She was about to stand up, when she suddenly bumped her head on the seat above where she was sitting at. She groaned as she felt the pain in her head, and she heard the girl stop singing.

"Are you okay?" the girl asked, slowly walking towards where Valerie was sitting and rubbing her head.

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks," she said, not even looking up.

"Are you sure? Do you want me to help you? Or...?" the girl hesitantly asked, and that's when Valerie looked up. The girl was gorgeous, she had this really beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair.

"No need, thanks," Valerie said, slowly standing up. She grabbed her bag and slung it on her shoulder.

"Oh, I'm Taylor, by the way. It's nice to meet you," the girl said, stretching her hand out to Valerie.

"Valerie. Nice to meet you too," she said, taking Taylor's hand and shaking it with hers. Taylor's hand felt soft against her own, and she could feel her cheeks heating up. Oh, gosh. Was she blushing? Why was she blushing?

"I know. We have the same math class," Taylor stared as she let go of Valerie's hand. She chuckled as she sat down on one of the bleachers, and Valerie did the same. "So, what brings you here?"

"I used to eat at the school cafeteria, but ever since...." Valerie sighed, not sure how to continue spilling her problems to a random girl.

"It's okay, you don't have to continue," Taylor said, giving Valerie a reassuring smile.

Valerie thought it was no problem telling Taylor, she looked too soft to be a snake like the two people that betrayed her, so she continued, "Ever since Valentine's Day, I stopped eating there. It's when I found out that my ex-boyfriend and my ex-bestfriend are dating behind my back. I found them kissing on the bathroom. And it was the girls' freaking bathroom! Like, why was he there?"

Taylor laughed at what she said. "Maybe he's gay!" the blonde stated, making Valerie laugh along with her.

"Have you eaten lunch yet?" Valerie asked, only realized that she didn't see Taylor eat lunch.

"No. But it's fine. I'm not hungry."

"Are you sure?"

"Val, thank you for your concern. But I'm fine, I promise."

They talked for a few more minutes, until the school bell rang and they needed to go their separate ways. Before they parted though, they exchanged numbers and agreed to meet up at the gate after school.

Valerie couldn't be more grateful for finding Taylor at the field. It was their first time talking, but Valerie was sure that Taylor and her would be the bestest of friends.