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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"Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways." (Sigmund Freud).
|◁ II ▷|
My music pauses mid-song, and I groan in frustration, reaching through the shower curtain to dry my hand and unpause it. Instead, I'm greeted with a call from Sam.
Lovely.
I jab at the side button, mad at both the phone and at Sam. He ruined my shower jam session.
I turn the water off and hop out, quickly pulling my towel around me to block out the less warm air in the bathroom. I hurry to my room and get dressed, hoping to watch some tv. I just started a new show, and it seems to be one of the main things I think about.
Besides Valen.
Wait, do I think of him all the time? Did I seriously admit to myself that he's one of the main things I think about?
Nope, we're not gonna dwell.
I groan as I reach the bottom of the steps, wondering if I should go back upstairs. Sam's voice is hissing in the kitchen, but I pause when I hear West respond angrily.
I've gotta listen to this.
I sit down on the step, only pausing for a moment to wonder if I should keep standing for a quick getaway.
"You don't understand." Sam's voice sounds harsh.
"No, you don't understand." This actually sounds the angriest I've ever heard West be with Sam. "Nico is happy."
Wait, me?
"She's actually very happy. She's told you before to leave her alone. You can't ask her to leave the guy she's in love with because it's what you want. You're selfish and controlling. You can't be in her life if you're going to be either of those two things."
Sam groans. "West, you aren't listening to me. She doesn't love him. I can see that clearly. I'm trying to protect her. He's not a good guy. His friend told me it's all a bet for them. You know Valen doesn't lose bets. He's betting on Nico."
It's silent, and I wonder if West believes him.
"Is he?"
No, West. Don't believe him.
West sighs harshly. "Even if he is, you need to stop asking Nico to break up with him and just tell her what you know, okay? Tell her once and let her decide. Make peace with her decision."
