My Valentine

Three

Nightingale Phillips

"Hey smart ass, the bus just drove off," Rhinestone said calmly walking back into the house.

"What!" I screeched and a piece of bacon fell out of my mouth.

I immediately rose from my seat and sprinted outside only to find passengers in the yellow school bus grinning and waving goodbye through the different windows as the vehicle disappeared down the street.

"They saw me running," I mumbled to myself as I walked back inside.

"And you didn't think to call when you saw the bus Rhinestone!" I glared at her and she smirked, buttering a piece of toast.

"You're always early," she stated as if that could justify things.

"Well I was trying to complete a bitch of an essay this morning," I said grumpliy, stomping up the stairs to get my book bag.

She could be so self centered sometimes!

"How the hell am I gonna get to school!" I screamed.

I could get away with swearing because both my parents had left early for work.

"Get a ride with Mr. Valentine, he's about to leave."

When I got back downstairs, she was looking out the living room's window. No doubt watching Mr. Valentine getting into his car. I was beginning to suspect she had a soft spot for the older man.

"No."

No thank you. I didn't want to see him after what happened last night...well, this morning technically. It would be totally weird. Especially because I know what he'd been doing last night...this morning.

"Do you wanna explain "no" to mom and dad when he tells them you weren't in class?"

"I'm not gonna skip school," I rolled my eyes. I never skip school without a valid reason.

"Yeah, yeah," she walked over, grabbed the hem of my black polo shirt and tugged me towards the front door.
"Rhinestone stop!" I tried resisting, but she actually was really strong.

"Mr. Valentine!," She called once we were on the lawn, "My sister wants to ask you something." She literally shoved me in the direction of our white fence.

He'd just buckled Brooklyn into the the back seat of his silver Range Rover and visibly froze when he heard he heard Rhinestone's voice. His back was still turned to us when I walked towards the fence that separated our properties and pursed my lips shyly.

I'd never asked him for a ride before. My mom had always been home to drop me off at school when I was late, but, my father had finally agreed to let her start her own business. You see, daddy had this thing about him being the bread winner in our household. I assumed it was because it made him feel masculine or something. Anyway, after many, many fights, he finally let her open her salon. I worked there on weekends from time to time.

"Excuse me Mr. Valentine, I don't mean to be a bother but, you see-"

"I'll drop you," he said, turning around to face me. His blue eyes made contact with my green ones and I shivered at how bright they looked today. Maybe it was because of his...extra curricular activities in the earlier hours. Ugh. I needed to stop thinking about that woman!

"I...how did you know?" I asked placing my hand on the pointy edge of the fence.

"I was having my coffee on the porch earlier when the bus came," he pointed toward wooden, the medium sized porch.

I nodded slowly and waved goodbye to Rhinestone. Sometimes I'd hop the fence that was only five inches shorter than me when I took care of Brooklyn, but I think his frown would deepen even more if I did that so...