The next day Valerie went into the school with murder in mind...An old habit. A merciful part of her hoped that Piper would be smart enough to stay out of her way.
So, she went through the day taking one moment at a time, concentrating on each breath, each thought and each question.
Once it came to last period she was proud of herself for not being reckless and stupid. Not acting like she would've before she went to juvee.
By the time the bell rang Val had herself under control... At least she thought she did before Piper swaggered up to her mumbling excuses and apologies.
"How dare you!" Val seethed as she backed her up into a corner, automatically drawing the entire schools attention.
"Val lemme' explai-"
Valerie slammed her against the wall,
"I don't want your fucking excuses. Your words mean shit to me." She dropped Piper, still holding dominance at her height.
Piper had a look of genuine shame on her face.
"You think I knew they were gunna be there?" Piper harshly whispered. She chewed her lip before tugging Valerie by her forearm into an empty classroom.
"Look," Piper breathed, "I-I'm sorry."
Val crossed her arms and leaned against a wall.
"I don't even know how I got into any of this... But, but that boss dude..." She struggled for words in her New Yorker way, "H-he's a maniac!"
"I know."
Piper froze. "Was he there?"
"No. I'm not about to go explain myself to you," Val unfolded her arms and paced over to Piper until she was a foot away from her, "But I got myself out of that mess and I'm not about to let you drag me back into it."
Piper nodded, "Yeah, that's fair."
Valerie was about to leave before an aching question popped up.
"What was in that bag?"
"His favourite gun."
Val nodded . Drai loved that gun. His father had made it for him before he'd died-well, before Drai killed him with the same gun.
He only used the gun to kill important people, royalty, crimes lords, ex-lovers...
But if that gun got passed around a little too much for his liking, there'd be war. Piper looked terrified, more than Valerie thought possible on her 'casual and cool' style.
"Hey, Piper," she said, "Don't fear them, be the one they have to fear."
They both exchanged sad smiles.
"Oh, well, accept for Drai, obviously," she shook her head, "that dude really is a maniac... But he is a maniac with a conscience." Val winked as something sparkled in Pipers eyes. She knew piper now had a million questions about her past.
***
Within a few days Valerie had forced herself to forgive Piper. After all, 'no harm, no foul' right?
She'd also been with Trina and Jase while she was walking through the outdoor area.
The couple had a clear tension between them that day and she couldn't help but notice the band-aid around Trina's wrist.
"S-so how's it going, Val?" Jase asked, faking a pearly smile.
"I could be asking you two the same question..." Val responded looking between the sunken looking pair.
But they were saved by the sudden uprising.
A huge crowd gathered around what she assumed was a fight.
And she wouldn't have gone over if Piper hadn't been shouting in the front row and Chris be pulling a bloodied up Jock.
"Beast, beast, beast!" The crowd chanted gruffly.
"Ahh, he's back at it again. Good old beast." Jase casually said to no one in particular.
"Beast? What kind of idiot names their kid that?" Val chuckled.
"It's just the name everyone gives him. He's some sketchy dude, though. Funny guy, but tricky. He either hates your guts or tolerates you." Trina explained.
She could only make out some black hair and a leather jacket before teachers started pulling 'The Beast' away. Once they were away from the crowd-who were splitting back up into their groups-the beast shrugged the teachers off and started shrugging and shaking his lowered head just like any teenage boy trying to get out of trouble.
It was only when he threw back his hood she saw him.
Alec.
"I know him."
Jase chuckled, "if you knew him you'd be the talk of the school. He's even more known than Piper."
Trina butted in, "Well, they're like two peas in a pod since 9th grade. She controls the school by hope, he controls it by fear-and flirtation."
"So, what? They're like the 'bad breeds', 'the tough guys'?" Val joked.
No one laughed.
"For real, Val. You ain't got a clue how much safety comes with being down with Piper." Jase said.
Trina began tugging on her boyfriends sleeve. "Hey, I've got a free period..." She wiggled her brows, "You wanna 'study'?"
Jase pulled away, "Trina, not when you've just-"
They both remembered Valerie's presence. Awkwardly, Valerie came up with an excuse to run. Obviously, something went down with Trina. Most likely something to do with her wrist and Val hadn't known her long enough to even comprehend asking her about it.
She was looking over at where three teachers were bustling Alec-the beast-into a building when a hooded, shaggy blonde guy bumped into her.
"Oh,uh,sorry." He said, keeping his head down. "No problem..." She mumbled. It was only then, she noticed the group of jocks-extremely pissed off looking jocks-who were heading his same direction.
Val shook it off and continued walking, she looked over to the building where Alec had been taken. She didn't even know he was around her age, he looked too developed--too polished to be around her age. And he had tattoos, which you couldn't really get if you were in high school. Valerie's thoughts were cut off by a certain fuming Mr.Buckhead.
"You." He seethed with more hatred than she thought allowed in a 'learning environment'.
"Lovely to see you too, Buckhead." She continued her sarcasm as he yanked her inside the building, leading her towards double doors.
"You look different, new haircut, different skin cream? Ah, maybe it's just the burning hatred behind your eyes." She grinned as steam practically came out of his nose.
When she saw where she was going her eyes widened.
ISOLATION.
-------
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