My Valentine

Eight

Nightegale Phillips

"Make sure she takes her vitamins!" My mom called from the car as they drove off. Rhinestone discretely sent me the finger.

Mr. Valentine waved goodbye with his right hand while he held Brooklyn in the left.

It had been a long and winding week. Ghanz had returned to school with a scarf wrapped around his neck on probably the hottest day of the year, he also wore a sickened expression.

I tried pulling the scarf off, but he immediately slapped my hand away.

"Ghanz, what the hell?" My hand was stinging!
"I- I've got a rash babe."

A silently scrutinized him as he stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth. When I tried holding his hand, he flinched for a split second, before relaxing into my touch.

Tammy was apparently having the busiest week also. On Wednesday, she had 'detention' because of the protest they'd staged.

Oh please.

On Thursday, she had to go to the library to do a research on the human appendix.

Yeah right.

It was the typical story of the boyfriend cheating with the best friend. I'd read about it in books and had seen it in real life. I knew what the signs were - one sign being that they both were always busy! Yeah, they thought they had me fooled.

Anger overtook the hurt I felt when I finally figured it out in English class. Ghanz was cheating on me with Tammy. That afternoon before I left school, I went to the library to see if she'd been lying to me and confront her if she was actually there.
She was.

"I need to speak to you," I stated, crossing my arms and sending down a hard stare at her. She looked up from the book she was flipping through innocently.

"Sure! What's up!" She chirped and told her partner she'd be right back.
I didn't move.

"Are we gonna go outside? Or...?" She trailed off and reached for my arm. We held hands sometimes.
I was well aware of the no talking policy in the library, but my anger made me want to just cause a real ugly scene. I snatched my hand away.

"What's going on with you and Ghanz?" I saw her partner glance up at us from the book she was reading.

"What?"

She looked at me if I was supposed be be in a rehabilitation center.

"You heard me Tammy."

I just needed to hear it from her because it would hurt a lot less than if it was Ghanz who told me.

"There's nothing going on between your boyfriend and I, Nightingale! Where's all this coming from?"

"I'm not stupid Tammy! Just tell me! How long have you been fu-"

"Girls!" Miss Bank's voice came form behind us. She looked at me in disbelief.

Cry me a river, lady.

"Look, I'm not the one you want to throw accusations at," She softly said as she sat down. I'd never forget how I made tears glisten in my best friend's eyes.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave, Ms. Phillips," An unamused Miss Banks sternly said.

Sending Tammy a disgusted look, I left the room.