V I C I O U S L Y V A L E N T I N A

FOUR

I've always hated my name.

Don't get me wrong, it unique and all, but I would always think of the same name, and to this day, I refer to myself in with it. All my journal entries, all my pep talks in the mirror, the girl I refer to is,

Valentina.

No one knows, but when I can, I will change my name.

It's like I've had the wrong identity all my life. I've always hated the standards I had to live up to, and the examples I've had to set, and the things I was supposed to want, and the traditions I had to follow. I never obeyed any of those orders, but I've just always hated their sheer existence.

After our walk back to the felines, Nixon said we couldn't go out in search for animals  because she had to go to the drug store, and run some papers by the police station. So she told Fletcher to drop me off at the house, which gave me serious anxiety.

He had a jeep, a wrangler to be exact. It was a soft top, and he had it off at the moment because there was so much overcast. He bought me a snow cone and a juice on the way home, and we talked about my decision, he gave me his snapchat, and we said our goodbyes. He lived two blocks away, and we passed by his house. I added him as soon as I was in reach of wifi access.

I sent him an orca emoji.

He sent me a tiger emoji.

And I sent him a shrug emoji.

He sent me a puppy eye emoji.

And I sent him a message saying I was sure.

That's was one of the best conversations I had with a friend in a while. He told me he would be at the local pool nearby today, and that I should stop by. There were a lot of reasons why I shouldn't go, but there was one reason I should and it was enough.

He wants you to come.

I hopped in the shower to wash my hair, and face. I changed into some tight Polyester Adidas joggers, and a tight long sleeve white top. Then I just wore some sandals, and I already had my one piece bathing suit on under my clothes.

I went downstairs in hopes of finding Elodie.

To my luck she was watching the news on the couch.

I walked up to her and said, "Taunt, can I go out?" I asked.

She looked at me with a smile and a questioning look, "Already? Where to?" She asked

"Well, Fletcher invited me to the local pool, cause he said he's hanging there today, and I wanted to run it by you before I left." I explained.

"Who's Fletcher? The boy from the center?" She beamed.

"Yes that's him, can I go?" I urged.

"Ok be back by seven!"

"Thanks you, I'm going now-" she cut me off.

"Take your phone with you!" She shouted

"It's in my pocket!" I yelled back

I walked out the door, just as Nixon pulled into the driveway with some baguettes and a back of sweets.

"Derby! Where you off to?" She asked smiling.

"Oh um, the pool" I said shyly.

"All by yourself?" She queried.

"No, actually, Fletcher invited me, and um I was just..yea" I said blushing.

"OHHH, I see? I could drop you off?"

"I don't want to bother you, it's not that far, I'm meeting him at his house, he'll take me to the pool" I explained.

"I'm dropping up you off" she stated.

"Oh, ok then" I said frightened.

She ran into the house, to drop the the food off in the kitchen. She walked out with a with some spare cash in her hand. I walked over to the car and took a seat. Her car was a Mercedes G-Class, it was a 4x4 and it was painted black. She sat in the drivers seat and closed the door. She drove out and soon enough we were in front of Fletcher's green house.

She put the money in my hand, " Nixon, I can't accep-" I started.

"Shhhh, grasshopper, it ok, you'll need it, and I'm sure you don't have any money in the currency for southafrica" she said.

"Thank you" I said, and got out.

She drove off.

I walked up to his door and rang the bell, he had a porch swing and some succulents on his porch, and they were really cute.

I was greeted by Fletcher, with wet hair, and a lip ring. He didn't have one the other day. He was wearing grey sweatpants and a guns 'n roses muscle tank. I don't think I should have come.

"You made it!" He stated.

I smiled and looked into his hazel eyes.

"Come in" he stepped aside.

I walked in stuffing the cash I was given in my back pocket. Fletcher put his hand on the small of my back and guided me into his kitchen. There were goosebumps all over the place where his hand is.

"Do you want anything to drink?" He asked.

"Cold water please." I said.

"So, did you bring a swimsuit?" He asked.

"Yes" lifted my top to reveal a black leotard.

His pupils dilated, "Good" he said, "Cause you don't want to get your clothes wet.....obviously, that's what people do when they swim, they-" he stopped and took a deep breath.

I frowned.

He rummaged through his fridge. I couldn't help but gawk at his side view, and profile arm veins, back muscles, jawline. Ohh my god.

"Derby!" He said looking into my eyes.

"Yea." I said embarrassed.

"Here." He pushed the bottle to me.

I grabbed it and took a sip.

"So, um, Derby, you fresh out of high school?" He asked cringing afterwards.

I frowned, "yea..." I said.

He looked down at his clothes. "Ohh my god, I'm so sorry, totally was paying no mind to what I was wearing let me chan-" he rambled.

"It's ok, you look great" I blurted.

Heat flooded to my cheeks, "You don't need to worry about that, when are we heading to the pool anyways?" I said trying to cover up what I just said.

He smiled at me and said, " we could head out now if you want, just let me Change, and grab some towels and sunscreen." He said.

"You can wait in the car if you want" he suggested.

"Ok, see you there" I said walking out with the water bottle.

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