Valid Weaknesses ||Completed|| #Wattys2017

Chapter 15

Valerie

I've uploaded the song Valerie talks about in this Chapter. Kindly read through the chapter and play when you see me type 'play song' I promise it'll be worth it. Thank you!

I wish I could have faked some kind of illness so I could skip school this morning but no such luck. Knowing my parents they'd make me go to school anyway; sick or no sick so I'd pulled on my brave happy face this morning and driven myself into the lion's den.

It isn't so bad though. It's the last day of school so everyone's busy rounding up lessons and reports, extracurricular and whatnot. I have only a test and one other lesson scheduled for the day and I already confronted geography.

I can't believe it's like less than a week to Christmas day yet no one I know is really acting like it is. I only remember when I see how the school has been decked out in red and white with ornaments and pretty crepe paper dangling here and there. Also on the road when I pass the shops and see them selling all these Christmas themed stuff and hanging up decorations.

It all looks very nice. Christmas is literally in the air but I feel incapable of getting in the spirit; not with everything i have going on right now.

"Did you break up with him?" jess asks, slamming her lunch tray on the table and sliding into the seat across from me. Beside me, a silent Elliot keeps glaring daggers at their table. I'm surprised one of them hasn't wilted and died yet.

"About that." I begin, slowly pushing my tray away so I can rest my arm on the space in front of me. "I might not break up with him."

"What?" Elliot blanches, spluttering when his drink goes the wrong way.

"Are you insane Valerie?"

"No." I reply in a quiet but firm tone. "Well, not totally."

"This isn't the time to kid." Elliot deadpans.

"Who says I'm kidding?"

"You don't get it." Jessi replies. "You have to break up with him."

"I don't 'have' to do anything I don't want to." I toss back, making air quotes. "Stop trying to fix my life guys, it's not broken."

That said, I pick up my book bag and stomp my way out of the cafeteria. Neither of them trails me and I'm glad for it. Of course that last part about my life is a lie but I needed to say it out loud just so they'd back off a bit. Raiden is one of the few people that actually make me feel happy, like I'm worth something and he confessed. I know he isn't perfect or anything but this time, he wasn't in the wrong. This is all Kourtney's fault and I won't take my anger out on Ray.

My next class is art which I coincidentally have with Raiden even though he's a senior. The universe has a funny way of doing things.

"Good day Class." Our teacher greets, arms extended. "Our project for today will be on the Poichoir color process." He pens it down on the board before turning to gaze at us. "Which is just a fancy French word for a particular stencil printing technique I'm going to teach you."

We all laugh at this and he smiles, satisfied. Mr. David Mike then goes ahead to explain the steps, drawing an example from an artwork he'd prepared prior to the lesson before giving us room to begin our work. Carefully, I pick out the materials I'll need, already turning an idea over in my head. It would probably take ages to complete but I'm free until school let's off; more or less.

I wish to paint a scarecrow on a stick, but i plan on making his body out of stenciled birds. I just hope it turns out beautiful because you know; I'm not exactly that good at art and my parents never really like my work.