As the man sitting beside her finished his introduction, Valentina grew nervous. Even without peeking from behind her glasses, she knew all eyes were on her. There was a moment of silence, and with a blush, Valentina realized it was her turn.
“Oh, um, I’m Valentina Lytton. I just completed a crash bachelor’s degree in classic literature from Hunter College in New York City. That’s where I spent the past five years. Um, I was born in London, and raised in Switzerland. I speak French, English and German. I am Extrasensory, or gifted, or Kraftvolken, which ever term you like to use. And also, I’m legally blind.” Valentina hoped that would be enough. It was hard for a blind girl to gauge how her mute teacher was judging her.
Before she could dwell on it further, the man on the other side of her began to speak. As Leibe would probably say, he sounded cute.
“Hey, I’m Billy Duke. I’m from California. I like action movies, chicks, football and hot babes. And that’s pigskin, touchdown football. And that’s me.” Billy didn’t seem to have much of an accent to Valentina’s ears, but the past five years had dulled her to American accents. As the girl beside Billy began to speak, Valentina felt a hand on her knee.
“That’s a cute name, and a cute accent.” Billy whispered to her, “Valentina… Like Valentine’s Day, huh? So, is it true that blind girls see with their hands?”
Valentina blushed, hoping that no one saw. Somehow she stammered some words out in a whisper, “Well, sometimes, um… I guess. I’ve never really done that…”
“Want to try?” She could hear the smirk he wore in his voice. Billy’s fingers traveled over her skin. Suddenly, Valentina couldn’t speak. Her words dissolved on her tongue. “After class,” he whispered.
Valentina spent the rest of the lecture with her stomach in a knot. She really did try to focus on the rest of the introductions and the questions the other students were asking, but their words never reached her ears. She didn’t even realize when Elijah, through his translator, asked if anyone would like to share their research ideas. She’d wanted to stand out for her brilliant mind, but right now Valentina was afraid she’d only be known as the blind girl.
There was no reason to still feign blindness. Her father was not there to make sure she wore her glasses. She didn’t have a lifetime of friends to explain to. Valentina was in a new city to explore, and she wanted to see it. She would announce to it to the room. Rip her glasses off and proclaim her vision. Valentina was about to leap to her feet when Billy leaned in. She could feel his breath on her cheek.
“Teach just dismissed us. Wanna take a walk?” He needlessly whispered. Any excuse to get inside her personal space, she figured.
“I guess it couldn’t hurt for you to show me around.” Valentina silently wished she wouldn’t regret her choices as Billy helped her to her feet.
YOU ARE READING
Looking For A Legend (Book 1)
Mystery / ThrillerA young telepath is unexpectedly left with leading his class when his teacher takes leave. One of Elijah's new students Valentina leads him down a path where mysteries only get more mysterious and nothing is as simple as it looks.
