Be(lie)ve Me.

The New Girl.

Ben Devine -->

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I parked the Lexus convertible my dad gave me in the parking lot of the school. I breathed in and grabbed my bag. I could do this. You're strong, I told myself. Stronger than you think.

I walked to the secretary's office to receive lots of stares from boys and glares from girls. They all whispered about the new girl. I rolled my eyes as I pushed the door and was met by a women that looked in her mid-thirties. "Hi, I'm Van- Valerie Dean. I'm a new student and I want to collect my schedule."

She looked up and gave me a small smile before ruffling through papers. "Here it is." 

I thanked her and walked out of the office. She also had given me my locker number and combination. As I tapped my pink-coated fingernails on my thighs, I heard a voice behind me. "You're new." 

I spun around to be met by a tall boy. He had gorgeous hazel eyes and light brown hair that was brushed neatly the side of his forehead. I could tell he was a player. But he wouldn't ever play me. I'd make sure of that. 

"You're old." 

"Fiesty, I like that," he said winking and catching up with me as I walked to my locker. 

"What do you want?" I snapped at him when I arrived to my locker. He looked shocked that I got straight to the point. "Just get straight to it because I don't like playing games." 

"I want to be friends," he sighed. 

I looked in his eyes and there was a hint of sincerity. "I have to get to class." 

He grabbed my forearm and stopped me, as he spun me towards him. I didn't realize how close we were until I felt his breath on my lips. "I'll drop you off. What do you have?"

"I have chemistry," I said yanking away from him. 

He smiled. "Me too. By the way, I'm Ben."

I looked up at his smirk and returned it. "And I'm not your friend. Get that in your little tiny brain," I said, pointing at my head. 

He raised his eyebrows as the bell interrupted both of us. I smirked at him. "I'm the new student, I got lost in the hallways. What's your excuse, Ben?" 

He leaned in towards me as his breath fanned my lips once again. "I'm helping the new student get to class." 

He pulled out and started walking in front of me. "It's Valerie, by the way."

He spun around to face me as I caught up with him. "What?"

"My name. It's Valerie."

A grin was plastered on his face and I realized the contrast of his pearl white teeth and his perfect tan.

"Let's get to class," I snapped. But as he turned around, I couldn't help but sneak a smile. 

***

After Ben had dropped us both off to our first class, he kept on trying to talk to me. It was hilarious. The ways he tried talking to me or get me to talk in class would only get him in trouble by the teacher. Finally, it was lunch. As I gathered my bag and went to my locker, the little lost puppy followed me. I sighed and looked at him. "Ben, what do you want?"

He grinned as he leaned against the lockers. "Can't I talk to my new best friend?" he said, throwing an arm around my shoulders.

I elbowed him in the ribs and he winced. "We. Are NOT. Friends."

He chuckled and raised his eyebrows. "See you at lunch, babe."

"Don't call me babe!" I said, but he had already sped up his pace.

I sighed and opened my locker, stuffing my books inside it.

"Hey," a voice said, making me look up. It was a tall girl with freckled scattered across her cheeks. She had brown curly hair, which reminded me of my own before I dyed it, that cascaded down her shoulders and ocean blue eyes.

"If you're talking to me because you're threatening me of stealing your boyfriend, don't bother."

She giggled. "Don't worry. I'm Belle, by the way."

I smiled at her. "I'm Valerie," I said, shutting my locker.

She smiled as we made our way to lunch. "Do you buy food here?"

"The food is pretty shit, that's why I get lunch with me from home," she said, wrinkling her nose. I laughed and realized I wasn't hungry.

"I'm not hungry anyways. Let's go sit down," I said. We both walked to an empty table and sat down. As we started talking, he came.

"Hi Bella," he said, sitting on the table.

"It's Belle," I corrected him. "What do you want, shit face?"

He pouted, faking shock. "Shit face? I thought we were friends!"

I sighed, not having the energy to correct him. "No. We are not friends. I think I stressed that enough."

He grinned and chuckled. "Whatever you say, friend. Do you want to sit with us?" he asked, pointing at the popular table.

"I'm good here," I said.

Belle and Ben looked at me like I was some sort of idiot. "Um, okay," he said as he stood up and left.

"Are you crazy?" Belle said.

"No, why?"

"People would die just to get to sit at that table! And then you said no!"

I laughed. "I'm sitting with you, though."

She opened her mouth to talk until a blonde girl walked to our table, glaring at me.

"You," she barked.

"Me?"

She nodded.

"Well, I have a name," I shot back.

"Whatever. You back off my man, or else."

"First of all, who's 'your man' and second of all, or else what?" I said.

Belle looked at me like I was some kind of flying mental unicorn.

Blondie in front of me scowled. "Ben. Stop flirting with him. Or else, I'll make your life a living hell."

If I was drinking something right now, I would've spit it out. I snorted and started laughing, receiving looks from the people in the cafeteria. "Ben? Me? We aren't even friends. He's all yours, love. Don't you worry about little Ben."

Blondie shot me another glare as she walked away. Belle's jaw was about to hit the floor. "What?" I questioned.

"That's Emily, the head cheerleader. I cannot believe you just talked to her that way. You are my rolemodel, girl."

I giggled. Belle and I were going to make good friends.

***

It was in English class when my worst of nightmares happened. The teacher, Mr. Olsen, decided to choose our partners for a project. I wasn't paying attention to half of the names called until…

"Valerie and Ben."

"What?" I almost shouted.

"You're working with Ben," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"But. I. I can't."

He ignored me as he called the rest of the names. I looked to my right where Ben was grinning at me like an idiot.

"Hey Partner," he said.

I let my head fall hard on the desk. This was going to be a long year.