Forever Found | a sequel

5 | You're a Great Guy...

Aubrey Valentina

We were all sitting out on the field of the UCLA campus eating lunch. There was Tyler, Ben, Maddox, Jay, Evie, Daniella and I sharing a few boxes of pizza and just taking turns telling stories on how we ended up here.

Tyler, Daniella and Jay are from the area so their stories weren't very interesting... not to be rude or anything it's just the truth.

Anyway, Bennet moved here all the way from Maine. He wanted to get away from home, so I'm guessing that moving across the country was far enough. I just learned that Evie is from Washington state and came here because her cousin Cameron lives by, and goes to this school.

It was Maddox's turn now. He intrigued me, but it was hard to get anything out of him. He was pretty closed off.

"Let's see. I was born in France, lived in Norway for a bit. Moved to New York when I was like ten. Came to Cali when I was 15, moved back to France for a year and here I am," he said bluntly.

I couldn't resist asking a question. "What's the story behind all the tats?"

He sligtly glared at me. "Some have a story some don't, vakker."

"What did you just called me?" I asked.

He smirked. "Don't worry about it."

Just as I was about to pick a fight Tyler stopped me. "Hey Aubrey tell us about you."

I nodded my head. "Well, I was born in Italy, but came to America when I was really young," I said scratching the back of my neck, "I moved all over the country, lived in about 30 of the 50 states. I met Tyler while I was living in San Francisco then I went back to Italy for almost a year. Graduated early and here I am."

"Wait so you're seventeen?" Ben asked.

I laughed. "Yep."

"Well the age of consent is sixteen so technically we can still—"

"Don't finish that sentence Bennet Silva, don't do it," I warned.

He sighed. "Fine."

"Any interesting facts?" questioned Jay.

"I have a photographic memory and I can speak 4 languages fluently..."

Maddox interrupted. "What about the scars all over you?"

I could feel my face pale at his comment. "Uh it's... it's nothing. Yea, it's nothing."

He said in French. "You're the stolen daughter? I thought you were the twin..."

"Stop it."

"Can you all speak English, por favor," asked Evie.

"Evie that was French not spanish," I laughed, trying to change the topic.

Maddox looked like he wanted to say something but he was interrupted by an intimidatingly tall girl with black hair, piercings and a leather jacket.

She scolded Maddox in what I believe was Norwegian— yup definitely Norwegian. "Hvor har du vært? Vi har prøvd å få tak i deg, i flere timer! Vi trenger deg tailbake i huset, for de er tilbake. Neste gang dette skjer kommer pappa grantert til å sende deg tilbake til Frankrike."

(Where have you been? We have been trying to contact you for hours! We need you back at the house because they are back... Next time this happens dad is definitely sending you back to France)

"Ro ned Kelsey. Følg meg," Maddox replied. (Calm down Kelsey. Follow me).

He got up and left with a brief nod towards the group.

"So what was that all about? Girlfriend troubles," I asked.

Jay cringed. "Nah that's his sister."

"Oh."

Evie laughed. "Well I have to get to my Latin class, I should get going."

I had no more classes for the rest of the day, all I had to do was some coursework so we all dispersed. Ben and Evie went one way, Jay and Dani went another and Tyler and I walked towards our dorm.

"So what are you up to this Friday?" Tyler asked.

"Well um, probably some work, maybe hang with the girls."

"Do you want to go out or something?"

I always wanted him to say something like that, but the way it sounded out loud almost made me want to cringe. We had a great friendship, and maybe now wasn't the time for it to change. "Tyler... I."

"No it's okay. I get it if you don't see me that way," he sighed.

"Tyler you're a great guy.... I just don't think I'm looking for something right now," I answered truthfully.

"See you later Aub," he said as he walked in another direction.

I continued to walk back to the dorm. Maybe I need to switch dorms, I'm gonna have to wait till next semester though because I doubt there are any available openings. I could just get an apartment... oh wait I'm seventeen.

In my moment of contemplation, I ran into a wall. Wait not a wall, a person.

"How many times are you gonna keep doing this Valentina?" I scolded to myself.

I looked up from my lap and saw Maddox smirking at me. Stupid boy with a stupid smirk and a bunch of stupid tattoos.

Don't lie to yourself, you know how you really feel.

I rolled my eyes, more towards myself, and I got up. "Sorry Maddox. Uh, weren't you supposed to be gone?"

He shrugged. "Kelsey didn't need me anymore. Want me to walk you back to your dorm?"

"Uh yea sure," I smiled.

He looked me in the eye and said "Don't get the wrong idea now. I'm not interested."

I scoffed. "As if. Keep walking Mister 100 Tattoos."

He laughed and I led him to my building. After a few minutes we made it there. "Thank you Maddox," I said, placing a strand of hair behind my ear.

He scratched the back of his neck. "No problem Valentina."

We walked our separate ways and I made it to the room. I put my things away and hopped in bed to take a nap. I set an alarm for an hour and a half away and went to sleep with one thing on my mind.

He called me Valentina, not Aubrey.

__________

I would like to thank VictoriaAnnBW  for helping me write the Norwegian part of the story xx