Secret Love Song

The One With The Archers

So hold my hand it's just for a second
I won't be here for a whole of a minute

First day of school. I was not ready for it.
Softmore year. Fuck.

My entire life people had told me that this would be the hardest year.
I mean, don't get me wrong. It's not the classes that concern me. Studying was never an issue for me.
It's the official end of summer. No more parties, no more lazying around, no more skatepark all day long. I was gonna miss it.

Also- waking up. I was not a morning person.

That's why when the alarm hit I had the impulse to just turn it off and pretend nothing happened. But I didn't. I knew I shouldn't. Procrastination is bad.
I got up in a rush, trying to wake up. It sort of worked- I was up. But I still felt the sleepiness crawling behind my eyes.
I did everything I was to do in order to get ready. I washed my face, changed my clothes, had breakfast, brushed my teeth. Then I left and took the bus to school.

I listened to music in my headphones. I was never out on the street without music on. I kinda love myself for that. I love my music, and that is a fact.
Archers, by With Confidence was playing. That gave me the feeling today was going to be a good day. I'd make it a good day.

I arrived and took a look at the class. On one corner, Augusto and his friends talking. And on the other, all the girls gathered up. I felt like talking to no one. I just went my way quietly and sat on my desk. I focused on my music, but after a while, Principal Thompson showed up. Behind her was a shy, innocent-looking girl.
"Hey, guys!" Thompson called us, "guys!" she called again, firmly, since no one had answered her first call. I giggled.
"First of all, happy new year. Now, you have a new student joining in," she opened up for the girl to pass out front. She was beautiful, to say the least. Every nerve on my body agreed. "This is Valentina."

Her hair was long, straightened, and brown. Really dark brown. Like her eyes. They were almost black, and they sparkled. Her skin was pale and gentle, and so was she. She looked sweet. Like an angel. And that angel had just fallen right in the middle of hell. She was going to get eaten alive.
Not more than a minute had passed and I already caught Augusto making his way to her. "Oh, don't you fucking dare," I said to myself and practically run over there.
"Hi. I'm Nacha," she looked up at me, quiet, shy. Augusto arrived, "and this is my cousin, Augusto. He wants to pick you up," before he could speak for himself, I faced him and cut him off. "Not gonna happen," he rolled his eyes at me and left cursing under his breath.
I turned back to her. She was glancing at the floor, still shy. "Valen, right?" she just stood there, playing nervously with her fingers. I realized it was better to leave her be.
I did.
I watched her stay shy all day long, not talking to anyone. She must have had a hard time.

******

I took the bus home. I said hi to Pedro -the doorman- and got inside the elevator. Before the doors closed, a girl came in.
She was reading. Thoroughly. She had her face stuck inside that book and was completely zoned out.
After a few seconds, I realized it was her. Valen.

What was she doing here? She lives here, dumbass.
But I never saw her before.
Oh! She's the new girl! But- that means.
She's the Muchiut's daughter.

That was unexpected.
Alberto Muchiut was an important politician, who had all the money he cared for. And Adriana Perez was a former model who now struggled for women's rights. I had expected their daughter to be shallow. She's quite the opposite. She's reading, for fucks sake!

The elevator arrived. She looked up and recognized me.
"Oh my God, I'm sorry!
"I was just reading- and I tend to get really excited when reading. And I kinda forget there's a world out there, a reality.
"I can be pretty hung up when I get hooked on a good book-" she explained waaay too fast. She let it all out in one breath, and I'll have to admit I kinda lost track there a little bit.
"What were you reading?" I simply asked. The elevator stopped on the third floor and we got out, stopping in the middle of the hallway.
Her face lit up and she smiled, "oh. Mi Plan D," she pronounced in perfect Spanish, "it's just a dumb Wattpad novel, but it's actually really good," she spoke calmly this time.
"What's Wattpad?"
"What?" she cried out, "you don't know what Wattpad is?" her eyes widened, startled.
I smirked, "should I?"
"Um- yes!" she searched me with her eyes, from head to toes, playfully judging me. I felt attacked. I gave her a threatful grin, putting her back in place.
Of course, we were just messing around, but still. You don't get to just mess around with me.
"So what is it?"
"It's an app for books. It's kind of religion for people like me," she giggled.
"People like you?" Not that I cared really, I'm just not comfortable with people pushing themselves down.
"Yeah- you know. Those who stay up all night reading a book when everyone else is partying and doing normal teenager stuff."
"Well, have you thought that maybe those are the dicks?" she didn't know what to say. Touché.

She grabbed her keys and mumbled an adorable, chirpy "well, bye" before going inside her apartment. I waited for the door to close behind her and checked out the copper numbers on it. 3B.