Hate Me Love Me

10| Hitting Emotion 😢

֍҉֍҉♥҉֍҉֍

"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." --- Oscar Wilde.

֍҉֍҉♥҉֍҉֍

I go to the library during breaktime for the rest of the week. With no disturbances. Two tests are coming up and three assignments are due next week.

High school.

Cue the sigh.

'Valerie?' my uncle asks as all of us head to the park on Saturday morning for breakfast, and I'm going to go swimming tomorrow to let off some steam and because I want the calmness and muscle exertion. Julian's tagging along as well.

'Yeah?'

'I found some jobs for you. You can tutor two twins in grade 5, or you can work at this cake shop I forgot the name of,' he says.

'Oh, really! Marvellous. I'll tutor the kids,' I say excitedly. My uncle tells me the timings and I agree to after school. From the middle seat at the back of the car, I lean forward and kiss his cheek.

Dylan and I are wearing matching orange shorts and caps with bright purple tank tops. He whined a little because according to him, men don't wear purple, but I convinced him by showing him pictures of guys wearing purple.

Taking the basketball out of the boot, Dylan and I walk over to the empty basketball court in the park while his parents set up the grill. Julian and Jayden are sitting on a bench using their phones with their earphones in, playing a game.

'You're going to loose today, Valerie!' Dylan says as he snatches the ball from my arms. I watch happily as his tiny frame runs, dribbling the ball, and he shoots.

Misses.

He turns around with a pout and I remind him to get the ball. We play together, snatching the ball off each other and trying to score. I'm pretty good at shooting, but I can't dribble to save my life. It's the opposite for Dylan. Whenever I'd come with my parents and aunt here in the past, I'd always play by myself. Shooting balls through the hoop is actually one of my favourite ways to ponder any thought. Sports strengthens the brain and therefore lets me think better.

'Nooo! Why do you always win! Not fair! Not fair!' Dylan stomps his foot on the court as I score again and I smile, picking him up and spinning him around so he laughs.

'Faster! Faster!' the ball is abandoned as I spin Dylan.

'I knew I'd find you here,' I stop spinning instantly to the sound of Alaric's voice.

Lowering Dylan to the floor, my eyes meet the indigo pools of his eyes and I frown.

What is he doing at a park this early in the morning?

He's dressed in a navy blue, button-down shirt that brings out the colour of his eyes, and white pants. Standing at the edge of the court with his hands in his pockets and a curious look in his eyes, he taps his foot a little, impatiently.

I ignore him and make to walk with Dylan off the court, but his next words stop me in my tracks.

'Where's your dear mummy and daddy?' he taunts with a knowing smirk on his face. I narrow my eyes at him and Dylan stands next to me with his arms crossed, trying to figure out what's going on.

'Oh, I almost forgot,' he feigns surprise. 'Your mummy isn't here anymore.'

'That's low. Even for you. What do you want?' I demand, hands balled into fists. His words are sensitive, and he knows it. My heartrate slightly increases and I don't know how to move. I'm rooted to the ground. Rooted to his words. Rooted to this memory.