Valerie

8 - Val

Thomas Verner was messing with me, I knew it. He was so confusing at times. He pretended like there was something on my face just for there to be nothing. Then he complimented me? The worst part was, I liked it. I actually liked it when Thomas complimented me. How twisted was that?

When Twine handed our papers back, I was happy with my result. I deserved it but I couldn't help feeling that with the distraction of getting a job and all of my family troubles that this grade wasn't to reappear.

As a result, I decided to become a lot more observant in class but so far, the only thing I had observed is the amount of girls that were constantly staring at Thomas. I couldn't wrap my head around what the amazing thing about this guy was that everyone seemed to be obsessed with.

He paid no attention to it and seemed to be entirely focused on something else.

I tucked my paper back in my bag and safely zipped it away before packing the rest of my things away.

"You're taking longer than usual to pack up." I heard Thomas' voice from my left say.

"What?" I asked, utterly astounded.

"Your things. Usually you pack up really quickly, but you haven't for the last few days."

I looked at him, eyes wide. Had he been paying this much attention to me? See what I mean? Messing with me.

He looked shocked too, like he had admitted to something he wasn't supposed to.

It was true though. I had started to find Thomas slightly more tolerable so I no longer felt the need to get away from him as quickly as possible. Sure I didn't like him but that didn't mean that I had to nearly sprain my ankle from how quickly I was rushing out of the lecture hall. Waves of guilt still hit me for it. How could I find the man that ruined my mother's letter tolerable?

I turned away, suddenly uncomfortable and got up. Now I was desperate to get out of that lecture hall when the perfect opportunity arose. A girl, she looked to be around my age, approached Thomas and his usual placid expression that he gave me turned sour. She had bouncy blonde hair and bright green eyes. She was smaller than me and wore black leggings and a hoodie. I glanced down at my baggy jeans and grey jumper. She was the exact opposite to me.

She smiled at him and said, "Hey Thomas, I saw you at training today. You were really good."

I gave her a smile, wishing her the best with this guy but she didn't return it. Oh.

"Thanks." He said, packing up his things, not really looking at her.

"Did you see me? I'm pretty sure we made eye contact."

"No. I didn't." He said curtly.

"I was in the window..."

I decided to take this opportunity to leave. I walked around them, heading to the exit while tucking a strand of my hair away from my eyes.

I hurried to the entrance to the building, desperate to leave. I scanned the crowd of scattered students, trying to spot warm brown hair and a freckled face but came up empty handed.

Just then I got a ping on my phone. Mable was the only one that had my phone number so I knew who it was right away. I didn't trust anyone with my number. I couldn't risk it getting back to my family. The red phone, I didn't carry everywhere with me, therefore I could keep it in a separate part of my mind, a part of my mind that belonged at home.

This way, if my father ever called, I felt like I had some semblance of control over it. It was stupid, but I needed to feel like I could control something because it stopped me from throwing up every other day and biting my nails in an anxious fit until my fingers were raw.