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I lean my head to the side, eyeing Lorenzo. “Yes, Lorenzo. How come you don’t help me?” I ask him, and he laughs. At himself more than at me.
“You’re hilarious. I can barely help myself,” he says. I switch my focus to Elias, gesturing to Lorenzo.
“You have got your answer,” I tell him. He chuckles. Lorenzo and I have a lot in common, one being our weakness in school. Although Lorenzo says I would’ve been a great student if my school journey was just given a chance.
School was a mess for me. I was partly homeschooled for the start of my life. Partly meaning I barely learned anything. A lot was happening at the time and I only actually started school in the seventh grade, but I was still a weak student because of my primary years. So, I grew up not being great at learning. Especially with the sciences. I am incredibly good at math though, the only good thing that came from my childhood.
But that doesn’t affect me anymore because of my career. I mean, I obviously know basic information, but I don’t need any qualifications. I barely passed through the years when I did study, now I don’t need to worry at all. Thank God, really, because I don’t know what I would be doing otherwise.
“How about I help you?” Elias offers. I raise my brows at him.
“You? Help me?” I ask. His sudden acts of kindness still surprise me. They all still make me suspicious. Maybe this is still all an act, I can never be sure.
“Yes, me. I still owe you for everything you did,” he explains. He stole my phrase, but okay. I don’t particularly wantsomething in return for what I did, but Lorenzo would call me a hypocrite if I said that out loud.
“I don’t need help. I’m fine.”
“Your mark says otherwise.”
I roll my eyes at him. Lorenzo then nudges me with his elbow, sliding his eyes toward Elias. I frown. He blinks. I know what he wants. He wants me to accept Elias’s offer. Either because he doesn’t want me to reject his help, or because he thinks it’ll help me warm up to him more.
It would look suspicious if I did turn Elias down. It’s a thirty-four, after all. I’m supposed to at least give some type of attention to my grades. And he is offering to help. Rejecting him would be rude. Ugh. Okay, I guess I’m doing this. “Fine. You can help me out. But where? Because it’s obvious it won’t be in any of our houses,” I say.
A grin forms on his face. “We’ll find some spot outside, or something like that,” he tells me. Suddenly, for some reason, I’m glad I said yes.
“Saturday?”
“No. You can’t go on Saturday, remember,” Aurora states. Why can’t we go Saturday? I look around, and all eyes lead me to Lorenzo. His hand scratches the back of his head, an apologetic expression on his face. Aurora purses her lips, staring at him.
“Well, um, I kind of forgot to ask you if you wanted to go to the movies with us on Saturday.” He stammers, smiling in exchange for his mistake. Wow, Lorenzo. You just forgot to ask me to go? Why am I surprised? If anything about us is different, it’s our memories. I can remember long term when it’s relevant, while Lorenzo can’t remember anything if his life depended on it.
“Well, yes, I’ll also go to the movies on Saturday. We can do the ‘lesson’ or whatever on Sunday,” I tell them. Elias nods, agreeing with my times. Great. Everything’s working. Mostimportantly, no one suspects anything of me yet. All is going to plan.
I only have half a month left at this school and to finalize the contest. Which means, I need a second winner. Maybe Lorenzo knows someone. Or Aurora might have some friends that I can choose. I thought I had more time. I can’t believe it’s been a full month already. But I can find a winner. Worst case scenario, I’ll choose a random student. Or take Lorenzo. That’s my last resort though. Lorenzo is known as my friend, so it would seem unfair to everyone else.
Half a month. I have half a month to choose a winner and finish up all the planning for the trip. I can do that, as well as dealing with school. And hanging out with Lorenzo more, since he’s also leaving soon. I can also do that. Right? I can do anything. Just one of the many traits of Valentina Hart. Luckily, I’m Valentina Hart.
Chapter 33 – Cinquantadue
Val
Another Wednesday, another library period. My free period. Or it would be, if Elias didn’t have it with me. Other than the point that not doing anything in a school period would attract suspicion, I still need to attempt to beat him in the reading competition we agreed on. I’m committed to finishing first just to spite him, regardless of me knowing that he probably is better than me. Even though I’m “warming up to him,” in Lorenzo’s words, nothing would be more entertaining than defeating a Miller.
However, I have work to do, and have no idea how I’m going to fit it into my schedule. The concert details still need to be verified and revised, and I don’t think I’ve prepared any of my own social media posts in a while. People are also asking for updates on the event since it’s quickly approaching, and I’m planning on giving them one. I have one winner and am looking for the second. That’s my update. Bland, I know, but I’ll addsome suspense and a couple of introductions and hype them up as to them still having a chance. Hopefully, that will work.
I wander the halls, Elias following beside me, as we head to the library. I still can’t believe I have to study with him. But I already said yes, and changing my mind would be cruel. Plus, he looks like he actually wants to help. So, on Sunday, I’m meeting him at the café I love. I might not be Val at the time, but the place is peaceful. I hate studying and school in general, but I hate studying in crowds more. I also hate crowds in general, considering I always have to deal with them.
“So, have you accepted defeat and given up?” I ask him, even though I doubt I’ll actually beat him. I’ll still take my chances.
“You wish. I’d rather put in an effort and lose than just give up,” he replies.
“Of course you would, Miller. Which reminds me, is Roland still bothering you about me?” I ask. He hasn’t told me anything about his dad since their trip was canceled. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Roland let it go. But I know he’d rather die than let anything go.
“No, thankfully. But if he isn’t bothering me, he’s probably bothering someone else to fill the gap.” Of course he is. I wouldn’t be surprised.
When we walk around the corner, the library just a classroom away from us, we hear a loud clash echoing around the hall, followed by shouting. I look at Elias, wondering if he knows what’s happening. He shrugs his shoulders, and we both turn around to run to the source. We stop at a small crowd of people. Some are holding phones to capture whatever’s happening. I get a glance between the crowd of people and see two girls fighting. Are people seriously videoing a fight?
“Come on, let’s go the other way so that we don’t get involved,” Elias suggests. I don’t think anyone wants tointerfere. My eyes trace the broken bits of glass on the ground, and I look up at the lockers. They’re stained with blood.
