VALERIE

It's my first day at the new school, and I was already late.

Well when it comes to laziness, I am a real queen. I mean who in their right mind would leave their cosy bed in the early morning.

Not me.

But my family, especially my father, always make sure that I was not late ever. I mean why bother, let the girl sleep.

I used to study at Mount Carl High, which was just two blocks away from my house but after 'that' incident my father transferred me to Eastwood High, same as my brother's school, for everyone's peace of mind.

Despite my convincing that I was okay, my family transferred me to Eastwood High for my remaining last year of high school.

I was pulled out of my dreamland when my brother threw water all over me. "Wake up stupid, or else I will leave you behind", said my brother Jason and stormed out of my room like nothing really happened.

Jason is my evil twin brother who annoys and loves me the most. We both have the same light brown hair and dark blue eyes.

After getting drenched from head to toe, I had no choice but to get out of my bed. I got up and head toward my bathroom, tried to get ready as fast as I can. I cringe away when my eyes fall upon my bed hair in the mirror.

My hairs were all over the place and every attempt to place them down was futile. I took a quick shower and dressed in clothes I put away last night. I sighed with relief at the thought of clothes, Thank god. After taking a final look at myself I put light eyeliner and lip gloss, took my bag and got out.

"You know for someone who doesn't care about how she looks, you certainly do take a lot of time getting ready," said Jason with a bored expression.

"Oh you are just jealous that I look this good in 10 minutes", I said directing a finger at me while getting into his Mustang. I never bothered to learn how to drive so I catch rides with brother.

"For someone so lazy, you got ready pretty fast," he smiled at me and start the car. "What can I say, I like surprising people with my talent". I winked.

After reaching the school I looked around and saw students of my age on bikes, trucks and super expensive cars, dressed up like they were models of freaking fashion show.

It's not like we were poor or anything, my father owned a rather successful clothing business and mom being designer there, they were one of the richest people in our town. Our parents despite being so rich lived a modest and simple life and expected the same from us. I don't think anybody ever heard of a word called 'simple' in this school, I thought in my mind.

"Do you want me to show you around or something?" Jason asked me with a worried expression.

"Don't worry, you know that I've been here before. You go" I told him without showing how nervous I actually was.

"Don't get into trouble on your first day" he waved while smirking. "Trouble.... are you talking about yourself!!?" he smiled and asked me again if I wanted him to accompany me.

When I assured him I was alright he went inside. I know why he was being so reluctant but nobody really knew anything here.

I braced myself for the 'new' school and went to the admin office. Nothing has changed much around here since last time. I used to come here for my brother's matches in past, so I knew my way around.

I collected my locker combination, schedule and went to my first class, which fortunately was English, my favourite subject.

As I enter the classroom, I saw everyone sitting at their places.

"You must be Miss Anderson. You can sit with Mr Carter at the back and I am Nina Philips" said Mrs Philips in a monotone. She must be around 40. I internally thanked her for not making me introduce myself.

"Yes, I am Valarey Anderson," I muttered shyly and turn to my seat avoiding everyone's gaze on me.

And then it hit me. MR. CARTER.

I looked over at my desk panicking and found a familiar set of green eyes watching me dangerously. OH NO, this can't be happening.

VALERIE

There must be a situation or time in your life when you desperately wanted to turn time around. Right now, I am in one of those situations. In this particular second, I am even considering running away from school.

He can't be here. Why is he here now, he left the town for good. My mind kept repeating these questions again and again.

I didn't even realize that I was staring at him, when Mrs Phillips called me again, "Miss Anderson why don't you take your seat quickly so we can start the class".

You can do this. You can do this. While repeating these words in my mind, I walked slowly toward my seat, trying my best to ignore him and settled down.

Just as I was about to take my notebook out of my bag, a hand came from my left side and held onto mine. Knowing exactly who's hand it was I irritatingly shook my hand out of his grasp and continued my act of ignoring him.

I really wanted to kick his *** and make him disappear from my sight but I didn't want to repeat things again, so I kept quiet.

"Now, babe, this is not the way you should treat your boyfriend, whom you are seeing after almost a year", he whispered with a smirk plastered on his face with surprise in his eyes.

"Ex-boyfriend Noah, ex-boyfriend", I turned my face toward the teacher.

Noah Carter, my ex-boyfriend, used to study at this school till last year. I met him through my brother a few years ago and started dating last year, which didn't last very long(3 months). He studied here with my brother and I was in Mount Carl High at that time.

Being my brother's one of the best friend, he was always around. So we naturally became attracted to each other. At first, my brother was angry at both of us for our relationship but then he came to term with it. He still thinks that if he would've stayed angry at us at least I would've never dated that asshole, cause we both never did anything by going against each other.

Noah was dragged to New York for good by his parents after he made quite a scene in this town, particularly in my life. His politician parents loved their reputation more than anything so they took him away. We wanted to press charges against him but there was no evidence left. His parents took care of the evidence already.

He and his family later came and apologised to us for what he did, which of course was not sincere. They were just making sure we keep our mouth shut. Noah looked a little bit sincere but hey who was he kidding...

If my father would have known that he was back in this school, he wouldn't have sent me here. He just wanted to keep me safe that's why he transferred me to Jason's school. Rumours were quite bad at my old school like I cared, but the transfer was the best and safe option, my father thought. We didn't know that he will be back.

He didn't say anything after that for the rest of the class. After the class ended, I quickly picked up my stuff and started to walk fastly toward the gate.

Before I could take any step further, Noah came in front of me "Where are you running off to babe?" he said looking straight at me through his green eyes. A few years ago I used to love these eyes but now I can hardly even look at them without getting all worked up in anger.

"Far away from you", I said trying to move away. "Looks like I am the only one who was eager to meet my girlfriend again," he said with the same smirk on his face.

"Have you suffered from memory loss while you were away or just being your normal delusional self, cause from what I can remember, we broke up last year after that maniac stunt you pulled," I said sitting down at the table since it seems like ignoring was just waste of my time.

"Look babe, I am so sorry and I am here now all changed for good, isn't that what you always wanted?" he asked looking at me lovingly.

"First stop calling me babe, second yes I wanted you to change, don't care now whether you change or not and thirdly, believe me, us breaking up has nothing to do with you changing. I hated you back then for what you did. You were messed up. That's why we broke up. Now you are just a stranger to me." I shouted at him angrily.

If he thinks that after making my life hell, I still love him then he was highly mistaken. From where I saw things, we never loved each other. He liked me cause I gave him all the attention unlike his parents, so he became obsessed. To me, he was the hot guy with a certain reputation, who was always around. I think I was in love with the concept of love, not with Noah.

Just as he was about to speak, I saw Jason coming in my direction, boiling in anger. This definitely won't end well. Before I could say anything, Jason swings a hard punch at Noah's face making him fall down on the ground. He caught him in the ground again and started throwing punches aimlessly.

"Jason, stop. He isn't worth it." I shouted at my brother and tried to tug him away. His football teammates also came and together we pushed him away from surprised and bleeding Noah and took him away from the classroom. 

When we reached outside, Jason pulled me in a tight hug, "Val, I am so sorry. I should have known that he returned. I should have kept you safe. Are you okay?", he said while being restless to get my answer.

"Dude, I am Valerey Anderson, daughter of boxing champion, and sister of running back of football team of this school. I can easily kick anyone's ***. That jerk has no effect or whatsoever on me. Don't worry."I said to Jason with a laugh.

It was true that jerk meant nothing to me. Yes, I hate him and all but I am not going to stop my life for that pathetic excuse of a human.

"I admit, there's no asking in that. I am living proof of that" said Connor, my brother's best friend and well mine friend too, laughing. He got his butt kicked a lot by me for being too cheeky.

"I know you are very brave and strong, but I can't help but worry for you. Next time, if he even tries to talk to you, do kick his ***." Jason said relaxing since he knows that I am not that weak.

 While we were busy talking, the bell rang. "That's my queue to go", I said turning to get to my class. As I reached my history class, I saw a familiar face in there. A smile for the first time today crept over my face. 

"Vall, I have been looking for you since the first period. I thought I should surprise you that's why I didn't tell you that I also transferred to Eastwood high but you miss, are really hard to reach. And why the hell is your cellphone switched off? OMG, we have History together. Let's see what other classes we have together." Emily shouted at me through the classroom making her way outside to me. She went from angry to happily shrieking real quick. 

Emily Westworth, my best friend, is a little ball of happiness. She is really beautiful, like model type beauty, figure and all gorgeousness. She is blonde, which perfectly went well with her bubbly personality.

"Looks like I have a little stalker of mine", I said while hugging her. "Please don't give yourself that much importance, besides it's in the best friend handbook that best friend is equal to stalker so.....", she said dragging me toward her seat. "What kind of books are you reading Em!?", I asked her chuckling.

The rest of the day went in blur. After school, I went straight home with Jason. I didn't tell Em about Noah. She hates him a lot so I don't want to worry her.

Seriously I couldn't care less, whether he was back or not.

Maybe it did bother me.

Seeing him bring back those memories, which I tried to forget so hard.

I just want him to leave me alone.

I leaned toward the side of my bed and grabbed my diary. I daily wrote my diary before sleeping.

DIARY ENTRY........

**11.00 p.m~

I am strong.

I am brave.

I will not break** .................

**11.00 p.m.~~~

I am strong.

I am brave.

I will not break.       

Seeing him again .............                                                                     

Made memories resurface in my mind.

Same eyes, Same lips, Same person.

I felt it again.... the same disgust.... the moment I saw him.

I should run, my mind is telling me, as fast as I could

May it would help me in leaving everything behind.

But I stood up against the demons blocking my courage.

I didn't run. I faced him. 

He hasn't changed at all.  I can feel it... in the way he talks... in the way he looks at me with the same obsession.

He says he wants me back. He says he is a changed man. 

He says he loves me.......

 LOVE......

Such a foreign word.

I don't know what love is anymore.

But I know for sure, the idea of love doesn't excite me anymore.

The same idea of love destroys people. 

It makes people prisoner to the one they claim to love.

It makes people feel wanted and then left scared after heartbreak.

Scared .... to trust .... to believe .... to LOVE...

Seeing him again didn't scare me. 

I guess it wasn't love after all. 

The memories resurfaced in my mind.

MEMORIES... I don't wanna recall them anymore.

They make my feet stagger, memories in my brain, I wanna remove them**.

I am brave. I am strong. I WILL FIGHT BACK.