6 ~ Thomas
"Thomas, do you want some breakfast?" My mom calls from the kitchen.
"No, I'm going to be late!" I grab my bag before stumbling out the door.
Besides, in not hungry anyways. It worries me, because I only ate half my dinner, if even that last night once I went back home.
My head begins to spin, and I have to slow down to keep from falling. I need to eat something after debate club, this isn't healthy.
I huff out of breath when I finally make it to the school building. I check my watch; 2 minutes to spare.
I throw my book bag on the floor and try to catch my breath.
" Did you just run around the world to get here? You're so out of breath. " My friend Niall pats my back, laughing.
I look away, blushing. I already know I'm not good at athletics, thanks for pointing that out Niall.
"Niall, you can't even run up the Bleachers without passing out." Liam laughs at the blond boy.
I crack a small smile, but my mind was still on the comment he had made. Maybe I should try working out again?
Before I could think about it any longer, the teachers loud voice rang through the room.
"Well, we were supposed to have a new person join the club, but it's time to start and they're not here." Mrs. Strickland sighs.
Just then the door burst open and a familiar blur of black and red hair rushes past me and to the middle of the room.
"Ahh, here she is." Mrs Strickland places a hand on her shoulder. "Go ahead, introduce yourself"
Her brown eyes scan the room, a wide smile spreading across her face once her eyes land on me.
"Hey everyone, my names Valerie." She states, confidence dripping from her words, reminding me of last night.
The small club mumbles a few hellos before going back to what ever they were doing, but I can't help but stare as she talks to Mrs. Strickland quietly at the front of the calls room.
I watch as she carelessly talks to the teacher, her hand casually on her hip. Her nose piercing catches the light a few times, and I frown.
How could she look like Calum and his friends but act nothing like them? Cal's friends, especially Luke, they infuriate me.
"Looks like someone's got a crush." Niall shoves my shoulder, knocking me off balance.
"I don't fancy anyone." I roll my eyes, leaning against a desk.
"The way you stare at her, admiringly says other wise." Liam smirks, raising his eyebrows rapidly at me.
It was true, I do admire her.
But not in the way they think. I admire how out going and carefree she is, confused on how she acts. I think nothing more than a friend of her.
"Guys, I actually don't like her, she's just really... Outgoing. It's interesting." I shrug, pushing my glasses up.
"You've met before?"
"Yea, last night. I was-"
"Alright guys, today you guys will be given a new topic, go home and get your argument and rebuttals ready." Mrs Strickland chirps, catching the attention of the whole room.
"Your debate will be about the death penalty." She claps her hands. " this will be interesting! Now come, sign up for the side you're on." She moves away from the bored so we could write.
I grab a marker, writing my name neatly on the bored, under 'agree'
"You're for the death penalty?" Valerie grabs a marker, writing her name for the ' disagree'.
"Yes, I am. People should be punished for the wrong they've done." I twist the cap back on the marker, walking from the bored and back to my friends.
She follows. "People change, nothing really stays the same." She sighs.
There is a certain heaviness to her words, they were weighed down with masked emotion. Emotion she doesn't want to show.
I glance at her, a bright smile, much like the one she had before, was plastered on her face as we approached My friends.
She hops on the desk at Niall and Liam were standing by. "So, what's your names?" She cocks up an eyebrow.
"I'm Niall, nice to meet you, Valerie." He smiles at her, his accent thick.
"It's nice to meet you too, and you..." She trails off, looking at Liam.
"Oh, I'm Liam." He smiles at her and she nods.
"Liam. It's nice to meet you both!" She swings her legs slightly. "Do you guys think you could show me where locker number 321 would be." She tilts her head, eyes flickering from the three of us.
We all nod. "Sure, my locker is close to that." Liam grabs his bag. " it's almost the end of the club anyways. The meetings are never long when we learn what our new topic is"
"I'll see you all next week, be prepared, this topic can get pretty heated." Mrs Strickland yells out as everyone files out the door.
" I'll see you guys later." I wave to the three as the turn down a separate hallway, to the 300 lockers. Mine is a 200, each hallways match the lockers by hundreds.
Even though Valerie and I didn't talk much last night, I actually fell asleep. Maybe my exhaustion suddenly kicked in, or maybe she calmed my nerves?
I twist my locker combination, getting all the nessassery things I need for the next couple of classes.
Hopefully, I will be able t actually pay attention in class today.
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I stomp down the hallway, tired of Seth and his hooligan friends.
He stole my homework, I had nothing to turn in to the teacher for my grade. I asked - begged for her to let me make it up.
She wouldn't give in though. She said everyone has to make bad grades every once in a while, but she doesn't understand, I can't.
I shiver at the thought of what dad might think once he finds out. He'll be mad, more than ever. My heart rate quickens as his face, veins popping, fists clenched, flashed in my mind.
"Thomas, Wait up!" I almost Yelp at the sudden voice.
I place a hand over my heart, She needs to stop yelling, it's going to give me a heart attack.
Valerie jogs up to me, smiling, yet again, as we enter the cafeteria.
"Can I eat with you?" She asks, as we walk over to the lunch line.
"I don't mind. It's just Liam, Niall, and I" I shrug.
" That's fine, you guys are the most decent people I've met so fa- oh my gosh." She gasps mid sentence, and I freeze, look to her.
"What's wrong?" Concern laced my words. She stairs out into the crowed of people.
"I'm I seeing thinks?" She rubs her eyes before looking back to a table to the left. I followed her eyes, a laugh escaping my lips.
She glares at me, but smiles, letting me know it was a playful one. "So I'm not seeing things?"
I shake my head, still chucking. " that's my brother, Calum."
She glances between us, grabbing a tray from the lunch line. " Hmm. Nope, I don't see it." She pays for the food, me coping her actions.
Another laugh rises from the back of my throat, only this time, I double over, almost spilling my food.
She giggles, glancing at Calum once more.
I blush from laughing so hard at her joke, it wasn't that funny, it caused people to stair.
I lead her to our table, Niall and Liam finishing there lunch. I sit beside Liam
"your already done?" Valerie asks, setting her tray beside Niall.
"We have deferent lunch times" Niall wipes his face with a napkin. " so, I'm sorry but we must be going."
She nods, taking a bite of her pizza. "Bye guys!" She chirps.
"So you eat by yourself?" She asks cautiously, looking around the lunch room.
I pick the crust of my pizza, nodding.
"Why don't you just sit with him?" She gestures to Calum. I frown.
"Sometimes, it's better to be alone than with people who would just make everything worse."
A/N
Hello, how are you?
So idk about this chapter. Its slow, I guess.
What do you think, feed back/ questions?
Thank you for reading, it means a lot too me.
I may do a character Q&A soon....? ( don't ask questions yet, if you have any. There is still more ppl to come.)
ilysm ❤️