�Constant Change� Chapter 3: Sweet And Sour

�Where in the hell do you get off being such a jerk?� some chick screamed at some guy on some television drama that Valerie was not watching. She sat in front of the screen staring blankly at it.

�Hey dork, are you going to go to bed?� Joel, Valerie�s older brother asked her.

�Oh yeah,� Valerie got up and switched off the TV. �Night Joel.�

�Night Val,� Joel sat in Valerie�s spot and turned the TV back on.

Valerie changed out of her jeans and pink sweater into pajama pants and a Superman tank top. She brushed her teeth and hit the light. She snuggled up against her sheets and fell asleep.

Valerie awoke the next morning to the smell of coffee and scrambled eggs. She took a quick shower and picked out today�s outfit. Something cute yet not too cute, she didn�t want to give Ashley any ideas, but she didn�t want to turn off Dan either.

She bounded downstairs in her green turtleneck and khaki pants. Joel raised an eyebrow. �Whoa,� he said not really giving her a second glance.

�What Joel?� Valerie asked pouring herself a cup of coffee. �Did I do something to offend you?�

�Did we play dress up last night or something?� he asked her.

Valerie blushed. If she was getting this kind of reaction from her brother of all people, what would Ashley�s reaction be? She shook the thought from her head.

�I gotta go to school. Later!� she called as she walked out the door.

The drive to school was non-eventful. She didn�t hit any stalkers so it was a good drive. Valerie opened her locker and found a handwritten note. She unfolded it carefully.

�Valerie. I�ve been thinking about you. Meet me in the library before lunch. Ashley,� she reread the letter four times.

�What in the hell?� she asked herself. �What is he thinking?�

She shoved the paper deep inside her locker where she knew it would never be found again. She hurriedly rushed off to her first period journalism class. Ashley smiled deviously as she walked into the room. She did a double take. Ashley Angel was sitting in her first period class. Was he there the day before? She couldn�t remember. She guessed that he could have been there and she hadn�t noticed. Well whatever, she wasn�t going to let him get to her.

�Hello Valerie,� he said with a smile.

�I�m not a morning person,� she warned him.

�Neither am I,� his smile grew larger.

�Why are you in my journalism class?� she demanded.

�Because I like journalism?� Ashley said wrinkling his nose.

�Ugh. This day has already gone sour,� Valerie commented to herself.

�But I�m sweet, so shouldn�t it be sweet and sour?� Ashley was almost too good at his own game.

�Go suck a duck,� Valerie said sharply.

�Ouch. Two burns in two days,� Ashley tapped his pen on the desk. �Doesn�t get worse than that.�

�What is it that you want?� Valerie turned and faced him. �Am I some kind of game to you?�

�No game, baby. Just lust,� Ashley turned away from her.

�You make me want to pull out my hair and strangle you with it,� Valerie�s fists clenched.

�I wouldn�t take you for one to pull out her own hair,� Ashley laughed quietly.

�You�re crazy. Fucking insane,� Valerie muttered.

�Been there, done that,� Ashley sighed. �Well I�d love to stay and chat but I�ve got to run.�

�But class starts in two minutes,� Valerie said confused.

�You don�t actually think I�d enroll in a journalism class, do you?� Ashley mocked her.

�But you just said�� Valerie couldn�t see straight, he was making her insane.

�Shhh, baby. Don�t worry your pretty head over things I�ve said. I�ll catch ya later,� With that Ashley was out the door.

So many questions raced through Valerie�s mind. �How did he know that journalism was my first class? Why is he tormenting me? Why do I seem to care?�

She wouldn�t have time to contemplate over them though because just as she was starting to, the bell rang and class began.

~*~

�So Ashley, are you glad to be home?� Lisa had her arms wrapped around Ashley�s waist and was giggling like an idiot. Valerie rolled her eyes. �Yep. It�s great to be home,� Ashley smiled at her. He turned to Valerie. �See ya before lunch,� he winked at her and walked off to his fourth hour class.

�Did he just wink at you?� Cameron whispered to her.

�I hope not,� Valerie sighed. �He�s not exactly the kind of guy I wanna be hanging out with.�

�Well guys I�ll see ya later!� Lisa skipped off oblivious to the fact that Ashley was playing a game right under her nose.

�Dude, Lisa is going to be crushed when she finds out that not only is Ashley being super nice to her but he�s also doing the same to you,� Cameron said to Valerie.

�How�d you know?� Valerie asked shocked.

�You can see it. Well I can see it. Lisa is too na�ve to see it,� Cameron explained.

Valerie stared at him confused. �Why is he doing this to me? To her?�

Cameron shrugged. �I don�t know.�

�Well two can play at this game,� Valerie rubbed her hands together. �He�s going down.�

Cameron rolled his eyes. �Don�t take it too far,� he warned. �Don�t get hurt.�

�I can take care of myself, thank you very much,� Valerie flipped her hair out of her face.

�K, Val, just be careful,� Cameron tried to head off the disaster he could see coming.

�I�ll be fine,� Valerie took that opportunity to walk away leaving Cameron speechless.

�She�s going to get broken down and left exposed,� Cameron thought. �Doesn�t she see it?�

~*~

<<< Back | Forward >>>