Alive

Valerie stood at her locker. She rummaged through her things, trying to find what she needed for her first period. She was in a hurry, angry, and making a mess of everything. Geno saw her as he turned the corner. She saw him too. She started moving even faster as he walked towards her. She didn't like fighting with him and she knew he'd still be angry. She was trying to avoid a fight at all costs. He frowned when he saw her closing her locker and walking his way with her head down. He stopped away from her.
"Val, I'm not mad." He called.
She looked up at him, holding her books close to her. She saw the look in his eye. He looked sad. She took a deep breath and continued walking.
"Val, please!" He cried.
She spun around. "We can talk later. I need to go to class." She stated.
He nodded his head once. "I love you."
"I love you too. Don't be late for your class." She told him before turning into her class.
Valerie sat in her seat in the back corner. She doodled on her notebook as she waited for Felicia. The bell had rung and most people would walk in late. Val smiled at some people she knew. Guys on the football team, girls she knew through friends, Shea, and Sidney. They sat in front of her and Felicia's usual seats. The four were all part of the 'hockey clan'.
Val looked around at the people in the class and frowned. Who did she really know other than the three she was with every week? Yeah, she could name someone here or there, but that was about it. It kind of upset her. She devoted herself to Geno since the first day he moved here. She'd be damned if he wasn't going to let her live a bit before she tied the knot.
Felicia stormed into the class room. She raced down the aisle to her desk. She slammed her binder down and dropped into her seat. Her arms stayed crossed over her chest. Valerie furrowed her brows at her friends. Felicia just stared off into the distance. She was upset.
She didn't mean to make it seem like Jeff had to decide between her and hockey. She would never make him. She just didn't want him stressing about her when hockey was what he always wanted. The guys tuned to ask her what was wrong. Sidney already knew.
"I'm sorry." He sighed.
"Okay."
"How did he tell you?" He asked.
"Why didn't you?" She spat back, sitting up. "I see you everyday and you couldn't have warned me?"
"Jeff wanted to talk to you." Sid explained.
"Well, I don't want to talk to you so turn around." She hissed.
He did as told. Val just frowned at Felicia. Felicia looked at her friend. Valerie sent her reassuring eyes to let her know she was down to listen. Felicia took a deep breath, turning her body to face Valerie. She put her elbow on her desk and rested her hand on her face to cover her mouth. Val turned towards her a bit.
"Jeff's leaving." Felicia said.
"Like, going home?" Valerie questioned.
Felicia shook her head. "Leaving the school, leaving the city, leaving the province." She explained.
"What? Why?" Val gasped.
"He got asked to try out for some team out west." Felicia frowned.
"Is he going and coming back?" Val asked.
"Nope." Felicia sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. "If they like him, he stays."
Valerie didn't know what to say. She knew she'd be in a lot worse of shape than Felicia was if this happened with G. She also knew she'd be really happy for him and only want the best. She frowned at Felicia who just shrugged.
"His thing is hockey. I should've expected this." She admitted.
"It still sucks."
"It really fucking sucks." Felicia huffed.
The period went by slowly. Felicia wanted to talk to Jeff once more before he left, but she never got the chance to ask when that was. She thought about asking Sidney. She also thought about punching him in the head. She knew it wasn't his place, but he could've prepared her. She glared at the back of his head. She wasn't really mad at him. She just wasn't one to cry about things. She was one to be angry about them.
Valerie was off in her own world. She was thinking of how she could tell Geno what she wanted. She was taking control for once. It was his turn to follow behind her as she did what she felt necessary. The bell rang and she set off to find him.
He was near their locker with a bunch of the guys. He laughed before spotting her. She walked over to the locker and gestured for him to come over. He did as he was instructed. She tossed her things into the locker as he approached. He stopped in front of her. She looked up at him while he looked down at her.
"We need to talk." She said, her voice calm.
"Da." He grinned.
She smiled back. "I'm going to talk and you're going to listen, alright?" She told him. He nodded. She reached up and held his face with her hands. "I love you and nothing would make me happier than to marry you, but not after high school. I need to go to university and get the schooling I need for the career I want. I need you to respect that."
"I do and I'm sorry." He pouted. She pushed onto her tip toes and pecked his lips. "I love you, Val. I just love a lot and I get mad."
"It's okay. I mean, we can't always be the perfect couple." She teased.
He laughed and kissed her again.

Notes