The day every student has been waiting for; the last week of school. Usually close friends would cry on each others shoulders and starting to bid their close friends goodbye but Valerie was different. Instead Valerie considered the first day of school her funeral and bawl her eyes out.

"Finally, one more week in hell!" Valerie screamed out the window.

She turned on the radio and the song 'Closer,' by The Chainsmokers, came on. On normal days, especially in the morning, she would either throw the radio or hit it with a hammer. Compared to special days, she would sing along to the most ear-bleeding songs.

It's been a few months since the Lance situation, thankfully nothing has changed. On the other hand, Matthew has been bugging Valerie more lately, saying he wanted to be friends. 'The closest relationship you can have with me is staying as fellow classmates.' Valerie tried numerous to turn him down but Matthew was persistent. Everyday, Matthew was determined to be friends and soon enough, Valerie surrendered.

"Let's start slow. Here's my phone number." she handed him a piece of paper.

His face lit up when he clutched the small paper.

"Call me if you ever need a prayer," Valerie smiled warmly, turning her heel.

She never intended on giving him her phone number but it just happens she didn't know her mom's new phone number. She was curious on what he would message her about. 'Probably going about on being friends again.' Despite the fact she agreed, she still didn't consider him 'her' friend.

After school that day, Matthew texted her.

Matthew: I'm not a photographer, but I can picture us together as friends.

Matthew: If you were a transformer, you'd be Optimus Fine.

He wasn't sure how to act since everyone always seem to be eager to become friends with him. Valerie was the very first the reject his friend request. 'I finally have her phone number. That took a few months. Wait, I hope she doesn't think I'm hitting on her, right?' Matthew thought, a bit concerned.

Buzz.

The ring of his phone interrupted his train of thoughts.

Valerie: So unoriginal. You have your entire life to be an idiot. Why not take a day off today? You're just abusing the authority.

'Harsh words as usual,' Matthew smiled.

Matthew: You're like a dictionary, you add a meaning to my life.

Valerie: As friends?

Matthew: You know it Val!

Valerie: Hahaha, go to hell.

Valerie stared at her phone thinking, 'He isn't going to give up anytime soon.' Matthew soon stopped pursuing Valerie through text and decided to nag her at school instead. Valerie was delighted she didn't wake up to one of Matthew's unoriginal and cheesy pick up lines, but that smile turned upside down once she showed up to math class. The only open seat was next to Matthew and she had to survive the whole class without paying attention to the notes he's been passing to her. After an hour of lecture, class was over.

"Valerie!" Ivy called, sweetly.

"What do you want Ivy?" Valerie spat.

She didn't want to deal with her angelic act, it was sickening.

When everyone left the room, Ivy finally showed her true colors. She flipped her brown locks.

"Don't think you're special. You're just a bitch," she scowled.

"Last time I checked, Matthew called you the bitch, not me," Valerie smiled broadly. 'That's one way to shut her up. By telling her the painful truth.' Valerie could see tears starting to form in Ivy's emerald eyes. 'Whoa, did you love him or anything? Well, this is a first.

' Ivy tried to control her tears, "I-I thought w-we had something. That fucking dickhead!"

Valerie bit her lip, not knowing how to react. Ivy kept rambling on the many dates they shared together, kisses, and such. Valerie grabbed a pack of tissues from her backpack along with airhead bites and crunch. She handed the items to Ivy.

"I can promise you nothing is going between Matthew and I. He just wants to be friends for some stupid reason," she trailed off.

Ivy took a seat at one of the desks and blew her nose. "Y-you're really good a-at comforting people," Ivy laughed, sarcastically.

'She does have a good heart, but love ruined her.' Valerie shrugged, "Not my specialty. Anyways, I'll catch you later. See you Ivy," Valerie awkwardly smiled.

She thought that was a good time to escape from the sap. 'This is your fault Matthew,' she signed.

The next day, Valerie decided to walk to school early as possible to avoid Matthew, also because it was the last day of school. He always stood by the gate to greet her. Instead, three juniors were towering over a poor girl.

"Hey," Valerie greeted.

"What the hell do you want?" one bully sneered. 'So this is how you want to play. You're stupid.'

"I know I'm not an a proctologist, but I know an asshóle when I see one," Valerie grinned.

Students started to crowd around. 'I didn't want to make a scene, but how cares at this point. They already spoiled my perfect morning.'

"If you really want to die, we could arrange that. Annoying bitch," another bully snarled.

"It's going to be the opposite. You annoy me too, when you're breathing, really," scratching my head, yawning. 'I should have slept more. Instead I have to deal with this.'

"I have a story. It's about-," Valerie cut him off, annoyed.

"Good story, but in what chapter do you shut the fuck up?" Valerie snapped. One bully was slowly walking towards Valerie with clenched fists. 'Should I tell them I'm a black belt in taekwondo? Nah, they'll figure it out soon. Besides it's more fun if they don't know.'

"How troublesome," Valerie shook her head, smiling.

Before any violence happened, Matthew stopped the fight. He lectured the bullies and forced them to attend their classes and urged everyone else to do the same.

"Well, thanks for spoiling my fun," Valerie frowned.

Matthew narrowed his eyes at her, 'That was a dangerous game you were playing Valerie.' No matter what he will say, it will never get through to her. "I know you're wanting to help, but your a girl Valerie!" Matthew pointed out, worried.

'You're stereotyping me and you're being sexist.' Valerie was furious. "This is my story and this story doesn't need a Prince Charming to save the girl. Just because I'm a girl, doesn't mean I can't fight. I love getting in trouble if you haven't noticed, you simple minded ass!" Valerie looked at the frightened girl behind Matthew and mouthed the words 'are you okay?' The bashful girl, nodded. Valerie smiled, tilting her head to the side.

"You don't seem to have anything against her, so what do you have against me?" Matthew looked sorrowfully down at Valerie. 'Do you really want me to compare you and her?' Valerie wanted to yell out.

"Sorry, I didn't get that. I don't speak bullshit," she smiled, innocently. Valerie walked pass rejected Matthew, and walked towards the girl.

"Hey! I'm sorry you had to go through that. Are you sure you're alright?" She looked to the corner of her eye then back at Valerie, shyly.

"I think so," she answered, timidly. 'Australian accent, adorable.' Looking at her closer, she had silky ginger hair and soft gray-blue eyes. "My name is Harper. Thank you for saving me back there and your accent is cute," she smiled, introducing herself.

Valerie laughed, "Thank you. Your accent is pretty adorable and anytime. . I have to get going to class now. See you Harper!"

"Wait, I didn't get your name," she called.

"Valerie Bliss," she answered.

"You're name is even prettier. Again thank you," Harper looked down, embarrassed.

Valerie smiled, "Don't sweat it. It happens everyday. Finally today is the last day of torture. See you!"

As soon as Valerie walked away, she kept hearing Harper yell 'thanks'. She laughed at the fact she was so innocent compared to her. Everyday would be the same at school bullying here and bullying there. Bullying started in fourth grade for Valerie. Her body matured earlier than most girls. In result of the sudden growth, her chest was indescribable. During the sixth grade, she would charge boys to touch them, which she wasn't proud of. Valerie earned more than five hundred dollars that year.

She had geeky looks and a quiet personality during grade school. Kids always thought she was planning something evil because little Valerie wouldn't utter a word. She wanted to start a new, but sadly, most of the students from her elementary school attended the same school she planned on attending for middle school and high school. From day one, Valerie was the queen of sluts or whatever horrible names that comes into mind.

Valerie fought through the crowded halls, trying to get to her last class. She spot Cassandra and Lance, hand in hand, walking towards her.

"Hey Valerie," Lance grinned. Cassandra eyed her head to toe. Valerie finally got a good look at Cassandra; raven hair and hazel nut eyes.

Cassandra smirked, "Checking me out huh?"

"Excuse me?" Valerie asked, kindly.

"What I was trying to say, nothing suits you. Probably the garbage can. I mean, that's where everyone throws the garbage," she shrugged, with a wicked smile on her face. 'I think I should be telling you that.'

Valerie was wearing a loose gray shirt partnered black skinny jeans. For shoes, she decided wearing gray patterned sneakers. She finished the simple outfit with small pure white pearl earrings and a black choker. Compared to Cassandra, her outfit was showing too much skin.

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful," Valerie smiled, warmly. "Hate me because your boyfriend thinks so," she gestured to Lance.

He was checking out Valerie. 'Beautiful as always. You're so attractive,' Lance would say, if Cassandra wasn't around. Cassandra was boiling with anger. She slapped Lance's chest and stormed away. 'Oh no. I crossed my Princess,' Lance mused, running after Cassandra, with a pleading face.

Valerie, on the other hand, found the two quite entertaining. 

The rest of the day went by fast. Eighth graders don't graduate at this school, sort of depressing, but Valerie would rather be home eating Pringles and watching Netflix. She smiled cheerfully when she ran home, not caring about saying goodbye to anyone. The sunny sky mirrored her mood; joyful. Nothing else was on her mind other than getting home as fast as she can. Valerie stopped running after she was about a block away from school.

"I'm really out of shape," she whispered, panting. Valerie ended up walking to next four blocks. 'All the bullying is over until next year. I can finally talk to my online friends all I want!' Excitement bubbling up within her. She sang multiple songs, not caring if she was deaf-tone. 'I forgot today was Friday. My manga and anime is updated today! I'll probably do my homework a few days before the first day of school. I procrastinate too much.' She could still remember the first day of school. Valerie was more of an indoor person. Since her mom had a tight schedule, she hardly went out of the house. 

Finally, she spot a familiar light brown house surrounded by pools of colorful flowers. Valerie opened the wooden gate to reveal her mom, sitting on the wooden swing reading 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. 'Mom, you look more like my older sister than a mom. If I had a dollar for the many times people mistook us as sisters, I would be as filthy rich as Matthew.'

Her mom, Ava Bliss, was still beautiful and young. She's half Filipino and Thai, with long black hair and bright hazel nut eyes.  When Ava realized her daughter Valerie was home, she greeted her with a kiss on the forehead. "Kamusta po," Valerie greeted her mom hello in Tagalog, the main Filipino language. As a Filipino, you must say 'po' at the end of every sentence, which shows your respect to your peers. Ava's english was understandable since she was born in the states. "Kamusta Val. Come on darling, take off your wing and contacts. Also change your clothes. We are going out for dinner!" Ava smiled, joyfully.