"YOU ACTUALLY DID THAT?!" Walter was shocked, eyes glistening with excitement. "You actually smashed the guy's car?"

I didn't bother to respond to him since Valen was the one narrating the story. I couldn't say it because I didn't want Bella to start lecturing me on how dumb my action was.

Jaxon scoffed, eyes glued to his plate of fries. "I don't believe she could do that." His messy hair was all over his forehead as his face was downwards.

I rolled my eyes while Austin turned to look at Jaxon like he was crazy. "Dude, she practically punched me in the face and you don't think she's capable of smashing a car?"

Jaxon looked up from his french fries and shrugged. He was like Valen hardly ever saying much but Valen was rude and he was- well, not yet determined. There was something about the guys that had made me to slowly become comfortable with them; they were lively.

Valen was sitting across from me, occasionally glancing at me. He was clad in a black hoodie, a pair of headphones wrapped around his neck and lips pressed in a thin line. I refused to look in his direction, keeping my whole attention in the conversation that was happening.

"So, you're also saying that you guys were chased by cops?!" Bella shrieked and I dramatically closed my eyes because I was gonna get an earful of lectures.

"Yup," I said, like it was no biggie whilst popping the 'p'

"Her driving was lit though she almost had us crash into another car," Valen decided to voice out.

I rolled my eyes, again. "You said it, almost."

He didn't respond. He wasn't able to give his response because Bella had chimed in. "How could you be so reckless Carla?"

I sighed. "I'm sorry Mom."

Her eyebrows rose, eyes glistening with amusement. "Did you just call me. . . Mom?"

"I did, because you're acting like her."

I focused back on my burger and took a bite out when Austin asked me a question: "Do you have a car Carla?"

Valen butted in, "She doesn't even have a fucking license."

"What?!"

The whole group shouted simultaneously, earning a glare from the table close to ours. I knew they'd make a big deal out of it.

"You know that's fucking dangerous," Austin said earning an eye roll from me for the 100th time before he continued, a smirk forming on his lips. "I like it."

Should I be bothered?

"Look," I started. "It was reckless I know but I'm bound to do such when I'm angry and- being in a chase with the cops was also dangerous but what was I supposed to do?"

"At least you could've allowed Valen to drive," Walter commented. "I'm surprised he even let you drive it because damn he hardly ever let's me touch it."

I glanced at Valen and caught him rolling his eyes playfully at Walter. After everyone told us they were glad that we both were okay, we all went back into different things.

We continued eating and talking on random affairs. Walter was showing Valen something on his phone while talking about boxing, and the other two were invested in their own conversation. I also involved myself in a conversation with Bella, all while ignoring Valen's constant glance in my direction.

Bella nudged me lightly. "Why are you ignoring him?" How the conversation rolled from the movie "Gossip girl" still confuses me.

"I just want to."

"With the way he has been looking at you, he wants to talk to you," she added, giving me a small smile. "Give him a chance."

I sighed. "I'll think about it-right now, I'm late for class."

She scoffed. "Of course."

▬▬▬✰✯✰▬▬▬

Lectures were the same, keeping me awake- sleep and I had a quarrel. By the end of class-which was really the end of the day- a weight pulled me down and I needed to use that which kept my mentality.

The gym- it indeed was a drug I was addicted to; the feeling of your fists hitting the bag and your heart beating rapidly- it's an amazing feeling. It was funny how it was part of my life even when I practically went against the idea of boxing. My uncle wanted me to go into boxing because of my strength but I was after better things; fighting for justice.

I found the school's gym, and I became slow on my feet for two reasons entirely- one, it could be restricted, who knew, two, Valen could be inside again for all I knew.

Even after the mental questions, I went in anyway.

With tip-toed movements, I stepped in and locked the door- and when I thought there was no one in, I turned around few seconds later to see him- all in his glory of fierce and power.

Shit.

I was expecting a raised brow, a smirk, a chuckle or anything but the mood swinging dude surprised me every time. He let out a sigh and,- took off his boxing gloves!

"You can stay, won't ever bother you."

For some reason, my heart dropped at that. I walked towards him, and since he had nothing to say, I spoke.

"No, you carry on- wasn't gonna punch anything today," I chuckled.

Was I being nice to him? That sounds absolutely nothing like me.

I wasn't the only one shocked by my actions, he was also surprised. His nose did scrunch in a cute way as he picked up his water bottle before taking a step in my direction.

"So why are you here and- why are you surprisingly nice to me?"

I groaned because being around him was difficult and I was getting confused on whether I still hated him. I eventually shot back, "Is it so wrong to check the school's gym?"

He laughed.

He fuckin' laughed. He laughed like I had cracked the biggest joke in history. "You're really bipolar."

"Excuse you!" I was offended, super offended- he called me bipolar.

His eyes didn't leave mine as he took a step closer, and I looked everywhere but him. My eyes revolved around the blue painted room, different equipments in every corners of the room- almost like in the gym.

"Aren't you gonna use the ring?"

My head snapped to his direction, noticing he had taken two steps backwards. As I gave my reply, I shrugged with uncertainty. "I don't think I should."

"I thought you were brave," he smirked, his blue eyes twinkling. They're so bright.

His smirked turned into a small smile, eyes mischievous, as if daring me to get into the ring. There was something I noticed about him: he was a puzzle- a bipolar puzzle. Why was he being so polite?

Before I could even get a reply out of my mouth, he threw a pair of blue boxing gloves at me.

"Um, Carla," his eyes failed to keep it's contact with mine. "I wanted to talk to you, actually."

About what?!

"We were just talking few minutes ago," I replied sarcastically but he shook his head.

"I'm serious."

I watched him scratch the back of his neck nervously. Valen fuckin' Monroe was nervous?- that had to be recorded. His eyes made contact with mine and I tried to drop my gaze but failed as he held onto it.

"I'm sorry about everything."

Did I hear right? There were a lot of things in my life that was impossible of but the fact that Mr boxer over here just apologized was beyond impossible, beyond shocking and something I wouldn't believe if someone had told me.

"I didn't actually mean to mess up your white top and- fuck, I knew I should've apologized but I was in a terrible mood."

He remembered.

This was never in list of things I expected to happen but I shocked him with my sudden outburst. "All you guys do is apologize, you rich people are deceivers and guys in general are to never be trusted."

He stepped closer, holding my hand gently, and- fuck, why did it feel good?! "Look, we just got off on the wrong foot and not all guys are the same," he sighed. "I don't know what may have happened to you in the past but please don't use it to judge others."

I had nothing to say.

All I did was stare at him, dumbfounded. I eventually found my tongue, though having nothing to say, except; "Okay."

"It's really not okay, just give me a chance. I didn't mean anything and I wasn't responsible for-"

I cut him off. "I know, Austin and Jaxon did it and I'm certain you're the one who got them to apologise."

I gave him a small smile, enjoying the fact that my arch nemesis was apologizing to me. "It's okay."

His tensed shoulders relaxed a little. "We're good?"

I pondered on it for a moment before giving him a condition; "I still don't trust you, so you have to convince me that you want to be my friend."

A smile graced his features- breath-taking and too overwhelming- though out of place because he hardly smiled, or maybe I didn't notice. His smile was as beautiful as blooming flowers. Stop praising him!!

"If you insist I convince you- I'll convince you but, that means you're going on a date with me."

"What?!"

▬▬▬✰✯✰▬▬▬

Walter was the definition of an incomprehensible character in my list. He stuck to Valen all the time like a real best friend should and spoke good about him. With his charming personality, he was the kind of best friend every guy or girl,to say the least, would want to have but, at this point,-I couldn't understand his demeanor.

From the moment I stepped out of the school's gym, and out the school campus, he had been grinning ear-to-ear, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"And why are you grinning like you won a lottery?"

He chuckled. "I hope you enjoyed Valen's apology."

Shock immediately captured my features, making me to suddenly burst out, "Were you spying on us?!"

He shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not."

"Jeez, and you had to wait for me outside the campus to tell me? What kinda best friend are you?"

"The one every guy and girl wish they had," he winked, a smirk following. Did he read my mind.

"So how much did you hear?"

"Actually, from the moment you said rich people are deceivers," he said and I mentally cursed, 'shit.' before he continued. "I don't blame you, I myself have encountered a lot of rich brats in life."

I nodded. "I was surprised he apologized and now I'm stuck between hating him and being his friend."

"I had to knock some sense and wisdom into him and it turned out well. I can't believe he could pull it off."

My blood boiled at the thought that crossed my mind. "So," I started off, getting annoyed. "The apology wasn't his idea?"

"No, no," he immediately responded. "You're getting it all wrong. Look, he was as confused as a rock and wanted to talk to you but you weren't giving him the time of the day rather you guys were always at each other's neck, so- I told him he had to know the reason why you hate him and fix it. He told me what happened at the parking lot- sorry about that- and I told him he had to try to apologize to you," he grinned.

"Oh," I had nothing in mind to say except how over reactive I was.

"So, you're going on a date with him right?" he grinned cheekily that I so wanted to wipe it off his face.

I glared at him and hoped it could put a hole in his head and into his brain. "It's not a date Walter!"

"That's not what he said," he grinned at me one last time before striding off gracefully.

It is not a fucking date!

There was no class scene in this chapter- just brought a vivid imagination of how Carla is warming up to the guys and also- our Valen apologized and is taking her out on a date!

Oops, sorry Carla. It is not a date!

Anyway, I hope you're having a great day. Let me know what you thought of this chapter.

Stay golden <3

_Jessie_