third person pov

the next following school day, for the first time in along time, valerie kept her head down when walking into school. usually, she kept her head high and seemed confident, like maddy. she liked how everyone noticed that about her sister, and decided to be like her.. in some ways. usually, the stares she got daily wouldn't bother her, her sister had a reputation and it was clear everyone thinks valerie is going to be just like her, if she isn't already. but this time, the stares weren't because she looked confident or because she was walking next to the popular maddy perez, it was because of a rumor. a rumor that she lost her virginity at a park.

troy did say that he was going to take care of her, and it annoyed her that he didn't do anything yet. she had hoped that when she walked back into school, no one would whisper and say wether they think it's true or not, and what they think of her.

she listened to maddys advice, fake confidence. she always tried to not care about what people were whispering about around her, what they thought of her. but with her anxiety, that comes along anyway. and right now, as she was standing in the hallway, her anxiety was worse than it had been in awhile.

valerie absolutely hated having all eyes on her, ironic because she's a cheerleader and most of the time.. all eyes are on her. but she hated it anyway. she hated how she didn't know what everyone was thinking about her while staring at her, which is where that fake confidence comes in. she try's to make herself believe it's all good thoughts, maybe they're thinking she's pretty or something like that.. but she never knew for sure.

taking a deep breathe, she closed her locker and turned, and once she did she saw troy. he was talking to a group of people, he seemed rush to her but he always acted calm, it made it looked panicked.

she looked around her, and threw her head back slightly, before deciding to make her way to troy. hoe else was she supposed to know what he's saying? or should she just overthink it like she is with everyone else?

"yeah, he was just joking." was the first thing she heard when she was stood behind the group of people. troy hadn't noticed her yet, so she didn't speak up, deciding it would be better.

"but you told us-" a boy began to say, but troy cut him off. "bro, i was lying. just.. tell people it isn't true, if they ask. alright?"

valerie's eyebrows raised, she didn't think he would actually do something. troy was about to walk away when he finally noticed her, and he stopped. him stopping and looking at the girl, caused the group to also. valerie folded her lips into a line, sending them all a sarcastic wave. "is it true?" a girl asked, and valerie rolled her eyes. "no, it is not."

they all shrugged, and eventually walked off, leaving troy. he stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say to the girl. if he was being honest, valerie scared him a little. she seemed aggressive, and could probably beat his ass if she really wanted to.

"i should really beat your ass, you know." valerie told him.

"yeah.." troy chuckled, pausing. "look, i'm sorry, alright?.. can we just drop this?"

valerie's mouth opened slightly, before she laughed. "drop it? people still think i fucked someone at a park, because of you— how did you get the picture, anyway?"

"chris showed us and said y'all hung out, i asked if y'all fucked as a joke and he said yes.. so, roy told him to send it to the group chat and it just ended up getting out." he said truthfully, and she scoffed.

she said nothing else to him, just walked off.

                                       ———

the school day was over, and valerie was stood outside looking for maddy or any of her friends. she really didn't want to walk home, but she couldn't find any of them. not even victoria, or ashtray. with a sigh, she began to walk.. but stopped in her tracks when her eyes met the one and only, chris.

no matter how much she tried to make her self believe the rumor wasn't important, it pissed her off. and all that anger came right back the moment she saw him again. not thinking straight, she walked right up to him.

"what the fuck is wrong with you?" she practically shouted, causing everyone to turn their heads to them.

"valerie.. look-" valerie knew all he was going to do is lie, and without putting any thought in it, her arm went back and her fist connected with the side of his face.

she felt herself get grabbed, and pulled away, as soon as she hit him. he held his face, and looked at the girl as she was being pulled away. once she was far enough away from him, she got out of whoever was holding her, and when she turned around she saw victoria.

"oh, hi." valerie chuckled.

"that.. that was amazing." victoria laughed, and val just smiled, shaking her head.

"hey, do you want to come over today? or i can ask my mom to give you a ride home." victoria suggested.

"um.. i actually think i'm gonna go to ashtrays, but i'll come over later, yeah?" valerie responded.

"okay, see you later." vic smiled before running off.

                                    ———

"hey, fez." valerie greeted the man with a smile as she walked in his store.

"what's up?" fezco greeted her back, sending her a nod.

valerie started to walk to grab chips, when she saw a blonde sitting down on top of the ice cream container. she had huge lips, but valerie actually thought she was pretty. "hey, what's your name?" valerie asked her.

"i'm faye." she smiled at her, before pausing and waiting for valerie to tell her, her name. "hi faye, i'm valerie."

faye waved again, and valerie grabbed her chips, before walking over to faye to talk to her more, but the door opened and walked in.. lexi howard.

"lexi howard." fezco grinned.

"hi." lexi breathed out, visually nervous.

"how you doin?" fezco asked, as she stood in front of him.

"i'm good, um.." she stopped mid sentence as fezcos head moved back and she seen faye and i. we both sent her a wave, but it was clear she thought wrong of faye.

"hi, i'm faye." faye greeted her.

"i'm lexi, um... are- are you guys.." lexi moved side to side, wanting to know if they were together or not.

i shook my head in disappointment, hoping what fez said next could save himself.

"yeah, no. she's just stayin with me for a bit.. but- but she's cool though." fezco responded, making valerie sigh.

"what brings you out here anyway?" fezco asked lexi.

"oh, i just came to get a— a drink." lexi turned and began looking at the drinks.

"okay, well.. we got plenty of those." fezco said, making valerie almost laugh. "um.. do you need help finding anything?"

"no, i'm okay." lexi shook her head.

"oh, uh.. that's the.. malt liquor." fezco seemed almost confused, as lexi spoke in the same tone, "yeah, i know."

lexis head turned, and valerie took a step forward, trying to see what it was she was looking at. as faye turned to the glass behind her to look.

"yo, sorry i didn't get to say goodbye on new years." fez was oblivious to the fact cal jacobs had just walked in, but valerie's heart dropped and her eyes widened.

"good evening." cal spoke, letting fezco know he was there.

"what's up, man?" fezco sounded confused.

valerie watched fezco look at lexi, and then to ashtray through the freezers glass, as almost a warning look. it made her nervous, cal knew who she was, and it wouldn't look good, her here.

cal grabbed some chips, before looking straight at valerie. she put her head down, hoping he hadn't noticed who she was. cal walked and stood right in front of valerie and faye, "you got any spearmint gum?"

"i don't know, man. the gums right here." fezco pointed to it.

"this your store?"
"it's a family business."
"do your parents own it?"

valerie watched cal closely as he stood behind lexi, she was ready to say something to him, but she didn't think it would be the best thing to do.

"you usually ask this many questions, man?"
"just you."

cal paused and glanced at valerie, before speaking again. "they tell you who i am?"

fuck. valerie thought, he did recognize her.

"nah, man." fezco shook his head.

"are you a cop?" faye asked, and valerie's eyebrows furrowed.

"no." cal looked at both faye and valerie, before looking at lexi and then reaching into his pocket. valerie quickly turned to the freezer, and her and ashtrays eyes locked.

they both waited, but the second everyone heard a clicking noise, ashtray moved out of valerie's sight. since the store was so quiet, she heard noises coming from the freezer. as the sound of another gun was heard, valerie took a step forward. her eyes were directly on cal, who didn't even notice her slowly getting closer to him.

cal slowly pulled his hand out of his pocket, making valerie hold her breathe. but as cal only pulled out a twenty dollar bill, she relaxed with a sigh.

"just a concerned father." was all cal said, before leaving.

valerie shook her head, "that fucking creep." and then made her way to the freezers.

ashtrays eyes followed her as she walked in, and went to stand next to him. as he put a gun in a cereal box, she threw her hand on the table. "that's actually smart."

his eyes went to her hand, her knuckles were red. he turned to her, "the fuck'd you do to your hand?"

she looked at her hand, confused. she had almost forgot about the whole chris thing, but once she saw her knuckles red, she laughed. "oh, i punched chris."

ashtray thought she was lying at first, but once her face didn't drop or anything he shook his head. "did he touch you?"

"no." valerie sat down, eating the chips she had grabbed earlier,

AUTHORS NOTES:

this is so long