Page 10 of Bloody Valentine

“What did you say?” I said tentatively, holding my bag to my chest as if it could protect me from the words spoken.

“I said he’s not usually like that—”

“No, after that,” I quickly cut her off.

Teagan looked at me, her beautiful features now resembling that I must look like a loon from Crazy Town.

“Something about my past and future?” I said to her again, praying she would know and repeat those whispered words I heard.

“Huh? I didn’t…Are you okay, Vivvy?”

I shook my head and plastered a smile on my face. After the image of that creep, with his crimson smile smeared on his hand, popped into my mind, I dropped the subject, shaking my head again.

“Yeah. Yeah, I am good. I am just excited about the future, you know? Journalism.”

Teagan still looked unsure and, at this point, probably concerned for my mental health.

“Journalism…yaaay…” I brought my hands up in a mock celebration. Apparently, it didn’t work.

My half-enthusiastic cheer made me feel even more insane than I probably looked, but Teagan left it alone. Instead, she handed me her notes from the previous classes I’d missed so I could do a crash course to catch up.

I looked at the red handwriting, trying to get an idea of the material, but all I kept seeing was that stupid fucking painted smile. This man was messing up the one thing that mattered the most to me.

I groaned and adjusted in my seat, trying my best to listen to the professor as he began to drone on about something I didn’t know shit about. This was hopeless. I sighed and squeezed Teagan's hand.

“I can’t follow this. I need to catch up with the notes first. Is it okay if I give these back in a bit?” I loudly whispered to her.

She nodded. “Yeah, I live at the dormitory across the creepy ass bridge, so just bring them by when you’re done.”

I raised my brows in surprise but also was happy to know that at least my new and only friend lived in the dorms, too. I had an apartment outside of this place, but to feel normal, I had paid for the dorm room, too. I didn’t want people to know I was a weirdo with two places, but a girl needed her space.

Especially a girl that had some creepy lady’s voice in her head…

Who was it that I was hearing?

A strange knowing hummed in my blood, and I knew the answer—Vivianna Valentini—my grandmother.

“What building?” I said, hopeful that we were at least close.

“XI Phi Delta sorority house,” she said with a smile.

My mouth dropped open, and I covered it to contain my squeal. “Me too! My mom was a legacy in XI Phi Delta!” I practically lunged at her for a hug.

She returned my embrace with a laugh and joined my semi-silent mini-dance party. The professor paused and gave us stern looks before continuing the lecture. Ignoring Professor Fun sucker, I pulled up my map with the information of the dorm number, and we both squeaked louder.

“We are roommates, and you’re a legacy? Damn girl, it was meant to be. Call it fate.”

One good thing happened today. I may have made an enemy, but I also made a friend.

The study was quiet, not like the library. At this place, you could hear the consistent clacking of keyboards as students wrote papers, scrolled socials, and did whatever else their laptop amenities offered them.

I couldn’t focus.

Every time I looked at the notes, I just kept flashing back to that smile.

Why was I so fucking bothered over a stupid creep professor?

What I really needed to do was walk my ass over to the admin office and get a drop form for his class.

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