sobs erupt the second I've rounded the corner and I'm out of sight. This lie I'm living is becoming bigger and bigger. Quaid's words echo in my head. I can only imagine how much they will hate me when they find out that we don't in fact have any years ahead of us. Maybe not even months.
And even if they're right…that those ten years would have been harder than I think, that we might not have made it through them…I would do anything to have those ten years back. I’d do anything to have lived a life by their side. But that will never happen now.
It’s too late. All we have is today. Tomorrow might never come.
All they will have of me are memories of what could have happened if I had chosen differently. If I had fought for them. If they had fought for me.
Chapter 16
Then
________________________________________
Valentina
"Damn it," I curse to myself when the kid in front of me bumps into my lunch tray, spilling orange juice all over my cheerleading uniform.
Coach Mathews will not be happy if she sees me in this state. I rush to the nearest girl’s bathroom I can find, hoping some soap and water will do the trick. I rub at the stain on my shirt, and thankfully, most of it comes off. When I hear the bell ring, I'm grateful for the free period I have now. It would suck if I had to go back to class with a wet stain on my cleavage. Since it's another beautiful San Antonio day, I might as well go outside and just let the sun dry it out and soak in some vitamin D while I'm at it.
Before I go outside, I decide to use the bathroom first. I've barely locked the stall when the sound of various heels clicking on the ceramic tile announces I’m no longer alone.
"She thinks she's such a shit," someone says with a bitter southern twang.
"Don't be salty, Tracy. It's not her fault she has her hooks in your man," another girl responds with a teasing giggle.
"Tracy just can't get over the fact that Carter prefers them angelic instead of slutty," a third voice states, but my interest in whatever they are talking about is only piqued at the mention of Carter's name.
Through the small slit of the door, I manage to see the reflection of the three girls in the mirror. It’s Tracy Hollis and her two minions, Becky and Karen. Since middle school, they’ve been in most of my classes, but have barely said a word to me otherwise. However, they weren’t as stingy with their dirty looks and sneers through the years—especially Tracy.
"Oh please! If I wanted Carter Hayes, I'd have him. I'm just so over Miss Goody Two Shoes already. I mean, who does she think she’s fooling? Everyone knows Valentina Rossi must be a total freak in the sheets for her to have the three hottest guys in our school drooling after her."
"You sound bitter, Tracy,” Becky provokes as she freshens up her pink bubble gum lip gloss with a new coat.
"I’m not bitter, bitch! I’m fed up. Fuck her and wherever she came from! I mean, why do girls like us, who own up to our sexuality, get called ho's when little miss perfect is probably tag teamed by all three guys every night, and no one even bats an eye? It’s fucking disgusting."
"Oh I don't know. If Carter, Logan, and Quaid asked if I was up for a little four-way fun, I might be up for it," Karen teases.
"Girl, so would I. I mean damn...! Did you see Logan in class today? Every time he opens his mouth, I needed a cold shower. His voice alone gets me wet," Becky adds with a swoon, making me fist both hands in jealousy.
"I'm more of a Quaid girl myself. He looks like he could bench press me without breaking a sweat."
"You both can keep them. I'm all about that brooding smoldering look Carter is about. I swear he could give me an orgasm just by looking at me," Tracy singsongs as she fixes her double D’s in the mirror.
All three girls burst out laughing, while I feel like I’m going to be sick.
"Guess we'll never know because Valentina has them all wrapped around her bitchy finger. God, I hate her," Tracy adds with a snarl to her lips.
"You just hate her because you wish you were her."
"That is the stupidest thing I've heard, Becky. I would