Valencia Chasen

She laid her head on the window watched the world pass by through the glass covered in raindrops. Her headphones tucked comfortably in her ears as the song 'Vanilla Baby by Billie Marten' lulled her mind. She glanced at her mother in the driver's seat who had been clutching the wheel so hard that her knuckles were white. It was a new day, a new town, everything felt okay. 'But for how long' she thought to herself as she stared back out the window.

A week later they were settled in as the only thing they had to unpack were their suitcases. Now it was another first day at a new school, her fifth one this year. Her mother never wanted to stay in one place for too long which is why they packed so lightly. To say her mother was a cautious person would be an understatement, but she had every right to be.

She made breakfast eating it hastily then putting a plate in the microwave for her mother who had been standing by the window. The woman was dressed in her dingy artist jeans that were rolled up at the ankle. She wrapped herself in her oversized cardigan covering the coffee stained shirt from the day before. Her dark brown hair was tied in a low bun with strands falling out the sides. "Food's in the microwave, I'll see you later" her daughter said peeking the woman's interest. Her daughter slung her bag over her shoulder then headed towards the door. "Wait" the lady called out frantically as she rushed over to her daughter and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Remember-" her daughter cut her off "eyes open, profile low and yes pocket knife is close by" she reassured patting the front pocket of her bag. She looked at her mother's tired blue almost gray eyes, she patted her shoulder with a small smile "get some rest."

She walked with her head down and eyes at her brown combat boots watching one at a time as she took a step forward. Her chestnut hair blew in the wind causing her to tug at the sleeves of her maroon sweater. Looking up she saw the school building in the distance and at this moment she buried the bottom half of her face in her scarf wishing she grabbed a jacket.

She knocked on the door of the classroom turning everyone's attention away from the lesson and onto her. She looked down at her schedule then a the door number to make sure it was the right class. "Hello I'm Ms. Winsten you must me our new student" the older woman said looking down at her attendance sheet "Valencia" she said beating the teacher to it. Ms. Winsten clasped her hands together with a smile "right well welcome, you can take the empty seat next to Harrison over there." Valencia averted her eyes to the shy boy who hung his head low, deep in his notes. Blonde tussled hair, peach skin tine and slender limbs. She took the open seat and opened her notebook to start working. The boy kept glancing her way and then her notebook which he couldn't see much of. The teacher had gone to get a textbook for her newest student and left everyone to their work. "Can you stop staring at me" she asked with annoyance dripping from her mouth. "Sorry I just wish you were sitting somewhere else" he said honestly "no one has sat in that seat all year and it's been great because it means I don't have to listen to gossip or dickheads talking about how many girls they get, and I'm really not looking forward to the newest Barbie doll talking about how hot Patrick Adams is" he complained. Valencia closed her notebook and picked up her bag "now I wish I wasn't sitting here, then I wouldn't have to listen to your complaining" she mumbled with an eye roll "but don't fret long legs, I won't be staying long." The bell rang and she walked out of there swiftly not even phased at being called a Barbie doll.

The day dragged on and it was now lunch. The only person she made slight conversation with all day had been Harrison and that was first period. No one tried to talk to her and she was okay with it. "Low profile, check" she whispered to herself as she turned the dial on her locker, with a sigh she grabbed every book her teachers gave her and carelessly threw them in the compartment. A boy made his appearance by leaning against the locker next to hers "new girl" he smiled looking her up and down. He cocked an eyebrow about to speak but she had slammed her locker shut causing him to jump. "You must be Patrick" she said faking enthusiasm, the boy regained his composure and brushed his fingers through his hair; something that probably drove all the girls crazy. His eyes were brown, his hair was blonde and his skin was a peach color reminding her of the other boy she met today. He gave her a toothy smile "you know who I am, great that saves us time" he said smugly. Valencia gave him the fakest smile she could muster up "listen starfish, unlike all the other girls in this school I have a brain that I can actually use and it's telling me that I'm way out of your league, but uh I think I saw some redheads over there just gushing about how "cute" you are." She walked over leaving him with balled up fists.

She sat on an empty table resting her elbows on her thighs. People watching. She did it often, just finding herself studying people's actions and behavior while out in public. "So you're a stalker" she recognized the voice from earlier "I'm an observer" she said shifting her eyes to Harrison but only for a moment. her eyes made their way back to the girl who had been reapplying her lipstick for the fourth time. "I met your brother" she said nonchalantly, he sighed and took a seat next to her- his legs positioned awkwardly on the bench. "Yeah and how'd you figure that out" he asked earning a small laugh from her "please the resemblance is uncanny, that and the way you talked about him. He shrugged "half brother by the way" he sighed. They sat there together, people watching and then the bell rang and they both left without another word.

She closed the door to the apartment with the unfinished paint job and broken floor boards. Having had thrown her bag on the dusty green couch she soon followed in exhaustion. The house was quiet, her mother would've screamed by now not knowing who's entered the house, matter of fact she'd be in the living room just waiting. She reached into her bag and grabbed the pocket knife. She flipped the stainless steel open and slowly made her way to the hallway. Her room was empty as was the bathroom and the guest room. Her mother's door was open a jar letting in the little bit of light that illuminated the dark hallway. Valencia opened the door slowly only to see her mother sleeping soundly in her chair by the window. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in and closed the door to leave her mother to rest.

She ate dinner alone as her mother sat in the living room watching the tv, though it was so low that the only sound to be heard was the clinking of the fork on the plate. After washing her dishes she went to her mother and kissed her on the forehead "goodnight" she said before going and locking herself in her room. She changed into a pair of black jeans and a deep v-neck tank top. She slid on her boots and shoved on her jacket, then shut off her lights before climbing onto the fire escape. She walked down three flights of stairs before jumping down to the sidewalk. Her hands were shoved in her jacket pockets as she walked down the streets of her new town she had yet to explore. A guy leaned against a brick wall near a convenient store, cigarette in hand and a lighter that had been getting flicked on and off in the other, with dark brown almost black hair that had been pushed back enough times to get it to stay the way it is. He looked over and saw her and she smirked. Valencia looked down walking right passed peeking his interest. "So you're just gonna tease me like that" he called after her. She spun around slowly pretending to look around for other people "you talking to me" she cokced an eyebrow. The boy chuckled tossing his cigarette on the floor and crushing it with his foot before he moved from his comfortable spot on the wall.

They were face to face, up close and personal. "I don't see anyone else out here" he told her smugly. His eyes went from her eyes to her lips then back to her hazel greens. "Well you got my attention, how're you gonna use it" she asked causing him to smirk. He wrapped his hand around her torso and pulled her into him. "I'm Luke" he said "what's your name" he asked "wouldn't you like to know" she smiled. He huffed a laugh and she felt how dangerously close his hand was to the underside of her breast. Her eyes glanced up and across the street where she saw a frail woman looking around. His lips were almost to hers when she turned her head so he only caught her cheek "I'm not that easy" she said swiftly before moving out of his grasp and walking away.

She watched him from a distance get on his bike and ride away before crossing the street and rushing over to the woman. She grabbed her wrist causing the lady to shriek in terror. "Mama what're you doing out here" she asked worriedly, her mother let out a sigh of relief before yanking her wrist away. "Looking for you, you stupid girl, do you know what could've happened to you" her mother scolded, Valencia placed a gentle hand on her mom's shoulder "I'm okay" she reassured. "This time, you're all I have, I'm not going to let them get to you" she whisper yelled earning a sigh from her daughter "I know mama, I'm sorry, come on let's get you back to the apartment."