They walk towards the cafeteria enjoying the views of students who stayed behind for many reasons walk and talk in groups.
"Hi Valeria" Someone greeted and Valeria look towards the voice and it was the creepy Shelby
"Hi Shelby" Valeria greeted faking a smile
"Why are you here?" Shelby asked with a faked excitement expression
"We resumed early" Hannah replied before Valeria could
"Resume earlier?" Shelby asked with surprise
"Yes we did" Valeria replied
"Why? Why did you resume early?" Shelby asked with anger in her voice
"Any problem with resuming early?" Valeria asked folding her arms
"Not that dear. It's just that I would rather enjoy traveling than resuming early" Shelby said after realizing she's overreacting
"Oh! We ditched travelling" Hannah replied before Valeria could.
"Have a great time in school you two" Shelby said and walk away angrily
"I didn't know you knew Michelle Cory, one of the most popular girls in University of Chicago. She's a model and I really love her" Hannah said excitedly
"Didn't know that" Valeria said still looking at Shelby who she finds creepy
"Really? And you are friends" Hannah said surprisingly
"We aren't friends, just acquaintances" Valeria replied leaving Hannah surprise
"Acquaintance with the popular Michelle" Hannah said with surprise
"Do you want to eat something or talk about Shelby?" Valeria asked walking inside the cafeteria and Hannah run after her. They ordered their meal and choose a table to sit.
"Hi Ria" Dennis greeted with a smile. Valeria drop her food and hug him.
"Hey Best friend" Valeria said with a smile
"You know you should have called me right?" Dennis said and Valeria nod. They sit round the table.
"Dennis meet my roommate Hannah" Valeria said introducing Hannah
"Hi Hannah" Dennis greeted the excited looking girl
"Hi Denaldo" Hannah said excitedly
"Hannah this is my best friend Dennis" Valeria said not understanding why she's so excited
"You are best friends with the great Denaldo! An acquaintance with Queen Michelle! Are you sure you don't know about this two?" Hannah said excitedly
"Let's eat Hannah. Enough of Shelby, it's creepy and it has always been" Valeria said looking at Dennis who went mute. They eat without saying a word to each other, the atmosphere was thick and Dennis became uncomfortable. He was about to talk when he noticed Shelby's entrance, he knew trouble was about to start.
"Oh you've seen your best friend" Shelby said sitting in between Dennis and Hannah. Valeria ignored her and continue eating, Dennis became more uncomfortable and Hannah felt really excited sitting with the two most popular student.
"When is the first match Dennis?" Shelby asked after few minutes of silence
"Check the school notice board or the platform" Dennis replied rudely
"Valeria, I heard from Dennis that you are the new face of EmJay brand" Shelby said faking a smile
"Yes" Valeria replied not looking at her
"Did you audition?" Shelby asked
"Why are you asking?" Valeria asked looking at her
"I auditioned to be their model" Shelby said with a big smile on her face
"No I didn't. I'm not part of their models, I'm a brand ambassador" Valeria replied now eating back
"Oh! Didn't know that" Shelby said not liking Valeria's attitude towards her.
"Hannah, are you ready?" Valeria asked and Hannah nod. Valeria stand up to leave, she doesn't like Shelby's presence with them.
"I'm sorry Valeria" Shelby said all of a sudden stopping Valeria from moving and leaving Dennis surprised, the Shelby he knows never says sorry.
"For what?" Valeria asked looking at her
"For... For acting creepy and stalking you the other day" Shelby said stammering
"Why are you apologizing?" Valeria asked looking at her
"So Den... because I was wrong" Shelby replied looking at Dennis who was swallowing hard. Valeria didn't say a word and left.
"I'm sorry about her attitude" Hannah said and run after Valeria.
"I've never been so humiliated before" Shelby lamented angrily
"Do you want to know how she will forgive you?" Dennis asked after making sure Valeria was out of sight
"I'm never apologizing anymore" Shelby said angrily
"When you stop acting like you are obsessed with me, it's creepy" Dennis said and leave the table. Shelby became so angry and left the cafeteria too.
****
Hannah and Valeria walk inside their room, Valeria seem lost and sad.
"Are you fine?" Hannah asked looking the door behind
"Yes I am" Valeria replied faking a smile
"Who is Dennis and Shelby to you?" Hannah asked knowing her sadness has something to do with them
"Dennis is my....my best friend from Skokie" Valeria replied sitting on the bed
"Shelby is his friend" Valeria added
"Are you jealous they are friends?" Hannah asked wanting to get to the bottom of the matter
"Not at all. Shelby acts creepy, she always wants to be anywhere I and Dennis are" Valeria replied sadly with anger in her voice
"That can be so annoying but everyone in school knows Michelle has a big crush on Dennis" Hannah said making Valeria chuckle
"I don't have to ask a seer before seeing it" Valeria replied. Hannah wanted to continue the conversation but Valeria's reaction is not good. She left her and sleep on her bed.
Valeria became so grateful Hannah stopped talking, she needs time to think and reflect. She texted Dennis after few minutes of thinking.
@valeria [Hi Den]
@Dennis [Hey Baby]
@Valeria [Who is Shelby to you once again?]
@Dennis [Why this again?]
@Valeria [You asking me?]
@Dennis [She likes me but I'm not interested in her. I told you she's just been creepy]
@Valeria [Stop that creepiness, it's freaking me out]
@Dennis [I will baby. Was really hoping to spend time with you tonight even if it's few minutes]
@Valeria [We were spending time together until your creepy friend came]
@Dennis [You will watch me train tomorrow]
@Valeria [No problem as long as there are no creepy friends]
The lovers continue to chat while Hannah was on call with her parents.
The next day, Valeria's phone woke her up, she knows who it was since she sets different tone for the important people in her life.
"Good morning mother" Valeria greeted with sleepy eyes
"Good morning Valeria" Geraldine greeted back
"How was your night darling?" Geraldine asked
"Fine and yours mother?" Valeria replied rubbing her sleepy eyes
"Nice. What are your plans today?" Geraldine asked
"I will be watching a football training on campus and that is it for now" Valeria replied now fully awake
"Okay dear. Make sure to let me know your plans. Have a great day" Geraldine said
"I will mother. And you too" Valeria replied smiling and her mother end the call. Valeria did her usual morning activity, pray and say words of affirmation to herself. After that, she picked up her phone and texted Esmeralda.
@Valeria [Hi Miss Raldy]
@Esmeralda [Hey darling. How are you?]
@Valeria [I'm good and you?]
@Esmeralda [Great. Are you available for a shoot soon?]
@Valeria [Yes I should. But when?]
@Esmeralda [Tomorrow. Your fans are asking for another picture of you]
@Valeria [Oh no problem! About Mackenzie I will be signing the deal with him]
@Esmeralda [I was hoping you would support and consider me but that's your choice to make]
@Valeria [This is the only way I can help you two get back together regardless of whatever happened in the past. I'm caught in between separating you and losing Benjie Baker's trust or bringing you together and still keeping my friendship. You are much more important than Benjie Baker and that's why I'm doing this to clear your name]
@Esmeralda [Your choice Valeria. Let's meet tomorrow at my penthouse]
@Valeria [Okay I will be there. I resumed school early]
@Esmeralda [Okay, we'll discuss that tomorrow]
@Valeria [Okay Miss Raldy]
Esmeralda stopped replying her message, she knows she's angry but believe she did the right thing by trying to bring them together. She checked her social media page and could see how desperate her fans are for pictures, she texted Benjie Baker.
@Valeria [Good morning Benjie Baker]
@Benjamin [Good morning pretty. Hope you're good?]
@Valeria [Yes and you? Can we go to Mackenzie's office today?]
@Benjamin [I'm a little busy at work today but I will ask the van to take you there]
@Valeria [Thank you Benjie Baker]
@Benjamin [You are welcome]
They stopped chatting and Valeria stand up from the bed looking at the room, she still can't believe she was the one staying there and the fact that she's now a uni girl in her freshman year. Everything seems to have happened so fast, she was once a creche girl, the smile of satisfaction came to her face and she felt great. She had done many things to get to where she is now. Except from her brothers who she disturbed a lot during her readings, no one else can understand her joy right now. Her parents especially her father was on her neck to get a scholarship, she had to read all day to get to where she is now.