Sam walked into the building where her poetry club was being held. Only a handful of members joined, which wasn't bad in her opinion. It was a small and intimate group, and since her freshmen year, she felt at ease with the group.
A group of eight, including herself of different people from many areas of life.
Walking in the classroom, she saw her closest friend and the group leader, Violet. Violet was skimming through a few papers on her desk but looked up at Sam and smiled.
Violet has tan skin with freckles scattered across her body, shorter than Sam by a couple of inches, wears black-rimmed glasses, and has big curly hair. She was on the petite side and with her gothic attire made her blend in with the others. Today she was wearing a simple black tee and shorts with a pair of black boots to complete the look.
"Hey Sam, you finally made it! Thought you got lost on the way." Violet joked to her fellow member and friend. She could see the distraught features on her friend's face, concerned came across Violet's features. She took Sam to the side of the classroom where the others weren't. Violet sat on top of a desk and motion for Sam to speak.
Sam sighed and sat across from her on another desk, her face buried in her hands.
"Uh uh girl, tell me what's up. I have already seen some of the arguments with that girl you don't like on different people's snap. What the hell happened?" Violet questioned her friend. One of the members shows Violet the screaming match between the two women before Sam came in. Sam lifted her head; sadness, anger, and guilt emoting from her eyes.
"She wanted to interview on an upcoming protest and I might have said something to her that was a bit out of line." Sam confessed, sheepish. Violet shook her head at her friend like a disappointed mother.
"Dude what did you say to her?" Violet questioned her friend. Sam has told Violet about Valerie and while Violet can see where Sam is coming from, she also thought that she should give the girl a chance. Of course, she hasn't voiced this to Sam for reasons.
"I told her I don't support her relationship and I'll only be nice for now, until their relationship ends or something." Sam mumbled, embarrassed about how it sounded.
Violet looked at her friend in astonishment. Sam retold the tale of the rivalry between Valerie and her. She was shocked about the amount of history these two had and the hatred Sam had for her. Sam went into detail, anger showing across her features as she spoke.
"Then she had the nerve to say that I have no personality outside of Danny! Like I'm his shadow or something!" Sam seethed at the thought. She looked over towards her friend for agreement but was met with a mixed reaction.
Violet rubbed her armed, looking away from Sam.
"Uh no offense Sam, but she might be right in a way. I know he is your best friend, but you do get a bit possessive over him. Did you spy on them in high school? And what about the Tucker guy, you only mention him if he does something 'stupid' or agrees with Danny." Violet confessed to her friend.
Sam opened her mouth for a retort but stopped. Has she been looking over Tucker, especially their later years? They had that movie night a few weeks back but mostly discussing Valerie and Danny. Well, fighting about them. Tucker did make some points about Valerie which Sam begrudgingly agreed. It was just hard to lose Danny, as a friend and as a romantic interest.
She sighed as she put her hands back into her face again. Violet rubbed her back in a comforting manner, feeling bad for her friend.
"Look, Sam, you guys def need to work this out because it is getting out of hand. It's one thing not to like her or the relationship but voicing it every time will hurt your friendships." Violet said softly to the goth.
Sam looked up regret in her eyes. "I know your right, everyone is! I just can't get over these feelings about him. It hurts but I am trying to let it go. Despite my feelings toward Valerie, I know deep down inside she cares for him. We just have so much history I don't know how to see her now instead of her in high school, ya know?" Sam answered, staring down at the rings on her fingers.
"I understand dude but at the end of the day, it's up to you. But you do need to apologize to Valerie, again the correct way. No offense, but that was major fucked up to do that especially when she tried to extend a hand to you." Violet said firmly her friend, giving her a stern look.
"I will this time, maybe by a letter?" Sam mumbled. Violet chuckled and helped her down from the desk.
"Alright good, now c'mon and let's go discuss this book. I wanna get into Ravenclaw's view on women." Violet spoke as she tugged Sam towards the front of the classroom.
Sam rolled her eyes playfully, grateful to have her friend talk some sense into her.
Paulina and Valerie sat in Paulina's living room, a reflection of the former popular girl's taste. Rose pink walls with a plush pink carpet, adorn by bubblegum color couches with red hearts on them. Furnished with a bookcase, flat screen, a fuchsia coffee table, and end tables to match as well. Pictures of family and friends scattered across the walls, a few with Valerie before the accident.
The two former popular girls sat on Paulina's plushy pink couch; papers scattered around them with pictures as well. Valerie wrote notes as Paulina told her about the volunteering the dance team she's in is doing.
"On the weekends we give kids in Elmwood free lessons, tutoring sessions, and a monthly trip out of state. Next week's football game is gonna raise money for the shelters in Elmwood and Downtown also." Paulina spoke, sipping on a nonfat drink. Valerie nodded and wrote down the information.
"Wow, this whole time I never knew all the proceeds go to charities. That's nice of you to do that." Joked Valerie, chuckling while she wrote.
Paulina laughed as well. 16-year-old her would never even agree to give money away but 20-year-old her has changed.
"It was the right thing to do. I swear all the money we give to this school; we figured the football games could go for people who needed it." Paulina replied.
Valerie hummed in agreement. College tuition is an expense, what more do they need with it.
"Exactly, but thanks again for helping me out on my assignment. Sam was supposed to be my subject but that turned into a whole huge mess. Ugh, I can't believe she got under my skin." Val said, still reeling from the fight with the goth.
"You two never got along so I wouldn't worry about it too much, besides, it being over on Snapchat and all." Paulina nonchalantly brought up the fight being on social media.
"I tried to be friends or at least civil with her, especially for Danny and Tucker. Like the girl can hold a grudge which I can understand the way she looks at him when I'm around like I don't know whether to feel bad or laugh." Valerie fumed.
"She's still in love with him? I mean he is cute and all- hey don't look at me like that." Paulina teased her former friend.
"I guess she is, but it's been years! Lina, either she never told him or he is clueless about her feelings!" the ghost hunter argued back to her former friend. The Latina put her hands up in defense from her former friend's verbal attack.
"For a girl who thinks she knows everything and is outspoken, she does get silent about that part." Paulina retorted back.
"Maybe," she continued "she doesn't want to ruin their friendship? Those losers have been friends since elementary school but high school hit. We were on top of the ladder, then I somewhat used him, and then you" she pointed to Valerie, who had a startled look "came in, dated for a while then boom, you dumped him! And you somewhat dated Tucker!" Paulina exclaimed loudly to Valerie.
"What does that have to do with- ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh okay maybe I can see why she still hates us." Valerie sheepishly replied. Paulina raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow and shot her one finger gun.
"I understand, but we're grown! I wish she could see that! I apologized so many times, tried to be civil with her and it's so hard with her! Danny spoke to her about this and still!" the ghost hunted cried out, throwing her hands in the air.
"Maybe you don't have to be the bigger person? I mean yeah, she doesn't have to forgive you or anything but attacking you like this almost every time? You two def have some issues." Paulina added. Valerie groaned in agreement, they do indeed.
"Okay look, Daddy can let me use the country club ballroom for a small gathering. How about you, me, Star, and Sam all get together to hash things out?" Paulina suggested to Valerie. Valerie considered it, especially if they can hash it with others around.
"Okay, I'll do it. I mean all our parents are members anyways too." She agreed to the meetup, hoping not to regret another met up.
"Oh, I can't wait! Now dish about Fenton, you too are so cute!" Paulina gushed, scooting over towards Valerie to get more information out of her.
As Valerie told her everything between her and Danny, a familiar wave of friendship came over the former friends. It was almost as if they teenagers talking about their boyfriends/crushes, before ghost, before a failing friendship, before Valerie going broke.