Valerie smiled politely as Emma approached, covertly giving her a once over. She was pretty- the kind of pretty Valerie would've killed to be when she was younger- but she also seemed nice. Or, at the very least, polite. "It's fine. You're new, right? I didn't see you around here last year."
"New, yeah. 3rd year, Literature" she hummed, smiling sweetly at the girl. Butterflies made her stomach feel like it was going to explode. "I've been here for only a few weeks" she added, her eyes catching the fluorescent light of the school.
Valerie smiled back, turning in her chair to better face Emma. Her eyes were unfairly beautiful up close, especially when they were glimmering in the light like this. "Um… It's nice to meet you!" She held out her hand for Emma to shake. "I'm Valerie, but you can call me Val. All my friends do."
She tilted her head, biting her lip playfully as she smiled again to herself, shaking her head softly before looking at her again, her eyes flicker up and down seamlessly before she spoke. "Emma" she replied, outstretching a hand for her to take.
Valerie shook her hand once, smile warming into something more real. She tilted towards Emma until their shoulders were almost brushing, ignoring the teacher as he started the lesson. "Nice to meet you. How do you like it here? Is it better than your other school?"
The butterflies shot up her throat then their shoulders touched for a split second, making her unable to speak. She opened her mouth, croaks coming out instead of words. She soon regained her composure, a soft sigh slipping from her lips as she smiled with relief. "Yeah, it's alright. I've gotten lost a few times but I think I'm getting the hang of it." she muttered, resting her head on the girl's shoulder, seemingly platonically.
Valvrie laughed quietly, brushing a strand of hair off Emma's face. It was a little weird to be around someone so tactile, but it was strangely nice with this girl. "Don't worry, everyone gets lost at first." Her voice dropped to a conspirational whisper. "In my first year, I got out of trouble because I said I got lost in the halls every time I cut class to go smoke. Didn't get sent to the principal's office once."
She smiled to herself looking up at the girl wearily before moving her head so it was set up against the wall again. "How often was that?" she chuckled in a soft tone, making sure the teacher at the front couldn't hear her.
Valerie shrugged, a faint smile on her face. "Too much, to be honest. Maybe once a day? Twice?" She slowly leaned closer to Emma until they were pressed shoulder to shoulder. "I've been trying to cut down but it's damn near impossible when my roommates both do the same."
Emma hummed softly, pulling out a pack from her pocket along with a lighter in her bra. "Don't worry, me too" she hummed, before placing them back, her eyes flickering back to Valerie's. "Well then, there's no point in quitting until you don't live with smokers." she laughed, biting her lip softly as she leaned against the wall again.
(I'm gonna change my girlies ethnicity to French.)
(go off)
Valerie laughed. "Don't I know it. Would you mind sharing one of those with me when class gets out? I know a great place to hide if you don't wanna be bothered." She brightened suddenly, leaning closer to Emma. "Speaking of roommates, mine are trying to drag me to some dumbass party. Wanna hang out with me this Friday so I have an excuse not to go? I swear I'll show you a good time."
She smirked softly, looking at her curiously. "Yea, as long as you can find a quiet place somewhere in this hellhole" she responded, pushing her hair out of her face with her hand. "Sure. My place? I have beer" she offered. Sure, her place was small but the thought of it as ok.
~
Valerie bumped Emma's shoulder playfully, a wide grin on her face. "I'll be there. And I should be insulted that you called our school a hellhole! This place is nice when you get over how awful everything is. And they serve waffles in the cafeteria sometimes, so you really can't complain."
“Yes, once you get over everything awful” she muttered, biting her lip as she shifted slightly, smirking once again. “Waffles are good though” she added, waving to Luca who sat a few seats in front of where they sat.
~
(Sorry I keep responding late, I have camp from 9-2)
Valerie laughed and waved at Luca as well. "Who's your friend there?" she asked quietly, straightening up in her seat when the teacher sent a suspicious look their way.
“My boyfriend, Luca” she replied, winking at him before turning back to look at Valerie. “I came here with him.” She explained, smiling softly at her before looking at her lap again
"Oh, really?" Valerie's smile disappeared so she slapped a colder, more polite one onto her face and tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach. "That's so cute! How long have you two been dating?"
“Since we were 16” she replied, smiling back at her. “We’re studying the same subject and switched our last year due to some things at our other school.” She explained, her grin widening as she spoke.
Valerie's smile grew more and more forced, but she kept up a friendly demeanor. She didn't even know Emma that well, why was she so disappointed that she was dating someone? It made no sense. "Fun! What was your other school like? Did you meet each other there?"
“It was big, and beautiful, but the people there weren’t so nice” so much not nice to make her have a mental breakdown during the entire year she spent there last year. “We met at a party and then realized that we went to the same school. We were in France so I had to take an entire summer to catch up on my english. Is it good?” She asked, smirking softly when she saw Lucas wink at her.
~
"Very! I lived in the US for a while when I was younger and you have less of an accent than I do." Valrie barely repressed a scowl. "But anyway, I think you'll like our school much more! We have lots of drama, but everyone is so… what's the word… støttende?"
"The students at my past school are… mhp…hah! Nothing like your people here. People here are nice." she replied, biting her lip as she spoke to her, watching her expression carefully and deciding not to comment on it. Plus, she looked cute trying not to scowl. Adorable, actually.