Something Like That

CHAPTER 1

            VALERIAS POV
   

  I wouldn't exactly say I have no experience when it comes to romance... I'd just say I've had bad luck. Jake, the first guy I ever liked, was in eighth grade. He had his way of being charming... but he was gay. Then came my freshman year of high school, where I met Andrew—he only liked tall blondes. Being a 5'6" Latina didn't exactly fit his type.

But then came senior year, and with it, Luis—the smartest guy in our entire class, and the most athletic. Yeah, I know it sounds pretty cliché, but believe it or not, he wasn't your typical jock. He was good at everything. And that made me feel like I wasn't even worthy of looking him in the eye. Everything he did or said to me had me head over heels, like I was under some kind of spell. But how long could that fantasy really last?

"Not long," I heard a voice behind me. I turned around to see my best friend Sky, reading over my shoulder. Her long blonde hair was pulled up in a ponytail, not trailing behind her like it usually did. The smirk on her face clearly indicated she'd been there the whole time.

"Can't I write in my diary in peace?" I asked.

She shook her head as she slid into the seat across from me. We were at our favorite coffee shop, The Busy Bean.

"You just graduated and you're still writing about Luis? When are you ever going to get over him?"

"Soon. But why does it have to be now?"

She groaned and reached across the table, snatching my diary from my hands.

"Hey! Give it back!"

"Nope. You seriously need to forget about him. Why don't you come work with me this summer?"

"Are you kidding?" I smirked. "I don't want to spend countless hours sorting through boring papers in your mom's office." I noticed her expression shift slightly at my words.

"It happens to be good money, and you know we want to save up for Paris next year, Val." She looked at me pointedly as I shook my head and took my diary back from her.

"Sorry, but I don't really want to do anything this summer. I've got enough on my mind with college starting in a few months."

"That's exactly why this is the perfect time to keep your mind busy! Come on, please?"

I considered it for a moment, but the idea still didn't appeal to me.

"I'm sorry, Sky... I just don't want to do that this summer."

She sighed, clearly disappointed but understanding. "Fine, but you know your dad is going to find you a job anyway, and it's going to be worse than what I'm offering, just saying."

Sky is someone who doesn't back down easily. We've been best friends since my junior year of high school. She's a year younger than me and knows exactly how to push me out of my comfort zone. I wasn't always as outgoing, and I never imagined we'd become friends. She had transferred from another school, and as far as I knew, she was the popular girl. When I first met her, all the stuck-up popular kids were trying to convince her to join their little clique, but she never paid them any attention. She often isolated herself and didn't try to associate with anyone. Yet, somehow, we ended up becoming the best of friends.

"Can't be worse than that time we worked at Suny's Child Daycare," I say as I start to stand, throwing my bag over my shoulder. "Besides, it doesn't hurt to take a break. I need time to think and prepare for college."

"Right," Sky smirks. "Just don't forget to stop by the community pool every once in a while. Those lifeguards can heal anyone's broken heart."

"I might take you up on that."
The truth was, I had no intention of stopping by the pool—or of trying to get over my crush on Luis. It just didn't feel right. And what was the point of looking for someone else? When would anyone ever want to be with me as much as I wanted to be with them?