WHAT DID HE SAY
1182 Words
I totally forgot about Max until I suddenly heard a knock on my door. "Ava, are you okay? You just came in and ran off to your room," he asked, his voice concerned.
I answered that I was fine and opened the door for him to come in. Max looked around my room, taking in the sight of me pacing back and forth.
"What's going on, Ava? You look like you've seen a ghost," he said, his brow furrowed with worry.
I took a deep breath and asked him, "Max, how do you ask a girl out if you like her?"
Max looked taken aback by the question. "Uh, well, I guess you just ask her out on a date? Like, to dinner or a movie or something?"
I shook my head, trying to explain. "No, I mean, what if you really like her? Like, really, really like her?"
Max's expression changed from confusion to understanding. "Oh, you mean like, how do you ask someone to be your girlfriend?"
I nodded, feeling a bit silly for not being able to articulate my question earlier.
Max thought for a moment before answering. "I guess you just have to be honest and tell her how you feel. Like, 'Hey, I really like you and I was wondering if you'd like to be my girlfriend?' Something like that."
I nodded, taking his advice to heart. But then I thought about Valentin's intense gaze and his possessive words. That was definitely not the same as asking someone out on a casual date.
"Max, what if the person you like is...different?" I asked, trying to phrase my question delicately.
Max raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Max's kind expression put me at ease.
"Different like...not human," I whispered.
Max's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't say anything. He just looked at me, waiting for me to continue.
I meant, like, all these movies about ghosts, wolves, and stuff," I said, trying to sound casual.
Max laughed and shook his head. "You mean, like, supernatural creatures?"
I nodded, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, exactly. Like, what if the person you like is, you know, not exactly human?"
Max chuckled. "Well, I can't exactly tell you how to handle that situation, since I'm not exactly an expert on dating vampires or werewolves."
I rolled my eyes, laughing. "Shut up, Max."
But then his expression turned serious. "Ava, is there something going on that I should know about? You're not actually...involved with someone who's...not human, are you?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Max's concerned expression made me want to confide in him.
"Maybe," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Max's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't say anything. He just looked at me, waiting for me to continue.
And that's when I realized that I had to tell him the truth. About Valentin, about what he was, and about how I felt.
But something in me just told me I didn't need to reveal that much, so I just laughed it off. "No, no, nothing like that, Max. I just heard a scary story during lecture in class, and it got me thinking about all that supernatural stuff. That's why I asked the silly questions."
Max looked relieved, but also a bit curious. "What kind of story?"
I shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Just some old legend about vampires and stuff. It was probably just a myth, but it got me wondering, you know?"
Max nodded, seeming to accept my explanation. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes those stories can really get to you."
We chatted for a bit longer, and then Max left, saying he had to study for an exam. I was relieved that I hadn't had to reveal anything more, but at the same time, I couldn't shake the feeling that Max had seen right through me.
As I lay in bed that night, I couldn't help but think about Valentin and what he had said. "Do you want to be mine?" he had asked, his eyes burning with intensity.
And I had said no, but a part of me was still wondering...what if?
The next day, Max and I got up as early as possible because we were having morning exercise. I put on my fancy joggers and sneakers, feeling a bit more energized than usual. I ran off to the field to join my friends, who were already warming up.
As I arrived, I saw Valentin standing off to the side, watching us with an intensity that made me shiver. I tried to ignore him and joined in the exercises, but I could feel his eyes on me the whole time.
Max noticed my distraction and nudged me playfully. "Hey, focus! We don't want to get caught slacking off by Coach."
I laughed and tried to concentrate on the exercises, but I couldn't help sneaking glances at Valentin. He was standing still, his eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity.
After the exercises, we had a short break before classes started. Max and I walked off the field together, chatting about our plans for the day.
As we walked, I noticed Valentin falling into step beside us. "Good morning, Ava," he said, his voice low and husky.
I felt a shiver run down my spine, but I tried to play it cool. "Hey, Valentin. Morning."
Max looked at us curiously, but didn't say anything. I could tell he was wondering what was going on between us, but I just smiled and kept walking.
Little did I know, things were about to get a lot more complicated.
As I ran off to rinse my face, Valentin used the opportunity to talk to Max. "Hey, Max, can I have a word with you?" he asked, his voice low and serious.
Max looked at him curiously, but nodded and followed Valentin a short distance away from the group.
"I need to tell you something, Max," Valentin said, his eyes narrowing. "I know you're Ava's friend, but I need you to stay away from her."
Max raised an eyebrow, looking taken aback. "What do you mean? I'm just trying to be a good friend to her."
Valentin's expression turned intense. "I know what you're doing, Max. And I'm telling you, it's not safe. Ava is...different. She's not like other girls."
Max looked confused. "What are you talking about, Valentin? What's going on with Ava?"
Valentin's eyes flashed with a warning. "Just stay away from her, Max. Trust me, you don't want to get involved in this."
And with that, Valentin turned and walked away, leaving Max looking puzzled and concerned.
I returned from rinsing my face, unaware of the conversation that had just taken place. But as I approached Max, I could tell something was off. "Hey, what's wrong?" I asked him.
Max hesitated, looking around nervously. "It's just...Valentin said some weird stuff to me. About you."
My heart skipped a beat. "What did he say?"
- Writer
