Volkov's Girl

The rain echoed the storm in my chest as I slumped over my desk, pretending to sleep. When the break bell rang, laughter and dragging chairs made everything feel worse. A tear slipped out—uninvited, raw.

I clenched my fists, drowning in the weight of old memories, until something tapped the back of my head. I spun around, ready to snap—then saw Suzie grinning at me.

Her smile, bright like sunlight after rain, cracked through the darkness. I smiled back, the noise fading around us. She didn’t say a word, but she didn’t have to. Her presence said it all—I wasn’t alone.

Suzie’s voice cut through the fog. “What happened, Lorenza?” she asked gently, her eyes sharp with worry.

“Nothing…” I whispered, forcing a shaky smile. But the tears betrayed me.

Before she could say more, I hugged her tightly, clinging like she was the only thing holding me together. She didn’t speak—just wrapped her arms around me, steady and warm.

“Lying to me won’t work,” she murmured, brushing my tears away. “Talk to me.”

My voice cracked. “The bad things… they’re back. The past won’t leave me alone.”

Every word felt like bleeding, but Suzie just held me tighter—like she wasn’t going anywhere.

My tears fell harder, but Suzie stayed silent. She didn’t need words—just her presence was enough. And in that quiet, I realized I wasn’t carrying it all alone anymore.

“Oh sweetheart… forget the past,” she whispered, kneeling beside me. Her hand rubbed my back, slow and steady. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

“But how, Suzie?” I choked out. “I miss him every day. His words, his eyes… it all still haunts me.”

“Don’t cry, baby,” she said, cupping my face gently. “I know it hurts. I know you miss him. But it’s been two years... and you still don’t even know where he is.”

She paused, her own pain flickering behind her steady gaze. “You’ve got to let go, Lorenza,” she whispered. “Not for him—for you. Because holding on this tight… it’s only breaking you more.”

"How, Suzie? How do I let go of something that lives inside me?" I whispered, voice cracking. "Every time I try, it pulls me back in."

Suzie hugged me tightly. “One step at a time,” she whispered. “And I’ll be here for every single one. You’re not alone, Lorenza. You never were.”

She gently helped me up. “Come on, let’s wash your face. Then we’ll talk.”

“Okay,” I muttered, too tired to resist. I followed her quietly, the hallway noise distant, like I was moving through water. My heart still heavy, mind racing.

Then—suddenly—I collided with someone. I stumbled back, about to fall, but a firm hand caught my arm, steadying me.

My breath hitched.

I looked up, startled—and met his eyes. Dark, intense, and haunted, like he carried a storm of his own. For a heartbeat, we just stared at each other, caught in a silence that felt heavier than words.

There was a flicker in his gaze—pain, raw and familiar. It was like seeing my own reflection in someone else. We weren’t strangers in that moment. Just two broken souls recognizing each other.

He released my arm slowly, his expression unreadable. “Be careful,” he muttered.

But it did.

I stood frozen, unsure of what just passed between us. Beside me, Suzie watched him go, then looked at me with narrowed eyes. She felt it too—something had shifted.

"You okay?" Suzie asked, her voice laced with concern.

I nodded, but my mind was still wrapped around the stranger’s gaze. That moment clung to me—quiet, strange, like fate had brushed past in a crowded hallway.

His ocean-blue eyes hadn’t looked away. They held mine, deep and unreadable, like he could see straight through me. And in that silent stare, the noise, the ache—everything—briefly faded.

"You good?" he asked, his voice low and calm, cutting through the haze.

I blinked, startled back into the present. "Yes—yeah, I’m totally fine," I said, too quickly.

He gave a slow nod, eyes lingering on mine. "Just… be careful while walking," he said softly. There was something in his voice—not just concern, but something else. Something unspoken.

"I will, I'm really sorry," I muttered, face flushed—though I couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment or something else entirely.

He didn’t say anything, just gave a slight nod… and then that smirk. Subtle. Knowing. Not mocking, but it sent a chill down my spine. That smirk burned into my memory as he turned and walked away.

I watched him until he vanished down the hall, then exhaled a shaky breath and turned toward Suzie—only to find her grinning like she knew something I didn’t.

"What are you giggling about?" I asked, sharper than I meant to.

"Nothing," she said, her grin growing smug.

I rolled my eyes. "God, you’re so annoying."

I turned away, fully aware of that look on her face—the one that said you’re totally not okay and I’m loving it. Her laughter echoed behind me as I made my way to the restroom.

Inside, the cool air kissed my hot skin. I splashed water on my face, hoping to wash away the chaos in my head. But it didn’t work.

His eyes. That strange, silent pull. The weight of that moment.

He was still there. Haunting my thoughts like a secret I hadn’t unlocked yet.

As I splashed water on my face, his height flashed in my mind—the way I felt small beside him. I tried to shake the thought, but he lingered stubbornly, etched into my thoughts like he belonged there.

Minutes passed—maybe more—until a loud voice shattered the stillness.

"Did you die in there?" Suzie called out, voice echoing through the restroom, teasing as ever.

I rolled my eyes. I just needed a moment of peace. Some silence to untangle my head without her poking at every emotion like it was some fun little game. But deep down, I knew she meant well. This was just… Suzie.

"Yes, I'm coming!" I yelled, stepping out.

She stood by the door with that look—that smirk that said she’d already figured me out before I even opened my mouth.

"What took you so long?" she asked, eyeing me carefully.

"I was thinking about something," I muttered, hoping she’d let it slide.

But of course not. This was Suzie.

"Oh my god, it is about the guy, isn’t it?" she grinned, her voice full of mischief and just the right amount of chaos.

I froze. Heart skipping. Was I really that obvious?

"No! Why would I think about him?" I shot back too fast, too defensive. My cheeks were already giving me away.

That smirk on her lips? It widened.

Before she could drag it further, the bell rang—sharper than usual, slicing the tension and saving me from whatever embarrassing comment she had locked and loaded.

"You're so cheeky and mad," I muttered, scowling.

"Oh, come on, girl, chill!" she said in that cheesy voice she always used when she knew she’d won. "It’s not like I’m gonna bite if you’re crushing on Mr. Mysterious."

I rolled my eyes again, but the image of him wouldn’t leave. He was like the Eiffel Tower—tall, distant, unforgettable. Way older than me. Way out of bounds. But my mind wouldn’t listen.

Suzie turned away, already laughing with one of her friends. I didn’t bother looking. She was probably still giggling about me.

Frustrated, I spun on my heel and headed back to the restroom. I just needed to breathe.

But when I got there, I stopped cold. A quick check confirmed it.

Great. My period had started.

“Ugh, I hate this,” I muttered under my breath, already done with the day. I cleaned up and put on a pad, dragging myself back out into the hallway.

I found Suzie, still deep in conversation like the world was sunshine and playlists. And I snapped.

"Suzie!" I snapped, irritated. "Are you gonna talk all day or actually walk with me?"

She finished up, of course, and ran ahead like some overdramatic movie character, disappearing into the classroom before I could catch up.

I followed.

And every head turned.

The stares slammed into me—sharp, cold, uninvited. It felt like I’d committed some unspeakable crime. My skin burned under the weight of their judgment.

I kept my head down, forcing my legs to move even though they felt stiff and clumsy. I sank into my seat, trying to vanish into thin air.

Awkward. Exposed. Like I didn’t belong here at all.

Suzie was still watching me—eyes narrowed, reading me like an open book. Was she worried? Suspicious? Or just enjoying herself at my expense? I sighed, not even trying to hide my irritation.

"What?" I snapped, sharper than I meant.

She smirked. “What took you so long? What the hell were you doing?”

Classic Suzie. Sweet one second, savage the next. My best friend, unfortunately.

“Fucking with your boyfriend?” I shot back with a wicked grin. She didn’t have one—never did—but honestly, she was worse than any guy I knew. Blunt. Weird. Brutally honest. And still my favorite person in the world.

Her face froze for a second. Then she rolled her eyes like I was the dumbest thing she’d ever seen. “Cool. Keep it up,” she deadpanned, thick with sarcasm.

I laughed. “Yeah, I will. Forever.”

Our usual banter—loud, dumb, and strangely comforting.

Everything felt normal. The buzz of chatter, desks creaking, notes shuffling… until it didn’t.

Silence.

Like someone hit mute on the world.

I assumed the teacher had walked in, but something felt off. Suzie’s face had changed—less smug, more alert, like she knew something I didn’t.

“What now?” I muttered, confused.

Before she could answer, a voice sliced through the stillness.

“Excuse me, Miss?”

I froze. The breath left my lungs. My spine locked.

No. No, no, no.

Slowly—dreading what I might see—I turned toward the front of the room. And there he was.

Him.

The guy from the hallway. The one who’d left me breathless and unsteady.

Only now… he was different.

Gone was the quiet softness. He stood tall, commanding, ocean-blue eyes colder than before. His presence filled the room like static electricity before a storm.

Wait. No. No way.

This was a joke.

This had to be a joke.

Was he… was he our teacher?

My heart slammed against my ribs. My brain scrambled to catch up, but nothing made sense. It was like fate had handed me a grenade, pulled the pin, and smiled.

“Miss?” he said again—voice deep, calm, but sharp. It carried weight, like it could crack bone if it wanted to.

I blinked. I was still standing, stiff and stupid, like some tragic version of the Statue of Liberty—except I wasn’t holding a torch. I was holding my breath.

“Stop staring,” he said coolly. “And would you care to share what was so funny?”

His voice was deeper now. Colder. I flinched under the sudden sharpness. The same man who’d caught me gently earlier was now slicing through me with a look.

Everyone stared. My cheeks burned.

I risked a glance at Suzie—huge mistake. She was practically choking, trying not to laugh, her face scrunched like she was battling a demon inside.

I cracked.

A giggle escaped before I could stop it. Then another.

And then I was laughing—loud, uncontrollable laughter that echoed off the walls. It wasn’t even funny, not really. But the tension, the absurdity… it all broke loose.

I slapped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late.

I looked up—and he was still watching me. Towering over me like marble, completely unreadable.

Then he stepped closer.

My breath caught. The air changed—thicker, heavier. I could feel him now. His height. His heat. The pressure of his presence against my skin.

I instinctively leaned away. But his hand caught my arm.

Firm. Cold.

His touch was calm, controlled—too calm.

“Get out of my class,” he said, low and unforgiving. Like it wasn’t a request. Like it was the only outcome.

I froze.

He was serious.

I wanted to speak—to defend myself—but my throat betrayed me. My tongue felt useless. His grip lingered, and so did that piercing gaze.

I turned and walked out, face burning.

The door shut behind me like a sentence being passed.

The hallway was silent, but my mind wasn’t. Shame clawed at my skin. My cheeks burned with leftover heat from his touch. I’d never been kicked out of class before. I didn’t know what to do with this humiliation, this… mess of a moment.

Then I heard it—his name, carried through the door like a whisper.

Valentino Anthony Volkov.

It clung to my thoughts like smoke. Heavy. Bitter. Impossible to forget.

Valentino.

The name sounded dramatic, like it belonged in some doomed romance novel.

He looked like someone carved out of stormclouds and secrets—all sharp edges and quiet fire.

Trouble. The kind that ruins you.

And I was already too far gone.

He continued like nothing had happened, voice cool and steady.

“Call me Mr. Volkov,” he said, with that same calm authority—like he’d already figured everyone out before they even spoke.

Mr. Volkov.

I rolled my eyes. Seriously? Not “Professor,” not even “Sir”—just Mr. Volkov?

Cute.

Fine. I wasn’t going to play nice. I’d call him Professor just to see if that smooth control of his cracked even a little. Petty? Maybe. But I was already hanging by a thread.

Then it hit me—my teacher was gone.

The one I actually liked. The one who made things feel safe, even if just a little.

Just… replaced. Like it meant nothing.

And this—this—was what we got instead?

It felt like too much. Too fast.

Like everything around me was changing, and I wasn’t being given a chance to breathe.

What the hell was I even thinking?

My thoughts spiraled, messy and sharp—flashes of his hand on my arm, his eyes, the way he looked at me like he knew something I didn’t.

I didn’t even hear the bell ring. Just stood there, stuck in the storm inside my head, drowning in the chaos that no one else could see.