Val's pov
Avinav probably planned this all along. The little manipulative genius. I should've known something was off the second he showed up, all casual and charming, suggesting that random switch to history class. His signature had looked way too perfect. And now, here I was… sitting in detention… with Theo Dodge.
Great.
I tapped my pencil against the desk and glared ahead like I was about to set the wall on fire with my mind. Theo sat beside me, of course, his chair slightly leaned back like he owned the room. Mrs. Emily sat at her desk flipping through papers, probably wondering what cosmic curse brought the two of us into her after-school serenity.
Her eyes flicked up from her file for the third time. She was obviously trying not to stare. "Valentina and Theodore," she muttered under her breath like it was some rare species she'd just discovered. "In the same room… for detention?"
Yeah. I didn't believe it either.
I could still hear Theo's smug little voice from earlier in class, throwing shade during our heated book discussion like he was some literary god. We both knew we went too far, but… whatever. It wasn't like he'd admit it. And it wasn't like I wanted to argue. He just—he pushed all the wrong buttons and then had the audacity to smirk while doing it.
Still. Avinav. This was totally his fault.
I whispered under my breath, "I'm going to kill him."
Theo tilted his head toward me with a lazy grin. "You say something, Princess?"
"Nope," I snapped. "Just praying."
"For patience?" he asked innocently.
"For a meteor," I deadpanned. "To land right here. Preferably on your chair."
He chuckled under his breath. God, he was so annoying when he laughed. Annoying because it actually sounded… nice.
Mrs. Emily finally stood. "Okay, while I get the project folders, you two behave. I'll be right back. You'll be presenting this one at the school's Community Engagement Night—topic is: Providing Sports Resources in Underserved Countries. Sounds right up your alley."
She walked out, heels clacking, and the moment the door clicked shut, I saw Theo shift in his seat.
I narrowed my eyes. "What are you doing?"
"Bunking," he said without hesitation, already grabbing his backpack like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Wait, what?"
He turned, gave me that stupid crooked smile, and—oh no—he grabbed my wrist.
"Come on, Princess. You don't seriously want to sit here with Mrs. Emily assigning us homework on social inequality, do you?"
"You're kidding—"
But it was too late. His hand was already warm around mine, and I had just enough time to look panicked before we were both out the door, sprinting down the empty hallway like fugitives. My sneakers squeaked against the polished floor, and I had to bite my lip to stop from laughing.
"This is insane!" I shouted as we turned a corner.
"I am insane," he shouted back. "But at least I'm entertaining!"
We burst out the side doors and into the open rink building—my sanctuary. The cold air rushed us, sharp against our flushed cheeks and hot skin. I let go of his hand once we were safely inside, breath hitching in my throat from the run.
We both bent over, panting.
"You're… the worst," I managed between gasps.
Theo leaned against the wall, grinning like he'd just robbed a bank. "You say that like it's new information."
I elbowed him lightly. "I can't believe you actually did that."
"Correction: we did that. You came too, didn't you?"
"Against my will!"
"Oh, come on, Val. You wanted out."
"No," I said. "You just dragged me."
He gave me a look. "But you didn't stop me."
Damn it. He had a point.
Our heavy breathing slowly faded into silence, the sound of skates slicing into ice echoing around us. Practice was already in session. A few figure skaters spun gracefully across the rink. A cluster of hockey guys shot pucks on the other side, their laughter loud and rowdy.
Theo and I stood in our own little bubble just outside the rink, the chaos of practice happening in the background, but neither of us moving just yet.
I looked up at him, arms crossed over my chest. "So, what now? Are we fugitives forever?"
He grinned. "Only till Mrs. Emily gives up. Or forgets. I'm hoping she forgets."
"Not likely."
He shrugged, then suddenly mimicked a dramatic narrator voice. "And thus began the tale of Val Deluca and Theo Dodge: detention delinquents turned ice rebels."
I rolled my eyes. "You're ridiculous."
He shot me a wink. "You love it."
I didn't respond. Mostly because I hated how right he was, and also because I didn't want him to see the corners of my mouth twitching.
We finally moved toward the changing rooms. The ice was calling, and honestly, after the day I'd had, I needed it. I needed the spin of blades on cold, the rush of movement, the silence inside my head when I was on the ice.
Theo walked beside me, quiet now. Not in a weird way. Just… comfortable.
We practiced in the same building, morning and afternoon, but rarely at the same time. Yet now, we were both here—out of breath, skipping detention, not hating each other (shockingly), and it felt oddly easy.
He nodded toward the ice. "Race you."
I raised an eyebrow. "You're not even in skates."
"Neither are you."
I smirked. "So we're just racing in socks?"
Theo grinned. "Rebel life, remember?"
I shook my head and turned away, already heading for the locker room. "Get ready to lose."
His voice followed me down the hall, cocky as ever. "Princess, I never lose."
---
By the time we hit the ice, the sky was darkening outside the big windows, practice was in full swing, and we'd officially forgotten about Mrs. Emily, detention, and every single reason we were supposed to be apart.
Maybe it wouldn't last.
Maybe tomorrow we'd go back to bickering in class and avoiding eye contact.
But for now—just for now—we were laughing, skating, and breathing like we hadn't in a long, long time.