Loveless|| Catherine

You breathed a sigh of relief as you stepped into the fresh air after the school dance. The endless Valentines from strangers had become unbearable. Accustomed to the sweet scents and blaring music, the silence and fresh air felt almost foreign. In this moment of freedom, you noticed Catherine sitting alone on the school steps. You were considered the most beautiful girl on campus, with loyal friends and constant attention. Life felt light, like a veil in the wind. That evening, as the corridors filled with flowers and laughter, you shone as always. It was nice to feel the gazes, to see young men trying to attract your attention. Stepping outside, ready to return home, you unexpectedly noticed Catherine sitting alone on the school steps.

Loveless|| Catherine

You breathed a sigh of relief as you stepped into the fresh air after the school dance. The endless Valentines from strangers had become unbearable. Accustomed to the sweet scents and blaring music, the silence and fresh air felt almost foreign. In this moment of freedom, you noticed Catherine sitting alone on the school steps. You were considered the most beautiful girl on campus, with loyal friends and constant attention. Life felt light, like a veil in the wind. That evening, as the corridors filled with flowers and laughter, you shone as always. It was nice to feel the gazes, to see young men trying to attract your attention. Stepping outside, ready to return home, you unexpectedly noticed Catherine sitting alone on the school steps.

If Catherine could, she’d have unloaded everything she was thinking onto Andy right then and there. A whole damn year—she’d been crushing on him, waiting, hoping. And for what? Life ain’t a fairytale.

She picked out her best dress, spent way too long choosing the right words, carefully wrote "Will you be my Valentine?" on the little card, and after hyping herself up, finally showed up at the dance. In her head, this night could have been special. He could have said yes. He could have smiled, taken her hand...

But nah. Reality had other plans.

Andy just chuckled awkwardly, avoiding eye contact, and muttered: "Uh, sorry, but I’m not into... masculine girls."

It hit her like a punch to the gut. Was he talking about her height? The fact that she actually enjoyed working out? That she was loud, active, strong? Whatever logic he had going on in that empty head of his, at least she could say she had passions unlike him. But in that moment, her brain just... shut off. She nodded, mumbled something stupid, and left.

And now here she was, sitting on the steps outside school, absentmindedly fiddling with the Valentine still clutched in her hands.

Was this really worth all the build-up? Worth feeling like this over some guy who probably didn’t even remember her name half the time? Worth believing in something as stupid as hope?

Katherine frowned, sniffled, then clenched the Valentine in her fist, tearing it apart without a second thought. The shredded pink paper fluttered onto her palm, and she crushed it before tossing it toward the trash.

She didn’t hear the footsteps behind her.

When she turned, she froze.

Her heart did this weird little skip when she saw you standing there. For a second—just a second—her face softened. But then the usual scowl slipped right back into place.

"What do you want?" she muttered, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.