Ain't No Mountain High Enough

"Crying in the Rain"

TW: Abuse

Valerie came over the day before her plane would leave for Boston. We were cutting it close, and some part of me wondered if she would stay if we managed to uncover that something bad was happening between her and Stephen. But then, maybe I was just jumping to conclusions like Arjun said.

The three of us sat around in the living room in an awkward silence for a good minute. Arjun didn't know how to start the conversation, and I sure as heck didn't. And from the look on Valerie's face, she probably knew we were going to discuss something less than pleasant. But it was her who spoke first.

"Guys...what is this about?" she asked, tilting her head. She was curled on the couch, wearing a pink sweater and jeans. Her hair was in a messy bun. As always, she was beautiful. "I have a feeling you didn't ask me to come just to hang out."

"I'm worried about you," I said. I stared at the floor and wrung my hands. "Arjun and I got to talking, and...well." My eyes cut to Arjun, pleading for him to take over. Why did I have to be the one to say it?

Arjun heaved a sigh and sat down on the other side of the couch, a steaming mug of coffee in his hands. "Valerie, I want you to be honest with me," he said. There was a softness in his voice I'd never heard before. "Is Stephen hurting you?"

Valerie's eyes went as wide as saucers, and for a moment, she stuttered over her words before she could finally get something coherent out. "Where would you get a ridiculous idea like that?!"

I raised my eyebrows. "Well, we just-"

She stood and raised her hand to cut me off. "If you brought me over here just to talk me into breaking up with Stephen, then I'm leaving." Her voice was hoarse, and I knew she was already about to start crying. Now that was unusual, and something was definitely up.

"Wait, Valerie!" Arjun stood to block the doorway that would take her to the front door. "We're not trying to get you to break up with him. We're just making sure you're okay."

Valerie gave him a look, but I knew she couldn't be angry at him, not when he was trying to help her. With a heavy sigh, she sat back down on the edge of the couch. "He's...he's not hurting me, no...not physically, anyway."

"Emotionally, then?"

She shook her head. "I mean...not really. It's complicated."

"You can tell us," I said as earnestly as I could without sounding desperate. I didn't want her to think I wanted her to break up with Stephen so I could date her. I mean, yeah, maybe I wanted that, but I couldn't tell her that.

"He's not hurting me," she said again, this time more emphatically, as if she thought we didn't believe her. "He's just...gotten so protective of me. No, possessive is probably a better word. You saw how he was at the party. He doesn't like me to stay out of his sight, and he doesn't like me to go anywhere. Especially when...when you're involved." She glanced at me. "He...he."

She didn't continue, but Arjun was nodding like he understood everything. His face was white, and I wished he would just tell me what on earth he was keeping from me. What everyone had been keeping from me. "He what?" I pressed, giving each of them a look.

"It's...it's nothing," Valerie said, and before she could continue to blow me off, Arjun jumped in.

"If he's not hurting you physically, then who is?" he said.

"Why do you think anyone's hurting me?" she asked quickly. "I told you, that bruise was from when I fell at dance rehearsal."

"You flinch," Arjun said, his expression darkening. "You never have before, and now you do it a lot. So if Stephen isn't hitting you, then who is?"

Valerie bit her lip, and she really was crying now. It made my heart ache. I wheeled over to her and put my hand lightly on her's. She gave me a meaningful look, and I swore her body leaned towards me, as if she just instinctively wanted to be near me.

"You can tell us, Val," I whispered, drawing my hand back. "I want you to be okay."

She sniffled and wiped at her eyes, so Arjun pulled a tissue from a little box on the armoire. Once she wiped her face with it, she shook her head. "It's not Stephen," she said, sucking in a breath. "It's...it's his friend."

It was not what I had been expecting at all. Even Arjun looked totally dumbfounded. Who even was Stephen's friend?! I felt the internal volcano rumbling, and I just wanted to get the guy's name and address, but I forced myself to stay calm for her sake.

"His...friend?" Arjun said. He sat down next to her. "Who is he?"

"His roommate. Stephen doesn't know it's been happening...please don't tell him! I know...things will be better when we get to Boston. His roommate isn't coming, so I won't have to see him again."

"That doesn't make things okay!" I cried, and Arjun gave me a look that said to calm down. I took a deep breath, counted to three, then let it out. When I spoke again, my voice was shaking, but much calmer. "Why has he been hurting you?"

Valerie shrugged. "He just...he has a temper. And when he gets drunk, it's worse. He's...going through a hard time right now...his sister died, so he's...he's just having a hard time."

Yeah, that was terrible, but it didn't warrant going around hitting people! I raked my fingers through my hair and sat back in my chair. "So Stephen literally has no idea his roommate has been abusing you?"

"No...please don't tell him. We're leaving tomorrow, and that'll be the end of it."

"How do we know that Stephen won't do the same to you in Boston? If he's getting possessive of you, he might."

Valerie vigorously shook her head. "No, he wouldn't!" She stood again and wiped her eyes with the tissue. "I...I'm glad you guys care so much...but I can handle this, and I'm fine."

Arjun and I exchanged a glance, and I could tell we were both thinking the same thing. Luckily, he asked before I could.

"Val...has Stephen's roommate ever...well, has he ever taken advantage of you? Or Stephen, for that matter?"

Again, her eyes went wide. There was no hesitation in her voice. "No, Arjun, absolutely not! I...I would tell you if that ever happened!"

I sighed with relief. I hadn't realized how hard my heart had been beating when Arjun asked her. "Thank God," I said.

"Everything will be fine," she said again, like she was trying to convince herself of the fact, too. She stuffed the tissue into her pocket and wrung her hands together. "I...I better get back. Stephen will get worried, and I don't..." She sniffled again. She rubbed her hand over her face and took a moment to compose herself, then put on a smile. "I'm really going to miss you guys."

"I'll visit as soon as possible," I said, smiling back, even though I didn't feel like it. Now tears were stinging my eyes, too, and I felt like an idiot.

We promised we'd be at the airport the next day, and she left. I knew that neither her nor Arjun told me the truth about Stephen, but I just couldn't press her when she was like that. Whatever it was, I had a feeling Keto or Veronica would let it slip eventually.

Considering I was seeing them tomorrow, maybe I could help them let it slip.

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Thank you guys for reading!

Give "Crying in the Rain" by A-ha some love!

Peace✌️~ A.J.