It's A Promise

Chapter 1

(edit: I know this chapter is very fast pace.. I'm sorry 🤦)
This chapter is seeing Valerie and Alex growing up mostly there relationship and things happening around Valerie but it will also be about Alex and what happens in his life

Alex P.O.V

It's so sunny out, it hurts my eyeballs. Papa scolds me, and tells me to behave.
"Why did I have to comes!" I yell at Papa and he kneels in front of me to Pat my hair, and fix my shirt. It's blue and buttons up, it's as Mama says a fancy shirt for special occasions.
"Because I wanted you to meet Miss Dubois, she's 2 years younger than you." I pout but don't say anything more, I have to behave. Mama told me if I behaved she would make me cookies.
'chocolate chips are my favorite'
"Okay.." Papa smiles and stands up once again and knocks on the houses door. A skinny women with short brown hair opens the door and greets papa... a little to nicely.. I don't like her..
"Miss Tantom, this is my son, Alex". Papa wraps a hand on my shoulder firmly, and I look up from my feet, at the woman. When she looks down at me, she makes this sound through her teeth, and turns her head sharply behind her.
"Valerie!" The women screams and I shrink back into papa, he gets stiff and grips my shoulder tighter..
'Papa doesn't like people who treat children badly..' I take a quick glance up and see a pretty girl with long black hair rushing over, she's wearing a way to big plain dress, with stains on it. Her dress makes her look filthy, but her eyes make her look precious and clean. Papa's grip on my shoulder tightens up once again when he sees the girl. I can tell her appearance upsets him.
"For fucks sake Valerie introduce yourself!" She screams at the girl, and she starts to whimper, but through sobs she gets out her name.
"So pathetic.." the women mutters under her breath.
"Shes not pathetic, she's beautiful" I defend, getting upset over how the lady treats this precious angel. Papa looks down at me proudly and nods his head.
"So Miss Tantom, would you like to discuss the arrangement?" She scoffs and turns quickly and walks back inside as papa follows, he stops in front of the girl patting her head gently, she winces and shrinks away. Papa frowns and turns to me.
"Go play with Miss Dubois" I nod and look back at the girl. She turns to me cautiously, her eyes are glazed with unshed tears and worry.
'I wish I could stop the sad feelings..' I frown and stand in front of the girl.
"Wanna go outside and play house?" I ask the girl softly, and she looks behind her and steps towards me. I grip her hand in mine and she whimpers, but lets me lead her outside.

We walk into a small patch of tall grass by her house and I take my jacket off and hand it to her. Her look she gives me is one of confusion.
"It's chilly out don't want you to get sick." She shakily takes my jacket and slips it on hugging it to herself.
"T-thank you.." she sits down in the grass and wind whips her hair across her face. I sit in front of her and brush her hair out of her face.
"Your welcome Miss Dubois" she frowns, and I can't help but giggle. It's adorable when she frowns..but only when it's because of something I did..
"You should smile, I bet it suits you" She blushes and leans her head down.
"We are gonna be best friend Miss Dubois". I smile at her and she turns her head to look at me.
"Valerie, call me Valerie.." She says softly, I lay down next to her and look at the sky..
'valerie hmm...vala? Val's!' I sit up fast and turn to Valerie grinning big. She stares at me confused.
"VAL! YOUR NICK NAME IS VAL!.. From now on". I laugh softly and she grins back at me. We lay in the tall grass.
We lay quietly, and I just talk to her, she smiles a few times and it makes me happy.

Val's P.O.V [age 17]
Alex is over to pick me up to go to the mall, he said he wanted to take me to get new clothes.
'i guess he doesn't like what you wear..' I tell myself and become upset but I shove those thoughts away as I slip my flats on that Alex bought me for Valentine's day this year, it's nice having a friend like him.
"Valerie!" I piercing shiver rushes through me at my mother's tone, as she stomps up to my room.
'please don't..I have to meet Alex tonight' she rushes into my room and throws my keys with Alex's house key on it at me. She sneers at me and grips my hair tightly, causing pain to shoot through my scalp. My eyes sting as tears break through and leave trails down my cheeks.
"YOU HAVE KEYS TO HIS HOUSE NOW!!" She screams at me as she pulls me by my hair and shoves me into my bed post. Causing a definite bruise to await.
"YOU.ARE.SO.PATHETIC" She scoffs at me and pushes me off and to the floor, and storms out and slams my door.
I wrap my arms around myself and slowly stand back up, my body shaking profusely.
*Ring*
..
*Ring*
..
I pull the phone Alex's mom got me for my 16th birthday.. the 1st birthday party i ever had..
'there to nice to me..' I check who it is and see Alex's name flashing on the screen, I hesitantly answer, and try to steady my harsh breathing.
"He-hello" my voice cracks and I curse to myself, and stand in front of the shattered mirror that my father left for me, but my mother shattered, because she came home drunk and I hadn't made her dinner. I glare at myself, tugging at the edges of the light creme and pink dress
"Hey, val I'm almost to you. Like 4 minutes" he sounds happy, I like when he is happy..
"Okay I'll be out soon then, I just..got get dressed.." I lie, I've been dressed. But I don't deserve to wear this dress..
"Are you okay? Is it someone from school? Who upset you?" I grin stupidly at his concern and smile to myself while fixing my hair, and look back at myself in the mirror.
"No-no, it's nothing. I'm excited to see you again it's been a hot minute" I hear him chuckle through the line and I smooth the dress down, I turn and grab my keys from the floor shuddering at the memory of the outburst minutes before.

"Okay..well I'm pulling up now." I hang up, and place my phone in my purse and grab my scarf and quickly walk out of my room, and quietly walk downstairs.

'Just think as soon as you leave this house your in Alex's embrace..' I open the door and look outside, and smile when i see Alex leaning on the passengers side door. I rush over to him shutting the door a little to hard, and wrap my arms around his waist inhaling the sweet woodsy scent of him.

"Hey miss me?" Alex teases me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I stifle a whimper with a fake laugh and of course he notices, He pushes me back gently to look at me, He lifts his towards my face and a wince backwards. He stops moving and holds me to his chest sighing deeply.

"who hit you, Valerie.." I sniff trying to fight back the tears. I stay quite, so he kisses the top of my head to motivate me to speak.

"Dove please, tell me who hit you" He begins rubbing my back softly in small circles to sooth me. I look up at him, and rub my cheeks.

"My..my..mo-" he cuts me off by tightening his hold on me, and rushing me into the car. I sit roughly into the seat, and he quickly buckles me in, like im a child and I stare at him.

"Im not a child.." He chuckles at me and shuts the door, and runs over to his side and hops in.

"I know your not" he pats my hand and looks at me, Butterflies erupt in my stomach and a blush creeps up my cheeks. He starts his car and drives me away, away from the pain and suffering.