Faith

5

The next morning Valentine could barely eat due to the tension that was oozing from her friend and roommate. Val's brown eyes simply staired at the leftover diner eggs that were plated before her. Gina was putting up dishes, slamming cabinets as she did and letting out a huff and puff every now and then.

"Gina-" Val finally sighed, breaking the silence. Really, any noise at all could cut the thick air and Val insisted she was being bold by even attempting to speak.

"Don't." Gina spat as she tossed a dirty fork into the sink. It clattered and caused Val to jump. "Might as well just leave now for your year gig and leave the talking for another time."

"Why are you upset? " Val asked. "This could benefit both of us."

Gina only scoffed. 

"Unlike you Val, I actually work." The fiery ginger spun on her heels and faced her. Her eyes were filled with annoyance, and she tightened her lips.  "I bust my ass so you can sit around and play with a camera, I work hard, you do nothing and all of a sudden a big shot offer falls in your lap. And on top of that, you get to spend a year with a band you don't even like. "

Val sunk in her seat, unsure how to reply to that. 

"I should be going on that tour with them." Gina scoffed, grabbing the kitchen towel and pretending that she had to wipe down the counters, though everything was spotless. "But I guess I'll just have to stay here, work more and you get to continue doing nothing. "

Guilt began to sink in Val. She didn't realize how her friend may have been feeling about all this. 

'I just wanted you to be happy for me Gina.' Val thought to herself.

Val felt like a scolded child. She didn't appreciate the sudden harshness that her friend has taken to her lately, and although she could try to understand how her friend was feeling, the behavior left her confused. 

She forked her eggs, not yet eating them, and wondering how the two girls could make amends. Maybe Val should apologize? Or they could work something out? Maybe she shouldn't take the job?

Then she said it.

Gina said the one thing that would really tick Val off. 

"Your photography isn't that good anyway."

Val dropped the fork on the plate, tears threatened her eyes. She looked up to her unapologetic friend. 

"Fine." Val breathed out as she got up. She began to collect her bag, camera, and the slip of paper that the Ghoul had handed her.

Gina looked at her confused, she never anticipated that her roommate would just up and leave in the middle of the day or maybe she was just so used to Val being a pushover. 

Valentine began to slip on some shoes, worn down vans. She was still in her pajamas, black sweats and a green tank top, but she didn't care. 

"Where are you going?" Gina furrowed her eyebrows. No response was given to her, in fact, Val didn't even look in her direction. She swiftly exited the door, she felt as if she would suffocate if she stayed there any longer, slamming the door shut on the way out. 

A few tears fell as she paced herself quickly down the hall. She brushed them away.

'Don't be such a baby.'

She thought to herself, practically flying down the flight of stairs. Gina didn't make an attempt to go after her or call her.

That would be the last time Val would see Gina before her gig.