VALENTINA

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

HOW DO I KNOW,WHERE YOU AND I GO...
*SOFIA CARSON.

VALENTINA.

The light from my window hitting my face,disturbs my slumber.
I stir awake and the memories from last night come flooding in.
In a sea of people,my eyes Will always search for you.
I look over at Theo's side and he's not there.
I look at my clock.
8:05am.
I get out of bed,and walk over to the bathroom,Theo isn't there.
I decide to check downstairs.

"Theo,"I shout coming down the stairs.
Silence.
I walk to the kitchen and I find a stack of pancakes,some becon and scrambled eggs.

"Theo,!"I shout again but still no answer.
I notice a little sticky note on the fridge.

Thanks for everything,I had to leave early,mom was worried.
Breakfast?.
*Mendez.

I smile and stick the note back on the fridge,.
I have some breakfast and since I have nothing to do,I decide to clean out the rest of the house.
I decide to start with my dad's old room.
I have not gone in there since he passed,it still feels to early but I have to go in,one day.
I open the door and it's a bit dark,I guess because the curtains are drawn.
I find the light switch and turn the light on.
The room still looks the same, except maybe it looks dusty here and there but it's still the same.
I walk over to the curtains and open them and I almost regret when the sudden light ,stings my eyes.
The bed is neatly made,just gathering dust.
My eyes move towards his dresser and there's a portrait.
I walk over and pick it up.
It's a picture of me on one of my birthdays,I was wearing a pretty little dress,with long hair and my dad was carrying me on his shoulder, smiling broadly.
I tear up when I remember,the day.
I miss my dad.
I put the picture down and I decide to clean out his closet first.
Most of his clothes,were already given out,so his closet is mostly empty.
I remove all the remaining clothes,and put them on the bed.
I began to clean out,the rest of the closet,and I stumble upon something that looks like a journal.
I open it and a picture falls out.
I pick it up and it's a picture of a woman, probably in her teenage years.
Cassie.is written on the bottom of the photograph.
I asses the photograph more and I asses,I can't help but think I've seen her some where.
I decide to go through the journal and it's mostly empty.
I come across a page with writing.

02/09/2003.
Cassie told me the most incredible news in the whole world.
I'm going to be a father.

I look at the picture again and then I see it,she looks very similar to me.
Mom.
I can't help the tears that escape my eyes.
This is the first picture,I've seen of my mom.
I've never known her,dad never talked about her, Grandma as well.
I flip the page and it's blank.
I continue flipping through more pages until I find another entry.

02/06/2004.
I know you said it's for the best but damnit Cassie,you could have atleast seen her once,she's the most precious thing,I've seen.
I just hope that one day,you can finally meet our daughter.

The date of this entry is my birthday.
At this point I'm confused,did my own mom not want me,why didn't she not want to see me.
I need to find her if she's still out there, even if she doesn't want me,I just want to meet her once,and get the closure I deserve.
But I need to find out more who is Cassie,what's her last name,other pictures.
I continue flipping through the journal but there's nothing.
I search through the closet,but nothing.
It seems like a dead end.
All I have is this picture,and her name,if that's even her legal name.
I lose interest in cleaning out the rest of the room,so I leave with the journal and picture.
I need to talk to someone.
Bree.
I hurriedly run up the stairs.
I find my phone and dial Bree and Mal but none of them pick up.
I'm about to dial Bree again when an unknown number calls. I pick up.

"Hey Val,".it's Theo I recognize his voice and I realize I didn't save his number.

"Theo,hey ,"I say blantantly as I fall on my bed.

"I'm sorry for leaving like that,I forgot to text my mom yesterday,so she was worried sick,and you were sound asleep I didn't want to wake you up,"he says.

"It's fine,"I reply.

"Val,are you feeling fine,you sound a little...uhm ...off,"Theo says as I rub my temple.

"I'm probably just exhausted from cleaning the house,but I'm fine,"I say trying to sound cheery.

There's a brief pause before,Theo speaks again.
"I'll take your word for it,"he says" and I feel relieved.
Honestly I don't want him interrogating me further.

"Anyway that's not why I called,"he says and I hear some shuffle before he continues."mom wants you to come for dinner,".Theo says casually.

"Wait hold up...I've got questions," I say and I hear Theo sigh.

"Ask,".

"Firstly why does your mom want me to come over for dinner,"I ask raising a brow.

"Because I told Mom I spent the night at your house and now she's adamant to meet you, something about wanting to see the girl her son is bunking with or something,"Theo says.

"Theo,are you hearing yourself,I'm not coming for dinner at your house,"I say pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Val please,if you don't my mom will keep on pestering me,"I hear Theo beg but I'm not caving easily.

"Why can't you just take someone else,"I say.

"Val,mom isn't stupid if I do that she'll definitely catch me,please it's just for thirty minutes,I promise not longer than that,"I hear Theo beg.
I think about it for a second

"What's in it for me,"I ask playfully.

"You'll be entitled to one favour from me, regardless of what it is "he replies almost immediately.

"Five ,"I argue.

"Two ,"he argues back.

"Three and that's final,"I say and I hear him sigh loudly.

"Fine,three favours,"he agrees.

"You do realize I could ask you to jump off a cliff right,"I state smirking.

"I know you wouldn't, even in your nightmares,anyways do we have a deal,"he asks.

"Deal.,"I say.
And I smile to myself.somehow the thought of owing me three favours lifts my spirits.
I'm going to have fun with this.

"I'll pick you up at 6pm,"he says.

"No problem,"I say.

"See you later,"he says.

"Bye.,"I say and hang up.

Three favours from Theo what could possibly go wrong?.

Heyyy guys
Hope you like the book so far.
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