Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
the next week that passed, valerie spent the time she wasn't hanging out with ashtray, with daniel. the two actually got along well, and began getting to know each other and about each other, their similar interests in music and movies. she also made sure to tell ashtray about the fact daniels gay, after he gave him a death glare after kissing valerie on the cheek after school.
ashtray eased more after knowing that, but was still not so sure on how he felt about another guy kissing his girlfriend on the cheek every time they parted, gay or not.
valerie on the other hand, actually found it kind of funny. the jealous look ashtray has every time daniel hugged her, held onto her hand too long or again, kissed her cheek.
the start of the week, monday. daniel and valerie planned on meeting up at his house, and there they talk and talked. it felt like they had talked for hours, telling each other the things they disliked and liked, changing the topic when they'd disagree too much. it was almost like deja vu for valerie, it reminded her of when her and victoria became teenagers, changed and told each other the new things the liked.
victoria. valerie would feel like an absolute shitty person, leaving her out after getting a new friend. even if victoria had gotten new friends and that's how she spent her time when she wasn't with valerie, which val didn't know if that was true or not, she wouldn't leave her alone. and so, she invited her to hangout with her and daniel that following wednesday.
valerie introduced them, told daniel some things about victoria before hand, as well as victoria about dani. after a couple days, the three became a close trio. valerie knew most trios almost always went to a duo after too long, and she prayed that wouldn't happen to her. for the first time in a long time, she felt happy. like her life was coming to a good point. she was with the guy she liked and enjoyed being with every time she was with him, and she now had two best friends who were fun and understood her, what more could she ask for?
and, valerie wasn't the only one who gained a new friend after new years. rue did as well, elliot. and just like valerie, daniel and victoria, rue introduced elliot and the jules, and those three also became a trio.
when all six of them met, it was chaos.
———
valerie walked along side daniel and victoria, the three were making their way to the closest store to get snacks for the movies they would watch later on. the three conversion was loud, and they were getting dirty looks from most people that would walk by or that was standing around, but they were all in too much of a good mood to care.
valerie looked ahead of her, laughing at, well.. really nothing. one certain curly head caught her eye, and even from looking at the girl from the back, she knew it was rue. she gasped, a smiling forming on her face seconds after. dani and victoria turned to her, confused, and watched as she jogged away from them, and to the three older teenagers in front of them, and slowly followed her.
"rue, hey!" valerie said loudly, wrapping her arms around rue the second she turned around.
"oh, valerie, hey.." rue patted her back, giving her a small smile as she pulled away.
daniel and victoria looked at all of them confused, while valerie only looked confused at the two standing beside rue.
"oh- uh, this is elliot.. and jules." rue nodded, pointing at the both of them.
valerie smiled, sending them both a wave even though she knew jules already. she wasn't so fond of the girl, but jules hadn't done nothing to valerie in particular, so valerie is nice to her, even if it is an act.
"hey?" elliot spoke, looking at rue and then the three younger teenagers.
"oh, hi. i'm valerie, this is daniel and victoria." valerie pointed to them like rue had just did.
the six quickly had a small conversation, while rue rocked back and forth on her heels, only talking when one of them talked to her or included her in the conversation, ready to leave.
valerie was also getting tired of the conversation, and was ready to watch the movies, plus they hadn't even got to the store yet. "uh, hey, we should go... we're gonna go get snacks and watch movies."
jules turned to her, a small smile forming on her lips, confusing valerie until she spoke. "can we come?"
rue turned to her, her mouth parting as if she wanted to talk and disagree, but just nodded.
valerie sighed, she had honestly hoped it would just be her, valerie and daniel but it didn't seem like too much of a problem, and maybe it would be funner, so she agreed and the six of them walked together the rest of the way to the store.
once they got there they all got their own pick of snacks, and drinks. and then made their way to daniels house like they had originally planned.
every one settled in daniels room, getting comfortable and picking their spots for where they wanted to be while daniel and valerie went to get more blankets and pillows.
"hey, you know.. elliot's kind of cute." daniel grinned, elbowing val.
"no way, dani, seriously?" valerie laughed loudly.
"be quiet!— do you think he's gay?" daniel hit val with a pillow.
"eh, if he isn't interested in rue or jules, probably." valerie shrugged.
———
and now, she laid with ashtray, almost too tired to keep her eyes open but didn't want to fall asleep just yet. for some reason, she hated falling asleep first now. she liked the feeling of him easing, his arms still around her but his body relaxing and him looking peaceful. if she feel asleep first, she'd miss it.
"go to sleep, val, what are you doin?" ashtray chuckled, watching her struggle to stay awake.
"you first." valerie said in a sarcastic, mean tone.
ashtray shook his head, not understanding why she did that every time the two laid together now, but he almost always gave in anyway, falling asleep first.
he actually wasn't even that tired, but he still let his body relax, and wrapped his arm around her like usual.
she smiled, getting comfortable in his arms with a sigh of relief. she slowly blinked, waiting for the moment she knew ashtray was asleep, before finally letting herself fall asleep.
