❥𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

Chapter 40

Narrator POV

»What do you think about...this?«
Valerie held out a dark blue dress with a wide V-line.
Blanca turned around and observed the clothing with a critical look. »Mhhh... It's pretty. But I don't think that's it.«
Valerie sighed and put it back on the hook. »Why build a huge shopping mall if you don't sell the right dresses.«, she remarked while going through the rows.

Her sister let out a small laugh and followed her.
»Have you already taken a look outside? I saw that they also hung out a few dresses there.«, Blanca suggested and pointed out of the shop.

»No, I haven't. Maybe I should though. One final try.« She almost sounded deeply desperate. Like her life depended on finding the one dress she would like. The one she wouldn't have second thoughts about. The one she would just take off the hook and instantly know that would be it.

Valerie made her way outside and had a look at the stands there.
She observed it from where she was standing to get an overview.
As her gaze wandered over the different colored dresses all over, a small movement caught her eye. Something fluttered above a small stand.
When Valerie came closer, she recognized the tiny, blue butterfly that was sitting on a dress stand, his wings moving with the wind.
That little creature amazed her in so many ways. It was beautiful.
And when she looked down on where it was sitting on, she was lucky that she had taken her meds. Because what caught her eye made her heartbeat raise instantly.

It was a rosé-colored dress with a lovely V-line and a leg slit. It went beautifully over the back and as soon as she took it off the hook, she fell in love.
Valerie must've stared at it for like minutes because she heard her name from inside.
Blanca was looking for her.
»Coming.«, Val shouted back and took another moment to look at that dress.
Then her eyes went back to the butterfly that was still sitting there.
»Thank you, little one.«, she whispered and gave it a wink.

She couldn't wait to show it to her sister. And Charles. God he would be so amazed.

Blanca couldn't trust her eyes as she saw the dress her sister held in her hands.
»Dios mio, Val. That's stunning.«

Valerie tried it on and ended up buying it. She didn't have second thoughts about it. It was just like she had imagined. She instantly knew that this was the one.

***

Blanca had something to do for work and Valerie went to her house to first chill a little with her brother and then get ready for the gala.
She hasn't really seen him since the Monaco Grand Prix. It was only a few days ago but that was enough to make her miss her big brother.

When she entered the front door with her shopping bag, she noticed some foreign shoes at the wardrobe.
Who do these belong to?

She headed to the kitchen and put down her bag.
»Carlos?«, Valerie shouted through the house to locate her brother.

»Val!« Someone greeted behind her, but it wasn't Carlos. It was a female voice.
Valerie turned around to face her best friend, Juliette.

»Juliette? I wasn't expecting you.«
As soon as she spoke the words, her brother showed up behind Juliette.

Valerie noticed something strange. Something odd with her brother and Juliette.
His hair were messy and his clothes were barely fitting right on his body. Like he was in a rush putting them on.
But it was also something in the air. There was some weird tension between them and Valerie didn't know what to say or how to react.
So she kept it to her and just put on a smile.

»Juliette uh... came here because she was looking for you, actually.«, Carlos stuttered and placed himself next to his sister.
»Oh, did you?«, Valerie answered in a played surprised tone, hoping they wouldn't notice that she had noticed something.

Juliette seemed like she just had an enlightening.
»Oh, yeah. I did! I wanted to hang out and get ready for the gala later.«
Val raised an eyebrow. »You're going to the gala?«, She asked carefully but with a happy tone. She was he really glad that she would know some people there.

Juliette nodded excitingly.
»You know, you could've just called me and I could've told you that I wasn't home.«, Val added, still confused.
Juliette's eyes went to Carlos for a split of a second.
»Yeahhh but I thought I'd just drop by. I haven't been waiting here that long anyway.«
Valerie nodded understanding and refused to ask more questions.

»Sooo... you two have fun then.« Carlos headed to his room, looking back a few times.
Valerie's mind was full of suspicion. But she didn't want to go any deeper.

They'll tell me if the want to someday, anyway.

***

»Jesus, girl. I told you that you shouldn't die on me.«
Juliette let herself fall next to Valerie on the bed. She just told her what had occurred a few days ago.
Valerie chuckled on her remark. »I didn't choose this, either.«

»But what go you so upset?«
Juliette faced her with a confused, serious expression.

Valerie sighed. »I got worried.«

»About what?«

»Charles.«

»Mon dieu. I can't smell it. C'mon, tell me!«
Her friend moved closer, listening very carefully.

»Alright, alright.«
Valerie told her what went through her mind that evening. That she wondered if Charles found another girl at that party. If he could really love her the way she was. If he wouldn't find anything better.

»You know that's bullshit, right?«, Juliette remarked, almost angrily.
»Yes. I do. When I saw that worry in his eyes after he found me. He was so scared. And I think he still is.«
»What do you mean?«
Valerie scratched her head. »He has been having nightmares ever since. He tells me that he doesn't remember what they are about, but I figure it has something to do with what happened. You should've seen him, July. He was terrified.«

»I get it, you almost died for gods sake. But that sounds more serious. Do you think he'll be alright?«

»I hope so. But I will talk to him about it after the gala.«

»Come here girl.« 
Before Valerie could do something, the arms of her friend were tightly around her back, making her almost run out of air.
»Yeah, I love you too.«, she chuckled as she got into the embrace.