My brothers best friend

Chapter 34: Valerie's Nightmare Returns

Chapter 34

Valerie's Point of View

Two days had passed since the fight. Two days since I had watched everything fall apart between Mason and Jake. Even after all the drama, I had promised myself I'd go to the party tonight. Jacob had insisted—his voice full of excitement, convincing me it'd be a good distraction. I needed a break. I needed to get out. Just for a few hours.

I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my outfit for what felt like the hundredth time. My reflection looked like someone who had been trying way too hard to forget what had been happening in my life. My hair, messy but styled, was perfect for tonight. My makeup, a little heavier than usual, felt like a mask—one that I was more than willing to wear.

Jacob knocked lightly on my door, his voice filled with that familiar cheerfulness. "You ready, Val?"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside me. "Yeah. Just about."

He grinned when I stepped out. "You look amazing. Let's go."

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The house was packed when we arrived, music thumping from inside. It was the kind of party where everyone knew someone, and even though I didn't want to admit it, the crowd felt like a place to lose myself for a while. Jacob had called it a "get out of your head" kind of night. I had no idea what I was getting into, but here I was.

Inside, the noise hit me first—laughter, conversation, the clinking of bottles. Everywhere I looked, people were either dancing, talking, or hanging out in small groups. I caught sight of Amelia and Paige at the bar, their heads bent together, whispering about something. Viktoria was a little further off, talking to a guy who kept glancing at her like she was the only person in the room.

I smiled and waved at the girls, but Jacob was already tugging me towards the dance floor. He knew what I needed. "Come on, you can't sit this one out, Val."

I hesitated for a second, looking around the room. The warmth of the space seemed to suffocate me at first, but then Jacob's infectious laugh pulled me in. Slowly, I let go of the anxiety gnawing at me. The beat of the music was loud, and it made everything feel like it was moving in slow motion, like I could breathe again.

It took a couple of drinks before the alcohol started to do its magic. My nerves eased. My shoulders relaxed. The tension that had gripped me for the last few days—the fight with Mason, everything with Jake—started to slip away as the night wore on.

Jacob and I laughed. We joked. We danced together, spinning and twisting through the crowd. For the first time in a while, I felt like I could breathe. Like I was finally me again. Not the girl who had been through hell. Not the girl who had cried herself to sleep too many nights in a row. But just me.

Then, Jacob leaned in and whispered, "There's this guy I like over there." He pointed across the room, where a tall, dark-haired guy was chatting with some friends. Jacob's eyes sparkled with excitement. "What do you think? Should I go for it?"

I couldn't help but laugh, feeling the warmth spread through my chest. "Go for it, Jacob. What's stopping you?"

He gave me a cheeky grin. "Wish me good luck."

I grinned back, leaning in to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. "Good luck. You've got this."

Jacob made his way over to the guy, and I turned back to look for Viktoria and Paige. They were in the same spot by the bar, laughing at something that was clearly way more amusing to them than it was to anyone else. I was about to join them when something—someone—caught my attention.