Just lots of Riley and Val chapters written by me, the characters don't belong to me!
PG-13!
1. **Language:** Mild to moderate profanity, but not extreme or pervasive.
2. **Violence:** Some intense or realistic violence may be present, but it should...
The bar was dimly lit, with a warm amber glow casting a soft light over Riley as she sat slumped at the counter, her fingers tapping idly against her tequila glass. Brea stood behind the bar, drying a glass with a towel, watching her friend with concern.
"Here," Brea said, sliding Riley a shot of tequila and, with a grin, showing her a meme on her phone. It was a picture of Jake Gyllenhaal as a cowboy, with the bold text "Real cowboys ride cock." She knew Riley usually loved that kind of humor; raunchy jokes always brought out her goofy side.
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But tonight, Riley just offered a half-hearted smile, her eyes clouded. The weight of her best friend's death was still heavy in her heart, a constant ache that even tequila couldn't numb.
Just then, Val walked up to the bar. She was dressed in a laid-back way, her usual air of confidence tempered with kindness as she glanced at Riley. "Hey, Brea," Val said, leaning on the bar. "I'll take a vodka."
Brea quickly poured her a glass, adding a small bowl of grapes beside it. But before she could even set them down fully, Val grimaced and held up a hand. "Whoa, get that crap out of here," she said, nudging the grapes back towards Brea.
Riley raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Val's reaction. "What's up? Grapes make you nervous or something?"
Val chuckled, a little embarrassed. "I'm actually scared of grapes. Weird, I know."
Riley tilted her head, amused. "Grapes, huh? I get it. I'm kind of like that with carrots. It's something about that bright orange—puts me on edge. Reminds me of anxiety or something."
Val smiled, both of them now trading quirks and vulnerabilities. Riley appreciated how Val didn't laugh or dismiss her fear. Instead, she leaned in, her voice playful. "Alright, no carrots for you, and no grapes for me. Deal."
A mischievous grin spread across Riley's face as an idea sparked. She pulled her keys from her pocket, twirling them in front of Val. "I have a little something that could lift our spirits," she said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I still have the keys to the house of that girl who used to bully the freshmen. Want to hide a few Sentinels in her bed? Scare the crap out of her?"
Val's eyes lit up with excitement. "I'm in. That'll teach her."
For the first time that night, Riley felt her sadness start to lift. It wasn't gone entirely, but she could breathe a little easier, knowing she had found a friend in Val.
