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VALENTINA LAID SPRAWLED OUT on the floor of her living room, a newspaper in one hand and the other holding the television remote. The black and white stack of papers was opened to the page she'd been stalking all year: Job Listings.
"How about this one?" Jonathan asked, rolling over from his stance on the floor to stick his copy in the blonde's face. He pointed to the second to last listing, reading "Library Assistant."
Valentina scrunched her eyes at him. "Do I look like I know the Dewey Decimal System?"
"Who's Dewey? Is he hot?" Tina Winslow asked from her spot on the couch. Her newspaper had been turned into a handheld fan, which the girl was using in one hand while the other blocked the sun out of her eyes.
"He's dead," Jonathan sighed, rolling away from Valentina.
"So... not hot?"
Valentina chuckled, turning off the TV and throwing the remote at the girl who was absolutely no help. She was about as useless in finding a job as the TV was at keeping the trio entertained.
It was the hottest day of the year so far in 1985. May 25 to be exact. Apparently, summers were supposed to be getting hotter from here on out. 'Global warming' or something serious that Dustin tried to tell them about.
"Geez, watch the hair," Tina yelled, swatting away the remote. Valentina rolled her eyes at the blonde girl.
Yep, blonde. Tina Winslow was a warm, honey blonde now. Courtesy of a drugstore bleach kit purchased that morning. It actually looked really good, Valentina thought, even though it was still drying. It brought out her eyes and her bubbly personality. However, she was not on board with the activity at first. Mainly because Tina was forcing Valentina to do it for her. So, Valentina called in reinforcements—meaning Jonathan.
"God," Jonathan groaned. "Isn't there something we can do other than rot on your floor looking for jobs?"
"What else could you possibly want to do with your life?"
"I don't know, maybe hang out with my girlfriend?" Jonathan whined. Valentina mocked him.
She liked to take credit for his and Nancy's relationship. If she hadn't yelled at him to get his shit together—and also been the reason Steve was never in love with Nancy—they would have never happened. So, basically, Jonathan was in debt to her for the rest of his life. Or the rest of his and Nancy's relationship, which was almost destined to be forever anyway.
"Maybe hangout with my girlfriend," Valentina mocked, earning a laugh from Tina.
"At least I have one. Where's your boyfriend?" Jonathan teased her. Valentina went pink in the face.
