VALERIE

Eight

Patiently he tied the laces from his Adidas slowly, with no care in the world.

He was going to meet up with Valerie and ask her about last night and what Wesley meant about him telling Valerie's parents on her.

Shaking the thought he sighed throwing himself flat onto his bed, his eyes wondering to the framed photo of his mother.

"Please come back." He whispered to himself, staring into her troubled gray eyes.

"Nick?" Lily's soft southern voice rang in his ears, sitting up on the bed he lifted his eyebrows at his father's girlfriend who was leaning against his door.

"Going somewhere?" She asked putting one of her platinum blonde hair strands behind her ear.

"Yeah."

"Where are you headed?"

Nick shrugged, "If I'm lucky, hell." He gave her a small grin, Lily rolled her eyes at his response and skimmed his bedroom, her eyes falling onto the framed photo of his mother.

He noticed her glossy stare, his face became flushed in bitter sadness.

"Just be safe, and please don't come home bloody or drunk."

Smirking Nick swallowed his spit and opened his mouth, "Then I won't come home at all."

//

Steam from the coffee mug flowed and eventually disappeared into the atmosphere, the smell of greasy hamburgers and French fries tainted the small diner.

Sitting alone, Nick sighed to himself with thoughts rushing throughout his mind.

This diner was his mother's favorite, she'd love coming here after she'd pick Nick up from school and the two would just eat, she'd always order the same thing too.

A hamburger with cheese fries while Nick would always order chicken nuggets.

But he'd always remember how for dessert they'd order a strawberry milkshake and share it. 

Clenching onto the mugs handle he lifted the cup to his lips and slowly drank the bitter black liquid, he couldn't enjoy anything sweet anymore. Everything sweet in life was gone.

He was bitter, like his dark coffee. And that's how he liked things to be. Bitter.

Soft bells rung from the diners door opening.

Suddenly Nick wasn't the only customer in the shop.

He watched as Valerie approached his booth with a tall blonde confidently strolling behind her.

"Nick." Valerie's lips formed a wide smile as she stared down at him.

"Who's this?" He finally asked looking over at Grace who extended her arm immediately.

"I'm Valerie's sister, Grace." She said politely waiting to have her hand shook,

"Nick." He replied calmly reaching over to shake her hand.

Sliding into the booth in front of him both girls stayed silent looking around the shabby diner.

They'd never been to a place like this. Especially since they were rich and were always eating at expensive restaurants or country clubs with their parents.

"You guys want anything?" Nick asked nonchalantly, Grace shook her head immediately, "No thank you strict diet."

"You?" Nick asked looking over at Valerie who was playing with the mini table jukebox at the end of the table.