Fixing Up Valerie

Vow To Fix Valerie- 8

Caleb's point of view- when they were studying.
I kept pacing the living room and check the time again, 4:37 pm. It's been half an hour and Valerie hasn't arrived yet, I wouldn't be surprised if she stood me up. I couldn't stop thinking if her face during writing, it's like she remembered something and it triggered her mind.
Is she dating someone? Of course she is, who wouldn't want to date Valerie, she was new and it's pretty obvious she doesn't like showing too much skin. She's probably with her boyfriend having no clue I'm still waiting for her.

"Caleb, are you going to tell me why your walking around in my living room looking like you can't hold in your pee?" I stopped moving and looked back at my mother, she was looking pretty amused that I wasn't outside like I usually am. "Sorry mom, it's just someone's coming over to work on an assigned assignment. I'm just wondering if she is-"
"A girl is coming over? Why didn't you say so, oh is that why your going around in circles? You like her, don't you? Who is she? How does she look like?" If there was one thing my mom loved, it was talking about girls and my love life.

I put my hand up to signal for her to shut up. "Yes she's a girl, I'm hoping. No, I'm not spinning in circles-- what are you talking about?," my mom raises her eyebrows and looks around the living room. "I don't like her like that, I've known her for about a day. Her name is Valerie, and she's just got this smile that made me smile and her personality from what I've seen is just amazing. It's different from Janica's in a good way."

I started smiling and I felt like I was blushing by talking about Valerie. Janica was my ex, I thought she was the one, until I caught her making out with one of my teammates in my baseball team. When I confronted them, she felt no shame-- she didn't feel anything for me and it messed me up for a while. My mom helped me realize she wasn't worth it and I've been good these last few months single. But Valerie arrived and my eyes are on her, I'm just hoping she doesn't have anyone or that anyone doesn't pay any interest in her. I'm pretty sure that would be difficult-- Valerie is literally a goddess. My mom decided that it would be good for me to go out and play to get my mind off. It's just that I don't think I can.

7 pm
Valerie ended up coming to my house and she kept apologizing how sorry she was from being late. It seems to me she wasn't with her boyfriend, or possibly doesn't even have one. We finished the 10 page assignment under two hours! I felt pretty accomplished at that, we started working in our next one. I kept writing but it didn't seem to work, all I was thinking about is how I have a beautiful girl in my room. Luckily before I made a move on Valerie, my mom came in, informing us she had made food. My mom ended up asking her questions about school and how she liked it. It was an adorable scene to watch; my loving mother having so much interest in a girl I liked.
Wait like?

I kept watching all of Valerie's characteristics. Sounds a little creepy but I just became so involved into looking how she would answer all of my mom's questions with no problem. It was going fine until my mom asked her something a little personal.
"what do your parents work into Valerie?" That question made Valerie immediately tense up, I knew just by that something was wrong. I stopped eating and have her my full attention, Valerie started stuttering-- she only did that when she was nervous. I saw the same look she had earlier at school- she's definitely remembering something and it's obvious now it's not something right.

"O-oh- I, I uh they uh. They uh, well mom used to work in a floral shop an-and dad used to build houses." She kept rambling and started moving her hand around trying to explain something. I looked at my mom and she looked at me, we both had the same thought. Where is she going with this?
My mom told her how much fun it would be a florist, even though she sucked at it. That's when I noticed Valerie's eyes turning glossy, she's going to cry? Did we offend her? She spoke again, " . . . uh well they didn't pass through the surgery but I did . . . "

I looked at Valerie with sympathy, I just want to hug her and tell her it's okay. But she isn't okay, she lost her parents. Not just one parent, but two. Valerie shook her head and got up and walking away heading to the living room "actually sorry, it's time for me to leave. I need to go now. Bye." My mom looked at me and she looked like she was gonna cry, "go, follow Valerie. She can't leave while she's tearing up, I feel like she's going to do something." And with that I ran to follow her, once I got there my gaze went to Valerie's wrist. Cuts. A whole lot of them.

She grabbed her backpack and ran out the door with me following. I jumped off the porch and looked around the street, there was no sign of her. I yelled out her name, not really caring who heard. I ran down the street and looked around, nothing. I grabbed my hair and pulled it, stupid. I'm so stupid.
I stayed out looking for her for about 20 minutes and finally went back home. I explained to my mom that I couldn't find her, she told me someone came by to pick her up.

A few hours later - midnight
I managed to calm down. Now I'm here lying down on my bed with thoughts filled with Valerie. Crazy, how she could make me go and I only met her today. The image of those fresh cuts on her wrist wouldn't budge. How can a girl so beautiful and amazing be so broken? She needs to be loved but first -- someone needs to fix her. That's when I sat up and looked at the chair she was on earlier, I vow to do that job. Fixing Up Valerie. And I will not fail.