VALERIE

Thirty

"Nick just fucking talk to me please." Valerie pleaded as she tugged on his sleeve, he grunted in frustration before collapsing into a squat on the sidewalk, he shielded his frustrated face in his arms.

Valerie squatted beside him and looked at the tow truck that was taking off with Nick's car on the hook.

She placed a hand on his back.

"Fucking shit." He said standing upright, Valerie stared up at him. The sun giving him a beautiful angelic glow.

"At least the man let us get our stuff out." Valerie gave him a meek smile, Nick rolled his eyes taking a look at their suitcases and small items sitting in a neat pile on the sidewalks curb.

"You're so right." He said sarcastically, pacing up and down the sidewalk.

Valerie adjusted her sunglasses to the top of her head, "Hey it'll be okay." She assured him.

"Okay? No nothings fucking okay. I come to Florida which took a fucking week. I find out my mom is dead and she never wanted me, and now my car got impounded it costs more to get it out than I'd get if I sold it but to top it all Valerie," He chuckled madly, "The worst fucking part is that I'm stuck with you."

She frowned, hurt obviously but she didn't want to show it.

"You think I want to be here? No you're fucking wrong don't think you're so special."

"What? You practically begged me and if I didn't take you'd be rotting away in a fucking mental hospital, back in Nebraska I was so close to abandoning you, I don't know why I went back and SAVED you."

Valerie laughed she clapped her hands together, "Oh you were going to abandon me huh? I guess you and your mother are alike."

Nick froze.

He didn't reply. He rubbed his chin with his hand and turned away from her. He looked up at the ginormous mansion that belonged to Antonio and his family. And his mother.

"I'm hungry." Nick said under his breath,

"Me too." Valerie whispered clutching onto her bags, regretting what she had said because even she knew she went too far.

//

Sitting in front of each other in a booth, the two quietly looked around the small restaurant they decided to eat at.

Wooden walls with vintage '50s posters and aviator signs everywhere. The three waitresses working all wore the same identical uniform, a red apron with a large yellow U imprinted on them, dark slacks and a white golf shirt underneath.

Valerie lightly tapped her fingernails on the table waiting whilst Nick's attention was on a little 4 year old boy holding onto his mothers pant leg as if his life depended on it.

"I'm sorry." Valerie said, gazing at the same child.

Nick shrugged, "Don't worry about it."

"No Nick, I didn't meant it I went to far and I'm sorry." She reached over the table to grab a hold of his cheeks, he kept a straight face but she had a beautiful smile on hers he couldn't even deny it.

He pulled his head away softly from her firm but soft grip.

"It's okay, I'm not mad."

"Then talk to me." She urged putting her chin into her palm, she tapped her chin with her fingers lightly.

Nick gazed back at the child who was now on his mother's shoulders, jumping up and down as she kept talking to the hostess.

Nick smiled at the heartwarming sight.

"Hi, I'm your waitress Kandy have you two decided on what to drink?" The overly happy waitresses said waiting for their reply with a pen and pad in her hands.

"Strawberry lemonade." Valerie said looking over the menu still.

Nick placed his fingers on his lips and in a dead tone he answered, "Coffee, black."

The waitress smiled, "Sure I'll have those out real quick."

"Wait!" Valerie cried out before she disappeared, "We're ready to order aswell."

Giving a fake yet clearly annoyed grin in the same cheery way she nodded her head.

"I'd like the bacon burger with extra bacon." Valerie said shutting the menu,

"Spaghetti, light sauce." Nick handed the laminated menus to her.

"I'll make it up to you Nick, I'll get money, I promise."

Nick nodded, "Let's just eat we'll figure it out later." He said slowly, noticing the guilt and remorse on her face.

Her soft skin, and different colored eyes and the way her lips were too big for her face but always in a perfect pout. He didn't know why he was so scared of getting attached. Because in reality he already was, just didn't want to admit it.

"I'm sorry for saying I was stuck with you. I'm not stuck with you. I like having you around."

Her cheeks turned a light tinted red, she looked away, biting her bottom lip then burying her face into her hand, she played it off by running a strand of loose strand of hair behind her ear.

She cleared her throat, "Friends?" She asked delicately, Nick nodded.

"Friends."

//

Studying the crumpled up paper in between her finger tips she twirled it around, waiting for an answer, the phone rang and rang.

"Hello?" The groggy voice that belonged to Marco picked up after the 5th ring.

"Marco, it's Valerie."

He coughed twice, "Yeah, whats up?"

Valerie glanced over at the restroom door where she could hear the water still going and Nick awfully singing an indistinguishable song.

"I need money."

"Mira amor, I don't have any money to just give away."

Valerie groaned, "Your father's fucking loaded."

"Yeah my father's loaded not me, I work for my money."

Valerie patted her thighs, "Fucking shit."

She cussed desperately feeling like she was on the verge of a breakdown.

"But if you really want to make money, I have a job for you and scribbles."

"Scribbles?" Valerie asked.

"Yeah, Nick, he's scribbled all up in tattoo's it's hilarious."

"Okay yeah but what about the job?"

Marco laughed, "Do you know what yayo is?"

Valerie looked around, "Um no?"

"Well you're gonna find out. You and scribbles can meet me at the fighting ring I told you about. Don't tell him what the job is just surprise him."

Valerie nodded, remembering that the shady bar/fighting ring was just a few minutes away from their motel.

"Okay, I got it, see you in a bit, bye." She said hanging up the phone.