VALERIE

Thirty Four

*2 days later*

//

It was like hell.

She quickly scribbled in her worn out black book, she was finishing the drawing she started a day ago.

She drew Nick as she had memorized the way he looked as he hovered only inches above her, with nothing but lust and anger in his gray eyes, he tightly held her wrists above her own head while his lips were in a straight line showing no emotion.

And the fact that he hadn't been back in two days was killing her. She needed to know he was okay, even if he was pissed at her she still wanted him around, she just needed to know that he wasn't getting into any sorts of trouble but knowing Nick it worried her even more because trouble was somehow attracted to him.

Speaking of the devil the door swung open and in came Nick.
Dark bags under his eyes, thick dark stubble growing on his jawline and noticeably paler skin, his eyes looked hollow as he gazed at her but then quickly looked away, avoiding any eye contact.

No doubt he was tired but it also didn't take a genius to realize how deteriorated his health was becoming. He barely ate or slept but spent most of his time working in a cocaine lab exposed to all types of chemicals.

Valerie noticed the white gauze wrapped around his left hand thickly with only his fingers poking out.

She swallowed everything she wanted to say to him, she was planning on going off on him but couldn't bring herself to do so, she just knew it wasn't the right time.

But thank God he was back and not physically hurt, she felt so relieved to just see him.

Valerie shut her book, and tossed it onto the night stand where it landed perfectly and diagonally.

Nick looked at it but shook the thought of it off as he lifted his suitcase onto the empty bed near the wall, he grumbled realizing he was so close to having no more clean clothes.

Valerie watched intently, her right index finger rubbing on the corner of her bottom lip.

She furrowed a brow, "I'm glad you're safe."

Nick didn't answer her, he was still ashamed of himself for losing control and kissing her.

He smacked his lips complacently, and let out a relaxed chuckle.

He grabbed a pair of clean socks, joggers and boxers before he shut the suitcase completely, he looked up at her.

She still had an angelic glow to her, Valerie's lips parted to say something but they slowly shut again.

"Fuck." he thought to himself in desperation.

Her large Bambi eyes followed him throughout the room as he walked towards the restroom, he could feel her eyes burning into his back like if acid was etching itself onto his skin.

"Nick." She said softly with that stupid sweet voice of hers, the hairs on his neck stood up and he felt his heart palpitate even faster, he stood up straight.

"Yeah?" He gritted his teeth quietly whilst his stomach cringed.

"I want you." He kept thinking to himself.

"Never mind." She replied, looking away again.

"Don't fucking do that." He groaned, walking into the restroom and slamming the door behind him, he looked around the dingy bathroom with its flickering fluorescent lines he stared directly at the entity in the mirror.

But someone else was looking back.

//

Sketching in her book again she stopped once she heard a knock on the door outside, she tossed her book carelessly onto the bed side and stood up, slowly she moved towards the door where she looked through the peephole and saw both Marco and Jesse outside leaning against the railing.

Unlocking the door Marco shoved past her while Jesse politely walked in, both of them looked like complete messes.

"Where's Nick?" Marco asked rubbing his chin his glance darting around in search of Nick, torn shirt, dirty jeans, eye bags, a bloody nose and heavy scratches on his arms.

Jesse stayed silent standing by the door, he looked just as bad but instead he had a large gash on his right leg where blood was slowly seeping out of.

Valerie held her breath in pointing at the restroom door.

"Fuck, guess I'll wait." Marco calmly said as he plopped down on one of the beds, his legs hanging off the edge, he patted the mattress beside him to Valerie who rolled her eyes.

"Calmada princesa, I'm just offering you a seat."

Valerie crossed her arms against her chest, "What do you guys want Marco?" She asked.

Marco sat up, "I need to talk to Nick."

"About?"

"Well I sold the last of his batch earlier, so you guys officially paid your debt off."

Valerie brightened up, "No way?"

"Yes way," Marco said hearing the shower nozzle turning off, "But I came here to ask him for a favor or two."

Valerie lifted her eyebrow, she took a glance at Jesse who was quietly staring at the floor, biting his nails nervously.

All three of them looked at the bathroom door when it opened and a freshly clean Nick came out, with a towel dangling from his shoulder.

"What the fuck do you guys want?" Nick asked as Valerie moved past him and into the restroom where the first aid kit was, she emerged momentarily grabbing Jesse's hand and making him sit down onto a bed where she began to tend to his wounds.

"Me and Jesse just came back from the bosses house, fuck does he want to meet you." Marco chuckled.

Nick shrugged taking a seat on the chair by the dresser, he tossed the towel at Marco who caught it and dropped it onto the floor.

"Nah, I'm just trying to get out of this fucking town and go back home." Nick said shaking his head,

"Nick he wants to meet you, he wants to have dinner with you two." He pointed over at Valerie who was busy disinfecting the gash on Jesse's leg.

"No." Nick said blatantly, Jesse looked over at him,

"Bro just do it, he likes us and look what he did to us after I said no to him about something, he beat me with his fucking pimp cane."

Nick ran a hand through his wet hair, "What's in it for me?"

"What's in it for you?" Marco scoffed, he muttered something in Spanish before turning to seriously face Nick again, "A lot of easy money and new opportunities, just do it."

Nick raised a brow, knowing Marco wasn't the most trustful guy on earth but he did like the sound of easy money.

"We'll do it." Nick finally said, shocked Valerie looked over at him as he firmly shook hands with Marco.

Marco's lips curled into a sly smile, "Great, both of you dress elegantly, I'll send a ride for you two tomorrow night at 7pm."

* a/n
Wow thanks so much for reading if you still are it means a lot to me that you stuck around this long and haven't gave up on me or the story lmao ily babes -xxmils *