VALERIE

Forty One

4 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds.

Valerie counted the hours, minutes, and seconds until their departure back home.

The entire motel room was dark, heavy thick and dark drapes shielded any type of light from the balcony and Valerie smashed all the lamps so the only light in the dark room was the the end of Nick's Newport. When he inhaled, the orange part lit up.

Valerie stayed away from him, laying far away facing a wall on her side, Nick hated to cuddle. Sometimes he'd become so detached and emotionless that he'd forget Valerie was beside him.

He cursed quietly under his breath when he heard her mumbling and counting, he had forgotten she was beside him and he hated ignoring her for too long because he'd leave her with her own thoughts and most of the time they were dangerous.

He put out his cigarette against the wall behind him and then put an arm around Valerie's waist, pulling her nude body against his.

She let herself but didn't react like she would, instead she frowned because Nick couldn't see her facial expressions in the dark.

"What's wrong?" He whispered in her ear, both his hands cupping her breasts.

"Nick I'm not in the mood." She replied sitting up, breaking from his tight embrace.

"What's wrong then?" He asked frustrated,,

"I don't want to go." She said burying her face into her knees that she pulled against her chest.

"You knew we were going to have to leave sooner or later princess, it was just a fucking matter of time."

"I don't want things to change." She choked out all in one sentence, Nick sat up as well, embracing her entire body into his, Valerie nuzzled her head into his shoulder and let out a few tears.

"Only a little bit of things will change Valerie nothing drastic I promise." He reassured.

Valerie let out a nervous chuckle when she moved her face from his shoulder, "Yeah right. We go back home and the first thing my mom will do is stick me in a fucking clinic, away from you."

"I promise I won't let them do that to you, whatsoever, no one will send you back." He said standing up and lingering towards the light switch which he turned on.

He chuckled when he heard Valerie gasp in utter horror.

"Nick, what the fuck?" She cried wrapping herself up in one of the blankets embarrassed of the hickeys he had left scattered all over her breasts.

"There's some on your inner thighs too." He commented giving her a wink.

Valerie glared at him while he laughed.

"Aw come on princess you weren't complaining when I was giving them to you." He chortled heartily.

"I hate you." She replied rolling her eyes at him. Nick strolled towards her extending his arm out for her to take. She looked at Nick with a 'get out of my face' expression but then melted when he pouted.

"Come on grumpy ass, let's go take a shower, I have a surprise planned." He said confidently leading the way.

//

"Alright ready?" Nick asked, with his hands over Valerie's eyes.

"Just move your hands." She complained.

Nick quickly removed his hands and when he does Valerie feels lightheaded.

"Oh no, nope, you're crazy." She chuckled nervously looking at the tattoo parlor in front of her.