VALERIE

Forty Eight

* 6 days later, New Years Eve*

"I kinda just realized that my partying days are over." Johnny mentioned whilst he watched Nick haul in the last beer keg, he scratched the back of his neck and then his chin, "I'm having a baby." He stated in utter realization.

Nick stayed quiet, he pushed the beer keg to line up with the rest of the kegs against the wall in the kitchen.

Johnny crossed his arms across his broad chest and stared down at the 10 beer kegs, he was sure his New Years Eve party was going to be good.

His parents left town to go to a party at his aunts house and they wouldn't be back until tomorrow night so both him and Nick decided that throwing a party was a must.

"You inviting Valerie?" He asked Nick who was fiddling around with the gold Rolex he had on, a Christmas gift from Valerie herself.

Nick shrugged, "I invited her, but she said maybe," Nick rattled the watch around, "We haven't really been on the best of terms."

Johnny scoffed, "She got you a Rolex, how aren't you two on the best of terms?" He asked while he also proceeded to grab a can of Cola from his fridge.

"We just fight a lot but it's whatever honestly, she's actually been calmer lately."

Johnny opened the soda and lifted it towards his mouth he cocked his head to the side, "Girls," He took a sip, "Mia started cussing me out in Spanish just because I wouldn't let her come to the party," He took another drink, "But I swear I'm so happy I'm gonna be a dad soon, but honestly I still don't know how to tell my parents."

Feeling the guilt, Nick didn't speak to avoid saying anything he'd later regret, after all he didn't want to lose his best friend over something he wasn't even sure about.

"FUCK." Johnny shouted, he touched the wet spot on his white tee where the soda dripped onto, "Do you have a white V-neck I could use?" He asked Nick as he put down the soda can on the counter behind him.

Nick nodded, "Yeah, just check my suit case."

Nick leaned back as he watched Johnny leave the room. He looked down at his watch and chuckled, he didn't even want it in the first place since all he got Valerie for Christmas was a stupid stuffed animal he bought at Walgreen's, she deserved more than that. So when he refused the watch she said some something sweet and sentimental and he replied with the word 'so' which caused Valerie to chuck a heel at him and he shouted at her until they started kissing and then one thing led to another and he went home satisfied and with a $8,000 dollar watch around his wrist.

Promptly Johnny came in, wearing the white V-neck but also clutching a baggie in his hand.

Nick sighed, "Look-"

"No you fucking look," Johnny interrupted, he roughly threw the baggie at Nick, "You said you weren't going to touch this shit again, you made a fucking promise to me a long time ago and I find this shit in your suitcase?"

"Don't fucking lecture me." Nick replied shoving the bag of coke into his back pocket.

"You made a promise when you were fucking lying in that hospital bed with IV's in your arm and a feeding tube going in your nose, or did you forget you almost overdosed when you were just 14 on that shit or nah?"

Nick felt sick but managed to reply, "Don't fucking worry about me."

Johnny's eyes opened wide and he scoffed in disbelief and in disappointment, "Whatever."

//

"And so then, everyone said you either got arrested or you died, but not me Nick, I knew you were coming back." Some girl Nick didn't even know said while her and her friends nodded in agreement.