VALERIE

Sixty Four

"I think you've had enough." Vanessa whispered into Nick's ear, she was referring to the fifth glass of patron he had in his hand.

He rolled his eyes but still took a drink from it.

Vanessa smiled forcefully at both Valerie and Johnny who were watching the tense couple ignore one another.

"Nick can I talk to you?" Vanessa asked quickly as she was standing up from her seat gracefully,

Nick looked up at her and sighed heavily, he got up with the bottle in his hand and followed her through the crowd of people until both Johnny and Valerie saw them disappear.

"She's gonna fuck up his buzz." Johnny said suddenly, Valerie nodded, "Yeah." She replied softly looking around the salon where the gala was being hosted. She hated everyone who was in attendance.

They were the kids who went to her highschool, kids who would call themselves her friends but would just end up making up lies and talking badly about her.

Everyone there had a story about Valerie. Good and bad. Mostly bad.

"I don't know why I even came to this to be honest." She mentioned out of no where, Johnny furrowed his brow and just stared blankly at her while she was looking around.

"To keep me from being the third wheel."
He said then smiled at her.

"Yeah I know, but I just feel awkward and uncomfortable."

Johnny chuckled, "You're funny," he said as she just looked plainly at him with no facial expression whatsoever, "Is it because of Nick?"

She shook her head, "It's a lot of things honestly."

"Tell me." He pried on,

Valerie hesitated to talk, giving in she inhaled deeply before speaking.

"Well, okay, it's like this, first off I hate everyone here. Secondly I gave Mia all of my antidepressants and I can't get a refill until next month so I've been like feeling weird lately, like I'm in withdrawal or something and then yeah I guess you can say I'm a little distraught over Nick still."

Johnny frowned slightly, he put his hand on her shoulder, his touch made her jump back slightly, "You'll be okay. I promise." He reassured with a large empathetic grin on his face, he took his hand off and picked up his glass of water, "You'll get over Nick soon. He's with Vanessa and can I be honest?"

Valerie nodded for him to go on.

"Ever since they began to date, he's kind of changed."

"Changed?" Valerie repeated quietly,

Johnny nodded, "Yeah, I mean he hasn't really drunken or smoked in a while, it's actually surprising he's been drinking and smoking lately and let me tell you it's pissing Vanessa off, he's also stopped partying and she makes him come to things like this."

Johnny took a drink of his water while Valerie swallowed the lump forming in her own throat.

Vanessa really was a great person for putting up with Nick knowing how he's a moody, narcissistic, cynical asshole at heart who doesn't listen to anyone but himself.

"Hey let's just go get a drink?" Johnny asked her innocently breaking her from her thoughts as he stood up from his seat to hold his arm out to her.

//

"Lately you've been an ass what the fuck is up?" Vanessa said directly to Nick who was just smirking down at her and just to piss her off even more he began taking a drink from his bottle.