VALERIE

Seventy Four

Meeko barked happily as he ran around the tall leafless sycamore tree.

His ears were perked, and his tail wagged. He just wanted both Nick and Valerie to climb down and play with him again.

Valerie laughed hysterically at the sight of the dog whining for them to come down while Nick climbed higher and higher up the sycamore.

"I've never climbed a tree before." Valerie shouted up at him.

"Hurry up!" He called after her while hanging onto a limp branch, his shirt lifted up a little while he dangled in the air for a moment before hosting himself up to a sturdy long branch.

"You're too high up." She protested grabbing onto another branch.

Nick scowled at her, "You're such a fucking baby." He teased.

Rolling her eyes she muttered something under her breath as she continued her climb.

"It's just you and I tonight Valerie." Nick shouted loudly and then popped out his flask from the pocket in his hoodie.

Valerie reached the branch he was on and did her best to sit on it.

She looked at how high up she was and laughed, "Holy shit." She whispered after her laughter had subsided, looking down at the ground which was very far. All you can see was Meeko sitting down there watching his owners with anticipation.

Nick watched her push her chest out and spread open her arms, "Look at my hair." She said watching the brown mermaid waves whip around with help from the frigid wind.

God he loved the way she loved herself at that moment.

Smiling while she continued to pretend she was Rose on Titanic or something he pulled out a pen and a note paper he had made for her the other day.

He crossed off 'climb a tree in the park.'

And then put it away and just continued to observe her carefully with a small smile spread on his face.

"Wow look at the lake. It's all frozen." She mumbled getting closer to the edge of the branch.

Nick grabbed a hold of her hood and pulled her back gently, she glared at him and all he did was scoff and furrow his brow at her.

"Excuse me for wanting to keep you alive."

Ignoring him she peered down to see where Meeko was, spotting him she frowned at how upset he looked, "Aw Meeko seems sad. Let's go back down."

//

"Where are we going now?" Valerie questioned Nick who was trudging right in front of her, he turned around.

"You'll see." He said with a wink before turning back.

The two had left Meeko back at Johnny's before coming out here again.

Valerie hurriedly caught up to Nick, "We have to be home for Dinner. It's Christmas Eve and Irene spent all day making dinner-"

She paused when she saw Nick climbing over a wooden fence and into a backyard of a large home.

"What are you doing?" She whispered staring at him jump down to the other side.

"Come on, it isn't so tall." He reassured looking at her through the cracks in the wood.

"Nick." Valerie urged looking at the sign that said no trespassing.

"Valerie." He mimicked her voice.

After a few moments of thinking she finally gave in,"Fine."

At the top of the fence Nick offered her his hand and she took it, he pulled her down and safely had her land on her feet beside him.