Valid Weaknesses ||Completed|| #Wattys2017

Chapter 13

Valerie

"Valerie!" Jessi calls again, feet padding behind me. "Wait up."

I come to a halt but not because of Jessi's screams, no. I'd stopped because my lungs were burning with the fury of a thousand suns and threatened to blow up if I didn't.

Note to self; running in high heeled shoes is the singular most painful athletic experience you'll ever have.

Funny thing is, I actually haven't made it that far; just a few blocks down from the school building.

"What the hell Val?" Jess asks, striding up to me scowling but looking panicky as well.

I turn to face her, ready to explain but as soon as I open my mouth, the words dry up on my tongue and I start sobbing.

Not the kind where you cry for a while and still look pretty; no. I mean nerve wrecking honest to God raccoon eye sobs.

Great, I'll probably look like the living dead after this.

"Oh Valerie." Jessi coos, wrapping her arms around me from behind. "Who do I need to kill?" she asks and I chuckle despite myself.

"You didn't see?" I murmur into her strawberry scented hair.

"If I would I'd have shown up with a dead body trailing me wouldn't I?" she asks, laughing.

I chuckle again, pulling out of her embrace.

"I'll call Elliot." She says, sensing my hesitation. "He'll pick us up and you can tell us all about what's bothering you on the way to our place."

The words are seldom out of her mouth than her phone vibrates. Jessi pulls it out of her purse and her face turns a bright shade of red as she reads the text and sends off a reply; and I don't mean the good kind of red either.

"That jerk!" she yells, nearly hurling her phone across the street. Taking two calming breaths, she turns to face me again. "Elliot just texted me." She says, tight lipped. "He saw Raiden at the dance with Kourtney."

"Is that why you ran out Val?" she asks, eyes peering into mine. "Because you saw Raiden?"

Not trusting myself to speak without dissolving in a pool of tears, I nod to let her know her guess is right.

"We're going back in there." She says, tugging on my arm. "And when we come back, we'll need somewhere to hide the body."

"Let's not Jess." I say pulling away. "I think I've had enough for one night."

"You need to stop putting up with that Jackass." She yells making me flinch.

"I will." I whisper. "I just don't want to deal with it tonight."

"Okay if that's what you want." She mutters, clearly pissed that she wouldn't be getting a go at pounding his face in. "I told Elliot to meet us at the car park in five. We should get moving."

Wiping my face as best I can, I trail Jessi back inside the school and we walk to where her car's packed. Elliot's already there and he looks like he'd like to take a chunk out of Raiden as well.

"You okay Val?" he asks, face morphing into a mask of concern.

I shrug, not giving a definite answer before letting myself into the backseat.

"I'll drive." Elliot motions to his twin and she nods once, heading towards the passenger side of the car.

The ride to the Moore's place is tense. No one opens their mouth but the silence speaks volumes in itself.