When I Come Around

Chapter 11

I sat across from Riley, listening to her talk about her school. As much as I tried to keep my mind on what she was saying, I caught myself thinking about Valerie. I knew Valerie had said she wanted no relationship with me, but I was whipped for her. I loved her laugh and her voice. I found myself smiling as I listened to her, simply because she was perfect. She thought so little of herself, while I thought the world of her. I cleared my mind, trying to listen to Riley again.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked me.

"Nothing," I said, looking towards her.

"Yes you are! You aren't even listening to me," Riley argued, watching me.

"It doesn't matter, just finish your story," I said.

"You were thinking about that girl, weren't you?" She asked me. I sighed, nodding. I wasn't a liar. I was thinking about Valerie. Riley scoffed, standing.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I'm leaving," I said, "you go have fun with that whore, I'm done with you." I felt my fists clench as she walked out. Valerie was not a whore. I pushed my chair back, following her out.

"So that's it? You are just going to leave?" I asked, walking quickly to keep up with her.

"Yeah, that's it. You can't even listen to me talk, and I'm sick of it," she said, getting in her car. I watched her get in her car, driving away quickly. So there I was. Standing in a suit and tie infront of a five-star restaurant. I felt used, but I wasn't sure why. I went inside, knowing I still had to pay the bill. I paid quickly, driving back home. I didn't want to sit at a table meant for two, eating by myself. I just wanted to go home and relax, to get my mind off Riley and all the problems in my busy life. As I arrived home, I headed toward the living room when I heard talking.

"Harry? Are you back already?" Valerie called.

"Yeah, the date didn't go too well," I said, my sentence ending short when I saw her sitting beside another man in the living room. He was taller than I was and he had long brown hair. His hair was disheveled and messy, but he didn't seem to care. I could see tattoos crawling up his neck above his t-shirt and down his hands. If it was any other person, I would probably ask them about some of their drawings, but because it was the one person I knew that hurt Valerie so much, I didn't ask much.

"This is Andy, my friend," Valerie said, "and this is Harry, my roommate."

"Nice to meet you, Harry," Andy said, standing to shake my hand.

"You too," I said, shaking his hand, my mind racing. Last time Valerie talked to Andy, he broke up with wanting absolutely nothing with her baby. Now, I walked in to them on the couch. I glanced to Valerie for an explanation.

"Andy and I were talking about some plans for once the baby is born," Valerie explained to me, looking up towards me.

"Oh? And what is that?" I asked. I probably sounded nosy, but I didn't care, because I wanted to know.

"Well, Val will have full custody, I'll only visit," Andy said, glancing over to Valerie.

"We agreed that the baby should have some sort of father figure, so Andy wants to try to be that," Valerie said, smiling as she glanced towards Andrew.

"Louis and I will both be here, isn't that enough?" I asked Valerie, looking towards her.

"Well, neither you or Louis are the father," Valerie said, looking towards me, "Andy is the daddy." These words felt like a slap to my face. I know I wasn't the father, and I know Louis wasn't the father, but it doesn't change the fact I care for the baby like my own. Sometimes I caught myself looking at baby names, just because I wanted to be apart of the baby's life. More than that, I wanted to be apart of Valerie's life, and just not as her friend. I excused myself, heading to the room. I was only slightly upset after I broke up with Riley, but even more now that Valerie was getting back together with Andrew. I guess I had some twisted picture in my head that once I got rid of Riley, Valerie would be mine. I was too dumb to realise only love stories work out that way.