Life Worth Living

Life Worth living - Part 3

Valaska was at the park, organizing a birthday party for the orphans of the Cheshire Home. Banners and balloons, picnic food laid on the wooden tables. The grass never seemed greener, her smile has never been more fake and her heart has never seemed to cease hurting. She took a deep breath as a conclusion for the hard work she's done for the day.

"Daddy!"

She turned around and caught sight of a man embracing his child. His wife walked towards them as he carried his little princess dressed in a white fairycut attire. He pokes her cheek with his finger and she winced as he did it. Her mother gave a tender smile and a sweet laughter. Valaska stood still, clipboard and pen in hand. Her glassy eyes in a trance, lips quivering.

"Val?" it was Claudia, "VAL!"

She turned to face her bestfriend, "Oh. Hey, Claudi." She seemed to be distracted.

"So what do you think?" Valaska gave an uncertain look as she did not know what Claudia was applying to. "I asked if you wanted to join me? Jed's having a party this Saturday." "Jedediah Vanderwood? Your hunny bun?" she confirmed with the model. Claudia nodded and bit on her lip.

"Well, Jed's parties are the bomb! I'll need a new dress," she gave a forced smile just to please her friend. Then her face expression changed and she said, "Is there going to be alchohol?" Claudia widened her eyes and gave a sarcastic look, "Honey, we're 21. And he's a Vanderwood. There's bound to be achohol!" Valaska seemed pleased as she smirked. They both pulled their sunglasses out of their hair and positioned them where they should be.

"Let's go get you that dress."

"Almost every store in La Mode is having a sale now," Valaska tried to sound enthusiastic. Claudia gave her a 'feeling sexy' look and she laughed. Getting into her Silver Cadillac XLR, they drove away in no time. Destination - La Mode (the one place they could find every possible designer store).

"Welcome to Claurie, Miss Harlington, Miss Donawitt. What can I assist you with today?" the storegirl - I mean, guy - said. He strutted alongside them, Valaska brushed her hair back and tucked her sunglasses in place saying, "I need a dress. Something new, fresh, elegant but casual.

"Ooh! I think we might have something like that that'll look great on me! I mean,.. if I had you body, Miss," he pranced of to one side of the store as Claudia and Valaska scanned the rest of the room. "This is going to look A-Ma-Zing on you," the storekeeper came back with a dress that fit Valaska's description perfectly. "Val, go try it on. Now!" Claudia squealed her command as she pushes Valaska into the fitting room.

She came out wearing that black strapless babycut dress, length slightly above the knee with faint white net linings and a laced back. Bitting her bottom lip, she looked at herself in the mirror again and complimented Audrei Harlington for the design. "You look great in mummy's dress!" Claudia rests her palm on Valaska's bare shoulders. "Absolute perfection, Miss Donawitt! The black really shows an obvious contrast to your fair pale skin and the whites look amazing versus the flare of red in your hair," Damien definitely knew what he was talking about. It was one of the reasons Mr Harlington (Owner of Claurie and father of Claudia) hired him instead of the pretty girls that didn't know shit.

Saturday. 7 pm. Venue, Vanderwood residence.

"Wow. I almost forgot how amazing Jed's crib was," Valaska stared at the magnificent pent house before her. Crisp white with an open deck at the roof top, glass paneled balcony. There were already so many people there. "Claudia!" it was Jedediah, they were lovers. He took her hand and lifted it to his lips to place a kiss. Putting his hand around her waist, he looked at her company, "Hey Val, glad you made it. It's been awhile since we've had you around here," Jedediah had blue eyes and a dirty blonde hair do. Claudia has taken interest in him.

"Well Jed, I hope you prepared enough booze because I'm planning to get wasted alright," Valaska was being her destructive self again.

"Of course, hunny. And if you need to stay overnight, there are enough rooms for guests in this house. Make yourself at home, yeah," he was the type who always had parties organized or attended parties. Valaska smirked and walked in. The house was packed with young socialites and even royals. Claudia went close behind her and whispered in her ears, "have fun and take a chance."

She managed to glance at her best friend one last time before Jedediah pulled her away. Valaska stood there, alone. In the middle of the crowd. She decided to get a snack rather than standing around like an idiot. She took a seat on the snack bar, the tall stool made her lean over the counter for balance.

"Miss?" the waiter lifted his brow as he placed his hand on the counter. White shirt, silver tie, platinum blonde. She scanned him, separating her lips, "Something different and sweet." The man tightened his lips and turned around to face his working counter. It was filled with snacks of all kind. "Ahh.." the waiter bit the side of his bottom lip and started making the snack.

He turned around to present some sort of fruit mixed salad with a whipped cream topping. He definitely knew how to make food look like art. She almost didn't want to ruin his masterpiece. "It taste better than it looks, you know," he pushed it to her and shoved a spoon into the bowl.

She lifted the spoon and flashed a smile at the waiter, he was quite a looker. "Well, here goes nothing," she said playfully and tasted the delicacy prepared for her. She took some time swallowing it anf finally licked her lips.

"Wow. Not bad."