"Friends"

"Friends" Chapter 2

VALERIE'S POV

I woke up the next morning to the sound of my house phone ringing. I opened my eyes and the sun peering through my window blinded me. I rolled over in my bed and I was still wearing Jimmy's sweatshirt. My phone rang for the last time and I heard the beep.
"Val, its Jim! I'm outside your apartment and I know that you're sleeping so WAKE UP!" His voice filled the apartment. I could hear cars going by and honking in the background. I groaned and rolled out of bed. I looked down and I was wearing undies and the sweatshirt.
I walked over to my closet and threw on some shorts. I slowly walked into my living room and realized Jimmy was still talking.
"Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up..." I rolled my eyes and headed downstairs.
I opened the door to my building and saw that he was sitting on the curb with his back to me.
"Jim," He turned around and picked up the duffle bag that was next to him. He stood up and gave me a hug.
"How are you doin this morning?" I entered the building and we got into the elevator.
"Still adjusting... Still shocked." He messed with his hair and I pushed the button and the elevator began to move. "Can't get enough of me, huh?" He chuckled and pointed at the sweatshirt.
"You know I love it..." I rubbed the sleeve and smiled.
"I know.." He smiled at me and the doors opened.
We walked into my apartment and he threw his bag onto the floor by the door.
"Hey, you left this here last time you stayed the night..." I picked up his razor and pretended to throw it at him.
He threw his hands up and closed his eyes, anticipating the pain. I laughed and walked over to him and placed it into his hands.
"Not cool, man..." He carefully put it into his bag and sat down on the couch.
There were tons of people at SNL who always thought that we were a thing... All of the girls wanted Jimmy and so I really didn't have many friends at work because they were always so mean and jealous that I spent so much time with him. I remember Tina asking me why we were such good friends and I simply told her, "He makes me laugh." She always wanted us to date but we never really went down that road. I was always happy with where we were, in terms of our relationship, and so we kept it that way.

I heard Jimmy turn on the TV as I stood in my room making my bed. I pulled out a bag from under my bed and began to pack for my parent's house. My parents live in Fulton, a small city in the western part of Oswego County, New York. Their house is on a lake and it's where I grew up. It's about three hours from the city, which is far enough away from home, but not too far.
I finished packing and quickly threw on some loose jeans that I rolled up above my converse and put on a red T-shirt that I got from an ex. I pulled my hair into a bun, grabbed my bag and walked into the living room.
"So, what's the plan?" I grabbed a cup of coffee and looked over to Jimmy who had his eyes glued to the TV.
"We're driving... I rented a car." He mumbled.
"Ok sweet... want some coffee?" He stood up off the couch and turned of the TV.
"If we leave now," he looked down at his watch. "We can get there at three-ish... Is that ok?" He totally ignored my offer, but I didn't mind.
He walked into the kitchen and I nodded my head. I downed my coffee and set it into the sink. His eyes wandered over to my fridge and he looked at some of the papers that I had held up by magnets.
"What are these?" he pointed to some business cards and a few ripped pieces of paper with numbers written on them.
"Just guys that gave me their numbers..." I cleaned out my cup and put it into the dishwasher.
"This is like..." I could hear him counting. "Twelve guys! Holy shit. Did you call them?"
"Are you kidding? No... But hey, get a load of these..." I walked over to my voice machine and pressed play.
"Hey Valerie, it's John from the Apple store... I was just wondering if you'd like to get drinks or-" I clicked the button.
"Hey! It's Greg! Give me a call, Val! I'd love to see ya-" I clicked the button again.
"Hey sweet stuff! Its Brian, I just wanted-"
I cut off the machine and looked over at Jimmy. He was a hysterical mess. He was laughing soo hard.
"Woooooooow! Those poor guys!" He laughed a little bit more. "And you're never going to call them?"
"Heeeelllllll no." I walked over the door with my duffle.
"Well, they're missing out..." He was trying to be sweet.
"Jim! Lets just go." I opened the door and waved for him to come.
"Fineeeee."
We got into the car and Jimmy began to drive away.
"Sorry... You know I'm a horrible driver..." He apologized and tried to turn on the blinker but the windshield wipers went off.
"Haha, smooth... It's actually on the other side.." I pointed and he turned on the blinker.
"I really don't understand why I'm such a bad driver... I took drivers Ed, passed the test and got my license" Jimmy made a sharp right turn and I could hear the bags in the back fall over and hit the floor.
"Well they're must've been two Jimmy Fallon's or something and they passed you by accident." I giggled.
"Ha, sorry other Jimmy! You failed... That would really suck for him, man..." I laughed and began to mess with my shirt. I looked out the window and watched the city go by.
"So you're really not calling any of those guys?" He cleared his throat.
"No..." I honestly didn't like any of them.
"Why not? I've never even seen you with a guy before..."
I didn't reply to him.
Maybe the reason why I don't date is because I'm still heartbroken. I never told Jimmy but when I left home to go to New York, I left my boyfriend behind. I didn't want to, but I got a job in the city and I needed to move on. Gosh... I really missed him.
"Val.." I looked at Jimmy and just shrugged my shoulders.
"Ok! Fine.... They're probably not good enough for you anyways..." I shot a look at him.
"Why are you being so..."
"So what?" He kept his eyes on the road but his head was turned to me.
"Nothing..."
I turned on the radio to try and distract me. Why was he being so...? I don't know what he was being but it was weird and not the Jimmy I'm used to.
I clicked a few different radio stations and tried to find something good. I heard "Yellow" by Coldplay come on and I squealed.
"I looooove this song!!!" I turned it up louder and Jimmy began to sing, "I bought a troll, I bought a troll for you..." I started laughing and I sang along with him.
Even though he was acting strange, I completely forgot about it all and we had a blast singing the song.
We listened to a few more songs and jammed until I saw a sign for a 7-eleven.
"Jim, let's go here!" I pointed at the sign and he moaned.
"Come on!!! I need to piss!"
"Woooow" he laughed. "You're such a lady..." We got off the freeway and he pulled into the parking lot.
"I'll be right back!" I hopped out of the car and was about to take off when I heard Jimmy.
"Hey, get me a coke!" I turned back around and he handed me money.
I did my business and got Jimmy's coke. I walked outside and I saw Jimmy singing and jamming to a song in the car. I stood there and watched him for a minute.
He's such a goof...
I laughed as I walked towards the car. When he saw me he stopped singing and turned down the music.
I got into the car and handed him his drink.
"You don't have to stop for me..." I buckled my seatbelt and I saw him blush.
"You saw that? Oh well..." He cranked up the music again and sang on the top of his lungs as we drove off.
The next thing I knew, I leaned my head on the side of the door and fell asleep.