"Friends"

"Friends" Chapter 8

VALERIE'S POV

I woke up to the smell of Indian food.
I sat up and looked around the dark room.
Why didn't he wake me up?
I walked out of the room and opened the door. The light was so much brighter.
I squinted my eyes and looked around. I saw the food containers on the table and tried to find Jimmy.
He was sitting at his desk on his computer looking very focused.
"Hey, why didn't you wake me up?" I rubbed my eyes and walked towards him. His eyes shot over to me and he had a huge smile on his face.
"Hey! Come here!" He ran over to me and pulled me over to the table.
I sat down and he set the Indian food in front of me.
"Why are you so happy?" I giggled at how funny he was acting.
"I have some news..."
I took a bite of the chicken curry and looked up at him.
"Good news ooor bad news?" I wiped my face with the napkin.
"Good, baby, good!" He brought his chair right in front of me and sat down.
He rested his elbows on his knees and smiled up at me.
"Jimmy tell me!"
"Okay, okay. Guess where we're going on Thursday?"
"Ummm... your bed?" I giggled and took another bite.
"Hmmm sounds good... but not exactly!!! I just booked us tickets to Los Angeles!"
I nearly choked on my chicken.
"What?"
"Yeah! You and me! LA!" He reached for my hand and shook it like a crazy person.
"That's great!! But why?"
"Well, Drew just called me and told me that we, the whole cast, has to fly into LA for a mandatory meeting and so... I decided to take you with me!"
"Oh... Well, Jimmy.."
"What? What's wrong?" The excitement immediately drained from his face.
"That's your job! I don't want to distract you..."
"But you wouldn't be distracting me! I really want you there."
I set down my fork and turned to face him.
"Jimmy... I can't go."
"Why not?"
"Why not? I just told you! I'd go with you if you didn't have to work but this is different. It's so sweet of you to want to take me," I reached my hand up to his cheek. "But I just can't do that."
"But I really want you there with me..."
"Okay, how long are you going for?"
"A week..."
"Jimmy! A week isn't that long at all! As soon as you know it, you'll be back and I'll be here waiting for you to come home." I smiled at him and he gave me a little smile.
"I just wanted you to come.. it would've been fun..."
"I know," I rubbed his cheek with my thumb. "But I'll miss you..." I leaned down and kissed his nose.
He wrapped his hands around my neck and pulled me in for a kiss.

As Jimmy and I sat in the backseat of a cab on the way to the airport, I realized how much I really was going to miss him.
We got to the airport and I helped him get his bag out of the trunk.
He paid the driver and then the cab waited for me.
"Alright! Well, I will see you soon, ok?" I could tell he was sad just from his voice. I leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around me.
"You'll be back soon... Have fun! Don't worry about me, I'll be fine..."
I gave him a kiss and pulled away. He lingered and just stared at me.
"Ok if you don't leave soon I might cry, go on!" I gave him a little shove and watched him walk into the airport.
I got back into the cab and we drove off.
I couldn't help but cry.
We literally just got together and then he had to leave. I know it wasn't his fault but it just made me sad.

JIMMY'S POV

I landed in Los Angeles and got my luggage. I walked out into Pick Up area and saw a man holding a sign that read- FALLON
"Hi!" I walked over to him.
"Mr.Fallon?" I nodded my head and stuck my hand out.
He shook it firmly.
"I'm John and I'll be your driver for the afternoon."
We walked out to his car and after only a few minute drive, we were at Drew's house.
We made plans for me to stay at her house. I hadn't seen her in a while, so I was excited to catch up.
"Thanks, John!" I got my bag and handed him money.
"Oh, don't worry sir, Ms.Barrymore took care of this." He shook my hand and got into his car.
That was really nice of her...
I walked up to her door and rang the doorbell.
I heard a dog barking and I breathed in the sweet Los Angeles air.
The door opened and I saw her holding a small dog in one arm.
"HEYYYY!" I felt her throw her free arm around my neck and she pulled me down.
"Haha hi there!" I set my bag down and wrapped my arms around her.
She let go and poked at my side.
"You look good, hun! Come on in!" She pulled me into her beautiful mansion and I looked around.
"Here, you can put your bag in here." She showed me to a really nice guest bedroom and I set my suitcase down.
"So how have things been?" She walked in front of me into the living room.
Her house was very open and very modern. There were windows all around and you could see the ocean right from her living room.
"Things have been good, Jim! Are you excited about the movie?"
She sat down on the couch and I sad down too.
"Yeah.. but why are we having this meeting? Aren't we not filming for at least another year?" She stroked her small dog.
"Yeah, they just want to give everyone the dates and locations."
"Ah, ok." I nodded my head.
"So what's been going on with you?"
"Ah, nothing much. Just trying to get used to life outside SNL."
"Well, you sounded waayy more enthusiastic on the phone the other day! Tell me what's going on in your life!" She patted my arm and put her hand back onto her dogs back.
"Well, I'm sort of seeing this girl..." I could tell I was blushing.
"Oh my gosh Jimmy Fallon! Tell me about her!!!!!" She was so excited.
"Well, actually... I don't know if you remember, but when you were on SNL, a girl did your make up. Do you remember her?"
"Not really.." she pulled her hair back into a ponytail. "That was all a blur..."
"Oh, ok! Well, I met her like the first day I was on SNL and we instantly became friends. We've been best friends for years and I've always had a huuuuuge crush on her. She's so amazing and fun to be around and gosh, she's beautiful. I don't really know.." I ran my hand through my hair. I couldn't stop smiling. "Things just happened between us and I'm just really happy right now." She smiled back at me.
"Wow..." She mumbled under her breath.
"What?"
"I hope one day a guy talks about me like that and looks like that!" She pointed at my face and giggled.
I let my head fall back onto her couch and wiped my forehead.
"I'm just in a good place right now... A really good place..." My eyes wandered all around the room and I just smiled.
"I'm glad, kid. I know that out of every guy I've ever known, you're the one who deserves true happiness... Even though you're already Mr.Happy... Jesus, do you even know that? You're always so happy and it's like the best thing to be. That's why so many people love being around you."
Drew was one of the only people in Hollywood, who I've met, who truly has a good heart. She always is happy, (I guess like me?) and she is just so genuine. There are so many fake people that just want the fame... She is so passionate about films and acting. It's incredible.
"So where is she right now?" I looked back over at her.
"Well, I bought her a ticket to come but she decided that she didn't want to interfere. She felt like she would be a 'distraction'... Honestly, I'm better when she's around. I'm happier and I don't have a care in the world. Gosh.. I wish she was here."
"Me too.." She rested her hand on top of mine. "I would really love to meet her someda-"
Just then her house phone rang.
"Oh hold on..." she left her dog on the couch as she ran over to the phone.
"Hello?...." She wandered into the kitchen and I couldn't hear her anymore.
I kept wondering if I should call Val or not... I will later.
I heard her run back into the living room.
"Hey my friend Nancy and I are going out to an early dinner! Wanna join us?"
"Ummm..." I looked around and my eyes stopped on the phone in her hand. "I think I'll pass..." All I really wanted to do was call Val and hear her voice. "Usually I would say 'hell yeah!' but I'm just kind of tired and I wanna get situated."
"Okay then!" She walked behind me and petted my head like a dog. She set the phone down next to me on the couch. "You're missing out! I'm going to go get dressed." She walked into her bedroom and closed the door behind her.
I grabbed her house phone, went into the guest bedroom and dialed Val's number.

VALERIE'S POV

I heard my house phone ring and I hoped it was Jimmy. I didn't realize how quiet my life was without him here.
I ran over to it and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi baby!" I let out a sigh of relief. It was so nice to hear his voice.
"Hi!!! How was your flight?" I sat down on the floor by a window and just listened to the sound of his voice.
"Good, I'm at Drew's house right now and she's about to leave to go have dinner."
"Oh sweet! Are you going?" I really wanted to talk with him longer.
"Nah... I rather talk with you." I smiled a huge smile. "I miss you, kid."
I was so relieved to hear that he missed me. I missed him like crazy and it had only been a few hours.
"I miss you too, Jim."