"So...he just...attacked you and left??" Nex said with a shocked expression on her face. Claudia sat across from her with the same expression and her hand to her lips. Both girls stared at Valene, trying to process her story and finding it unbelievably lucky.
"Basically, yea." Valene said with a nod as she scooped a bit of whipped cream off her latte with her index finger and licked it off. The three sat at the cafe Valene worked at and were having lunch together while she was on break. Nex had the same break and Claudia didn't have to play that afternoon so when they got the call from Valene that morning about asomething urgent they rushed over as soon as she was able to sit down and chat.
"And you didn't think to...oh I don't know...call the friggin cops???" Nex said with a concerned glance to Claudia. Valene shook her head.
"I would have but...like I said he just....vanished. Like...into thin air. I don't know how but I figured calling the cops was pointless, all they would arrive to see is me frazzled and exhausted in my nightgown with a cut on my cheek. I highly doubt they would have found any evidence or DNA he was there either. I don't know...there was just something...strange about him. Besides, he seemed to be doing this for a very long time....I honestly don't think the cops could catch him." she answered as gently touched the bandage on her cheek. The cut still stung, but at least that's all she got away with.
"Oh my god Val, you're incredibly lucky...and brave!" Claudia said, leaning over and giving Valene a hug. "We are so relieved you are safe at least."
Val shrugged. "Actually, I was scared to damn death. I thought I was about to die...and I would have if it weren't for my reflexes." she said, taking a sip of her latte. "Thank you mom for those karate lessons." she gave a small smile as the other two looked at each other with a sideways smirk.
"Amen to that," Nex said, "..but what concerns me now is you said he told you 'he would be watching.' Does that not worry you?"
To that Valene sighed. "Yea....it worries me sick. I mean, he did threaten my life then just....up and left....and yea I was incredibly lucky to have just got this cut. But....I'm hoping he really just means 'watch' and not 'attack' again. Though that won't stop me from locking up my house like a maximum security prison."
Claudia seemed to be thinking for a moment before she jolted in her seat and finally spoke up. "Oh! Why don't you spend a few nights with one of us at our houses? You'll be safe if he doesn't know where you are." she suggested. Valene smiled but shook her head.
"I would but you know I can't leave Oktober and Honey alone at the house, and Oktober is sick. The vet suggested against moving her around too much or putting her in cars as she might throw up everywhere and you know I won't leave my precious baby when she is in need." she said. "Besides, he said he would be watching...so I don't think going a few blocks over to one of the few occupied houses would deter him to terribly if he really did want to come back for another attack."
Claudia frowned a bit and sighed, there goes her idea. However, Nex spoke up with another one. "Then we are gonna come stay with you." she said simply. Valene went to object but Nex held up a hand and silenced her. "I know you're gonna say you don't want us getting hurt or any bullcrap like that, but it's not good for you to stay completely alone and with three of us there he would be outnumbered if he did come back. You'll at least have some company too and you won't be sitting alone in a dark quiet house fearing every little noise that you hear." she then sat her hand over one of Valene's, looking at her with a small smile. "We want to be there for you...to at least feel a bit safer."
After a moment or two and both Nex and Claudia's semi pouty faces, Valene gave in and agreed with a nod. "Fine, you guys can come over tonight then. But I don't want you to make a big deal about it and we are locking every door and window as soon as the sun goes down." she said. Both girls agreed to her terms and Nex gave a chuckle.
"Also, we've got this crazy white bitch protecting us, and you know she can take down and elephant when she's on a rampage." Nex laughed, pointing to Claudia who gave a chuckle and flexed her arms, showing off her 'muscles.' She was a pretty thin girl, but Nex was right, she did have some muscle to her and when provoked she was pretty vicious. The girls had a good laugh and chatted a bit more before a small bell rung, signaling the end of Valene's break. The three stood and after hugs Claudia took Nex back to the club and Valene went back to serving, having a broad smile on her face. Despite her rather traumatic experience, Claudia and Nex always knew how to bring her a genuine smile and relieve her stress. It was good, since she had been having a lot of it. During the rest of her time at work she was relaxed, but couldn't help but replay the events of the night before over and over again in her head. Something about the whole situation gave her a very...odd feeling. It wasn't until her shift ended that her thoughts snapped back to reality and she gathered up her things before heading home. Nex had sent her a text letting her know that both her and Claudia would be there around seven. It was six fifteen. It took her fifteen minutes to drive home from work, ten on a clear traffic day, which gave her enough time to stop by an international bakery a few blocks down and pick up a little something for the 'slumber party' they were going to have tonight. She new Nex didn't eat many sweets, so she decided just to pick up a few little snacks from croissants to apple strudels and her personal favorite, macarons. She always got the purple and blue ones and was the only one that ate them, but they reminded her of home as her mother would bring home purple and blue macarons from her bakery just for Valene. The thought made her smile wide as she sat the pastries in the passenger seat then got in and drove home, the memory of her mother and the good times her and her friends had when she was younger slowly taking over her thoughts and during the drive she had forgotten all about the previous night's incident and drifted into a state of blissful rememberance.
