new girl (1)

chapter 4

I had slept well last night. Having that extra time with Valery, was amazing. I never thought that I’d meet a girl I liked. Sure, I dated pretty girls, and I thought they were pretty. But I never actually liked them. I dated them, because I had to keep up my reputation. For the fun of it, I guess. I didn’t try to break girls’ hearts. If they told me they loved me, I simply told them, “No you don’t. You’ll find another guy, marry him, and have beautiful kids. And I’m okay with that.” Then they’d argue and tell me there was no other like me. Which there isn’t, because no individual is alike. Then I’d slowly put it in hints that we were getting distant. Then I would break up with her.

Yeah, they’d be pretty sad about it for a couple of days. Or weeks, I don’t know. But they all still liked me when we put down the “friend-zone.” No, I don’t date all the girls in school. I’m not that low. No, I reject some, because I think they’d catch on that I’m probably a player. Hey, at least I admitted it. I’m a player.

But I wasn’t going to do this to Valery. I couldn’t. The thought of even being away from her…hurt. Bad. My heart ached for again. In fact, getting dressed now for school, knowing I would see her again, sent a surge of adrenaline through my body. I played around in the bottom of my stomach and I felt light. I hurriedly grabbed my backpack and barged out the door. A quick yell, “See yah, Mom!” And I was off to school, where I could see the girl I’ve been waiting for.
__________

I didn’t see her today. She wasn’t there. I had waited every class we had together, staring at the door, knee bouncing up and down. I texted Samantha in class, asking her where she was. She sent me back “Idk. She said she was sick.” I don’t think she is. I think she’s avoiding me. Why won’t she just let me in? Why can’t she see that I’m a pretty good guy? Even though I’ve dated a lot of girls.

I stood in front of her house now. I looked down at my phone’s clock. The time read 4:30. It took a bunch of courage to get here. I knew her uncle was in there, and he was a scary man. He had a huge beard that covered his lips, and bulging muscles. His arms were huge. I bet he could kill with a swipe of a fist. And our first encounter wasn’t so well. I don’t think he likes me.

I walked up to the porch and knocked on the door. I waited, hearing nothing. After what seemed forever, I knocked again and this time louder. I stepped back a little and heard a crow caw in the distance. Chilled wind ran its fingers down my back.

“Val?” I called, knocking on the door again, “Valery, c’mon. Open up.”

I tried the door knob and it was surprisingly unlocked. Yeah, it’s considered trespassing, but I had to know what was wrong with Valery. My jaw dropped. The house inside was huge. A rolling staircase was in the middle of the room, and everything was white. I mean, everything. The light hanging on the ceiling was white, the sofas, the pillows, the ceiling, the walls, the floor was white. I felt seriously out of place. Nothing was strewn across the floor, it was so clean. I couldn’t see a speck of dust anywhere. And even though there were no lights on, it was surprisingly light. Maybe the white.

“Val..?” I barely moved my voice over a hushed tone. I looked to left. Seemed like that lead to the kitchen. I looked to the right. It seemed like a study. Guess I had to take the stairs.

I climbed them cautiously, my shoes making so much noise. I cringed, a deaf person could’ve heard me walk up these stairs. I finally got to the top, and I stood there for second. Everything was still white. I couldn’t imagine what Valery looked like in this house, with her black clothes. I looked right, and the hall looked longer there. Left, looked like another study and a bathroom. I went right. I walked slowly, and down the hall I heard music. Valery’s music. I walked a little bit faster, and followed the music. The guitarist rocked on a solo, and I came to a cracked bedroom door. The room too, was white.

I pushed the door open a little, and saw Valery sitting on her bed, black clothes and all. Her back faced me. The music was blasting, and to be honest, hurting my ears. Something growled behind me. A menacing, I’m-going-to-eat-you, growl. I slowly turned, and there I saw a slender black dog, lips peeled back, his pearl whites showing. His head was down low and his ears pulled tight against his head. His back was arched, and I’m pretty sure drool –or maybe rabies- was dripping from his mouth. He made a snarl and leapt for me.

I let out a yelp, and fell backward into Valery’s room, landing hard against her floor. The dog barked and snarled, landing on top of me. I shielded my face as he snapped his jaws, trying to bite me. Drool –or again, rabies- dripped on me. I heard Valery shout over the music, and it turned off. I felt the dog being pulled off me. The dog stopped growling and snarling, and sat back.

I sat up, completely dazed. I stared at Valery and back at the black tall dog. It panted and blinked at me. Valery just blinked at me.

“What are you doing here Drew?” she asked in the most calm voice, like she’d pulled her dog off of people all the time.

“I came to check on you, I was worried.” I wiped some drool off my clothes. I stood up slowly, looking around her room. It was white, but band posters were pinned up everywhere. Bands I hadn’t even heard of.

“Sorry about Alaric. He doesn’t like strangers. Or trespassers.” She gave me a glare.

I glanced down at Alaric and he made a small growl. “I see that…”

“You should get going.” Valery stepped aside as Alaric stood up, “Since you found the way in, I’m pretty sure you can find the way out.”

I nodded, looking down at Alaric. “Yeah. Wait, no. I came to talk to you.” I looked up at Valery.

“I’m busy.”

“It can’t wait?”

“No. So you should leave.” Valery waved her hand to her door, and I saw a glimpse of her wrist.

Blood.

“Val?” I grabbed her hand, “Let me see your wrists.”

“What? No! No, I’m fine. I’m fine, Drew. Really, I just…” she
tried pulling her hand away, but I pulled her sleeve down to her elbow.

Cuts. Everywhere. Horizontal cuts, still bleeding. She must’ve been cutting when I walked in. They all split her skin down to her elbow. Some deep, some not bleeding yet. Some crossed over each other, and her beautiful porcelain skin was red, with her own blood.

“Valery…my God…” I felt tears prickle behind my eyes. My Valery. Was cutting.

She ripped her arm away from me. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. “I knew you would judge. Everyone does. Just go.” She looked down, tears spilling on the floor.

“Valery. Oh, Val.” I grabbed her and held her against me. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

She started to sob into my shirt. I tightened my hold on her and laid my head on the top of hers. Her body shook with the sobs.

“Shh, Val. It’s okay, I’m here. I’m here.” I whispered into her hair. Alaric whined and left the room.

I slowly laid us down in her bed, and I held her there, my heart breaking. If I had known…I could’ve stopped her. I should’ve came earlier and stopped her. I stroked her hair, whispering to her. She stopped sobbing, but I could tell she still crying. I don’t know how long I held her, but she finally looked up and rubbed her eyes. Her makeup trailed down her face.

I wiped her tears away, and kissed her cheek. “Hey.”

“Hi.” Her voice cracked.

I buried my face her neck. “Val, why would you?”

“I just…I…” her voice was unsteady and her chin quivered.

“Shh, it’s okay, Val. You don’t have to tell me.” I rubbed her back.

Valery nodded and sniffed. She pulled out of my grip and gasped at my shirt. I looked down. Tears and mascara stained it. And her blood.

“I’m so sorry, Drew. I didn’t mean to mess up your shirt.” Her lips quivered.

“It’s fine. I have others, okay?” I sat up.

Valery nodded and wiped her eyes and laughed a little. “God, I’m such a hot mess.”

“Hot yes, mess? No.” I received a sad smile, “Let’s clean you up, okay?”

She nodded and led me to her bathroom. It was white too. I patted the counter. “Up.”

She perched on the counter and rolled up her sleeves. They were both bad.

I took a rag and ran it under warm water. I then took her arm and gently dabbed her cuts. It got quiet.

I looked up at her, and she smiled sadly at me. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” I asked, looked back down at her wrists.

“For making you go through this, for ruining your shirt. For being a mess.” She looked down and away.

I put the bloody rag down and put my hands on each side of face, making her look at me. The sadness in her eyes broke my heart. “Val. I’m happy this happened. I want to go through this with you. I want to see how many times I needed to be here for you.”

I got more tears from her. “Thank you.” And then she kissed me. Her fingers wrapped in my hair, her legs around my waist. I kissed her back of course, softly, feeling like I could break her.

Alaric barked. I pulled away from her, my hands on either side of her hips. I looked up at her, raising an eyebrow.

“Alaric must not approve.”

Valery laughed and shook her head. “My uncle must be home.” Realization took her. “My uncle! If he knew a boy was here the whole time when he was gone…Drew! Go!” she shoved my chest.

I got out of the bathroom and jogged down the stairs. Valery was right behind me. I turned toward her as I got to the door. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her against me.

“Meet me at the tree tomorrow.” I looked down at her.

“Okay! But you have to go!” she tried pulling away from me.

“Promise me.” I kept her against me.

“I promise! Now go!” she laughed.

I leaned down and kissed her. She bite my lip. “Ow!”

“I said go, Drew!”

I smirked and left.