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Chapter Ten

Sam:

Part Two

Letting go of all I've held onto…

There's nothing that makes you grumpier in the morning than not being able to sleep the previous night because you were stuck on one single thought. I was usually not a morning person, I admit, but this morning, I was worse.

I wasn't sure what made me angrier. The fact that I knew Valerie and Tucker had been making excuses and pretty much lying to me, or the fact that they had both teamed up against me for the same reason. And then I wasn't sure who I was angrier at; Tucker or Valerie.

That morning, my first victim was Valerie. I hadn't really ever liked her in the first place and then later I had pretty much despised her. She had that way of getting to me by just expressing her opinion. And it was driving me crazy…because she was right.

But so what if I was in love with Danny? I'd liked him for a while. And…I'd tell him eventually. Maybe. It didn't matter whether I told him my feelings or not. She was going into my territory and into my personal space. She just needed to back off or I would seriously snap.

I had the whole conversation already planned out. I actually had planned to do more yelling than talking, but that wasn't the point. I had to get my point through to her. I didn't need someone playing matchmaker for me. And especially not the ex-girlfriend who tries to tear apart my best friend just because she has a simple grudge…

I paced the sophomore hallway, at school a bit earlier than usual. Danny and Tucker weren't there yet, but I needed to have a little chat with Valerie before I talked to them.

Not that I wouldn't chicken out after seeing them. But I knew how Danny still felt about insert choice word here and I didn't want to tell him that I was about to snap on someone he might still have feelings for.

The only problem I really had was that I might be losing both of my friends to the puzzle that was Valerie Gray. It was like she had split personalities; there was the nice, sort of still popular girl that used to make fun of us along with Paulina and Dash and the other jocks and princesses…and then there was this new girl that had suddenly taken her place, talking to us and acting all nice to us… And of course, you still had the whole ghost huntress factor where if you were a ghost, she'd take her little weapons and shove it up your—

"Hey, Sam!"

Speaking of Valerie…I turned in surprise, jumping from my current thoughts to see her just across the hall from me, stopping at her locker.

Okay…this was it.

"Can I talk to you a minute?" Without waiting for an answer, I grabbed her arm and pulled her around the corner. She stumbled at first and then regained her balance and allowed herself to be steered away. I personally felt like shoving her into the wall, but restrained myself.

"What the heck are you trying to do?"

To my surprise, she didn't play dumb with me. Instead, she looked around. "I don't want to talk about it. Not now…and definitely not here."

"Fine then," I snapped, trying to figure out if she was messing with me or not. "What's your idea?"

"The mall," she said. "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's not good enough for me," I said.

"Fine…later today, but I have to work at six. So, if we're going to the mall, it'll have to be around four or five or earlier," she said. "Sam, I didn't mean to--"

"I'll talk to you later then. Three," I said, cutting her off. I walked away before she could say anything else and sighed, going around the corner away from her and standing near the water fountain.

Okay, that had gone…a little like I'd planned. A bit rushed, but that had been because I was angry. She actually hadn't pretended to not know what I was talking about and seemed…fairly sincere with her offer. And the only reason I'd agreed was because of that. So, I'd picked three. That would give me time afterwards in case I needed to cool off.

I looked back and Val wasn't there anymore. Danny and Tucker were however, standing next to each other in the hallway. Danny was digging in his locker, Tucker carrying his books, swinging them at his side as if he'd just walked over there.

Calming down a bit more, I made my way over to them.

"Yeah, about four hours," I heard Danny say, sounding agitated. From his facial expression, I was guessing he was talking about sleep because he looked fairly tired. I wondered if he'd had any ghost problems last night.

"Dang…Got any bruises?" Tucker would be the one to ask that, wouldn't he?

"Not really," Danny replied.

"That's a first." I almost laughed.

"Last night was sweeeeet…" he said, whistling. Of course he would think last night was sweet. He and Valerie were watching us make total idiots out of ourselves with our "double date."

"Where's Sam?" Danny asked.

I crept up behind him with a grin, forgetting about my angry thoughts for a millisecond. "Right here." He jumped about a foot and I rapped my hand on the back of his head in greeting. "Hope you feel better today," I teased.

"Y-yeah, thanks," he stammered. I raised an eyebrow. What was up with him? He almost looked…nervous and kind of shy around me all of a sudden.

"You okay?" I asked him. He nodded, swallowing awkwardly and clearing his throat as if he was having problems talking.

"Okay then…" I rubbed his shoulder. "You look exhausted."

"I'm good," he said. It had come out better than his first statement had, but his voice was higher pitched still.

"I think he's sleep deprived," Tucker teased with a small laugh. I rolled my eyes and then saw Valerie across the hall again, back at her locker and vaguely heard his voice. "But…no weirder than usual."

I didn't want to face Valerie again. She was probably going to come right over and start talking, acting like nothing had happened and I would probably put my fist in her mouth, given the chance. Without meaning to, I grabbed Danny's arm a little faster than normal, tugging him towards first hour.

"I'm going to get to class. Coming?" Please, I insisted silently.

He looked at his watch, his brow furrowing in confusion. "We've got about seven minutes," he said.

"I know," I said fast, watching as Valerie indeed cast a gaze over at the three of us. "I'll meet you there, okay?" I walked away before they could say anything else, not looking back.
Well, that was going to be weird to explain if they asked later, but I'd think of something. I usually did.

Right now…my top priority was Valerie.

……………………………

I couldn't help but glance at my watch for the billionth time as three o'clock finally rolled around and I was sitting impatiently at the café that was next to the local Goth Shop of Horrors in the mall. Honestly, I figured if she was smart enough, she'd figure out where I'd be.

I was trying to make myself as controlled as possible, but it was difficult since I was already on edge. Earlier, I'd freaked out Danny and Tucker by being especially nice in order to maybe calm myself down and test myself when I talked to Valerie.

But Danny was starting to freak me out. Every time he talked to me, I swear he'd suddenly gone completely mind blank and stuttered, trying to get a simple sentence out sometimes. I wondered what was up with him, but didn't ask, guessing I didn't want to know. His weirdness on certain days equaled mine.

I looked up, chewing on my thumbnail and Valerie, standing about a store down, looked back. She met my gaze for a moment and then started walking towards me.

And so it begins, I thought, making sure that the seat across from me was available. Luckily, it was and she approached me, holding a drink in her hand.

She sat down and bit her lip, twirling the straw in her drink around several times. "Well, I'm here…Where should I start?" She tried a laugh and I could tell that she was trying to make light of the conversation.

"Why are you trying to put Danny and me together?" I blurted immediately, one of my hands gripping the edge of the table tightly. "And what's worse…why are you and Tucker trying to put me together?"

"Sam…" She broke off for a moment and sighed. "Look, I'm not trying to tell you what to do…but I really need you to be quiet…just for a few seconds…I won't be able to get out what I really mean if I'm interrupted."

"Fair enough," I agreed, adjusting my jaw.

"A week ago…I saw you and Danny hanging out at the park and you looked, happy. And honestly great together. As much as I hated to admit it. So, I formed this plan, trying to get you guys dating or something. I had this horrible fear…that somehow it would backfire on me. That I'd just make things distant between you or cause some kind of fight to wriggle out. But then nothing happened…and I know I only tried the double date thing once, but already I was assured…You two were too…good of friends or whatever to really make me regret anything.

Sam, when I first met you and Danny and Tucker, I didn't know you and I didn't want to know you. That's how I was. But ever since…a few things have changed…I've been given this…wonderful opportunity to actually get to know you. All of you…And I hate who I used to be. I hate I used to tease you guys and make fun of you. You accepted with no question at first…And on the outside I was harsh because I was angry and everything…But deep down I was grateful to have someone on my side. I didn't act like it at all, but really I was.

And the Ghost King attacked and that was when…I really saw Danny for who he was…This good person that would help even an enemy… I knew you were suspicious of me. Tucker too; I guessed he kind of figured out that I'd been using him to get some ghost info and stuff. I feel really guilty about that. But I still barely knew him when the Ghost King invaded and yet…when they couldn't find him suddenly, I was terrified. I thought, that it might the last time I see him and I was…scared."

I had the urge to suddenly agree, but didn't say anything, completely frozen and speechless at her words. But she still wasn't done yet…

"But then he was okay. I tried to make you jealous because I knew you liked him. It was obvious then…and it's obvious now. So, I tried to get you riled up. I figured if…maybe he'd see how much I was fighting to win his heart…he'd look past you, his own best friend…and then he'd be mine. It was a horrible thought and I knew it, but I couldn't stop myself from thinking it.

So, what do you know, but a few weeks later…We went out on a date…More than one. I really, really liked him. He was everything a girl could want…you just to look past the whole "loser" label that everyone insists on giving him. I just wish they could see…" She broke off, drifting from the point. "And then I realized…and it nearly broke my heart to know it had to be right…But I realized…I couldn't be with him. He didn't know me…I didn't have the heart to lie to him anymore…let alone put his own life in danger. He didn't deserve me. He deserved you."

I still didn't know what to say, stunned at her every statement, her every confession. For the first time in my life, Valerie was telling me everything I'd needed to know and I'd imagined the conversation going so differently… I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Sam, you've been with him from the start. You probably know more about him than I do. In fact, I know you do. You're his best friend and even though he doesn't see certain things that most of us do…" She laughed shortly. "The fact is, the way he looks at you. It's rare. He's a good guy…I feel so…stupid and yet relieved to have broken his heart. Stupid because I knew it was so unfair to him…so cruel. Yet relieved because he had someone better. He had you…"

She cleared her throat and sighed loudly, fanning herself off with her hand. Her cheeks had gone a fair shade of red and she tried to smile. "Well, that's it I think…Sorry for the…long ranting spree."

"You meant that?" I suddenly couldn't look at her.

"Yeah, I did," she said. "More than anything. You asked me to be honest. And honestly, it felt pretty good…"

I found myself completely speechless. All this time, I'd expected this to be some long, drawling conversation on how she was just messing with us and seeing how much she could really get me riled up. But what she'd said. Her words echoed in my head.

I wanted her to be wrong about everything. I almost didn't want to believe her. Yet, here she was, sitting with me and pouring her heart's secrets out to me…And how horrible I'd been to her just today. I couldn't even begin to list all the other times I'd said things behind her back and had been rude and selfish.

Guilt crept over me and I stayed silent, trying to think clearly about what she'd told me. For the first time since we'd met…

I finally saw Valerie as a truly good person. And what more…a friend.

Do you know how much I like Valerie now? It's not easy not being able to be understood sometimes. Prejudgment and all. So, what shall happen now I wonder? Hmm…getting better and better.

The next chapter is funnier and more action packed. However, you might not see this for a while because since this is the tenth chapter finally, I might not be updating it for a while. I'm trying to bring some of my stories at least to five chapters, and hopefully ten for some of the others, so I'll be working on them more now. However, I'll probably make up a new schedule sometime like I always do and you guys will see me again soon! You never know!

Please R&R! Here's your sneak peek!

Chapter Eleven: Valerie: Part Three

I sighed, shifting myself on the chair to face her. "If you're angry, I get it and I'll back off. But I stand by what I said."

Sam was silent for a moment and I didn't say anything either, feeling I'd said enough. But as she didn't say anything for at least another minute, I couldn't take it.

"Look, I understand if you completely hate me," I said, standing on my feet and pulling my bag over my shoulder. "I'll--"

"I don't," she suddenly said, looking up at me finally.

Lateraina Wolf