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Valerie Scott – Haley Sowers.
Chapter 5:
Tree Hill High.
"So, you ready for your first day as a Tree Hill High student?" Lucas looked at his twin sister. In all honesty, Lucas was more worried about the population of Tree Hill, than Valerie. California is the most populous state in the United States, and Valerie thrived there, the small town of Tree Hill would be a piece of cake in comparison, and Lucas pitied the poor folks that would dare cross his spirited twin.
Valerie simply smirked and elegantly clambered out of her beloved car, "Bring it. I have nothing to worry about."
Everyone gaped at the fact that top high-ranked model Valerie was attending a school in small town Tree Hill, and if that wasn't shocking enough, Valerie, THE VALERIE, turned out to be Valerie Lucretia Scott, twin sister to loner Lucas Scott and current basketball player in the Ravens.
Lucas and Valerie split up, and a devious smirk instantly appeared on her visage when she saw the pretty brunette who she found out was called Brooke Davis and was the captain of the cheerleading squad. Her aim was to befriend the perky brunette as not only did they have the whole captain of cheerleader and most popular girl in the whole school gig in common, but Valerie felt as though they would really hit it off and that she was a kindred soul who hid all her hurt and unhappiness behind a bitchy persona.
Uno problemo: Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer A.K.A. Blondie slash Scott slut are a package deal seeing as they are best friends. And… Valerie couldn't stand Blondie at all!
"There you are!"
"Here I am," Brooke awkwardly rebutted, looking hesitantly at Valerie. "Can I help you with something?" It was no secret that Valerie bore an animosity with her B.F.F, P. Sawyer and Brooke was too loyal to her blonde counterpart.
"Yup, you are just the lucky lady I have been hoping to run into," Valerie matter-of-factly told her as she casually inspected her manicured nails that were freshly done in French.
"Oh, yeah? And why is that?" Brooke raised an eyebrow, a little attitude in her voice and stance.
Initiating eye-contact, Valerie drawled out, "Well … it isn't every day that the most popular girl in school slash captain of the cheerleading squad slash rich, party girl gets naked in my twin's car, casually forgetting a sexy leopard bra in the backseat, I may add," her tone was bordering on amusement as she leaned against some random dude's locker.
Brooke looked a bit sheepish and a subtle blush colored her cheeks, "Uh, you heard about that," she chuckled slightly, trying to act nonchalant.
"Lucas and I don't keep secrets from each other. Now, this is what you don't know. I left my life in Cali because I sensed that my bro needed me, therefore, if you break my brother's heart, I break your face. And believe me, from one head cheerleader to another, I understand that it would be like, the worst thing ever. Got it?" not once did Valerie keep the pleasant smile off her face.
Sporting wide eyes, Brook was honestly intimidated and she wasted no time in vigorously nodding her head in obedience, "Got it."
A genuinely amicable smile replaced the eerie pleasant one. "Then it was nice talking to you Brooke Davis. I look forward to doing so again. Ciao," Valerie waved, parting Brooke with a wink.
"Huh, Valerie and I might actually get along," Brooke muttered to herself with a smirk as she went to class, quashing the bubble of guilt since she wasn't supposed to like the enigmatic Scott girl in solidarity to Peyton.
Science Classroom, Tree Hill High.
Valerie sat on the table next to Brooke's in science class, ignoring the slobbering nerd beside her who wouldn't take his protuberant brown eyes off her person. Valerie had nothing against geeks; she may have been the It-Girl in Cali, the most popular girl in Boarding School with her own clique, but she had never, ever, ever and never would be, the type of Mean Girl that dissed her peers and alienated them.
Valerie Lucretia Scott despised bullies. She completely abhorred that ridiculous stereotype claiming that popular teens had to haze, diss, and bully the unlucky ones that couldn't achieve popularity status. Just like she rolled her eyes at the ludicrous stereotype claiming that blondes are mindless airhead… uh, hello, she was a straight A student, so not a mindless airhead, thank you very much!
Bored out of her mind, Valerie decided to scope her classmates and intrude on their private affairs instead of concentrating on the droning teacher who was currently showing them slideshows. It turned out, that California taught ahead of Tree Hill, so everything she was currently learning, was old school for her. Valerie perked up upon noticing the conniving expression on Brooke's face, and so, she decided to listen in on the scheme Brooke was currently conspiring as she leaned forward and whispered into Nathan's ear, who sat in front of her.
Nathan Scott; the poor bastard… he doesn't even suspect a thing; it never once crossed his mind that Brooke was playing him.
This was definitely going to end badly.
"Brooke, whatever drugs you're on, save them for the party, okay?" Nathan whispered in amusement to Brooke.
Valerie adamantly kept her eyes locked onto her notebook, doodling rubbish so that Nathan and Brooke wouldn't notice her eavesdropping.
"Ah, 'the party.' Guess who's coming with me, and I'll tell you, Peyton," whispered Brooke with relish, her eyes taunting him. Nathan rolled his eyes and hissed back, "Whatever. She's off my radar. And apparently, I'm off hers too," he added as on cue, Peyton sent a side-glance at Lucas.
"That was pot Peyton. She's totally back on track. And I think the new 'old Peyton' would be open to discussing a reconciliation," whispered Brooke.
"Did she tell you that?"
"She tells me everything," Brooke whispered smugly in retort.
Nathan now looked a bit suspicious – bless the lad, it was about darn time. "What are you up to, Brooke?"
Valerie couldn't help but feel a small pang at that inconsequential exchange. To others, it wasn't noticeable, but in regards to Valerie's trained eye, she could see that the two brunettes went waay back to the extent that they could deftly recognize odd behaviors or anything suspicious in each other. Valerie couldn't help but spitefully resent her mother… if Valerie grew up alongside Luke in Tree Hill; she knew it in her bones that, without a doubt, her and Brooke would have been the best of friends. And she envied Peyton for that. Don't get her wrong, she had no shortage of best friends in Cali that she would die for, but currently she was in Tree Hill with nobody but her twin, and she felt lonely, especially since Ryan would be departing from her life soon.
"What? I just want to see two people that are perfect for each other back together. Is that a crime?" Brooke whispered innocently.
Valerie shook her head pityingly as Nathan turned over to look at Peyton and Brooke smirked behind her knuckle in victory.
What are you planning Brooke Davis?
Unfortunately, her half-brother was too much of an idiot and easily got himself ensnared in Brooke's scheme. Too bad; Valerie would have helped him out … regrettably for him, she knew about the video tape he played in his parent's beach house that day Ryan came to Tree Hill – the video of her parents at prom.
Let the poor boy sink in despair.
###THE SCOTT SISTER###
Valerie beamed happily when she saw her temporary boyfriend slash best friend leaning against her car after school in all his sexy glory, obviously waiting for her and ignoring all the blatant ogling he was on the receiving end of from the female population.
She squealed and ran forwards into his arms, placing a passionate kiss on his lips. "I thought you were staying at the house all day until I came back?" Valerie inquired, cerulean eyes smoldering at the sight of Ryan.
"I decided to surprise you. Come on, let's go to Karen's Café and get some lunch," Ryan smirked.
"Uh, yeah … no! Like I want to be around my ungrateful mother," Valerie scoffed as she began driving through town.
"The Val I know, would never let anyone tell her what to do or hide from anybody," Ryan raised an eyebrow at her, surprised at the subtle change. Subtle or not, Ryan knew Valerie like the back of his hand, and he could instantly recognize if anything was amiss with the blonde bombshell.
Valerie grumbled and dramatically declared, "Fine! You win … as usual!" Ryan burst out laughing at that. Valerie parked the car and together, hands interlaced together, they casually strolled into the Café, inwardly smirking at the shocked look on Karen's face due to her entrance.
"Uncle Keith, hi!" Valerie hugged Keith, who gladly returned the hug with equal fervor.
"And who's this?" Keith tried his hardest to give Ryan the once over with a stern look on his face, and failed… badly.
"This is my best friend slash boyfriend and soon-to-be ex-boyfriend back to best friend, Ryan Lahote. Ryan babe, this is my amazing Uncle Keith that you've heard so much about," Valerie introduced Ryan chirpily.
"I'm confused, is it alright if I'm confused?" Keith frowned as he tried to process and decipher what exactly his niece had imparted in her cheerful rambling, to no avail. Taking pity on the poor guy, Ryan offered a simple explanation, "I just graduated from Duke. I play ball and now, the NBA recruited me." He wasn't bothered over the fact that Karen was shamelessly eavesdropping on their conversation. In his opinion, Karen Roe was a hypocrite and a poor excuse of a mother, at least when it came to Valerie.
"Yup, and it will be hard on us, what with Ryan constantly on the road and with me and my career taking a new direction … we decided that since he's leaving tomorrow we'll make the best of the time we have left and then we'll go back to being best friends … we used to be friends before we began dating so…" Valerie trailed off with a soft yet sad smile, prompting Ryan to snake an arm around her waist.
"Hopefully in the future we'll get back together, if it's meant to be, if not," Ryan shrugged, "We'll still be friends. Nothing would ever change that."
"Well, that's," Keith shook his head, surprised with their maturity regarding a complex and bittersweet matter. "You two have the most mature relationship I have ever seen."
Valerie giggled, "We get that a lot. Anyways we're sitting for lunch, you want to join us?"
"Nah, you two kids have fun. Ryan it was a pleasure to meet you," Keith smiled, shaking Ryan's hand and pecking Valerie on the cheek. He couldn't help but inwardly mull over the irony that Valerie inherited the attraction to basketball players from her mother; he wouldn't dare process his thought out loud, lest he got mobbed by the angry blonde who sadly, loathed being compared to Karen Roe, her own mother.
"You too," Ryan smiled back pleasantly, and the two of them sat for lunch were Haley waited on their table.
"So, I have news I wanted to share with you," Ryan started off after they had ordered their lunch. Valerie curiously raised an eyebrow, "Do tell."
"Apparently I have been invited to some event at Dan Scott's house tomorrow and I have a plus-one invite."
"Seriously?" Valerie snorted, "That's hilarious. He doesn't know you're my boyfriend, just your name."
"Yeah, apparently he heard someone recruited by the NBA is in Tree Hill and wants me to meet him and his son for 'inspiration' … so what do you say? You want to fool around for a bit? Mess with their heads? Cause mayhem?" Ryan smirked.
Valerie seriously loved her guy and she couldn't help but giddily bounce on her seat, "Oh hell yeah."
###THE SCOTT SISTER###
Living Room, Karen's House.
"Knock, knock," Haley called out trying to locate her best friend and halting in the living room. Lucas whipped around, eyebrows knitting together in confusion, "Hey, uh. What are you doing here?"
Suppressing her laughter, Haley approached him, eyeing his wardrobe in disapproval, "First, I am saving you from that tie," she yanked off the offending apparel from around his neck before sighing sadly; it was time to address the elephant in the room, "and second, we need to talk."
Lucas nodded. He too hated the tension between him and his best friend, "Well, we could do both at the same time." They made a beeline toward Lucas' room, and he watched as Haley started perusing through his small collection of ties before finally agreeing on a plain black one that complimented his suit. Donning the tie on for him, she avoided meeting intense cerulean eyes and nervously uttered, "Uh, okay, you're not gonna like this. In fact… you're gonna hate this but I feel that I should tell you in the interest of full friendship disclosure."
A chuckle escaped his lips; Lucas wasn't per say an avoider, but he hated moments of tension and awkwardness. Valerie would grab the bull by its horns and bluntly hash it all out, but him on the other hand; when he found himself in a situation of surmounting tension, Lucas relied on jesting remarks and creating humor; "Yeah, right. What could be worse that you tutoring Nathan, huh?" It was when wide chocolate orbs met his intense ceruleans in a beseeching manner that the penny dropped and he finally understood. Unconsciously, his face morphed into a mixture of horror and disgust, "You like him."
Haley winced; it wasn't a question, it was an accusing statement, and she couldn't help but nervously wring her wrists, "Luke, don't freak out on me, okay? I can't help it any more than you can!" God, how she wished that she decided to confront Luke in Valerie's presence; Haley had yet to spend any leisure time with the blonde model, and other than passing smiles at High School or Karen's Café, they hadn't interacted, but Haley knew that Valerie Scott was the only person with the ability to get through Lucas' thick, judgmental and honestly, hypocritical skull.
"I don't like him!" Lucas snappishly retorted hoping the earth would hurry up swallow him whole. He couldn't believe his sweet, smart and innocent best friend Haley was foolish enough to get trapped into Nathan's web of deceit.
Haley rolled her eyes and lightly smacked Lucas on the shoulder, "I'm talking about you and Peyton. I mean, it's no secret that your sister loathes her, and yet she accepted the fact that you like her! We don't decide who we like. We just- it happens!"
Overlooking the fact that Haley used his sister to make a point, Lucas snarled out, unable to control the sudden anger that consumed him, "Do you know what you're getting yourself into?!" It's freaking Nathan Scott! The guy was a cocky, arrogant, player who proudly cheated on Peyton in public back when they were still a couple; for crying out loud! Haley's supposed to be smarter than that!
"I-I'm not getting myself into anything!" Haley argued, "I am thinking about maybe getting into something that is never gonna happen anyway, so-"
"But what could you possibly like in the guy, huh?" Lucas interjected, he didn't sound frustrated anymore, merely perplexed and highly curious. To him, Nathan was a dick, nothing more, nothing less. Stuttering at the sudden change in topic, Haley blustered around, waving her hands wildly in the air, "D-Different things. We connect. Yes, he can be a total ass, sometimes, but I'm telling you, it's just a defense mechanism," she implored, rising from her sitting position on Lucas' bed, "He really opens up to me, Lucas."
Lucas didn't like it, but he couldn't deny Haley anything. She had to do her own thing and learn from her mistakes. Masking his groan, he gave her a stern look, "You know how I feel about him."
Haley pouted, nodding her head sadly, "And I'm sorry for that. I am."
Finally, Lucas sighed in defeat, "But I get it, all right? I understand. Just… do me a favor-"
"Be careful?" Haley shot out, her expression one of irritation, "I wish everybody would stop saying that.
###THE SCOTT SISTER###
Scott House.
Ryan and Valerie walked over to the Scott's house, hands interlaced and identical wicked grins masked behind benign smiles. Upon noticing Valerie's presence, Dan blanched. Deb held his hand tightly and the two of them walked over.
"Valerie, I didn't know you were invited," said Dan with a fake smile on his face.
"Dan, be nice," Deb hissed, "Hello, I'm Deborah Scott, and you must be Lucas' twin sister I've been hearing so much about. It's nice to finally meet you."
"Yeah that's me. It's nice to meet you, too. At least you are polite, unlike your husband and son," said Valerie in a biting tone though she kept her polite smile firmly in place. Dan simply gaped at her and her fierce audacity, while Deb was flabbergasted, not quite knowing how to reply to the blunt insult wrapped deftly in cordiality.
Ryan chuckled and brought her closer to his chest, kissing her forehead, "Val, be nice. Mr. and Mrs. Scott, I'm Ryan Lahote, Valerie's boyfriend. It's nice to meet you and thank you for the invite."
"You-You're Ryan Lahote," stuttered Dan, for once he was lost for words, forgetting his manners completely along with usual arrogance. He then looked at Valerie, "You're dating an NBA recruit that just graduated from Duke College? Don't you think he's too old for you?" he cursed himself the second the words spewed out of his mouth.
"You aren't starting to care for me, are you Daddy Dearest?" said a smirking Valerie in a mocking tone, "Anyways, I have known Ryan since I was five, not that it's any of your business."
"Oh well, how wonderful. Why don't you head on inside and enjoy the night," Deb smiled, trying to alleviate the awkward situation. Valerie beamed in return, "Thank you, Mrs. Scott, Mr. Scott. C'mon babe, I'm thirsty," she tugged a fondly smiling Ryan inside who couldn't help but chuckle at his girlfriend's antics.
Deb scrutinized their retreating backs, unable to repress a smile from appearing on her visage upon noticing the pure love on Ryan's face, "He really does love her. Ah, too be young and in love. Don't you miss it, Dan?" But her husband merely grunted, parting her with, "I'm heading over to the bar. Need a drink." and walking away.
-Time Skip-
Nighttime.
Whitey stood by the refreshments table, hands nitpicking for cashews when an erratic Dan marched over. "You had a little sin of omission there in your speech, Danny boy," he absently uttered, still searching for cashews. Oh, how he loved to rile up Dan Scott, only second to teaching ball.
"Didn't I mention the coaching staff?" Dan mocked, knowing he very well did not. Whitey smirked and handed over the bowl to a smug Dan, "If you did, I didn't hear it. You should fill that up by the way, you're out of cashews."
Before he could walk away, a bright smile lit up his wizened features at the sight of a vibrant Valerie running toward him while dragging an attractive blonde man over. "Coach Durham, I wanted to introduce you to my boyfriend, Ryan Lahote. He graduated from Duke last semester and the NBA recruited him!"
Ryan beamed fondly and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before shaking hands with the amused Coach, "You'll have to excuse Val. She's my biggest supporter. Sometimes I think she's more excited than I am," Ryan chuckled. Whitey let out a booming laugh, and Valerie subtly escaped, leaving the two basketball fanatics to have a moment alone.
Valerie sighed sadly, eyes brightening up slightly at the swing set and she immediately hastened over to one of them, making herself comfortable. There was a beautiful, calming breeze in the air; Valerie closed her eyes and tilted her head backward, face upwards, letting the calming weather to wash away her sadness. Truth is, she was elated for Ryan. He had been working tirelessly for years to reach to where he currently was and Valerie would not be selfish with him.
Her thoughts were interrupted upon hearing somebody approaching her. "Mr. Scott? Uh, can I help you with something?" she asked, a hint of uncertainty in her tone; her biological father made it perfectly clear that he wanted nothing to do with her, and she was perfectly okay with that. Dan didn't know what possessed him, but he blamed his insatiable curiosity and the need to know everything. When he watched her cunning maneuver in getting Whitey and Lahote alone together, he didn't fail to interpret the palpable misery on her face.
"Call me curious," Dan muttered, sitting on the free swing beside her, "I'm curious about your relationship with Lahote. He went to Duke, he's heading off to play NBA. That's a big distance especially with him being on the road-"
"Mr. Scott," Valerie interrupted, she could see where he was going and for some reason, she wasn't annoyed with his questioning. She understood that her situation with Ryan brought back memories for Dan, memories of his past, and that it was personal to him. "His plane leaves after midnight and with that, our relationship ends," the breeze hit her face and she turned to look Dan Scott in the eyes with her intense yet saddened ceruleans, "I'm not a selfish person, Dan. Ryan's grandparents and mine go way back, despite our age difference, we hit it off right from the get-go when I was five and ever since then, we've been helping each other achieve our dreams and our goals in life. I may be a model, but my passion has always been singing and acting, me becoming a model was the first step to get a shoe-in in the celebrity world; the world of fortune and fame; showbiz. Ryan always dreamed about joining the NBA. And then somewhere along the way, we fell in love."
Dan was enraptured with Valerie's tale; he forgot for a moment that they weren't supposed to be in speaking terms, and that he wasn't supposed to get close with her, but he couldn't help but be affected by her story. And a small part of him admitted that he desired to know about the daughter he never knew existed… to understand her better, discover her dreams, her past, her childhood. Everything he had been starved from.
"I started achieving my goals at the age of thirteen. Ryan started when he got a full ride to Duke. And now, Ryan's dream started before mine, and if I love him, if I truly love him, I would let him go, let him live his dreams and succeed and just, just be happy for him. Our breakup was always a possibility. I love him, therefore, I'm setting him free. We'll be best friends again, and always be there for each other and… if we're meant to be, then someday in the future, someday we'll find each other again."
Dan gruffly cleared his throat, touched and proud with his… with Valerie. Wordlessly, he stood up to leave, but abruptly halted in his tracks with her next words. "I don't blame you, you know. Not entirely." Baffled, Dan whipped around, seeing nothing but genuine honesty in her expression as she smiled sadly ahead, evading eye-contact, "I just wanted you to know… unlike Luke and my mom, I don't completely blame you. You always dreamed to play ball and join the NBA. Luke and I, we were, well … to put it bluntly, why should one night of passion ruin your entire future. Don't get me wrong, I think you could've handled the whole pregnant situation better, but… you were only eighteen, everyone has a right to be selfish at that age. There's nothing wrong with being selfish."
Dan remained in his spot, eyes watching as Valerie shouldered past him and walked away to rejoin her boyfriend. Staring at the vacant swing his daughter had been sitting on, he couldn't suppress the smile that lit up his features. Valerie wanted nothing to do with him, that was perfectly clear, but for once… for once somebody partly stood on his side, and understood his point of view, somebody who didn't look upon him as the asshole that could only do wrong. And he was deeply touched, affected by her words.
Backyard, Scott House.
Valerie was once again attached to Ryan's side, a devious smirk crossing her face once she noticed Nathan, Tim and Jake A.K.A Mr. Cryptic huddled together. Ryan rolled his eyes fondly, "Baby, what are you planning?"
"Just play along," she quickly hissed before beaming at a flushed Tim, "Timmy, hiya. I wanted to introduce you to my boyfriend, Ryan. Ryan, this is Tim, the one I told you about." Ryan swallowed his chuckle, recalling Valerie educating him in regards to the creepy friend of her half-brother that had been spreading distasteful rumors about him bagging her. Jake grinned into his Coke while Nathan smirked in amusement, enjoying Tim's deer caught in the headlight expression.
"H-Hi," Tim squeaked, eyes taking in Ryan's muscles as he vividly remembered Valerie informing him that her boyfriend likes playing with his food. "Uh. Whatever you heard, it's-it's not tru- oh! Hey, my Dad is calling me. Bye!" and he scuttled away with his tail tucked between his legs.
Full on laughing now, Jake grinned good-naturedly, "That was beyond cruel. Hey man, I'm Jake, Jake Jagielski," he offered a hand that Ryan instantly shook. Nathan went to leave but Ryan stopped him, "Hey, man, you got a second. Your Dad invited me over to talk to you about ball. You interested?"
Surprised at the offer, Nathan briefly glanced at Valerie who shrugged and joined Jake's side before nodding bemusedly at Ryan. Jake arched an eyebrow, "What's that about?"
"Knowing Ryan, he's probably giving him a pep talk about watching my back. So overprotective it's not even funny," Valerie huffed, stealing the plastic cup from his hand and tasting a sample. Jake gaped at the blonde bombshell in shock, eyes taking in the aura of confidence radiating from her. "Ugh, plain Coke. Seriously, Mr. Cryptic. I was hoping that you laced it with Jack," she returned the cup to him, "Oops, sorry," she smiled sheepishly, "I'm used to hogging my friends' drinks back in Cali. It's kind of an unconscious thing of mine. I could totally go get you a refill if yo-"
Jake smiled widely, shaking his head in amusement, "Nah, nah, it's-it's cool. Just unexpected." Scrutinizing the blonde, Jake couldn't help but find himself attracted to her, and not just her looks, she was a ball of sunshine and full of energy that, despite his current problems that were overwhelming him, he couldn't help but smile in her presence, "You know, I'm gonna stick with my previous statement."
"Oh yeah? And what's that?" Valerie teased.
"That you've got spunk."
Hmm, Jake Jagielski had the potential of being her very first friend in Tree Hill.
Basketball Court, Scott House.
Nathan aimlessly bounced the ball, green eyes taking in the boyfriend of his half-sister who so happened to be the embodiment of what he wanted to become after graduating high school and leaving Tree Hill. "So, uh, what did you want to talk about, cause I'm sure our little heart to heart about Duke and the NBA was an excuse," Nathan pointed out; they had just finished discussing their future and dreams in playing ball and he decided it was time to get to the crux of the matter.
Ryan smirked, "You know, deny it all you want, Nathan, but… you're a lot like Valerie than you think."
Nathan gaped; out of all the possibilities their conversation could be directed at, that was nowhere close to what he had been expecting. Chuckling at the speechless Scott, Ryan clarified, "Now, don't get me wrong, I barely know you. I've met Luke when he visited Cali and I see a lot of Val in him. However, Valerie has many traits that are uniquely hers. She's ah, she's special, definitely one of a kind."
"You really love her, don't you?" Nathan mused out.
"Oh, without a doubt," Ryan didn't even hesitate with his declaration, not even for a nanosecond. Cocking his head to the side, Nathan couldn't help but point out, "Then why are you two breaking things off? Why leave her?"
Ryan smiled sadly and tucked his hands into his front pockets, "Val would kill me if I quit my dreams to stay with her. Contrary to what she believes, I know she doesn't want me to go and that her whole cheerful act about me leaving is exactly that… an act. But, I gotta fulfill my dreams, just like she has to as well, otherwise, maybe not now, or in a year or ten, but… somewhere in the future we'll come to regret our decision and maybe resent each other." Giving Nathan a solemn look, he disclosed, "When we evolved from best friends to lovers, we promised each other that no matter what, we'll never quit our dreams, even if it hurts to leave each other behind. The moment finally arrived. I just so happened to be the first one to leave."
"So, uh, not that I mind, but… why are you telling me this? Shouldn't you be telling her brother?"
Ryan smirked, "Like I said. Deny it all you want, Nathan, but at the end of the day, you're her brother too. Nothing you say or do will ever change that. Besides," Ryan added as an afterthought before Nathan could interrupt, "I already spoke to Luke last night. Now I'm telling you, asking really, for a favor… please, take care of Val once I leave. She may put on a hard front and act indifferent with her whole tough girl routine, but she's gonna be in a world of hurt and depression and she'll end up acting out trying to relieve the pain of our breakup. I know you want nothing to do with her and I'm not asking for you to bond or anything, just… look after her. At least from afar. Please."
Severely uncomfortable especially with Ryan Lahote putting him on a pedestal, Nathan nodded, "I can't make you any promises but, I'll do what I can, man."
Ryan nodded dejectedly, "That's all I'm asking for."
###THE SCOTT SISTER###
Backyard, Scott House.
Shit had really hit the fan!
The second Ryan and Nathan returned from their têtê-à-têtê, Brooke went full on diva. In her defense, she was really hammered on booze, but well… major scandal moment.
Valerie was burrowed in Ryan's arms, leaning against his chest and watching the catastrophe being unleashed with wide, disbelieving eyes and a smidge of interest. Oh how she loved drama, just when it wasn't revolved around her, that is.
After messing with Nathan and Peyton, who ended up ditching him for Luke, the cunning brunette decided to have a go on destroying whatever hell kind of budding relationship Nathan and Haley had together, in public.
"Listen up, everybody!" Brooke giggled loudly, prompting all the hubbub to wane and for all eyes to be solely focused onto her. Valerie shook her head and muttered to Ryan, "This is going to end badly." She honestly felt bad for Brooke; obviously the brunette was hurt and acting out due to the fact that her idiotic twin chose Blondie over her.
"It's time to play truth or dare. Or maybe just dare," Brooke smirked, olive-green eyes burning Peyton's form, "Nobody really tells the truth anymore," she then pivoted to face one of the cheerleaders, "Let's see… Theresa, I dare you… to go pinch Whitey's ass."
Laughter permeated the air and Valerie snorted into Ryan's chest, cerulean orbs brightening with mirth as Theresa traded a wicked smirk with hammered Brooke and sauntered away to complete her dare. Brooke returned her attention to Peyton who suddenly looked extremely nervous, "Let's see… Peyton-"ignoring the blonde's cajoling, she spat out, "I dare you to show us how you really feel. Kiss Lucas."
Valerie had to give it to Blondie; despite her mortifying position and being put on the spot in front of all of her peers, she yanked Lucas's head towards hers and kissed him, long and hard. Cerulean eyes flickered from an envious Brooke to a wounded Nathan, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes when Lucas followed Peyton who was currently leaving the premises. "Damn, I was really rooting for Brooke," she hissed.
Ryan gaped at her, "Really?"
"Ah, c'mon, Ry. The poor girl is hurting. It's written all over her face. Blondie is her best friend who told her that she had no feelings for Luke and then sneaks around behind her back. Brooke could be Brittany's twin, it's not even funny." Ryan nodded, but kept quiet. Brittany Taylor was one of Valerie's best friends who gave off the first impression of being a skanky redhead and full-on diva, who enjoyed ruining everyone's reputation, when in reality; she was hiding the pain the world dealt her… story for another time. Valerie was snapped out of her reverie when Brooke spoke up again upon noticing Haley join them in the backyard.
"Tutor Girl!" she shrieked in fake elation, "Haley right? Nathan's personal little care package. Everything's starting to make so much more sense now. You two are adorable," she swooped toward the meek brunette like a vulture, ignoring Nathan's menacing glare that spoke in volumes for her to 'back off'. "What was my favorite part," she tapped her index finger against chin, "'Believing you'll do well is half the battle…" she smirked at Nathan, "You know, Tutor Girl's little love note you passed around earlier- the one that said, 'Call me if you need anything at all," she winked at Haley who currently sported a horror-stricken, mortified expression before running away, ignoring Nathan's desperate calls.
Sighing at Brooke, Nathan simply said, "Games are getting old, Brooke."
"Huh, I think I'm going to like it here in Tree Hill," Valerie giggled, watching as Brooke grabbed a vodka bottle from behind a random bush. Ryan laughed, "I had no doubt you would. Drama had always been your favorite genre, babe."
###THE SCOTT SISTER###
The Airport.
"Well, this is it," Ryan sighed, unable to face Valerie's woebegone expression that she was bravely trying to hide, "Listen to me, Val. Don't cry, just, … if you need anything, anything at all, my phone will always be on me. No matter what, I'll always answer you. God, I love you Val."
"I love you too, Ry," Valerie sobbed, unable to maintain her elated façade any longer now that the moment of him leaving her had finally arrived, "Don't you ever forget me, you hear me? When you're this big shot NBA player, and when all the ladies are clamoring over you, remember me, your best friend."
A tear leaked down his face, uncaring over portraying a macho front, "Damn it, Valerie. I can never forget you and you know that. In fact, I'll make sure to call you at least once a week, maybe more. We may not be in a relationship any more, but… you're still my Val, my best friend, you take care of yourself. I want to hear all the drama that would no doubt unfold in Tree Hill. You hear me?!"
Five minutes later, Valerie Scott broke down, her body wracking with violent sobs as she watched the love of her life walk away and take the last step toward his dreams… towards his future ... and away from her.
She didn't know how long she morosely sat in her car staring blankly ahead and occasionally wiping away the damn tears that wouldn't stop falling, when her cell rang. She frowned slightly at the unknown number. "Hello?"
"Hey uh, Valerie? This is Nathan, I know this probably isn't a good time, but I need a favor…"
Scott House.
Despite her morose disposition and her ghastly appearance, Valerie couldn't hide the amusement that lit up her depressed features as Nathan appeared in her line of vision, carrying an unconscious Brooke bridal style.
"Uh thanks. I didn't think Peyton would be comfortable around Brooke at the moment, with, you know-"
"The mortifying scene she created in front of the whole popularity clique," Valerie laughed softly, "Nah, it's cool. I got plenty of room where I could store her drunk behind."
Nathan nodded, fidgeting uncomfortably as he watched Valerie take out a blanket from the trunk and tenderly cover Brooke from the biting wind. He didn't fail to notice her red-rimmed eyes, tear-stained face and the utter lack in her cheerful, vibrant and bubbly persona she usually had, "Ryan left, didn't he?"
"Yeah. But it's okay. He deserves a shot in his dream," Valerie stated in a dull monotone, and for some reason, it deeply disturbed Nathan. He shook his head, the girl was a stranger, he shouldn't care about her at all. "Well, I'm gonna head inside. If you have any trouble with Brooke, let me know. Her hangovers are usually a handful," Nathan said as he began to turn away from her.
"Wait! Uh," tucking a loose golden curl behind her ear, Valerie focused her intense eyes on her estranged half-brother, "When Haley ran out earlier, I couldn't help it… I like sticking my nose in other people's business, it's kinda, uh, well according to Luke, an annoying trait of mine but…"she bit her lip to stop her from full-on rambling, "I texted her the truth. Told her that you never passed that care package or whatever it was, around."
"Why would you do that?" Nathan asked, there was no bite in his tone, but genuine curiosity and a hint of confusion.
Shrugging, Valerie hoped into her car and placed both hands on the steering wheel before smiling sadly at Nathan, "I know the kind of person Brooke is. She reminds me of one of my best friends in Cali. She was just having a bad day, and Brooke's obviously hurt that Luke chose Peyton over her. She didn't mean to purposely spite you and Haley. She wanted others to share her pain. You and Haley don't deserve to take the fall. Good luck. Don't blow it."
And with those parting words, Valerie drove off into the night, leaving Nathan to stand in a shocked trance, pondering over the enigma that was Valerie Scott.
A/N: Hey so…. yeah, don't kill me for taking ages to update. I didn't do it on purpose! XD
I hope you liked this chapter.
I found the departure of Ryan so sad! But what to do… I already have so much plans for Valerie.
Did you like the Val/Nate moment? What about the little heart-to-heart with Val/Dan? XD I wanted to portray her differently… what with her mother abandoning her, and going through the same thing Dan went through with her boyfriend Ryan, she would understand Dan better and feel with him.
Let me know what you think! And I'll try and update this story more regularly from now on, I just lacked inspiration to be honest, LOL! But now I'm BACK! And Valerie will kick ASS.
R&R.