I have up to chapter ten written of this fic, probably the most dedication I've given to a fanfic ever. Feedback is nice :)

a little bit of give, a lot of take

CHAPTER TWO

Women's Studies was uneventful, Valerie was usually intrigued by it but not today. She didn't need the course; it was just an elective she took to fill her time table. She was on a scholarship and in order to get it, she had to be a full-time student. Women's Studies had nothing to do with becoming a social worker but alas.

"I hate when the prof decides not to show and let's that stiff intern take over," Jamie sighed. They both gathered up their things to leave. "I also hate when I have work right after class."

"How is that? Working at ElectriK," Valerie laughed.

"Terrible, nah, it's alright," said Jamie with a shrug. "Except my boss is pissed because the band cancelled last second. They're supposed to perform live music every Friday night but now they can't."

Valerie lit up. "I've got a way you can score some points with your boss."

The aroma of cheese and garlic hit Valerie as soon as she entered the apartment. Jack stood in front of the stove, oven mitts on his hands, and pulling a dish out of the oven. It was a nice sight, coming home and someone having cooked for you. That was one of the most attractive things about Jack, he was damn good at cooking and liked to show that off.

"What'd you make me?" Valerie grinned, sliding into a seat at their table.

"I didn't make it for you, don't get any ideas," Jack said. "I was hungry. I made lasagna and garlic bread."

"I don't care who it's for, you're a saint."

Jack brought over two plates of food and sat down with her. It tasted delicious but Valerie wouldn't expect otherwise. Last week he cooked them a ham. Valerie thought she hated ham but Jack made her think different.

"I love your domestic qualities."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Eat your food."

Smug that she succeeded in annoying Jack, she dug back into her food.

Since Jack made the food, Valerie washed the dishes. She put on Gravity the Our Lady Peace album. Skipping to track three and letting Somewhere Out There blast through their CD player's speakers.

Jack groaned immediately. She played the song too much in his opinion but Valerie didn't care. But she was reminded of the gig she had signed Jack and the other Detroit Vandals up for.

"Jack?" She called out.

"Yeah?" He said over the music. She turned it down.

"Can you come here?"

She could here Jack's loud footsteps padding their way to the kitchen. He walked right on his heels; it was lucky they were on the apartment underneath them was empty because Valerie was sure they would cause complaints.

"What do you want?"

"I got you a gig," Valerie smiled. "At the club ElectriK."

"For real?" He genuinely looked happy. "When?"

"Tomorrow night."

Once Valerie uttered the word 'tomorrow' Jack was grabbing his jacket and rushing out the door. He told Valerie they had to practice and create a set list.

Valerie did usually skip out on all Detroit Vandals gigs but since she set this one up, she thought she would show her face. Plus Jamie told her to show so Jamie would know she was letting the right men on stage.

Valerie liked the casual bar but clubs were a different story. She finished her make-up and slipped on a mini dress and leather boots. It was simple but made Valerie seem like she put a lot of effort into her appearance. That's the way she liked it.

Gina couldn't drive again so Valerie was the bands chauffeur for the night, even if she didn't watch the performance.

Jack banged on her door roughly and Valerie pulled it open. He looked as if he was going to fall in. "Yes?"

He gave her a once over. "You ready?"

"Indeed."

Valerie was in charge of unloading the trunk, Jack was in charge of moving the equipment into the building, and Eli and Austin were in charge of setting it all up. Somehow Stef ended up in charge of talking to the clubs manager and thanking him for the 'great opportunity'. It was completely phony. Stef just didn't like putting in any work. Never did.

Valerie unloaded the last amp and gave Jack a thumbs up before heading in and waiting for them to play. Jamie greeted her at the door.

"The band you got for me looks promising, by promising I mean they're all hot." Valerie watched Jamie give them all the eye. Valerie could taste the bile in her throat when Jamie winked at Stef.

"That is my brother and all his friends. Please do not ogle them."

Jamie shrugged. "You must know they're a hunky bunch."

Hunky bunch. Valerie had to walk away. She found a table near the front of the stage and ordered a piña colada. Stef would poke fun at her drink, he always called her a light weight because she only drank sweet drinks and not whiskey or rum.

Detroit Vandals opened up with their song "Loving Won't Leave Me Alone." It was probably Valerie's favorite and it was one of the oldest. They had penned it back in the eleventh grade but it never lost its touch. It was so desperate; it was about an unrequited love that just wouldn't go away. Valerie didn't frequent their shows but Valerie had a recorded version of that song on her CD labelled 'mix of my ultimate favs' but she didn't let any of the boys know that.

She was down to the bottom of her drink and the boys were on their third song when someone dropped down in the chair next to her.

"If it isn't Valerie Beaumont," grinned a guy next to her. "Figured a girl like you would get out of the D."

Valerie had to stare at him for a moment but she managed to recognize the face. Cole Dylan. It was easy to remember because he had two first names. They had gone to high school together; she briefly remembered making out with him at a kegger one time.

"Whys that?"

Cole shrugged, sipping from the beer bottle clutched in his hands. "You got the face for it and the ambition. Nothing pretty stays around here for long."

Valerie was a sucker for a compliment. "That's a nice thing to say but I love this city. It's my home."

Valerie slurped at the bottom of her drink, trying to sip up the rest of the ice cream at the bottom. She felt Cole's eyes on her.

"Looks like that one's finished," he said. "Let me buy you another drink."

She let him and Cole ordered her another piña colada which she indulged in gratefully.

"I haven't seen you in forever," Valerie said. "Where have you been?"

"I was studying at NYU but I transferred here for a semester. My grandmother is sick and I just wanted to be here for her."

"That's too bad. I'm sorry."

Cole brushed it off. "I'm not here for a pity party I'm here for some fun, its nothing."

"Still, I think it's very nice of you to come back here like that for your grandmother. It's sweet."

"Thank you." Cole smiled.

They talked for a while and Valerie was surprised she wasn't bored. In high school, Cole had been far away from her type. He lived over in Warren in a beautiful house and had a good life. He played defense for the football team and was class vice president. Valerie usually went for her own kind; grew up in a bad neighborhood and was always up to no good. Valerie was actually a secret goodie-two-shoes, though. She had straight A's, was part of the volleyball team, and girl's hockey, that's how she got the scholarship. The only scratch on her clean image was her graffiti, she had been obsessed with it back in those days. She thought she was representing something or putting meaning on the streets by the art she created. She gave that up the first year of university. She was too afraid she might lose her almost free ride and she didn't think anybody was noticing the meaning behind her street art. Cole looked like he never broke the law in his life and if she had never seen the guy with a joint to his lips in high school, she would believe that. But Cole wasn't some upper-class scholar with no substance, he was funny and he was smooth. Nothing as she remembered.

"It was great seeing you," Cole locked eyes with her. "Maybe I can take you out sometime?"

The last time Valerie had been on a date she couldn't even remember. But it couldn't hurt.

"I'd love that."

A throat cleared behind her. "Hey, Val."

Valerie turned to see Jack, she gave him a smile. "Hey, you guys are done already?"

"It's been two hours," Jack looked between Cole and her. "Can we head home? I'm fucking tired."

"Sure."

Valerie turned back to Cole. "Sorry, I've gotta go but I'm holding you to that date, okay?"

"Okay," said Cole. "I'll call you, soon."

The boys were already loading her car back up when Jack and Valerie exited the club. The air was crisp; October was quickly turning into November and winter definitely wanted everyone to know it was on its way.

"What was that about?" Jack said in a rough voice. "With that guy, wasn't he like class vice president back in the day?"

"Nothing, I was just having a good time. And yeah, that's the one. Surprised you even knew that, did you even go to school?"

"Funny."

"What are you guys talking about?" Stef butted into the conversation.

Jack turned his neck so he could face Stef. "Your sisters got a date with some douchey jock from high school."

Stef looked at her sternly. "That true?"

Valerie sighed, her brother was always too protective when he came to boys. It was like he was always trying to pick up their father's slack; their dad didn't give a crap what Valerie did.

"Yes, it's true," Valerie said with a whine. "But he's nice."

"It's the nice ones you gotta watch out for!" Stef continued.

Jack raised a brow, Valerie laughed. They both realized that she had said the exact same line a few nights ago.

"Like brother like sister." Jack muttered with a chuckle.

Valerie unlocked their apartment door and as soon as Jack was in, he was out. He took a quick shower and put on a change of clothes and he left again.

"I thought you were tired?" She yelled after him.

"I was!" He hollered back.

Valerie tried not to be frustrated with him but he had told her he was tired and that was the only reason she left ElectriK, she was having a good time with Cole. But it turns out she had only brought him home so he could freshen up and probably go look for the next girl he could score with.

Valerie always loved to be right but not tonight. Jack returned home at just past two in the morning and not without a girl. Valerie should be used to this but she wasn't. Every time Jack brought someone home, Valerie couldn't get to sleep. They were always too loud. There wasn't any way Jack was that good, no way.

They quieted down just before Valerie was about to snap and go into Jack's room and break it up herself. She had never been so happy to hear their apartment door shut and lock. It was almost four at that time. She had never been so annoyed in her life. The walls in this place were very thin. Jack definitely hadn't been tired.