Getting Valen

Episode 2

"We are not going to Paris this year Benjamin." I heard my mother's voice from outside the house. Finally they were home.

I could hear their voices from the hallway because I was waiting for them in the living room to have dinner and they had just arrived. They entered the house arguing about the venue of our family vacation this year.

"Where do you want to go then?" My dad asked sounding exasperated. My mum had that effect on a lot of people.

"The Bahamas is fine by me." She stated as if she had just delivered the answer to a puzzle. I was already tired of their bickering because it had been going on and I was getting really hungry.

"Look Alice, if you want to......." My dad trailed off when he saw me coming.

"Oh hey honey." He said smiling and opening his arms for me gesturing for a hug. I went into his arms for those fatherly hugs that were the best, they made me feel warm and cozy and like I had nothing to worry about.

"Won't I get a hug too?" My mum said from behind us playfully.

***

"So how was school today?" my mum asked me before eating out of her mashed potatoes.

"It was good. But I think it's going to be stressful."

"No pain no gain dear. Remember you have to read very hard to study Medicine. You don't have to lazy about." She replied.

"That's true honey. Your grades have to be perfect that's why I got you a tutor last holiday." My dad added cutting his roast chicken. A tutor he had never seen. it baffles me how a parent could be so careless about their child's upbringing. It is always about grades to them. it has always been. They didn't care if I got bullied at school or whatnot.

They only cared about my grades and it hurt like hell.

"Right sweetie?" Dad asked again looking at me like I was crazy.

"Right dad." I answered taking a sip out of my glass of water.

"Good."

"So how was work?" I asked trying to make small talk.

"It was okay, stressful too but okay." My dad answered.

"I heard you guys performed surgery together. "

"Yes we did but that was yesterday. "

"But you just came this evening. Why didn't you guys come back last night. I thought you would, seeing as it's my first day in senior year and you know how that is." I knew I was treading dangerous waters but my parents have been acting like major assholes.

"Honey, we tried but you know how things at the hospital are. It's not easy to run your own hospital and we have to keep being the best." My mum reasoned looking at me.

"There are other people there to do those things I'm sure." I accused. Why couldn't they just make time for me?

"Of course there are but we have to be there so they don't make serious mistakes."

"How about me? Who will be there for me so I don't make serious mistakes? I've only seen you guys twice this week!"

"Honey, that's why Maggie is here for you. We don't leave you alone." My dad butted in. Both of them had stopped eating and were now staring at me.

"How about you guys? My real parents?" I asked still talking calmly.

"We're here for you sweetie. That's why we provide everything you want." My dad said crashing my heart into a million pieces. They had no idea. They thought all I needed was their money.

"Please excuse me." I said before running upstairs and locking my room.

****

"And so that is all for today. Your assignments on my table next week Tuesday." Ms Jameson's bored voice danced into my ears dismissing us.

"She sure loves assignment doesn't she?" Tracy said from beside me earning a grunt from me.

"You know, for someone who looked defiant when confronted by Rebecca yesterday, you look like you're actually doing what she asked. " I knew I looked horrible, I felt horrible too but I didn't feel like talking about it. After all, Ashton will come back from College today so yayy me. He had called me yesterday to inform me about his sudden urge to come home yesterday, maybe he'll tell me about it when he arrives.

"Shut up Trace. " I settled on saying.

"So are you going to tell me what's wrong?" She asked as we walked out of class.

"We're going to be late for our next class." I said and started speed walking ahead of her.

"Ms Jameson let us out 15 minutes early so what's your point?" She questioned catching up.

"I slept late that's why. I was surfing the internet so I didn't get much sleep."

"Why do I feel like you're lying?"

"Sounds like your problem not mine."

"You look like s**t though. "

"I feel like s**t so I have to look like it."

"Come on Heaven. I hope you don't have some kind of terminal illness. Both of your parents are doctors so I shouldn't have to worry about anything happening right?" She said in a rush as we entered English class and sat down on free seats.

"Shut up Trace. Ashton is coming home today. " That was the only thing that could get her to shut up. She had always had a terrible crush on Ashton because he was sizzling hot, her words not mine.

"Are you lying and just saying this for me to shut up?" She asked studying my face.

"Like I have such time."

"Oh My God! Heaven!!!!!" She squealed making me reel back in shock.

"You are attracting unnecessary attention Tracy." I hissed.

"I don't care. I'm spending the night in your house today. I cannot pass off an opportunity to see him shirtless. Damn that man is fiinnneeee." She rambled.

"Did you just call Ashton a man and talk of his half n***d body?" I asked looking disgusted.

"He's hot Heaven. Everyone with eyes knows that." She said rolling her eyes.

"You have a boyfriend in case you have forgotten. " I reminded her sorry a*s.

"Whatever. I'm still coming over." She said smiling.

"Creep. "

"Only for Ashton."

***

"I'm home." I shouted into the house knowing that nobody will be there to answer me today since Maggie had the rest of the day off and Ashton won't be back till evening .

I feel so pathetic. I dropped my car key and started moving towards the kitchen then I see him, my brother, Ashton. He looked cute standing there with his brown hair tousled at the top and his blue eyes looking into my soul.

"Hey sis. " His deep voice that rumbled from the kitchen doorway brings me out of my mini trance and I don't think again because the next thing I know, I'm hugging the hell out of him.

"Can't. breathe." He said struggling to talk then I realised my hold on him was too tight so I released him.

"I've missed you so much. " I said bursting into tears. I was too happy he was home. I felt bored and alone and he always made me feel better.

"I've missed you too sugar plum."

"Quit calling me that. you're supposed to be nice Ash." I said cleaning my face.

"I am nice." He said with his rich deep voice. Now I knew why Tracy was dying to go on a date with him. He looked different like he had grown more than before. He looked..... mature.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You look all grown up."

"What?" He asked with a raised brow.

"I said you look all grown up." This time talking really slow for him to understand.

"Says the girl who was crying when she saw me." He said grinning. He just said that to spite me.

"You're the worst brother ever."

"You still love me. So how about mum and Dad?"

"They're at work I guess. " I answered walking into the kitchen to grab a glass of OJ.

"Did something happen while I was away?"

"Why?"

"Because you sound weird."

"That's because your parents are weird."

"They're your parents too Heaven."

"Unfortunately. " I grumbled.

"Come on. is it the usual 'not available' or they had you engaged to some random rich dude?" He joked.

"Ashton! Ewww nooo. It's the usual not available." I answered pouring myself and Ash a glass of OJ each and arranging some freshly baked cookies in a plate before placing the food on the small dining table in the kitchen to eat.

"Get used to it Heaven. They're never coming back." He said harshly like he was stating the obvious that I was supposed to be aware of.

"You say that like they're dead." I managed to whisper out.

"That's not what I meant. Look I'm sorry okay? School is taking a toll on me." He said running a hand down his face. He sat down opposite me and began eating too.

"I thought you said Havard was good for you? What's wrong Ash? You don't look okay?" I said getting up and moving towards him to feel his forehead.

"Yeah I don't feel okay. That's why I had to leave school. " He confessed moving away from my touch.

"Are you sick? What's wrong?" I was getting really worried. God please nothing should be wrong with my brother.

"Mia cheated on me with Grant." He blurted out.

"What?" I said reeling back in shock almost choking on my drink. Grant was Ashton's new found friend in college who became friends with Ashton and his best friend Trevor in freshman year. Mia was his high school sweetheart who went to the same college with Ashton to give their relationship a better chance. Mia was too nice to do that. She was like a living saint.

"You heard me. Don't make me say it again." He practically begged. I could see the heartbreak in his eyes.

"Why?" I asked looking and feeling shocked.

"I don't know. She was tired of getting it from one person I guess." He joked again. He had that habit of covering his pain with humour.

"This is not funny Ash."

"Never said it was." He grumbled.

"What are you going to do now?"

"Act like she never existed because they've had this going on since freshman year. I felt like a fool. Dammit I feel like a fool." He said looking pained.

"I'm so sorry Ashton."

"You should be happy not sorry. I'm relieved though. Thank God I found out sooner than later."

"I guess so. So no heartbreak?"

"At first but I'm getting over it really quickly."

"She was so nice." I said still in wonder.

"Don't judge a book by it's cover I guess...."

He looked like he was about to say something else but the doorbell rang.

"Expecting someone?" He asked

"Yeah might be Tracy. "

"Your best friend right? It has been ages since I saw her." He said his eyes lighting up or maybe it was just my imagination.

I walked to the door to open it for my exceedingly annoying best friend who was here for my brother and not me. I opened the door to a smiling Tracy who looked ravishing in a cute pink sundress that stopped a few inches before her knees and I bursted into laughter because she was doing this for a heartbroken Ash. She stepped inside and shut the door before looking at me.

"Why the hell are you laughing idiot." She hissed. "Don't tell me Ash is not here or I'll cut your boobs and feed it to Nancy. You know she'll love your boobs." Tracy threatened making me stop my laughter. Nancy was her dog and she hated me. Why? I had no idea.

"Violent much? come in dumbass. I'm laughing because you're trying to hard for someone who's not your boyfriend." I teased walking towards the kitchen with Tracy trailing right behind me.

"You're so stupid it hurts." She retorted lamely making me laugh again. I ignored her and continued walking towards the Kitchen.

"Heaven! is he here?!" She asked in a whisper still following closely behind me.

"Desperate much." I said walking into the Kitchen with her following right behind.

"Heaven I swear I'm asking you for the last time is he here?" She asked a little bit louder this time oblivious of the fact that Ashton was right here with us.

"Is who here?" Ashton asked making a look of terror come upon Tracy's face.

Oh boy.

***

"You totally embarrassed me before your brother downstairs Heaven." Tracy whisper yelled at me as soon as we entered my room.

"Umm you were fully capable of doing that all by yourself Sweetie." I answered snickering

"If only you had answered me." Tracy said jumping on my bed before taking one of the pillows and screaming into it before dropping it.

"Okay that was weird but I'll let it slide cause you're my bestie."

"Shut up and worry about your archenemy, Valen coming back." Tracy supplied.

"Wait....What?"

"Yup you heard me. Valen is coming back tomorrow. Apparently, he didn't want to spend the extra two weeks of the vacation with his parents anymore."

"No no no no no." I said pulling my hair. I wanted to have a beautiful first week without having to look at his stupid face. I managed to escape him since grade school after he totally embarrassed me by telling everyone I had kissed him. It was true but he didn't have to announce it. It was horror for me and it had earned me a nick name at that time that totally irked me - KissHeaven. I don't even want to remember the circumstances surrounding why I kissed him. He made my childhood a living hell and acted like he did nothing.

"Yes yes yes yes yes." Tracy said giggling.

This year couldn't get any worse.

***

Hey Guys!

So I've shown you her brother and I feel like I've introduced her enough but I want things to go at a medium speed rate. Don't forget to share your thoughts please.

Stay tuned!