THE LAST ROUND OF THE NIGHT CAME QUICK. Valentine was sitting next to me while Michael aimed for his final bowl. Calum and Luke went to play in the arcade since they lost already. Valentine was calm and collected as Michael took his time.

          A hand on my bicep immediately gained my attention. The softness of Valentine's palm was enough to make me face towards her. Her hand was warm, and it made my head spin.

          "Look at the way he's standing," she whispered to me, pointing at Michael. "His footing is off, and it's going to cause him to not bowl correctly. I noticed that when he walked up to the black line, he first stepped with his left leg. Usually, if you're right-handed, which he is, you step with your right leg first because it's dominant. Since his stance is off, it changes the way you bowl."

          I tried to concentrate on what she was saying, but my eyes were too focused on how her lips moved as she spoke—so soft and kissable. Her level of attractiveness was a crime.

          Val's lips stretched into a smile, and she tapped my arm. "Wish me luck?" she said, crossing her fingers.

          When she walked off, I noticed everything—the sway of her hips, her ponytail swinging back and forth, and how she looked so good in those jeans. She stepped with confidence, the kind only she could pull off, and it was sexy.

          Michael came to take her seat as I down the rest of my water, my eyes still on Valentine. He wiped his palms on his pants and glanced over at me. "You're gonna need a cold shower from the way you're eyeing her," he said with a laugh.

          The corners of my mouth lifted slightly from amusement. "What can I say? A man simply cannot resist a beautiful woman."

          "Damn straight," he said, chuckling, taking a look at her. "It's crazy how Calum just stumbles upon the good things. He's luckier than a four-leaf clover."

          Valentine turned around at Michael. "Ready to pay up?" she asked with a mischievous smile.

          "That cockiness of yours will cause you to get a gutterball," he replied. Val winked, and that was all it took to ruin other women for me. Michael whistled. "Goddamn."

          Valentine rolled the ball, effortlessly, and it headed straight for the gutter until it curved, earning her a strike. She turned back at Michael, grinning, while his jaw was to the floor.

          "I told you that I was a pro," she said and took a sip of her water. She held out her hand, amused. "But you did put up a fight. I enjoyed playing with you."

          "You've got to be kidding me," Michael muttered, pulling a crisp twenty-dollar bill out of his wallet and slapping it in her hands.

          The more I was around Valentine, the more of a mystery she became to me. For someone who recently lost a parent, she still smiled like nothing happened. I also noticed that she was easily frustrated. During her training at work, she almost broke the dial on the stove when it got stuck. I kindly helped her out without saying anything.

          But now? This girl walked like she owned the sun.

          "We're getting that rematch another day," I heard Calum say as he and Luke came towards us. He rested his arm on Michael's shoulder. "So, did you lose?"

          "Tragically," I answered for him, and we laughed.

          We all talked for a moment longer before we decided to leave. The grocery store was more in the center point of the city, so the drive would take about fifteen minutes. As we rode, the air was filled with chatter. I never expected that Valentine was a laid-back person. She seemed like a stick-in-the-mud at first, but you never knew someone until, I guess, you did.

          "Do you have any plans for the future?" Luke asked Val. "Like college?"

          "Well, I never thought of a future for myself, really," she said, and I noticed the change of tone in her voice. It was sad like she didn't expect to live that long. "I've got more important dilemmas to deal with before I can think of a future."

          There was more, I could feel it, and I could tell by the way Calum looked over at her that he knew too. They continued to talk about random things, but I kept to myself. I had a feeling that Valentine was fire, but the burning sensation wasn't something I was sure I wanted to feel, or did I? I craved something new, something sensational, and she had it.

          The store wasn't packed since it was nearing the a.m., so I parked in the front.

          "So, I really have to pee," Valentine once we went in, and that's when I noticed she was bouncing from one leg to the other. "Go ahead and get food. I'll be back." She sped off to find the bathroom, and we started to navigate through the aisles.

          Calum faced us, smiling when she left. "So, how do you guys like her?"

          "She's dope, honestly," Luke said, tossing popcorn in the basket. "She's smart, funny—"

          "And insanely hot," Michael added, a mouth full of chips. He sprinkled his fingers over the bag, and I internally gagged. That was disgusting.

          Luke rolled his eyes at him. "Yes, Michael, she looks like a runway model, but looks aren't everything."

          "Then why the hell did you date Mandy?" Calum asked, turning towards him. I also looked to Luke since Calum made a valid argument.

          Luke threw his head back with a sigh. "I get it. Mandy is a terrible person, but she wasn't always terrible, as I said before. All I'm doing is giving props to Ashton for picking out a nice girl."

          "Yeah, she's great," Michael said, crumpling his bag. For someone so skinny, he ate like a pig. "How come you never introduced her to us before?" he asked Calum.

          Calum's lips stretched into a smile. "Yeah, she's so amazing. I couldn't find the right time for her to actually meet you guys. I've brought it up before, but she always shied away at the thought. She never told me why; she would just change the subject. I honestly don't know why she said yes today. I was actually shocked."

          "And you're absolutely positive that you're not in love with her?" Luke asked.

          Calum groaned. "How many times do I have to tell you guys, no? It's strictly platonic and always has been." We all stared at him in disbelief. "Besides, if I did like her, why would I be helping Ashton?"

          "Helping Ashton with what?" We all spun around and saw Val, shaking her wet hands. She looked at the rows of chips and pointed at them. "Can he not decide on the chips? 'Cause honestly I'd be pretty stumped too," she said, studying the selections.

         Calum looked at me, his eyes telling me to say something. I made a face at him because I didn't know what to say. He side-eyed the chips, and I tried to improvise.

          I forced out a laugh when Val turned to me. "Yeah, I'm thinking hot Cheetos, but I really want Pringles too."

          "Definitely the Pringles," she said, handing them to me. "I can always feel cancer sliding down my throat whenever I eat hot Cheetos."

          I chuckled. "Okay, then."

          Spending another hour in the store, we grabbed more snacks and played around for a little bit. I was surprised that the workers didn't kick us out. Now, back at Valentine's place, the front door was locked.

          "Crap, my mom must be home," she said, her voice holding no excitement.

          "Just ring the doorbell," Michael said, laughing a bit.

          "She's more than likely passed out drunk," Val responded, and Michael stopped laughing.

          "Oh, wow, that's actually not okay," he said.

          "I have my key," Calum said, and we all stepped out of his way. He had a key? Something had to be going on with them.

          "We stood here for like two minutes, and now you announce this?" Val said as he unlocked the door. She stepped in first, and we followed.

          Her house was cold, I noticed, and it August was almost over. Time flew by fast, and the first month was already halfway over. It seemed like I would be walking across the stage in a quick second, receiving my diploma. I didn't feel rushed at the moment, but time wasn't slowing down. I needed to figure out my future before it hit me in the face.

          "Okay, you guys can set the bags down in the kitchen," Valentine said, pulling me back into the present. She turned on the lights and immediately froze, staring at the table. "Oh. Well, that's embarrassing."

          Unconsciously faced down on the table was a middle-aged woman and empty bottles of liquor surrounded her. It didn't take a genius to know that it was Valentine's mom. From what I could see, Val and her Mom were almost a spitting image.

          "I just threw away all her shit before I left," Val muttered, tension evident in her tone. She balled up her fist, seeming ready to punch a wall, but then Calum took her hand.

          The act made me glance up at them. Calum whispered something in her ear, and she nodded. Her hand unclenched, and whatever feeling she felt dissipated. I was still focused on their hands fitting together so comfortably. Calum, noticing that I was staring, let go of Val's hand.

          He avoided eye contact with me and turned around. "I'll carry her to her room. You guys can go ahead and do whatever."

          Valentine nodded. "Thanks, Calum," she said as he carried her mom on his back. Valentine turned to us and shielded her face a little. "I'm sorry you guys had to see that. I'm so embarrassed."

          Once the table was cleared off, I set the bags down. "It's fine," I told her. "Calum's uncle got himself into strange situations we had to help him in." She smiled weakly, silently appreciating the fact that I was trying to make her feel better.

          When Calum came back, Val turned to him. "She's okay, right? She doesn't seem sick to you? She's breathing?" she asked him all at once. Worry stuck to her like glue, which was reasonable. It was about her Mom.

          "She's fine, Val," Calum assured her. "Don't worry." Valentine nodded, but I could tell she was still thinking about it.

          "Let's watch a movie," Michael suggested, searching through the bags of food we bought. "Snacks are better with TV."

          "I'll be back," Valentine said, staring off into space. "You guys pick something. I'll watch whatever." She disappeared into the hallway, and I watched Calum watch her. When he turned back, we made eye contact for a split second before I looked away.

          Needing a distraction from my upcoming thoughts, I took the time to observe Val's living room. The first thing I noticed was her white furniture. A white couch had to have meant they were a clean family. I took the chance to buy a white carpet for the apartment, and we had to get it cleaned every month.

          Was Calum hiding his true feelings, I thought to myself.

          No. Stop thinking about it. Look at the floor.

          Black and blue matting swallowed the entire floor, skipping the foyer and kitchen, which layered in light pink tiles. The walls were painted a light shade of gold with white splatter marks. There must've been some hardcore preparation for a house so precise. Everything along the walls was symmetrically diagonal.

          If he was hiding them...why?

          A big trophy case stood in the corner and was filled with commemorations, certificates, medals, and trophies. Softball, swimming, architecture, and more activities were shelved throughout, and it shocked me to see a heaping sum of martial arts, taekwondo, street fighting, etc. awards stored away.

          Did Calum feel the need to hide them from me because he knew I liked Valentine?

          Various photos of Val and her parents were strung out against the wall. They all followed Valentine's years of life, and they all had the same tan guy in them, who I assumed was her father. Seeing both of her parents now, I could see why Valentine was such a beauty.

          Before another thought entered my head, a hand waved across my face. I refocused my attention to the real world and saw Calum in front of me. The TV was on and was now playing Bad Boys. Calum, though, was still looking at me.

          "You checked out a second there, bud," he said, taking the seat next to me. "Where'd you go?"

          Everywhere, I wanted to say, but instead, I settled with a shrug. It was easier than having to ask him about Valentine and their undeniable chemistry. It was easier than having to explain why I was thinking about them in the first place.

          "So, what's on?" Valentine said, emerging from the shadows with a hoodie on now. She took the empty space on the other side of me.

          "Bad Boys," said Luke and Michael, seriously invested in the movie even though they've watched it five times now.

          "Nice," she replied, and Calum scoffed.

          "Like you'll even watch it," he said. "You'll fall asleep within the first twenty minutes."

          She rolled her eyes. "Jokes on you. I'm not even tired."

          Calum ended up proving her wrong because Val was out cold thirty minutes later. Sooner or later, I felt myself dozing off as well. When the day came to an end and night reigned, dreams came out to play. I ended up dreaming about the mysterious girl who shined like the sun, though her caged-in storms seemed like it could put Mother Nature to shame.

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What is up, peeps! So this went through a major change, and honestly, it turned out really great. I made Ashton more of a man lol. His character's gonna change a little bit from how it was before cause he needs it. Gotta think like a man to write a man, and I think I did pretty well with this one. :)

Anyways, I still haven't started on any of my summer classes and I only have until the 30th. Tbh though it wasn't my failed the I failed three classes, I can't work online :) They really thought they could slap assignments down and me being expected to know what the fuck I'm doing. Thanks Covid-19 :p

Anyways, I hope you guys liked this chapter! It seems like somethinge's brewing with Calum, Ash, and Val. Ah yes, love triangles. Who doesn't love them?

See ya! <3