I didn't even bother showing anyone my dress, instead I shoved it inside my closet. All I could think about was Jesse. Maybe if we went to another restaurant this whole thing could have been avoided. That could've saved him all the hurt he's feeling now. If only I knew Lyla would walk in with his replacement.

I dived on my bed and exhaled loudly, staring blankly at the ceiling. I wish I had my phone on me, I could text him and ask how he's doing.

After ages of lying in the same position doing absolutely nothing, I decide to do something I haven't done in a long time. I stand from my bed and walk out the door, heading for Valerie's room. Yep, that's right, I'm going to suck it up and have a long, overdue conversation with her. About everything.

《×》

After telling her absolutely everything that's going on in my life right now, she just laid there and smiled weirdly at me. Not even saying a word.

"Well? Aren't you going to say something? That's the whole point of me telling you what's up" I tell her, feeling stupid that she's not giving me advice like I expected.

"I honestly don't know what to say yet. This is, wow, you haven't had this kinda drama in your life before. I'm so happy for you!" She exclaims, sitting up on her bed.

"Happy?! Are you kidding me?!" I exclaim in disbelief, glaring at her. I move to take a seat on her bed, hoping she can act a little serious with me now. I'm on the verge of growling at her.

"Rosie, it's terrible that Jesse is hurt and I know it kind of hurts you as well because you're his friend but to tell you the truth, that was something no one could prevent"

"What do you mean?" I ask, feeling confused. She lost me when she started talking.

"I mean, no one could have stopped it from happening. If it didn't happen at the restaurant, it was bound to happen somewhere else. It's a small town, Rosie, he was gonna find out sooner or later."

Wow. She absolutely right.

"You're right, Val, but I still feel like it's partially my fault" I tell her, laying back on the bed.

"It's not. But there's something I gotta ask and it's kind of important in this situation" she says, laying back as well.

She cocks her head sideways to look at me and I look expectantly at her, feeling a little nervous.

"What?" I ask abruptly, hoping she'd get on with it. I'm hating the suspense.

"Rosalie, be honest" Val sighs, looking straight into my eyes. "Do you like Jesse?"

Um, what? Wh- what kinda que-question is that?

"Wh-what? I don't" I scoff, contemplating whether I should leave this room or stay and let her ask more absurd questions.

"Stop fooling yourself. I can see it in your eyes when I mention his name. You so like him" she teases, pinching my cheek and laughing her hyena laugh straight out of The Lion King.

"You're being silly. I don't like him and I don't know what you're talking about" I say sternly, giving her a very serious look.

"Uh huh, because that's going to help you" she tells me, getting up and tossing a pillow at my head.

Valerie leaves her room and I know exactly where she's headed. My room.

I quickly get up and pad to my room, ignoring the weird looks from my father who was coming up the stairs. He shook his head when he saw me. Nothing new there. He's always shaking his head in disappointment when he sees me.

"Where is it?" Valerie asks hurriedly, rummaging through my room.

"Where's what?" I exclaim, once again confused.

"Your dress, genius! I want to see your dress" she gushes, her hands flying everywhere.

Oh. I thought she was rummaging through my room hoping to find Jesse probably hiding under my bed or in my closet. Oh wait, he can't fit --

"Well?" She interjects, interrupting my thoughts.

I walk over to my closet and open it, revealing the neat white glossy bag sitting on top a pile of dirty clothes that I forgot to wash.

Valerie carefully brings the bag out and takes a seat on the bed, ready to see my dress. I walk over to the window and sit on the ledge, looking outside.

"Oh my! This is very, very beautiful. Rosie, you have excellent taste. I'm so shook" she gushes, holding up my dress in awe, her eyes wide.

"Yep, believe it or not I can make a good decision" I tell her, feeling pleased with my dress.

"You're gonna look beautiful" she says, folding my dress neatly and placing it back inside the bag.

I watch as she silently places the bag back in my closet and looks at me, her face neutral.

"What's wrong now?" I sigh, she's really going to give me a headache.

"I just - I know I haven't been the best big sister and we've kinda drifted apart. I was so happy when you came to talk about your problems with me. It made me feel like old times" Val tells me, smiling as she walked towards me by the window.

Please don't get emotional. I've had an emo day already.

"I want us to be as close as we were before I left. I really miss talking to you about everything going on. I've been so lonely, believe it or not" she tells me, bowing her head.

"Don't you have friends? You were the one that was always too busy to visit home" I reply, feeling a bit irritated that she thinks she's lonely. Because we all know I'm the loneliest, loner ever.

"I guess I got carried away. I figured that out after I realised I had gossip from like a month ago that I hadn't told you yet" she explains, her head still bowed and a frown beginning to form on her pale face.

"I thought you replaced me with your new friends" I tell her, avoiding any form of eye contact just so I wouldn't get too emotional.

"What!?" She gasps, looking at me in suprise. "Jeez, you're my sister! I would never!" She continues, reaching out to pull me in for a much-needed embrace.

I rest my chin on her bony, uncomfortable shoulder and close my eyes. I sighed in relief as she patted my back gently. It was good to be this close again. I didn't realise that I was missing her so much until now.

"I wanna be there for you more, starting with homecoming" Val says, breaking our hug.

"Um, okay. Sure" I reply, not sure what she really means though.

"Good, because I have a few hairstyles and makeup looks that I just put together in my wonderful mind after looking at your dress"

"Oh no, you're not touching my  hair or my face. Who knows what crap you'll do to it!" I protest, just thinking of the evil things she would do. Shaving my eyebrows would be a nightmare. Or putting remover in my shampoo. Oh, the list is endless!

"Hey! I can promise you I'll make you look good. No pranks. I swear" she says sincerely, a hand across her chest.

I roll my eyes in annoyance and chuckle lightly. Fine. I guess I'll just have to trust her.

"If you do pull a prank on me, I won't rest till I've delivered you a much more humiliating payback"  I tell her sternly, glaring at her.

She gulps and looks at me with furrowed brows. Did I scare her? Good.

"Don't worry, when I'm done with you, Jesse won't be able to play it cool anymore. He'll be all over you" Val says smartly, walking out of my room.

"That's not what I want, Val!" I shout out before slamming the door.

That's not what I want, right?

A/N::
Hey guys! Thanks for reading this far. How are u liking the storyline? Who's your favorite character?
I would love to know xx 💜