JOHN AWOKE TO the phone ringing at around noon. He had fallen asleep back at his apartment, and woke with a start when the phone rang. "I've got it, Johnny." His new roommate, Evan, called.

"Thanks." John said as he rolled out of bed and slipped into the sweater he had taken from Freddie about a week ago.

One week since everything had happened between Roger and Valerie, but he still was too hesitant to talk to her at all.

"It's a Mr. Star Doctor May on the phone for you!" Evan called into the apartment. Evan and Brian were pretty close, as they had met at a concert before. Evan had yet to meet Valerie, and John was a bit excited for the day that Evan even came into a five mile radius of Valerie. They probably wouldn't stop talking for hours.

      "I'm coming!" John called back as he shuffled into the living room. He took the phone from Evan, who walked into the kitchen to make himself some food.

       "Hello?" John said into the phone, and he could hear shuffling in the background.

      "Lunch at Valerie's today, there's some big news Reid just called with." Brian said, and I'm the background you could hear Valerie say something to which someone else responded.

     "Alright, I'll be right there, I guess." John said, about to ask Brian something else when the line clicked, and John knew he had hung up.

      He went back into his room to change into a decent looking leather jacket and t shirt, all the while thinking about how Brian now referred to the apartment as just Valerie's ever since he had moved into a new place with Payton. A house.

      He walked into the kitchen where Evan was about to put something in the microwave and he cleared his throat quietly. "Um, the band and a few of my friends are having lunch together. You should join us," John said.

      Evan looked up and smiled a bit. "Yeah, sure. Let me just get on some shoes," he replied, walking off to his room to get some footwear.

       John walked out of the kitchen and got his keys, waiting by the door for Evan to return.

        "Alright, let's plow." Evan said, putting on some sunglasses and swaggering out the door.
*****

As soon as Valerie heard the doorbell ring, her heart skipped a beat. Sure, she and John weren't talking, but she got excited whenever he was mentioned anymore. She knew it was John at the door, and she just couldn't help being happy.

      She went and opened the door and smiled at John. "Hey, Valerie." John said sheepishly, averting her eyes a bit.

"Hey, John. Who's this?" She asked, nodding to Evan, who had his hands in the pockets of his jacket.

"Evan Smith. It's great to meet you. John gushes about you a lot." Evan said,  causing John to go bright red, and Valerie to giggle a bit.

      "Valerie Cartaya. Soon to be doctor." Valerie said, and John perked up.  

      "You did it? Is that the good news?" John asked, and Valerie shrugged.

      "Part of it, at least. John, is that my jacket Evan is wearing?" Valerie asked,  raising an eyebrow, and John looked over.

      "No, it's mine. I stole it from Roger's closet." John said, looking pointedly at Evan.

      "And Roger stole it from mine. Lord," Valerie laughed. Evan, by now, was blushing and stuttering, taking off the jacket to give it to Valerie.

"No, Evan, darling. Don't worry about it. You two come in. Lunch is - "

"Valerie! Where's the salt?" Brian called into the living room, and she sighed.

"You've lived with me for nine years and you still don't know where the salt is?" She asked, then turning to John and Evan as she closed the door.

"Pardon me for a bit. My ex roommate thinks that after he's moved out for two weeks he can't be bothered to remember where anything is!" She said, walking past them and into the kitchen, making it a point to yell at Brian as she did so.

"I never knew where the salt was in the first place, so you can't tell me anything." Brian yelled back at her, putting a bit of frosting on her nose. They, along with Payton and Freddie were baking a cake while Roger and Mary were playing chess. Roger wasn't to be trusted in the kitchen.

John figured Brian had finally forgiven Roger after a week. Thank goodness.

"Brian, you're lucky that Payton is here, or I might stab you with a fork." Valerie said as Freddie took a napkin and wiped off the frosting.

"Oh no, by all means, stab him." Payton said as she pulled the cake out of the oven, and Brian pretended to be offended as he walked over to her.

"Now, now. Let's not gang up on the guitarist!" Brian said as Payton leaned up to kiss him.

"Honey, I'm sure we could find someone to replace you." Payton teased as Brian pecked her lips lightly.

"That's where you're wrong, Payton. Brian is irreplaceable." John said as he came into the kitchen. Payton rolled her eyes and gave John a hug and a cheek peck in greeting.

"Oh, I know he is. But he can be annoying. Valerie would know, she had to deal with him for nine years." Payton said, bumping Valerie with her hip.

"Right? And I still have to deal with him. At least he's not waking me up in the morning with an ABBA record." Valerie said, and Payton laughed.

"Oh? He does that to you too?" She teased, and Brian rolled his eyes.

"Lunch is ready, John and Evan. Serve yourselves." Valerie said, laughing as Freddie wrapped his arms around her waist and carried her to the table.

"Rog, tell me you didn't sugar the beans this time!" Valerie said, laughing loudly as Freddie started to tickle her.

"I don't think so," Roger said. Valerie continues to laugh and literally slipped to the floor, practically gasping for air. Freddie finally relented at Mary's wishes.

       "I hate you." Valerie said to Freddie. John took her hand and helped Valerie up, to which she graciously accepted.

      "You love me, darling. Now enough of this, what's the good news?" Freddie demanded, placing a hand on his hip.

      Valerie and Brian looked at each other and Valerie grinned. "Well.... for starters.... I presented my thesis the other day. And, well.... guess who's going to be- "

       "Doctor Valerie Cartaya! No fucking way!" Roger said, standing up. Valerie burst out into a grin, hugging Roger excitedly, the two jumping up and down squealing.

      "What kind of doctor?" Evan asked, speaking for probably the first time since he had been at the house. He had taken a bite from one of the tacos Valerie made, and he had a bit of lettuce hanging from his mouth.

      "Star doctor, like Brian." John answered, causing Valerie to give him a look of confusion at his explanation.

      Evan practically lit up. "Really?" He said,  and Valerie nodded.

     "We can talk about that later, but now for the next piece of surprises.... Brian, you wanna tell them?" 

       "Well, John Reid called me today. He has a little tour in mind for us."

      "Cut the bullshit, it isn't little," Valerie said, and Brian shot her a look.

       "Well, he's booked us a tour of America! The album has hit the charts in the U.S!" Brian exclaimed, and Valerie grinned widely.

Everyone stared silently at them before Freddie started to laugh a bit. "Really?" He said shyly, quietly, as if he couldn't believe it.

"Really." Valerie conformed, and everyone gave shocked gasps and started to cheer and exclaim.

"We can finally open that nice bottle of champagne you've been saving." John said, poking Valerie in the side.

"Oiga, pendejo. No one else is supposed to know about that." Valerie whispered with a slight laugh, poking John in the side.

"How was I supposed to know? You showed me that one time you got drunk on New Years." John said, and Valerie smacked his shoulder, leaning on the counter next to him.

"I was drunk, John. Don't pay attention to me when I am." She said, and started to make herself a plate of food. The kitchen was now very loud with clamour, and the question of whether Mary or Payton would be going along.

"What about you, Val? Would you come?" Roger asked, and Valerie looked at Brian, then Freddie, and lastly John. There was an awkward silence as the two shared a look before Valerie looked away, and she remembered the week before when she and Roger had sort of made a mess of everything.

"I've got my pinning in May. I can't miss that. Not to mention, I'm going to start teaching at a high school nearby." Valerie said as she started to make herself a taco.

"Oh, that's too bad. Oh! Shit! We might not even be here for your graduation!" Freddie exclaimed, and Valerie shrugged.

"It doesn't matter. As long as you send me plenty of pictures from America, and bring me back one souvenir from each state, whether it be a post card or a rock, I'll be happy." Valerie said, and John melted a little bit at her modesty and sweetness.

"That can be arranged. If Roger brings you back a pigeon from New York, though, you're the one to blame for saying it just had to be a souvenir." Brian said, giving Roger a look. Roger wrinkled up his nose and scoffed as he ate his makeshift burrito.

"Duly noted. No live animals, eh?" Valerie said with a laugh.

"Damn, I wanted to bring you back a moose from Canada." Roger said, and Valerie blinked at him.

"Canada isn't even a part of the U.S., dipshit." she told him, and he looked unfazed at her as he went back to eating his burrito.

Valerie sighed with a laugh as everyone lapsed back into a conversation. She looked at John, and the two rolled their eyes. And suddenly, it was almost as if any tension was gone between them.

      "Um, Valerie? I'm studying astrophysics too, think you can give me any tips of the trade and such?" Evan asked, and Valerie was more than enthusiastic to help him.

     Mary and John made a bet to see how long the two of them would end up talking.

     John ended up winning.