Present day...
It was the smell of strong coffee that stirred her awake. When her brown orbs were half-lidded, a mug was hanging in the air... No, there was a hand holding onto it.
It took a few more blinks to open her eyes, but she nearly bolted out of her skin when she realized that this was not her room.
"Slow down; you're at my place." Derrick chuckled at how she took that hot mug, peering around as if she had been kidnapped. He sat on the bed and pushed the tray he brought along closer.
"I didn't know what you would like, so I made your old favourite. Omelettes with two slices of bread, fried chicken franks and a chocolate bar in case you want dessert."
"Thanks." Valery did not know what to say; the situation was weird. 'Hold on, am I naked?' Her thoughts went wild when she suddenly looked down at her chest.
"Do you not remember what happened last night?" Derrick tilted his head to the side, searching for her lost gaze.
Valery was not going to pretend that she did not recall the mistake of a kiss at the club's parking lot, nor did she forget they took the same ride- clinging to each other. She could not determine where they ended up for the night or how she became half naked, wearing only her bra and very lacy see-through panties. 'Oh God, tell me nothing happened. How could I have been so dumb to get drunk on the first damn date?' she could not bring herself to look Derrick in the eye.
"Um, did we...did we...I mean..."
"We got here late. I was showing you the guest room when you threw up all over the place. So I had to take off your clothes," said Derrick.
Valery let out a silent sigh of relief. "Right, and my clothes?"
"I washed them last night; I can get it for you while you eat. Or would you prefer my shirt?"
"Wearing a shirt is less scary than being in my undies." Valery cooked up a nervous grin as she sipped on the hot beverage.
"Okay, one oversized t-shirt, coming right up." Derrick set down his cup and dashed out. He returns with an oversized orange shirt.
In a hurry to take it, Valery knocks over her beverage, splashing the black contents over the tray and on the bed.
"Oh no, I'm sorry."
"Hold on, let me get that." Derrick rushed to her side to take the tray.
"No, it's my fault I should do it." Valery haphazardly insisted on taking it, which led to another accident. When the tray crashed into his sweatpants, Derrick became the victim of already spilt coffee and bread crumbs. Valery withdraws, very much apologetic.
Derrick had difficulty processing everything when Valery kneeled on the bed like a lost puppy. The commotion must have taken her mind off the t-shirt. Derrick fought his testosterone-driven instincts to stop himself from staring too hard at her full breasts or the fabric guarding her lower temple. The little fat on the sides of her waist and those broad hips.
"Wear the shirt; I will take care of this." Derrick averted his eyes to breathe. That saga ended with them going downstairs for breakfast. Valery insisted on leaving but declined to let Derrick drop her off. She ordered a ride, apologized for what happened and then flew out.
***
Making out with Derrick weighed so heavily on Valery's conscience that she ignored his phone calls after that day.
At work, she crammed her head with the important stuff, so it was easier to not get carried away by guilt. You will be focused when your job is to crack bones and save lives.
After twenty hours of surgery, Valery changed into her clothes, getting ready to leave the hospital. But before then, she had to visit the paediatric section to see Lizzy. There was a seminar coming up. Valery had to review some notes with her and find out if she would make it to the event. From there, she rushed back to her department because she had forgotten one of her slides. Overall, it was a stressful finish.
Passing through the ICU, Valery is alarmed when someone calls out her name. She twirls a few times, searching for the voice.
"I'm right here." A finger tapped her shoulders, and she turned.
"Derrick?" Valery clutched her backpack ungracefully.
"Let me guess, you did not see any of my call or texts for the past six days?" Derrick's brow was up.
"Um, I was busy; it's nothing personal." Valery nodded as if the one to convince was herself. "What are you doing here?" She scratched the nape of her neck.
"I came to see a friend. Dr Mason." Derrick casually slides both hands into his pocket, rocking back and forth. "What are you doing here?"
"I work here."
"As a?"
"Doctor... Oncology department."
"Wow, that's awesome. So, before you run away, I beg you to buy me a can of soda at the cafeteria," Derrick said.
Valery has to deal with his way of stealing her time because saying no to him sure was hard.They went to the cafeteria and settled for snacks. Derrick stares at her the whole time. She sticks her straw in a bottle and makes a mess of her meat pie.
"You did not change at all. You are still that clumsy girl I fell in love with in High School," he broke the silence.
Valery keeps her eyes down as she swallows the baked dough. "The same girl you couldn't keep?"
Derrick scratched his left brow and leaned in slightly. "Yeah... Violet, go out with me."
"What?" Valery's mind slipped into a pit. Her eyes shot up almost immediately to reject. Still, Derrick touches her hand and says, "A second date. Let's have a second date."
"Derrick, I do not see that as a good idea."
"I will wait for you at the same restaurant- this Friday at eight."
"No, Derrick I..."
"If you do not show up, I will know my place and stop bothering you. Think about it, please." Derrick's voice softened even more.
**
Driving back home from that little snack break put Valery's mind asunder. To want or not to want Derrick, why had it suddenly become a stumbling block in her peaceful lonely world? After a series of biting her nails, she dials up another crazy person's number. Since the phone was linked to her car, she could drive quickly.
It took a lot of beeps to get an answer from the other side.
"You call in monthly instalments." Margret skipped saying hello, to render her heartfelt complaints.
"I'm sorry, Marge. Seriously I feel very shitty about it. You are my better half and the only friend I can run to; please don't abandon me." Valery moped behind the steering wheel.
"Are you driving? Can you get to my house?"
"Yeah."
"Then I'll see you in a bit." Margret ended the call before the minute mark.
Margret was one of the few people that knew her past. She understood Valery more than Jennifer or anyone else. Since preschool, they have been best friends, soulmates, partners in crime, and forever sisters. She was the only one who could paint out Valery's characteristics and nature with her eyes closed.
'Marge', as Valery liked to call her, lived alone in a self-compound with her black Maltese, Mimi. When work stole her friend, Valery found her way to Marge's wanted list. Having Valery at home after months made her a little nuts.
"You've gained a few pounds." Margret's arms were the safest. They did not judge or condemn insensitively.
"Is that bad or good?" Valery murmured over Margret's shoulders.
"It's wonderful; you've got your appetite back."
"Or I'm eating junk," Valery said. Mimi hopped onto her lap when she lay on the couch, "Can I crash here for the next ten years?" said Valery.
"Pfft! This is your home; you can stay forever." Margret was quick to get drinks.
"You won't believe who I kissed a few nights ago."
"You kissed a man?" Margret beamed. "That's good news!"
"It was Derrick Duncan."
"That is blasphemy!" Margret gaped hysterically.
"I know!" Valery buried her face with the dog. "We met weeks ago and went on a date, and now he wants to meet again."
"..."
"Say something, Marge; I'm losing it here."
"I don't know what to tell you right now. You swore never to go to that scum now, your next life and all other lives."
"You still think he is scum?" Valery raised her neck at her friend. Margret shrugged. "Did he not feel like scum when you were kissing him?"
"No, he did not," Valery sat up fully, stroking Mimi's curly fur to tame her anxiety. "It felt good, actually, but I wasn't thinking of him when it happened." She confessed.
"It was Riley, wasn't it?" Margret shared the same gloomy expression with Valery.
***
Friday night took forever to come.
Derrick polished up, put on some perfume, and made it to the restaurant on time. "May I take your order?" A waiter was there as soon as he sat down.
"A glass of your finest wine will be okay. I'm waiting for my date," Derrick said. The waiter took notes and adhered to them.
Five glasses down the line, Derrick stares more at his watch than the door. Two and a half hours had passed, yet there was no sign of Valery. Derrick pursed his lips. The world hung on his shoulders, and he began seeing defeat ahead. Nobody said it had to be easy, but he wanted to bury himself in the ground right now.
"Sir, should I refill your glass?" The waiter came back. Derrick did not notice his glass was empty. He paused at that moment, thickening his face when he put up a wistful grin.
"No, you can get me the bill," he said.
The waiter nods attentively and checks for the price. Derrick hands him his credit card and waits. He slides his phone into his pocket and searches for his car keys.
"Hi."
Derrick lifted his chin sharply when he heard her delicate voice. "I was stuck in traffic; sorry I made you wait this long." Valery was here.
While Derrick marvelled at her last-minute entry, the waiter returned. "You know what, we'll be keeping this table for a few more hours." He found his breath while pulling the seat for Valery.
Derrick's heart swelled with glee. Valery was here in all her innocent splendour. She was here, and that meant he had a second chance. He is not a failure.
Ten Years Back...High School. Valery was average regarding weight and did not hide her love for food. Plump cheeks and a sharp jawline. Although her head was well-rounded and small, her thick black hair made it look twice its size. She had small eyes and a cute nose that complimented her appearance. Valery had dark brown skin, soft and glossy. Her lips were full and tainted with a light shade of pink on the bottom. She went for the usual during lunch break; Jollof rice with fried chicken and potato salad. With much delight, she dug in, but an approaching presence made her lift her head after a few bites. "So, where were you during the fourth and fifth periods?" Margret was curious. As much as they told each other everything, Valery knew not to mention where she was. Margret loved being a matchmaker and had already shipped her with many of their mates. Being paired with Derrick was the last thing she needed. Margret sat down with her tray and dug into her food. Valery: "I was at t
Present Day... They had dinner, but they barely finished it. This meeting was more about talking, not eating. Derrick avoided difficult questions, his go-to method of preventing Valery from shutting herself out completely. He saved his feelings for her for a later time when she would reciprocate them wholeheartedly. "Look, I think I should clear the air about this." When the conversation veered off track, Valery took a deep breath and looked Derrick in the eye. "I am a wreck from what happened years ago. I have been in four or five relationships after high school, and it's always been complicated because I made them so." She did not want to beat about the bush anymore. "That makes the two of us. It's been hell trying to replace you." Derrick didn't have to say I love you to get her to understand that. "Derrick..." "No, let me finish." Derrick was ready to be upfront like she expected of him. "I get it if you want to take things slow. I will understand if you want to stay frie
During busy work hours, Valery got a call from the nurse at the reception. "A delivery guy is asking for you, Dr Benson," she said. Valery did scratch her head for some seconds, trying to recall if she had any agenda that would require one. "Did he say where or who it's from? You know what, direct him to my office," said Valery. Moments later, a grand bouquet of fresh flowers hijacks her office. It came with a second parcel in a white paper bag and a note. 'Flowers for my African Violet, to keep her company.' Valery read the note with some enthusiasm. She appreciated Derrick's effort to impress her with classic romantic gestures. However, the door swung open just as she unwrapped the small parcel. "Val... Oh wow." Anita Blankson from ICU walks in, forgetting to knock as always. "No one told me there was a new Juliet in town. Aww, these are lovely." Anita skedaddles to the flowers to admire them closely. Valery rolls her eyes as the drama queen at her workplace invades her privac
It was odd. The hours moved sluggishly while they were glued to each other. Derrick was sweaty, yet the air conditioner was on full blast. Nursing a boner to a woman he simply found divine was torture. He wanted to take her badly, but Valery was the one to bring him peace and steer him away from his old habits. It would be wrong to ruin that. He was a man; this was the best way to prove it. A hand hooked around her neck, Derrick controls Valery's tongue but not how hard her privates grind against his crotch. It was an amusing factor of how much they had grown. The Violet from before would crawl into the ground at the thought of being intimate. But this version was okay. A little kinky but sweet. "Is this what you truly want, Violet?" Derrick could die from those steamy gusts. "You're stalling," Valery said. "I want to be careful with you," Derrick responded, hands never leaving her cushioned skin. "I won't break if you bend me over," Valery said with an innocent face. It made
Years Back... High School. Being out of school was okay if all you had to do was lie in bed, eat and watch TV. No one forces you to do chores or run errands, and no one fights with you over the single couch. The downside was being behind in academics and missing friends. Margret could come over any day, but it wasn't enough to cure the restless, lonely days. After the accident, Mr York was put in a tight spot. The school's board of directors issued an investigation into the matter, and the outcome was not good. There were rules concerning the discipline of students and how far the staff could go. Hard labour was not allowed- not per the school's standard. It was an unlawful act forced on students, and the principal was penalized for allowing it to happen. Valery's case may have come out because of the severity of her injuries and the period it took place. It encouraged other students to speak up about their unfortunate moments, that went unnoticed. Mr York was let off the hook wit
High School... The alarm went off at six-thirty. A digital rooster was screaming in Derrrick's ears tirelessly. "Tsk!" He swung his entire arm, searching for the phone. After a few sweeps over the bed, he finds nothing. "God damn it!" Derrick gritted his teeth as he lifted his head. It was easier to locate the small light breaching through the pillowcase. His fingers crawl underneath, and he has it. *Kuk! Kuk!* Derrick did not hear the timid knocks. When the door squeaked open, and the rays from outside peeked into his perfectly dark room, he turned. "What is it now?!" Derrick yelled at the intruder. The maid flinched. "You will be late for school, sir." The servant had learned to thread softly in this mansion over the years. "So?" Derrick grunted. He would get out of bed at the time he deemed fit. "Your father is waiting for you to come down," said the maid. That changed everything. "I'll come down soon," Derrick responded with a sigh. It took him thirty minutes to go down
High School... With time, Valery fully recovered. She burned the midnight oil, working her butt off to stay ahead in most subjects- including the ones she did not fancy. That was not the only thing she broke a sweat to maintain. Hiding her friendship with Leo was another hustle. He made it harder to handle each time he sent random notes to her class, demanding her presence. She agreed to see him at every second recess and closing hours. But it wasn't all bad; she did benefit from that enclosed environment. Derrick lay on the lazy beanbag, throwing a ping-pong ball against the wall. He peeked behind intermittently, with a sour expression on his face. Valery had developed a new habit he found problematic. She preferred doing homework and studying to amusing him. "You're getting noisy again," Valery said, her eyes still buried in an exercise book. "Can't you do your homework when you get home?" "Do you want me to leave?" Valery raised her head. At least it got her to look at h
Saturday took forever to arrive, but it was met with the same energy; suspense, a bucket of nervousness and a hint of thrill. With her homework done and chores out of the way, Valery approached her mother about going for a walk outside. "I'll be at the neighbourhood basketball court with Margret if you need me." It was the perfect alibi for a girl who had never lied about where she went. "Be back before four," her mother said. Valery was in her favourite pair of blue jeans, a white top, a jacket, and a cap to match. No one would suspect foul play in such a simple outfit. By the time she reached the junction, Derrick was fiddling with his cell phone, flooding her messages. He got the locks, and she hurried inside. "For a moment there, I thought you'd bail on me." "Yeah, right. Move before I get spotted." Valery strapped on the seatbelt. She turns, and this guy is just sitting there, staring at her with an arrogant smirk. "What?" "You look normal," he said. "And you look fla