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» CHAPTER FIFTEEN: JEALOUSY «

“AJ, Nick!” Valerie and Allie both screamed at once. Allie ran into Nick's arms and Valerie into AJ’s.

“I’m so glad that you guys came down to see us!” Nick said as he squeezed Allie in his arms.

“Um, we didn’t come down here to see you….” Allie said, looking down at the tile floor.

“What do you mean?” AJ asked, looking at Valerie.

“Well, we’re going to get a record deal with The Firm” Valerie said, looking past AJ, to where Ryan was standing.

“I guess that I don’t have to introduce you guys then, do I?” Ryan said, uncomfortably.

AJ ignored Ryan. "That’s great! Why didn’t you tell us?”

“We didn’t know if they were going to give us the deal or not. We still haven’t even signed all the papers” Allie said, holding on to Nick's hand.

AJ noticed Valerie staring at Ryan. "Um, is there something else that you want to tell me?”

“What?” Valerie said as she turned her attention back to AJ. “No, why?”

“No reason” AJ said, with suspicion in his voice. He just stood there staring at her.

“What?” Valerie asked AJ.

“Nothing!” AJ said, raising his voice a little.

“You don’t have to yell at me!” Valerie said, backing away from AJ.

“You’re not telling me something, aren’t you!?” AJ said, looking at Ryan.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Valerie said, with tears forming in her eyes.

“Oh! Don’t you give me that! I know that there’s something between you and Ryan!” AJ yelled.

“What?! I just met him an hour ago and now you’re accusing me of having feelings for him?!” Valerie yelled back.

“So, you DO have feelings for him!” AJ said, his face growing red with anger.

“I just met him, I don’t even know anything about him and I DON’T like him! I thought that we had something special AJ. I thought that you liked me, but I guess that you lied.” Valerie paused to wipe the tears that were flowing down her face. "I’ve had too many guys do this to me and I thought that you wouldn’t, but I guess that I was wrong. I…. I…. I can’t take it anymore!” Valerie said, running off.

“What the hell was that all about!? I can’t believe that you did that; you don’t know what she’s been through you little… little… selfish freak!” Allie yelled at AJ as she ran off to find Valerie.

“Damnit AJ….” Nick said as he rubbed his temples.

“What?” AJ said looking at him.

“I think that I’d better go, umm…. yeah” Ryan said uncomfortably as he headed back to his Dad’s office.

“Bye,” Nick said, waving to Ryan. AJ just glared at him.

“AJ, listen, I’ve never seen you act like this. What happened?” Nick asked.

“I don’t know. It’s just that she was staring at Ryan like I wasn’t even there and I just… thought that maybe… I don’t know” AJ said. He walked over to a bench and sat down.

Nick walked over and sat down next to AJ. "I think that you just jumped to conclusions. You need to calm down, then go and talk to her.”

“Yeah, I think that I’ll go and find her” AJ said, getting up.

"OK man, good luck. I’m going to go find Brian” Nick said.

“Sure, I’ll see you later” AJ said as he started to walk in the direction that Allie and Valerie ran off to.

Valerie ran through the endless maze of hallways. She didn’t even know where she was going; she just wanted to get away. How long have I been running, she thought. Valerie couldn’t run anymore, so she sat down on a nearby bench. She put her head in her hands and started to cry.

Allie finally found her and sat down on the bench. She put her arm around Valerie. "It’s ok. Everything will work out.”

“No it won’t. It never does” Valerie said, wiping her eyes.

“Oh Valerie….” Allie looked up and saw AJ running towards them. “I’d better go, just don’t worry.”

“I’ll try” said Valerie, who didn’t notice AJ standing above her.

Allie glared at AJ and walked away. AJ sighed and sat down next to Valerie. Valerie just noticed that AJ was there, because she smelt his cologne. “I don’t want to talk to you” Valerie said as she started to get up.

“No, you’re going to sit and listen to what I have to say, because it’s important” AJ said, pulling Valerie down next to him.

“Fine, but make it fast. I have to go learn some songs” Valerie said, coldly.

“OK. First, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that you had something going with Ryan. I do care about you and I do like you a lot and I wish that I could take back what I said, but I know now that I can’t.” AJ stopped and looked at Valerie, who had a blank expression on her face. “And I… I… don’t know what I would do without you. I think that I just got jealous and overreacted. I’m so sorry and if you never talk to me again, then I’ll understand.”

There was a long pause. Then Valerie stood up; AJ did the same. “Aren’t you going to say something?” AJ asked.

Valerie turned around and gave AJ a big hug. "I’m so sorry, I never had anything going with Ryan. I mean, yeah I do find him attractive, but I would never leave you for him” Valerie said, crying into AJ’s shoulder.

“Oh it’s all my fault. I need to realize that you are going to find other guys attractive. I need to stop being jealous; I’m so sorry…”AJ was stopped by Valerie putting her finger up to his lips. "Shhh, don’t say anything.” Valerie pulled AJ in close and kissed him slowly.

AJ pulled away after a minute. "Nummy.”

"Hey, that’s my word!” Valerie said, teasingly.

“I know, I like it”  AJ said with a smile.

“Come on, let’s go find Allie and the guys,” Valerie took AJ’s hand and left to find everyone.

¤ Chapter 16: Everything's Ok ¤
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