THE SECOND RELEASE PARTY WAS everything danah had promised and more-huge, glamorous, and teeming with celebrities. the rented mansion gleamed under the soft glow of chandeliers, the sound of music and laughter filling every corner. valerie moved through the crowd with olivia by her side, trying to enjoy herself, but her nerves were stretched thin.
she couldn't help but glance around for billie, who had been whisked off earlier to talk to a group of music executives. they hadn't had much time together tonight, and the distance gnawed at her.
"stop looking for her," olivia teased, elbowing her lightly.
"i'm not," valerie replied quickly, but her voice gave her away.
olivia grinned. "you're so bad at lying. she'll come find you, don't worry."
valerie opened her mouth to respond, but a voice interrupted.
"valerie?"
she turned to see odessa standing a few feet away, holding a glass of wine and looking effortlessly put-together in a tailored red wine suit. valerie stiffened immediately.
"yeah?" she said, her voice cautious.
"can we talk?" odessa's tone was smooth, almost friendly. she glanced at olivia. "alone?"
valerie hesitated. there was something about odessa that put her on edge, but she didn't want to seem rude.
"i'll be right back," she said to olivia, who gave her a wary look but nodded.
following odessa out onto the balcony, valerie crossed her arms against the chill of the night air. the city lights sparkled in the distance, but the atmosphere between them felt heavy.
odessa leaned against the balcony railing, her posture calm but her face etched with concern. the music from the party was muted now, the night air heavy with tension. her eyes, soft and almost sorrowful, locked onto valerie's.
"valerie," she began gently, her voice barely above a whisper. "i've been holding this in for a while, and... i don't know how to say it without hurting you. but i think you need to know."
valerie frowned, unease spreading through her chest. "know what?"
odessa hesitated, as if carefully choosing her words. "it's about billie. i-i don't think she's being honest with you."
valerie blinked, her stomach twisting. "what do you mean? billie wouldn't-she's never lied to me."
odessa let out a soft, pained sigh, stepping closer. "i wish that were true. but after your last date, she called me. she was... upset. she said she wished you were someone else. and it wasn't just that, valerie. she said being with you felt like a chore."
the words hit valerie like a punch to the gut, leaving her breathless. "you're lying," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.
"i'm not," odessa replied, her tone steady but sympathetic. "i didn't want to believe it either. but this isn't the first time, valerie. she's told me things before-about your kisses. the one at the concert, the beach, the party... she said they didn't feel right. and then she'd call me, begging me to kiss her instead." odessa hesitated, her gaze lowering. "and we both know what kissing usually leads to."
valerie's chest tightened, tears already welling in her eyes. "stop," she whispered, her voice trembling. "please."
"i'm sorry," odessa said softly, stepping back as if giving her space. "i hate that i have to tell you this. i know i barely know you, but i care about you. and i don't want you to keep getting hurt. you deserve someone who's all in. someone who doesn't make you feel like this."
valerie couldn't breathe. her entire world felt like it was collapsing. she gripped the railing, her knuckles white, as odessa's words replayed in her mind like a cruel echo.
odessa gave her one last, sympathetic look before quietly leaving, her footsteps fading into the noise of the party.
valerie stood frozen, the weight of everything crushing her. her chest heaved, her breaths coming in sharp, uneven gasps. the tears spilled over as she pulled out her phone, her hands trembling uncontrollably. opening billie's contact, her vision blurred, she hesitated for only a second before hitting block.
it wasn't enough. she went to her social media, blocking billie there too. every platform. every connection. she erased her completely.
she didn't want to see her name. didn't want to hear her voice. didn't want to feel anything at all.
her phone slipped from her hand, clattering onto the balcony floor as a sob tore through her throat. her legs gave out, and she sank to the ground, shaking violently, her tears falling in heavy streams.
the door creaked open, and olivia stepped out, her brows furrowing in concern. "val?" she called softly, crouching down beside her. "what's wrong? are you okay?"
valerie couldn't answer. she couldn't even look at her. the words wouldn't come. her breaths were shallow and frantic, her entire body trembling.
"valerie," olivia said again, her voice more urgent now. she placed a hand on valerie's shoulder, trying to ground her. "hey, it's me. just breathe, okay? just breathe."
but valerie couldn't. the sobs wracked her body, each one tearing through her like a fresh wound. her hands were clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms as she shook her head, unable to form a single coherent word.
olivia didn't push. she sat down beside her, pulling valerie into her arms, holding her tightly as she cried. "it's okay," she murmured. "i'm here. i've got you. whatever it is, you're going to be okay."
valerie clung to her, burying her face in olivia's shoulder as the storm inside her raged on. and though olivia didn't know what had happened, she stayed, her presence steady and unwavering, offering the only comfort valerie could hold onto.
olivia gently pulled back, her hands still on valerie's shoulders. her voice was soft but steady. "do you want to go home?"
valerie couldn't speak; her throat felt like it was closing. she managed a small, shaky nod, her face still damp with tears.
olivia nodded back, brushing a strand of hair from valerie's face. "okay. let's go."
helping her to her feet, olivia kept an arm around valerie as they quietly made their way through the party, avoiding any lingering glances or questions.
the ride home was silent, filled only with the hum of the car engine and valerie's occasional sniffles.