"I just told him and he looked so broken. I'm a cruel person", she suddenly sobbed. I made my way towards her and held her in my arms. She hugged me back and sobbed in my chest. I hated seeing her like this and there was nothing I could do and it was her decision.
                          
After she calmed down a little, I pulled away from her. "Thanks for always being here for me", she said wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
                          
"Anything for you, little sis", I smiled.
                          
"We're only a year apart", she protested.
                          
"But still you're younger than me", I joked and she hit my arms.
                          
"Go to bed now. You have work tomorrow right?", she was a designer and owned a boutique in town.
                          
"Yeah. Good night. Don't stay up too late", she yawned then went upstairs leaving me alone with my drink. Alone at last.
                          
It was almost midnight and I still sat here drinking. Luckily I had high tolerance for alcohol otherwise I'd be a drunk mess right now. I was still thinking about the 'rat' matter but mostly about Valerie. She must be sleeping right now. God, I wish I could be the one laying next to her.
                          
"May I join you?", Larry sat beside me.
                          
"Sure", I said. He took the bottle of bourbon and poured himself a glass.
                          
"You don't usually drink", I exclaimed. Larry wasn't a big fan of drinking because it reminded him of his father. He was an alcoholic and would abuse him and his mom.
                          
"Well, having a glass won't hurt right", he said drinking all the liquid in one gulp.
                          
"Right", I mumbled.
                          
"This bourbon is too good to be wasted", he joked and I laughed.
                          
"Any news about the 'rat'?", I asked. The thought of him angered me.
                          
"No. He wasn't at the bar tonight so we tried to question the bartender. But unfortunately, there was nothing he could0 tell us", Larry sighed.
                          
"Keep watching the bar", I simply said.
                          
"Sean, he might be out of town already. I don't think he'd be that stupid staying 2 hours away from where he was hunted"
                          
"I said keep watching the bar and find any suspicious activity in that town" I raised my voice a little. "He's planning something. I know it. We just don't know what it is"
                          
Larry just nodded and we continued drinking in silence. The thought of what the 'rat' was planning worried me. He worked for me for years so he knew my tactics and strategies. I just hoped that he didn't know about my interest for Valerie or she'd get involved in this too and that was the last thing that I wanted.
                          
I needed a plan.
                          
***
                          
VALERIE POV
                          
I was walking to my next class when suddenly someone knocked into me, making my books fall from my grip. "Sorry didn't see you there", the guy said and kept walking away. What a jerk. He didn't even try to help me.
                          
I groaned loudly as I picked my books. There were some papers on the floor and I tried to grab them before someone stepped on them. But before I could reach them, someone had grabbed them for me. I looked up to see his face and I sighed in relief.
                          
"Thanks", I said as Liam handed me my papers.
                          
"I knew you'd need my help", he teased and I just rolled my eyes.
                          
"You still have class?", he asked and I nodded in response.
                          
"Yeah. The last one fortunately. You?"
                          
"Nope", he said, popping the p.
                          
"Why do I always have more classes than you?". I grumbled.
                          
"Well, you're just sucks", he said, messing with my hair.
                          
"Stop that", I slapped his arm playfully.
                          
"Well, do you want me to accompany you until your class starts?", he offered.
                          
"It's fine. You don't have to do that. I'm OK with myself", I said giving him a genuine smile.
                          
"But we rarely spend some time together. Please? I'll be good", he pouted and I tried so hard not to laugh. He was so adorable.
                          
"Fine just because you look cute when you pout like that", I pinched his cheeks.
                          
"You think I'm cute?", he raised his brows.
                          
"No. You're ugly", I said regretting the choice of word to describe him. He could be really cocky sometimes.
                          
"Meanie", I heard him mutter and I shook my head in amusement.
                          
We walked together to my class as we chatted. He also sat with me in the class and I could feel some girls eyed us with jealousy. Liam was a smart guy and he wasn't bad looking either. No wonder these girls looked like they wanted to kill me.
                          
At first, I thought I liked Liam as more than friends but the more I knew him, I realized that he would never be my special someone. He was more like a brother to me. Like he promised, Liam stayed with me until my class started. "I'll see you later", he whispered in my ear since the professor had stepped in their class.
                          
He quietly went out of the class without the professor noticing. Here we go again. The boring session started. I boringly paid attention to what the professor said and I took some important notes. When I was in the middle of writing, my phone buzzed. I opened it because I rarely got a text especially during class.
                          
Still on for that dinner?
-Sean
                          
Sean? Wait how did he get my number? We didn't even have the chance to switch numbers.
                          
How do you get my number?
                          
I pressed send and waited for his reply which was fast.
                          
Sean: I have my ways. So I'll get you after work?
                          
Me: My shift ends at 6.
                          
Sean: Great. I'll see you then.
                          
I put my phone away and continued focussing on my lesson but unfortunately, all I could think about was Sean. Actually I was looking forward to tonight. I just wanted to see him. I was never the one who was obsessed with boys but Sean just had this vibe that made me feel safe and comfortable. But I shouldn't hope too much. Maybe he didn't like me that way. The thought of being friend zoned hurt me a little.