Greatest Holiday Ever

Could it be possible to achieve one of the best summers in your life, with the people you despised the most?

Well if it is, then I've clearly succeed in that, although it hadn't easy.

Friends have never been an achievable goal for me. With an awkward smile and a brain that rethinks every possible conversation before they're actually made, I've always believed it was better off for me to keep alone my longtime friend than a bunch of them.

But has thought clearly changed, ever since I was given the opportunity to socialise with people as different and singled out as I find myself to be.

So when I get the chance to go through some old pictures of mine that signifies the greatest things that happened to me that holiday. They were before everything went down hill for me, and my parents.

I remember initially calling it - The Best Summer Ever. Which wasn't even close.

That's why I find it really hard to forget that day.

The day that marked the beginning of everything that went wrong that summer.

And that's exactly when my story starts.

The sun was out. Like it should be in August. But instead of appreciating that, I find myself counting down the minutes before my parents leaved, as I slowly go down the smoothly carved stairs.

"Navareth, can you help me with these bags?" A voice ahead calls, as I struggle down with the bags I have already been assigned with.

"Sure mom, but after I'm done helping dad carry one of his. Yo, what's in these boxes, rocks?" I look back to my dad as he works his grey tie before staring up to me.

"Silver rocks encrusted watches," He corrects, finally taking the work load from me.

Today marks my parents' 18th anniversary, and also the period that they travel to handle the problem in our family business with the other shareholders.

The Navarreth Restaurants & co has been running a year after Mr and Mrs Navarreth became spouses and yeah business has been booming. So much that a simple restaurant with Mother's recipes, expanded to other parts of the world including Miami, where we now reside.

Everything was going fine until last week. And although they said otherwise, things only got worse, which brings us to this moment - My parents going to save their business on their anniversary!

I bet they didn't remember what today is.

"Hey!" I say all of a sudden. "Before you go, I just have a little surprise for you," My heels make a racket on the glass floor as I get to the sink cabinet and bring out a little box in ribbons and everything nice.

"Ooh, you remembered," Dad gushed as he opened the pink box to find a cupcake with little words on it.

Before taking the time to read what it was, he consumes the top's icing as I stare in horror.

"How did you remember I didn't have anything for breakfast." He licks his fingers.

"Dad that was for both of you - happy anniversary Mom," I turn to give her a hug, lazering eye darts at him.

"Oh so the cake was for both - okay come baby, now you're going to get me a new cake just as identical and also jewelry,"

"But what about the flight?"

"Oh the flight can wait. We still have like - oh thirty minutes. Where's the chauffeur!" She says at the top of her voice as I help them carry their valuables and at the same time counting down the minutes before I could have the house all to myself.

Turning to me, Mom cupped my cheeks. "Behave hon. And don't forget to show the pool boy where the pool is,"

"Yes Mom,"

"And before I forget, just in case there's a fire, flood or even a earthquake, we've kept in store an emergency phone in your drug counter so don't hesitate to call us eh,"

"Flood? Earthquake really? She'll be living miles away from town so I believe none of that should be her problem right now," Turning to me, he continued.

"Honey don't forget to lock the doors before going to bed and make sure you don't have anyone else in. Especially that blonde devil, that Cole boy. Oh and except for the pool boy, okay young lady? We'll see you later." He blew me a kiss but I already had the door shut.

Moving to a huge window, I watched as they left, waving back slowly whenever they looked my way, before their car went through the automatic gates.

Finally!

Pulling back the blinds, I raced across the room, more than certain that Raven was still pissed at me for hanging up on her.

But it was for a great cause; my reason for never having fun were out, meaning I have the beach house all to myself.

Well you know what they say, when the cats are away, the mice will play.

"Hey Raven. Are you still there?" I asked, lying on my bed.

"Sadly yes. How life can be so cruel, while you're still in Miami, I'm stuck here in London with my grandparents trying to challenge me to a game of chess. And although I love them so much, I still need my girl time you get me?" She asked.

I could imagine her locked up in a spacious room, trying to make the hands and of the clock go faster so she can be out of there.

Raven didn't really want to leave Miami, in fact most people can say she was tricked by her parents. I'll explain.

At first, her parents had explained she would be gone for London to check out the colleges that accepted her there.

But after that was over, they had to retire to their family house for the night and after that, she didn't see them again. Well physically that is.

Since she's a minor and her parents travel like crazy just like me, she has to be left with a responsible family member. By now that no other relatives were willing to take her in, Raven's parents settled on her grandparents.

Apparently they're more than happy to spend quality time with their granddaughter.

"I do think you deserve quality girl time. Like Mom and Dad just left for another continent, I mean how Lucky can a teenager get?"

"Oh shove it where your mouth is Val, bragging so doesn't fit you," I hear her scoff on the other end.

"No you've got me wrong now, I said how lucky can a teenager get, not this teen. I mean yes I'm alone, but that doesn't mean I'm exactly happy. It would totally make me feel better if - "

"Nope not gonna happen. I thought we had already established this earlier. He's also my friend, so If he changed his phone number without notifying you, then he probably didn't want you to have it," I could hear her chuckle.

"Oh Comon, he probably forgot, or is still pissed. I bet he wouldn't mind me bothering him a little. We were BFs before dating you know,,"

"I didn't know that ," I could feel her rolls her eyes sarcastically.

"Oh please Raven. I promise if you send Cole's number, I might consider telling you what I heard Liza say about you,"

"Liza? She actually talked about me? What did she say," She says all at once.

A love for a crush. Liza is the girl Raven has been crushing on since the beginning of high school. She has always been into boys until Liza came along. Everyone knew that she would give anything for her, well everyone except for Liza.

So any news about her brings Raven up her feet. Such a hopeless romantic, but hey! Judge yourself before others.

"Oh Raven, you know nothing comes for free. Either you give me his number or I keep lips sealed. Your choice," I said smirking at how the situation has turned.

I thought she had hung up because the line went blank, until I got a message.

"There! I sent it, now tell me what she said,"

"Oh about Liza, it took till the last minute, but she finally noticed you missed the last day of school,"

"Son of a bi.tch - Valley!" I have to move the phone from my face so not to get major ear damage.

"Wow, calm down. I didn't say it was good news, but don't worry, I promise to get in a good word for you. If I ever see her again,"

"Sure but first, you have to promise me something,"

"And what is it?"

"That you don't chase him away the same way you did. Your only meant to be a victim of circumstances once!"

"What! Your talking like you don't know me, of course I wouldn't do it again,"

"You're wrong. I do know you and that's why I'm saying that if you truly want him back, you should tone the crazy a little bit. Promise?"

"Yeah promise. Happy now?"

She sighs. "Could be better,"

×××

Twirling my hair in one finger, I whisper into the phone. "Hi, Cole,"

It takes sometimes before I get an answer.

"Navareth... Is that you?"

I was not expecting that. "No! the Queen of England calling to make your acquaintance. Of course its Valley!"

"How did you get my number? Crap forgot Raven is also your friend. I'm gonna hang up now," Panic catches me as I try to think of something.

"No don't, I'll be quick I promise,"

"You have one minute,"

He always have the say in things. Why does he?

"Knowing how things have gotten rusty between us, I believe it's wiser to make amendments now since we'll be heading for college in a matter of weeks, instead of shunning our years of friendship over a cruddy relationship that means nothing to me,"

"So you don't want to get back with me?"

I felt a crack in his ego but it only motivated me to go on. "Nope. I could have called you months ago," Because I wasn't able to convince her till now. "But I didn't,"

"Yeah, and I did miss having you as my friend,"

"Then come to my house!" I blurted.

"Huh?"

"I said come over. My parents are out and I'll be home alone, so we can use this opportunity to mend our friendship don't you think? I say this because after these few weeks, I'll have to start heading to Amsterdam so I can start preparing for first year."

"You told me one time,"

My heart tugged. He remembered!

"So what do you say?"

One thing I know that will never change about Cole is that he never let's go of a vacation such as this. So it'll be really easy to convince him into spending part of his summer with me. It's just a matter of moments.

"I say, prepare the rooms cause if everything goes as planned, I'll be arriving tomorrow,"

Bingo.

•••

This is officially the first chapter of Valley and I hope you enjoyed it.

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Ofure⭐~