Why Are You Making Thing Difficult For Me?

Everly tucked the strands of Valero's hair behind his ear and sat down in front of him.

She grabbed his hand and placed it on her lap, then began to carefully clean his nails, making absolutely sure not to hurt his skin in the process.

"Everly." Valerio suddenly called her name after a few moments of silence.

"Hmm?" Everly answered, her eyes still fixed on what she was doing.

"I thought about what you said yesterday-" He took deep breaths "-You're right; that is not enough reason for me to not want to go." He began to talk, and Everly, who couldn't understand where he was going with his words, glanced at him.

"So... what are you trying to say?" She inquired. 

"Well, I am trying to say that there is indeed a reason why I don't want to go." He explained in a soft voice.

"And do you want to tell me what the reason is?" Everly asked.

'Yes, I do." Valerio nodded his head. "I simply don't want to go because I am afraid that my..." He halted speaking, finding it hard to finish his sentence.

Everly raised her head to look at him, and seeing the distant look on his face, a feeling of concern filled her.

"Sir Avalanzo, are you okay?" She touched his face, and Valerio lowered his head to look at her.

His lashes flickered, and he took a profound breath. "Yes, I am fine."

"If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to, oka—"

"I just don't want to go because there is a possibility that my ex may be there. It will be a disaster if she ever makes it there." He sighed deeply.

Everly gazed at him, before abruptly chuckling.

"Ahh… I see. Well, I wouldn't say you shouldn't go. For one thing, it's unjust that you're suffering while the person who hurt you is living happily and doing whatever she wants."

"So what if she comes there? Give no fuck just like she gives none as well. It's not like she wasn't the one who hurt you. Go and have fun. You can't keep being miserable because of someone who will never care about you. You deserve better."

She smiled at him, and Valerio found himself cackling softly.

"I hate to say it, but you're right, Everly. This would be my first step toward moving on, no?" He concurred, and Everly gave him the thumbs up.

"That's the spirit."

"Hmm, that reminds me, do you want to go with me?" He inquired.

Everly ceased what she was doing and slowly raised her head to look at him. "Uh... I don't really know about that. I have never attended things like this, so I might probably mess things up for you or, even worse, embarrass you." She smiled awkwardly at him.

A deep scowl immediately formed on Valerio's face, and he suddenly grabbed a hold of Everly's wrist.

"I wouldn't have asked you if I thought so, so what is your problem?" His brows crumpled in deep displeasure.

Everly sighed deeply and snatched her hand back. "It's nothing. I just don't think I'd fit in and would end up feeling very lonely there, so I'd rather not go." She shook her head.

"EVERLY! Gosh! Okay, fine. Will you please be my date? It's a grande partie, and I need to go with someone! I can't go alone." He implored.

Everly stared at him, and as though suddenly realizing something, a deep, cynical sigh fled her nose.

"Because I am the only option, right? You want me to go with you because I am the only option, not because you genuinely want me to." She chuckled pessimistically and blew on his fingers. "Am done." She stood up and proceeded to put away everything she had used.

Valerio, who looked slightly appalled by her question, abruptly grabbed her by the hand and stood up from the couch.

"Everly, why are you making things difficult for me? Do you really think that I am the type to ask this sort of thing from someone just because they are the only option left?" He inquired.

"I don't know." Everly shrugged. 

"Oh god! You have got to be kidding me. Of course, I am not that sort of person! I could easily get someone to go with me; I mean, Delacy is available, but I asked you because I want you to go with me. Even if there were hundreds of options here, I would still choose you!" He clarified in a very annoyed tone, and Everly gazed at him, having not expected that.

"Huh?…Re-really?" She mumbled in doubt, and Valerio nodded his head at her.

"Yes! So please, will you be my date on Friday? Also, don't worry, you won't be alone; I wouldn't be so stupid to leave your silly ass alone."

He smirked at her, and Everly rolled her eyes at him.

"Fine! I will go with you." She smiled widely.

Valerio rubbed his temples in a bit of stress and plopped down onto the sofa.

"I will take you to get you whatever dress you may like. Okay?" He said that to her and threw his head back on the couch.

Everly gaped at him for a few moments and with an excited smile emerging on her face, she walked out of the room.