third person pov

once the three teens reached the hospital, valerie followed the paramedics wherever they took victoria, until they made her sit in a room and wait, and ashtray was still on he side. valerie called victoria's mom the moment she was sat in the room, not realizing how much time had passed, and not even twenty minutes later, kimberly showed up.

both ashtray and valerie's heads whipped around at the sound of the door opening roughly, and val stood at the sight of kim.

"kim.." she walked over slowly, and kimberly immediately pulled valerie into a hug. "where is she?" she asked, her voice shaky.

val sighed, "uh.. they're looking at her, she was bleeding, so.." she responded, not really knowing since the paramedics wouldn't tell her anything.

kim didn't release the hug for awhile, giving her time to rub valerie's back and whisper, "thank you."

valerie froze, this catching her of guard. "for what?"

"finding her— and, oh my gosh.. i'm so sorry, valerie." kimberly responded, before pulling away to cup valeries face.

valeries face scrunched up in confusion, before she realized she was talking about the whole 'bad influence' thing, and shook her head. "oh, it's-" she tried to shrug it off, but kim stopped her. "no, i shouldn't have done that."

val nodded slowly, "it's okay." she reassured victoria's mother, who eventually sighed and let go of valerie, going to sit on another chair.

kim turned to ashtray, her eyebrows furrowing. "who are you?" she asked him, never seeing him before.

"ash-" valerie cut the boy off, sitting in the chair she was sat in previously, "our friend.. me and victoria's friend."

"oh, hi." kim greeted, and ashtray responded with a little nod.

after almost an hour, valerie grew tired and was about to fall asleep, but the door opened just in time.. and walked in, the doctor. valerie and kim both raised up fast, as ashtray just leaned up.

"we'll have to hold victoria for a little longer.. she lost a lot of blood." the doctor announced, making kimberly stand up, "is she okay?"

the painful, scared look on kimberly's face made valerie's hands shake. "uh.. we're not sure yet." the doctor replied, making valerie's jaw drop slightly.

"you don't know? it's been hours and you don't fuc-" valerie began to shout, but ashtrays grabbed her hand, shutting her up.

"i'm sorry. we'll let you know something soon." the doctor nodded, about to walk out but kim stopped him, "can i see her?"

the doctor turned, his mouth slightly opened, he began to say no, but sighed, "sure."

valerie stood until the door closed, and she plopped down in her chair. it was completely silent, and she hated it. she hated that she didn't know if her best friend was going to live or not, and she hated the fact that she didn't go with victoria earlier.. in her head, she thought maybe if she did, victoria would be okay right now, even if that mean valerie would be hurt, her best friend wouldn't be on the verge of dying.

valerie's head turned to the side, seeing ashtray head against the wall and his eyes straight forward. "hey, wanna know something funny?" she asked, making him turn to her with a nod.

"before i got that call, i was going to tell you, i like you."

ashtrays eyebrows raised, that being the last thing he expected. "you wanna know something funny? that what i was going to tell you the other day."

she smiled, "you like me, playboy?"

ashtray rolled his eyes to hide his smile at the nickname, "i guess." he responded sarcastically.

she kept the smile on her face, and scooted her chair closer, laying her head ok his shoulder. "after all this, maybe i'll be your girlfriend."

"mhm." he hummed, wrapping his arm around her.

———

visiting hours were up, and victoria was staying overnight. valerie was fast asleep on ashtray shoulder while he was sending fezco a text to come pick them up.

he slowly removed his arm from around valerie, and slowly shook her. after a couple seconds she raised up, looking around the room in confusion. "she still isn't in here yet?"

ashtray shook his head, "nah, and the visiting hours are up, fez is on his way to get us."

she nodded, stretching. she hoped they let kimberly stay here, as she never returned to the room her and ashtray were in, that way victoria wasn't alone.

once fezco arrived, the two teens left, valerie sighing as she stepped out of the hospital. she prayed when she woke up the next morning, her best friend would too.

———

as soon as valerie was awake and ready, she made her way to the hospital, asking to see victoria lee. once they gave her a room number, she fast walked there, tapping her fingers on her thighs.

she slowly opened the door, and was met with victoria, catching her by surprise. "vic! holy shit, you're alive."

victoria laughed, sticking her arms out for valerie to hug her, and she did. "why are you here so early?"

valerie pulled away, sitting in the chair next to her bed. "to see if you're alive."

victoria smiled, shaking her head. she turned to val, "valerie, i'm so sorry for what i said."

valerie nodded, "it's okay, vic."

"no, you were right about roy, i should've listened to you and i got mad at you for giving me advice." she continued, while valerie just listened. "oh, and my mom doesn't think you're a bad influence anymore!"

val smiled, "yeah, she talked to me."

they both felt relief not fighting anymore, and because of that their smiles never dropped.

"hey, you and ashtray dating yet?" she asked, even though she had already asked that the day before.

"nope, but he told me likes me." valerie informed her, making her gasp, "really?!"

valerie nodded, "yeah."

"aw, val." vic teased, pinching valerie's hand that laid next to victoria's body.

"he's still a drug dealer, tho. if you get hurt because of dating him, i'll say i told you so." she shrugged, and i cocked my head around to her, "oh like you got hurt dating roy?"

"yeah, okay."