Chapter 1: Picture perfect

Valerie slowly slipped into the last sleeve of her purple and white dress, which she had finally got enough money to buy. Cliff, her boyfriend and love of her life was taking her out to a big city party his dad was hosting that night. It was formal and that made her happy because she loved to dress up and never really got a chance to.1

She turned, pausing in front of the mirror. She put on a happy face and walked to the bathroom. From where she stood applying the last of her makeup she could hear the sounds of her dad and his date coming from down the hall. She winced and paused. After taking a second she finished her makeup and went into her room to grab her coat. 2

Just as she was finishing slipping into her new black sandals and adjusting her hair and makeup one more time she heard Cliff’s new Chevy pull into the drive way. She got excited and began to rush. She grabbed her purse and her coat and ran down the stairs to the living room. 3

Leaning out the front door she saw Cliff walking up the walkway to her front step. In a panic she rushed out the door and locked the door behind her. Tonight was not a good night for Cliff to come in. Nights when her dad had a date she usually tried to avoid having Cliff in the house. He never minded. They would usually just hop into his truck and drive somewhere else.4

As she turned to face Cliff she smiled as his lips met hers in a passionate kiss. She pulled away and giggled. “Come on Cliff, we are going to be late.”5

“I know babe, lets get going.” He said in compliance as he followed her to his truck that was parked just a few steps from her porch. “You look absolutely stunning tonight…”6

“Really?” Valerie looked down at her dress, and then glanced at her reflection in the car window. 7

“Yeah but you know how you could look better?” Cliff joked, smiling at her.8

Valerie looked shyly at him and waited, giving no reply.9

“If that pretty little dress of yours was on my floor…” 10

Valerie winced and rolled her eyes. Her fist made contact with Cliff’s shoulder and he laughed. “Shut up.”11

“It’s the truth…” He said still laughing and giving the truck some gas and pulling out of her drive way.12

Cliff was always that try to be funny type. Valerie figured he was being harmless but sometimes she was offended by the stuff he said. Being the star quarterback at their high school she expected him to have an image to maintain and she guessed tender and sensitive didn’t play a role in that image. Being the girlfriend of the biggest football players in the area was big news and she had come to understand he was going to crack jokes about their sexual activities. 13

Tonight she was hoping for less of that, it being such an important night. Whenever she thought about this night she got overly excited and usually sat smiling, imagining how amazing it was going to be. Cliff and her had started going out in grade seven. They were young and she had just moved to the city. She didn’t have many friends. However from the first time Cliff had said hello they had hit if off. Now they were seldom ever seen apart. Tonight was their fourth year anniversary. 14

In Valerie’s mind tonight was going to be a night full of champagne and dancing. She pictured herself having the night of her life. She drifted into a fantasy for a moment before she realized they had almost arrived at the party.15

She looked at Cliff, he was smiling at himself in the rear view mirror as always. He looked at her and winked. She laughed quietly and mused to herself. 16