~Ronnie~
I come back a day before I was supposed to, at the news of Alvanis and Max heading back to Florida. Coming in early that morning and going up to my room, I see it empty with any trace that Val had ever been here, gone. I thought she was supposed to be here until tomorrow. She must've been told I was coming and decided to move into her apartment a day early. I'm honestly surprised that Alvin even let her leave considering it was the last night here for a while. I drop my stuff off in my room and head back downstairs. I hear distant talking coming from the kitchen and walk in that direction. Sitting around talking are Valentina, Jacky, Max and Robert. Michael and Alva are pulling down paper plates for everyone, looks like they're having leftover pizza for breakfast. Through the sliding glass door I see Christian and Derek playing with Charlie. When I walk in everyone turns to look at me.
"Hey Ronnie! Didn't know you were coming back early."
I hug Alvin into me and say hi to everyone else. Valentina just nods, slightly smiling.
"I couldn't miss saying bye to my favorite chipmunk."
Alva and Max both smile at me.
"Aww that's so sweet Ronnie. How'd you convince Willow to let you go?"
"I promised that I'd get her horse riding lessons."
We all chuckle. It's always sad to see those two go, but they always come back. They should just move to LA. Alva knows it's too hard for her to stay away from Mikey for that long. That's why they moved their flight to tonight. Not everyone is here yet to say goodbye. I look back over at Jacky, Robert and Valentina. They're talking and joking around like they've been friends for years.
~Valentina~
Seeing Ronnie again wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Derek was warned by Michael to not interact with me, although he did apologize when he got here. I keep catching Ronnie staring at us out of the corner of my eye. I guess he's still jealous of Jacky, or mad, or whatever. I don't really care. Jacky is nice, so is Robert. I'm glad I have a chance to be friends with them. I know other people are supposed to show up but I'm not sure who. I do my best to just stay away from Ronnie and have as little contact with him as possible.
"Where's everyone else? I know this isn't it."
"Well everyone stopped by yesterday, and everyone's coming back later except for Motionless In White and Asking Alexandria. They're both busy this week. I'm surprised they managed to stop by at all."
"Oh okay."
I smile, excitedly.
"I've met so many bands that I absolutely love. So many band members that I used to fantasize about!"
"Used to? Right..."
Everyone in the room laughs and I throw a chip at Alva.
"Only a special few are in my fantasies."
Jacky throws up his hands eagerly.
"Oh oh! I'm one of those! Same for Alvanis! Right?"
Ronnie goes outside with Christian, Derek, and Charlie. There's no reason for him to be that jealous. It's all jokes in good fun. Max isn't getting jealous. Alva and I look at each other and roll our eyes at Jacky.
"In your dreams Vincent."
"Ah, every night. How'd you know?"
We all laugh again. I jokingly push Jacky's chair away from mine, which he immediately moves back into place. Charlie tears through the sliding glass door, turns, and runs back out. He must be happy Ronnie's home. He's been giving us a hard time all week. After everyone gets here and talks for a little bit, we're all packed into the kitchen. Max, Alva, and Ronnie pass out glasses of wine, beers and water, for those of us that don't drink. Standing in front of everyone Michael prepares a speech.
~Michael~
"We're gathered here for many reasons today. One is that Ronnie survived Chrissy for a whole week."
We all laugh and Ronnie tips his glass.
"The main reason is because my little sister is going back home to Florida. With Max, of course. Their trip was only a short 3 weeks. Hopefully when they get back home, they'll realize how much they miss us and decide to move to LA."
We all cheer. I know Max loves Florida but it'll be so much better if they move here. They won't have to travel so much and Alva will be able to keep in better touch with her friends. It is, however, up to them.
"And last, but certainly not least, our new friend Valentina has officially moved to our lovely state. She moved all her things this week and settled into her apartment last night! We've all given her the consequences she'll face, if she breaks off contact."
Everyone cheers again and a couple people pat Val on the back. I pull her forward and everyone shouts.
"SPEECH!!"
"Oh no. I can't. Today is about Max and Alva..."
Max and Alva cheer her on, along with everyone else. Even Ronnie seems to be having a good time.
"Alright, alright. Relax. It's just a huge coincidence that I met all of you. One shitty event after shitty event have led to this day. And I would NEVER go back. You all are great! Alva and Max got to be friends with me. Michael opened his home to me, even when I caused trouble. And Ronnie. Uh. It's because of him that I was even brought back to this house. So I just want to say thank you to everyone. And I still have no idea who's number I got from that fucking party!"
Val quickly finishes and I hold up my glass. In response, everyone holds up their glass. At the count of 3 everyone chugs their drinks. After the toast, everyone splits up to talk amongst themselves. I pull Val away from Kellin and Ronnie away from Rob.
~Ronnie~
Mikey drags us away from the crowded kitchen, into the living room where Alva and Max are. Alvanis is standing with her arms and Max looks displeased.
"Hey, what's going on?"
"What's going on is that you two can't act like this. It makes everything so awkward. We're not asking you two to get married but please, for the love of Satan, forgive each other and be friends."
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I just stare at them and Val glances up at me.
"I didn't do anything wrong for me to apologize to her."
"See."
Max comes over and puts an arm around my shoulders.
"Ronnie, man. Just suck up your pride and apologize. She will too."
Valentina furrows her eyebrows.
"I don't want to be friends with him. He's such an arrogant jerk."
I roll my eyes at her.
"Why don't you go cry to Jacky."
Valentina gasps and Michael speaks up.
"Enough! Stop it! Whether you like it or not, you're both going to apologize and be civil. If not for each other, then for the fact that you both have the same friends and it'll be so fucking uncomfortable."
Val nods her head.
"I'll be polite when he's around but I'm not going to be friends with him."
"That's good enough for me."
The group turns to look at me and I sigh, defeated.
"Fuck. Fine. Whatever. I'll be nice and shit."
Max proudly pats me on the back and they all walk back towards the kitchen except for Val. I turn to her.
"You manage to keep your hands off me and I'll be nice to you so they don't complain."
She rolls her eyes and adjusts her shirt.
"Oh please. Take your ego and shove it up your ass Radke."
"I love when you talk dirty."
She walks away.
"Back off."
~Valentina~
Ronnie and I join back up with the others, smiling, so everything looks like it's okay. In just a few hours, Alva and Max will head to the airport and I want them to have a good time right now. It's not like it matters anyway. I'm moved out, I'll barely see Ronnie. Alva hands me a drink and we dance. Half of the guys, including Ronnie, are just watching TV. The small group I'm standing close to consists of Alva, Michael, Jacky, Christian Coma, Justin Hills and Craig Mabbitt. We're all just joking around, having a good time.
"If you could fuck one person at this party, no strings attached, who would you choose?"
I roll my eyes at the question.
"Oh come on Alva..."
Michael interrupts my protest right away with his answer.
"Andy Biersack, no second thought."
I look up at him, trying not to laugh. Everyone else nods their heads.
"Good choice. Good choice."
After everyone else answers they all look at me, waiting. I put on a serious face.
"I am not answering that question."
Craig pulls me into a hug.
"Aw come on Len... We all know what your answer is anyway, just say it."
I pull myself away from Craig.
"Mabbitt I swear. You think I'd say Ronnie, don't you?"
"It's no secret that you two were together."
I roll my eyes, giving in.
"Fine I'll answer. But for your information, Ronnie and I were never together, it was just a mutual thing."
I glance quickly around the room, stopping on every face.
"I'd fuck Kellin."
Alva gasps.
"You'd fuck Kellin? Kellin Quinn? But he's such a baby!"
I just shrug. Jacky falls dramatically to his knees and looks up at me.
"That hurt Val. Right here.."
He points over his heart and we all laugh. Justin pulls him up off the ground.
"Don't worry man. I'd fuck you."
Jacky fake swoons at Justin.
"My hero."
"Ew get a room."
Jacky sticks out his tongue.
"You're just jealous Kellin is married and you can't actually fuck him."
"Justin is married too!"
Jacky pouts.
"Just because you're bitter and single doesn't mean you can ruin my happiness.."
"Hey she'll always have that mystery number. And if she gets too lonely she can always call it."
We all laugh. The rest of the party passes and it's time to say goodbye. By the end of the night I'm in my lonely apartment, assuring Michael that I'll be fine.