Carter P.O.V.

"Sup," I gave Alec a nod as he hopped into my car so we could hit up the gym together this morning.

"Hey how's it going?" he said before reaching over to chuck his bag onto the back seat.

I pulled away from the curb and began the drive, rolling the windows down to feel the breeze flow through my jeep. "Yeah not too bad thanks, you?"

"Awesome, my album should hopefully be finished soon," he let out a sigh of relief, leaning back in his seat.

"That's sick dude, can't wait to hear it."

"Thanks! You guys will be the first," he grinned.

We rolled up to the gym and grabbed our bags out of the car, locking it behind us as we strode in to start our sweat sesh. I did glutes and legs last time, cardio and core the other day, so today I'm focussing on chest and arms. I headed over to the weight racks, placing a towel down on the bench and set up my plates before Alec came over to spot me.

"Hey Alec... Val's birthday is coming up in like two/threeish weeks," I said as I laid down on the bench and gripped the cool steel of the bar before lifting it out of its hold. "Do you have any songs on the new album I could use for something I'm planning to make for her?" I brought the bar down close to my chest and up again, releasing a breath of air.

"Like something romantic?" he asked me, as he stood at the head of the bench, watching me do the chest presses with his arms out just in case.

"Yeah something a little slow but with a sick beat." I grunted as I lifted my last few reps, before resting it back on the rack with a clang.

"Hmm, yeah definitely will be something you could use," he nodded in thought as I got up from the bench and grabbed my towel.

"Thanks! You're the best." I gave him a bro handshake as he went to take my place for his set, adjusting the weights as he went.

"No problem. You're a little whipped huh?" he said slyly, looking up to give me a crooked smile from his position on the bench.

I took a swig from my water bottle and brushed a hand through my hair. "Yeah, I'm a goner." I laughed sheepishly.

He shook his head and chuckled at me before lifting the bar off. "She's cool. Good to see ya all happy and in lurve and shit," he teased.

I couldn't wipe the stupid grin off my face, every time I spoke or thought about Valerie. She does make me so happy, spending time with her was the best, I craved her.

I wanted to plan a small birthday surprise for Valerie after hearing that she didn't do much when she had her 21st last year. She kept it low-key and only went out to dinner with Ell and her family, and apparently Ell also dragged her out to go clubbing a couple of weeks after to make her experience something new. When I asked her about it, she immediately brushed over the topic, and I chose not to probe any further in fear of her closing up. It confused me a little because the Val I had seen at parties was often enjoying herself and having fun. It didn't seem like she'd be the type to just do something small and nothing else for such a huge milestone. She was a walking contradiction. Shy but fun, flirty but innocent, smart but naïve, beautiful but modest, talented but humble, sweet but feisty. I couldn't get enough.

~

I was on my desktop computer reading through a few emails before my cell went off as my manager's named flashed across the screen.

"Hey Trev," I answered casually. "What's up?"

"Hey, have you seen any of the gossip and news articles of you lately?" he asked me curiously, with a little concern lacing his tone.

"No I haven't, why's that?" I furrowed my eyebrows as I leaned back in my chair.

"There's a few that's started popping up for the last 1-2 weeks or so about you and an unknown girl. I just wanted to call and check in on the situation just so I'm aware if people bring this up. Do you want me to shut down any of the rumours or?"

"Wait hold up, I'm gonna go have a look now."

I opened up my browser page and typed in my name to see if anything came up. Yep I know. I was googling myself, but I wanted to see if this "unknown girl" was Valerie. I stumbled across a few articles with some unclear pictures of Valerie and I walking from when we had lunch at Chateau Marmont, and another from when we went hiking.

"Yeah I am seeing her, her name's Valerie but we're trying to keep things private." I said as I put my phone on loudspeaker, setting it down on the table.

"Okay, well I won't confirm anything and just deny it," Trev replied.

There was also another picture of Lacey and I at Urth conjoined with the hiking picture of Valerie. I rolled my eyes at the caption, they always made these assumptions whenever I was spotted out with anyone.

"Lacey Drew and I just had a catchup as well, that's definitely fake," I laughed.

I scrolled through a few more which were all relatively the same, until I stumbled across one that had Valerie Delwood splattered all over the headline. Shit.

"Okay, never mind, found an article where they already figured out who she is. Don't confirm anything though if anyone asks."

There were numerous photos of Valerie at The Chase wrap party on the article, where they had connected the dots to her identity, and to the other available photos of us. Of course they would be able to link it all together, people of the internet should become FBI agents honestly.

"Alright, how well do you know her? Does she have a shady background we need to know about?"

"Pretty well, and no, she's good. It should be fine."

"Okay, just looking out for your best interests Carter, talk soon."

"Yeah no worries, thanks Trev, see ya." I hung up.

I needed to go talk to Valerie to see how she felt about all the news articles and people essentially knowing who she is now. I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable with anything due to being with me. People could become very intrusive and dig up your whole entire life.

I sent her a quick text asking if she's free because I wanted to come over. She replied a few moments later saying she just finished work and will be home in 20 minutes. I swiftly shut down the computer and grabbed my keys to head out.

~

I knocked on her apartment door and stood waiting as always, before it swung open to reveal a breathless Valerie in a plain t shirt and cotton boy shorts.

"Sorry I just had a shower," she moved aside for me to come in before shutting the door and getting on her tip toes to kiss me on the cheek. Her lips were always so soft and it was so cute watching her try to reach me.

"Aw, you didn't invite me," I pouted cheekily. She giggled before taking my hand in her small one and skipped over to her bedroom.

I think this is the first time I've actually been inside here. We almost always stayed at my apartment. I looked around the small room, there was queen-sized bed in the centre with a few light pink cushions and throw blankets, two bedside tables, a dresser and schoolbag in the corner with some ornaments on top and a few canvases hung up on the walls. It was nice, I liked it. It felt cosy and homey, I wondered what it would be like to wake up next to her in here. I watched as she jumped on the bed and sprawled out on it before sitting up and pat the space beside her. Fuck she's cute.

I obliged and kicked off my shoes before lying down sideways beside her with my elbow propped up, head resting in my palm.

"I like your room babe," I commented.

"Thankyou," she beamed as she placed her hands down on the sheets and swiped them back and forth.

I reached out to capture one of them in my hands and played with it mindlessly.

"How do you feel about being in the public Val?" I questioned her cautiously.

She slid her body down to my level and turned sideways. "I... I think it would be okay. I mean, some of your fans have seen me out with you already and no one's sent me hate mail yet," she joked.

"I think some people have already figured out I've been seeing you," I said as I laced our fingers together and rested them on the bed.

"Oh really? Yeah I saw a few articles..." she muttered, her face twisting into a small pout as she contemplated something. "Who's Lacey?" she blurted.

Ohh so she must have seen that one.

"Just an old friend I used to hang out with. She wanted to catch up." I gave her a reassuring smile.

"Oh okay," she shook her head at herself as she let go of our hands to scoot over closer to me, laying her head down sideways on a pillow. "Did you guys ever um... like date?"

"You want to talk about my past relationships?" I asked her curiously. We never really approached the topic before, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to. I only knew that she'd been with one guy before, which was honestly crazy to think about. She could have anyone and yet she was on the reserved side. I didn't mind, I thought it was sweet and I respect that. Also, it was kinda fucking awesome to know literally no one else had touched her. She's mine.

"Yeah, I mean no. I mean... yeah actually... but you don't have to, if it's personal, like I mean we're not... like you don't have an obligation to tell me..." she rambled on aimlessly. "I guess I want to know because you're so, y'know... you. I know you could have anyone," she replied timidly, a little blush coating her cheeks.

I chuckled at her response and drew her closer to me, resting a hand on her hip. "I think that about you. You could have anyone." I kissed her on the forehead, as she rolled her lip into her mouth and broke out into a small smile. "and no to your earlier question. Lacey and I never dated. Those are rumours are always flying around. I don't talk to her much really."

"Oh I see," she nodded thoughtfully.

"I've only had two girlfriends. One when I was 17 for 5 months, and the other when I was 19 for a year. I've also had some flings and all that but nothing serious."

"By some, do you mean...?" she trailed off waiting for me to fill in more gaps.

"Like I can recall them all on my hands," I shrugged before removing my bent arm and rested my head on the pillow next to her. "Not so many that I don't even remember," I chuckled. "I'm not like that. They weren't always sexual either."

"Oh okay. Wow. I expected a ton more," she looked at me guiltily.

"The playboy thing is just a rumour," I laughed, "Besides, I kinda thought the same about you."

She shook her head and laughed, brushing a few strands of hair over her shoulder. "Nope. A few short high school crushes but just one really... it was a year and a half to 2 years."

"That's a while... what happened?" I asked her gently. Her body stiffened for a second before she relaxed. Please don't close up, we've been doing so good.

"We... we just weren't good together. At all. It was... destructive. I wasn't in a good place. I didn't realise it for a long time," she said as I rubbed her arm soothingly. "He cheated on me too."

My blood boiled at her admission. What. The. Fuck. How could someone do that to her?! "That's crap Val. What an asshole. He never deserved you," my jaw tightened.

"Yeah."

I drew her small body towards me and enveloped her in my arms, breathing in her calm, breezy floral scent.

"There's more Carter... I want to, I want to tell you," her muffled voice said against my chest. My breath hitched in my throat as I heard those words spill from her lips, was I finally getting to know every piece of her?

"I'm here." I whispered softly.

She fidgeted nervously with my shirt as she avoided my gaze. "I... I had to see a therapist for it all. I was very emotionally unstable, I struggled. I wasn't a good person... I did things, terrible things that I regret," she spoke quietly. "That's why I moved here from New York, to get away."

My heart clenched at the thought of her being distraught. I wanted to protect her.

"My brother and Ell helped me through it. I'm okay now, but that period of my life was a toxic spiral for me. It's why I was scared of letting you in at first. It's why I don't really have friends. I'm scared I'll freak."

I nodded wordlessly as I digested the information. "I think perhaps you were caught up in something unhealthy for you, and people can do things they regret in tough situations. But Valerie, you're a good person. I promise you, if you ever feel like you're not doing so well, you can talk to me about it, tell me what I can do to help you."

"Thankyou Carter," she whispered, wrapping her small arms around my frame as I kissed the top of her head. "That means a lot to me."

"Thank you for telling me angel."

My mind raced with thoughts at her admission. On the surface, you would have never thought she would have experienced anything like that. I now understood why she sort of always closed off or ran when I got closer, blocking off our mutual attraction and kept to herself.

There was a growing sense of worry however, because it was now inevitable that Valerie was slowly slipping into the spotlight. I knew I would always be there for her, but I wouldn't always be able to stop her from seeing some of the negative aspects that were part of the business. With increased public exposure, there's an increased amount of judgment that follows you and everything you do.