Chapter 10: A friend

**Third person**

Matt traced her line of sight and saw the man walking to their table.

Then his eyes flickered back to Val. “Do you know him?”

She opened her mouth to say something, but the words refused to come out.

Lucas kept advancing towards them.

And just when she thought he was going to stop at their table, he passed by and headed to the table behind Matt.

Valerie let out a small, amused snort. "I guess not," she replied.

“Oh,” he murmured, his eyes darting between Lucas, who had just settled on a chair, and Valerie, who was sitting opposite him.

He'd clearly noticed something was amiss, but he decided not to push it.

"So, about this new friend of yours..." he began, attempting to ease the awkward atmosphere.

"Friend is a strong word," she corrected. “I barely know her.”

And after the painful betrayal of those she loved the most, she wasn't in a hurry to make new friends.

"So, what's she like?” Matt asked curiously.

“She's bubbly… Talks a lot.”

Valerie could feel Lucas's