The other variation is Val giving you the cold shoulder and telling you off if you got caught dating both Monroe sisters. She takes Layla's side.
I think the main problem with Val behaving that way on the park bench is inconsistent writing or bad writing. She clearly likes you even if you're on Layla path. Unlike the choice Val asks you to make between her and Lexi, she just quietly backs off (no scene clearly shows her making the decision to back off) when you're on the Layla path. But even up to point she helps you with Ethan and the goons, the MC still gets the choice to kiss her even if you're on the Layla path.
The whole Darryl on top of her on the beach is also inconsistent writing because it makes her inconsistent with her stand on guys inappropriately touching her. It's a clumsy execution of "the MC needs more competition". That only works if Nyx clearly shows Val trying to make the MC jealous by using Darryl.
Val is kind of the female version of the MC. I hope that gets explored more outside of their being the only child of estranged parents, shared interests in athletics, music and morning cereal, and her keeping her dating options open (deceitfully) like the MC.
About Layla and Val (its not in the game, just my thoughts about it): I think Val may act this way because she got closer to Layla and she doesn't interact much with Alexis and other L.Is (seems like they became friends, they are seen running together on the background of a scene with Erynn) ... so it's easier for her to get involved with MC when hes in other paths, that is possibly why player gets sidelined by her when on Layla's path even when Val is clearly interested in him..but by the hints (like what she said about being interested in someone and the option to kiss her after she helps MC) she will probably make herself available in the case of the MC and Layla relationship is over.
And on the kiss part, she may have thought MC and Layla were not on a full relationship yet, like on the Alexis case...once she realizes they are getting serious with each other (or Layla tells her) she backs off, would explain why after that point her scenes are not available anymore on Layla's path.
About Darryl on top of her, i agree 100%, and like i said before, probably caused by her patrons asking for competition...and got poorly executed or her attempt to make MC jealous because he was with 3 women gone wrong.
About doing the "dating options open", this would not stick anymore imo, at the point they are now this scenario is long gone. If on the Alex path, player has to choose between her or Alexis.
If on Layla's path she drops the hints she likes someone (clearly MC imo), and would not make sense to create competition if MC is in a relationship with other girl and considering Val backed off already.
If not on anyone's full relationship path but pursuing Val, they are REALLY close, shes pretty much very into MC and i dont really see space for other dude at this point.
The only thing that makes sense now for me is to Val become a regular LI as she got a lot of development to be just a side character or to be just burned later.
If dev wants a character dating others and having MC as a option to create competition, the perfect character for it is
Sha'Carri, shes from other school, could probably be dating someone there, she is shown at the beach and saw MC with Nikki, could've have know someone there...it would make more sense imo.
