Dessolos, you asked but I don't think it's possible to have John help then also get a Val romance.
Val helping with Ethan is 13 points and in the end of ep 9. The only points for Val after that is 2 for calling her afterwards to check on her and 4 for running in the park with her and Layla, focusing on her in each choice. The mall photo shoot with Val is immediately after that at 19 points. I consider that the start of the Val romance. If you don't have 13 for her to intervene, I don't see how you get the 19 to get the mall photos. The next points for Val aren't until Ep 12 and there's no positive points. Either the Alexis/Val split if you're dating both or the head scratches scene if you are only with Val. Next for Val would be Ep13, beach date but I don't know the point total for that.
Val's points always seem to be incredibly tight. There's the daydreaming thing early on that needs 6 so it required you to pick up all the points along her way so far but then it doesn't do anything special over the other good choice (her nosering).