Trust
Hey all! This is "Trust" the sequel to my story series "Romeo and Juliet". This will be in instalments, as well. As we all know, I don't own any of the characters, although I wish I did—anyway, let's get on with it.
* * *
Val had no trouble adjusting to the
fact that Tyler Connell, the love of her life, was now officially her
boyfriend. Although she fretted a little bit more about her clothes and spent a
little too much time smiling, she felt happy inside. So far, the New Year was
going pretty well.
On a frosty Saturday morning in January, she walked briskly into
the heated EMS station and dropped her car keys on the counter, grinning, as
usual, and sat herself down on the high chair next to Tyler.
"Good morning." He told her
enthusiastically and they fell into a quick, yet heated, kiss of greeting. Val
revelled in the fact that she didn't have to worry anymore about trying to get
Tyler to be her boyfriend, she could just enjoy the fact that he was. It
was a crazy feeling to know that someone loved her as much as she loved him. She'd
never felt that before and it was refreshing.
"Same to you." She said, turning to
sit in a normal position—Alex wasn't fond of 'canoodling' on the job and it was
kind of embarrassing to be kissing even in front of their friends, who would, undoubtedly,
file in slowly after. And that's my biggest problem? She thought to
herself. Boy, am I the luckiest person in the world, or what?
* * *
The night was cool, but when Tyler came storming in to the station around 11:00, the temperature rose dramatically. Anger seethed from his skin and Val could just tell from her seat on the couch that something had gone terribly wrong. Red-faced Tyler slammed his stuff down and pivoted twice on his heel, completely ignoring Val, who was giving him a look and Hank, who, wisely, was leaving the room.
"What's wrong?" She asked, surprised.
"It's William. One more…oooh…I'm not going to say it because it's rated R!" He cried, the little vein in his neck popping out as the blood coursed through it in his rage.
Val stood up to meet him and put her hand on his. "Calm down for a sec. What is it this time?"
"He's just being so…he just tries to ruin my life. I swear!" His hand clenched around hers and when he realized how strong his grasp was he immediately softened and let go.
"It's all right. He's not here now. Just chill out." She tried to reason with him but it was no use, she had no idea what was going on.
"But you don't understand. He's in my head! I can't get rid of him…every damn second of every day…it's so stupid!" He cried, seeming to nearly explode as if when he said the words it wasn't enough to get out all the anger.
"Shh…come on. Sit down." Val tried the next approach. Seduction—hey, it could work. She hated to see him so crazed. It scared her, really scared her. She led him gently over to the old yellow couch and he sat with an angry thump the air around him even seeming to echo his anger.
"I'm so sorry." Tyler took both her hands this time and they sat close together, resting their hands on each other's thighs. "I shouldn't blow up at you over here." The colour drained as quickly from his face as he had come in, although his rage still settled throughout the small and comfortable room.
"It's okay." She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Just calm down, okay? He's gone now…just forget about him."
He looked deep into her knowing blue eyes and smiled. "That's easy…" They met for another luscious kiss. "…when I have the most beautiful, talented, smart, and greatest kissing girlfriend in the world."
"Greatest kissing?" Val giggled, and then gave him a long look. "How can you know? Have you been comparing?"
He knew he'd stuck his foot in his mouth but just laughed. "I just know."
* * *
Tyler sidled into the EMS station Sunday morning two hours late for his shift. He carried his winter coat idly over his arm and a bottle of water in his other hand, apparently not seeming to know he was late. His face showed a sappy grin as though he had just won the lottery and was getting over the shock.
"It's about time." Val told him harshly from behind a magazine, not meaning it to be funny or friendly. She was really disappointed in him—this was the first time since she'd known him that he'd ever been late for a shift and now he was walking in as though nothing were wrong.
"For what?" He asked, setting down his stuff and nodding at Jaime and Hank at the table.
"For what? Tyler…the shift? Ten o'clock? It's twelve," she glanced at the clock. "it's twelve oh two. Where were you all morning?"
"Oh," He muttered, and made himself a seat next to Val. "I guess I just lost track of time." For some reason, this was definitely not the Tyler that Val had fallen in love with—where was the real Tyler?
He leaned over to give her a welcoming kiss but she pulled away before he could, smelling the pungent stench of alcohol on his breath. Don't you dare jump to conclusions! It's just…what else could it be? No. Not Tyler. This was not something Tyler, football player, straight A student, EMT, would do. Or was it?
"Val?" He asked, wondering what was going on, as she hadn't kissed him.
She shook her head and got up, headed for the counter where Tyler's water bottle was. She quickly unscrewed the lid and didn't even have to bend over to get a whiff of what it was. Vodka. He really had been drinking! She couldn't figure out if she was scared or disappointed, but concluded in half a second that she was both. She glanced quickly at Hank and Jaime, who were occupied and hadn't noticed what she had.
"Um…Tyler…come with me." She ordered, grabbing the bottle off the counter and putting the cap back on.
Tyler, apparently expecting to go somewhere to make out, was more than happy when they reached the supply closet.
When they got there, though, Val almost shut the door completely and practically yelled. "What the hell do you think you've been doing?"
"What do you mean?"
She held up the bottle, livid. "How low can you stoop?!"
"It was just an innocent drink." He defended himself despite the fact that he wasn't totally sober.
"Not only is this stupid, unhealthy, and can get you kicked off the squad, it's also illegal! Do I need to spell that for you? That means against the law!"
"Val, come on, it's not like anyone's going to find out! Besides, it's not bad just this once." He grinned sloppily.
That was the last straw. She would have slapped him if better judgement hadn't dictated that she not. "Well, I did. And that was low…really low. This relationship is over. For good."
To be continued…LMK what you think!
