Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story, except for the ones I made up. They all belong to Disney, and any other company that owns 'In a Heartbeat.' Read the previous chapter if you haven't read it yet.
The Odd Man Out
Out of touch
Hank was wearing a different face when he came back to school the next day. His smiles were all gone, and the glimmer that was ever so often evident in his eyes was absent. Tyler and Val were walking down the hall when they saw Hank near his locker. Hank was there physically, but his thoughts were a thousand miles away. A look of concern crept on Val's face.
"Would you look at him?" Val said unhappily. "What did you do to your best friend?"
"Nothing," Tyler said as they stopped at Val's locker. "What made you think that?"
"I was just kidding, Tyler," she said as she hit him playfully. "Seriously though, what's wrong with him. He seems so…out of touch."
"I think he likes Marianne," Tyler told Val.
"What's so sad about that?" Val asked. "Did he get rejected or something?"
"He hasn't even told her yet," Tyler remarked. "Then again, he didn't really admit that he liked."
"Then why is he sad then?" Val asked again.
"I heard Jamie saying something last night…" Tyler began to say.
"What did Jamie say?" a girl from behind Tyler asked.
"Hey Caitie!" Tyler and Val greeted.
"Hey!" Caitie said in reply. "So what did Jamie say?"
"Well, he was talking to Hank about Marianne," Tyler explained. "And we think that Hank likes Marianne. Anyway, Jamie told him that Marianne already had a boyfriend."
"How did he know that?" Caitie said in a slightly jealous tone. "Jamie didn't ask her out, did he?"
"Who did Jamie ask out?" came a voice out of nowhere.
Caitie spun around and saw Jamie towering over her.
"No one," Caitie said quickly.
"What are you guys saying about me?" Jamie asked.
"Nothing," Tyler told him. "I was just telling them about what you told Hank yesterday about Marianne, and Caitie was wondering how you knew she was taken before I had a chance to explain."
"Just for the record, I didn't ask anyone out," Jamie told Caitie. "I found out when I talked to Sean the other day. He was the one who asked her out and got rejected. Why are you guys talking about this anyway? I mean, Hank doesn't even care."
"Take another look," Val said as she pointed at Hank.
Hank was still in the same phase that he was earlier. Jamie felt sorry for him.
"I might have misinterpreted him," Jamie said in defense.
"You guys should take him to a guys night out," Val suggested. "You know, cheer him up a bit."
"But it's a school night," Jamie complained.
"There's no school tomorrow," Caitie said.
"And we're off duty," Val chimed in.
"What about our double-date tomorrow?" Tyler remarked.
"Yea, that date," Jamie jumped in.
"We can cancel that until Friday, can't we Val?" Caitie said.
"We sure can," Val said.
"But what are you girls going to do tomorrow?" Tyler said looking for an excuse. "Jamie! Help me out here."
"Um, we don't want you girls to be all alone," Jamie scrambled for words. "Um, because we care about you so much and we love you and that would just be so lonely, you know, since you two are without us."
Jamie winked at them. Val and Caitie burst out laughing at Jamie's amusing attempt.
"You're kidding me, right?" Caitie said as she burst out laughing again.
"That was so lame, Jamie," Val added. "Totally clashes with your image."
Jamie continued to look at them, obviously not happy with their reaction.
"Girls are evil," he said to them in a grim voice.
"I wouldn't argue with that," Tyler said.
After Val and Caitie calmed down, they looked at the guys.
"So you guys are taking Hank out tomorrow," Val said.
Jamie and Tyler began to protest, but Caitie stopped them before they could even say a word.
"No buts," Caitie said. "It's our way or the highway."
"Since when did you two became in-charge of our love lives?" Tyler retorted.
"Yea," Jamie said in agreement.
"Is there a problem with that, Tyler?" Val said as she started to walk towards him.
"Because if there are then no more dates for at least a month or so…" Caitie's voice trailed off as she walked towards Jamie.
By now the girls have cornered the two on the lockers.
"I didn't say there was a problem," Tyler said. "Did you think there was a problem, Jamie?"
"No, not at all, Tyler," Jamie added immediately.
"That's much better," Val said as she gave Tyler a quick peck on the lips. "I'll see you later."
"And I'll see you next period," Caitie said as she lightly kissed Jamie.
The two girls departed, content with their work. Tyler and Jamie were still against the lockers.
"I guess Hank was right about us after all," Tyler told Jamie.
"Right about what?" Jamie asked.
"We're whipped," Tyler said spitefully.
"Tell me about it," Jamie stated. "Not that I'm complaining."
"Oh no, no complaints here," Tyler said. "Val is like the morning sun. Her presence gives light to everyone."
"Who are you, Dr. Seuss?" Jamie said.
Hank was still feeling down about the whole Marianne deal. He finally got himself to admit that he really did like her. 'If I didn't like her, would I be miserable like this?' Hank continued on his misery when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Hank turned around and saw Tyler and Jamie right behind him.
"Hey guys!" Hank greeted them, disguising the melancholy in his tone.
"Hank, are you all right?" Tyler asked.
"You don't look too good," Jamie told him.
"What made you guys think that?" Hank asked innocently.
"For starters, you've been staring at nothing for the past 15 minutes," Tyler told him.
"And second of all, your shirt is on backwards," Jamie added trying not too laugh.
Hank thought he was kidding until he looked down and saw that Jamie was far from joking.
"Come on, Hank," Jamie said. "Is this about her?"
"I don't like Marianne," Hank said. "I'm not even upset that she has a boyfriend."
"Who said anything about Marianne?" Tyler retorted.
"Jamie did," Hank said.
"I didn't even say her name," Jamie informed him.
"Hank, we already know," Tyler told him.
"OK, so I do like her," Hank finally admitted to them. "Are you happy now?"
"The question is, 'Are you happy now?'" Jamie countered.
"What do you guys care anyway?" Hank almost yelled. "Why don't you mind you own business?"
"Because we don't like to see you this way," Tyler said. "I'm sorry that she's taken, but you have to move on. I mean, come on, you haven't even told her about how you feel. If you like her, then go for it. Don't run from it. Don't wait."
"Am…am I really hearing this from you?" Hank stated. "The guy who held his feelings for Val for like, I don't know, two years."
"You know what he meant, Hank," Jamie said in Tyler's defense.
"OK, all right, I'm sorry," Hank said. "I guess I'm a little sensitive when it comes to this topic."
"A little?" Tyler asked jokingly.
"OK, a lot," Hank said, finally breaking a smile. "But I really don't think it would be a good idea to tell her. She already has a boyfriend. If she's happy, why ruin it? I guess I'm just being like this because I'm jealous of you guys."
"Or maybe you really do like her," Jamie said. "Well, I gotta go. I'll see you guys later."
Jamie's words played over and over in Hank's mind.
"Hank, are you free tonight?" Tyler asked.
"Yea," Hank replied.
"You, Jamie and I should hang out tonight," Tyler suggested. "We can use my car and drive around. You know, a guys night out. We don't really do that much anymore."
"OK, I'm there," Hank said, now a little beat upbeat. "That's a great idea."
"Don't thank me," Tyler said as he was about to leave. "Jamie and I were only talked into this…no, wait…blackmailed."
Hank made a sound gesture with his hands like he was whipping something towards Tyler.
"You just had to do that, didn't you?" Tyler said, but not the least bit offended.
Hank laughed as he gathered his things and headed to class.
Once again, it was time for lunch. This time, Hank was the only person to come in last. After he bought his lunch, he went to their table. When Hank sat down, he was amused by his friends' display of affection towards each other. Tyler and Val were feeding each other food once in a while across the table. 'Typical behavior for both of them.' Jamie and Caitie on the other hand were playfully throwing little bits of food towards each other. 'Typical behavior…for Jamie at least.'
"You guys are nauseating," Hank said as he finally sat down next to Tyler.
The four laughed a bit, and continued with what they were doing.
"So Hank, how are you?" Val asked.
"Good," Hank replied.
They continued to eat and laugh and talk. In the middle of the conversation, Marianne came over to sit at their table.
"Hey Hank!" she greeted him as she sat next to Val. "Hey guys!"
"Hey Marianne!" everyone sans Hank greeted back.
"Hi!" Hank said to her in a low tone.
"How are you?" Marianne asked Hank cheerfully. "I haven't talked to you today. I waved to you at the halls but you probably didn't see me."
At the sound of this the others felt a little uneasy, not only for themselves but for Hank.
"I guess I didn't," Hank said, his eyes still on his food.
"So, how are you?" Marianne asked again.
"Never been better," Hank replied as he stood up. "Well, I have something more important to do, so would you guys excuse me? Thanks."
Hank left and threw his trash in the garbage. He knew he was being rude and harsh, but he couldn't help himself. 'It wasn't her fault that she had a boyfriend. It wasn't her fault that I like her…' Hank pushed the thoughts of her away and went outside the cafeteria, finding something to occupy himself with.
"Did I miss something here?" Marianne said disappointedly.
"He had a bad day," Tyler answered for her.
"Is there something I can do?" Marianne inquired.
"Yea!" Jamie said a little too loud for Marianne to hear.
"What did you say?" Marianne asked.
"…llow," Jamie said hoping to find an excuse. "Yellow is the color of…of the sun."
"OK," Marianne said as though Jamie was crazy. "I guess I better go. Tell Hank I hope he feels better. I'll see you girls later. Bye."
The four waved at her. When she was out of sight, Caitie hit Jamie from behind the head.
"What was that for?" Jamie cried.
"Next time don't think out loud," Caitie told him. "And what was all that yellow stuff?"
"I had to say something," Jamie said. "I was nervous. I didn't know what to say."
"You are so cute when you're nervous," Caitie said, which made Jamie blush a bit.
"Yellow is the color of the sun," Tyler mimicked him.
"Val is like the morning sun…" Jamie began to say as he looked straight at Tyler.
"You wouldn't…" Tyler said but put his head down when Jamie started to say the next line.
"Her presence gives light to everyone," Jamie finished with a smug smile on his face.
"Aww…that was really cute," Val said as she tried to make Tyler look up.
"Who are you, Dr. Seuss?" Caitie said.
"That's what I said earlier," Jamie commented a little bit excitedly. "How cool is that!"
"It's not cool," Caitie told him sternly.
Jamie became silent.
"I was just kidding," Caitie told him.
Hank was walking down the hallway when he saw Marianne from the other end. She waved at him, but Hank pretended not to see. 'Who am I kidding? We're practically the only two people in the hallway.'
"Hank!" she called out.
Hank hastily turned to the corner, relieved to have been able to escape from her. Marianne had a puzzled look on her face.
"What was that?" she asked himself.
Confused, she went back on her way, deep in thought. 'Why is he avoiding me all of a sudden? Maybe Val and Caitie know something. I better find out before it's too late. I was just about to ask him to that dance.'
That's it for now. I'm sorry for the delay. I had a lot of work to do. I've had one hell of a week. Anyway, I hope you liked it. Don't forget to review!!! I'll be back! ~ Scarlet182