A/N: 1) I don't
really care if Val couldn't come back right away after being shocked or
whatever. Too bad. 2) Please, people, review! Criticism is fine, I just want
some feedback! 3) Warning: Next chapter, Tyler and Val might be a little out of
character. Sorry if they are now!!!
Disclaimer: Val
and Tyler belong to Disney Channel.
Claimer: Plot
belongs to me. Tyler's intense fear of roaches is mine. Tyler's house is mine.
The song at the end was written by me and copyrights to me. Story is
copyrighted to me, so PLEASE DO NOT STEAL!
SIMPLE TO THE MIND
Val burst into
Tyler's room.
"Tyler!" she said. He
automatically curled into a ball.
"Is it a roach? I
really don't like roaches."
"No, nothing like
that," Val said dismissively, waving her hand. Tyler relaxed. "There's a TV in
my room!"
"Yeah." Tyler was still a little nervous
about the "roach". "There's one in every main bedroom. Altogether, there are
nine… plus the wide-screen in the basement."
"You're kidding!" Val was
awestruck—evidently, Tyler's family was strong on the bucks. Very strong.
"It's been in my family since the Gold
Rush, I told you. My grandfather likes TVs, and then he moved to the Bahamas.
The house is mine when I turn 21."
"You are so lucky," breathed Val. Then,
aided by a strange look from Tyler, she corrected herself. "I mean… how cool."
"Yeah. Hey, you want something to eat?
We're going into town tonight for dinner."
"Are we going to the beach tomorrow?"
Val followed him out the door and down the hallway with its pale green carpet.
"It's supposed to storm in the
afternoon. The morning might be okay." They reached the stairs. "But the movie
theater in town is pretty good, and the rental place is fantastic." Silence
invaded as they started down the staircase.
"Do you have a hot tub?" Val asked
curiously, beginning to wonder what didn't this house have.
"Yeah," said Tyler. "Why, do your legs
hurt again?"
"Yeah," Val said, repeating his words.
"Oh, really?" Tyler's blue eyes
developed a kind of twinkle. Val realized his intention and backed away.
"No, Tyler, no, no, no, no, no."
Her protest turned into shrieks as he
picked her up over his shoulder and carried her down the stairs.
"You did say I could sling you over my
shoulder when you got your brace off."
"I said no such thing!" replied Val
indignantly, all too aware that he was right.
"Did too."
"Did not."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes!"
"No!
"Yes!"
"No!"
Tyler swung her around and aimed at a
couch.
"Ow!" Val said a few seconds later,
landing. "That's it, Connell, you are going to die!"
Tyler backed up slowly. "But Alex will
be mad at you—I didn't finish my paperwork. And my grades will slip."
"Nobody will care about your grades if
you're dead!" Val ran after him, chasing him out of the room.
~The Next Day~
Tyler climbed the stairs to his secret
retreat to think… well, it wasn't much of a secret—everyone knew about it
except Val—but Val was the one he had to think about.
He thought he was alone in the attic,
but a tall blond emerged from a stack of boxes, coughing. Tyler jumped back,
surprised.
"Val! What are you doing here?" he
cried.
"Um… looking for… you?" replied Val
uncertainly.
"I thought you were down on the beach.
You didn't come to lunch."
"Tyler, I don't know if you've noticed,
but… it's a thunderstorm outside." She pointed at the window with its cushioned
window seat and swung her hand up to the skylight, showing him the pouring rain
and flashes of lightning.
"Well, yeah, but…"
He was interrupted as Val screamed.
"Now what?" he sighed.
"A roach!"
Tyler jumped onto the window seat,
followed by Val, who landed firmly on top of him, elbowing him in the chest.
"Sorry," Val said, rolling over so she
was next to him.
"Where's the roach?" he inquired.
"There." Val pointed an index finger
with a silver ring on it at a pile of boxes.
Tyler squinted. "That's a stick!"
"No, it's n—okay, so it is. Excuse me."
Neither of them made a move to get up.
"I'm feeling kind of tired," ventured
Tyler.
"Me, too."
Val put her head on his chest and looked
out the window.
I think I've found my place
Here in your arms
Can't see your face
But know you'd do me no harm
I'm so lost, I'm so scared
But now that you're there
My world doesn't seem so cruel
I think I love you
Lost in your arms,
Protected from harm,
I think the world is finally right
Hold me tight, hold me tight
Safe with you
With the world to turn to
My life not lost or confused
I know this is the right thing to do
So let me stay
A while longer
Don't go away
Help me grow stronger
'Cause no matter what you say or do
I think I'll always be
In love with you
Can't you see
I think I love you
Flashes of white lightning lit their
faces time to time, the roll of thunder drowning out thoughts. They stayed
there until the storm lightened and the sun came out, signaling for beautiful
weather tomorrow.