When The Sun Goes Out
Chapter 2: "And Then I'm Torn"
I thought I saw a man brought to life
He was warm
He came around like he was dignified
He showed me what it was to cry
Well you couldn't be that man I adored
"I
wish she didn't inspire you quite so much," growled Hank teasingly, slapping
Tyler away from Val, who was leaving the field. They were practicing for the
game on Saturday. The only problem was that Val was practicing at the same
time. "Because we're playing Spreewell in and I want to win."
"Sorry,"
said Tyler, preparing himself for the tackle. "I think… I might actually tell
her. Today."
"Cool, man.
In the meantime, however, could you concentrate on the game?" Hank smiled to
show he wasn't reprimanding and started counting. "Twelve, three, seven, HIKE!"
Tyler ran
forward, crashing into the player opposite him and running. The ball flew at
him as he sprung like a tiger, up…and up…and up…
The ball
flew into the crook in his arms and Tyler landed, running towards the goal…
Score.
"Yeah!"
Hank pumped his arm in the air. "Way to go, you got some nice air!"
"Beecham,
Connell, a lap and hit the showers," the coach instructed.
"A lap?!"
Coach had never been quite kind enough to give them less than five laps or two
laps of sprints.
"I don't
need your leg muscles strained so that you can't jump," Coach said with a grin.
"Especially little flyaway boy Connell here. A lap. Go!"
They jogged
off before Coach could change his mind.
"Anyway,
you're telling Val?" Hank asked. "That's really great. Honestly."
"I think
it's more to prevent her from getting hurt than for my own good," said Tyler
darkly. "I have a really bad feeling about that Danny kid. Did you hear what
happened at his old school? While he was still there?"
"No, what?"
"A girl got
raped, and they never found who did it. The DNA testers were unsure, since she
had been with her boyfriend that day and his DNA was on some of her clothes,
but that couldn't prove anything, and the girl was too frightened of him coming
back to kill her to tell, too loyal to him. Guess who her boyfriend was? Danny.
Then Danny moved here…I just think it's too much of a coincidence, and that
it's going to happen again." Tyler looked at the ground and sped his jog
slightly.
"To Val,"
thought Hank out loud. "That would be—beyond horrible."
"Way
beyond. Completely unimaginable."
"You would
never think someone as strong as Val could get raped," Hank said. "But I
suppose that when someone's scared, they're vulnerable."
The two
young men looked at each other.
"I'll tell
her right after my shower."
The jog
sped even more.
"Good
luck," said Hank, giving Tyler a thumbs-up as the blond slung his bag over his
shoulder. "Not that you need it."
"I need it
more than you think," responded Tyler. Hank shook his head:
"Whatever."
Tyler hoped
Hank was right. "Later." He left the locker room with that and with his
thoughts, wanting Val to like him—or at least to listen to his warning about
Danny.
You don't seem to know,
Seem to care
What your heart is for
But I don't know him anymore
There's nothing where he used to lie
My conversation has dry
That's what's going on
Nothing's fine, I'm torn
He took the
long way around the bleachers to stall for even five more minutes of time
before he saw Val at the station—she had left nearly ten minutes earlier than
he did, so she'd be at the station already.
What in the
world is Val doing here? Tyler inquired of himself, seeing the telltale flash
of blond hair and light blue shirt through the bleachers. He hurried his walk,
cutting through the bleachers…
"Holy
shit," he mouthed, only the slightest breath of air coming from his lungs.
He didn't
know how he could not have heard her yell from the other side of the
bleachers, didn't know how he could not have guessed Danny would do the
inevitable as soon as possible, didn't know how he could have thought she was
safe, because her she was, pressed against the cement post of the bleachers by
Danny, her shirt ripped clear down the middle. His intentions were clear… ever
so crystal clear.
"I said,
get off, you bastard," she yelled, shoving him. Danny just reeled back
and then in again, with his mouth curved in the smile of a shark going for its
prey.
"I don't
think you can tell me what to do," Danny replied, lunging.
"I think,
however," Tyler said, struggling for calm as he dropped his bag and walked over
quietly, "that I can." Danny whirled, surprised, to connect with Tyler's
fist in his jaw. He staggered and tried to hit back, moving backwards away from
Tyler's enraged punches. A fist landed in the senior's stomach, causing him to
double in pain as Tyler struck again, landing Danny on his back.
"Think for
a minute about the position you're in," Tyler hissed, crouching on Danny's
stomach and leaning forward to look him in the eye, "and then think about what
I can do to you. Think about how I took two years of martial arts, and then
think about how much I hate you. And then," Tyler said in a low voice, nearing
Danny's ear so that it would be a secret forever, between them, a secret of
depths and measures Tyler never thought anything he felt could amount to,
"think about how much I love Val and how I will kill you if you do anything
like that ever again." Standing, Tyler glared threateningly and was met
with the same from Danny. "And then run. Run, because you will be reported to
the police. Run because you can't win. Run… because you have everything to fear
and everything to hide."
Danny had a
look of terror on his face as he jumped and ran as fast as he could, despite
his injuries. Tyler turned back to Val, who had slid down the wall and slumped
there against the cement that was supporting her.
"Thank you
so much," she said quietly, sobbing and bringing her knees up protectively to
her chest, as if to ward off any further blows, even though Danny was gone.
"Look, I'm
your friend," Tyler said awkwardly, knowing this was, above all, not a
time to tell her his very recent discovery—he loved her. "That's what friends
do." He helped her up and took off his flannel shirt, winding it around her and
holding her there, safe in his arms.
"Thank
you," Val repeated, this time more clearly. "Shit. I can't believe he tried to
do that."
"I was
trying to tell you…" Tyler said hesitantly. "I was going to tell you today."
"You knew?"
Val asked, stepping away and turning, looking hurt. "You knew and didn't tell
me?"
"I figured
it out," explained Tyler. "I heard the rumors…and I didn't want to tell you if
it wasn't true. You'd get mad at me." Val started to protest, then closed her
mouth, surrendering.
"You're right.
I would."
Silence was
heavy in the still air for a few minutes, letting the two friends stare each
other in the eyes, seeing the hurt and pain evident in the both of them. Tyler
made his decision, then and there, seeing that Val didn't need him, at least
not in that way. She was too hurt, too vulnerable, not ready yet.
"I
promise," he said, throat dry, "I promise I'll be a friend. You can trust me."
"A friend."
The words were slightly sour coming off her tongue, but they both knew a friend
was what she needed, nothing else. Besides, it might be rebound, she might get
hurt again… too much of a chance for either to take. Hope had flared when the
words echoed sour from her lips, but a look into her eyes guaranteed him that
any hope he had was to be spent on hoping she got over it, hoping she wasn't
going to be scared forever, hoping that she could trust people again.
"A friend."
He closed his fingers around hers. "You want to go home?"
"We have to
tell Alex," Val said. "Then we have to report Danny to the police."
"Which one
first?" Tyler didn't argue, even though he knew Val needed to rest. It was up
to her what she did—all he would do was help her along the way.
"Alex." At
least Alex knew her… it would be easier to tell him.
"All
right…we can call the police from your house. I mean, you can call them," Tyler
amended, not sure if she wanted him to stay with her. He would be happy to, if
Alex would let him off, but it was up to her. Everything was up to her now—what
he did, what she did, how either of them reacted to anything—and the only
question was if she could handle it after such a shock.
"We can
call them," said Val with a smile, a hint of her old self. "We can call." Tyler
returned the smile, tightening his hold on her hand and beginning to walk.
Don't
disappear. You've been hurt, but don't disappear. You're too strong for that.
You can make this, and I can make do with being just your friend forever if
only you don't disappear from the face of the earth to wallow in your own
fears. Think, Val, and let yourself smile.
I'm all out of faith,
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
Wide awake and I can see
The perfect sky is torn
You're a little late
I'm already torn
It was probably a shock to see Tyler and Val come in
fifteen minutes late with Val wrapped in Tyler's shirt and the remains of tears
scattered on her cheeks, but no one made a sound because they knew it had to be
serious. Jamie made no crack, Brooke made no comment, and Hank just looked at
his French homework.
Without greeting the two of them went into Alex's office
and closed the door behind them, thankful that it was soundproof and the
passers-by wouldn't hear anything.
"I need to go on the DL," choked Val, surprising Alex
beyond recognition.
"Mind if I ask why?" he inquired. From the look on his
face Tyler guessed Alex probably thought Val was pregnant or something, but he
would never admit that. Tyler wound his fingers around Val's hand again.
"I was—I was—Danny—" She turned to Tyler pleadingly.
"It's not quite what you think," Tyler told Alex. "Val…
was… well, Danny Carmichael attempted to rape her."
The words had been so easy to say, six simple words, but
the pain in Val's eyes could last forever. Tyler honestly wanted to kill Danny
for what he had done, but that wasn't going to help Val at all.
"Oh my God," Alex said, sounding rather out of character.
"I'm sorry, Val."
"I…might be…sensitive…so I shouldn't really respond to
any calls."
"Fine." Alex slid a Disabled List form at her. "You know
where to sign."
Val took a pen and filled it in quickly, signing her name
and standing up. "Thank you."
"Not a problem." Alex took the form and pulled open a
file cabinet, sliding the paper into Val's folder. "Tell me if anything else
happens."
Val nodded and opened the door. Tyler bit his lip and
spoke up.
"Alex? If I do another 24 this week, can I have the shift
off? I know it's unprofessional, but I think… I think Val needs me more than
the squad does right now," admitted Tyler.
Alex
looked out the glass in the door at Val, who was turning out of the room with a
shamed look on her face and in her features. No one was going to be able to
help her unless she opened herself up, and right now Tyler was the one who she
was opening herself up to.
"Go
ahead."
Tyler
smiled. "Thank you." He left the office, closing the door behind him. Alex
sighed and rubbed his head. Poor Val.
Why
did the worst always happen to the best?
*
"Is anyone home?" Tyler asked as Val unlocked and opened
the door.
"No. Brooke had piano and Mom and Dad are at work, I
think." She led him into the kitchen and sat down on a stool. "You know, this
is so weird."
"What is?" Tyler looked around, half-expecting Danny to
jump out or something.
"Just… Torn Promises. It's a huge coincidence that at the
same time we're reading a book about a girl getting attacked, I get attacked.
And Danny isn't even reading Torn Promises!"
"He's done it before," Tyler said in a low voice. Val
looked up.
"What?"
"Those are the rumors I was talking about. At his old
school, a girl got raped and they never found out who did it—but her boyfriend
was Danny." Tyler looked at her, hoping she didn't lose it.
She didn't. She sat there quite calmly in his shirt that
was too big for her, legs swinging in air, blond hair still tousled from her
"encounter" as her blue eyes formed a mask that was too closed for her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, voice hoarse in the silence.
"I'm sorry for what he did."
"I'll be fine," she said, but he knew she wouldn't be.
She would be scared and she would be hurt and she wouldn't get over it for a
long time.
"Maybe you should get changed and then we can call the
cops," Tyler suggested. Val smiled a small smile and nodded, rising from her
seat.
"Yeah. I'll do that."
She disappeared from the kitchen into her room and Tyler
collapsed on the stool, looking around. A bulletin board displaying cookie
fortunes and comic strips, epigrams and jokes, was on the wall. Out of
curiosity, he went over and read the papers. His eyes fell to one tacked to the
bottom left corner, a fortune from a cookie in green ink.
You will be hurt, but don't give in. There's
someone out there who cares.
Yeah, Tyler thought bitterly, someone cares. Someone
cares a lot more than you think.
So I guess the fortune teller's right
Should have seen just what was there
And not some holy light
Which crawled beneath my veins
And now I don't care
I had no luck
I don't miss it all that much
There's just so many things
That I can touch I'm torn
"So, about what time
did this occur?" the police officer asked. Officer Bradford was in his
mid-forties and still a bachelor, with a bushy moustache and a little excess
poundage that came from too many doughnuts in the morning before his shift started.
"Um…right after my
cheerleading practice. At about 4:10 or so."
"The name of your
assaulter?" Officer Bradford asked patiently, jotting down notes.
"Daniel Carmichael."
Officer Bradford
exchanged a meaningful glance with his colleague.
"Is he the same one
involved with the Susie Fallow case?"
"Yes."
"He'll be accused of
multiple attempts/rape, then," Bradford decided. "Thank you for your time. I'll
call later with news and to ask your parents to come down to the station to
sign since you're a minor. I'm very sorry this had to happen…" He trailed off,
snuffled through his moustache, and signaled his partner to go. "I'll see you."
He followed his
partner out the door and Val grinned weakly, bitterly.
"My parents will be
home soon," she mentioned, turning to Tyler.
"Do you want me to
stay with you to tell them?" he asked. Val hesitated, then shook her head.
"No. I think I can
deal with it on my own."
"All right. Look, you
can call me whenever you want. Even if it's, like, three in the morning. Whenever.
I'll be here." Tyler hesitated before wrapping her into a hug…a reassuring hug
between friends, that was all. Nothing more, because anything more was too
dangerous.
"Thanks, Tyler."
"Anything for you," he
replied gently. "Anything for a friend."
Friendship was so
annoying sometimes, so utterly aggravating, so simple and so unfulfilling, even
if friendship was all you could have.
Val closed her eyes
and smiled slightly, kissing his cheek gently. A kiss between friends.
"Thanks…again."
"Welcome. See you. You
coming to school tomorrow?" he asked, the feel of her lips still tingling on
his cheek.
"I think so," she
replied. "Probably."
"See you, then."
"See you."
He touched her hand
gently, like a butterfly, then turned and left through the front door. Tyler
watched it swing shut behind him. When it closed, he watched it a few more
minutes and then started down the sidewalk towards his house.
I'm all out of
faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake
And I can see
The perfect sky is torn
You're a little late
I'm already torn
Torn
There's
nothing where he used to lie
My inspiration has run dry
That's what's going on
Nothing's right I'm torn
Ooh yay. I love
that song. Well, okay, I love a lot of songs, but for a while this was my
favorite. Right now I like "Breathing" by Lifehouse…which is for use in next
chapter. Okay, there is a VERY unusual circumstance sort of which happens to
make room for the song—yikes, I'm writing the fic around the song…ah well. I
dun care—and just ignore the OOCness of it, 'kay? Thanks.
See ya. And
thank you, Aricraze, for agreeing to beta or whatever my fics. I was going to
send this to you in parts, but I just got to the end and decided it was better
just to post it. Ah well. Life.
---------Ivy
Leaves