Chapter Four: "Secrets"
Valerie Lanier was awakened by the steady but insistent ringing of the doorbell.
She moaned as she got up and went to the door.
She started to open the door, and for a split second realized it could be Adam Wood.
But, she rationalized, if it were indeed Wood, he would have already burst into her
home. So, she opened the door the rest of the way.
There stood Tyler Connell, a look of concern apparant on his handsome face.
A mixture of surprise, pleasure, and dimay coursed through her body all at one time.
"Tyler. Hi. What's wrong?" she whispered uncertainly.
"Um...you just kinda were supposed to be at the station over an hour ago and I got
worried when you didn't show up." He paused, but still she had no time to answer his
question. "And why didn't you answer the phone when I called? Better yet, Val, I could
ask you the exact same question: What's wrong?" He demanded all at once.
Val couldn't believe she forgot about being at the EMS station today.
Their eyes met for an instant and left as quickly as they had met.
Tyler continued when she didn't answer him. "Val, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. Really," she said quietly, and quite unsure herself if she were uttering
the truth. "Why?"
"You look like you've been crying."
"Oh." Val looked down at the ground.
"Val? Is there something you want to tell me?" Tyler questioned.
Val gazed intently at Tyler. How she wanted to tell him what had happened, and to kiss him,
and to let him hold her close. But, since the phone call, she was too terrified of what would
happen to utter one single syllable abou what had happened earlier in the day.
She pretended to be thinking for a minute and then replied, ironically, somewhat wistfully,
"Nope. Everything's just peachy." She gave him a reassuring, appreciative, and almost visibly
loving smile.
He returned the smile. "Well...okay. You coming to the station?"
"Yeah. I'll meet you there."
He smiled at her again. Then his smile vanished and he looked at her intently. "Val, I just
want you to know that if you ever need me for anythign, you know I'll be here for you, right?"
"Yeah, I do. Thanks Ty."
Tyler went over to her an embraced her quickly. Val was a bit surprised, but recovered
quickly enough to press this moment in her memory and to kiss him on the cheek.
"See ya at the station."
"Yep, bye Tyler." Val was so happy she almost danced.
~*~
Val went into her bedroom, changed into her Emergency Medical Technician uniform and
marched out of the house and toward her car. She drove to the EMS station.
~*~
"Hey Val. Long time no see!" Hank greeted as he watched her cross the room.
"Yeah, Val. It's about time you got here!" Jamie joked.
"Sorry guys, I fell asleep and didn't realize what time it was," Val apologized. "I guess I
was more exhausted than I thought. She was rather unconvincing.
"Okay. Did Tyler ever find you?" Hank questioned her.
"Yeah. Why?" Val asked suspiciously.
"Oh. Just wonderin."
He's lying through his teeth, Val thought. "Hank, you're hinding somthing from me, aren't
you?" Val said with accusing eyes.
"Val, we could say the same about you from what Tyler tells us." Jamie broke in.
Val stared at him. I can't believe he said something! I thought I could trust him, she fumed.
As if on que, Tyler Connell strode into the EMT common room.
Val whirled around, and looked at him, her crystal clear blue eyes beginning to turn firey,
and then she stomped out.
"What'd I do?!" Tyler exclaimed to no one in particular.
Val completely ignored him, but Hank answered for her.
"Shed hiding something," he said.
"It's something serious, too. I've never seen 'Perfect Val' all in a tizzy about something before."
Jamie added.
"Great. Just great. Now she doesn't trust me." Tyler muttered scornfully under his breath.