Disclaimer: I do not own any of the "In a Heartbeat" characters except the ones that come from my imagination, and I am not making any profit on this whatsoever.
Author's Note: Hey, guys! I'm sorry it's been so long. I've had some demands for me to continue with the story that I had been originally going to end at chapter twelve. But, I had some ideas that would make the story live on and I have been having a hard time figuring out how to word them without making them extremely boring. (Cuz you know I don't want to put you to sleep!) Anyway, this chapter is just a bunch of talking, but like one of the other chapters, it all leads on to the rest of the story. Oh, and I know that Catie is a tad bit out of character, but hey, that's okay. It gives the story some flavor! Okay, onward readers! - Chilly Penguin
Chapter 13: "Hands Entwined"
As Val Lanier and Tyler Connell were walking back toward the EMS station, Val awkwardly leaned in to playfully give Tyler a big kiss on the cheek.
He stopped walking and turned to Val. He said, "Val, I'm so glad you're back." He gave her a soft kiss.
Val smiled at him warmly, and kissed him back before saying softly, "I'm glad to be back."
His face was positively beaming with joy. He never wanted this moment to end.
When Val and Tyler entered the room, Hank and Jamie turned to them with devilish grins on their faces, apparently happy at what they were seeing, what they knew all along what was inevitable was finally happening.
Val wondered what they were staring at, when she realized that hers and Tyler's hands were still entwined. Embarrassed and blushing a bright pink, she slowly pulled her hand from Tyler's.
"So, Val, I thought you were heading home," Hank stated, that devilish smile still plastered on his dark face.
"Oh! I was," Val said, giving the two boys staring at her no explanation why. Not that they needed one.
"Mmm hmmm," they both grunted knowingly.
There was a somewhat awkward silence creeping over the EMS common room, so Val asked to no one in particular, "So, how's Catie been? I haven't been to see her yet. I really should."
"Oh, she's been great," Jamie said, attempting to stifle the smile that was crossing his lips.
"Jamie and Catie have been going out since like last September," Tyler whispered to a slightly confused Val.
"Oh!" she said. Then added, "Well congratulations, Jamie."
"Thanks, and Connell, it's been since last July. Come on now, get your months straight," Jamie joked.
"Well, I really should go see her," Val said quietly. She wanted to see Catie, but she also didn't want to leave Tyler's side, even for a minute. It just felt so good to be near him again.
"Hey, Val," Tyler whispered softly in her ear, completely dismissing the two pairs of staring eyes, "Why don't we go out for dinner tonight. We'll go celebrate your coming home."
"I'd like that," Val said sincerely.
"Pick you up at six?" he inquired, wanting to see her again as soon as possible. It was three-thirty right now.
"Sure, Tyler." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before she left the EMS building. She had been trying to get away from all the looks Hank and Jamie exchanged, and the knowing glances toward her and Tyler that she had forgot to say good-bye to them. Oh well, she thought. I'll see them tomorrow.
Val got into her car and drove through Kingsport until she was at the familiar house of her best friend, Catie Roth.
She walked up the steps and onto the porch, where she rapped sharply on the front door.
From the inside of the house came, "I'm coming!" and the door opened, showing Catie. She looked incredibly different. Normal even. Her black hair had no unnatural color, but light brown highlights, and she wasn't dressed like her normal Goth self. She was in an Abercrombie shirt and pant set. Val and Catie just stared at each other for a few minutes, with equally awed expressions on their faces.
Eventually, Catie broke the silence buy screaming, "Val!" before she hugged her good friend tightly.
Val tried to say, "Catie!" but it was a bit muffled by Catie's body.
Catie pulled back and said, "So Val? You look great. Where've you been? How've you been? I need details!" Catie exclaimed, all in one breath.
"Catie, you look great too," Val said sincerely.
"Yeah, I kind of grew out of that 'have to be different from everyone else' Goth stage," Catie said, trying to stifle a smile.
"I heard about you and Jamie. Congratulations," Val said.
Catie smiled. "Thanks," she said. "You know, I really think he's the real thing," she confided.
"Really? Great!" Val exclaimed.
"Yeah, but it's way too early for anything big to happen. We're just taking it a day at a time, you know? Anyway, enough about me. Where have you been, how've you been?" she questioned.
Val went into her story. "Well, I witnessed a crime at the local grocery store almost a year ago and I saw the guy. He kept threatening my family and I and we had to go into the Witness Protection Program. So, for the last year I have been known as Hailey Mathews and I have been living on beach front property on Myrtle Beach thinking about what you guys were doing and how much fun you were having. But, the guy was caught and now I am back to Kingsport to stay!"
"Wow, Val I'm so glad you're back," Catie said sincerely. "So, did anything exciting happen while you were in the God-awful Witness Protection Program?"
"Well, I almost got, um, taken advantage of by this jerk..." Val began.
"And?" Catie asked, pushing Val along because her gut instinct told her that Val wanted to say more than she actually had. I mean, more than that had to have happened over the past year.
"Okay, Catie. Tyler came to Myrtle Beach and found me," Val said quickly. Almost too quickly to be understood. "And I had to tell him the whole reason I was out there and why I hadn't told him or anybody else what had happened and why I pleaded with him to call me 'Hailey' in public." She continued. "I was just so incredibly sad there and I just started crying at the end of my whole story and Tyler - he was so sweet - he came over and gave me a big hug. When I looked up at him he kissed me and said he loved me. I didn't want him to get hurt because of me, 'cause I was in the Witness Protection Program and all, and I said I didn't love him."
"Have you seen him yet?" Catie asked Val.
"Yes," Val replied.
"What happened?"
"Well, I was coming out of the EMS station because that's the first place I went because I wanted to be an EMT again and as I was coming out after seeing Hank and Jamie, I saw him kissing another girl on the cheek. I was so angry and I thought that I was too late - because you of all people know that I do indeed love him - and he said I wasn't too late. He still loved me and we are going out to dinner tonight!" Val said happily. She added, "You know, Catie, when Tyler and I walked in the common room, our hands were still entwined, and Hank and Jamie kept looking at us as if they knew that that would happen. You know, between me and Tyler," Val said.
Catie said, "Okay, Val, to tell you the truth, Jamie, Hank, and I - and Brooke too - all knew what was between you guys. We could tell by the way you guys acted around each other that you liked him, and he liked you. We just figured it was only a matter of time before you guys would actually end up together."
"Oh," Val said. "I guess everyone but us could predict the future on that one, huh? Honestly, I never thought he liked me."
Catie sighed dramatically, a peek of her old self shining through again.
"Well, Catie, I guess I will call you soon. I really should get home because Tyler and I are going to dinner at six and I have to get ready." Val stood up and gave her best friend a small hug.
Catie walked her to the door and said to Val, "I'm really glad you're back."
"Not more than I am Catie," retorted Val with a small laugh. "I'll give you a ring soon, okay?"
"Alright, see ya." Catie shut the door behind Val Lanier and couldn't believe the story she had just heard escape her best friend's glossed lips. I can't believe what the poor girl's been through, Catie thought with a grim smile.
Val Lanier drove in her silver VW bug back home to get changed for her date with Tyler. She couldn't believe all that had happened since she left, and since she'd been home. It was a tad bit overwhelming, but she didn't care. She was just so happy to finally be home in a familiar place with familiar people.
Val walked into her house and went into her room. It was empty, and she figured Brooke had went to catch up with Nick and Amanda. She crossed over to her suitcases. It was only four-fifteen, so she figured she would unpack some of her clothes and hang them up neatly in her closet for a while before she got ready for her date with Tyler. She turned up the radio and began singing along as she worked. She worked until she heard a knock on the door. She opened it and there stood Tyler. "Oh my gosh! Tyler, I'm so sorry. I've been unpacking all my clothes and I guess I got more into it than I thought..." she looked at him guiltily.
"Hey, that's okay."
She smiled at him with gratitude. He's such a great guy, she thought. She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. "You like?" she asked as she pulled back, noticing the slight smile on his face.
"A little," he admitted.
"Only a little?" she said uncertainly as a devilish smile teased her lips. She gave him another kiss, this one longer and more passionate. "Better?" she asked him again.
"Yeah," Tyler panted. His face was positively beaming.
"Okay, listen, do you want to just wait in here while I change my clothes and freshen up? It won't take long," she promised.
"Val, you look fine. You don't even have to change," he said truthfully.
"I know I don't. I just want to put on something more appropriate," she replied noticing that he had on a navy blue v-neck shirt with khakis. "I'll be right back," she said as she slipped into the bathroom that was adjoined to her bedroom. When she emerged ten minutes later, she was wearing a pale yellow square-neck tank with a white skirt and white sandals. Her hair was once again curled on top of her head and looked perfect, not a hair out of place.
"You look great," Tyler said, giving her a smile.
"Thank you," she said, returning the smile.
He playfully held out his arm for Val, and she slipped her arm through his and they headed off to dinner together.
~ Well, what do you think? I know it's kind of short and boring and it repeats a lot but I'm having a bit of a hard time with this. I have ideas, I just don't know how to voice them. Anyway, please review! ~
Author's Note: Hey, guys! I'm sorry it's been so long. I've had some demands for me to continue with the story that I had been originally going to end at chapter twelve. But, I had some ideas that would make the story live on and I have been having a hard time figuring out how to word them without making them extremely boring. (Cuz you know I don't want to put you to sleep!) Anyway, this chapter is just a bunch of talking, but like one of the other chapters, it all leads on to the rest of the story. Oh, and I know that Catie is a tad bit out of character, but hey, that's okay. It gives the story some flavor! Okay, onward readers! - Chilly Penguin
Chapter 13: "Hands Entwined"
As Val Lanier and Tyler Connell were walking back toward the EMS station, Val awkwardly leaned in to playfully give Tyler a big kiss on the cheek.
He stopped walking and turned to Val. He said, "Val, I'm so glad you're back." He gave her a soft kiss.
Val smiled at him warmly, and kissed him back before saying softly, "I'm glad to be back."
His face was positively beaming with joy. He never wanted this moment to end.
When Val and Tyler entered the room, Hank and Jamie turned to them with devilish grins on their faces, apparently happy at what they were seeing, what they knew all along what was inevitable was finally happening.
Val wondered what they were staring at, when she realized that hers and Tyler's hands were still entwined. Embarrassed and blushing a bright pink, she slowly pulled her hand from Tyler's.
"So, Val, I thought you were heading home," Hank stated, that devilish smile still plastered on his dark face.
"Oh! I was," Val said, giving the two boys staring at her no explanation why. Not that they needed one.
"Mmm hmmm," they both grunted knowingly.
There was a somewhat awkward silence creeping over the EMS common room, so Val asked to no one in particular, "So, how's Catie been? I haven't been to see her yet. I really should."
"Oh, she's been great," Jamie said, attempting to stifle the smile that was crossing his lips.
"Jamie and Catie have been going out since like last September," Tyler whispered to a slightly confused Val.
"Oh!" she said. Then added, "Well congratulations, Jamie."
"Thanks, and Connell, it's been since last July. Come on now, get your months straight," Jamie joked.
"Well, I really should go see her," Val said quietly. She wanted to see Catie, but she also didn't want to leave Tyler's side, even for a minute. It just felt so good to be near him again.
"Hey, Val," Tyler whispered softly in her ear, completely dismissing the two pairs of staring eyes, "Why don't we go out for dinner tonight. We'll go celebrate your coming home."
"I'd like that," Val said sincerely.
"Pick you up at six?" he inquired, wanting to see her again as soon as possible. It was three-thirty right now.
"Sure, Tyler." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before she left the EMS building. She had been trying to get away from all the looks Hank and Jamie exchanged, and the knowing glances toward her and Tyler that she had forgot to say good-bye to them. Oh well, she thought. I'll see them tomorrow.
Val got into her car and drove through Kingsport until she was at the familiar house of her best friend, Catie Roth.
She walked up the steps and onto the porch, where she rapped sharply on the front door.
From the inside of the house came, "I'm coming!" and the door opened, showing Catie. She looked incredibly different. Normal even. Her black hair had no unnatural color, but light brown highlights, and she wasn't dressed like her normal Goth self. She was in an Abercrombie shirt and pant set. Val and Catie just stared at each other for a few minutes, with equally awed expressions on their faces.
Eventually, Catie broke the silence buy screaming, "Val!" before she hugged her good friend tightly.
Val tried to say, "Catie!" but it was a bit muffled by Catie's body.
Catie pulled back and said, "So Val? You look great. Where've you been? How've you been? I need details!" Catie exclaimed, all in one breath.
"Catie, you look great too," Val said sincerely.
"Yeah, I kind of grew out of that 'have to be different from everyone else' Goth stage," Catie said, trying to stifle a smile.
"I heard about you and Jamie. Congratulations," Val said.
Catie smiled. "Thanks," she said. "You know, I really think he's the real thing," she confided.
"Really? Great!" Val exclaimed.
"Yeah, but it's way too early for anything big to happen. We're just taking it a day at a time, you know? Anyway, enough about me. Where have you been, how've you been?" she questioned.
Val went into her story. "Well, I witnessed a crime at the local grocery store almost a year ago and I saw the guy. He kept threatening my family and I and we had to go into the Witness Protection Program. So, for the last year I have been known as Hailey Mathews and I have been living on beach front property on Myrtle Beach thinking about what you guys were doing and how much fun you were having. But, the guy was caught and now I am back to Kingsport to stay!"
"Wow, Val I'm so glad you're back," Catie said sincerely. "So, did anything exciting happen while you were in the God-awful Witness Protection Program?"
"Well, I almost got, um, taken advantage of by this jerk..." Val began.
"And?" Catie asked, pushing Val along because her gut instinct told her that Val wanted to say more than she actually had. I mean, more than that had to have happened over the past year.
"Okay, Catie. Tyler came to Myrtle Beach and found me," Val said quickly. Almost too quickly to be understood. "And I had to tell him the whole reason I was out there and why I hadn't told him or anybody else what had happened and why I pleaded with him to call me 'Hailey' in public." She continued. "I was just so incredibly sad there and I just started crying at the end of my whole story and Tyler - he was so sweet - he came over and gave me a big hug. When I looked up at him he kissed me and said he loved me. I didn't want him to get hurt because of me, 'cause I was in the Witness Protection Program and all, and I said I didn't love him."
"Have you seen him yet?" Catie asked Val.
"Yes," Val replied.
"What happened?"
"Well, I was coming out of the EMS station because that's the first place I went because I wanted to be an EMT again and as I was coming out after seeing Hank and Jamie, I saw him kissing another girl on the cheek. I was so angry and I thought that I was too late - because you of all people know that I do indeed love him - and he said I wasn't too late. He still loved me and we are going out to dinner tonight!" Val said happily. She added, "You know, Catie, when Tyler and I walked in the common room, our hands were still entwined, and Hank and Jamie kept looking at us as if they knew that that would happen. You know, between me and Tyler," Val said.
Catie said, "Okay, Val, to tell you the truth, Jamie, Hank, and I - and Brooke too - all knew what was between you guys. We could tell by the way you guys acted around each other that you liked him, and he liked you. We just figured it was only a matter of time before you guys would actually end up together."
"Oh," Val said. "I guess everyone but us could predict the future on that one, huh? Honestly, I never thought he liked me."
Catie sighed dramatically, a peek of her old self shining through again.
"Well, Catie, I guess I will call you soon. I really should get home because Tyler and I are going to dinner at six and I have to get ready." Val stood up and gave her best friend a small hug.
Catie walked her to the door and said to Val, "I'm really glad you're back."
"Not more than I am Catie," retorted Val with a small laugh. "I'll give you a ring soon, okay?"
"Alright, see ya." Catie shut the door behind Val Lanier and couldn't believe the story she had just heard escape her best friend's glossed lips. I can't believe what the poor girl's been through, Catie thought with a grim smile.
Val Lanier drove in her silver VW bug back home to get changed for her date with Tyler. She couldn't believe all that had happened since she left, and since she'd been home. It was a tad bit overwhelming, but she didn't care. She was just so happy to finally be home in a familiar place with familiar people.
Val walked into her house and went into her room. It was empty, and she figured Brooke had went to catch up with Nick and Amanda. She crossed over to her suitcases. It was only four-fifteen, so she figured she would unpack some of her clothes and hang them up neatly in her closet for a while before she got ready for her date with Tyler. She turned up the radio and began singing along as she worked. She worked until she heard a knock on the door. She opened it and there stood Tyler. "Oh my gosh! Tyler, I'm so sorry. I've been unpacking all my clothes and I guess I got more into it than I thought..." she looked at him guiltily.
"Hey, that's okay."
She smiled at him with gratitude. He's such a great guy, she thought. She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. "You like?" she asked as she pulled back, noticing the slight smile on his face.
"A little," he admitted.
"Only a little?" she said uncertainly as a devilish smile teased her lips. She gave him another kiss, this one longer and more passionate. "Better?" she asked him again.
"Yeah," Tyler panted. His face was positively beaming.
"Okay, listen, do you want to just wait in here while I change my clothes and freshen up? It won't take long," she promised.
"Val, you look fine. You don't even have to change," he said truthfully.
"I know I don't. I just want to put on something more appropriate," she replied noticing that he had on a navy blue v-neck shirt with khakis. "I'll be right back," she said as she slipped into the bathroom that was adjoined to her bedroom. When she emerged ten minutes later, she was wearing a pale yellow square-neck tank with a white skirt and white sandals. Her hair was once again curled on top of her head and looked perfect, not a hair out of place.
"You look great," Tyler said, giving her a smile.
"Thank you," she said, returning the smile.
He playfully held out his arm for Val, and she slipped her arm through his and they headed off to dinner together.
~ Well, what do you think? I know it's kind of short and boring and it repeats a lot but I'm having a bit of a hard time with this. I have ideas, I just don't know how to voice them. Anyway, please review! ~