Disclaimer: I do not own any of the "In a Heartbeat" characters featured in this story, except for the ones that come straight from my imagination. Also, I am said to say that I am making absolutely no profit on this story whatsoever.
Author's Note: First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has been reading my new story "Cries for Help" and, surprisingly, "Behind the Scenes." To whoever writes the "Real World" series for the "In a Heartbeat" fanfictions, (sorry, I don't remember what your name was) I haven't read those yet, so I am not copying off you. Okay, I think this chapter will be a bit short, but there will be significance to it in the long run. Read on!
Chapter 15: "Anonymous Roses"
THREE AND A HALF YEARS LATER
Val Lanier sat at the desk in her dorm with the pencil stuck in her mouth. She had to write a paper about some ways to treat different wounds in different places for her Medical class, and she was having a hard time thinking of examples. Her roommate, Heather, was gone on a date. Val hadn't been on a date for over three years. She had been too busy. For one thing, she was taking three more college courses than her roommate was, and those three took up most of Val's time. She thought sadly about the fact that the calls from Tyler had become less and less, and she thought she knew why. He probably was too busy for her now. Hopefully, if he had a girlfriend, he would have kept his promise to her and broke up with her. The problem was, they hadn't broke up, but they weren't together exactly either. She was oh so confused about what was going on in their relationship. The last time she talked to him was almost a month ago, and before that it had been three weeks before she heard from him again. In a way, she was happy for this, because it meant that she wasn't holding him back. She just hoped that he was happy. She was shaken out of thought by a sharp rap on the door. "I'm coming!" she called, somewhat exasperated. She unlocked and threw open the door.
"Are you a Miss Valerie Lanier?" the man in front of her asked.
"Yes I am." Her curiosity had peaked.
"These are for you." He handed her a bouquet of a dozen pink roses.
"Thanks," she said as she signed for the flowers and closed the door. Whoever sent these knew that pink roses were my favorite, she thought. She searched for the card, and finally found it. It read: "I'm thinking of you" and was signed "Anonymous." Val found that sweet, but peculiar, and wondered who'd send these to her. She smelled the sweet aroma and gave a nice sigh of enjoyment.
One week later, she was walking back to her dorm when she saw a man in front of her door. She saw Heather signing the paper, and then the man walked off down the hall in the opposite direction. She sped up and walked into the door before Heather had the chance to close it. "Oh, these just came for you," Heather told Val. Heather's eyes held a curious sparkle that was quite similar to the one Val's had. Heather handed Val the flowers.
"Thanks for signing for them," Val said to her.
"Sure." Heather cocked her head. "Who're they from?"
"I don't know, let me find the card," she replied. Heather knew about the anonymous flowers from the week before as well. "Hmmm, it says, 'I can't seem to get you off my mind; haven't been for the longest time' and it's signed, 'Anonymous' yet again," Val said. She wanted so much to know who the flowers came from.
"Hmmm, that's really weird," Heather commented from her bed. It was eleven o'clock at night. She was already in her pajamas, ready to go to sleep. Val had just gone for a walk to clear her mind before she hit the sack too. "Well, good night," Heather said.
"Night," Val yawned.
The anonymous roses kept up for the next five months, one bouquet per week. Val had eventually gotten quite annoyed because not one held the name of its sender. That week she was graduating from college on a Medical major. She looked forward to being a pediatrician. Val sat on the floor of her dorm with Heather at her side, both packing up their clothes, getting ready to head back to Kingsport in two days. "I can't believe we're already leaving this place," Heather sighed. She paused, then added, "I'm really glad we became friends. Hopefully our friendship can last even back in Kingsport." She had a hopeful glint in her eye as she said this.
"I'm really glad we became friends, too. I'd be glad to keep this friendship going," Val said, giving Heather a small hug. "I've really got to start packing!"
"Yeah, me too."
Two days later, Val and Heather stood in the middle of their dorm room in their graduation robes and caps looking around. It really seemed like it had been only yesterday when they started going here, starting living in this dorm room. It was completely empty, completely spotless right now. All of Val's and Heather's things were in their cars ready to go. They couldn't believe that they were graduating from college, Val in the top of all her classes, would be Valedictorian this year. She just couldn't believe it. She never in a million years thought she'd make it this far, especially after that whole Witness Protection Program thing last year. In a few minutes time, it was time for Val and Heather to head off toward their graduation.
They threw their hats in the air after receiving their diplomas, and headed toward their cars in separate directions.
~ So what do you think? The story's not over yet, believe me. I've still got some ideas to continue this one in my head. Please review! ~