This is for Mad Cow and all Kleenexes reading this. Thank you, Mad Cow, if you're reading this, for teaching me about Pretty Perfects, Bleacher Junkies, Mini-Me's, and Kleenexes.
The second part of the chapter is for Bleacher Junkies.
SAP ALERT! SAP ALERT!
You have been warned.
I recommend waffles.
Also, let's just say that Christmas is Friday, and New Year's is a week after that, and they go back to school the Wednesday after that, even though schools (at least mine) don't give students that much time off.
Disclaimer- don't own squat.
Meanwhile, when Tyler was
walking Val home, and after he got back…
Hank sat at the desk doing paperwork. 2 more pages and he'd be done at last. Finally!
He had already done 8 pages! Hank hated paperwork, almost as much as he hated inventory, which was what Jamie was stuck doing.
He was halfway down the last page when he heard the door shut. He heard Tyler come in and sit down on the couch with a sigh.
Hank heard the TV turn on. A second later, the TV turned off. The couch squeaked as Tyler stood up. Hank heard Tyler's footsteps come his direction, and then they turned around and go the other way.
Hank sighed. He'd never be able to do paperwork with all this distraction, and Tyler was obviously upset. Maybe if I talked to him, he'd feel better. Or at least I could provide a distraction and stop him from worrying for 5 minutes or so, Hank reasoned. He gave one last look at the paperwork, and went into the common room.
"Hey Tyler." Hank said. Tyler looked up like a deer caught in the headlights and smiled sheepishly.
"Oh, hi Hank." Tyler said.
"What's up?" Hank asked, playing dumb.
"Nothing, I'm just a little… worried about Val is all." Tyler said sheepishly.
"Oh. I'm sure she'll be okay. I was sort of paying attention to her symptoms, and it looks like the flu to me… and it's flu season, so it's normal… and she's already had it once or twice, so it could just be a relapse from working too strenuously… Didn't she have it, I don't know, around a week and a half ago?" Hank said, trying to be reassuring.
"Yeah. A week and a half ago, she had it. That's what makes me worried. Her immune system may be weaker." Tyler said worriedly. Brilliant, Hank! You're not doing a very good job of reassuring him or taking his mind off Val, Hank thought, berating himself for not being able to accomplish his purpose. He mentally smacked himself on the head.
"You know Val. She's strong. She'll pull through it." Hank said in a tone of voice that was supposed to be reassuring, although Hank speculated that hardly anything could reassure Tyler at this point.
"Yeah. Yeah, I guess you're probably right," Tyler said, sounding sad, worried, unconvinced, and far from reassured.
"I've got to go finish paperwork, and Jamie's doing inventory." Hank said.
"Poor Jamie," said Tyler as Hank left.
"Poor Jamie what?" Jamie asked as he entered the room.
"Hank said you were doing inventory." Tyler said.
"Oh, yeah, inventory. Yuck." Jamie said half-heartedly.
Tyler raised his eyes suspiciously but said nothing.
**Begin memory/flashback thing**
Jamie used the phone directly outside the garage to call Caitie. He had just wanted to talk, so they talked about their date.
"Hi, Caitie… about our date… I mean, if you still want to go…" Jamie started.
"Duh! Of course I want to go." Caitie replied.
"Hey Caitie? Don't say duh. You're starting to sound like a cheerleader." Jamie said and made a face. "Anyway, what do you want to do?" Jamie asked before Caitie could say anything.
"I don't know. Maybe we could go out for pizza?" Caitie suggested.
"Okay. I'll pick you up at 7." Jamie said, trying to take charge like a 'real man' (AN: little air quotes^_^) but not doing a very good job.
"On the motorcycle?" Caitie said excitedly.
"Yes." Jamie said, trying to be in control once again.
"Yay!" Caitie squealed.
"Caitie?" Jamie said.
"Yeah?" Caitie asked.
"You're starting to sound like Val and it's scaring me. Please stop squealing and saying duh? Who are you and what have you done with Caitie's sarcasm?" Jamie asked.
"Whatever." Caitie said. Jamie gave a mock gasp. "Shut up. Talk to you later." Caitie said.
"Bye," said Jamie.
**end flashback**
Jamie was jolted out of his memory by the bell ringing. They had a call. They had several calls in a row, and then their shift was over.
***
Author's Note: Yes. This chapter is over. I didn't post it because when I finished, I only had 2 new reviews from this and the last chapter put together. That's one apiece. Come on, people. If I don't get 50 (5 new ones), this fic- :: makes slashing motion with her hand across her throat (as in, it dies. Stops.)::
Capeesh? (I don't know how to spell that)
