Comfort Me - Chapter Seven
Val kept quiet for a little bit and there was a knock at the door, startling the two. It was a police officer. "Hello, Mr. Connell?"
"Yes. That's me." Tyler asked concerned.
"We understand you are taking in Val Lanier? We understand that your parents are taking full guardian of Ms. Lanier."
"Yes." Tyler leaned against the door.
"Thank you. We'll call for further notice." The officer said, sternly. He smelt bad and looked old.
"Tyler!" Val screamed from upstairs. "I remember! I thought and I remembered more!"
"Brooke had blonde hair! And... she played the piano! I remember a BIG house... but selling it! Then I remember being at the scene when my dad had his heart attack..." Her voice trailed off, and became a slight whisper, her eyes streaming with happy tears. "I feel like somethings missing! I need more time, to think." By now, Tyler's eyes were lit up with delight.
"That's great, Val!" You got your memory... part of you memory," he corrcted, "back. The doctor said it takes its own course, wow you're fast."
She was smiling so wide it must've been a mile long. He sat down on the bed next to her. "You wanna go see Caitie and Jamie and see if ya can remember anything about them?"
"Yeah, let me get dressed." She said, she reached for jeans, he just sat there.
"I won't look." He smiled, his eyes pleading to stay. She rolled her eyes and slipped the jeans on as he carefully covered his eyes. When he opened them she was in jeans and a blue tank top and overcoat.
"BEAUTIFUL." He smiled.
"Thank you, right back at ya." And she winked at him.
Tyler got up and kissed her. They headed over to Jamie's knowing that they
both would be there. Val knocked on the door and a minute later was answered
by Jamie and Caitie a second later chasing him. They invited them in and sat
down on the couch. Val just bluted out, "Caitie member that time when we
fought over Keth Farber in the second (?) grade and Jamie how you gave that
dog month-to-month?"
Caitie got up and huged Val, "You got your memory back..."
They huged and Jamie and Val did (eww hehe) and just than the micowave beep,
signing that the popcorn was ready. Jamie invited Val and Tyler to watch a
movie with him and Caitie.
After the movie Val noticed that Jamie and Caitie were sleeping and so was
Tyler. She got up and kissed Tyler, "What do you want? Oh Val..."
"Hey Tyler..Can we go now, the movie is over and they are sleeping."
"Yeah sure lets go."
They left and got back to Tyler's and he opens the door. He goes over to the
machine and pushes the button, "You got one new message.... Honey it's me,
mom, me and William both have to work late than we are going out for dinner
and a movie, if you need us just call my cell phone."
Tyler looked over at Val and says, "Looks like we got the whole house to our
selves."
Val takes his hand and heads up the stairs.
"Val?" He whispered over and over again while they walked up the stairs, "We can't do this, Val..."
She only hushed him up and put her finger over his mouth. "Shh..." Tyler rolled his eyes and continued up the steps. They reached his room and shut the door.
"No, Val." He stood up away from her. "No.." His voice lightened and his face was sad. Should he? Connell, don't do this, you're only in high school, the voice said upon his mind. He took a deep breath. "What if... my parents come home."
"They said they won't be home for awhile." She sat on the bed on her knees and looked at him. "Besides," She slung her arms around his neck, "They never come into your room, anyways."
"You never acted like this before, Val." He backed away and went to the doorway, "We're to young." He shook his head as if thinking, 'I can't believe you'.
He walks out the door. A couple minutes later Val went to find him. She
found him outside sitting by a tree, "Tyler? I'm really really sorry..."
Tyler cut her off, "Val that's not you, what got into you?"
"I don't know, Tyler..." She whispered, "You don't understand... YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND! Living... without family."
"No... Val what you did up there... that wasn't out of depression.. that was
just.. I don't even know how to explain it, Val." With that he walked back
into the house.
Val goes back in and to her 'room' and starts to throw things. Tyler hears
it and runs in there, "Val...what the hell do you think your doing?"
"Trying to get you to understand. I'm trying to tell you things and you just
walk away..like you don't love me...why would you leave someone you
love...my parents left me, I thought they loved me...same with Brooke
and..."
Once again he cut her off, by now she was crying, again, "Look Val..." He
sat down on the bed after her and put his arm around her, "...I didn't mean
anything by it...you're just acting weird and were scaring me with all that
stuff you were doing...all of it, trying to kill your self trying to...well
you know.....I do love you, I love you alot and I don't think I need to have
sex just to prove that....and your parents do love, so does Broooke but
things happen and..."
"Thanks Tyler...I love you too...thanks for stoping me and all and taking me
in and taking care of me and everything..I really appreate it."
"That's okay Val, what are boyfriends for?"
***
Tyler listened to Val in the shower, he head singing and humming, he stood out side the hallway. "Mind if I come in?" He yelled into the door so she could hear him.
"No... just, like don't look inside the curtain!" He heard her yell back. You couldn't see inside of the shower while you were in the bathroom if the curtain was shut.
"Thanks. I just need my toothbrush. I'll use the bathroom downstairs to do it though." Val heard him walk in. He could tell she was washing her hair because he could smell the shampoo. It smelt like a mixture of lilac and... watermellons? Yeah, the way she always smelt. "Could you open the window? It's really hot in here. Oh, and hand me my towel?" He heard the water go off.
He reached over to the towel rack and threw a towel over the shower curtain to it landed right on Val, and he heard her gasp. "You could've told me you were throwing it over!" She said. "Now it's all wet. Get me another one."
"There are no more. There all in the wash." Tyler said. Search everywhere for one.
"Then leave." She said, "I'll get out when your gone and just get dressed. He rolled his eyes, he said he was leaving, but only went in the closet. He couldn't see out, so there wasn't any harm. He heard her say a small 'OW' and let out a giggle, knowing she probably hit her toe on the sink, like he always did. She screeched, knowing he was still in there. "Get the hell out of here!" She yelled, knowing he was in the closet.
"Do you really want me to come out of here and see you... naked?" He asked, he knew he was in a dilema. "Look, I won't look. Get back into the shower, shut the curtain, and I'll leave." He said, seriously, his voice sort of muffled from the closet. He heard her get back into the shower, he reached for his toothbrush, and left.
She thought twice about coming back out because he might've still been in there, but she didn't care. She got out of the shower, out of the door, and ran to her room, naked, to get a towel. Luckily... Tyler was downstairs!
She got dressed and was about to go down stairs when her phone in her
bedroom rang. She answered it, duh, "Hello?"
"I know who you are Val, I'm watching you - everywhere you go. At the
movies, at work... even at school, Val... and when your alone.... well I won't
ruin the surprise..." The voice on the phone said, Val recongized the voice,
but didn't know who it belonged to.
She screamed and the phone droped to the floor. Tyler heard her scream and
something drop and ran up the stairs. He ran into the last stair and fell.
After catching his breathe stood up again and ran the rest of the way to
Val's room.
He opened the door and saw Val sitting on her bed, knees to chest and
crying. He went over to her and put his arm around her and said, "Val if
your crying because I kinda took your cloths i'm sorry, it was just a joke."
Val made no response. Finally she said, "That's not it...."
"Then what is it?"
"Phone..." She got out, he looked over at the phone, which was hanging off the night stand.
"It's just a phone." He said, "what happened?"
She thought twice about telling him but decided she should because he's the only one she could turn to to ALWAYS be there. "A voice, I know the voice. It was a man. He said that he's always watching me... and when I'm alone..."
"What did he say, Val? What did he say about when you were alone." He struggled to get the words from her.
"He stopped... he said he didn't want to ruin the surprise." She said, crying harder, and thinking harder about who this was.
"Come on." He said. "My mom and Will are at my grandmas, cooking for her." Val felt uncomfortable. They were now walking down the stairs.
"Watch what you say, Tyler, okay? He said he's always watching."
"Val, when things like this happen - it's usually just some 14 year old kid playing a joke."
"No, this was real. I know this voice!" She yelled. He turned to her and took a deep breath.
"Are you sure?" He said, quietly, finally thinking this could be serious.
"Yes, Tyler." With that, the phone rang once again, and they looked at eachother, Tyler got it.
"Hello?"
"This is no joke, I AM watching you both!" The voice grew quiet.
"Why are you doing this to us?" Tyler asked, concerned.
"I just want SWEET revenge..." The voice was disguised, you could tell he was making it sounds different. Soon the dial tone came on and he hung up.
They walked outside hand in hand. They were about to get into his car when
the mailman came up. She gave him the letters, "Bill, bill, William's, bill, bill, Val?"
He handed her a letter that just said, "VAL" on the front of it. No address
or anything.
Val put it in her pocket and says she'll open it later. They get to Tyler's
grandma's and see William out side cooking. They walked up to William and
William could see something was wrong with Val, having a look on her face.
He says, "Hey Val, is everything ok?"
Coming back into the world (hehe) she says, "What...did you say..."
"Are you ok, you look like you just seen a ghost."
"I'm fine."
She goes inside the house to sit down. Tyler goes to follow her but William
stops him, "What's going on with her?"
"Um...we'll tell you later...if we can.."
"She's not..."
"No nothing like that...something else..." Tyler said, confused.
***
"Mrs. Connell?" Val said, walking up to Tyler's grandmothers patio and saw his mother sitting on a chair.
"Yes, honey?"
"I got a phone call. Thye said they're always watching me and Tyler and when I'm alone he's going to give me a surprise... then, today, we got this." She pulled out a letter. "I'm afraid to open it." His mother smiled.
"I'm sure it's just a prank, I got them when I was growing up to."
"You did?"
"Yeah, it turned out to be a classmate of mine. He was a jerk. Why don't you go over and open it with Tyler?"
Val went over to Tyler which was sitting on the step, over alone. He put his arm around her and she held the letter in front of the so they could both see it.
Dear Val, seen you around. I know you, and you know me. They think Brookie killed herself, they're wrong. You're next, Val. Just breathe a word to this to the police... you're dead, just like Brooke, Val. You hear me? I want.. REVENGE my revenge. Yeah, I'm watching you now, watch your back... - JFDA23
"JFDA23?" Val asked quietly. Tyler looked at her.
"You want to go to the police?"
"Can we leave Tyler? I need to get away from everything. Can we take a drive?" She asked, ignoring his question.
"Yeah, come on." He said, taking her hand.
They got into the car and started to drive. "Val, where do u wanna go?"
"Just drive someone where, I don't care."
"Ok."
He drove in silence. About an half hour later he looked over at Val and saw
that she was asleep. Just than his cellphone rang, "Hello?"
"I'm not kinding, you go to the police, your girlfriend is dead, than i'll
get you. You better watch your backs, I know where your at and where you are
going. Don't leave her alone or it's pay back time."
And with that he hung up. Tyler hung up and contiued driving. He went back
to his grandma's where he knew his mom and Will would be there.
He parked the car and William came over and said, "Where did you guys go."
"Shh she's sleeping, we just went for a ride."
Tyler picked Val up and took her inside his grandma's and layed her down on
the couch. The letter fell out of her pocket on the way in. Tyler's mom
picked it up and read it than showed it to William, "I don't know about this
anymore."
Tyler, his mom, William, and his grandma all went into the kitchen to talk.
A couple minutes later they all heard Val scream.
His grandma, of course, was pretty old, 79, but she still had some YOUNG in her! She could walk without any walkers, or canes, and she's been around through lots of important history.
"I'm alright - I'm alright." Val chanted as she sat on the edge of the couch. "Tyler!" She screamed. This wasn't a nightmare. This was serious. "He was on the ledge, Tyler." Tyler came to her side and calmed her down. "I saw him through the window! A man! He had a black mask on. He smiled evilly - it was a terrible smile! He had no teeth... and, he was part way bald. This is no prank, Tyler." She broke down, "This... this is real!"
"What did he do, Val?" Tyler asked, quietly. He put his arms around her and hugged her. She held him so tight, she felt comfortable in his arms.
"Nothing. When I screamed he - ran." She said. Tyler stood up and looked out of the window.
"There's no sign of him." Tyler said, looking in every direction.
The three adults had left the room to call the police to file a look out for this man. "Val, I-" She cut him off.
"Tyler, why could he be doing this?! I don't deserve this! I've gone through enough." She looked up at him, her face pale with fear.
"The police are on a lookout." William came into the room, he walked out just as unnoticable as he came.
Val stood up and hugged Tyler. "I'm so scared, Tyler." She cried into his shoulder.
"I know, Val. I know..." He said.
Tyler took her and they sat back down on the couch, Val still crying in his
chest and arms around him, and his around her. After awhile the police
finally came to get information. At first they wanted to talk to Val alone
but she wouldn't let Tyler go. So after 10 minutes they said Tyler could
stay.
They asked her all shorts of questions, such as, "What did he look
like....you have any idea who he is....did he send you any thrething notes
or anything....has he called...."
She didn't answer them right away but from ansureing look from Tyler she
did. She said how he said that he was watching them every where they go and
when i'm alone he'll get me. The police man said, "Than always be with
someone. we will send out police men to watch over you, go around the house,
school and the station. Just contiue on with work and school and hopefully
everything will go back to normal. Call us if he calls again."
And with that he left. They had school the next day so Tyler got up to take
a shower. As soon as he got up Val got up and clug on his arm, "Tyler, where
are you going?"
"I was just going to take a shower.."
"Yeah but than what if he..."
"Tell you what, why don't you go in too and just sit down out side of the
curtain, of course and when I'm done I'll do the same so you can take one.
Than we can eat."
"Fine.." she finally got out.
So they went up and Val was waiting for Tyler to get done and asked him, "Do
you think this is for real?"
Tyler thought for a couple of minutes and replied, "I don't know, we just
have to waite and find out."
After Tyler was done, he had dressed in the shower, sure it took him like 15
minutes to do so but Val was out there, Val got in and did the same. About 1
hour after Tyler had gone in they were both done and squeaky clean. They
headed down stairs hand-n-hand, William came in the door and they all sat
down to eat. No one said a word, not knowing what to say, Val wasn't really
eating anything, a bite here and there, same with Tyler, but his mom and
Will were eating. About half way though the phone rang. They all looked at
each other, finally at the 6 ring William got up and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Um..hi this is Val's best friend, Caitie, I was wounding if I could talk to
her, unless of course this is a bad time and her and Tyler are just looking
into eachothers eyes and..."
William had to cut her off, he didn't want to hear that story, he had
witness it enough, "Yeah hang on let me get her...." He walked 10 feet back
to the kitchen, "...Val it's Caitie, please talk to her before she tells me
that whole story again."
Val got up and took the phone, "Hello?"
"Val I heard what has been going on, i'm really sorry, is there anything I
can do?"
"No I don't think so, Tyler can handle it i'm sure.."
"So your going to school tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
After a couple more minutes of pointless conversation they hung up. Just as
Val walked into the kitchen again the phone rang. Val decided to get it
thinking that it was Caitie again, "Hello? Caitie I told you i'll see you
tomorrow and...."
"This is not Caitie, I know you went to the cops, member i'm watching you
everywhere you go, and now your going to pay..."
Val screamed and droped the phone. The guy on the phone hung up.
"What, Val?" Tyler asked, so concerned that his forehead formed a line in the center.
"I knew it, Tyler... I told you.." She couldn't control the fear rushing throughout her body. She was beginning to feel lightheaded from trying to talk to hard when she could barely breathe from crying. She touched her head and looked at Tyler. "He saw us at the police station..." Tyler's face grew angry.
"This is getting way out of hand, Val." He said. "You're to upset. I can't stand to see you like this." William put the phone back onto the cradle.
"I'm sorry..." She said, quietly. She closed her eyes tightly, thinking maybe it would make her headache lighten. She collapsed against Tylers shoulder, breaking his thoughts and he jumped to catch her.
"OH MY GOD!" He said, the fall surprising him, after he relaxed for a moment, he slid his hands under her knees and back and carried her to the couch. She was totally blacked out.
***
The blurriness filled Val's eyes. All she could see was the shape of Tyler's face. She knew what had happened, but took a while to take it all in, about what happened.
She realized where she was. Tyler's bed. She sat up quickly, things started coming into focus now. Was this all a dream? She looked on the night stand. Sure enough, the letter she had recieved was still sitting there.
"Ugh." She let out a sharp moan, as she experianced the sharp pain in her head. "Tyler..."
"Your awake." He smiled.
"I don't know what happened, just, my head hurt... and I couldn't hold on any longer."
"Yeah... you'll be fine." He said.
"But... the phone. He said I'm going to pay got going to the police." Tyler sighed.
"Don't worry. The guards are outside." He said. She smiled and sighed.
"I've never been this..." She paused and swallowed, "scared."
"I know..." He took her in his arms and let her rest there.
She fell asleep and so did Tyler after awhile. Tyler woke up when the alarm
clock went off. He looked over at Val and seen her sleeping there next to
him. He shook her lightly to wake her. She woke up and seen him and lightly
kissed him on his check, "Val, what was that for?"
"For everything, giving me a home, caring bout me, stuff like that."
"I'll always love you, no matter what and I'll always be with you."
They got up and got dressed and went down stairs to eat. After a short
breakfast they headed off to school. They went to Tyler's locker first than
to Val's where Caitie was waiting. As soon as she seen her she ran up to her
and hugged her, "Oh my god, Val are you ok?"
"Yeah I'm fine, how are you?"
"Fine."
They talked for a couple of minutes and Val started to get her books out
from her locker and out fell a note she picked it up and started to read it
not even thinking.
Dear Valerie,
I know you have 4th hour gym by yourself, no friends, watch out. I will get
you if it kills me, but you'll be dead first...
JFDA23
**Next Chapter COMING!**
Val kept quiet for a little bit and there was a knock at the door, startling the two. It was a police officer. "Hello, Mr. Connell?"
"Yes. That's me." Tyler asked concerned.
"We understand you are taking in Val Lanier? We understand that your parents are taking full guardian of Ms. Lanier."
"Yes." Tyler leaned against the door.
"Thank you. We'll call for further notice." The officer said, sternly. He smelt bad and looked old.
"Tyler!" Val screamed from upstairs. "I remember! I thought and I remembered more!"
"Brooke had blonde hair! And... she played the piano! I remember a BIG house... but selling it! Then I remember being at the scene when my dad had his heart attack..." Her voice trailed off, and became a slight whisper, her eyes streaming with happy tears. "I feel like somethings missing! I need more time, to think." By now, Tyler's eyes were lit up with delight.
"That's great, Val!" You got your memory... part of you memory," he corrcted, "back. The doctor said it takes its own course, wow you're fast."
She was smiling so wide it must've been a mile long. He sat down on the bed next to her. "You wanna go see Caitie and Jamie and see if ya can remember anything about them?"
"Yeah, let me get dressed." She said, she reached for jeans, he just sat there.
"I won't look." He smiled, his eyes pleading to stay. She rolled her eyes and slipped the jeans on as he carefully covered his eyes. When he opened them she was in jeans and a blue tank top and overcoat.
"BEAUTIFUL." He smiled.
"Thank you, right back at ya." And she winked at him.
Tyler got up and kissed her. They headed over to Jamie's knowing that they
both would be there. Val knocked on the door and a minute later was answered
by Jamie and Caitie a second later chasing him. They invited them in and sat
down on the couch. Val just bluted out, "Caitie member that time when we
fought over Keth Farber in the second (?) grade and Jamie how you gave that
dog month-to-month?"
Caitie got up and huged Val, "You got your memory back..."
They huged and Jamie and Val did (eww hehe) and just than the micowave beep,
signing that the popcorn was ready. Jamie invited Val and Tyler to watch a
movie with him and Caitie.
After the movie Val noticed that Jamie and Caitie were sleeping and so was
Tyler. She got up and kissed Tyler, "What do you want? Oh Val..."
"Hey Tyler..Can we go now, the movie is over and they are sleeping."
"Yeah sure lets go."
They left and got back to Tyler's and he opens the door. He goes over to the
machine and pushes the button, "You got one new message.... Honey it's me,
mom, me and William both have to work late than we are going out for dinner
and a movie, if you need us just call my cell phone."
Tyler looked over at Val and says, "Looks like we got the whole house to our
selves."
Val takes his hand and heads up the stairs.
"Val?" He whispered over and over again while they walked up the stairs, "We can't do this, Val..."
She only hushed him up and put her finger over his mouth. "Shh..." Tyler rolled his eyes and continued up the steps. They reached his room and shut the door.
"No, Val." He stood up away from her. "No.." His voice lightened and his face was sad. Should he? Connell, don't do this, you're only in high school, the voice said upon his mind. He took a deep breath. "What if... my parents come home."
"They said they won't be home for awhile." She sat on the bed on her knees and looked at him. "Besides," She slung her arms around his neck, "They never come into your room, anyways."
"You never acted like this before, Val." He backed away and went to the doorway, "We're to young." He shook his head as if thinking, 'I can't believe you'.
He walks out the door. A couple minutes later Val went to find him. She
found him outside sitting by a tree, "Tyler? I'm really really sorry..."
Tyler cut her off, "Val that's not you, what got into you?"
"I don't know, Tyler..." She whispered, "You don't understand... YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND! Living... without family."
"No... Val what you did up there... that wasn't out of depression.. that was
just.. I don't even know how to explain it, Val." With that he walked back
into the house.
Val goes back in and to her 'room' and starts to throw things. Tyler hears
it and runs in there, "Val...what the hell do you think your doing?"
"Trying to get you to understand. I'm trying to tell you things and you just
walk away..like you don't love me...why would you leave someone you
love...my parents left me, I thought they loved me...same with Brooke
and..."
Once again he cut her off, by now she was crying, again, "Look Val..." He
sat down on the bed after her and put his arm around her, "...I didn't mean
anything by it...you're just acting weird and were scaring me with all that
stuff you were doing...all of it, trying to kill your self trying to...well
you know.....I do love you, I love you alot and I don't think I need to have
sex just to prove that....and your parents do love, so does Broooke but
things happen and..."
"Thanks Tyler...I love you too...thanks for stoping me and all and taking me
in and taking care of me and everything..I really appreate it."
"That's okay Val, what are boyfriends for?"
***
Tyler listened to Val in the shower, he head singing and humming, he stood out side the hallway. "Mind if I come in?" He yelled into the door so she could hear him.
"No... just, like don't look inside the curtain!" He heard her yell back. You couldn't see inside of the shower while you were in the bathroom if the curtain was shut.
"Thanks. I just need my toothbrush. I'll use the bathroom downstairs to do it though." Val heard him walk in. He could tell she was washing her hair because he could smell the shampoo. It smelt like a mixture of lilac and... watermellons? Yeah, the way she always smelt. "Could you open the window? It's really hot in here. Oh, and hand me my towel?" He heard the water go off.
He reached over to the towel rack and threw a towel over the shower curtain to it landed right on Val, and he heard her gasp. "You could've told me you were throwing it over!" She said. "Now it's all wet. Get me another one."
"There are no more. There all in the wash." Tyler said. Search everywhere for one.
"Then leave." She said, "I'll get out when your gone and just get dressed. He rolled his eyes, he said he was leaving, but only went in the closet. He couldn't see out, so there wasn't any harm. He heard her say a small 'OW' and let out a giggle, knowing she probably hit her toe on the sink, like he always did. She screeched, knowing he was still in there. "Get the hell out of here!" She yelled, knowing he was in the closet.
"Do you really want me to come out of here and see you... naked?" He asked, he knew he was in a dilema. "Look, I won't look. Get back into the shower, shut the curtain, and I'll leave." He said, seriously, his voice sort of muffled from the closet. He heard her get back into the shower, he reached for his toothbrush, and left.
She thought twice about coming back out because he might've still been in there, but she didn't care. She got out of the shower, out of the door, and ran to her room, naked, to get a towel. Luckily... Tyler was downstairs!
She got dressed and was about to go down stairs when her phone in her
bedroom rang. She answered it, duh, "Hello?"
"I know who you are Val, I'm watching you - everywhere you go. At the
movies, at work... even at school, Val... and when your alone.... well I won't
ruin the surprise..." The voice on the phone said, Val recongized the voice,
but didn't know who it belonged to.
She screamed and the phone droped to the floor. Tyler heard her scream and
something drop and ran up the stairs. He ran into the last stair and fell.
After catching his breathe stood up again and ran the rest of the way to
Val's room.
He opened the door and saw Val sitting on her bed, knees to chest and
crying. He went over to her and put his arm around her and said, "Val if
your crying because I kinda took your cloths i'm sorry, it was just a joke."
Val made no response. Finally she said, "That's not it...."
"Then what is it?"
"Phone..." She got out, he looked over at the phone, which was hanging off the night stand.
"It's just a phone." He said, "what happened?"
She thought twice about telling him but decided she should because he's the only one she could turn to to ALWAYS be there. "A voice, I know the voice. It was a man. He said that he's always watching me... and when I'm alone..."
"What did he say, Val? What did he say about when you were alone." He struggled to get the words from her.
"He stopped... he said he didn't want to ruin the surprise." She said, crying harder, and thinking harder about who this was.
"Come on." He said. "My mom and Will are at my grandmas, cooking for her." Val felt uncomfortable. They were now walking down the stairs.
"Watch what you say, Tyler, okay? He said he's always watching."
"Val, when things like this happen - it's usually just some 14 year old kid playing a joke."
"No, this was real. I know this voice!" She yelled. He turned to her and took a deep breath.
"Are you sure?" He said, quietly, finally thinking this could be serious.
"Yes, Tyler." With that, the phone rang once again, and they looked at eachother, Tyler got it.
"Hello?"
"This is no joke, I AM watching you both!" The voice grew quiet.
"Why are you doing this to us?" Tyler asked, concerned.
"I just want SWEET revenge..." The voice was disguised, you could tell he was making it sounds different. Soon the dial tone came on and he hung up.
They walked outside hand in hand. They were about to get into his car when
the mailman came up. She gave him the letters, "Bill, bill, William's, bill, bill, Val?"
He handed her a letter that just said, "VAL" on the front of it. No address
or anything.
Val put it in her pocket and says she'll open it later. They get to Tyler's
grandma's and see William out side cooking. They walked up to William and
William could see something was wrong with Val, having a look on her face.
He says, "Hey Val, is everything ok?"
Coming back into the world (hehe) she says, "What...did you say..."
"Are you ok, you look like you just seen a ghost."
"I'm fine."
She goes inside the house to sit down. Tyler goes to follow her but William
stops him, "What's going on with her?"
"Um...we'll tell you later...if we can.."
"She's not..."
"No nothing like that...something else..." Tyler said, confused.
***
"Mrs. Connell?" Val said, walking up to Tyler's grandmothers patio and saw his mother sitting on a chair.
"Yes, honey?"
"I got a phone call. Thye said they're always watching me and Tyler and when I'm alone he's going to give me a surprise... then, today, we got this." She pulled out a letter. "I'm afraid to open it." His mother smiled.
"I'm sure it's just a prank, I got them when I was growing up to."
"You did?"
"Yeah, it turned out to be a classmate of mine. He was a jerk. Why don't you go over and open it with Tyler?"
Val went over to Tyler which was sitting on the step, over alone. He put his arm around her and she held the letter in front of the so they could both see it.
Dear Val, seen you around. I know you, and you know me. They think Brookie killed herself, they're wrong. You're next, Val. Just breathe a word to this to the police... you're dead, just like Brooke, Val. You hear me? I want.. REVENGE my revenge. Yeah, I'm watching you now, watch your back... - JFDA23
"JFDA23?" Val asked quietly. Tyler looked at her.
"You want to go to the police?"
"Can we leave Tyler? I need to get away from everything. Can we take a drive?" She asked, ignoring his question.
"Yeah, come on." He said, taking her hand.
They got into the car and started to drive. "Val, where do u wanna go?"
"Just drive someone where, I don't care."
"Ok."
He drove in silence. About an half hour later he looked over at Val and saw
that she was asleep. Just than his cellphone rang, "Hello?"
"I'm not kinding, you go to the police, your girlfriend is dead, than i'll
get you. You better watch your backs, I know where your at and where you are
going. Don't leave her alone or it's pay back time."
And with that he hung up. Tyler hung up and contiued driving. He went back
to his grandma's where he knew his mom and Will would be there.
He parked the car and William came over and said, "Where did you guys go."
"Shh she's sleeping, we just went for a ride."
Tyler picked Val up and took her inside his grandma's and layed her down on
the couch. The letter fell out of her pocket on the way in. Tyler's mom
picked it up and read it than showed it to William, "I don't know about this
anymore."
Tyler, his mom, William, and his grandma all went into the kitchen to talk.
A couple minutes later they all heard Val scream.
His grandma, of course, was pretty old, 79, but she still had some YOUNG in her! She could walk without any walkers, or canes, and she's been around through lots of important history.
"I'm alright - I'm alright." Val chanted as she sat on the edge of the couch. "Tyler!" She screamed. This wasn't a nightmare. This was serious. "He was on the ledge, Tyler." Tyler came to her side and calmed her down. "I saw him through the window! A man! He had a black mask on. He smiled evilly - it was a terrible smile! He had no teeth... and, he was part way bald. This is no prank, Tyler." She broke down, "This... this is real!"
"What did he do, Val?" Tyler asked, quietly. He put his arms around her and hugged her. She held him so tight, she felt comfortable in his arms.
"Nothing. When I screamed he - ran." She said. Tyler stood up and looked out of the window.
"There's no sign of him." Tyler said, looking in every direction.
The three adults had left the room to call the police to file a look out for this man. "Val, I-" She cut him off.
"Tyler, why could he be doing this?! I don't deserve this! I've gone through enough." She looked up at him, her face pale with fear.
"The police are on a lookout." William came into the room, he walked out just as unnoticable as he came.
Val stood up and hugged Tyler. "I'm so scared, Tyler." She cried into his shoulder.
"I know, Val. I know..." He said.
Tyler took her and they sat back down on the couch, Val still crying in his
chest and arms around him, and his around her. After awhile the police
finally came to get information. At first they wanted to talk to Val alone
but she wouldn't let Tyler go. So after 10 minutes they said Tyler could
stay.
They asked her all shorts of questions, such as, "What did he look
like....you have any idea who he is....did he send you any thrething notes
or anything....has he called...."
She didn't answer them right away but from ansureing look from Tyler she
did. She said how he said that he was watching them every where they go and
when i'm alone he'll get me. The police man said, "Than always be with
someone. we will send out police men to watch over you, go around the house,
school and the station. Just contiue on with work and school and hopefully
everything will go back to normal. Call us if he calls again."
And with that he left. They had school the next day so Tyler got up to take
a shower. As soon as he got up Val got up and clug on his arm, "Tyler, where
are you going?"
"I was just going to take a shower.."
"Yeah but than what if he..."
"Tell you what, why don't you go in too and just sit down out side of the
curtain, of course and when I'm done I'll do the same so you can take one.
Than we can eat."
"Fine.." she finally got out.
So they went up and Val was waiting for Tyler to get done and asked him, "Do
you think this is for real?"
Tyler thought for a couple of minutes and replied, "I don't know, we just
have to waite and find out."
After Tyler was done, he had dressed in the shower, sure it took him like 15
minutes to do so but Val was out there, Val got in and did the same. About 1
hour after Tyler had gone in they were both done and squeaky clean. They
headed down stairs hand-n-hand, William came in the door and they all sat
down to eat. No one said a word, not knowing what to say, Val wasn't really
eating anything, a bite here and there, same with Tyler, but his mom and
Will were eating. About half way though the phone rang. They all looked at
each other, finally at the 6 ring William got up and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Um..hi this is Val's best friend, Caitie, I was wounding if I could talk to
her, unless of course this is a bad time and her and Tyler are just looking
into eachothers eyes and..."
William had to cut her off, he didn't want to hear that story, he had
witness it enough, "Yeah hang on let me get her...." He walked 10 feet back
to the kitchen, "...Val it's Caitie, please talk to her before she tells me
that whole story again."
Val got up and took the phone, "Hello?"
"Val I heard what has been going on, i'm really sorry, is there anything I
can do?"
"No I don't think so, Tyler can handle it i'm sure.."
"So your going to school tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
After a couple more minutes of pointless conversation they hung up. Just as
Val walked into the kitchen again the phone rang. Val decided to get it
thinking that it was Caitie again, "Hello? Caitie I told you i'll see you
tomorrow and...."
"This is not Caitie, I know you went to the cops, member i'm watching you
everywhere you go, and now your going to pay..."
Val screamed and droped the phone. The guy on the phone hung up.
"What, Val?" Tyler asked, so concerned that his forehead formed a line in the center.
"I knew it, Tyler... I told you.." She couldn't control the fear rushing throughout her body. She was beginning to feel lightheaded from trying to talk to hard when she could barely breathe from crying. She touched her head and looked at Tyler. "He saw us at the police station..." Tyler's face grew angry.
"This is getting way out of hand, Val." He said. "You're to upset. I can't stand to see you like this." William put the phone back onto the cradle.
"I'm sorry..." She said, quietly. She closed her eyes tightly, thinking maybe it would make her headache lighten. She collapsed against Tylers shoulder, breaking his thoughts and he jumped to catch her.
"OH MY GOD!" He said, the fall surprising him, after he relaxed for a moment, he slid his hands under her knees and back and carried her to the couch. She was totally blacked out.
***
The blurriness filled Val's eyes. All she could see was the shape of Tyler's face. She knew what had happened, but took a while to take it all in, about what happened.
She realized where she was. Tyler's bed. She sat up quickly, things started coming into focus now. Was this all a dream? She looked on the night stand. Sure enough, the letter she had recieved was still sitting there.
"Ugh." She let out a sharp moan, as she experianced the sharp pain in her head. "Tyler..."
"Your awake." He smiled.
"I don't know what happened, just, my head hurt... and I couldn't hold on any longer."
"Yeah... you'll be fine." He said.
"But... the phone. He said I'm going to pay got going to the police." Tyler sighed.
"Don't worry. The guards are outside." He said. She smiled and sighed.
"I've never been this..." She paused and swallowed, "scared."
"I know..." He took her in his arms and let her rest there.
She fell asleep and so did Tyler after awhile. Tyler woke up when the alarm
clock went off. He looked over at Val and seen her sleeping there next to
him. He shook her lightly to wake her. She woke up and seen him and lightly
kissed him on his check, "Val, what was that for?"
"For everything, giving me a home, caring bout me, stuff like that."
"I'll always love you, no matter what and I'll always be with you."
They got up and got dressed and went down stairs to eat. After a short
breakfast they headed off to school. They went to Tyler's locker first than
to Val's where Caitie was waiting. As soon as she seen her she ran up to her
and hugged her, "Oh my god, Val are you ok?"
"Yeah I'm fine, how are you?"
"Fine."
They talked for a couple of minutes and Val started to get her books out
from her locker and out fell a note she picked it up and started to read it
not even thinking.
Dear Valerie,
I know you have 4th hour gym by yourself, no friends, watch out. I will get
you if it kills me, but you'll be dead first...
JFDA23
**Next Chapter COMING!**