Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with any of the cast members of In A Heartbeat, nor do I have anything to do with the producer or anybody related to the show.

Tyler: She's Really Sick

            Val wasn't in English or Math….Or Science for that matter. At first, I thought she just faked it so that she could get away from seeing me or maybe she just woke up late but then I realized that it was ridiculous that she would stay at home just to avoid me. In Math, which was right after lunch, I heard Hank tell Mrs. Anderson that Val was sick and that he talked to her at lunch and she wanted her work.

            So that afternoon, after I told Casey I'd call her, which I always do by the way, I headed for the station myself since there was no one to go with. Hank had forgiven me but he had to go home to tell his dad something before he went to the station. Jamie still hadn't spoken to me at all the entire day. When I got to the station, Hank and Jamie were just arriving. Hank greeted me with a wave and our handshake, but Jamie gave me a cold stare.

            "Hey, guys." Alex greeted us at the door.

            "Hi." We chorused. It was kind of weird because Alex never greets us anywhere. We know what to do. I guess Hank and Jamie noticed too because they both gave Alex a weird look.

            "Look, don't be too loud," Alex warned, "Val came down here and she's still not feeling too well. She's in a bunk and I think she's sleeping. I'm not sure."

My jaw must of dropped a foot open. Val was sick. Why was she here? She wasn't supposed to be. It was bad for her and being an upcoming doctor as soon as she finished high school and all that stuff, she was supposed to know that. I sighed and sat at a table. Hank sat down next to me. The guys on the team had just told Hank about what they were doing and Hank realized that I was telling the truth the day before.

            "Oh my god, I can't believe it." Hank kept saying over and over. Jamie gave him weird looks because he still didn't know.

            "Well, I gotta go give Val her homework." Hank said finally getting up.

            "No, I'll go give it to her."  I offered quickly. He knew he had to say something so that Val wouldn't be mad at me anymore. It was just that no matter what, the truth would remain that Mike was still just using her. I sighed. Either way, Val would be mad at me, but I knew that maybe if I made things better with her now, I could be there as a friend to her and pick up the broken pieces. I swallowed and picked up the mass of textbooks on the table. Jamie glared at me and before I left, Jamie caught my arm, "Do anything to her and you're dead, man." I just nodded, not forming any words.

            I knocked lightly on the door and I heard a rustle of sheets so I opened the door slowly. When I walked in, there sat Val, sitting against the wall of the bunk. I smiled nervously at her, "H-hey." She didn't show any signs of anger, "Hey."

            "So, I uh, I heard you were sick."

She rolled her eyes, "You think?"

            "Um, so, how…how are you feeling now?"

            "Pretty bad, but a little better than this morning. Thanks." She looked away from me. There was a little silence. I didn't know what to say so I just took a deep breath, "Ok. Here's the thing. I'm really sorry about the whole Mike thing." And I was. I was sorry that he was being so mean to her and I was sorry that I got her mad at me about him and I was especially sorry that I couldn't do anything to stop them from doing it.   

            But Val looked surprised, "Really?"

            "Look, Val, would I be in here if I wasn't sorry? I'm sorry I even tried to stop it. Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm just being weird about it. I'm happy for you, just like you were happy for me. I'm just…sorry." Val was quiet for awhile and I really got scared. What was she thinking??? Did she forgive you? Maybe? No? Yes? Please yes…PLEASE yes. She just looked up at me. I said, "Now…would be a good time to say something?"

Val smiled a little, "Ok, well I'm not sure what to believe. I know you're sorry. I can tell…But I'm not sure if I can forgive you, Tyler. I mean, it's like you don't trust me to make the right decisions to go out with guys. It's like you're the over-protective father."

Whoa…I definitely didn't want to be THAT….

            "I know, I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You were right." But of course, she wasn't right. I didn't care if I got kicked out of the stupid secret club or whatever the hell it was…I wanted to make sure that Val was ok…especially after the dance. Val smiled, "Ok, ok. I believe you. You're forgiven."

            "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I hugged her hard. She gasped. I forgot that she was sick for a minute. I stepped back and blushed, "Sorry. I forgot." She just nodded, smiling. I suddenly remembered the other reason why I went in there, "Oh yeah, here's your homework."

Val looked at me amusedly and laughed but then started coughing a lot. I ran and grabbed a water bottle from the table and handed it to her. She smiled at me, "Thanks."

Hank and Jamie came in curiously and we all did our homework together. Everything was going to be okay…I hoped…

*Note* Okay, I'm sorry it took me FOREVER to update. I've been really busy with SADD and school and swim team and stuff…SOOO I finally updated!! But, I know it's short. Sorry! I promise I'll try to make the next chapter longer!! Love ya!! ~crazy4nc128