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.

*This part uses some language, as will most of the other chapters from here on, since it deals with anger and being upset, as you probably guessed.*

Tyler: Don't Ever Blame Yourself…

            Mandy and Casey came running out of the bathroom screaming, "OH MY GOD!!! OH MY GOD!!!" Mike, who felt awful by this time, looked up startled, "What happened?"

            "OH MY GOD!!!!" Mandy screamed.

            "HANK, JAIME, TYLOR!!!!! VAL JUST FAINTED!!!!" Casey finished for her, shrieking as well.

            "WHAT?!" Tyler jumped up from his sitting position on the chairs. Since they weren't allowed to take patients of the same rescue squad if the emergency ever came up, Jaime beeped over to Alex right away.

            "Don't move her. Girls, calm down," Hank tried to calm the cheerleading squad. Tyler got the girls together and told them to stay outside in the gym. Caitie stayed with Val in the bathroom.

            "You jerks!" Mandy yelled at all the football players, whose faces were all twisted in shock.

            "We…we didn't think…" Brad, one of the linebackers stuttered in complete and utter daze.

Kerri, another girl on the squad interrupted, "That's just the problem. You don't think. You guys only have the looks. Not the brains, talent or charm all football players claim to have. I can't believe you did this. JERKS!!" She screamed the last part. Casey turned to me, "Did you know about this?" I gulped. I had known this moment was coming soon. I couldn't lie to her, but I couldn't tell her the truth. What the hell was I supposed to do? Squeezing my eyes shut, I opened my mouth. But before I could respond, Casey interrupted,

            "You knew didn't you? You knew and you let it happen? You knew it was going to happen and you knew that she was sick and you knew all this stuff. And yet, you failed to tell her?"

            "I…Casey, I tried to tell her, I really did."

            "Then why this?"          

            "She didn't listen to me. She just said that I wasn't happy for her."

            "Yeah, okay…But why didn't you even warn her or do SOMETHING? Like…Tell me? I would have told her and said that I heard you guys talking. I really would have. She would have believed me. She really would have. But you told me nothing was going on when I asked you. Tyler…I'm so disappointed in you." She walked to the other side of the gym. What was I going to do? Before I could finish that thought, the paramedics came rushing in and into the girl's bathroom. Hank, Jaime and I waited outside of the door eagerly, hoping that Val was okay.

            After several long moments, the paramedics finally came out and had Val in a stretcher. Mike was there too and his eyes widened when he saw her face. She was very pale and still covered in sticky pink goo. And even though she was far from being clean, Val was still so pretty. Hank and I exchanged a look and Jaime went to comfort Caitie. One of the teacher advisors told everyone to go home. And being in such a state of shock, everyone obliged and went home.  However, Hank, Jaime, Caitie and I went straight to the hospital.

            "So, what did they say?" Hank asked me. I had just gotten off of the phone with Mrs. Lanier, who had been panicking more than the four of us combined.

            "She's worried, but Brooke's calming her down. They're coming right over," I said, sitting down again. We had been sitting in the hospital waiting room for about an hour already. Finally, after about another hour of the Laniers arriving, worried and panicky, the doctor came out. Everyone jumped out of their seats, "How is she?" they all asked at once.

            "She'll live. It's nothing serious; although I am very glad you brought her here. She has a serious case of chronic bronchitis, but it shouldn't be anything fatal." My eyes probably went wide, "But…can we still see her?"

            "Of course. She's sleeping though. You'll have to be careful. Go right down to recovery in room 276. Please, though, one person at a time."

They all nodded and walked down to room 276.

            "Okay, Mrs. Lanier, you go in first." Hank said, quietly leaning against the wall, opposite her room. Once Mrs. Lanier had gone, Mr. Lanier went in, then Brooke, then Caitie. Hank went in after that and Jaime after that.  I was last. Jaime came out of her room, closing the door behind him. I proceded towards the door and as Jaime passed by me, he whispered in my ear, "Talk to her, I think she can hear you."

            I was confused. What was he talking about? If she was asleep, how would she be able to hear me? I shrugged and stepped into her room. I approached Val's bed and sat in the chair next to the bed. She didn't look as bad as I thought she'd look; just pale and a little sickly, but not that much. She was still beautiful, as always and she looked like an angel. But, for some reason, I never had feelings for her. I mean, I thought I did. I thought that I was in love with her, but when I met Casey, I felt this whole new sensation for Casey that I had never felt for Val. I realized then that what I felt for Val was love, yes, but love like a brother loves his sister. She was like a sister to me, a best friend for life, someone to turn to. And I really hoped she felt the same way about me.

            I took her hand, "Hey, girl. You sure gave us a scare. You should have seen the look on the girls' faces when you fainted. They were all so worried about you and they were yelling at the guys and everything. Casey was even yelling at me. I'm so sorry it had to turn out this way, Val. I mean, you're such a nice girl and you definitely didn't deserve this. I don't know what Mike was thinking. He should have broke the date or told you about it or something…I mean, if he really liked you. I'm sorry I didn't warn you about it. I just didn't want to ruin your happiness with him. You seemed really down in the dumps before you met him…and I want you to know that even though I love Casey with all my heart, I love you too. You're like my baby sister, like my best friend in the whole wide world…like my savior from evil, as corny as that sounds. And I'm just really sorry this had to happen…" I wasn't even looking at her as I rambled. I just sat there, holding her hand and looking at the floor, in total shame of myself. I didn't even realize that she was awake until she said,

            "Tyler…don't blame yourself…don't ever blame yourself for this…"

*sorry it takes soooo long for me to update this!! Tell me what you think!*

Luv alwayz,

Crazy4nc128

P.S. Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys (my ALL TIME fave band) and his wife Leighanne had a baby!! OMG I'm SOOO HAPPY FOR THEM!!!

Bayley Thomas Wylee Littrell

November 26, 2002

YAY!!!!