Val: What Is My Problem?

Disclaimer: No I don't own any of these characters

I'm soooo sorry I haven't added for such a long time. Is anyone still reading this story? Does anyone still remember what this story is? Hmm…well, I hope you all do. Here's the next chapter.

            Hearing Tyler say those words to me meant so much to me. I knew that cared about me and that was why he tried to warn me. I just didn't listen to him, which was my own damn fault. I was so stupid for not listening to him. What the hell was my problem? Why would I ever think that Tyler would try to hurt me for any reason at all? Tyler was one of my best friends, if not the best next to Caitie.

            When I told him not to think that it was his fault, he looked up at me like he didn't know that I was awake, "V-Val! You're up!"

            "Yeah," I whispered, still a little confused, "What happened?"

            "You mean you don't remember?"

            "No," I shook my head a little, but stopped because it had start hurting. Tyler reached out and steadied my shaking hands. He sat down and asked me if I really wanted to hear the whole story, beginning to end. I said I did; who wouldn't? I was so confused and I needed to know just to satisfy my curiosity.

            "Okay," Tyler took a deep breath, "You walked into the gym and you were with Mike. You looked absolutely beautiful and Mike had the biggest grin ever on his face, like he was the happiest guy on earth. He took your jacket and went to go get you a drink, just like the guys do on TV. I met him at the refreshment stand and he said to me, "Tyler, I don't want to do this. I don't want to have to trick Val." And I told him, "I warned you didn't I?" But I couldn't let you go through this and I couldn't let him go through it either because he truly liked you…a lot. At least that's what he said. When the guys gave him the sign, he asked you to dance and then the guys snuck up behind you and dumped bubblegum goo all over you. The girls dragged you into the bathroom, while yelling at the guys and tried to clean you up. I guess Caitie can fill you in there, but next thing I knew, they were running and screaming that you had fainted. We called Alex immediately and then…well, they took you here. The doctor said you have bronchitis and that you shouldn't talk too much.

The dance was on Friday. It's Sunday night now. Anyway, Mike told me later that he was truly sorry and that he didn't want to do it. But if you ask me, he should have sacrificed the stupid club of the football team. If I were in his position, I would. I mean, all he'd really be missing were a few parties at the guys' houses and maybe a few outings too. If he really liked you, he would have spent those times with you or with his real friends. I would have been willing to hang with him instead of going."

            I didn't know what to say, but I guess I didn't have to say anything because all the events of Friday night suddenly came rushing back to me. The vision of Mike's adorable face popped into my head, along with what he had done to me and the sudden pain of heartbreak hit me like a sack of bricks. I looked away from Tyler, tears forming in my eyes. I liked Mike so much, I didn't think anyone understood. I thought I was truly in love with him. All those times at school when we talked, he made me feel so special, as if I were the only person on earth. And I really thought that he was really into me, like I was into him. Just like I was into Tyler…except I thought Mike was better, I thought Mike had actually cared.

            "Val?" Tyler called softly.

            "Yeah?"

            "You okay?"

            "Um, yeah, I-I'm fine."

            "Are you sure? You know I'm always here to talk to."

After a long pause, I shook my head, not caring if it hurt me, and I turned to Tyler, bursting into tears. At first, Tyler looked alarmed, but then he wrapped his arms around me and rubbed my shoulder, comforting me and telling me it was okay.

            "Listen, I know it's hard and I know it hit you with impact, but I'm here for you. You know that, right?" he asked me. I sniffled, and nodded, "I know. Is Casey mad at you?"

            "Yeah, but it's okay. I'll figure something out," he sighed. I felt so guilty, "Tyler, I'm sorry."

            "Why?"

            "For making Casey mad at you."

            "Oh, Val. It's not your fault. I could of told her."

            "But I feel like it is. I mean, everything is my fault. I can't seem to do anything right these days. I mean, look at what happened when I got sick and screwed the crew up. I could have just sucked it up and went along with it. And what about when I found out that you started going out with Casey? I should have been so much happier for you than I really was. And what about the whole thing with Mike? I don't even blame him for doing what he did. I deserved it. I was such a jerk to you. And then when you were just trying to be my friend and tell me what was really going on, I pushed you away. I mean, I really thought that I was in love with Mike. He made me feel so special. I thought that if I went out with him, I'd be set. It would make up for all the pain. It wasn't just a crush… "

Tyler pulled away, holding me by the shoulders, "Valerie Amanda Lanier (A/N: I don't know what her middle name is, I just made it up), look at me." He didn't even wait for an answer and tilted my chin up. He wiped away my remaining tears with his thumb, "Val, you're wrong. For once, you're wrong. You're not a screw-up. You are the farthest thing from a screw-up. You're smart, funny, very kind-hearted, honest, sweet, and helpful. You aren't a screw-up. None of those things were your fault. None. Val, I don't think you understand how much you mean to me."

I looked up at him, straight in the eyes, "I-I mean a lot to you?"

"Val, you are one of my best friends. You are what keeps me sane all the time. Honestly, if you weren't there at that dinner with William, I would have truly lost it."

Smiling, I said, "Tyler, that means so much to me. I really thought that our friendship was lost. I think that's why I wasn't as happy as I could be when I found out about Casey."

            "Our friendship? Lost? No way. In my mind, friends come before than girlfriends because at the end of the day, my girlfriend might not be there. But you know what? My friends will."

            "But that wasn't the only reason. I guess…I guess I liked you too."

Tyler was silent for a minute, thinking this over. Finally, he said to me, "I used to like you too. It's just that when I met Casey, I think I finally realized that I only thought of you as a friend. A friend that I really really care about. A friend that's like my little sister to me."

            "So from now on…we're just friends?"

            "Just friends. But good friends."

            "Really good friends."  

            "Extremely good friends."

            "Good."          

            "Great!"

We looked at each other, then burst out laughing, hugging each other. I hadn't felt that relieved in such a long time. And finally, I was okay with Tyler and Casey going out together.

I am soooo sorry it took so long. The story is almost done. Don't worry. So what do you guys all think???