Val: A New Beginning

Disclaimer: don't own anything except the plot, Mike, Ian, and Robbie. =p

THANKS TO ALL WHO REVEIWED!!!

            I went back to school the following week, mostly because I couldn't afford to miss another day of school unless I wanted to take summer school. My fever was gone and I was feeling relatively better, but my head still throbbed at times. Still, I was apprehensive about stepping into that building. I didn't want to face the football players. None of them had visited me, with the exception of Hank and Tyler of course. Mike called, but I was half-expecting him to. I didn't know what to do. Should I forgive him or never speak to him again?

            "Don't talk to him! Chop his head off if he tries to talk to you!" Caitie and Jaime had off-handly exclaimed.

            "No, give him another chance. It wasn't entirely his fault and he feels bad about it as it is anyway." Hank had disagreed with our rebels.

            "Just do whatever you think you need to do. If you think he's being sincere when he apologizes, which I know he will, then talk to him. If not, well, you decide. It's your choice. Follow your own mind and heart." Tyler had told me in an undertone. Still, everyone heard him and looked at him disbelievingly. I guess they didn't think a jock like him could be that deep. I smiled at him gratefully.

            Now, I stood in front of the school, not sure if I was prepared for what was coming. I took in a shaky breath and opened the doors. Slowly, I commanded my feet to walk to my locker as if it were another normal day. But it wasn't. I felt like everyone had frozen when I walked into the school. They all watched me as I walked, whispering. The cheerleaders waved and looked happy to see me back. Some people I didn't know smiled at me sympathetically. Caitie was waiting for me at my locker and did her best to pretend everything was normal. Jaime joined us and tried to do the same. It failed miserablely.

            "What the hell are you staring at?!" he glared at each and everyone of them while I stifled a giggle. Caitie slapped Jaime, "You're supposed to pretend everything is normal you idiot." She whispered. Jaime smiled sheepishly, "Uh…oops?" I laughed and Tyler and Hank came over. We all started talking as the crowd turned back to their own businesses, acting as if they never were staring at all. That is, until Mike walked in. Robbie and Ian walked in behind him, both looking at the floor. Mike came straight to my locker and again, everyone followed him with their eyes. The three boys came to a complete stop in front of me. I bit my lip and looked up at them.

            "Val…" Mike began. Caitie interrupted, "No. Don't even try and apologize, mister. Isn't it enough that you totally sabotaged her night, ruined her reputation and her new dress?!" I smiled slightly at Caitie's comment about the new dress. It took me a lot of begging to get my mom to buy the dress since we weren't at the best, financially.

            "Hey, hey, hey. Caitie calm down." Hank stepped up, defending the football players. Jaime shook his head, "Why should she calm down? If your best friend was sick with a fever, but still went to the school dance because of what she thought was a perfect guy, only to end up with bubble-gum goo all over her and in the hospital, wouldn't you be kinda mad too?" Hank had no response to this, but Caitie started saying that she didn't need someone to defend her. She and Jaime ensued in an argument, Hank hopping into it. Mike, Robbie, and Ian watched this with confusion, as did the rest of the population that was watching.

            "STOP!!!" Tyler finally yelled. They all turned to look at him.

            "Look, this isn't for us to decide if Val should talk to them or accept their apologies. We weren't the ones who were sick or in the hospital. Nor were we the ones who were tricked. And even though we all feel strongly about this, and I know we all do, it's not an issue we have much say in. Yesterday all of us told Val out opinions about this. Today is her chance to decide. It's her choice, not ours. We told her what we thought and now it's her turn. What she thinks shouldn't reflect on what any of us tell her, even if you're her best friend. So Val," he turned to me, "Do whatever you feel is right, not everyone else." Caitie and Jaime were left looking awed at Tyler's speech. Hank patted Tyler on the back, "I agree."

            "U-us too." Jaime stuttered. I smiled at Tyler and mouthed, "Thank you" to him. He nodded and smiled. I turned back to the stunned football players, "So what were you saying?"

            "Val, we're really really sorry for what happened at the dance!" Ian blurted out. Mike stepped on his foot and Robbie elbowed him. I blinked a few times, "I don't get it," I told them. They looked at me, "Don't get what?" they said at the same time.

            "I just don't get why. What have I ever done to you?"

            "N-nothing…" Robbie stammered.

            "It's just…there's this club. Well, you know the club for the football players…the secret one?" Ian reminded me. I remembered that club very well. I nodded so he continued, "Well you know the initiation thing. You remember right? When Tyler-"

            "Yeah, yeah. Go on." I said impatiently.

            "Well that used to be harmless. My initiation was harmless too. But they changed the rules. Mike had to ask you on a date as a trick."

            "But why? I still don't get it."    

            "You turned most of us down when we asked you out…" Robbie looked down, ashamed.

            "But that wasn't personally," I protested, "It was because I liked Tyler and he never asked me!!" I gasped and clapped my hand over my mouth when I realized what I just said. Ian looked like he was between laughing and gasping. In reality, Ian wasn't that mean or obnoxious or anything. True, he was wrong for joining in on the guys' "fun", but Ian had this vibe that was different about him. 'Val, what are you thinking? You're supposed to be mad!' I scolded myself. But I couldn't help it. Ian had been so sweet and nice to be before and I couldn't shake it. The homeroom bell rung and I turned back to the guys, "Look, the only person I'm really mad at now is the person who thought of this. And Mike." I turned away from Mike and looked at Robbie and Ian, "I have to go to homeroom now. I'll talk to you guys later. Bye Robbie, bye Ian!" I waved as I turned around, totally ignoring Mike.

            All day, I tried telling myself that I was being unreasonable and harsh to Mike, but I couldn't forgive him. He purposely came on so sweet and nice to me, but in reality, he was so mean. I sighed as I plopped into an empty chair at an empty table in the lunch room. Tyler and Hank had told me they were talking to the other football players about changing some rules of the club. Jaime and Caitie never sat with us anyway. They were underneath the bleachers, naturally. Suddenly a tray slid next to me and someone stood there. I looked up, praying it wasn't Mike. It was Ian.

            "Hey, is anyone sitting here?" he asked me. I shook my head, "Go ahead. Hey, aren't you supposed to be at that meeting thing with Tyler and Hank?"

            "Nope. I'm not part of the prank deciding committee. It's pretty complicated. Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?" He teased, with a hint of hurt in his voice.

            "No, why would I want to get rid of you? As of now, you're my only company here anyway…" I pretended to be disappointed. He knew I was joking and rolled his eyes.           

            "Man, this food reeks. What are they trying to do? Poison us?" Ian poked at his food.

            "Hmm…probably," I laughed, "What'd you think of the history test?"

            "I don't know about you, but I think Beechers has it in for me."

            "How come?"

            "I don't know. He hates me, I just have that feeling." We ate in silence for a few minutes until Ian broke the ice, "I'm really sorry about the dress. I know…about your family…" he trailed off. I knew what he meant. Ian's family and mine were pretty good friends, "It's okay," I told him, "My mom said that she'd figure something out."      

            "You can take it to my mom. She always has something to fix everything." I laughed, but he wasn't done being serious, "No, seriously, Val. Mike really likes you. He didn't want to play the prank after he got to know you and I know for a fact that he just…he's really sorry." I was really paying attention, though. Ian realized this and followed my gaze.

            There was Mike himself. Kissing up to another girl. Ian's eyes were wide. I guess he didn't know that Mike got over feeling sorry quickly. "I guess he's done being sorry." I stated coldly.

            "I can't believe him…" Ian gasped, then turned back to me, "I'm sorry, Val. I didn't know he was such a jerk."

            "You had no way of knowing. After all, he's a great actor," I mumbled. Mike looked up and saw both Ian and I staring at him. I thought he'd have the decency to say something. But all he did was smirk at us and turn back to the girl he was not so subtlety flirting with. Ian turned back to me, "Remember when you turned me down because you said you didn't want to jeopardize our friendship?"      

            "Very vividly…" I mused.

            "I never realized it was because you liked Tyler. He liked you a lot too. It's just that, I guess, when he met Casey…"

            "Yeah I know. He explained to me that when he met Casey, he figured out that I was like a little sister to him."

            "That sucks…you know, Val. I-I always liked you. Even after you turned me down. You were always the prettiest girl in Kingsport. Even if you were covered in bubble-gum goo."

I smiled, "Ian, you're too sweet."

            "I'm not joking. I really do like you. A lot."

It struck me then that Ian liked me as more than a friend. And even though I had a feeling I was developing the same feelings for him, I was finding it hard to trust anyone.

            "Ian…I like you a lot too. It's just that after what happened, it's hard for me to trust."   

            "I know, Val, but I'll be willing to try and gain your trust."

            "I just don't want you to be bored with me and dump me because we're not going fast enough. I want to take it slow."

            "For you, I'll wait forever."

            "Aww…really?"

            "Really. Val, would you like to go out sometime…say Friday after the game?"

I smiled at him, "Of course I would." But I was still worried about one thing. Would he think that we were not spending enough time together with my busy EMT schedule? When I asked him that, Ian smiled, "Val, you worry too much. Just seeing you is enough to make my day. And besides, if we don't hang-out that much, it just makes those times when we do much more special." The lunch bell rang and all around us kids were rushing everywhere. But in the middle of it all, Ian and I hugged each other and I felt like I was on top of the world. Finally, someone other than Tyler, who had great potential at understanding me and what I do. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all.

*What do you think? Yeah, it was a quick change from Mike to Ian, but hey, Ian's a cool kid.  ONE MORE CHAPTER!!!!*