A/N: I want to start by saying thanks to Andrea, she helped me out a lot on this chapter, so thank you very much. It helped. So in a way this
chapter, along with another special chapter later on, will be dedicated to my dear friend. Please don't forget to review:)

Disclaim: These get tiring of written, I don't owe any of the IAHB peoples, but I own everything, if anything, that is they don't, and you don't
recognize.


A Heartbeat Can Change Everything Chapter Four: Talking Helps

Jamie walked over and back around the school. He wanted to play basketball. He would also take out his anger, by playing the game. But when
he got there he saw Val, and by the way it looked, she wasn't to good.

"Hey," Jamie said coming up to her, "What's up?"

"Nothing, just leave me alone," Val went back to shooting hoops.

"Mind if I join you than?"

"Whatever," Val threw the basketball to Jamie.

They took turns shooting the ball, and finally, Val just sat down and started to cry. Jamie rushed over to her, "Are you ok? Did you fall?"

"No, nothing like that."

"Here, come on." Jamie helped her up and lead the way to the bleachers, "What's wrong?"

"Jamie. Nothing is." Val lied.

"Val, than you wouldn't be outside, in the middle of the night playing basketball. Now, what's wrong?"

"It's just that....I miss my dad so much."

"I know how that fells."

Val looked up at Jamie, "What do you mean," Jamie looked down, "Jamie, what do you mean?"

" I was only five when it happened." Jamie paused, not sure if he could go on.
"What happened?"
Jamie looks straight ahead, as if he is trying to remember every detail, " My mom dropped us off at a neighbor's house for the night...in the
morning she was crying...She didn't tell us what had happened. I asked her when daddy was coming home and she just took us kids into her
arms and hugged us. She was trying to be strong and hold in the tears. I asked her, again when daddy was coming home and she told is that he
wasn't, that daddy had gone to heaven. Those were her exact words. I couldn't understand why God would take my dad from us and I told my
mom that God wouldn't do that. See, my parents, they were religious people. We went to church every Sunday and prayed before meals and
before bed. My mom always had told us that if you pray God listens. So that night I prayed and prayed for God to bring my dad back...but he
didn't so I stopped praying. You know, he died when I was so young and now his memories are fading away. There are times when I can't even
remember how his face looks like...but then there are times when his face comes so clearly in my mind and I feel guilty that I'm alive and he's
dead."

"I know, I fell so guilty that I'm alive and he aint. He wasn't supposed to die, he is still really young, I mean, he was supposed to go to my
graduation, and walk me down the aisle when I got married, and he was supposed to be a grandfather. And now, he won't be here for any of
that." By now Jamie and Val were both in tears. Jamie looks like he's holding them back, but he can't so he just lets them flow.

" It's the memories that keep him alive. I know that everyone says that but now I come to see that it's true in a sense. I don't have much memories
of my father. But those I do have, I hold on to them because it helps me remember him. You've got sixteen years of memoires, Val. And as long
as you hold on to them, he'll always be with you." Jamie tried to confront Val.

"Yeah, I know. But it's hard, to wake up and he won't be here. It's not fair, It just aint fair. And now I'm going to have to move. And I don't even
know if we are staying in town. My mom don't want the memories, so she might make us move out of town."

"Don't think about that right now, she might not. Even so, you will still have your friends, to talk to. We will always be here for you Val, always."
Jamie tried to smile.

"Thanks, Jamie. That means a lot to me."

They sat there in silence for a while, finally Val spook up, "Do you want to finish playing basketball?"

"Sure, if that's what you want to do. If there's anything I can do, just let me know. Even let Hank, Caitie, Tyler, and everyone else, we will help
you."

"Thanks." Val got up followed by Jamie. They went back to the hoops and continued playing.

A/N: Sorry it's short, but I had to end it there. Longer next time I hope. Once again, Thx Andrea. REVIEW!!!!!