#Author's Note# I'm so, so SORRY that I've taken forever to get this part posted. Community service (why did I feel the need to try and prove to collages that I'm a 'well-rounded person'? I'm not! Hehehe! (On that note) Go class of 2003!!! #Looks around at all the stunned faces# What?) combined with a small case of writer's block (don't panic, it's all gone now) have caused this fic to be posted belatedly. Oh, and the trip I took for vacation with my mom also delayed it. Thanks for all your great reviews, everyone. And, yes, now that I think about it, Jamie's eyes aren't *really* mahogany, but it just sounded better. We'll settle for really, really dark mahogany, okay? Okay. Now, on with the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own IaHB, and I'm not making any money off of it. Don't sue.

"Don't," said Tyler. "Don't what?" asked Val, surprised at his interruption. "Don't try to apologize or explain anything to me about the rumors," he said. "Oh…so you *have* heard?" asked Val. "Yes," he acknowledged. "And you're not upset?" she continued, incredulous. "Not at all," he said, smiling. Val stared at him in disbelief. This was not at all what she'd expected. "I'm just really glad that we've gotten everything out in the open now," he continued. "Everyone thinks that we like each other, and, for a while there, I think we might have. But things have changed…what happened this morning with you and Jamie just helps to prove that," he said. "And…to tell you the truth…I've been attracted to this one girl for a while now. I just didn't want to hurt you by letting you know," he confessed. 'Though the fact that she liked someone else was not at all encouraging' he thought silently. 'But this morning's little episode has solved all of that' Tyler smiled smugly at his thoughts as he exited the room, going to change for his shift.

Val was left standing alone in the EMS room, her mouth hanging open in disbelief, giving her an overall stupid and dumbfounded expression. She knew that she should feel hurt, betrayed, and angry. The boy she'd liked since, like, forever, had just told her he was happy that they weren't going to be together, had practically thanked her for letting him pursue another girl. She knew how she *should* feel, but the weird thing was, she didn't feel that way at all. She felt relieved. And with this new revelation, there also came confusion. And then came Jamie.

"Um, hi," he said, walking into the room and trying to avoid eye contact. Val managed to get her jaw back up and in working order. "Hello," she said. Jamie quickly glanced at her as he put his things away. She sounded very different from the perky, joyous Val that usually greeted him. 'But then again, anyone who *didn't* sound different from their usual selves after going through a day like Val's is probably just not normal' he thought.

******************A few minutes earlier*******************

Jamie walked down the cracked concrete sidewalk feeling very depressed. He was on his way to his shift at the station, and he was not pleased at all about his upcoming encounter with Val. After having the entire day to contemplate his woeful dilemma, he'd reached a conclusion. Two, to be exact. First of all, he decided that he'd finally have to let the world know about the abuse he suffered at his father's hands. He didn't know if he'd be able to bear the disbelief, outrage, and, worst of all, *pity* that would surely follow his confession of vulnerability, but he knew that he'd have to. He was prepared to try. Secondly, he'd decided that if he was going down, his father damn well was too. He wasn't stupid; his father was a very influential, powerful, *rich* man, and the public would believe what he told them to. For all he knew, he could end up in the nut house popping Prozac pills after his revelation, and his father would get sympathy for having such a "poor, delusional boy." But Jamie wasn't going to let that happen. He would get proof of his father's misdeeds. He'd do what he'd have to, but, one way or the other, Simon Waite was going to be dragged down into the mud.

***************Back to the present********************

Val watched as Jamie put away his things and took out his uniform. 'It's now or never' she thought, taking a deep breath. "Jamie, what are we going to do about your…situation?" she asked bluntly. "*We* aren't going to do anything, Val," he replied, turning around to face her. "What do you mean 'We aren't going to do anything'?!" she screeched. "Do you honestly think that I'll keep quiet about this?" she continued, shocked. "You know me better than that. I won't just sit idly by and watch as you get the crap beat out of you by your—mmmhhhh!" she exclaimed, her lecture cut short by Jamie's hand covering her mouth. "Val, do you want the whole station to hear?" hissed Jamie, removing his hand. Val was about to reply, but was cut off when Jamie abruptly continued. "Please, I'm only asking you for a week, maybe two, to get this all worked out," he said. Seeing the rebellious look coming across Val's face, he hastily continued. "I know there's no way to avoid exposing my abuse anymore, now that you know what's going on, but you have to understand something very important, Val. My father is Simon Waite." Val gasped in surprise. "If we try to tell the public what's been going on without good, solid evidence, he could turn the situation around into his favor. I have a plan that's going to help me run his name through the mud, and get me away from him permanently. But for it to work, I need your cooperation. And that means that you have to keep silent. Will you do that? Please?" Val looked at Jamie in surprised stupor. She was still processing everything he had just told her. "Alright," she said. "Great," said Jamie. "Now, about our other problems…"

Author's Note: All right, there it is. The sixth chapter, finally posted. It's a little short, but I'm not so cruel as to make you guys wait any longer then necessary (#ignores the snort of disbelief from the audience#).