Meeting Kate

Chapter 1

Thomas Oliver. The loner, the quiet one, he was gorgeous beyond belief. Whoa wait, so getting ahead of the game here.

There was a time when Kate Trent hung on every word he said to her. Now that she was moving to Angel Grove she was happy to be joining her best friend once more.

It had been three years since the last time Kate had seen Tommy. She remembered his fear of going to a new place where he didn't know anyone again. His father dragged him everywhere and in Kate's opinion had no regard for him or his mother's feelings.

Angel Grove, California. The early morning sun light highlighted the houses leaving them darkened shadows dotting the street. If she was right in her directions, her old pal's house should be down the street a little farther.

She chuckled at the name of the street. Willows drive, it sounded like a trailer park road name. She couldn't wait to see Tommy again, to meet his friends and this girl that seemed to turn him into blabbing idiot at times. But that's what love could do to you. Even she knew that.

School was the one thing she was so not looking forward to. Nobody wants to be the new kid. It was always awkward and had a way of intimidating you.

In her musings she almost missed the young man dressed in white run by her. She turned in time to catch the pony tail flying out behind him.

"Hey what the…."

"Hello to you too Tommy," she snickered. "Long time no see."

His eyes went wide, "Kate…I can't believe it! What are you doing here?" he hugged her tight.

"Long story, what's this?" she plucked the sleeve of his shirt. "Last I knew you liked green best."

Tommy stammered a little before telling her that a few things had changed since they had last seen each other. She nodded her understanding and stepped into pace beside him as he had started walking.

"So when do I meet this girl of yours? She sounds really nice."

Tommy's face lit up and Kate smiled. It had been a long time since she had seen him this happy. "I have to pick her up before school; you're going to AGH right?"

Kate rolled her eyes, "If I must."

"Still hate school I see."

"Me? I would never disrespect school or the authority figures in it." She managed to keep a straight face for about three seconds.

Just as their laughter died down, a petite girl in pink came bounding down the lawn of ranch style house. "Hey, what's going on here?" she had a small smile on her face.

Tommy kissed the girl on the cheek, "Morning Kim. This is Kate Trent, my friend from Huston, Texas. Her family just moved out here. Kate this is my girlfriend, Kimberly Heart."

Kate shook hands with her, "Well she's good for you. I haven't seen you happy in a long time. So for that alone I'm thankful."

Kim smiled brightly, she liked Kate already. "We'll have to introduce you to the rest of the gang; if we don't hurry we'll be late though."

"Parish the thought," Kate mumbled under her breath.

"The sooner you get the 'new girl' thing over with the sooner you can relax." She glanced at Tommy. "Ha, I hate being the new kid. All the teachers make you stand up and talk about yourself," she shuddered at the thought.

Kim looked on amazed, "Are you sure you two weren't twins in another life?"

At that Kate did laugh, "Man if I had a dollar for every time I heard our mom's say that…"

"We'd be millionaires by now," Tommy added.

After meeting the rest of Tommy's friends and sharing some laughs after seeing Bulk and Skull for the first time; Kate excused herself to get her schedule from the office.

"So, what do you guys think? Kate's pretty cool right?"

"Coo? Try hot as hell. Why didn't you tell us about her before?" Rocky asked shutting his locker.

Aisha smacked him in the head. "Maybe that's why he didn't tell you. Don't you go hitting on her and making her first week more difficult."

"Yes ma'm."

Tommy chuckled, "Don't worry 'Sha, Kate can handle Rocky."

"I think she's a great addition to our group of adolescent comrades."

They all nodded. "Yeah because all of you understood what Billy just said?"

"That time I did Kim," Tommy said putting an arm on her shoulder.

"Well these next few days should be interesting," Adam followed his friends to home room.