Caroline Hart and Jan Oliver had been very close friends their whole entire life. They went to public school together and they went to college together. Both of them were now married and they had a child of their own. Their children even shared the same birthday. That was something Tommy hated because his mother made him attend Kimberly's birthday party every year, because none of the other kids in the class went. However, neither one of the children were friends. Both of them thought that they were from two different back grounds.

Caroline's daughter (Kimberly) was into gymnastics and was the best on the team. She had been taking gymnastics since she was a small child. Kimberly liked to shop at the mall, loved the color pink, loved Mexican food, liked to play with Barbie's, was loved fashion. Jan's son (Tommy) took karate and was one of the best. He was into karate since he was a small age. Tommy loved the colors green, white, red, and black, he loved Italian food, was interested fossils, race cars, and white tigers, dragons. He was picky about the clothes that he wore. He'd only wore jeans, khakis, flannel shirts, tee shirts, and Henley shirts.

Both of the children had trouble making friends and spent most of the time alone. Caroline and Jan hoped to get their children to become friends, but it never worked out. The two children always heard it was uncool to for a boy and a girl to be best friends. Even though they thought that they came from two different worlds, they shared many of the same interests. They both liked dinosaurs, falcons, cranes, swimming, and video games.

Jan was waiting in her car, waiting for her son to get out of school. When the bell rang, a tall little boy about the age of eight came out of school. He had brown shoulder length hair and was in jeans, a white Henley, and a green jacket. Tommy got in his mom's car and shut the door behind him.

"How was school?"

"Mom, you'll never believe what happened today."

"What happened? Did you and CJ get into another argument?"

"This is even worse! And I know that you'll agree with me."

"What could be worse than you and CJ getting into an argument? I've already been called by the principal three times this year because you and CJ got into over something. What happened today?"

"We got new tables and chairs today. And we got to pick where we sat. I just sat down at a table and Kimberly decided she wants to sit next to me. I'm stuck sitting next to her for the rest of the. I couldn't get up and move because the teacher said once we sat down, we couldn't move to another table."

"I was best friends with her mom growing up. They live next door."

"Mom, don't remind me. I'm stuck sitting next to her all year. When I asked her why she wanted to sit next to me, she said she wanted a friend. And she wanted to be friends with me."

"That's wonderful, I'm glad you've got someone to play with."

"I asked her if she had anyone else that she'd rather sit with. She said that the only time that she's wanted by other children is during gymnastics practice and during gymnastics competitions. When there isn't anything gymnastics related going on, no one wants to be around her. She also claims her parents are having trouble."

Jan pulled into the Oliver's drive way and Tommy got out of the car. When Jan got home, the school bus stopped at the house next door. A girl with shoulder length brown hair got off the bus. The girl wasn't as tall as Tommy was. She had was wearing overalls and a pink tee shirt.

"Looks like Kimberly is getting home from school," smiled Jan. "You should go over to her house and spend time with her."

Tommy looked up and saw Kimberly walking across the yard to over to his house. She was headed in his direction.

"Mom, she's coming over here," complained Tommy.

"Tommy, you're going to be nice her," warned Jan.

Kimberly walked over to Tommy and threw her arms around him.

"Why are you hugging me?" demanded Tommy.

"I like you," answered Kimberly. "You're my best friend."

"I don't like to be hugged," remarked Tommy. "Please let go off me."

He shoved her off of him and she looked offended.

"Mrs. Oliver, why doesn't Tommy liked to be hugged?" questioned Kimberly.

"He doesn't like for anyone to hug him," explained Jan. "He won't even let me and James hug or kiss him. For some reason, he can't stand it. At times, we wonder if it is because he's angry because he's adopted. He lost his brother and parents in an accident shortly after he was born. I was really close to his birth mother. She was close to your mom and me. I was Tommy's god mother; after he lost his parents, I got a copy of his parents' will. If anything was to happen to them, they wanted James and me to adopt him."

"At school, he has trouble making friends. He's already been in trouble for fighting with a kid named CJ," revealed Kimberly.

"I know," answered Jan.

"My parents are having trouble and I have trouble making friends too," stated Kimberly. "I hope Tommy and I can became friends. The only time the kids want me around is during gymnastics. "

"Maybe, the reason why no one wants you around is because you're annoying and odd," Tommy said angrily.

"Tommy, that's enough!" scolded Jan.

"Mom, it's true," declared Tommy. "Kimberly is annoying. She's been following me around for as long as I can remember. At recess she chases me all over the play ground."

"Tommy, please stop, while you're ahead," warned Jan.

Tommy walked inside his house and slammed the door. Jan could tell that he really hurt Kimberly because he left her in tears. She walked over and hugged the little girl.

"I'm so sorry," apologized Jan. "I've raised my son better than that. I have never been so embarrassed."

"Mrs. Oliver, I think Tommy doesn't like to me around," sobbed Kimberly.

"I think he does," confessed Jan. "He said he had a crush on a little girl who loves pink. I'm certain it's you."

"He acts like he doesn't want to be around me," informed Kimberly. "He says he's better than me."

"What do you mean?" gasped Jan.

"Tommy says his father doesn't go out and waist money," replied Kimberly. "He doesn't cheat on you, he doesn't go several days without coming home."

"Caroline never said any of this," replied Jan. "I thought she bought you a coat and a jacket."

"She did, but I've out grew them last year," explained Kimberly. "Ever since my parents have been having trouble, my mom pays all the bills and provides food for the table. My father waists his pay check. She can't afford any them and she could barely afford to buy my school supplies."

Jan was really embarrassed about hearing about what Tommy had said to Kimberly. She wanted to him to bond with Kimberly so they'd both have a friend. Caroline told Jan she was going to be out of town for a few weeks; she needed someone to take care of Kimberly. Jan agreed to take care of Kimberly.

Caroline brought Kimberly over to the Oliver's house. She had brought a lot of clothes, pajamas, gymnastic clothes, and her school stuff. Jan sat up a folding cot and a sleeping bag for Kimberly to use, while she was staying in the Oliver's house. Tommy was in his room playing video games, when he saw Kimberly walk into his room.

"Mom, what is she doing her?" asked Tommy.

"Her mom has to go out of town," explained Jan. "She's going to be staying here for a few weeks and she's going to be in the same room."

Tommy went to his closet and got out a sleeping bag and a suit case. He started to pack a suit case full of clothes.

"Why are you packing a suit case?" asked Jan.

"I'm going to live in my tree house while she is here," answered Tommy.

"That's not an option," smiled Jan. "You're going to stay in this room with Kimberly. Both of you are going to watch TV together, sleep in the same room, and do all of your activities together."

"I think you'll end up being friends," interrupted Jan.

"Mom, I'd rather have a boy as a best friend," confirmed Tommy. "She's a girl and it's uncool to have girl for your best friend. If I had a boy for a best friend, I could play video games with them, we could have sleep overs, we could go to the water park together, we could go do fun thing that I can't do with a girl."

Jan walked out of the room and Tommy turned on the TV, since he didn't want Kimberly playing with his video games. He sat down on the bed and stretched out. Kimberly really did want Tommy as her friend and she was willing to do whatever it took. She walked over to his bed and sat down next to him, but he pushed her off the bed. So, she sat on the floor next to his bed.

Around dinner time, Jan brought up a small table and two chairs. She sat them down in the middle of the room and James brought up two personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut.

"I thought you said that I couldn't eat up here," gasped Tommy.

"Your father and I decided that you're going to spend all your time with Kimberly," informed Jan.

"We feel like it will give you two some bonding time," added James.

Shortly after dinner, they took showers and got ready for bed. In the middle of the night, Kimberly got scared. She got up and pushed her folding cot next to Tommy's bed. When Kimberly turned off her flash light and in the sleeping bag, Tommy woke up. He saw her cot was right next to his bed, which he didn't like; he rolled over and went back to sleep.

The following morning, Jan woke the children up for school. She brought up blueberry pan cakes and orange juice on a tray, and she sat it down on the table. Tommy got up, took a seat on the table, and began to eat. Kimberly moved her chair next to him and sat down.

"Why'd you move you're chair?"

"I wanted to sit by you. My mom is always having to get ready for work and doesn't get to eat breakfast with me. And my dad is rarely home in the mornings. It's nice having someone to eat breakfast with."

After Tommy ate he got out jeans, a green tee shirt, and a tan flannel shirt. He went into the bathroom to change. Kimberly got out a pair jeans and a pink tee shirt. After Kimberly got dressed she met Tommy down stairs.

"Are you ready for school?" asked Jan.

"I'm ready," answered Tommy.

"I'm ready to go," smiled Kimberly.

They got in Jan's car and she drove them to school. When they got to school, Tommy quickly got out of the car. He didn't want anyone to see him walk in with Kimberly. Jan just rolled her eyes and didn't say anything. Kimberly got out of the car and followed Tommy into school.