I gotta take the time to put this here because I'm the author and nothing starts till I say it does! I'm dedicating this story to AngelxCollins cause she's awesome like that and she deserves it! So here's to you Muffy!

I own nothing. The Almighty Larson owns it all. (Except for Jenny and Penny!)

Mark stayed close behind Tom as they walked through the crowded hallways to the principle's office. He looked to his right, to his left, and behind him noticing that all eyes were on him. Feeling self conscious, he tugged on Tom's sleeve.

"What's wrong?" Tom asked as he turned around.

"People are staring at me," Mark said, still looking around. Tom looked around himself for a moment.

"Aw. Don't worry. They won't touch ya," he said.

Mark gulped. "Touch me?"

"Just calm down. I'm right here. If anything happens, just call my name and I'll come help you, kay?" Mark gulped again and nodded. As they turned into another hallway, an 8th grader stopped Mark by grabbing his arm.

"What are you doin' in this hallway little boy?" the 8th grader asked a terrified Mark. He hyperventilated for a few seconds and then Tom's words rang in his ears.

If anything happens, just call my name and I'll come help you, kay?

"TOM!" he yelled. Hearing this, Tom turned around and sighed.

"Let him go. He's with me," he said. The 8th grader let go of Mark's arm and stared at Tom for a moment before realizing who he was.

"We haven't seen much of you here. You forget about us or somethin'?" he asked.

"No. Just stressed. Rumor's goin' around sayin' that I might get moved up two grades," Tom replied.

"To 9th grade?"

"Yeah."

"So, whatcha' hangin' out with this kid for?"

"He's the new kid."

"Oh. Showin' him the ropes?"

"Yeah."

"You takin' this hallway?"

"Planned to."

"Alright. Step back." Tom and Mark did as they were told.

"What's he gonna do?" Mark whispered to Tom.

"He's gonna clear the hallway," Tom whispered back. A look of confusion took over Mark's face. Clear the hallway?

The eighth grader cupped his hands around his mouth and took a deep breath.

"YO! EVERYBODY MOVE BACK! TOM COLLINS IS COMIN' THROUGH!" he yelled. To Mark's surprise, everyone moved to either side of the hallway, making a path right down the middle.

"Wow," Mark whispered. Tom looked down at him and smiled.

"You'd be surprised what happens when you know people," he said. He and Mark began walking down the newly formed path. Mark noticed several people that looked like they were glaring at him. He rushed from behind Tom to beside him and grabbed onto his arm. Tom looked down at him."What's wrong now?"

"T-they're gonna beat me up," Mark said.

"No they won't."

"Don't you see the way they're looking at me?"

"Don't worry about them."

"I can't help it." As they passed a group of girls,a set of twins pushed to the front and ran over to Tom, stopping him and Mark dead in their tracks.

"Hi Tom," the twins said at the same time, with the widest of smiles on their faces. Tom smiled back at them.

"Hi there ladies," he said.

"Hey! Did you two miss everything I yelled down this hallway!?" the 8th grader who had cleared the hallway for Tom and Mark said to the girls.

"Don't sweat it Benny. They're cool." Benny nodded and walked away as Mark let go of Tom's arm.

"So, Tom, do you have a girlfriend yet?" one of the twins asked.

"Ugh! I was gonna ask him that!" the other one complained.

"Well that's too bad, isn't it?"

"What makes you think he's interested in you?"

"I'm hot, you're not."

"We look exactly the same!"

"Trust me. I look way better."

"Jenny, Penny please. What'd I say about fightin' over me?" Tom interrupted.

"Sorry," Jenny and Penny said together.

"Now, if you'll excuse us, we'll be on our way."

"Oh my gosh! Tom, who's your little friend?" Jenny asked. Tom looked down at Mark.

"Go ahead. Tell 'em your name," he said.

"I-i'm Mark Cohen," Mark said.

"How old are you?" Penny asked.

"Uh, 11."

"Aw! He's adorable!" Jenny said.

"Really, really adorable!" Penny agreed.

"Is it good to be adorable?" Mark whispered to Tom. He received a nod in response.

"We'd better get going." Jenny said, as she and Penny gave Tom a kiss on each one of his cheeks.

"What about my friend?" Tom asked.

"Oh, we could never forget about little Marky," Penny said. She and Jenny then kissed Mark's cheeks.

"We'll see you at lunch Tom!" Jenny and Penny said, walking the opposite direction of Tom and Mark.

"See you there!" Tom called after them. He then looked down at Mark, who was beaming from ear to ear. Tom chuckled and waved his hand in front of Mark's face. "Yoo hoo! Mark? Anybody there?"

"Do they always give people kisses?" Mark asked, obviously indicating Jenny and Penny.

"Only if they like you," Tom explained.

"So, does that mean they like me?"

"Yup. Consider them your kissing committee."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Anytime you see them now, they're gonna give you kisses."

"Really?" Tom nodded. "I could get use to middle school." Tom laughed and ruffled Mark's short, blonde hair.

"Come on lil' man. Let's get you to the principal's office."

My, my, my. This is really weird to write cause I'm calling Collins Tom instead of Collins. Seriously, I keep typing Collins and catching myself when I'm halfway done with the word. Oh well. I apologizes for mistakes. Reviews is nice. Reviews nice is. Nice is reviews. Is reviews nice. Is nice reviews. Okay, the last two didn't make any sense. What I'm basically sayin' is review please!