Another chapter. I decided to do this story first before my others, since I left it on a bit of a cliffhanger. This one is lots of bonding. More backgrounds and connections. Thanks for reading. I really love to read comments. This story has a long way to go. Time wise we are still in fall of 2015. Thanks for reading.

Melinda looked from Skye to Donnie and back to each again. Donnie stood still looking at them both. Skye wiped her eyes on her sleeve and then smiled at the boy. Phil's face was one of curiosity.

After a few seconds, Donnie ran straight at Skye and engulfed her in a bear hug. Skye smiled hugging him back.

"Hey buddy. Long time huh?"

Donnie pulled away and stared at her again. "I can't believe you're here. What are you doing here anyway? How do you know the Coulsons?"

"Oh I take lessons here. Martial Arts. You know like we used to pretend." Skye kicked her foot and did a punch for emphasis. "Yeehah. Bam."

"You? Physical exertion? Geez Skye is the world ending?"

"Smartass."

"Goober."

Both broke into silly laughter. Skye stepped forward and encircled him in another hug. "I never thought I'd ever see you again." As she pulled away she noticed his wrist cast and bruise on his face. She reached up to touch the bandage.

"Aw shit Donnie. What the hell happened."

"Bastard was hurting my mom."

"You're back with your mom?"

Donnie hung his head. "I was. She starting using again a couple months ago."

"Shit. I'm sorry. New foster home huh?"

He nodded. He jerked his thumb over to Phil and Melinda who were standing together watching the interchange curiously.

Skye smiled. "Seriously? You're new foster parents are Mr. C and Miss May?"

"Yeah. So?"

"They are the best Donnie. You'll like them. Really. You need to stop scowling like right now. Jeez, you have cool fosters."

"Well thanks for the endorsement Skye." Phil gave her a warm smile. "How do you two know each other?"

"Foster home. Couple years ago."

Melinda did not miss the way they looked at each other when Skye responded.

"How long were you in the home together?"

Skye looked down and then back at Donnie. "I dunno. What, say maybe 7 months. One of my longer ones."

Donnie nodded. "Yeah. About that. We were a team." He smiled at Skye. "She never let the older kids hurt me. Always gave me some of her food when the Hamilton's were jerks. Even that time Mr. Hamilton took her and ..."

"Shut up Donnie." Skye admonished him and Melinda saw her face contorted into a myriad of emotions before becoming stoic.

Donnie shot her a hurt look and then understanding passed over his features. "Yeah we were in a foster home at the same time. That's all."

Phil shot Melinda a worried glance. Donnie knowing Skye was unexpected to say the least, and the conversation they just heard answered many questions but left so many more in the wake. They did manage to learn more about Donnie since he had been unwilling to talk to Phil all day except to respond to necessary questions.

Phil spoke up then. "So Mel, you want me to take Skye home and stop for some take out?"

"Um well actually, um...Skye?" Melinda turned to talk to the girl. "Would you like to visit more with Donnie? We could grab some take out and you could spend a few hours at our place? If you want? And if it's okay with the Brody's?"

Skye looked at Donnie's pleading face and back to Melinda. "I'm already late so let me check in and see what Anne says."

Melinda smiled and nodded.

Skye walked away a few feet and dialed her phone. After a very brief conversation she walked back to Donnie.

"She said it was okay. I told her I'd be back by nine. That okay?"

"That's fine Skye. Why don't you and Donnie ride back to our place in my car and Phil can get the food. Chinese or Pizza?"

"It doesn't matter Miss May. Whatever you want."

"How bout you Donnie? Phil looked at the younger boy.

"Chinese is fine."

"I'll call it in then and swing over to the restaurant. Should be home in about 45 minutes." Phil headed out the door talking on his phone.

Melinda picked up her bag and Skye did the same. Then the three walked out to Melinda's car, with Melinda locking up behind her.

Two hours later, after eating, Skye and Donnie were in the room the Coulsons had designated as his for his stay there. Skye was sitting on his desk chair with her feet propped on his bed, while he sat on the floor leaning against the bed.

"So you just came here last night. I didn't know that the Coulsons fostered."

"Miss Carter said they just started. She kept telling me how thankful she was that there was a place for me to go."

"Yeah. Oh hey Miss Carter is my SS contact too. She placed me here, well in this town with the Brody's."

He frowned at her. "Yeah. So they okay?"

"So far it's been okay. I get plenty to eat, nice house to live in and a lot of freedom like to be here and all."

"Do they care Skye? You finally found one of them?"

"No not really. I mean it took awhile to find their angle, you know."

Yeah he knew. He nodded.

"Mrs. Brody drinks. But not in an ugly way. Least I haven't seen it. She basically ignores me. She likes when I help out though, you know chores and stuff. Nothing too demanding. Mr. Brody seems nice, you know the type. Acts like he cares. Probably doesn't actually. His son told me I was to make him look good...um...like a good image or something."

"Son? How many kids?"

"Just two. Ryan is my age and he's cool. We're friends. JJ is a couple years older. He's a jerk. I just stay away from him. He and his friends like to think they run the school."

"So image huh?"

"Yeah to look like a caring family. Giving back to the helpless and hopeless. Get more votes or something."

They sat quiet for a while.

"Donnie? What happened? You were with your mom?"

Donnie pulled his legs up and hugged his arms around them. After a few seconds he looked at Skye. "Last May. Right after I turned 12. They let me go with her. She was clean. Gone through a program. Did all the right things. Had a job. An apartment. Small, but you know, nice. It was ours." He paused to gather his thoughts. "They had me go through some tests and stuff. You know, see a psychiatrist, and all the others. Some intelligent test thing. One of the counselors pushed it before I could go back with mom. So they pushed me up a grade to eighth, said I was smart and mom was so proud. Said I'd be the first in the family to go to college. It was great. I studied hard, even joined a youth baseball team this past summer. Can you imagine? But it was fun. Mom worked hard, sometimes 60 hours a week. But we'd do stuff together on weekends. Watch TV. Go to a cheap movie. Go to the park."

"Just being together was what counts. And you always were a smart little nerd." She nudged him with her toe.

He made a face at her. "After all her promises, she finally came through. But I guess it wasn't enough. I was not enough. Back in August she met Dominic. Called him her knight in shining armor. He was nice to her. Even me at first. I noticed it a couple weeks later after I found her stash. She started using again. Turns out good old Dominic was a dealer."

"That sucks."

"I begged her to make him leave. To stop. She wouldn't. So I stayed away more and more. Friends. Library. Sometimes outside. Like we used to do when it wasn't safe. The apartment roof. Not as dangerous as when we did it. No gangs anyway, just cold sometimes."

"I'm sorry."

"Should have just ran away. Like you did."

"They catch you Donnie. Take you back. You know that. Being out there as a kid you get used. Someone always has an angle. It's not safe, you know that."

"Nothing is safe Skye. My own house isn't. Group homes are worse. Fosters aren't safe either. You know that."

"This one is Donnie. These are good people. Caring people. You lucked out. Mr. C is my history teacher. He is really nice. He talked his wife into giving me self defense lessons. And she did. For free. Well basically. I mean I clean for her a little, but believe me, she is very generous with her time. Six plus hours of lessons and I clean for like 3 hours tops. I know what she charges and it isn't even close. These are good people Donnie. They will treat you right. Don't be a douche to them, okay?"

He nodded. "I guess. Guy talks a lot. He even showed me his comic collection."

Skye laughed. "He's a nerd Donnie. Just like you. So is it a good one? The comics?"

"Yeah. Outstanding."

"So be nice. Ask to see them. You know you are dying to. You're inner geek is so needy."

Donnie reached onto the bed and grabbed a pillow to throw at Skye. She blocked it easily, getting up quickly and grabbing a pillow and went to whack him, but stopped in mid air as she saw his cast. Which gave Donnie the advantage as he brought the third pillow across the side of Skye's head and laughed.

"Hey!" Skye looked indignant. "No fair." I can't whack you, you're injured."

Donnie grinned wickedly and went to whack her again. She dodged the pillow and jumped on the bed. "Nananana. You missed."

Donnie laughed, jumping on the bed to get to her so Skye jumped off the other side with a very loud thump. She ran over to the window, holding her pillow in front as a shield with her right hand and took a karate stance. Donnie approached slowly and just as he was about to attack the door swung open and Melinda stood there looking at them both.

Skye turned a shade of red, while Donnie dropped his pillow and stared back at Melinda in fear.

"Skye you're too tense and your feet are too close together. Carry on."

Melinda left the room and closed it behind her and both Skye and Donnie could hear her laughing as she walked down the hallway.

Skye grinned. "Told you they were cool." Donnie smiled and the tension seemed to leave his body as his face lit up.

Melinda walked back to her bedroom. She closed the door, still laughing as Phil looked over to her. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah fine. They were just playing."

"Playing?"

"Yeah. Isn't it great?"

Phil noticed his wife's relaxed demeanor and decided to push. "So you want to tell me what those text messages were all about Mel."

Melinda let out a deep breath. "Skye had a panic attack."

Phil's face washed over in concern. "How bad?"

"Bad." She paused and then her face clouded over. "It was my fault."

"How so?"

Melinda sat down on the edge of the bed. Phil joined her. She explained everything that happened.

Phil took her hand in his and squeezed. "Seems to me everything's okay now. She was doing some serious hugging of you there Melinda. And you were hugging her too."

Melinda sighed. "But I caused her pain Phil. This is exactly what I was afraid of. Why I didn't want to do this fostering. Why I never get close to my students. Why this all was a bad idea. Spending too much time with her. Hell I take Skye home three times a week and teach her for a good six hours. Plus today she watched my advanced teen class for an hour and half and she is there cleaning for another couple hours. It's too hard to not talk to her. To not get closer."

"Good."

"Good Phil? Cause I made her have a panic attack."

"You might have been the catalyst for her attack today, but you know damn well it had another cause initially. Whatever that was, was the bigger culprit. Not that you didn't do anything wrong. But your lashing out was caused by your own pain Melinda. And you apologized. The way you tell it, several times. And Skye seems okay now. Melinda she was accepting your comfort. Your apology. Hugging you. And you were able to give comfort to her. To realize and to help her. So...maybe the end result not so bad, huh?"

"Still should have never happened. I don't hurt kids Phil. Not even with words. I should have seen it sooner too. Her face just ...oh Phil, her face showed fear and pain. And she shrank away from me. Someone hurt her badly. You heard what Donnie started saying. That foster home. Maybe I should ask her what happened?"

"And you would lose all trust she has in you right now. She would shut down and most likely get angry. She isn't ready to talk or admit anything to anyone yet. She shut Donnie down pretty quick."

"I still don't like it."

"There'd be something wrong with you if you did."

"Did you hear what they said about food too? Who denies food to children?"

"There are bad foster homes Mel. I think Donnie is so quiet and uncooperative because he is waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting to get hurt or something."

"Skye stuck up for you."

"Us Mel. She stuck up for us."

Melinda smiled and then looked at her watch. "It's after 8:30. You should take Skye home. She told them she'd be back by nine.

"You should take her home Mel."

She shook her head. "I'd rather not Phil. Not just yet. Not tonight. I don't know what to say on the drive. "

"You don't have to say anything. Just be you. Kids are pretty flexible Mel. And I've found they don't hold grudges. They forgive easily. If Skye said she forgives you, she has."

"Phil. Please."

"Mel you either drive Skye home or stay here and hang with Donnie."

Melinda sighed as she got up. "Or you can take Donnie with when you drop off Skye?"

"Or not."

Melinda gave him a dirty look. "Fine I'll take her home. Maybe you can bond with Donnie while I'm gone."

"Yeah I tried that. I don't think he's into comics. Or Star Wars. Or my robot models."

"Well you could watch TV together. Or ask him what he likes to do. You know we still have those old board games on top of the hall closet."

He smiled as she left the room.

Skye glanced shyly at Miss May as she sat in the passenger seat. The radio was softly playing oldies and Skye tapped along to the beat of Bob Segar's Old Time Rock and Roll. She wanted to talk but she wasn't sure if Melinda wanted to. They had a pretty emotional time earlier. Skye really wasn't ready for another emotional conversation. Then she remembered what Izzy told her to ask.

"So Izzy said I should ask you about the concert you made everyone go to. So whose concert was it?"

Melinda glanced quickly at Skye then back to the road. Then she laughed. Which immediately set Skye at ease so much she smiled.

"She did huh?" She paused a moment then continued. She turned the music volume down. Then she laughed again. "And for the record I didn't make anyone go, they all wanted to come."

Now Skye's curiosity was peeked. "So what happened?"

"Long or short version."

Skye grinned. "Definitely long."

"Okay so it was all Phil's fault."

Skye laughed at that as Melinda smirked.

"I like Elton John's music. Well anything from the 70's and early 80's really, but Elton John just reminds me of fun times. It's my go to music for training and running and cleaning and just about anything else. Billy Joel too."

"Ah piano." Skye interjected.

"Yeah. It's just, I don't know. Makes me happy. So anyway it was April 2001."

"Oh my gosh, I wasn't even born yet."

"Hush you." Melinda tried to shoot her a glare that came across as a fond smile instead. "So Elton John and Billy Joel were touring. The Face to Face tour. But they weren't coming close to here. Denver, Colorado was one of the closer venues. Phil and I had just set a wedding date for September and he wanted to give me a gift, so he decided to go buy tickets for the concert and make it a road trip."

"Like a pre Honeymoon road trip."

Melinda laughed. "Oh no, not even close. Word got out what he was doing and others wanted in. So he brought along his sister and her boyfriend, Hunter, my best friend Roz, Izzy, Clint and Mike Peterson. He rented a fifteen passenger van and we set out on a Thursday morning. We made it to Ohio before stopping for the night. Then we set out on Friday morning for the remainder of the trip. We planned to get there by late Friday night. The concert was at 6 on Saturday. Well, the first leg of the trip went okay, it wasn't till we left Ohio that things got, well crazy. First we got a flat tire. So that cost us about 4 hours trying to find a tire shop or garage to replace the tire, cause the spare wasn't going to cut the miles long trip. So once we got on the way again, we stopped in mid afternoon at a diner. A diner in a little town off the highway we found after getting lost."

"Why'd you get lost."

Melinda shook her head. "The highway had come to a standstill. An accident I suppose. So Hunter got out a map and took us on these back roads around the highway."

"GPS?"

"Not on an old 1985 Dodge van. And not on any cell phones either. In fact not everyone had a cell phone."

"So maps huh."

"Yeah. And with Bobbi's boyfriend, just newly here from England...let's just say we should have all known better than to let him in charge of directions."

"How lost were you?"

"So lost that we stopped for directions at a little diner in the middle of nowhere in Missouri. A town called Humansville."

Skye snorted. "No way."

"Yep. The diner was called Humansville Diner."

"Of course it was."

"Anyway to make a long story short..."

"Too late."

Melinda smiled. "I was just going to say ...you're home. So I can wrap up the story now or finish it another time."

"Home? I don't think I've ever had one of those. This place is just where I stay, for now. You could finish while we sit here."

Melinda bit her bottom lip and her eyes clouded at Skye's off handed remark about home. Then she sighed and turned toward Skye. "Don't you think the Brody's would think that is weird just sitting out here in my car?"

"Nah. No one's home. See no lights except the outside and the living room. And Ryan texted me and said his parents and JJ had some diner to go to and he was staying over at Leo's place. In fact you could come in and finish the story."

"Skye that might not be a good idea. Not if they are not home."

Skye shrugged her shoulders. "Okay. But you could tell it here."

Melinda relented. "Alright. So we are in a small town in Missouri. Lost. And starving. Well the boys were starving. So we park and get out and Izzy says she will get directions. We all agreed so long as it's not Hunter, so we walk in this little diner. And every single head turns to look at us. Granted we looked a bit weary. Dusty from the road. Clint had long hair back then pulled back in a pony tail. Bobbi, Roz. Izzy and I went straight to the restroom to clean up a bit. The boys went and found a table. Granted we looked a bit mish mashed. Roz and Phil in preppy clothes. Me and Izzy and Hunter with our leather jackets on. Clint and Mike with their tight t-shirts, unshaven. They were both working undercover, rookies on the police force."

Melinda paused and grabbed a bottle of water taking a swallow. She glanced at Skye who was giving her full attention to Melinda. She continued.

"So the four of us come out of the restroom and we went to sit down but before Bobbi could get to the table a man steps in front of her and well says something crude. Bobbi doesn't blink, she just moves to go around him and tells him to piss off. Hunter heard what he said and stood up and immediately Phil grabbed him and pulled him back down. Phil knew Bobbi could handle herself and a fight was not going to go well for anyone. Bobbi shrugged off the idiot and sat down. No one thought anything of it and we ordered out food and ate quickly. Izzy had gotten directions back to the highway from the waitress. We paid and walked out to get in the van to leave. Except gathered outside was the idiot and his friends. There were five besides him. And a few more locals lingering behind us that Izzy pointed out as we stopped. And a crowd had gathered."

"Wait. Is this really true? Or are you pulling my leg? It sounds like a bad B movie."

Melinda smiled softly. "I wish it were not true. There is still a lot of bigotry in the world Skye. People simply not liking others because they are different. Or are another race. First words out of the idiot's mouth were. 'How come a nice normal pretty white girl like you is hanging with a this riff raff.' "

Skye frowned. "That is so not cool."

So they flung a few barbs our way. Me and Mike taking the brunt. Hunter's accent was mentioned. Clint's ponytail. The usual stupidity and bigotry. Phil and Roz tried their diplomatic best to defuse the situation. We weren't worried about getting hurt. Between us were 5 police officers and an FBI agent. Phil could defend himself as well. We all knew that we needed to just leave but they weren't going to let us. We knew a full on fight, especially with the boys involved would be trouble. Might cost them a few night's in jail or even worse. Bobbi and I stepped forward as Phil and Izzy and Roz pushed the boys back. I stepped up into the idiot's face and told him to back off. Told him exactly who Bobbi and I were and what we were capable of doing to them. He laughed and called me a name. He reached to my arm and grabbed it and attempted to push me. I took him down and another who stepped in to help in seconds. Bobbi did the same with 2 others. The remaining two backed off and that's when the police arrived."

"Oh my gosh what happened? Did they arrest you?"

"No. Once they saw all our I.D.'s and heard that just two women had taken down the men after they touched one of us they just let us go. It was a stark reminder to me however, how alive racism and stupidity was still in this country."

"Just cause people are different. Hate is so stupid."

"It is."

"So after that?"

"Well it was late till we got back on the highway and we were off schedule by about 6 hours. We decided to stop at a hotel around ten and head out early to make the concert. Originally we were trying to get to Denver to stay at a hotel that night. The plan was to get to Denver on Friday night, stay at the hotel, take in some sights, see the concert and stay at the same hotel and head back home Sunday morning."

"So how was the concert?"

"Never got there Skye. Phil, Hunter, Roz, Clint and Bobbi all got food poisoning."

Skye laughed. Loudly. She pushed hand against her mouth trying to stifle the sound but it didn't work. "I'm sorry,' she managed to get out between giggles."

"Izzy, Mike and I spent the next 24 hours cleaning up after and taking care of the others."

Skye became somber. "Wow that sucks. I really am sorry."

Melinda shrugged. "It was a long time ago. Izzy enjoys telling the story. I'm surprised she didn't tell you. She embellishes it more. The others pretty much like to pretend it didn't happen."

"So you never saw Elton John?

"No I did. 2004. Radio City Music Hall. Phil got tickets. For everyone. Him and I, Izzy, Bobbi and Hunter, Clint, Mike and Roz. Roz brought her new boyfriend along and Izzy brought Vic. My mom and dad stayed with Jamie. It was the first time I'd left him in their ..." Melinda trailed off. She took a deep breathe. "I don't normally talk about my son."

"I'm sorry."

"No it's okay." Melinda swallowed hard and turned to Skye. "I ...I ...just...I miss him so much." Her voice grew quieter. "You should probably go Skye. I need to get home."

"Yeah okay. So Miss May is it okay if call Donnie? Maybe even hang out sometimes?"

"Of course."

"Thanks Miss May. For the ride. Oh and the Chinese food, it was good." Skye got out then stuck her head back in the door. "Oh and the story. And for earlier...um...when I freaked out...and..."

"Skye that was my fault."

"Well you helped...you know...helped and stuff." Skye smiled. "And for the lessons. I'm not dumb you know. I know how much they cost."

Melinda smiled. "You pay with your cleaning."

Skye smirked. "Yeah right. You pay your cleaning people a great wage Miss May."

"Only when they're worth it." Melinda smiled. "And please call me Melinda."

Skye grinned. "Okay Miss Melinda."

"Smartass."

Skye waved as she walked to the front door. Melinda waited till the girl entered the house before she backed around and pulled out of the driveway. She glanced back seeing Skye at the bay window watching her leave. Melinda's thoughts went to Clint and Mike and all the other strays Phil had mentored and nurtured over the years. She smiled as she realized her goof of a husband had very slowly and very subtly made her care about the strays too.

Skye woke up at six on Monday as she had started doing. She went for her run, showered, ate breakfast and was on her way to school, walking with Ryan.

"So how was your sleepover at Leo's."

"Guys don't do sleepovers Skye. Least we don't call them that."

"Well what do you call them."

"Hanging out." He smirked at her.

Skye laughed. "Well my sleepover," she emphasized the word sleepover, was awesome. And then finding out Donnie was with the Coulsons was amazing."

"So you know him from a foster home you stayed in together?"

"Yeah. When I was twelve. Donnie was ten."

"That's cool."

"Yeah he is, the home not so much."

"How come? What was wrong?"

"What was right would be a shorter answer. Nothing. It was just not good place to be. That's all I'm gonna say Ry."

"Okay. So how was it at Jemma's?

"We watched movies, talked, and made cookies."

"That's all? Boring."

"It was great. I'd never been at a sleepover before. So you shut up."

He laughed. "I'm glad you had fun Skye. All Leo and did was work on our Physics project."

Skye shuddered. "I can't believe you actually take two science classes and like them."

"Well you'd take two computer classes if you could."

"Yeah too bad they don't offer many at school. I've taken all the others at other schools."

"Well you know you can take college classes. Online or even go to the community college here."

"While in school?"

"Sure it's a cooperative program. You should ask about them when you register for next year's classes."

"You think I'll be here next year Ryan?"

"Sure. At least through the election next year. Probably after too. Sending you back right away would look really bad."

"Unless he loses."

"He won't lose Skye. He has money, backers and plays dirty."

"So you're saying I could actually be here over a year? That's never happened Ryan. Ever."

Ryan looked at Skye. She was looking at him with such hope. "Yes. It could. Especially if you listen to me and just stay out of JJ's line of fire."

"Come on Ryan. I never started anything."

"I know that. But to them once you rock the boat, you are the enemy. You could try to smooth that over."

"How? Should I have let Ward just do that. Should I date him?"

"Oh hell no Skye. Just stay out of their way."

"I wasn't in Ward's way Ryan. I am trying to stay out of their way. What the hell else can I do?"

Ryan shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."

"Well JJ's ignored me the last week so that's good I guess."

Ryan nodded. They got to the school walkway. As they got halfway, suddenly Miles and Seth stood in front of them. Four others came up behind them effectually blocking any escape.

"Hey there Ryan." Seth spoke first. Ryan said nothing.

"Look cat got his tongue Seth. How come you're being rude. Answer him." Miles smiled dangerously.

"What do you want Seth."

"What I want is what we all want. For you and your little buddies, including this one, to remember whose in charge."

"You know what I don't get Seth? Why Ryan here is not part of the plan. Why little bro is hated by big bro."

"Well let me tell you." Seth grinned at Ryan. "Does she even know Ryan. Why JJ thinks you're a weak little pussy."

Skye grabbed Ryan's arm to walk by Miles. He pushed closer to her not giving her a way around him.

"Move jerk."

"You really need to learn don't you sweetie?"

"I'm not yours or any one else's sweetie. Get the hell out of my way."

"You think anyone here is going to help you Skye? Look around. Everyone here is with us. Those others," he pointed to the crowd outside the little group, "they know not to cross us. Seems like you haven't learned that lesson yet. Ryan used to know. But hanging around you has made the pussy grow balls. Like those others you hang with. Now you have the soccer players protecting your asses too. See there is an order around here. And you need to find your place. And Skye, you are a low life foster kid. A nobody. You have an arrest record. You are on the bottom rung sweetie. You have no family. No one. Your parents left you. At an orphanage. Your parents saw what a loser you were back then. Guess what? You're still a loser."

Miles reached up and grabbed Skye's wrist. He started twisting it while sneering at her. It was the same wrist she knew without a doubt now that Miles had hurt in gym class. She twisted her shoulder and pulled her arm back just like Melinda taught her, simultaneously getting free and throwing Miles off balance. Then she took her other elbow and brought up into his neck. She stuck out her foot and kicked at his ankle pulling it forward then backed up away from him. He hit the ground hard, falling on his knees.

Seth yelled. "What the hell?"

All of a sudden Mr. Parrish and Miss Jenkins, two math teachers were there. Skye's heart sped up as Ryan pulled her closer to him.

Seth spoke out loudly. "Mr. Parrish. She just knocked him down. He wasn't doing anything. That karate stuff or something. She's dangerous."

"Save it Dormer. Miss Jenkins and I saw the whole thing."

Miles got up and stared angrily at Skye.

Miss Jenkins moved between them and stood in front of Skye. "Are you okay? How's your wrist?"

Skye was rubbing her wrist and looked at it. "Um I guess I'm okay. Look I'm sorry but he..."

"You only defended yourself." Mr. Parrish interrupted her. "You two." "He pointed to Miles and Seth. Get to Ms. Price's office now. Wait there for me. Miss Jenkins can you escort Skye and Ryan to their classes."

"Certainly."

"Okay everyone move it. It's almost time for first period anyway. Let's go."

The crowd dispersed at Mr. Parrish's command and they started entering the school.

Mr. Parrish watched as Miles and Seth stormed off. He turned to Skye and Ryan.

"Don't worry. We saw everything. Thomas came and got us when he saw what was happening. Do you need to see the nurse for your wrist young lady."

"No I'm good. I'm Skye. This is..."

"He knows me Skye. He's my Geometry teacher. Thanks Mr. Parrish."

"It's okay. I'm going to the office. Miss Jenkins will walk you to your classes. The Principal may call you down to her office later as witnesses."

Skye nodded and both she and Ryan followed Mr. Parrish into the building with Miss Jenkins right behind them. Skye and Ryan were both called to talk to Ms. Price and she agreed they were victims and assured them that Miles and Seth would be punished. Skye's day moved rather quickly and she soon found herself at lunch.

Skye walked into the cafeteria with her tray of food. As she got closer to their table her heart started beating faster. She set her tray down and stood looking at him. Thomas was sitting in his regular spot. He looked up at her.

"Hey Skye."

"Hey Skye. That's what your going with?"

"Yeah well it is your name."

"Thanks Thomas."

He nodded then stood up and hugged Skye. She hugged him back.