Tommy – The Past

Three Years Later…

Tired eyes scanned over the mountain of exam papers that were stacked in front of me, the names of my students blending together after the tenth final. It wasn't looking very good for them. So far, only one student had made it passed 65%, something I found discouraging since I had used some of the easiest material I had from our current unit. I didn't think they would struggle with it this hard. I would need to throw in some quizzes to help bring up their tests scores. If not, a good amount of them would be at risk of failing. Our school wasn't offering summer school for my course either this year. It was close to do or die time, so to speak.

Tossing down my red pen, I ran a hand over my face. I had been at this for over three hours now. The clock on the wall over my head said almost midnight. The light over my head in my at home office seemed buzz with each passing moment. Reaching over, I shook the mouse of my computer and brought the monitor to life. The file system our school uses for grades loaded. I entered the students I had done already, calculating their current grade in the class. Three of them were now borderline failing while two were still in pretty good standings. The others were failing before the test. I saw some parent's teacher conferences in my future. Rolling my eyes, I sank back into my chair and sighed. I needed a break. I had to get all of these tests done by morning and I still had about twenty to go.

I clicked off the grades program and opened up an internet browser window. At the top of the page, I clicked the saved bookmark for Facebook. It loaded, the blue bar at the top showing the name of the website. The first thing I saw was a video of Jason practicing at his new home gym that him and Trini built in their basement. It was his new favorite past time, littering Facebook with videos every night. Scrolling passed it, I saw some photos of Kira and Trent at the café at Berkley. I liked these, adding a comment about making sure they studied. I felt like that awkward father figure for a moment before moving on. Under them, I saw Rocky posting pictures of some kind of beach.

Leaning forward, I realized it was not a beach from around here. The third picture showed a sign that said WELCOME TO FLORIDA on it. I quickly clicked on the album and scrolled through the pictures. Most of them were of the water or of animals at some zoo. About thirty pictures in, I came across one of him and Aisha posing in front of the ocean. The next picture loaded when I clicked the arrow button. My heart stopped as a picture of Kimberly appeared on my screen. She was standing on the beach, a pink bikini top on her torso and large rimmed glasses framed her face. A small smile was on her lips and she looked like someone was forcing her to take the photo. Rocky had also tagged her in the photo, her profile link appearing as my cursor floated by her face.

"You're dead to me." Her voice said in my ear as I looked at her. God, I missed her. I missed her with every single fiber of my being. Not a moment goes by that I don't regret what happened that day in the hotel room. If only I had just told her that I wanted to be with her. That she was the only one I ever wanted to be with. That I was so madly in love with her, no one else mattered. If I had had the balls to do all of that, then I wouldn't be sitting here miserable with my life. She would be here, with me. Rather than sitting on a beach with Aisha and Rocky. I wondered for a moment why he hadn't mentioned to me that they were going to Florida to see here. Then I remembered that they all thought we had a fight. After our last meeting, I had to tell them something so that our friends didn't try to plan things with Kim and me. So, I made up a lie that we got into a fight about our break up. It wasn't necessarily a lie. Jason thought it was stupid, but he was easy to ignore. Everyone else bought it. Not that I gave a fuck.

Clicking on her profile, I waited impatiently as it loaded. Her profile picture was of her in her office. She was sitting behind her desk, holding a Team USA poster. Scrolling down, I saw her about section. She had Schmidt Gym listed as her employer, her position filled in as Head Coach. I smiled at that. Even though I was still upset about our split, it was great to see her as someone successful. She was the best person for the job. Not only did she have the skill, she had the Olympic experience. That was something not a lot of people could say. She listed Angel Grove as her hometown and Orlando as her current address. As for marital status, it read single. I wondered for a moment if it was true. Could the most beautiful woman I had ever seen before in my life really be living in Florida without being involved with someone? I found it hard to believe. Then again, I had done a real number on her.

Further down on her page, I saw she had some pictures of her and the girls she trains. There were some selfies of her another girl I didn't know but noticed she was older than the other trainees. It might be a coworker or a friend. There were no pictures of men besides Rocky and Jason. There was one random one of Zach and her when they were kids for his birthday and then a group one of the original five rangers for best friends' day. I was nowhere to be found though, something that didn't surprise me. I read through some of her posts, reading some things she had posted like poems and jokes. There were some pretty funny ones that made me let out a soft chuckle, me picturing her laugh as she read them. She was so involved with the girls under her watch and posted a lot about them. I knew she would be perfect for the job.

About an hour had past as I scrolled through Kim's profile. I paused for a moment, the picture of a white rose appearing. It was one of those images that you could share from someone else. On the picture, there was a small poem. Though it was a bit fuzzy, I could read the words. Even though you broke my heart, I still look for you. Even though you turned me away, I still reach out for you. Even though you walked away, I will still follow you. Dread filled my heart as I read the date under the photo. She posted it around the time we ended things, a few days after I left Florida. The guilt slammed into me like a steam roller as I rested my hands on the top of the desk. What the fuck had I done? All she wanted to do was be with me. All I wanted to do was to be with her. Why on Earth had I turned her down?

Because you're a chicken shit, my mind replied. It was true. Ending things with Kat to be with Kimberly would make me happy in one sense but open up a whole new can of worms in another. Kat and I shared a house together. Both of our names were on the house and both of out vehicles were registered to us as a couple. All of our bills were in joint accounts, including our bank accounts. I did have a secret account for when I went to Florida or to see Kim, but it had been left untouched since my return the last time. I'm sure the 25% of my paycheck that was being deposited was adding up in there, but I didn't have the heart to touch it. I kept it there in hopes that I would use it again to see Kim. That thought was made of nothing but empty hope seeing as she hadn't tried to make contact with me over the last four years. Four years of silence. She had kept her word. I honored her request as well.

Grabbing the edge of the desk drawer, I pulled it open. Pens rolled here and there, and a highlighter skidded down. Reaching in, I fished into the back of the drawer until my fingers landed on something small and metal. Pulling it out, I found a small key in my hand. Glancing at the door, I made sure that Kat made no movement or sounds from our bedroom across the hall. It was quiet, telling me she was in bed. Standing up, I walked over to the punching bag that was in the corner of me office. We had agreed to move my gym equipment up here since the lab was in the basement. I turned the red bag around until I found the zipper. Grabbing it securely with my thumb and index finger, I yanked it down a couple of inches. When it was open just far enough for me to stick my hand in, I did just that. Fishing through the stuffing, my fingers grazed something hard. I pulled on it and out came a travel sized safe. It was about four inches long and five inches high. It wasn't much, just enough to hide important things in. I used to travel with it, keeping it in my hotel rooms or wherever I was staying when I saw Kim. The punching bag was the best place for it now.

Taking the safe, I set it on the desk gently and unlocked the door with the key. It clicked, the door popping open. I opened it fully, seeing the white velvet box inside. Sliding it from its home in the safe, I held the jewelry case in my palm. It was about three inched wide and when I opened it, I saw that the necklace was still in its place from where I left it. There was a silver chain, delicate enough to look like it would snap in the slightly breeze. Hanging from it was a heart pendant of white gold. Engraved on the front was 9:22. Turning it over, there was more writing. The exact moment I fell in love with you. I frowned. This was what I was going to give Kim when I finally had the courage to end things with Kat. Now, it was just a reminder of something that would never come.

Four Years Later…

I knew Kat was going to be pissed. I knew it from the moment I climbed into my jeep at 11 pm that night, leaving Jason's house. I had promised her I would be home by like 9 to finish up a few things in the kitchen for the remodel. And I had planned on being home at that time when I had left. But a couple hours at Jason turned into a couple hours out at the bar. Not that I was drunk. I was well below the legal limit. I had just lost track of time having fun with my best friend. It was the first time in a long time that I had had fun like that. It had also been the first time in six years that I had seen Kimberly. It was the main reason I was late.

Jason and I had been sitting at the bar, enjoying a beer when he mentioned that Trini would be coming by to hang out with us. He had failed to mention though that she would be bringing Kimberly. It was all very shocking to see her walk in the door with Trini a little while later. I could tell she had been surprised by my presence as well by the look on her face. For a moment, all I could do was stand there and look at her. She was stunning as always. Her hair was slightly shorter than before, clipped at the back of her head. She had sported a light pink floral top and a pair of tight-fitting black jeans. She didn't say much either and soon, I realized that Jason and Trini had planned this to try and fix our fight they all thought we had. Unfortunately, though, it didn't work like they had thought. I ended up excusing myself and hiding in the back-alley way until Jason found me. I chewed him a new one for not telling me that was going to happen. He apologized and that's when I realized just how late it was. Seeing Kim just seemed to widen the hole that was in my chest. I did my best to keep to her wishes, not speaking to her when they expected me to. Now, I felt empty inside. Not that it was anything new. I always felt that way now. This was just a heightened version of that.

I noticed the lights were still on in the house as I pulled into the drive way. Killing the engine, I took a deep breath before pulling the keys from the ignition. Letting it out in a puff of air, I jumped out and slowly walked up the steps that led to the front door. Turning the doorknob, I stepped inside. Kat wasn't in the living room though the light was on. Glancing around, I didn't see anything broken or harmed in any way. Closing the door behind me, I took a left and headed into the kitchen. That's where I found Kat, sitting at the kitchen table. There was a cup of tea in front of her and she barely glanced up as I entered the room. TO my surprise, she wasn't in her pajamas as normal. Instead, she wore a blue sweater and a pair of jeans. It was what she went to work in this morning. She must not have found the desire the change yet.

"I'm sorry, Kat. I just realized what time it was. I know that's no excuse but I'm very sorry." I said, trying to piece together a reasonable excuse. She shrugged her shoulders, taking a sip from the cup in front of her.

"It's fine." She said, setting the class down. "The kitchen will get done when you're ready." She sounded calm and uncaring. Like we were discussing the weather and not the fact I had stood her up. "How was the bar?" She asked.

"Okay. I had a beer and came home. Are you sure it's okay?" I asked. She gave me a small smile, reaching under the table in her lap. From there, she pulled out an envelope that was manila in color and on the larger side.

"I want a divorce." She replied, sliding the envelope towards me. My eyes widened at her words, unsure I had heard them correctly.

"What?" I asked, grabbed the envelope. I pulled the flap open and pulled the papers out. Divorce papers were indeed in my hand, both of our names on them as well. "But why?"

"Tommy, I think we both know why. I'm not an idiot. These past few years have been hell between us. You barely act like a functioning human being and it's not like we've been the ideal couple. We don't talk, you refuse to open up about anything and when you do, you shut right down when I try to fix things." She stood up, bringing her cup to the sink.

"I'm sorry." I replied. "Work has been hectic lately. It's been causing some issues. I can fix that though."

"Can you fix the fact you've been hiding an affair from me?" She questioned, looking over her shoulder at me. I felt my blood stop cold, my heart beginning to pound in my chest. "For like eight years now, right?" I fidgeted in my spot in the kitchen, unsure of what my next motion should be. How much did she exactly know? Did she know who? God, what the hell was going to happen now? Did I have a chance to call and warn Kim before Kat got to her?

"Kat, I don't know what you're talking about." I lied, hoping to cover my tracks. She shook her head, turning her whole body to face me.

"Yes, you do. You've been flying all over the southern part of the country to see Kimberly. I have the plane ticket stubs to prove it too. I found them when I was going through the closet, looking for my suitcase. That little hiding spot in the paneling is genius by the way." She ran a hand through her blonde hair and sighed. "I'm not mad, Tommy. And I'm not going to tell anyone."

"W-what?" I asked, amazed. She nodded.

"I've known for a while now. I just ignored the facts, I guess. It's more my fault than anything. I saw it happening and did nothing to stop it. And I should have seen this coming from the beginning. I just didn't have it in me to admit to it." She locked eyes with me. "I've always known how much you were in love with Kim. I just always allowed myself to believe the foolish notion that you would find a way to love me in some way that would almost equal to that. When we got married, I thought that had happened. Again, I was a fool."

"How did you find out about us?" I whispered, casting a guilty look down at the table.

"I think it was when you would go away for a few days and be as happy as could be when you came back. At first, I thought it was because you were happy to be home. But then I started noticing little things like you not packing dress clothes for business trips or how you would be very moody before leaving, like you couldn't wait to be out of here. After a while, I started wondering what kind of trips your work was making you do. I started looking on the internet to see what conferences you were at. When I didn't find any kind of conferences where you said they were, that's when I finally realized just what you were doing. I didn't say anything though because I thought for sure it would just be something that ran its course. For a while, I thought it did. But then I found the necklace you had hidden in the punching bag in your office. That's when I realized the illusion of us was never going to work out."

"I never meant for you to get hurt, Kat." I said. "I promise."

"I know. You're not that type of person. I don't blame you or Kim. You were just trying to be with the person you loved. I am disappointed in the way you handled it, but I understand." Bending down, she grabbed the handle of a suitcase I hadn't seen until now. It had been hidden behind the table. Standing up straight, she sighed again. "I'm staying at Rocky and Aisha's until my plane comes in tomorrow. I'll be back in a few weeks for our first round of legal litigation. I told my lawyer I want you to keep the house and your jeep. All I want are my things. Just read through the terms and let me know if you agree. I will do my best to be reasonable as can be." She walked towards the front door, passing me. I followed behind her, watching as she pulled on her coat.

"Now what?" I asked.

"Well, I'll be in Australia. I think I'm going to try the ballet company there." She replied. "As for you, I think you have a phone call to make. You should be with Kimberly, Tommy. Everyone knows it. Especially me now." She replied, giving me a small smile. "And your secret is safe with me. I will not tell a soul about this. I'm big enough to realize when enough is enough."

"She's not speaking to me." I whispered. "I told her I wouldn't leave you for her and she told me she hated me."

"Well, if there's one thing I know about Tommy Oliver, I know he never gives up." With that, she opened the front door and left.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it. And for the record, I know that most people would not handle someone cheating on them for ten years as nicely as Kat. If it were me, things would be broken on someone's face. But you have to see it as if she has played second place to Kim since her arrival. She's not surprised this happened because she knows her place in Tommy's heart as well. Mind you, I still hate the little blonde witch as much as the next hardcore Tomberly lover but a part of me feels like Kat had a bit of bad luck with the way she was used as a rebound that Tommy just didn't have the brains to realize.

I wonder what Dr. Phil would think of this!