Disclaimer: I do not own Wizards Vs Aliens. I only own the plot idea and my OCs Rachel and Ellie. Anything you may recognize belongs to CBBC, Russell T. Davies and Phil Ford.

Rachel's POV

After the last bells rung, I gathered my stuff and stopped by all the other classes in the day to get extra copies of the assignments that were due the next day. I put them in a separate folder and then carried them out with me. My father noticed them instantly and asked what they were for, as I expected he would. "These are for a friend. He left early and I figured I could take the assignments." I explained. And I wanted to do more than just hand them off. "Is that alright? He doesn't live far from here." My dad didn't have to think for too long and then he drove me over.

"You've never mentioned a friend that lives in our neighborhood," Dad commented as he parked in front of the house.

"It's a more recent friendship," Today had been the first day we had talked to each other, but I had seen him around; and not just at school. "Can I go now?"

"Do they know you're coming over?"

"Not exactly…" I admitted. "It's kind of a surprise."

"Then maybe I should wait."

I shook my head. "I'm sure it will be fine." Of course, I didn't know that. But the worst that could happen was that it was a bad time and I could walk myself home. But I doubted they would turn me away if I was bringing his homework. "You don't want to be late for your date."

Dad smiled and then gave me a kiss on the head. "Have fun, honey."

"Yeah, okay." I almost had to laugh. It's homework. But I guess it would be more fun than doing it alone.

I got out of the car, grabbing my backpack that was laying on the floor. I put one strap over my shoulder and then went to the door as I heard dad's car drive away. I knocked on the door and waited a few moments before an older woman answered the door.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"I'm looking for Tom," Though I knew she probably could figure that out. From what I heard, Tom didn't have any siblings and I was eleven. I certainly wouldn't be there for any adults. "Is he here?" I figured he was. I doubted he would be anywhere else after what happened at lunch-time.

"He is," The woman nodded. "But I don't think he is up for visitors at the moment."

"I brought his homework." I offered. "And some help."

The woman hesitated for a moment. "We'll see if he's up for it." She stepped aside and opened the door. "Please come in."

"Thank you," I said politely as I stepped inside and she shut the door behind me. She then led me upstairs and she knocked on a bedroom door, opening it slightly.

"Tom," She said. "Someone's here to see you."

"Who is it?" I heard him ask.

The woman turned back to me, puzzled, as she had forgotten to ask my name when she let me in. "Rachel," I told her, and then I poked my head in so Tom could see me.

"Um yeah." Tom sat up on his bed and the woman let me go in.

"I'll just leave you two alone then." The woman smiled before stepping out and shutting the door.

"Your gran?" I asked and Tom nodded. "She seems nice."

"She is," Tom said. "How did you know where I live? I never mentioned."

"Why would you? We only just talked today." I pointed out as I walked over towards the bed and stood on the side he was sitting on. "But I live down the street and I've seen you around—not just at school."

"You've seen me?"

"Some mornings." I nodded. "I walk to school most days when I stay with my dad." I decided to clarify. "You walk some mornings, don't you?"

"Sometimes."

"Anyways, I bring gifts," I slid the backpack strap off my shoulder and then took out the folder I put the assignments in. "Your homework."

"Thanks…" Tom wasn't thrilled. I wasn't sure why I expected anything else than that reaction.

"I know, not too exciting." I chuckled. "But this way you won't get too overwhelmed." If you miss too much, it was easy to get overwhelmed by the extra work."

"I'll get to it later." I noticed Tom's expression as he put the papers to the side. Of course, the last thing he wanted to think about was school work. I definitely knew what that was like and not just because course work isn't my favorite thing to do.

"If you get a start on it, I could help you." That was the other reason I was here; I wanted to help.

"You shouldn't waste your time." Tom hesitated.

"I wouldn't be," I sat next to him on the bed and he moved over slightly. I was barely on it so I had to use my right leg to hold myself up. "I helped you at lunch, didn't I?"

Tom nodded, still hesitating. "Just lucky."

"Not lucky," I corrected. "I just know how to teach you."

"I'm too stupid…" Tom mumbled.

"You're not," I shook my head. "You just learn differently, is all." But Tom didn't seem to believe me. Benny's certainly done a number on him. "You're dyslexic, like me."

"What?"

"You have dyslexia," I went on to explain. "That's why reading and writing and math is hard." I gathered he hadn't been diagnosed and that's why he didn't know. But I knew that wasn't uncommon. Apparently, there were a lot of people who didn't find out for a while, some not until they were adults. That's the way it was for my uncle.

"Like you?"

I nodded. "I have it too, but I was diagnosed early." That probably had to do with my uncle having it that my parents knew the signs. "I remember I used to get so frustrated and the thought of reading out loud in class was terrifying." I was sure Tom had similar feelings. "I cried a lot."

"How did you find out?"

"My parents knew the signs and took me to someone and they explained it to me," I told him. "Did you know Tom Cruise has it?"

"He does?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "Anyways, you'll need to be diagnosed technically, but I am pretty sure you have it."

"How did you know?"

"Remember the first day of the term when you had to read in class?" I asked and Tom nodded, biting his bottom lip. Of course, he wouldn't forget that. I figured as much. He would be likely to forget that as I would be to forget when this group of girls told me I was stupid in first grade. "That and the spelling bee…I kind of put two and two together."

"You could be wrong."

"I could, but I'm not." It was unlikely I was wrong about this. "Unless you really are just playing dumb in class to be cool, but I don't think so." After Benny humiliating him like he has, I doubt he was messing around. "When I helped you at lunch, you seemed to get it."

"A little. Is that why you wanted to help?"

"Partly." That hadn't been the only reason I sat with him at lunch. "You also seemed like you could use a friend."

"Friend?" Tom asked.

"I hope so," I chuckled. "At this point." If he didn't consider me a friend now, well that might make things weird.

"If you want to be." Tom was trying to hide a smile. "All my other friends left."

"They weren't your friends," I assumed most of the boys were just mad and were holding the football thing over his head. "Either they will eventually get over it or they won't. If they don't, then you should find better friends."

Tom smiled. "I think I did."

I blushed. "So should we get started?" I cleared my throat. "I finished my homework already, so I can give you notes and help you."

Tom moved over and I sat next to him, taking out my folders.

"You have a lot of folders."

"It helps to be organized," My mum had taught me that. She was the most organized person I knew and it certainly helped to know where things were. "Now let's start with English." I took out my copy of the book we're reading and then my MP3 player.

"What's that for?" Tom asked.

"I have an audiobook copy."

"A what?"

"An audiobook. It's the book but someone reads it to you on tape. Have you never listen to one?" I asked and Tom shook his head. "I learned this trick since reading is hard, sometimes it's better if someone reads the book to you. Then you can get pictures in your head—it's like seeing the story."

"Like a film in your head."

"Exactly." I nodded and then gave him one earpiece so we could listen to the chapter.

Once we finished the chapter, I helped him with the worksheet, and then we went on to finish the math homework. It took enough time and by the time we got through it, we decided to take a break. Tom put his hand on his head. "Can we take a break?" Tom asked before I had a chance to bring it up. "My head hurts."

I nodded and then pushed the homework to the side. "So what happened at lunch?"

"Benny," Tom answered as he laid down, closing eyes. "What else could have happened?"

I guess he had a point there.

"So what happened exactly?"

"Did you miss the entire thing?" Tom and I nodded. Though that wasn't the truth; I had been there. "Well, I'm sure the school was talking about the massive food fight in the canteen."

"And they will probably be talking about it for weeks." I laughed.

"Yeah," Tom nodded. "Benny said I started it."

"But you didn't?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I already knew the answer. I was curious to see what he was going to say.

"I guess technically I did," Tom admitted. "But I didn't intend for all that—I just wanted him to leave me alone and—"

"That's what they want—both of them—it seems instead of just being cruel, they are trying to get you in trouble."

"Well, it worked," Tom responded. And more than once I gathered.

"Just be careful." I knew it could have gone a lot worse. Especially if they had seen Tom do what I had.

"If only I had the power to be invisible."

"That would be magical." I smiled slightly and looking over to see Tom's expression. Good, he hadn't caught on.

"Guess I'm on my own." Tom sighed and put my hand on his shoulder.

"Not completely alone," I corrected. "You have one friend."

"Yeah," Tom smiled. "And you know what it's like." I kept my face neutral though I felt a small wave of panic wash over me but then calmed at realizing what he probably meant. "If I am dyslexic, that means I'm not hopeless? With school, I mean."

"You're most definitely not hopeless," That I knew for certain. There were people that didn't care to try and they were hopeless; Tom wasn't one of those people. "Do you know Miss Reynolds?"

"The special ED teacher, I've seen her around, why?"

"Well she helps me, so maybe she could help you." And I figured she could always give him the test to see if I was right. "Your dad could give her a call."

"Tom?" We heard a man's voice approaching and I assumed that must be his dad.

"My dad's home," He told me and the man with grayed hair came into the room. He was surprised to see me.

"Sorry, I didn't realize…"

"Dad, this is Rachel."

"I was just bringing Tom his homework and helping him a bit," I explained. "I hope that was alright. His grandmother let me in."

"That's quite alright." His father smiled. "I probably should tell you there is a car parked right outside."

"Oh!" I started to gather my things. "That must be my dad." Either his date ended abruptly or I had been here longer than I thought. I looked out the window and recognized the car. "Yep, it's him, I better get going."

"Well bye, thanks for this."

"I'll see you at school tomorrow, yeah?" It was more of a question. I wasn't sure what kind of trouble he got into for the food fight. "And hey, maybe if your dad is okay with it, would you like to come over this weekend?" I turned to his father. "When I stay with my dad, I'm only down the street."

"Can I dad?"

"Can I get back to you on that?"

"No problem," I assumed he may need to think, especially if he knew what happened today. If he knew as much as I did, of course, that would amount to more trouble. That and he didn't know me. He would need to know more from Tom first. "I'll see you later." But hopefully, he would let him go. I knew he could have some fun; and more than he knew yet.

A/N: So while Michael was having an unpleasant conversation with Tricia, Rachel went over to see Tom. And it seems she may have some secrets of her own.

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