Chapter 44. This has been the longest I've gone with updating, so sorry about that. Life has been crazy and I've barely had time to write and on top of that I've hit some writers block on all 3 pf my stories. As always, I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think!

"You're so lucky you get to start your day with computer, 8:30 is too early for Pre-Calc," Julie told Tim as they walked into the school.

"I only have three classes all day aside from electives," Tim boasted.

"And how many of those are you failing?" Julie poked back, jokingly.

"I don't have anything lower than a B, thank you very much," Tim replied.

"Thanks to your amazingly smart girlfriend," Julie added.

"I'd probably be failing all of them if is wasn't for you," Tim agreed. "Have fun solving equations," Tim joked with a smirk as they got closer to the math room.

"See you at lunch smart ass," Julie replied teasingly.

"See ya," He told her with a chuckle as she waved before heading in the classroom. Tim walked down the hallway towards the computer room where his first hour class was. The halls were already pretty crowded, for it was nearing the start of class.

"Riggins!" A girl's voice shouted. Tim turned around to see who had called his name. "Tim!" She shouted again, pushing by a couple kids to get to him.

"What's up?" Tim asked the girl once she reached him. He was pretty sure she was in Julie's class, though he didn't know her name.

"I heard Julie isn't going to prom, would you want to go with me?" The girl asked.

"Well I wasn't really planning on going to prom since Julie isn't going," Tim replied. He had a feeling this would eventually happen: girls would hear Julie wasn't going and beg Tim to go with them.

"Why not?" The girl replied, letting out a dramatic sigh.

"Cause I don't wanna go with anybody other than Julie," Tim replied. "And I'd rather spend my night with my girlfriend and daughter," he added.

"Pleaseee," She pleaded, batting her eyes at him. "I don't have anyone else to go with."

"I'm sure you'll find someone, you've still got a month or so," Tim reassured as he turned to leave, hoping to get this girl off his case.

"But I don't have a date and you don't have a date, it's an easy solution," She said causing Tim to turn back towards her, his annoyance clearly evident. "And I got word there is going to be a pretty lit after party," She added, lowering her voice. She was hoping by mentioning the secret after party to entice Tim to go to prom with her.

"Meh," Tim replied. "I still think I'd rather stay home with Jules."

"Ugh, that slut made you such a fun hater when she got pregnant and turned you all serious," The girl stated. "The Tim I know would never turn down a good party," She added.

"Yeah well people change," He quickly replied. "Wait... did you just call my girlfriend a slut?" He asked, the words just now sinking in. "Don't talk about Julie like that!" He shouted when the girl didn't answer him.

"Woah Riggs, calm down," A boy that was passing by interjected.

"She just called Julie a slut!" Tim shouted angrily.

"Bro chill," The boy replied.

"But am I wrong?" The girl asked the boy.

"I mean..." The boy started before trailing off.

"Don't talk about my girlfriend like that!" Tim yelled, sending a glare to the boy.

"Hey!" Tyra who was walking to class shouted. "What's going on here?"

"They're calling Julie a slut," Tim told Tyra.

"How dare you!" Tyra shouted.

"I mean she is one though," The girl stated.

"I can't believe you stayed with her. You should have gotten away while you could, now you're tied down to her," The boy said. They had gotten on Tim's last nerve. He clenched his jaw out of anger.

"Tim don't," Tyra sternly warned sensing Tim's next move.

"And I can't believe you're still friends with her," The boy added, directing the comment to Tyra.

Tim couldn't take them trash talking his girlfriend anymore so he reared his arm back and let his fist connect with the boy's nose. The boy fired back with a nasty left hook. Tim didn't get another hit in before a teacher intervened and sent them all the Tami Taylor's office.

When the tardy bell rang they were all four seated in the chairs of the school office, instead of their respective first hour classrooms. After sitting in the main office for several minutes, Tami finally came out of her principals office.

"You two, in there," She commanded pointing for Tim and Tyra to go in her office. She followed the two in the office, slamming the door behind her. They both sat down as she stood before them. "What the hell you two?" She asked in a heated tone. Tim and Tyra looked to each other, debating weather they should tell Tami that her daughter being called dirty names was the reason behind the fight.

"Mrs. Taylor, they were calling Julie names," Tyra finally confessed.

"What kind of names?" Tami asked, slightly annoyed.

"A slut," Tim answered. Tami winced. It was tough hearing your daughter called that. She respected Tim and Tyra for defending Julie, but they were still in the wrong so she still had to punish them.

"And you threw the first punch?" Tami asked Tim.

"He called Julie a slut, what else was I supposed to do?" Tim replied, defending himself.

"Well you didn't have to punch him," Tami responded. "Thank you for defending Julie, it means a lot to me, but I still have to punish you two for fighting," Tami told them. "Morning detention tomorrow, 7:30. And trust me those too will get it worse," She told them. She dismissed them and they went back to class and the other two went into her office to receive their punishment.

•

"So what's this I hear about you getting into a fight in the hallway this morning?" Julie asked when she sat down next to Tim at lunch. "And don't lie, I see the red marks on your cheek." Tim ran his fingers down the side of his sore, and apparently red, cheek.

"Just some dumb kids talking trash got on my nerves," Tim replied. He intentionally left out the part about who they were trash talking to save her the emotional pain.

"They were talking about me weren't they?" Julie asked, knowing her boyfriend had to have a really good reason to haul off and punch someone. Before Julie, he may have, but since dating Julie, it took a good reason and she was usually that reason. Tim didn't reply, he simply looked down at his tray and avoided eye contact to give Julie his answer. "Yeah, they were," she answered her own question based off his response. "Thank you."

"I'll always defend you Julie," He stated as he took her hand and gave it a loving squeeze.

Kind like this defensive side of Tim. Hope ya'll enjoyed this as well. Shoutout again to ChiTown4Ever for the inspiration and being a great reader. I appreciate all of you, from my silent readers to my outspoken readers! Until next time...