Tommy suffered throughout the rest of his morning periods. He was dreading fifth period with Lil and he had no idea why he had asked Brett to meet him behind the school. Tommy had a good figure, he was considered one of the best looking guys in school, along with Phil, and he was pretty muscular. That still didn't change the fact that he just wasn't the type to fight. He especially never expected himself to initiate one. But he had it coming to him, right? Brett was just looking to get his ass kicked. He couldn't possibly do something like that to Lil and then expect to...

Tommy had these thoughts running through his head throughout second, third, and fourth period. He really tried to make himself listen to the teacher. He was a good student, but he couldn't seem to get his mind on anything else.

"Thomas..." His fourth period teacher called, interrupting his thoughts.

Tommy looked up.

"...Could you answer the question, please?"

Tommy looked flustered.

"That is, if you were listening." His teacher challenged him.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." Tommy answered her challenge. "I guess that I just had something else on my mind. Sorry." Tommy blushed.

"Well, from now on, all I would like you to have on your mind is my class. Is that understood?"

"Yes, ma'am." Tommy said without looking at her.

He heard the snickers of his fellow students. He wanted to fall into a hole at that second. Tommy continued to count the minutes until the bell rang. He managed to make it out of that class without any more confrontations and without being stopped by the teacher to talk about his attention span.

The second he stepped out of her classroom, he rushed to the cafeteria. He had to talk to somebody. He had to talk to Chuckie.

Tommy made it to the cafeteria without a problem and searched for Chuckie for a few seconds before it dawned on him that, because Chuckie was a year older than they were, he may have a different lunch wave.

Fortunately, Tommy spotted Chuckie sitting alone at a table. He made his way over to him.

"Hey! What up, T!" Chuckie exclaimed.

Tommy held a solemn look on his face as he sat down.

"Actually, Chuck, I need to talk to you."

Tommy could see the shock in Chuckie's eyes and he knew that it was serious.

"What about?"

Tommy hesitated. He didn't know if he should tell Chuckie about Lil or if he should mention what he had called her this morning or how he felt he was losing his world by losing Lil or...

"I'm going to fight Brett this afternoon." He finally blurted out.

Chuckie's face actually dropped. He leaned in close to Tommy and started to whisper.

"Tommy, we both know that you're not one to fight. What did you do to him? Did he threaten you in front of the class? What made you take his challenge?"

Tommy gave a short chuckle.

"Actually, Chuckie, you're gonna laugh when you hear this, but I actually challenged him! Ha ha. Isn't that great?"

Chuckie's face said it all. He was completely taken aback with what Tommy had just said that he was practically expressionless.

"Chuckie? Chuckie, say something!" Tommy pleaded.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!" Chuckie shouted.

Tommy slunk down in his seat. For one, he didn't really feel like being the center of attention in the cafeteria, and two, he'd never heard Chuckie have an outburst like that before, and it kind of scared him.

"Chuckie..." Tommy meekly replied to his question. "Chuckie, remember a couple weeks ago at Phil and Lil's birthday party when I was sitting out on the porch and you came out to sit with me? All's I can say is that he had something to do with how angry I was. I can't tell you what happened, because that would be a violation of anonymous confidentiality, but I can say that he deserves it. He deserves to go to hell, Chuckie. I swear, if murder were legal, he'd be mutilated right now!"

"All right, Tommy. If that's what you say is the truth, then I believe you and I support you one hundred percent. But, need I remind you that Brett has more experience in beating the crap out of people than you ever will? I mean, Tommy, remember in first grade when you and..."

At that moment Tommy shushed Chuckie. Phil and Kimi were heading toward their table with their lunch trays and Tommy really did not want Phil to know what they were talking about. He could just see how it plays out:

"Hey guys. Whatchya talking about?"

"Oh, nothing. Just how I'm supposed to beat the crap out of Brett after school today for raping your sister last year. So, Phil, how was your day?"

No. Definitely not. So, Tommy just dropped the topic while he was ahead.

"Hey guys. What's up?" Phil asked as he set his tray down beside Chuckie.

"Nothing." Tommy mumbled.

"So, I saw Lil today in the hallway." Kimi said as she took a seat next to Tommy and across from Phil.

"Yeah?" Chuckie asked. "Huh. Did she snub you, too or was she actually civil?"

"Actually, she said that she missed hanging out with me and she'd like to get together with me sometime after school. She actually seemed kind of upset. It looked like she'd been crying. I felt kind of bad for her."

"You felt bad for her?" Phil exclaimed. "Why should you- or any of us for that matter? She's been nothing but a bitch since our birthday party. I can't stand it. She's back hanging out with Leslie and Diane and Brett. It disgusts me..."

"She's WHAT?!?" Tommy exclaimed as he jumped out of his seat in outrage.

"She's disgusting me, that's what! I mean, all's she ever does is hang out with those freaks that she hung out with a couple years a go. Always bitching about one thing or another, staying out past curfew, missing family dinners..."

As Phil went on about the way that Lil was acting, Tommy fumed inside.

How the hell could she still even look the guy in the face let alone hang out with him anymore?

"I'm done, guys. Catch ya later in sixth period, Kimi."

"Bye, Tommy." Kimi called.

"Yeah, see ya bud." Phil gargled as he took a swig of his root beer.

As Tommy headed for the door he heard some giggles.

"Hey, Lil, don't you know him?"

"Oh, yeah. Tommy Pickles. What a loser."

"But, weren't you friends with him?"

"HA! Hardly. He's my brother's friend, unfortunately. I've just always pretended to be friends with him. I guess I just felt bad for him. I don't even know why I bothered. He's a complete ass. I HATE HIM."

The truth of those words stung Tommy. He resumed his walk out of the cafeteria, pretending he wasn't bothered. He knew Lil. And he knew she had said that last part loud enough for him to hear. As he took one last glance to the cafeteria he saw Lil and her new gaggle of friends. Phil was right. She was back hanging out with Leslie and Diane. And worst of all, Brett was sitting right next to Lil with his arm around her.

Tommy took a closer look at Lil from afar. This time when he looked at her, she wasn't smiling or laughing. She didn't even look happy. She looked miserable. And if it was the last thing he did, Tommy would make sure that she wouldn't have to endure any more pain.