Chapter 26

As the team received their medals and plaques, Kimberly was in the doctor's room getting examined.

"I'm fine. I just got a little light-headed."

"You were near death yesterday."

"I'm fine."

"Your bp is low. Have you eaten since you woke up?"

"I ate a fruit bar on the way, but I was just soo nervous."

"You should have been resting, not competing," Coach Blair said.

"But I did well."

"Yes, you did," Coach Thorne said holding her shoulder after Kimberly sat up. "You looked great out there."

"Can I go now?"

"I suppose so. Go home and eat, then rest. Any headaches, please immediately go to the hospital."

"I know. I will." Kimberly zipped up her jacket. Aisha stood at the door as Kimberly came out. They hugged immediately.

"You okay!"

"Yea."

"Kimberly!" Some girls yelled for her to come over and get her medals. Kimberly won all-around for the girls and UCLA won the meet.

8pm

Aisha took Kimberly to get a victory dinner at Denny's. Kimberly was walking toward the loft when she found her things in boxes outside the door. Jason lifted a letter on top and handed it over to her. Kimberly opened it slowly, after a few lines, she was crying. Jason opened the door and Kimberly went straight for Tommy's door. She pounded on it. Tommy flung it open.

"Yes?"

"Excuse me? What the hell is this!" She held up the letter to his face.

"It doesn't need much explanation, I thought. I can't be with you now. We can't be together and that's it."

"Just like that you're ending us!"

"Yes."

"But..why..Tom.." He slammed the door in her face. She hit the door. "Damn you!" Aisha came over and helped her to her feet after Kimberly slid down the door crying.

"Come on, let's go." Jason helped take Kimberly's things back. Aisha put Kimberly into some PJ's and let her lay in her room. Aisha placed the puppies in the room and came out. Jason was putting the final box in Kim's room.

"Don't let her lock herself away again."

"I won't."

"This is going to be extremely hard, Aisha. She's gonna want to go to that dark place again, we have to make sure she doesn't."

"Does he really want to punish her like this?"

"Yeah, I have never seen him this way. Such anger,consumed within. I hope this anger management helps." Aisha hugged him. "Be strong. I'm here okay. Call me anytime. Don't worry too much, they'll get through this."

"How? How can you possible believe that now?"

"I don't know, how or why I do. But I do. And I know you do too." They kissed. "We have to make sure they do as well, eventually."

3 days later
11 am

Kimberly sat on Tyler's bed, in the hospital, holding his hand as he slept. They were talking a while ago. He woke up again.

"Hey."

"Hey, sorry, I knocked out on you, what was the last thing you said?" Tyler said in a weak voice. His vocal cords still slightly bruised from the fight.

"It's not important. You hungry or thirsty?"

"Why are you here?"

"I promised I wouldn't leave you, remember."

"And Tommy?"

"Don't you worry about that. Everything is okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yea," Kim lied, Tyler could slightly tell. "It will be."

"He was here."

"What?"

"Yea, first night, I think I saw him. He has been here a few other times."

"Whoa."

"Why so surprised?" Tyler asked.

"It's nothing. You sure you don't want anything?"

"Maybe some apple juice would be nice."

"Ok. I'll be right back." Kimberly got up and straighten her blue paisley poncho, underneath a pink tank, green cargo pants and pink flip flops. She went down the hall to the vending machine. She loaded a dollar and saw Tommy in the reflection. She turned around, but the hall was empty. Kimberly sighed and pushed the buttons for apple juice. Little did she know, Tommy was there, hidden from sight. Kimberly returned to the room.

"Here's your juice." Kimberly opened it and held it up for Tyler.

"Thanks." Kimberly sat to the bed, looking back often through the window. "What's wrong?"

"I thought I.. nevermind. I should go do some final presentation and studying preparation, but I'll back tomorrow."

"Oh right. Exams coming up."

"Saturday is the first ones."

"How many do you have?"

"Uh, 6. Global on Saturday, Chemistry and lab on next Monday with Writing. And Biology and lab on next Wednesday. But this week, I got that huge Biology presentation Wednesday."

"Good luck."

"Thanks."

2pm

Aisha was finishing up her Biology presentation, as Kimberly sat on the coffee table playing her guitar.

"You know you have a presentation as well."

"I know." Kimberly continued to play. "Since you've gone, well it seems like everything is wrong. And deep inside...How can I change the world? Cause I sure can't change your mind...Losing you, well it's been the hardest thing to do. So, I close my eyes and tell myself, that somehow I'll survive...And baby, so sad that you have to leave me, just so you can find yourself. And it's so sad that you just can't see, I love you more than life itself...Where's the miracle I need now, got to get to you somehow, got to get to you somehow, No, I can't change the world... " Kimberly stopped and stood up. She started putting her guitar in the case, when Katherine came into the apartment.
"And where have you been?" Aisha asked.
"With Tommy." She went and got some water, as Kimberly stopped clicking her guitar case closed.
"What?"
"Yea, he asked me to come with him to that class again."
"Anger management?"
"That's the one." Katherine drank her water. "I mean, since I'm his only one that really understand him."
"Excuse me?"
"Don't," Aisha said to Kimberly. Kimberly clicked the final piece. "I thought those meetings were for Tommy only."
"Well, he wanted some support."
"I should have..."
"Oh, come off it Kimberly. Tommy doesn't need you there."
"Excuse me?"
"Look, it's been deemed, you are not good for Tommy."
"Right and you believe that?"
"Not the only one, Tommy and the doctor."
"What?"
"Yea, Tommy's therapist thinks, believe, it is in the best interest for Tommy that you just stay away." Kimberly slammed her guitar caseto the table.
"That is just ridiculous!"
"Where are you going?"
"I need to speak to him."
"He has another group meeting. I told you, he doesn't want you!"
"I haven't seen him in 3 days!"
"So you can judge him! You all do it! He knows it! He sees how everyone ran to you and not even help him. They all left him in jail to go to the hospital!"
"Oh and I bet you just love to run to him!"
"Well, he doesn't love you." Kimberly grabbed Kat's arm and twisted it behind to her back and pulled her head back.
"Listen, you may think, wish, desire, Tommy to not love me. But guess what, he does. He always will."
"OW! You are hurting me!"
"Get this through you blonde head, we are going to be together. You see this ring, he gave it to me. He won't ever give it to you!" Kimberly shoved her forward. "Now, where the fuck is this place?"
"Like I would tell you!"
"So help me Katherine, I will..." Kimberly grabbed her head again, her fist raised to land a big punch to her face.
"Wade Ave! Wade and 9th street! Don't hurt me!" Kimberly let go. She grabbed her purse and keys and left the apartment.
"Crazy bitch."
"What was that?" Aisha stood with her hands on her hips. "Because the only crazy bitch I see here is you. You cannot possibly believe he will ever love you. He's not crazy." Aisha picked up her things and went to her room.

5pm

Kimberly stood outside the meeting room. She made sure to stay hidden as the class was being excused for the day. Doctor Jones was the last to come out after everyone had left. She saw Kimberly standing there.
"Miss? Can I help you?"
"The meeting..."
"You missed it, but there will be one everyday during week and twice on Sundays. I don't work on Saturdays. Do you have a court order or..."
"No, I don't. My...uh..my...I know someone who does." Kimberly fumbled with her pink ring.
"Okay."
"It's just...he...umm..I was told that I didn't have any right to be here."
"You must be Kimberly, Tommy's fiancé. "
"Yea, how did you..."
"He talks about you a lot."
"Oh god."
"Don't worry, mostly good."
"Mostly?"
"He's got some things to work through, but I believe in a short time, he will get through them. You want to come in?"
"Thanks." Kimberly followed her. Tommy came back to get the drink he left, when he saw Kimberly walk into Doctor Jones's office.

Teaser: "There you are! Why are you in bed at 5 o'clock in the afternoon?"
"Just tired I guess." Sarah McLachan CD going on in the background. Aisha knew better and pulled the covers down.
"Right. So Hypnotic just keeping you warm?"