Chapter 27

7pm

Aisha looked up from fridge to see Kimberly coming into the flat.

"Where have you been!"

"Talking to Dr. Jones."

"Who's he?"

"She, is Tommy's therapist."

"Oh, whoa."

"Yea. I brought Wendy's."

"Good, I love you. If you just had that Y chromosome." Kimberly laughed.

"I got frosties too." Kimberly held up the 2 cups. "We talked about soo much, Aisha. What I did wrong, what Tommy did wrong, how we just need to talk and figure out where to go. She was really helpful."

"I'm glad. So you gonna go talk to him?"

"Not tonight. She agrees with giving him space. I need to give him space and not try to push us back together. He'll come back. I know he will because he loves."

"Wow, where did this optimism come from?"

"Dr. Jones said I needed to have a positive attitude from here on and hopefully it can rub off on Tommy." She ate some french fries. Kimberly went to her room and changed into her PJ's. Aisha and her sat in the living room setting up their notes from each class. There was a buzz at the door. Kimberly went and opened it.

"Hey."

"Can I come in?"

"Sure." Kimberly stepped aside for Tommy to come inside.

"Can we talk alone?"

"Okay." She followed him to her room. Aisha and her shrugged at each other. Kimberly closed the door behind her.

"What are you doing?"

"What?"

"Why were you talking to my doctor!"

"I wanted to help, so I went to..."

"Don't! God, I don't need or want your help!"

"I just wanted to make..."

"Like I said, we are through! I don't need you in my problems anymore!"

"But I can help! I love you!" Tommy pulled away as Kimberly touched him.

"Just stay out of my fucking business! I won't tell you again."

"Why are you being such a jerk!" She started crying.

"Don't you dare. Don't you dare start with the waterworks."

"I love you Tommy."

"I really hate that word, people use it too much." Tommy opened the door and left. Kimberly fell to her knees crying. Aisha came inside. She simply went over and hugged Kimberly.

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Next day

Monday morning were a drag. Kimberly sat in Global taking notes for the final coming up. Class was dismissed. Kimberly zipped up her coal hoodie and went with the others for lunch.

5pm

Aisha walked into the dark bedroom of her best friend.

"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?"

"Pretty much." Aisha took the half-drank bottle and patted Kim's leg.

"Come on, let's get out of here."

"I just want to lay here."

"We should be practicing our Biology presentations or our dance. All the others are in the library. We got 2 rooms."

"Tommy gonna be there."

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"He wasn't interested."

"Great." Kimberly grabbed the bottle back. "I just want to be alone!"

"I won't let you do this again."

"You can't stop me!"

"True." Aisha slipped out of her sneakers and jacket. "But I can join you." She pulled the covers back. "Move over."

"What is wrong with you?"

"One word. Jason." Aisha took a hit from the bottle.

"What is wrong with that boy now?"

"I am."

"What?"

"I don't know, we were getting back to that place, then he pulls away again, like he doesn't want to let me in completely."

"Poor Jason. Still scarred from Emily."

"That bitch." They both laughed.

"You know she was really sweet from what I heard," Kimberly said drinking again.

"You know, you are lucky. You were Tommy's first, and he yours."

"Funny, right now I don't feel soo lucky." Kimberly drank more.

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Next day
10:40 am

In Writing class, Kimberly and Tommy sat on opposite sides of the room. Kimberly Professor was handing out key flyers that will help everyone get through the final. Writing final would consist of a 20 question multiple choice section on works they read over the semester along with a 2 essay questions. Kimberly was talking notes of what to expect, when she caught Tommy staring off. Their eyes connected. Tommy looked down, but up again. Kimberly refused to look away.

"And that's that. So good luck to you all. Start early and study often." Class was let go.

Cafeteria getting filled when Kimberly arrived. She saw Aisha, Adam and Rocky already sitting down.

"Hey, come, sit and eat."

"I'm just gonna grab something quick and see Tyler."

"Didn't you see him yesterday?"

"Yea." Kimberly walked away.

"She goes to see him like everyday now," Adam said.

"What do you expect? She feels guilty. She shouldn't, but she believes this is all her fault," Aisha said.

"He will be released soon, right?"

"I don't know. Doctors said a few weeks or so. He was lucky, he was really beaten up. Tommy nearly ki..." Aisha looked up to find Tommy standing there. "Oh, hey."

"Whatever." Tommy said down with his tray. Katherine not far behind. Kimberly came out carrying a brown bag.

"Can we practice dance after lab?"

"Of course." Kimberly looked at Tommy. He barely acknowledge her presence. "Bye."

"Bye."

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3pm

Chemistry lab was a short one, as the last one of the semester. Exam was late Monday afternoon.

"So, I was thinking snakeskin pants."

"My pink ones?" Kimberly asked as they went through closets to figure out outfits.

"No, the black ones!"

"Oh, with tan top and ankle boots."

"We shouldmake our hair super straight," Aisha added. "Little bump and curl, but not too much."

"Oh, that sounds good."

"We don't have good tan tops."

"Yea we do."

"Where?"

"That's what shopping is for."

"SHOPPING!" They laughed.

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Next day

Kimberly was the first to give her presentation for Biology. Each student was given 6-10 minutes on any subject that discussed throughout the semester. It was cell Biology. Plant cells were Kim's choice, since she loves gardening, she talked about structure and benefits of it. Chemistry class was next. Teacher just wanted to give everyone review sheets and send them on their way to study. The professor set up sessions with the TA for the rest of the week.

2 pm

Dance class, everyone had friends come and watch the class do their performances. Aisha and Kimberly dressed in tan racerback tanks, black snakeskin print pants and black leather ankle boots. Anyone was allowed to come and watch. The teacher was taping it to be later graded and used if good enough for her upcoming classes. All the guys, except for Tommy came. Katherine was dragged in by Tanya. Jenna thought the only reason Kimberly got such better grade was because she went after her. She made it so, Kimberly was to go before she and her partners did their performances. Aisha handed over the CD to the professor. In the end, Aisha and Kimberly got the loudest cheer of the day.

They all got back to the loft, talking and laughing about the performance. Rocky trying to mimic some moves. Aisha and Kimberly were trying to teach him. Everyone laughed as he thrusted his pelvis and grabbed his crotch. Tommy came out his room.

"Could you all shut the hell up! Some people have work!" He slammed the door back. Kimberly got down from Rocky's back, she had him in a headlock after he grabbed his crotch and was lifted to his back. She went to his door. She knocked on his door. "GO AWAY!"

"Open the door." Nothing.

"Oh no," Rocky said. Kimberly turned then spun kicked the door. It swung opened.

"What the fuc.." Kimberly slammed the door back.

"This attitude! This fucking jerk ass attitude has to stop!"

"Who the fuck are you in my room to come.."

"There is a kind way to tell someone..."

"I don't have to listen to this! This is my room, get out!"

"We were just..."

"Go to your place and party then!"

"Make me." Kimberly folded her arms across her chest. Tommy laughed.

"Get out."

"Come on, Tommy. Make me." Tommy stood up and grabbed her forearms. He went to move her, but stopped. They stared at each other. Tommy quickly grabbed her face and kissed.

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Teaser: Tommy turned Kimberly to her back. Kimberly went to kiss him, but Tommy moved away. Kim reached up again, but Tommy, open-mouth, pulled away. Kim smiled and they kissed finally.