They Almost Were

Chapter 4

The Understanding

Tommy through the ball to Rocky just like the coach had ordered him to. It landed perfectly and securely in Rocky's hands. The coach blew his whistle and practice was over. He glanced to the fence hoping to catch a glimpse of Kimberly where she usually waited but she was no where in sight.

What did you expect, Oliver?

Jason stood waiting for him by the bench that held their gym bags. He had a scowl deeply planted on his face.

"So did it make you feel great?" Jason asked.

"What are you talking about," Tommy took a swig of Gatorade, a confused look on his face.

"Kimberly. Did you enjoy hurting her the way you did?"

"What's happening between me and Kim is between me and Kim. She doesn't need you to fix her problems anymore Jason, she has me for that."

Jason laughed at that. "I told you once that if you ever hurt Kimberly, you'd regret it."

"So what Jason, you gonna hurt me. Go ahead, do it. But Kimberly chose me over you. And ever since you've been mad about that. But now you see the chance to have her." Tommy shook his head. "So please do your worst."

"You're a jerk Oliver. Its just a shame that Kimberly had to wait until now to see that. I feel sorry for you. Really I do." Jason picked up his bag and began to walk away.

"So what? Are you just gonna go and play her knight in shining armor?" Tommy asked.

"No because if you would open up your eyes and see what a great girlfriend you've got, we wouldn't have had to have this conversation in the first place." Jason remarked and walk off with Zack and Rocky who stood waiting, both with pitying glances on their faces.

Shit. I messed up. I wanted Katherine just as much as she wanted me. I didn't think about Kimberly or the fact that I love her. Oliver, you are such a fool. How do I fix this? How do I make her understand that I love her?

Kimberly sat waiting patiently as Katherine returned with their drinks. Students were giving them strange glances but Kimberly ignored them. For some reason Katherine had felt the need to confide in her about something, and just because they weren't friends didn't mean she couldn't listen to her. She just wasn't that kind of person.

"Thanks for waiting," Katherine beamed and gave Kimberly her drink, and then she took her own seat.

"So you needed to tell me something?" Kimberly sipped the drink, the cool air of Ernie's Juice bar caressing her moist skin.

"Yeah. Look, I know that because of me you and Tommy aren't together anymore. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry." Katherine murmured this softly.

"I…." Kimberly was dumbstruck and she didn't know what to say.

"But that's not all. See, earlier today, after lunch, I came back to my locker." She sighed deeply. "And someone had painted in yellow the word "Slut" on it."

A lot of thoughts popped into Kimberly's head at that very moment. The only thing she could do was tell the other girl that she was sorry.

"I'm thinking of leaving Angel Grove. If I would have known that I would have caused this much trouble I never would have come." Katherine tried to smile, but it faltered.

"I want to say stay, but I can't. You made me realize that while me and Tommy were the dream couple, we are human. I don't know what I was thinking about when I started dating Tommy." Kimberly sighed.

"Probable that he'd never cheat on you," Katherine murmured. "For one thing."

"Yeah," Kim agreed. "Probable."

"I shouldn't have over stepped my boundaries. I knew you two were together. But I wanted him."

"One question."

"Yeah?"

She took a breath. "During the whole time you were pursuing Tommy, did he ever stop your advances."

"Yeah. All the time. He flirted with me sometimes, and then finally he just caved." Katherine looked away at the last part.

"Did he?" It wasn't really a question.

"Yes."

"You say you wanted Tommy?" Kim asked standing and turning to leave.

"Yes." She obviously still did.

"Guess what, you can have him." She tossed over her shoulder and left.

The statement lingered in the air long after Kim was gone and even with all the stairs from the other students, she knew she and Kimberly had come to a conclusion. She could freely pursue Tommy.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, good or bad.

Chapter 5: Katherine pursues Tommy, as Kimberly moves forward with another guy...