Chapter 35

Tommy was in Angelica's car, which he had borrowed to drive to Hollywood. It was night time and he was driving home. It was very foggy out and he was the only one on the road.

"Sure am sleepy." he mumbled to himself. His cell phone then rang and he grabbed it and answered it. "Hello?"

"Tommy!" Lil yelled on the other side.

"Lil!" Tommy shouted for joy. "I got the job! I'm directing my movie! Isn't this great!"

"Phil's been shot!"

Tommy's eyes were wide open. He looked at the phone then straight ahead. "Hm." he pondered then put his ear back to the phone. "I'm sorry, say again?"

"Tommy!" Lil yelled. "Phil and Kimi were mugged and he shot Phil! He's in the hospital!"

"Oh my God!" Tommy yelled. "I'm almost home. I'll meet you at the hospital!"

"Okay." she replied. "Bye."

"Wait, Lil," Tommy stopped her before she hung up.

"Hm?"

"Lil . . . um, love you."

"Love you too, Tommy." she replied and hung up.

Tommy sighed throwing his phone into the back seat. He put his hand on his forehead. A tear rolled down his face. "Guess this isn't the best time for the bad news of my job."

Tommy ran into the waiting room of the hospital. Lil, Chuckie, Kimi, Angelica, Susie, and Dil were all there. He even saw Doug and Larry sitting with them.

"Doug? Larry?" Tommy walked over to them.

"Phil's our friend too, Tommy." Doug said.

Tommy shrugged and walked over to Lil and Kimi. "Well?"

"The bullet hit his stomach." Lil said. "The doctors say that there's a 80 chance he'll live."

"That's good." Tommy sighed sitting down. "What happened?"

"I invited Phil to dinner." Kimi said looking at the ground. "It's my fault. Then, I fought back when the guy tried to get my purse. He was aiming for me. It's my fault."

"No it's not." Lil put her arm around Kimi.

"So, Tommy," Dil came and sat by his brother. "How'd the Hollywood go?"

"I got a job." he smiled. "But," he made sure Lil wasn't listening. "There's a catch."

"Isn't there always?" Dil chuckled.

"Dil, this is serious." Tommy glared at him. "I have to move. Move to L.A."

"Huh?" Dil's mouth was wide open. "Well, you're obviously not going."

"Dil," Tommy sighed. "I have to. Lil's job isn't enough to support us. I have to."

"Tommy." Lil stood up. "I dropped off Mikey at your parents' place. I said I'd be back by eleven. So I'm gonna go get him then come back."

"Okay." Tommy replied smiling as she left. "Guys," he said to everyone. They all turned to him with puzzled looks. "I have to tell you all something."

"What is it, Tommy?" Doug asked.

Tommy turned and looked at Doug oddly, then turned back to the rest. "I . . . well, uh, have to move."

"Move?" Chuckie asked. "Move like, what, a block or two away?"

"Possibly even across town?" Angelica asked.

"Los Angeles." Tommy replied sighing.

"What?" they all screamed.

"L.A.?" Kimi asked. "That's a day's drive!"

"Why are you moving?" Susie asked.

"I got a job directing." he smiled. His smile turned to a dissatified frown when he saw no one happy for him. "I was expecting a little enthusiasm." he rolled his eyes.

"Oh, sorry! Good job!"

"Nice!"

"Alright, Tommy!"

"Anyway," Tommy said. "Don't tell Lil." he said.

"Why?" Kimi asked.

"Because," he sighed, "Her brother just got shot. I don't want anything else going wrong in her life right now. She's been having just a good time in her life lately. But, don't worry, if she doesn't want to go, I'm not going to."

"Tommy." Angelica said as she began to cry.

"I'm sorry guys." Tommy sighed again. "But, things change."

"Of course." Chuckie said looking at the ground.

"Growing up really changes everything." Kimi said as she began to cry.

It was the next morning. Everyone, including Lil and Mikey, were asleep in the waiting room. Kimi was the first to wake up. She rubbed her eyes looking around at everyone. She then walked towards Phil's room.

She slowly opened the door but then got an angry face when she saw him sitting up in bed watching Oprah.

"Phil." she growled.

"Huh?" he looked to her. "Hi Kimi."

Kimi grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. "Rest, Phil."

"I'm fine." he smiled.

"No." she glared at him. "Phil, I've lost you so many freakin' times and I won't again!" she yelled.

"Uhhh, what?" he looked at her oddly.

Kimi looked at his eyes and she began to cry. "Phil, I-"

"It's okay, Kimi." he held her hand and sat up completely in bad. "The bullet wound isn't even that bad. I'm not gonna die."

"I know." she replied. "It's just, everything is changing and-"

"What's changing?" Phil asked. "I'm fine. Nothing's gonna change."

"Okay." she nodded. "Okay." she sighed. "Phil, do you know why I invited you out to dinner?"

"For food?" he shrugged. "A free meal?"

"You idiot." she glared at him. "Phil, I'm still in love with you."

"Huh?"

Kimi just stared at him and he slowly brought his lips to her and kissed her. She broke away and looked at him. "Phil, are you just-"

"No, Kimi." Phil replied. "I do love you. But, I'm me. Ya really think I'd make the first move?" he chuckeld.

She laughed with him then got a straight face and looked at him odd. "Uh, yes."

"Never mind that." Phil smiled and kissed her passionately again.

"What?" they heard someone yell. Kimi ran to the door and Phil jumped out of bed. They both looked down the hall to see Lil angry at Tommy.

"Lil,"

"Tommy!" she shouted. "You already took the job without even asking me if I wanted to?"

"You don't have to go." he said. "I'll just drive up there and stay for a few days and come back on weekends and you know, stuff like that."

"No Tommy." she began to cry.

"What's going on?" Phil whispered to Kimi.

"They're moving."

"What?"

Everyone who likes, loves, or just reads this story, I just want to tell you all that is approaching an end. Anyhow, R&R.