Finding Our Way Home

Sequel to "I Dreamed a Dream"

I don't own anything. If I did, we'd all be a lot happier and the power ranger would have a lot more drama/romance.

Summary: Tommy moves to a new town and bumps into Kimberly. But how have they both changed?

Chapter 1: New Home

Tommy's POV

I wake up in a bed that I'm not quite used to. It is my first morning in my new apartment. The intense sunlight blinds me first thing. "Ouch." I complain to myself. Shielding my eyes to the best of my ability, I attempt to get out of bed.

Then I find that it wasn't such a good idea.

I trip over my shoe.

This is followed by a long string of curse words. You see. I've been a bit touchier since Kim left. It was two years ago today. I know she's alive. I would be able to feel it if she wasn't, but I still worry. I just don't want her to suffer . . . or find someone else.

I need to calm down, and the clutter of this box-filled apartment isn't helping any. With a sigh, I pick myself up and walk toward the closet. That is the one thing I did get done yesterday; I put away all my clothes.

I pull out a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt as well as a pair of socks and some sneakers. I put them all on and grab my house key.

I quietly pull my door shut and try not to stomp on the steps to hard as I descend to the street.

When I get outside, I close my eyes and let the cool spring air calm me. I stand there for a minute before I start to jog south on the sidewalk. There aren't many people out, but the few who are don't say much, if anything. It's nice to just be able to clear your head.

Unfortunately, I clear my head a little too well. I pay attention to everything but what's in front of me. I bump into a woman, knocking off her hat and making the book she held fall to the ground.

I'm immediately aware and I squat down the same time she does to help her pick up her things. Her head is turned from me while she retrieves her hat. I pick up her book and notice the cover: Les Miserables.

"I'm sorry; I wasn't watching where I was going." I say looking towards the ground.

"No, it was- Tommy?" My head immediately snaps up.

"Kim?" It's her voice. She's wearing pink. Could she really be Kim, my beautiful? I look in her eyes and I see it. "Kim."

"Oh Tommy! I've missed you so much!" She sighs and throws her arms around my neck. It's now that I notice that I have yet to take a shower.

"Uh … Kim? Would you like to get something to eat? I want to talk to you, but I kind of need a shower." I say sheepishly and I know that my cheeks are the color of her old suit.

"Sure." She laughs. "I need to get some stuff done. How is lunch?" She suggests.

"Okay. Any place you can recommend?" I ask.

"Yep." She takes a piece of paper out of her purse and jots down an address. It is on the same street I live. "It is very casual. Kind of like a fast food place, but so much cleaner. And they have really good smoothies. Ernie's are still better though." She chuckles. "Twelve?"

"Twelve." I agree. We both head off separate ways. As I walk but up the stairs to my apartment, I have to wonder. Why did she have that hat on?

At eleven fifty-nine, I pull up to the address scribbled on the paper. Without really looking at the place's name, I shuffle into the building. It is relatively full, but I find Kim easily sitting at a long counter talking to a woman. I walk over slowly, trying to figure out what they are talking about. But to no avail. The other patrons, young teenagers, are making too much noise.

"Hey Kim." I smile walking over.

"Hi Tommy!" She again throws her arms around my neck in a hug. "This is Hayley." Over the course of the next hour, I learn that Hayley is a year older than we are and she is in college. Kim tells me she is in college now and I tell her that I just transferred to the same college and I start Monday.

Around one, Kim is able to convince me to let her help with setting up my apartment. We walk the first block hand in hand silently. Finally, the question that has been nagging me comes out. "Kim, do you have a boyfriend?" I ask.

"Yes. I do have a boyfriend." She answers without hesitation.

"Oh." I say. I try not to let my breaking heart into my voice.

"He goes to my college. He is currently holding my hand." She states with a chuckle and looks toward me.

"You just scared me to death Kim. That wasn't fair." I sigh heavily. Her only response is a laugh and a quick kiss.

Spoiler: The cast of my play is going to give me sugar cubes! (no seriously, they are)