The Trap is Set
Waking up to Ninja squirming, Tom tried to soothe her, "It's ok, Ninja. Wake up, it's just a nightmare." Ninja kept her eyes tightly shut, moaning and thrashing about, "No. Please, stop. Stop!" Tom shook her and saw fear in her wild eyes before a fist connected with his face. Still reeling from her nightmare, Ninja gained her bearings and apologized, "I am so sorry, Tom. Did I hurt you? I'm sorry, Tommy, I'm so sorry." "It's ok, Ninja. I'm fine, besides Penhall hits me just as hard." Tom said gently, kneeling in front of her as a pale bruise started to form on his left cheek.
Tears shining in her eyes, Ninja sighed, "I was just …" "Lost in a moment, I know. Let's get lost in a different one." Tom breathed as he leaned in and engulfed her sweet, cherry lips. Tom's passion quickly began to overwhelm her defenses and Ninja let him, deepening the kiss and allowing all but one wall to fall. "Tom." "Hmm?"
Finally breaking free of the intoxicating effect of Tom Hanson, Ninja said, "Tom, stop. I know I've got to be driving you insane being so close and all, but I ain't nothing but jailbait and I don't think you'll do good behind bars, Hanson." Exhaling, Tom laid his head on her lap, "I know, Ninja; I just want you so bad. I can't go five seconds without thinking about your eyes or your smile; everything about you really." With Ninja stroking his soft, brown hair, they both sat there until they heard their alarm going off.
Not wanting to move but needing a shower, Ninja asked, "Can I get up?" Standing up and extending a hand to help the lady rise, Tom wondered, "Where are we going?" "I'm going to take a shower, and no, you may not join me." Ninja smirked as she sauntered down the hall, fully aware that Tom was following her every move. "Guess I'll be fixin' breakfast then." Tom assumed as he walked into the bedroom. Gleefully dancing around him, Ninja said in a sing-song as she left the room, "We'll see who the better cook is when I'm done." Yes, we will, Ninja. Yes, we will. Tom smiled as he changed clothes and headed for the kitchen.
Walking back in with the paper, Tom was shocked to see Ninja in his Anarchy shirt with damp hair draped over her shoulders. "I haven't washed that yet but you can wear another one of my shirts if you want," Tom stated, remembering what happened earlier that morning.
Fondly recalling the same moment, Ninja grinned, "No one at school has seen any of your other shirts. Besides Doug stayed with J.J. last night and we had the house to ourselves." "But they'll draw …" "The wrong conclusion? As long as Doug and Judy believe us, let everyone else think what they want. You're a McQuaid, I'm a Turner; we don't always follow the rules." She smirked, reaching for the newspaper. Letting the lady have it, Tom pulled out her chair and placed an omelet in front of her.
"How do you like your coffee?" Tom asked as he poured the black liquid into two mugs. "Black." She answered before taking a bite, "Mm. This is delicious Tom. What'd ya put in it?" As he brought the cups of hot liquid to the table, Tom replied, "Ham, bacon, onions, and peppers. How's the coffee?" Gently blowing to cool the steaming drink before taking a sip, Ninja nodded her approval. "It's perfect. Who taught you how to cook?" "Mom for the most part but Dad showed me how to make omelets." Tom's chocolate eyes dulled at the memory of his father. "Well, he's a good teacher." Ninja said, causing Tom to faintly smile back. "Dad was the best. He's the reason I became a police officer."
After savoring every bite, sip, and moment, Ninja glanced at the watch hiding the scars on her left wrist, "Time to get moving, Tommy. We're going to be late as it is." "I think it's time us McQuaids get you in detention, Kat," Tommy smirked, snapping his gum as they headed out the door.
"Glad to see you're on time today, Mr. McQuaid, but where's your brother and Miss Turner?" Webb wondered as he took roll. "Don't know. I stayed with a friend last night and she woke me up early." Doug shrugged with a telling grin on his face. Secretly smiling to himself, Webb began teaching while waiting to play his part in Derek's scheme.
Opening the door very loudly, Tommy slammed it shut after Ninja entered. "Do you have to be so loud?" Ninja snapped irritably like she had a hangover or had not gotten enough sleep; or both. "You didn't complain last night." Tommy smoothly shot back, placing his hands on her small shoulders. Careful not to be overly-dramatic, Ninja wrenched herself free of Tommy's strong, slender fingers, "Last night was different. I wasn't thinking clearly and neither were you."
"Miss Turner! Mr. McQuaid! If you will take your seats for the last five minutes of class, you may continue this discussion in the hallway. And you both have detention for being late, now sit down." Webb ordered the prized students. Quickly turning around, Ninja sulked back to her seat, ignoring Tommy as he walked by. Doug looked at him, eyebrows raised, to which Tommy gave an almost undetectable head shake.
Successfully ignoring Tommy all morning, Ninja got what food she thought she could stomach and sought out J.J. Sitting down in a huff beside her friend, Ninja tried to eat her lunch couldn't consume half of what she got. "What's wrong Kat?" J.J. inquired, worried for her friend. Ninja exhaled, trying to calm her nerves, "That's just it. Nothing's wrong and I don't know why." "What do you mean?" J.J.'s doe-like eyes bored into Ninja as she thought, Those must be what drew Doug in to begin with.
Ninja sighed, "I don't know. Me and Tommy had the house to ourselves last night … I guess I'm waiting for history to repeat itself." "From what I've seen and heard from Doug, Tommy's not going to dump you any time soon unless you keep treating him like this. Get over your history; it's in the past and can't be changed." Judy stated as she left Ninja to ponder her words. She's right. I do need to get over it, I just wish it wouldn't be dragged up every few days. Ninja thought as she slipped out among the crowd of students on their way to class.
After avoiding Tommy all day, Ninja couldn't stop herself from passionately kissing him when he tried to sneak up on her outside the gym. When they separated, Tommy said breathlessly, "I missed you." Losing herself in the safety of his arms, Ninja replied, "I missed you too." Begrudgingly interrupting them, Doug cleared his throat, "Come on, you two. The sooner we get in there the sooner we get out of here." "We have detention, Doug, or did you forget?" Tommy scoffed while still holding Ninja, enjoying the faint floral smell wafting off her. "'Course I remembered. That's why I'm leaving with J.J. after school." Doug smirked, opening the door.
They walked in, Ninja's arm around Tommy's waist and his arm around her shoulder, and saw the wood floor was covered with mats. "Five laps then gather around! Go!" Smith barked. When everyone had congregated around the blue mats Smith said, "We're going to be wrestling today. Turner and Doug McQuaid, you're up first." Ninja paled at his words but her voice didn't tremble, "I'm not fighting, Coach." "If you don't I'll have to give you detention." Smith threatened. As calm as Tom had ever seen her, Ninja held her ground, "I won't fight, Coach. Go ahead and give me detention, I already have it."
Smith gave her a toothy grin, "Well then, you can run laps for the rest of the period." Without thinking, Ninja started running and didn't really pay attention to the matches until Smith changed it to King of the Mountain with Tommy in the middle. Then she realized, Smith is wearing us out and by 6:00, it might be too late. If they even realize we're missing...
When class was over, Tommy collapsed onto the mats totally exhausted. "I didn't think you'd win," Doug said, helping Tommy up. "I didn't think I'd win. You better get going, because from what I hear, J.J. doesn't like to be kept waiting." Tommy grinned, patting his best friend on the back before shoving him toward the door. "Don't let Kat tire you out while I'm gone," Doug smirked before leaving to meet Judy.
"Wait... Tommy, where's Doug?" Ninja wondered breathlessly as she came up beside him. "He just left. What'd you want him for?" Tommy answered. Before she could reply, Smith bellowed across the room, "Get to detention, Turner!" "We're going!" Ninja hollered back, quickly catching Tommy when he started to fall. "You ok?" Nodding as he leaned heavily on her, Tommy answered, "Yeah. Must be more tired than I thought." "Lean on me. I wanted to talk to Doug …"
Suddenly Webb appeared before them, blocking the door, "Miss Turner, Mr. McQuaid. No need to go anywhere since you're so exhausted." Backing away from the doorway, Ninja knew that they couldn't fight even with the adrenaline coursing through their bodies. Frantically searching for an escape route, Ninja turned to face the bigger threat but Smith had a revolver leveled at Tom's heart. "Ah ah ah. No sudden moves. Take out your weapons and kick them to me." Now she remembered where she knew those cold cobalt eyes from...
Tom was glad that he left his badge in the car as he slowly took his gun from his torn jean jacket and did as instructed. Ninja, on the other hand, pulled a hand-forged knife from the small of her back and threw it, burying it up to the hilt into the wood below the elevated stands. Tom and Webb were surprised at her strength, but the Marine knew that the girl had 'accidentally' hit a seam.
Two cloths that reeked of chloroform suddenly covered their nose and mouths and all Ninja could think was, No! Not again! before crumpling to the floor.
Waking up in the trunk of a car, Ninja guessed it was a Pontiac from the amount of room she and Tom had to move. It feels like Mamaw's Bonnieville... As she struggled with her hands cuffed behind her back, Ninja hoped beyond hope that they couldn't pull her knife out because it was the only message she could leave.
"He's not speeding," Tom stated, startling Ninja because he had never moved. "Why'd ya have to bring two pairs of handcuffs?" Ninja hissed as the car turned right and slung them into the wall. Groaning as he tried to get comfortable again, Tom hissed, "Because you didn't have any and we were more likely to arrest 'em than Doug or Judy."
They stayed silent for the rest of the ride; dozing off until the car would turn. Gradually, Ninja and Tom heard gravel crunching under the tires until it stopped and a car door slam shut. Blinded by the light of the trunk opening, Tom and Ninja kicked and squirmed, trying to avoid being chloroformed again.
They failed.