First Touch

Previously

"Look man, we gotta talk" said Chuckie wondering how he was going to get himself out of this one. Tommy crossed his arms, glared at him and said "Well go on"

Now

Chuckie shifted nervously on his heels before saying "Not here, meet me at the Java Lava after school" he asked hopefully "Can't I have football practice" said Tommy shortly "Alright then I'll meet you on the field after you're finished" he suggested "Fine" said Tommy starting to walk away

"It's good to see you back" said Chuckie

Tommy turned half way toward him glared at him and said "Just because I agreed to talk to you doesn't mean I'm cool with you" then before Chuckie could respond he walked away.

The rest of the day went by in a blur for Tommy, homeroom was extended because the teachers were giving out locker assignments and class schedules. So he was stuck in homeroom for most of the day. Then after school it was hard to concentrate on football when all he could think about is what Chuckie would say.

It was especially hard when Chuckie was sitting over in the stands. He had thrown the ball to the wrong side twice already, he had to stop fucking up but he couldn't so after practice the coach pulled him aside and looked at him sternly before saying.

"Pickles what the hell is wrong witcha"

"Nothing coach" said Tommy unconvincingly

"Really kid, then why in the hell did you throw the ball to the defense all practice son"

"I'm sorry coach, I just got a lot on my mind" said Tommy sincerely

The coach sighed "Alright Pickles but come tomorrow the only thing I want on your mind is football, you got it son"

"Yes sir" Tommy sighed

"Good, now go hit the showers"

"Yes sir" Tommy said before walking inside the building. Over in the stands Chuckie was watching Tommy at practice he had never ever played that bad before, he knew that he was about to crush Tommy even more, but he hated lying but he knew that it was what he would have to do if he wanted to stay with Lil.

About 20 minutes later Tommy came out of the locker room and back onto the field carry his bag full of equipment. He walked onto the stands and up to where Chuckie was sitting, dropped his bag and sat down, then he turned to Chuckie.

"So" Tommy said impatiently

"Um..right" said Chuckie getting even more nervous than he already was, which up until this point

He thought was impossible. He shifted uncomfortably on the bleachers under Tommy's watchful eyes then he turned to him and said.

"It all started when you gave me the letter, I gave it to her just like you asked me too, and after you left she still hadn't responded"

"Uh huh" Tommy said urging him to continue. Chuckie looked out onto the football field as the story just came to him, he continued looking out there as he spoke.

"So I tried calling, but she was never home and she never picked up her cell, so one day I just decided to go over"

Tommy had a feeling that he was not going to like what he heard next so he just braced himself, as Chuckie coughed then continued speaking. "So I got over there and her mom told me that she was upstairs in her room, so I went up there". Tommy sighed, he wished that Chuckie would just get to the point, and Chuckie could hear the frustration in his voice, so he decided to hurry it along.

"I went in and I asked her asked her about the letter, and as soon as I mentioned it, she got this uncomfortable look on her face"

Tommy's heart started to beat at rapid speeds and he looked at Chuckie intensely. "And"

"And she said she read it, but she couldn't lie to you and tell you that she had feelings for you, when she liked someone else"

"Oh" Tommy said as his face fell, he started to feel depressed all over again. "So I asked her who she had feelings for, and instead of answering me she kissed me" Chuckie said hoping Tommy believed him, and Tommy seemed to by the distressed look on his face.

"So after she kissed me I made up an excuse to leave, it was so awkward, and I avoided her for weeks, but then we talked and got over the awkwardness and the more I started hanging out with her the more I realized that I did like her as more than a friend"

Tommy nodded and looked at his watch. "Look Tommy we never meant to hurt you, it just sort of happened you know" Tommy nodded again "Well look I gotta go, it's getting late" Tommy said standing up.

"Yeah, I gotta get home too" Tommy nodded once again, Chuckie guessed that he was simply at a loss for words. They started to walk down opposite sides of the bleachers when Chuckie called out. "So I call you tonight"

Tommy looked back at him "Yeah" he said. Chuckie smiled, he got his best friend back and he got the girl now all he had to do was keep it that way.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

A couple of days passed and Chuckie and Tommy were slowly getting their friendship back, But avoided all topics when it came to Lil. He even hung out with Phil, Kimi and Chuckie again, but would always make up an excuse when Lil would come around, he didn't want to be the fifth wheel, and he also didn't want to see the girl he loved with another man, at least not until he accepted the fact that he would never be that man

Today he was starting his advanced placement Biology class, he was really excited, Tommy had always loved Biology. He walked into the class room and sat at one of the tables in the back, a few more students came in and he noticed Lil, she hadn't seen him because he was sitting so far in the back. He saw her sit down with a girl he didn't know and then the teacher walked in.

"Hello class, my name is Mr. Robinson and welcome to AP Biology, the work in this class will be difficult and sometimes frustrating but with your cooperation, this should prove to be a very productive school year, I will start off by taking attendance"

Tommy looked at her he knew she would notice him after the attendance was called. "Since this class is small, as I call attendance, I will also place you with your lab partner" said Mr. Robinson.

"Karen Brown" a short girl with blonde hair said "here"

"You will be partners with "Roger Martin"

The teacher went down the list of girls as he got to Lil, Tommy perked up and listened as he wondered who her partner would be.

"Lillian Deville" asked Mr. Robinson

"Right here" answered Lil

"You will be partners with Mr. Tommy Pickles" he asked wondering if Tommy was in his class. All the color fell from his face, he was pale white and sweating as he slowly raised his hand. Lil looked equally as pale as she walked toward the back of the classroom where he was sitting. She didn't look at him and he didn't dare look at her, it was so awkward and the tension was so thick that you could cut it with a knife.

The teacher finished up the list and said "Today I will be giving out equipment, such as microscopes rulers and other things you will need for the class, only one of you from a group need to come up as I call out the instruments.

"Microscope" he said. Lil shot out of her seat probably glad to get away from him, when she left he let go of a breath he didn't know he was holding, but when she came back his breath caught in his throat again. It went on like that until she brought back the last of their equipment.

"Now class I need you each to check and see if your microscopes work properly when there are plugged in"

Tommy glanced over at Lil for a half a second then back at the microscope which she placed in the middle of the table, it was already plugged in and turned on. After about 5 seconds of silence neither of them moved, he decided that he would check the microscope.

Just as his hand touched it, he felt something soft under it, and he knew that it couldn't be the cool metal of the microscope, he looked over at Lil who was touching the microscope as well, and she hadn't made an attempt to let it go yet, neither had he.

Her eyes fell on his as he snatched his hand back as if he were being burned. He laughed nervously "Sorry" Lil smiled a little and shrugged it off

"I'll check it" she said. He nodded not being able to form words correctly at this time and she leaned over the table to check it, he couldn't help himself he smelled her hair, which smelled of strawberries and cream. She felt his breath tickle the back of her neck and she sighed. The bell rang and he got of his chair extremely fast good thing he had a free period next he needed the time to go home and take a shower a very cold shower.