A/N:Sorry it's taken me so long to update. But I read over the second chapter and it was crap, so I rewrote it. Hopefully it's at least tolerable now. Please review, I wanna know what you think! I promise the next chapter will be better. But it will be a while in coming because I haven't written it yet.
Disclaimer:I own nothing except Kali and the bullies. I am making no money from this, so please don't sue me.
Chapter 2:Discoveries and bully troubles
"Wow Tommy, this house is huge" stated Kali looking around.
"Yeah, but big means lonely. It sucks to be here by yourself" responded Tommy softly.
"I bet. Now let's go do our homework so we can play soccer".
"Let's go, but I have to warn you. I'm not that great at soccer".
"That's okay. We can try to find ya a sport".
"Yeah, like chess".
"Ya sure are a joker Tommy" said Kali with a laugh.
An hour later found Tommy and Kali in the Hansons' backyard playing soccer after finally finishing their trigonometry homework. Kali was horrified by the fact that Tommy actually liked it, he called it 'real math'. Kali on the other hand didn't like anything she couldn't see a use for, and she saw no use for trigonometry. Tommy looked up from chasing the soccer ball to the back fence to see Mrs. Peri watching them. The nosy next door neighbor would probably report everything she saw to his father. Tommys' paying attention to her gave his dog, Ambri, just enough time to steal the ball.
Tommy had to chase Ambri around the yard twice before he finally got the ball away from the mischievous Australian Shepard. Kali just stood leaning against the house with a slow smile spreading across her face. She was sure she'd found the perfect sport for her and Tommy. She made a mental note to bring Ambri a treat the next time Tommy invited her over.
"Hey Tom, can you come here" requested Kali with a grin.
"I guess, did you have a sudden breakthrough or something" questioned Tommy curiously.
"Something like that. Can ya run over to the back fence and back. I wanna time ya".
Tommy gave her a 'have you gone completely nuts' look. But complied. When Tommy was again standing beside her, Kali looked at her watched. He was really fast.
"I did it. Now what's up?".
"Did ya know yer a real quick runner. An ya don't trip 'r nothin' either. Ya might even be graceful".
"So what, being fast is good for escaping bullies. Trippin' would kinda defeat the purpose. An don't ya think 'graceful' is going a little too far?".
"Okay, so maybe it was. But we just found ya a sport. The two of us are goin' ter join the track team".
"If you say so".
"I do, first thing tomorrow we'll sign up for try-outs. I'm sure we'll both make it".
"Great, why do we need to play a sport or join the track team?".
"Because" said Kali as she crept closer to him, "you need to build up some sort of stamina". She said this as she easily knocked him off his feet with a simple push, sending him tumbling to the ground. "I shouldn't have been able to do that so easily".
"Okay, so maybe you're right. That hurt by the way".
For the next two or three hours Tommy and Kali hung out in the oak tree in the backyard. They talked about anything and everything. But only casual things, nothing serious. Around five o'clock they went back inside to get some supper. Kali was shocked to discover that her friend was an excellent cook. Tommy was horrified to learn that Kali couldn't even cook an egg. For the two of them it was an afternoon of discovery. When Kali left at seven-thirty Tommys' mom still wasn't home. He was in for a lonely night. Kali was in for much the same.
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The next day Tommy got up and went to school without any of his usual complaints. His parents were speechless. Slipping into the mob was easy, locating three people not so much. Unfortunately two of his targets found him before he found them. Paul and Ricky Ramirez were in the ninth grade for the third time and built like tanks. Their favorite victim was Tommy. Although the bullies had several other kids they liked almost as much.
"Hello there Thomas" said Paul with a nasty smile, "me and my brother were wondering if you did your math homework".
"I always do my homework" stated Tommy glaring at them.
"Well the why don't you give it too us" said Ricky, "cuz me and Paul forgot to do it".
"No way. It's not my problem you didn't do it. Besides you guys are to dumb for Ms. Berry to believe you actually got the right answers".
"Give us the homework willingly and we don't mess you up. And we'll let you keep your lunch money".
"No deal. I'm not afraid of you guys".
"You just don't learn, do you Thomas. I guess we'll have to take it by force".
Paul held him while Ricky got the homework from his bookbag. Then they switched places. Paul punched Tommy first in the face spliting his lip, then in the stomach stealing his breath. Ricky then let him go and the two boys walked off laughing about their success. Tommy just picked up his bookbag and shoved everything in and hurried to first period. He made a stop off at the bathroom to clean up his lip. He got to class just as the bell rang.