Enjoy your weekend...

Chapter 13

The day following the incident with Booker went by rather quickly. Tom had done and amazing job of avoiding contact with Darren Thompson and the girlfriend that seemed to be the cause of all his trouble. He made it all the way until just after lunch when a foot came out of nowhere and caught his feet toppling Tom to his knees on the floor.

"Oh… so sorry Miller… did you hurt yourself?" The body belonging to the overly friendly voice in the sparsely populated hallway came strolling over to him. Tom tried to ignore him as he quickly gathered his books up from the floor. A hand came down and grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up from the floor.

"You ignoring me punk?" Darren asked his icy blue eyed stare boring a whole through Tom's brown eyes. Darren drug Tom around a corner to a narrow corridor. Darren's friends shoved Tom's books against the wall as the trio of men and their prey rounded the corner away from the prying eyes of the school. "You are one dumb s.o.b." Darren said to the officer as he shoved Hanson into the vacant hallway next to the boiler room.

Tom was beginning to get a little anxious as he realized he was alone. He was still angry about Booker and the two other times he had run into Darren already. Doug had told him he would meet him after seventh period to call and check on Booker. Booker had been told by Fuller to follow the doctor's instructions and take the day off and stay home. Much to Dennis's protests he finally agreed if the two other officers would call and check in. Hanson realized he would not be missed for right around an hour.

"Darren, the way I see it you're the idiot here." Tom said with a smug expression. He started to get braver as he took a step forward and pointed his finger at Darren. "It wasn't the best idea for you to take out the quarter back, of the football team so you can have his position and then try and take out Dennis. Because it's only a matter of time before you get caught." Tom spat back.

Darren grabbed Hanson by the collar smashing his smaller body against the cold hard limestone that supported the inner walls of the school. Hanson closed his eyes as the impact was so hard it jarred his whole body.

"Darren, come on… let's get the hell outa here before we get caught." Aaron Williams pleaded.

Darren glared over his shoulder at the boy standing just behind him to his right. The six foot three inch muscular high school student drew his right fist back and then lunging it forward buried it deep into Tom's chiseled midsection. Hanson gasped loudly as the jab shoved the valuable oxygen from his lungs. His legs started to buckle as the much bigger man pulled the smaller man closer to his moving lips. Tom registered nothing as his ears were ringing from the most recent assault on his body.

With his hot breath blowing hard into Hanson's ear, Darren's lips nearly brushed against his face as he whispered harshly into his left ear. "This isn't finished yet you piece of shit…" Darren lifted his right hand while continuing to hold the officer against the wall and backhanded him across the face. Tom fell to the ground with a loud thump. Hanson crumpled onto his side clutching at his stomach. Tom gulped and heaved searching desperately for the precious air that had just been slugged out of him. He closed his eyes as he felt a sudden onset of dizziness accompanied by a low pitched hum in his ears. The world felt like it was closing in around him when he let out a low grown as the sound of gym shoes squeaked in retreat around him.

Tom laid in a heap on the floor the world spinning around. Slowly he felt the stolen breath returning to his starving lungs. He slowly lifted a hand to his face. His lip was stinging and he could taste the blood in his dry mouth. He squeezed his eyes closed as he slowly shifted, pulling his knees up under his stomach and then into a sitting position on the floor. Tom sat on the floor long after the tardy bell rang, like a cruel joke reminding him that he was not only late for class, but he was a fish out of water in a rural school that surly could have no real problems. There were no gangs; these kids were all farmers and future teachers. What in the world was wrong with Darren Thompson; moreover, what the hell was up with the people who did his bidding? This place is a mess!

Tom stayed in place on the floor cradling his head in his hand waiting for the dizziness to subside.

I think that Tom has pissed off the wrong person... what do you think?? Please read and review:-)