Kimberly's eyes began to open when she felt a pair of warm lips gently press against her cheek. It had been years since anyone kissed her good morning. "Morning, Beautiful," Tommy greeted as she opened her tired eyes. "Did you sleep well?"
"If you don't count being woke up several times by hearing wolfs howl or owls hooting," Kimberly yawned as she kissed Tommy good morning. "What about you?"
"I woke up a few times," Tommy confessed when he looked into her eyes. "It was only to check on my beautiful pink crane."
"No one could've taken me out of your arms if they tried," she giggled and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "You were squeezing me like a boa constrictor."
"I got cold really last night," Tommy quickly said as he began to blush. "The only thing that I had to keep me warm was this stupid lion cloth and your body heat."
"I think there's more to it than just those two reasons," Kimberly smiled as she gazed at his embarrassed face. She could sense the fear in his chocolate eyes. "I know you're afraid and you don't have to be scared to talk to about something that is bothering you."
"Kim, I was adopted when I was a baby. My birth parents didn't want me because they already had a boy. So, they placed me for adoption. Before, I came to Angel Grove, I never had a single friend in my life. I was lonely and thought only my parents loved me," Tommy revealed and he immediately felt her arms wrap around him. "When we got kidnapped yesterday, I lost everything expect you. All I can think about is how we're going to survive and keeping you safe and healthy. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you too."
"My parents divorced and I came from a broken home. I rarely see my father and Caroline slept around with other men. I always wondered if anyone loved me growing up," Kimberly confessed in a sad tone. She felt Tommy's strong arms wrap around her waist. "How are we going to survive? It could be days, weeks, or even months before we get back to Angel Grove."
Tommy sat up with Kimberly in his arms and he just sat there. "We'll make it. We'll pick fruit from trees and drink from a spring," he reassured her as they crawled out of the hollow tree. Both locked hands and began to walk through the forest.
Jan Oliver sat on the couch next to her husband. Her eyes were heavy from lack of sleep and he face was stained with tears. Ever since she got the phone call that her son and Kimberly was missing, she sat right next to the phone. Jan's fingers were crossed that the next phone call would be Lt. Stone saying that Tommy and Kimberly had been found. "James, do you think they're okay?" Jan asked as James draped an arm around his wife. "They've been missing for two days. I hope that they are together."
"Jan, I am 100% sure that she's with Tommy. Two days ago, Tommy told me before he left school that Coach Schmidt had been stalking them at school," James began as Jan rested her head on his shoulder. "Tommy feared that Coach Schmidt may try to do something to Kimberly. He told me that if the stupid coach wanted to take Kimberly, he'd have to take them together or forget about it. I called the police after he went to school because I saw his picture on TV. He's that person with the police record."
"Billy and Aisha told me that Coach Schmidt found out he was allergic to peanut butter and he brought peanut butter into the youth center. Tommy, passed out and wasn't able to breath," Jan wept as she wiped her eyes. "Kimberly used her inhaler and injection pen on Tommy and he was okay. Then they went outside and Bulk and Skull were the last ones who saw Tommy. But, Kimberly wasn't with him."
"I bet that Coach took her and Tommy went to try to rescue her," James theorized as he looked into Jan's tired face. "She's his best friend and he's in love with her."
A weak smile appeared on Jan's face. " I will have to admit that our son would do anything for her," she added.
The phone began to ring and Jan quickly picked up the phone. "Hello, this is Jan Oliver," she answered. Her fingers were crossed that it was a call regarding her son and Kimberly.
"Jan, this is Caroline, have you gotten any updates regarding Kimberly and Tommy?"
"I'm sorry we haven't heard anything for two days," Jan apologized as she exchanged looks with James. Two days previously, Jan had to call Caroline and tell her the news. Caroline never returned the call for two days. "Have you heard anything?"
"I don't believe Coach Schmidt is the person with the police record," Caroline declared. "I talked to him a few times while he was training her. He seemed to be a really nice guy and cared a lot about her. Tommy was just seeing things that weren't there."
Jan's face got red from anger. How dare she accuse her son of that. "That coach has been telling you a bunch of lies!" Jan corrected as James took a seat next to her. "Kimberly was in the hospital and you didn't even come into see her. Tommy called you to give you an update on Kimberly's progress and you never returned his calls."
"I DIDN'T COME IN BECAUSE ALL OF THE FLIGHTS FROM PARIS HAVE BEEN BOOKED SOILD!" Caroline yelled over the phone. "I'm sure Tommy told you that. And I couldn't return his calls."
"Why weren't you able to return the calls?" Jan questioned when James took hold of her hand.
" I have been having trouble with my marriage with Pierre," Caroline explained while she was looking at herself in the mirror dressed in her red evening gown.
"I thought your marriage with him was great?" Jan gasped as she felt a tear run down her face. "What happened?"
"I am doing modeling for his art classes and I've been doing some modeling for his fashion magazine," she started while she began to put her make up on. "Pierre isn't satisfied with how I pose for his figure drawing, painting, and sculpting classes. We've been fighting a lot."
"Caroline, what about your daughter? You said she had a hard time dealing with your divorce from Andrew," Jan reminded as she wiped her teary eyes.
"I'm hiding all of this," Caroline smirked as she rolled her hair up in curlers. "A few days ago, I sent Kimberly an e-mail. I'm letting her stay in Angel Grove and finish high school. She was happy about it. I know that is what she wanted and I don't want her to know that Pierre and I are having trouble. I'd talk more but I have to go to a fashion show with Pierre." Before Jan could get another word in, Caroline quickly hung up the phone.
"I can't believe this!" Jan hissed as James wrapped his arms around her. "Caroline, doesn't believe a word about what Tommy told her about Coach Schmidt. And she's putting her marriage before her own daughter. I'm so worried about my son and Kimberly."
"I know you are," James sighed. He turned to look at picture of Tommy and Kimberly sitting on the book case. "I love her just as much as you do."
The next several weeks passed by like leaves in the wind. Lt. Stone and the other police officers continued to search Kimberly and Tommy, but they didn't find anything. All of them realized that they were probably taken out of Angel Grove and they started searching for them in other cities and towns close by. Time went by slow for Tommy and Kimberly. The long days ended up becoming weeks." I wish that we never had to adapt to this new life style. We're lucky if we can bath a twice a week, most nights we sleep out in the open, we haven't had a warm meal, and we've been stuck wearing these loin cloths," Kimberly complained as they walked through the forest." How long do you think we've been out here?"
"I know we've been out here for a while," Tommy answered as he took hold of her hand. "Kim, it's my fault that we're in this position. I shouldn't have taken you outside when Coach Schmidt went outside to take that phone call."
"Tommy, I should have told someone about what was going on at gymnastics practice," Kimberly admitted when she felt the cold wind on her bare skin. "I wish that I listened to you when you tried to tell about him the first time."
Tommy began to shiver as the icy wind was cutting on his bare chest. "Kimberly, we can't worry about whose fault it is," Tommy acknowledged as they moved close together to share body heat. "We need to find a place to crash for the night."
They had been walking for what seemed liked hours. Hand in hand, the two of them walked through the darkness slowly and carefully. "We can sleep in a cave," Kimberly began as she started to shiver from the cold wind. "We will safe in them since we won't be out in open."
"Beautiful, I hope we can find a cave tonight," Tommy prayed as he watched a look of fear appear on Kimberly's face. "There have been nights that we haven't been able to find shelter."
"We can always build a warm fire," Kimberly suggested as they walked through the cold and through some fog.
Tommy was looking around to find a place to stop and rest for the night. He spotted a big coconut tree nearby and led her quickly to it. "Kim, the fog is getting to thick," Tommy acknowledged. "We're going to have to find shelter."
Kimberly's heart leap when she spotted a cave nearby. "Tommy, there's a cave!" Kimberly cried. "We won't have to sleep under this coconut tree."
The last two nights had been cold and Tommy was relieved to find a cave. "Let's go crash for the night," Tommy smiled as they walked into the cave. It was small and looked like a safe place to spend the night. Tommy laid on his back on a warm piece of cloth. "It looks like someone has been here."
"At least we don't have to sleep in dirt or a cold floor," Kimberly smiled as she laid next to Tommy. He felt her smooth and silk Carmel hair land on his chest and her arms wrap around his was waist. Tommy smiled as he felt her warm and soft skin brush up against his. His arm wrapped around her to help her feel safe and protected as she slept through the night. Kimberly smiled dreamily as she cuddled deeper into the comfort of Tommy's arms. She felt perfectly content laying in the arms of her handsome prince. "Tommy, I know this may sound weird. Even though we've been a hard situation, I've enjoyed getting to spend a lot of time with you."
"Beautiful, I've loved spending time with you too," Tommy purred.
In the corner Coach Schmidt smirked as he saw the two snuggled together. "Finally, I've found you!" He cheered as he pulled he rope and net that secretly hid under the blanket scooped Kimberly and Tommy up. The two of them tightly embraced each other and Coach Schmidt appeared with a lantern in his hand.
"Tommy, I'm scared," Kimberly whispered as she began to shake. "What are we going to do?"
"Kim, everything is going to be okay," promised Tommy and he tried to comfort her as best he could. "I love you and won't let anything happen to you."
"I've got you pink princess and your best friend too," Coach Schmidt grinned when he stood in front of them.
"Let us go!" Tommy demanded through clenched teeth.
Coach Schmidt didn't say anything but smile. He eyes quickly locked on the brown lion clothes that Kimberly and Tommy were wearing. "I'm afraid I can't do that Tommy," Coach Schmidt laughed. "Or do you go by Tarzan now? Did you abandon your old life styles?"
"It wasn't by choice," Kimberly bravely said when she saw Coach Schmidt's cold and cruel eyes. "We've been fighting for survival!"
"Have you been over eating?" insulted Coach Schmidt as soon as he noticed she had gained back weight. "You look fat!"
Tommy's face turned red from rage. His eyes locked on the man he hated most in the world. "She's weighs the amount she should," he corrected as he spits on Coach Schmidt. "And she's healthier too."
"Both of you are coming to my hide out," Coach Schmidt warned as gave them both a shot and they both passed out. He lowered the net down and drug it to his truck which was parked back a mile from the cave.
