A/N: Hi all! I hope you guys are staying safe and surviving during this time. I've been off work for...almost two months now because of the virus. You'd think that would translate into me writing more, but mostly I've been standing in my kitchen, baking and painting my windows. Not that my neighbours seem to appreciate it. I hope you're all staying sane. I know I'm trying. I also hope you enjoy this new chapter.

Chapter Five

"I'm leaving!" I called out to the house. The dog was growling at me from the couch. I tried to ignore it. Tammy's mother came out of the kitchen drying a plate.

"Buster! Stop! Honestly, I don't know what's gotten into him." I did. "Where are you going again?"

"The library," I said.

"Okay, make sure you're back before three. Dad found you a class and it starts at three thirty."

"Really? Already?"

"Yes, so make sure your home so he can take you. You can take the car if you want."

"Alright!"

She turned to go back into the kitchen before she stopped herself and turned back. "Oh! Tammy!" I turned back to her. "Did you borrow my sapphire earrings? I know you asked, but did you?"

I stared at her. I had no idea whether or not Tammy took her earrings. If she did, it was before I showed up. "Um...no?"

She didn't look impressed. "I'm not mad, if you did. I just want to know. You can tell me."

"I didn't take them." It came out harsher than I intended. It was weirdly enough the truth but I hoped Tammy didn't. "Least, I don't think so."

Her mother sighed. "We used to talk, Tammy. What happened?" I clenched my jaw. There was nothing to say to that. She turned and walked back into the kitchen without another word.

I grabbed the keys by the door and left the house. I felt terrible. I didn't know how to give this woman back her daughter. I also just wanted my mom. It wasn't the same. It wasn't fair to either of us.

I tried not to think about it and focused on my goal for the library. I had wanted to see if there was anything on time travel, anything even slightly related to my situation. I also wanted to find something to read just for fun. Without internet and instant TV, it got boring fast, especially when I was at home. I was grateful that Tammy at least had her license. Or what passed for a G2 back home. Her mother tended to need the car during the week, but apparently the weekend was more open to me than I thought.

I got into the car and started it when it hit me. Where was the library?

The library was quiet as I entered. Considering I had no idea what exactly I was looking for, and no idea where it would be, I headed straight to the desk. The woman behind it was fairly young, maybe a little older than I actually was. Her hair was curled and pinned back and her glasses were large and in style.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"Yes?" she asked, staring up at me.

"I was wondering if you'd be able to help me. I'm looking for books on time travel, maybe fantasy?" I was hoping she'd show me everything she had so that I could pick something that might be useful.

"I could," she said, peering at me over her glasses.

"I would greatly appreciate it. Please."

She smiled slightly. "Well, you're certainly polite." She stood up and moved over to a shelving unit. She pulled out a long thin draw and I watched as she quickly skimmed through it. I was a bit impressed as she pulled out a card. "Fantasy, numbers 345.43 to 345.57. Time travel would be in the same section."

"Thank you," I said. "Which way to 345? Left or right?"

"Left," she answered. "Third row from the front."

"Thank you," I said again.

She looked a bit surprised but gave me a full smile back. I waved and headed for the row she told me.

The fantasy section wasn't as large as I was used to back home. I took my time to read the back of the ones I didn't recognize, keeping an eye out for anything that might help. It seemed ridiculous but I wasn't about to discount something that someone else might think of. I needed all the help I could get.

My eyes lit up at ones I did recognize. They had Pawns of Prophecy! And Elfstones of Shannara. I picked them, as well as Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight and another couple of books that mentioned a time travelling character. I did a brief look over the other shelves nearby, but I saw nothing else that really spoke to me. I grabbed the books and headed for the counter.

As I put them on the counter, the librarian looked at me.

"Only five at a time," she said.

"Oh! That makes sense, must be hard to keep track of all of them. I'm sorry." I looked at the books and tried to decide. I took out Timescape and motioned to the pile. "Can I leave these here while I put this back? Or do you have a system, like, outside of the numbers that keeps track of what books people are interested in by reshelving?"

"Now that is an interesting idea," she said. It was something that I had learned they did back home. It was a way of tracking how many people used the library and making sure things were put back properly. "You can leave it. I'll put it back."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "It would only take a second."

"I'm sure. I certainly have others to put away. One more won't hurt."

"Thank you," I said and handed over the book. She put it on a cart near here and then took the small pile.

"Library card?" She asked and I handed it over. One by one, she opened the book to the back and took out the slip of paper that was tucked in a small sleeve. She stamped it and set it aside, before stamping the date on the sleeve. I watched as she wrote Tammy's name on the cards before she finally handed the books, and my library card over.

"They are due two weeks from now. The date is in the back."

"Perfect," I said, taking the books. "Thank you for all of your help."

She smiled at me. It really lit up her face. "You're welcome, Miss. Thompson."

I headed out of the library. It wasn't much, but it was a start and at least I wouldn't be bored. I hoped.

I had ended up taking the long way to the library in my efforts to find it. Luckily, I had enough time that I was able to take the same route back. Driving always felt like freedom. Especially if I was on my own. I could blast the music and take off across the country if I really wanted to. It was nice to know that the feeling hadn't changed like so much of me had.

Most of the road was empty. It was weird to be driving down it and be surrounded by forests. I made a mental note not to drive here at night because the lack of street lights would up the creep factor a lot. It was weirdly comforting in the day though.

There was a sudden sound of sirens.

I looked in the rearview mirror to see a cop truck behind me. I pulled over, thinking they'd pass but they stopped. Fuck. What did I do? I hadn't broken any laws that I knew of. I made a mental note to go over a drivers handbook or something just to clear up any differences.

The man got out of the truck and sauntered over. I rolled down my window. He had a hat that just made me think of westerns, despite the fact that it wasn't a stetson. I wasn't used to cops wearing anything other than the small hats they occasionally wore back home.

"License and registration?"

I turned in my seat to grab both of them. I couldn't see the man's eyes but he was attractive. In a rugged, dad bod kind of way. I was more interested in it than I expected. I handed them over.

"Do you know how fast you were going?"

"Uh…" I tried to think quickly. I knew it was about 80kmh, but I wasn't sure what it was in miles per hour. "Judging on the fact you pulled me over, I'm guessing too fast?"

He took off his sunglasses to glare down at me. I tried not to smile. He was hot when he wasn't impressed. "No shit," he said. "You were going about 50 miles an hour. This ain't the freeway kid."

I leaned forward, placing my elbow on the wheel of the car and propping up my chin with my hand. "I had no idea, but I can't say I'm too disappointed in myself if it means I met you." I smiled at him. I watched his eyes widen slightly.

"Cut the sass," he said sharply. "I ain't giving you a ticket, just a warning. Got it Thompson?"

"You can warn me all you want, sir." I knew in the back of my mind, I really should have stopped myself. I was already likely bright red. I couldn't help it though. He was the type of attractive that was so underrated and was gaining popularity and acceptance back home. He didn't seem appreciative of my responses. He had stood up straight and took a step back as he handed me back my license and the car's registration.

"Don't let me catch you again, or it won't be a warning, it'll be a trip to the station."

My eyes lit up and I couldn't help but tease, "will there be handcuffs?" I really needed to stop talking. I watched as he rubbed a hand down his face and muttered to himself that he was too old for this shit. He wasn't much older than I was, at least, I didn't think so. At most maybe ten years.

"Kid, stop fucking around and go home. Don't make me call your folks." He turned and started to walk away.

"Sure thing, Officer Daddy." My eyes widened as I spoke out loud. As I went to reel myself back in horror, my elbow slipped off of the wheel and I felt my face smack into the horn. The horn honked loudly. Oh my god. If it was possible to turn invisible out of sheer will and embarrassment, I would have succeeded in that moment. I could not believe myself. "Sorry!" I squeaked, closing my eyes tightly and praying that he left before I could do any more damage to myself, or Tammy.

He seemed to be of the same mindset, or at least wanted to be far away from the teenager hitting on him, because I heard his truck rumble to a start and drive off.

"Oh thank god," I muttered to myself, trying to get my face to stop blushing. "What is wrong with me?"

I was nearly late by the time I got home that I pretty much went straight from driving one car to riding shotgun in another.

"This place was recommended by someone at work," Tammy's father said.

"Oh, and they like it?"

"Their kid goes here. He's a lot younger, but I've already spoken to them on the phone and they're happy to take you."

"That's great," I said. I had a sudden fear that I would be in an introduction class with a bunch of kids. Well, little kids. Especially since I had no idea what type of self defence I was signed up for.

He parked the car and looked at me as he opened the door. "Well, come on. It's going to start soon."

It turned out that the class was a Karate class. It was likely gaining more popularity because of the movie The Karate Kid, but I wasn't expecting to actually attend a class. I didn't know what I expected, really, considering it was a small town.

"So, you want to learn Karate?" The instructor asked. Tammy's father was waiting outside and people were slowly starting to come in and get ready in the main room.

"I want to learn to defend myself," I answered.

"Why?"

"Because the world's a pretty scary place, especially for a woman."

He nodded and motioned for me to head to the desk. "You'll have to wear this every class. You'll start at the beginning, just like everyone else."

"Will it be with people my age?" I asked.

"No, does that bother you?"

"A little, but I'll get over it." It was too small a detail for me to sweat over.

"Good. Get ready. We start in ten minutes."

My fears were only a little unfounded. I wasn't with people Tammy's age. They were closer to mine. It was a small class, with only about ten of us. Surprisingly enough, I recognized two of them. The librarian from earlier was there, and so was Ms. Callahan, the secretary from Tammy's school.

"Miss. Thompson, what brings you here?" Ms. Callahan asked as she stood next to me in the line as we waited for the teacher.

"I wanted to learn to defend myself," I said with a shrug.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain incident this week with certain students, would it?" She raised her eyebrows at me.

"Nope," I said quickly. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind.

"Beth!" We both turned to see the librarian moving into place next to Ms. Callahan. "How have you been?"

"Marisa, it's good to see you. Let me introduce you to one of the students at my school. This is Miss. Thompson."

I held out my hand and shook hers. "We met earlier today though I didn't get your name. Sorry about that."

"Marisa Williams," the librarian said. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

We didn't get much further into the conversation because the instructor had come in and called for attention. The exercises seemed fairly simple at first, but I had to be corrected multiple times. I kept thinking I would move the way I used to, the way it felt like I should, but I didn't. Tammy was too tall and her limbs were longer than mine had been.

By the end of the lesson, I was exhausted but I was beginning to feel like it was my body. Maybe because I was learning something new and forced to really use it. It was weird to think about. I waved goodbye and ran out to Tammy's father.

"That good?" he asked.

"It was great!" I smiled widely.

He smiled warmly at me as he got in the car. "Good. It's twice a week. Tuesday evenings and Saturdays."

"Thank you, dad," I said. "I really mean it."

"I'm glad you liked it."

The drive back to the house was quiet and I figured it would remain that way until we got the house.

"You've been making a lot of changes this year," her father said quietly. "I think it's scaring your mother a bit, the idea that we're getting closer to you leaving."

I stared out of the window. I wasn't sure what to say.

"This is going to be a big year for you, we know that. I just hope you know that it doesn't all have to happen at once. You have time."

I turned to smile at him. It was clear that he was going to miss her, that he likely already did. I felt my throat tighten. Tears were starting to build up in my eyes. "I know."

"Good," he cleared his throat. "Good."

I didn't know how to respond. It was just...I wasn't Tammy. I wasn't Tammy and he wasn't my father. God, it was so sad. I tried not to laugh as I couldn't help but think, Alexa, play Despacito.

[tbc]