A/N: I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all of you. Thank you for taking the time to read this and leaving comments. It really means a lot to me.

Chapter 12

The days passed slowly. I hadn't seen Ally outside of class around since our argument before the Civics trip. I was a little grateful if I was honest. It sounded mean but all of our interactions so far had mainly ended badly. Tammy had changed, through no fault of her own, and Ally didn't seem able to deal or adapt. It wasn't a good trait for her in the long run, but that wasn't my problem.

"Is it true you verbally decimated the mayor?"

I was sparring with Marisa. "I don't know about that. I just asked him some questions about his plan for a mall and how he planned to keep the small businesses alive with it."

"I take it he didn't like that?"

I grinned at her. "He looked like he was chewing on a lemon when he kicked us out."

Marisa laughed. "I would have paid to see that look on his face. I cannot stand the man. He has tried to cut funding to the library twice so far in his term."

"But we need the library!" I cried out. It seemed too soon in the century to even try to cut funding. They were trying it back home where I was from, making it seem that no one used the library. Despite the obvious facts that that wasn't true.

"I know this, and you know this. But for men like him, it goes over their head."

"Maybe I should have been harsher," I muttered. Marisa laughed.

"You are a delight, Kate. Much more than any other child I've known." That was likely due to the fact I didn't act like a teen. I had already gone through that phase and grown-up.

"Thank you," I said, pretending to be smug and pompous. "It comes so naturally that I-ack!" Marisa had maneuvered herself and thrown me while I was talking.

"You're not supposed to get distracted now," she said.

"Alright, it's on!"

I was grateful for the weekend, even if it meant I was babysitting another kid. This time, it wasn't Erica or Lucas.

I found the small house easily enough and parked in the driveway. I was careful to make sure I didn't run over the bike that lay haphazardly in it. I had no idea if Tammy had been here before or not. I just hoped for the best.

It took a few seconds after I knocked for someone to answer the door.

"Hello!" I looked down at the kid. "You must be the babysitter! I'm Dustin!" Well, it was safe to say he was enthusiastic, which was a change. I stared at the kid. There was something familiar about him like I had seen him before. Maybe it was his curls or the way he smiled with a gap in his teeth.

"I guess so," I said. "Kate Thompson, at your service." I held out my hand to him. He grinned at me and shook it.

"Well Kate Thompson, come on in. My mom's in the kitchen." He turned away from the door. "Mom! Kate's here!" It was safe to say Tammy hadn't babysat him before.

Dustin and I were in a stare-off.

"You're wrong."

"I am not!"

"Legolas and Gimli went off together as friends! They had an epic friendship that spanned the ages! Ages, Kate!"

I was playing devil's advocate. "I'm just saying that there might be more. You know, they became friends but are you more likely to leave the home you've known forever for a friend, or for the love of your life?"

"With an epic friendship like theirs? Yes!"

"It's like in Pawns of Prophecy-"

"WOAH! Woah! Wait! You've read Pawns of Prophecy? I haven't even read it! It's been out of the library every time I try to get it!"

I stared at him as I realized what he was saying. "Oops, that would be me. I've had it, and Marisa has been renewing it for me."

"You have it? It's been out for a month! Who's Marisa?"

"She's the librarian. And yeah, I have it. Along with Dragons of Autumn Twilight."

"What?!" he screeched. His voice cracked with it. "We've gone to the library almost every day trying to find it!"

"Sorry," I said, grinning. "I guess you want Elfstones of Shannara too?" He stared at me in disbelief.

"Who are you?"

"Obviously the coolest babysitter around. I'll return the books in the next couple of days. I've been meaning to do so anyways. You'll have them by next week."

"Okay, okay...do you play dungeons and dragons?"

"Are you hungry?" I asked. The kid was sitting at the dining room table tinkering with something. It looked like a CB radio but I wasn't sure. "I make a mean sweet sandwich."

"What?" He looked up at me, a little panicked.

"Peanut butter, honey, apple. I've made them for other kids I've sat. I've been told it's to die for." Actually Erica said she'd kill for it but it was close enough.

"Nope!" He said quickly. "No thanks! I'm uh, allergic! To...to honey! Yeah!"

"Okay…." I drawled out, watching as the panic faded into relief. He scooped up his stuff.

"I'm going to bed!"

I watched as he practically ran to his room. Strange kid.

People were staring. I was a little used to it but this felt different. I couldn't place it. I had seen a couple of people turn to whisper to each other as they saw me, but since no one outright said anything to me, I decided to ignore it. It was likely the same things they've been saying since I knocked Tommy down a peg.

Shop was getting easier in some ways. I arrived early to look over my project. The framework of the cabinet was completed, but I had this idea for incorporating metal into the front. I wanted to see if I could design it like an old jukebox, at least in little ways if anything. Finding the right metal that would suit it was going to be the hard part.

"Check the junkyard."

I tilted my head at the teacher. "What?"

"Your best bet, if you're not looking to spend money, is to check the junkyard just before the town line down south. I'd recommend you not wear anything fancy though," he said. "And bring something to help sort through the shit, like a sledgehammer if you can lift it." That sounded like a challenge even though I knew he didn't mean it that way. "That way you have something to help you move stuff without you slicing up your hand and getting tetanus."

"That is an excellent point," I said. I really wanted to avoid needing their healthcare system. I really didn't want to know how much it would cost me considering I was used to free healthcare. "Thanks."

"Whatever you find, bring it in. I'll look at it, help you figure out if it's usable."

I nodded, thanked him again and went back to my seat.

"Well, if it isn't the new and improved Tammy Thompson." I looked up at the voice, knowing it was going to be Tommy.

"Who knew all it took was a change of clothes," I deadpanned. I turned back to my work.

"You sure think you're hot shit now don't you?" he said. He leaned towards me and I forced myself to keep a loose grip on the level I was using. He was too close but I couldn't react by shoving him back like I wanted to. We were in Shop, people were working and I didn't actually want anyone to get hurt. "That's funny considering all the shit you used to say about everyone, isn't it?" I looked up at him, confused. "Wonder what your fan club would say if they knew what you've said about them."

"Do you have a point?" I asked. I didn't know what he was getting at but I had a feeling that it had to do with Tammy being a bitch. It tended to happen with teen girls, no surprise. Even if they didn't mean it. Everything can be spun into meaning something else. Like Coolsville sucks.

Tommy grinned at me and I narrowed my eyes at the viciousness of it all. "Enjoy yourself while it lasts, Thompson."

"As soon as you leave, I will." I rolled my eyes as he left. What an asshole. He made some interesting points. I had a feeling that Ally hanging out with Carol was going to bite me in the ass but I didn't realize it was going to be because of Tammy herself. If I had any luck, it was all talk.

"Don't listen to him." I turned to look at Jonathan. "He's an asshole. He's just trying to get a rise out of you."

"I'm not worried about him, or his tiny girlfriend," I added, seeing that he was going to interject. "It's not my problem that they can't deal with themselves. How's your mom?" I was trying to be friendly considering I was likely going to be stuck next to him all year, and that his mom was dating Bob. I liked them both. I didn't know enough to make any real judgements about Jonathan himself though.

He looked surprised. "Uh, good. You know my mom?"

"Yeah. Bob introduced us." He made a face and I frowned at him. "You don't like Bob?" How could anyone not like Bob?

"No, I do. I don't know. He's just...it's weird, my mom dating."

"Ah. I'll take your word for it." I had no reference to relate to. My parents, and Tammy's, had stayed together. There didn't seem to be any continuation of the conversation so I turned away and got back to work. This cabinet had to be awesome. I was going to give it to Bob if it actually turned out. Just as a thanks.

[tbc]