College Passion

Chapter 8


Next day
3 pm
Aisha was reading a magazine, sitting beside Kimberly, as she laid asleep on the bed. Kimberly finally woke up.
"Hey you," Aisha said standing up quickly.
"Hey. Where am I?"
"The hospital."
"What happened?"
"You hit your head pretty hard."
"I did?"
"Yea, don't you remember?"
"Tommy...and Jason!"
"Fine, fine. They are both okay."
"Where's Tommy?"
"No one has seen him since yesterday."
"What?"
"He was...the cops took him to jail when your vitals crashed. We didn't think you would make it. We tried to go get Tommy...he had already called his parents and they came up. They paid the bond and..."
"He's okay right?"
"His parents got him out last night after much protest from the cops, but you were okay by then, unconscious, but stable."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know. The judge forced mandatory anger management."
"Anger management? Tommy doesn't have a problem with anger!"
"It's was the only way to keep him out of jail."
"Is it really 3?"
"Yea."
"Competition starts in 2 hours!"
"You are not competing today!"
"Aisha!" Kimberly went to undoing her lines
"You are not even medically stable to leave the hospital!" Aisha pushed her back to lay down.
"Aisha, either you go and get my suit or I will."


4pm
Coach Blair was shocked to see Kimberly walking into the complex, carrying her bag.
"What are you doing here, Kimberly?"
"I'm fine."
"I was under the impression you are not medically cleared to compete. I just off the phone from your doctor.."
"I said I was fine! I can compete. I know I can."
"Kim, as your coach..." Coach Blair held her shoulders.
"Please. At least let me work out. I've trained too hard to just stop now. I need you two to believe in me. I need you to trust me. I'm fine."
"I will be watching you."
"I know." Coach Throne Henderson came over.
"Me too." Kimberly went and put her things away. "We shouldn't be allowing this, right?"
"Right," Blair said to her husband.
"Doctors did say she..."
"I know. Let's watch her practice. If she looks good...then we'll let her. The doctors are on standby, come on. We have a meet to win. This team needs fire. Maybe she can bring it."

5:10 pm
The team was in their locker for the famous peep speech before every meet. Locker was filled with nearly 20 hyped up girls, getting each pumped up and ready for the competition head
"Okay girls! We have a battle on our hands this afternoon. Stanford and Washington are coming off great wins at home. Arizona is looking for revenge after that devastating collapse, so let's keep it together. I know my girls can beat any teams out there. We have the poise, the skill, and Bruin spirit. I want 4 clean rotations ladies. You 3," Coach Blair Henderson pointed to Kimberly, MJ and Jenna. "will be our rocks. Anna, just need vault and floor, can you handle that?" She nodded with a smile. "The rest of you will give you all. I want sticks from all of you. Faith, got one perfect 10 beam for me?"
"You know it Coach!"
"Great. I believe in all of you, ladies. I know you can do. On 3, go Bruins. 1-2-3.."
"GOOO BRUINS!"

For college meets, it is much like Olympics with a little twist. This meet felt like a huge conference finals, with tv cameras everyone, since the reigning Olympic champ was competiting for the first time in a year. 6 girls for each apparatus. With 4 teams at this meet, this means, every equipment will be going on at the same time. There will be 4 judges at each station decided on the scores. With 6 girls going at each station, but only 5 scores to count, which gives one bad mistake, as long as the other 5 pick that person up. The home teams, UCLA this time, gets final go on the floor. Stanford and Washington started on floor and beam, respectably. Arizona and UCLA on bars and vault. UCLA getting a schedule of vault, bars, beam and finally floor. UCLA dominated vault. The team averaging the highest scores on vault in the conference, early this season. There is only one shot at vault, so you gotta stick it. Kimberly during practice, notice she wasn't getting enough speed or height to do her double front with a half twist vault. Each time she tried, she came up short. Right before she stood at the line, she decided to switch up her vault. Not a smart move without talking with the Coaches first. Kimberly stood at the line after the girl before her went, earning a 9.9 with her vault. She clapped and smiled her as she came up. Kim raised her arms to indicated she was ready. Her vault, if done correctly, could earn a 10, highest score. Kimberly took off. She did a cartwheel, half turn onto the horse into her double front. Coach Blair gasped, but it faded as Kimberly stood there perfectly, with a stick landing. She turned to the judges with a huge smile. Coach Thorne hugged her as she came off the mat.
"What a way to start, way to go!" He patted her back. All the girls hugged Kim as she came down. The judges gave her a 10. Never happened before for a freshman in her first competition. The team moved to bars. With Kim's giving the only perfect score, the team was tied for second place with Stanford after their great run on floor. Kimberly was powdering her hands for bars. She was to be going first. With only one mistake, Kimberly was finishing her lower beam work into her transition to high bar when she came to a complete stop. She had to press to raise herself to swing, and ended up hitting her foot on the lower bar as she passed. She did a full twist before her double layout, another stick landing. Judges gave her a 9.75.


"Way to save it," Blair said as Kimberly passed by.
"Thanks."


Beam had been eventful for every team on it. Stanford and Washington with key great performance mixed in with terrible falls on girls that normally wouldn't do it. UCLA team boosted themselves into first place after great all-around 6 routines, lowest score of 9.7. Kimberly added another perfect 10. She was defending Olympic champion on beam from '96, her credentials spoke loudly and she followed it up with the most difficult beam in the entire competition. Kimberly however, felt winded after beam. Kimberly was to be last up on floor. Team had clinched the title after the 4th girl went with her 9.95. Kimberly went out the floor and placed her hands on her head waiting on her music to start.
"She's pressing!" Coach Thorne said as Kimberly finished her dance sequence into her spins.
"She looks tired."
"We should.."
"NO! Let her go on!" Kimberly stood at the end, her final pass coming up. She took several deep breaths. She ended with a double pike, coming up short, but stuck the landing with catlike feet. The crowd erupted in cheer. The girls ran to her and hugged her. Kimberly smiled and took to steps before simply falling forward. The air was sucked out of the gym with a collapsed Kimberly on the ground.

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As the team received their medals and plaques, Kimberly was in the doctor's room getting examined.
"I'm fine. I just got a little light-headed."
"You were near death yesterday."
"I'm fine."
"Your bp is low. Have you eaten since you woke up?"
"I ate a fruit bar on the way, but I was just soo nervous."
"You should have been resting, not competing," Coach Blair said.
"But I did well."
"Yes, you did," Coach Thorne said holding her shoulder after Kimberly sat up. "You looked great out there."
"Can I go now?"
"I suppose so. Go home and eat, then rest. Any headaches, please immediately go to the hospital."
"I know. I will." Kimberly zipped up her jacket. Aisha stood at the door as Kimberly came out. They hugged immediately.
"You okay!"
"Yea."
"Kimberly!" Some girls yelled for her to come over and get her medals. Kimberly won all-around for the girls and UCLA won the meet.


8pm
Aisha took Kimberly to get a victory dinner at Denny's. Kimberly was walking toward the loft when she found her things in boxes outside the door. Jason lifted a letter on top and handed it over to her. Kimberly opened it slowly, after a few lines, she was crying. Jason opened the door and Kimberly went straight for Tommy's door. She pounded on it. Tommy flung it open.
"Yes?"
"Excuse me? What the hell is this!" She held up the letter to his face.
"It doesn't need much explanation, I thought. I can't be with you now. We can't be together and that's it."
"Just like that you're ending us!"
"Yes."
"But..why..Tom.." He slammed the door in her face. She hit the door. "Damn you!" Aisha came over and helped her to her feet after Kimberly slid down the door crying.
"Come on, let's go." Jason helped take Kimberly's things back. Aisha put Kimberly into some PJ's and let her lay in her room. Aisha placed the puppies in the room and came out. Jason was putting the final box in Kim's room.
"Don't let her lock herself away again."
"I won't."
"This is going to be extremely hard, Aisha. She's gonna want to go to that dark place again, we have to make sure she doesn't."
"Does he really want to punish her like this?"
"Yeah, I have never seen him this way. Such anger,consumed within. I hope this anger management helps." Aisha hugged him. "Be strong. I'm here okay. Call me anytime. Don't worry too much, they'll get through this."
"How? How can you possible believe that now?"
"I don't know, how or why I do. But I do. And I know you do too." They kissed. "We have to make sure they do as well, eventually."

3 days later
11 am
Kimberly sat on Tyler's bed, in the hospital, holding his hand as he slept. They were talking a while ago. He woke up again.
"Hey."
"Hey, sorry, I knocked out on you, what was the last thing you said?" Tyler said in a weak voice. His vocal cords still slightly bruised from the fight.
"It's not important. You hungry or thirsty?"
"Why are you here?"
"I promised I wouldn't leave you, remember."
"And Tommy?"
"Don't you worry about that. Everything is okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yea," Kim lied, Tyler could slightly tell. "It will be."
"He was here."
"What?"
"Yea, first night, I think I saw him. He has been here a few other times."
"Whoa."
"Why so surprised?" Tyler asked.
"It's nothing. You sure you don't want anything?"
"Maybe some apple juice would be nice."
"Ok. I'll be right back." Kimberly got up and straighten her blue paisley poncho. She went down the hall to the vending machine. She loaded a dollar and saw Tommy in the reflection. She turned around, but the hall was empty. Kimberly sighed and pushed the buttons for apple juice. Little did she know, Tommy was there, hidden from sight. Kimberly returned to the room.
"Here's your juice." Kimberly opened it and held it up for Tyler.
"Thanks." Kimberly sat to the bed, looking back often through the window. "What's wrong?"
"I thought I.. nevermind. I should go do some final presentation and studying preparation, but I'll back tomorrow."
"Oh right. Exams coming up."
"Saturday is the first ones."
"How many do you have?"
"Uh, 6. Global on Saturday, Chemistry and lab on next Monday with Writing. And Biology and lab on next Wednesday. But this week, I got that huge Biology presentation Wednesday."
"Good luck."
"Thanks."


2pm
Aisha was finishing up her Biology presentation, as Kimberly sat on the coffee table playing her guitar.
"You know you have a presentation as well."
"I know." Kimberly continued to play. "Since you've gone, well it seems like everything is wrong. And deep inside...How can I change the world? Cause I sure can't change your mind...Losing you, well it's been the hardest thing to do. So, I close my eyes and tell myself, that somehow I’ll survive...And baby, so sad that you have to leave me, just so you can find yourself. And it's so sad that you just can't see, I love you more than life itself...Where's the miracle I need now, got to get to you somehow, got to get to you somehow, No, I can't change the world... " Kimberly stopped and stood up. She started putting her guitar in the case, when Katherine came into the apartment.
"And where have you been?" Aisha asked.
"With Tommy." She went and got some water, as Kimberly stopped clicking her guitar case closed.
"What?"
"Yea, he asked me to come with him to that class again."
"Anger management?"
"That's the one." Katherine drank her water. "I mean, since I'm his only one that really understand him."
"Excuse me?"
"Don't," Aisha said to Kimberly. Kimberly clicked the final piece. "I thought those meetings were for Tommy only."
"Well, he wanted some support."
"I should have..."
"Oh, come off it Kimberly. Tommy doesn't need you there."
"Excuse me?"
"Look, it's been deemed, you are not good for Tommy."
"Right and you believe that?"
"Not the only one, Tommy and the doctor."
"What?"
"Yea, Tommy's therapist thinks, believe, it is in the best interest for Tommy that you just stay away." Kimberly slammed her guitar caseto the table.
"That is just ridiculous!"
"Where are you going?"
"I need to speak to him."
"He has another group meeting. I told you, he doesn't want you!"
"I haven't seen him in 3 days!"
"So you can judge him! You all do it! He knows it! He sees how everyone ran to you and not even help him. They all left him in jail to go to the hospital!"
"Oh and I bet you just love to run to him!"
"Well, he doesn't love you." Kimberly grabbed Kat's arm and twisted it behind to her back and pulled her head back.
"Listen, you may think, wish, desire, Tommy to not love me. But guess what, he does. He always will."
"OW! You are hurting me!"
"Get this through you blonde head, we are going to be together. You see this ring, he gave it to me. He won't ever give it to you!" Kimberly shoved her forward. "Now, where the fuck is this place?"
"Like I would tell you!"
"So help me Katherine, I will..." Kimberly grabbed her head again, her fist raised to land a big punch to her face.
"Wade Ave! Wade and 9th street! Don't hurt me!" Kimberly let go. She grabbed her purse and keys and left the apartment.
"Crazy bitch."
"What was that?" Aisha stood with her hands on her hips. "Because the only crazy bitch I see here is you. You cannot possibly believe he will ever love you. He's not crazy." Aisha picked up her things and went to her room.


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5pm
Kimberly stood outside the meeting room. She made sure to stay hidden as the class was being excused for the day. Doctor Jones was the last to come out after everyone had left. She saw Kimberly standing there.
"Miss? Can I help you?"
"The meeting..."
"You missed it, but there will be one everyday during week and twice on Sundays. I don't work on Saturdays. Do you have a court order or..."
"No, I don't. My...uh..my...I know someone who does." Kimberly fumbled with her pink ring.
"Okay."
"It's just...he...umm..I was told that I didn't have any right to be here."
"You must be Kimberly, Tommy's fiancé. ”
"Yea, how did you..."
"He talks about you a lot."
"Oh god."
"Don’t worry, mostly good."
"Mostly?"
"He's got some things to work through, but I believe in a short time, he will get through them. You want to come in?"
"Thanks." Kimberly followed her. Tommy came back to get the drink he left, when he saw Kimberly walk into Doctor Jones's office.

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7pm
Aisha looked up from fridge to see Kimberly coming into the flat.
"Where have you been!"
"Talking to Dr. Jones."
"Who's he?"
"She, is Tommy's therapist."
"Oh, whoa."
"Yea. I brought Wendy's."
"Good, I love you. If you just had that Y chromosome." Kimberly laughed.
"I got frosties too." Kimberly held up the 2 cups. "We talked about soo much, Aisha. What I did wrong, what Tommy did wrong, how we just need to talk and figure out where to go. She was really helpful."
"I'm glad. So you gonna go talk to him?"
"Not tonight. She agrees with giving him space. I need to give him space and not try to push us back together. He'll come back. I know he will because he loves."
"Wow, where did this optimism come from?"
"Dr. Jones said I needed to have a positive attitude from here on and hopefully it can rub off on Tommy." She ate some french fries. Kimberly went to her room and changed into her PJ's. Aisha and her sat in the living room setting up their notes from each class. There was a buzz at the door. Kimberly went and opened it.
"Hey."
"Can I come in?"
"Sure." Kimberly stepped aside for Tommy to come inside.
"Can we talk alone?"
"Okay." She followed him to her room. Aisha and her shrugged at each other. Kimberly closed the door behind her.
"What are you doing?"
"What?"
"Why were you talking to my doctor!"
"I wanted to help, so I went to..."
"Don't! God, I don't need or want your help!"
"I just wanted to make..."
"Like I said, we are through! I don't need you in my problems anymore!"
"But I can help! I love you!" Tommy pulled away as Kimberly touched him.
"Just stay out of my fucking business! I won't tell you again."
"Why are you being such a jerk!" She started crying.
"Don't you dare. Don't you dare start with the waterworks."
"I love you Tommy."
"I really hate that word, people use it too much." Tommy opened the door and left. Kimberly fell to her knees crying. Aisha came inside. She simply went over and hugged Kimberly.


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Next day
Monday morning were a drag. Kimberly sat in Global taking notes for the final coming up. Class was dismissed. Kimberly zipped up her coal hoodie and went with the others for lunch.
5pm
Aisha walked into the dark bedroom of her best friend.
"There you are! Why are you in bed at 5 o'clock in the afternoon?"
"Just tired I guess." Sarah McLachan CD going on in the background. Aisha knew better and pulled the covers down.
"Right. So Hypnotic just keeping you warm?"
"Pretty much." Aisha took the half-drank bottle and patted Kim's leg.
"Come on, let's get out of here."
"I just want to lay here."
"We should be practicing our Biology presentations or our dance. All the others are in the library. We got 2 rooms."
"Tommy gonna be there."
"No."
"No?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"He wasn't interested."
"Great." Kimberly grabbed the bottle back. "I just want to be alone!"
"I won't let you do this again."
"You can't stop me!"
"True." Aisha slipped out of her sneakers and jacket. "But I can join you." She pulled the covers back. "Move over."
"What is wrong with you?"
"One word. Jason." Aisha took a hit from the bottle.
"What is wrong with that boy now?"
"I am."
"What?"
"I don't know, we were getting back to that place, then he pulls away again, like he doesn't want to let me in completely."
"Poor Jason. Still scarred from Emily."
"That bitch." They both laughed.
"You know she was really sweet from what I heard," Kimberly said drinking again.
"You know, you are lucky. You were Tommy's first, and he yours."
"Funny, right now I don't feel soo lucky." Kimberly drank more


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Next day
10:40 am
In Writing class, Kimberly and Tommy sat on opposite sides of the room. Kimberly Professor was handing out key flyers that will help everyone get through the final. Writing final would consist of a 20 question multiple choice section on works they read over the semester along with a 2 essay questions. Kimberly was talking notes of what to expect, when she caught Tommy staring off. Their eyes connected. Tommy looked down, but up again. Kimberly refused to look away.
"And that's that. So good luck to you all. Start early and study often." Class was let go.
Cafeteria getting filled when Kimberly arrived. She saw Aisha, Adam and Rocky already sitting down.
"Hey, come, sit and eat."
"I'm just gonna grab something quick and see Tyler."
"Didn't you see him yesterday?"
"Yea." Kimberly walked away.
"She goes to see him like everyday now," Adam said.
"What do you expect? She feels guilty. She shouldn't, but she believes this is all her fault," Aisha said.
"He will be released soon, right?"
"I don't know. Doctors said a few weeks or so. He was lucky, he was really beaten up. Tommy nearly ki..." Aisha looked up to find Tommy standing there. "Oh, hey."
"Whatever." Tommy said down with his tray. Katherine not far behind. Kimberly came out carrying a brown bag.
"Can we practice dance after lab?"
"Of course." Kimberly looked at Tommy. He barely acknowledge her presence. "Bye."
"Bye."

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3pm
Chemistry lab was a short one, as the last one of the semester. Exam was late Monday afternoon.
"So, I was thinking snakeskin pants."
"My pink ones?" Kimberly asked as they went through closets to figure out outfits.
"No, the black ones!"
"Oh, with tan top and ankle boots."
"We shouldmake our hair super straight," Aisha added. "Little bump and curl, but not too much."
"Oh, that sounds good."
"We don't have good tan tops."
"Yea we do."
"Where?"
"That's what shopping is for."
"SHOPPING!" They laughed.


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Next day
Kimberly was the first to give her presentation for Biology. Each student was given 6-10 minutes on any subject that discussed throughout the semester. It was cell Biology. Plant cells were Kim's choice, since she loves gardening, she talked about structure and benefits of it. Chemistry class was next. Teacher just wanted to give everyone review sheets and send them on their way to study. The professor set up sessions with the TA for the rest of the week.


2 pm
Dance class, everyone had friends come and watch the class do their performances. Aisha and Kimberly dressed in tan racerback tanks, black snakeskin print pants and black leather ankle boots. Anyone was allowed to come and watch. The teacher was taping it to be later graded and used if good enough for her upcoming classes. All the guys, except for Tommy came. Katherine was dragged in by Tanya. Jenna thought the only reason Kimberly got such better grade was because she went after her. She made it so, Kimberly was to go before she and her partners did their performances. Aisha handed over the CD to the professor. In the end, Aisha and Kimberly got the loudest cheer of the day.
They all got back to the loft, talking and laughing about the performance. Rocky trying to mimic some moves. Aisha and Kimberly were trying to teach him. Everyone laughed as he thrusted his pelvis and grabbed his crotch. Tommy came out his room.
"Could you all shut the hell up! Some people have work!" He slammed the door back. Kimberly got down from Rocky's back, she had him in a headlock after he grabbed his crotch and was lifted to his back. She went to his door. She knocked on his door. "GO AWAY!"
"Open the door." Nothing.
"Oh no," Rocky said. Kimberly turned then spun kicked the door. It swung opened.
"What the fuc.." Kimberly slammed the door back.
"This attitude! This fucking jerk ass attitude has to stop!"
"Who the fuck are you in my room to come.."
"There is a kind way to tell someone..."
"I don't have to listen to this! This is my room, get out!"
"We were just..."
"Go to your place and party then!"
"Make me." Kimberly folded her arms across her chest. Tommy laughed.
"Get out."
"Come on, Tommy. Make me." Tommy stood up and grabbed her forearms. He went to move her, but stopped. They stared at each other. Tommy quickly grabbed her face and kissed.


TBC