Tommy was constantly being bullied in school by Randy on a daily basis. Tommy's life completely changes when he meets a mysterious girl after school while riding his bike. This accidental meeting... led to something more! An Accidental Meeting Chapter 8 by Kayla Don Copyright © 2012, 2013 Kayla Don All Rights Reserved.

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Chapter 8

The four of them talked awhile until there was a knock at the door. When it opened, a tall blond man in operating scrubs walked in.

“Hi there Tom. How are you doing?” the man said.

Tommy looked up at him and replied, "I'm just fine Doc."

“Well, I have great news for you.”

“What’s that?”

“Well,” he shifted his stance, looking at both Tommy and Sam, “as far as I can tell, there’s no real damage other then soft tissue that seems to be healing quite nicely. If it keeps up at its current pace, I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to go home in as little as three weeks.” He smiled.

“That’s great?!!” Tommy sulked and sank back down into his pillow. "Three weeks in here and I‘ll lose my mind!”

“But what about me?” Kelly asked, feeling a little bit left out.

“You, my dear, are just fine and can be discharged in the morning,” the doctor said.

“Will I have to go to school next Monday?” Kelly asked with a tremble of fear in her voice.

“Well I’m keeping Tom out for at least another week after he is released from here, just to be on the safe side, to allow him to adjust moving around again.”

“But what about me? I mean... by now... everyone knows about me... and what I am. I’m dead!!! As soon as I walk in... and...”

“Slow down little missy,” the doctor said as he gently grabbed her shoulders. Kelly was hyperventilating and hung her head, staring at the bed. Tears again trickled down her face.

“It’ll be fine dear! I know that you have been through a lot too, so I’m excusing you for the same amount of time... just to be on the safe side!” the doctor winked. “Now Kelly, I would like for you to listen to me. I have done all that I can do for you here. But there are other doctors that can help you out with your problem. I do know of a few and will be glad to refer you to them. In the meantime,” the doctor moved over and looked down into her teary eyes, “...in the meantime, I want you to promise me not to do anything "stupid" nor rash. Okay?”

He waited until Kelly could nod her head.

“Good! Death is a permanent solution to a minor problem THAT CAN be worked out to your satisfaction. You have a supportive parent and good friends. And I believe that between yourself, them, and the right health professionals, that you will discover how to forge on ahead in your path of life. Don't sell yourself short of life's possibilities.”

The doctor said his goodbyes and left.

“So what are we going to do?” Kelly asked as she snuggled back up to Tommy.

Tommy leaned in as he held her gently. “I don’t know. But somehow, we’ll figure it out.”
 

 
 
A few hours later, Trudy walked into Tommy's hospital room. The sun was still up and shining through the window, but would be going down soon. She saw that Sam was reading a book over on the window couch and Tommy was sitting there watching Kelly sleep in the bedside lounge chair.

Trudy had known about her other daughter for quite a while. But still, even now, seeing how cute she looked from how she normally was before... felt strange! Trudy did like the large smile her sleeping daughter now had.

Tommy watched her as she made her way over to his bed.

“Hey Miss Bishop.” Tommy whispered.

“Hey Tom. And call me Trudy.” she replied back in a hushed voice.

It was quiet for a second.

“So how are you holding up?”

“Good... I guess, I mean I feel strange, now that I know, but….

“But what?” she whispered.

“I’ve been thinking all day while I watched her. I also thought about what I said to you and mom. I can’t stop thinking about how cruel what I said was.”

“Tommy it’s ok,” She smiled and patted his shoulder. “We all have times when we say things we don’t mean.”

Tommy grimaced. “But I did mean it... and when I think about it...I feel really sick inside. I just can't believe I said it, it’s just not like me,” he said.

“It’s okay,” Trudy quietly said. “Isn’t that right Sam?”

No answer.

“Sam?” Trudy looked over at Tommy's mother.

“She’s asleep.” Tommy confirmed.

“What? But she is reading?” Trudy said as she looked harder at Sam sitting there holding a book in her lap with her eyes closed and her head slightly down.

Tommy laughed slightly.

“She does that at times. She likes to read and I cant tell you how many times I’ve found her like that.”

“Well, either way, don’t beat yourself up over this.” Trudy said.

“Don’t worry, I won’t. But I promise you, that as long as she’ll have me, I will always be there to protect her and keep her safe.” he said with conviction. Tom then winced from a slight pain in his side from having moved when he had said that.

“I know you will. And Tommy?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for saving my daughter.”

Trudy kissed him on the cheek and then turned to her sleeping daughter. She gently shook her shoulder.

“Um…yum… wa uh” Kelly opened her eyes and sat up and stretched her arms out.

“Hi mom. What’s up?” she yawned.

“It’s time to go and get you back to your room,” her mom whispered. Kelly frowned but slowly stood up stretching out the kinks. Kelly looked over and saw Tommy's smiling eyes laughing at her predicament. She frowned even more and then stooped over the bed hugging him.

“I'll see you tomorrow Kell.”

“You too. Have a good night.”

He kissed her on the cheek. Trudy had brought in a wheelchair next to Kelly.

“Aw mom! Do I really have to ride this? You know that I can walk...” Kelly complained quietly as her mom helped her into it.

“Sorry sweety. Hospital policy. So hush up and enjoy the ride.” Trudy laughed.

Kelly gave a sad wave of goodbye as Tommy's door clicked shut.
 
 
Kelly was wheeled back into her room where her mom helped her get ready for bed.

“Mom?”

“Yes dear?”

“Are you...like... really okay with me?” she asked pointing to herself. “I mean, being a girl?”

“Of course sweetheart.”

Trudy had just laid out tomorrow's clothing for Kelly and had placed today's in her tote bag. As she tucked Kelly in, she then sat down upon the bed next to her. “It doesn’t matter if your Kelly or Randy. You're still my child and I will always be here for you, and support you.”

“I am just so scared! With Tommy being almost...killed... and with my having to go back to school... I-I..j-just... don't know!!!”

Trudy leaned over and hugged her daughter tight. “Shush! Shhh!” she comforted her crying Kelly. “You just let those fears pass out of you hon. We are going to work out things and see what we can do. If we have to move to keep you safe, I will do it. I am sure the Hospital can transfer me to another city or state within the company.”

Kelly, still crying looked up into her mother's eyes. "B-bb-but Tomm-my! I dd-don't wann-t to leave him!" Trudy gave her depressed daughter a look of understanding.

“We are not going to do anything that you yourself do not want to do dear. I mentioned it as a possibility. It will be among the things we discuss in the days ahead. For now, get some sleep. It will all be better eventually. And I will be with you every step of the way.”

She kissed Kelly on the forehead. “Now get some sleep.”

As Trudy opened the door to leave, Kelly tearfully called out, “I love you mom!”

“I love you too sweetpea!” Trudy smiled and waved Kelly good night as she shut the door.

Kelly lay back and sleep was hard to come by that night.
 

 
 
The next day Kelly awoke early and wiped the sleep from her eyes. She did not sleep good at all. Tossing the covers aside, she went within her room's bathroom and took a long shower. She leaned against the shower wall and let the steady stream of water gently beat her neck and upper back. It was soothing.

Kelly knew big decisions were on the way: her and Tommy's exposure in the newspaper, the kids at school once they find out, and maybe one or the both of them having to move away. And Tommy's mother! - wasn't she under the witness protection program? Couldn't the federal government do something about them being exposed like this? Maybe they could include her? So many questions...

And her body.

It wasn't yet how it should be. That, in and of itself, was frustrating enough without all these other things going on. Kelly let out a sigh. She certainly wasn't going to get anywhere with letting her mind go bananas over all the possibilities of what if?

Kelly scrunched her eyes trying to put her mind into a peaceful state and letting all her tension fade away. She leaned there for minutes letting the shower-head of nice hot water relax her.

Kelly then picked up the little complimentary shampoo bottle and began shampooing her hair.
 
 
Kelly, awhile later, was dressed in the snug fitting jeans with the heat stitching on the back pockets and the pink t-shirt and starter bra. Her mom had come in and handed her the new girl's tennis shoes that she had bought her yesterday. Together, the mother and daughter team packed up Kelly’s things. Kelly was trying hard to keep from crying.
 
 
“Kelly!” Tommy exclaimed as she walked in Tommy's Hospital room. He held his arms open and Kelly practically fell into his grasp and melted as she half flopped next to him on the edge of his bed. Kelly placed her arms over top of Tommy's and grasped him. The two of them remained together with Tommy holding her as his breakfast was wheeled in by the nursing staff beside his bed.

Just then Tommy's nose and lips began to tickle the back of her neck.

Kelly giggled out and half-heartedly struggled. “Tommmm-meeeeee.”

The nurse hid her smile as she left.

Tommy was taking the initiative to hand feed Kelly bits of his breakfast with the fork. The two were making a game out of it.

Sam and Trudy took the cue to go on ahead and get their breakfast downstairs in the hospital cafeteria. They had things to discuss.
 
 
When Sam and Trudy returned at about 11:00 am, Tommy and Kelly were still snuggled together watching television.

Trudy said, “Alright Kelly, it's time to go.”

Kelly turned and looked pitifully into Tommy's eyes. Tommy just leaned his forehead to touch hers and gave her a quick hug again.

“I’ll call you later,” she said to Tommy.

“I’ll be waiting for you,” he said with a smile.

Kelly rolled her eyes as she saw the wheelchair once again awaiting her at the door.
 
 
Trudy pushed Kelly down to the main lobby and over to a large desk where her mom filled out some papers. Kelly was looking around and thought that she noticed some people were staring and whispering. Was it about her?

She just ignored them. Kelly started to think of happy thoughts.

Trudy began rolling Kelly out to their car. After Kelly had climbed into the car, and Trudy returned the wheelchair inside, they drove off.
 
 
While driving, they made some small talk and just passed the time. Each was cautious not to bring up the big subjects of what was going on. At a stoplight, Trudy had a thought.

“Are you still hungry?” Trudy asked. She really wondered just how much of Tommy's breakfast Tommy really ate.

“Yeah. I feel like having something. What did you have in mind?” Kelly asked.

“How about Wendy’s?” her mom said.

“That sounds great,” Kelly answered as she looked down the street and saw the large red and white sign.
 
 
Trudy pulled in and they both walked inside. This Wendy's was fairly new and was very clean. The smell of the food assaulted their senses as they entered. It still felt strange to Kelly, even though this wasn't her first time out, but she still felt nervous inside and was trying to act casual as she looked about to see if others were staring at her.

“Welcome to Wendy’s can I take your order” this young man behind the counter asked as they approached.

“I’ll take a medium chicken salad with ranch dressing and a chili.” Trudy said.

“I’ll take an asiago chicken sandwich, without bacon, and with large fries and a large Dr. Pepper.” Kelly said.
 
 
After they got their order and sat down Trudy looked over at Kelly. “You know you’ll have to change your eating habits when you start hormones. Otherwise, all that food is going to go your waist and hips.”

“I know mom. But can't I just enjoy this... while I can?” Kelly said in mock annoyance.
 

 
 
After they finished eating Kelly stretched and said she could use a nap. So the two of them went back to their car. It didn’t take them long to get home.

What they saw left Kelly white as a ghost and Trudy's jaw dropped.
 
 
Spray painted in big letters across their garage door were the words 'Lives Here.' There was an old man and a younger man whom Kelly hadn’t seen since Katie died scrubbing away, trying to clean it. What drove Kelly cold was the faded word 'Fag' in front of the Lives.

The two men stopped what they were doing when they heard Trudy's car pulling up into the driveway and turned around and stopped scrubbing.

Kelly's heart raced and she felt her blood pumping hard as she saw her grandpa and young uncle.

The car came to a stop and the engine died.

“Come on sweetie lets go. It's okay.” Trudy said as she saw her daughter was absolutely scared at seeing her grandfather. Kelly was dressed as she should be and her grandfather had never seen her like this before. She remembered him slightly, remembering his harshness when she was younger as Randy.
 
 
George Hanley was a mountain of a man with a 'Born to Kill' tattoo on his left shoulder from his days back in Vietnam. He had a permanent mean look that seemed to never leave his face. It had always scared Kelly because she could never tell if he was happy or mad. The few times she did remember him, he had been angry.

The two climbed out of their car and shut the doors. Kelly hesitated walking and froze up.

Her Grandfather's face formed a scowl and he walked over to her!

He stopped in front of Kelly and stared down at her.

It was taking everything Kelly had not to run away!

She was shaking and her eyes watered. She wanted to run, be anywhere but here! Run! Run Now! But her legs felt like stone! Her grandfather's face went beet red and his shoulders clenched.

Kelly closed her eyes tight.

"RANDY!"