Chapter 1
Dr. Tommy Oliver stood at the front of his classroom writing notes on the board. He hoped the students behind him were copying. He still couldn't believe it some days that he was a teacher, and a science teacher to boot.
When he told his friends that's what he was doing, they all teased him mercifully. Jason and Rocky started calling him the absent-minded professor, He took the jabs in humor only because he knows it was the truth. If his students only knew it wasn't an act. A few students in his senior chem. class last year did, only because they knew him out of school.
Tommy started his morning off with a flashback to high school. He slept through his alarm and only woke up because his phone was ringing.
"Hello?" Said Tommy wishing death to whoever was on the other end of the line.
"Tommy? Don't you have to work today?" Asked Jason trying not to laugh at his chronically tardy friend.
"Yeah, what time is it?" Asked Tommy not wanting to open his eyes.
"A little after 7."
"Oh, shit I overslept, and I'm going to be late." Said Tommy jumping out of bed.
"Now why doesn't that surprise me?" Asked Jason sarcastically.
"Hey, is there a reason for the call or is it just to make fun of me once again?"
"Can't I do both?"
"Jase!"
"Sorry, listen Trini and I want to have a barbeque on Saturday."
"I'm in, and I'll supply the booze, who else is coming?" Asked Tommy as he got his clothes out.
"Only originals and replacements."
"Sounds good, do you mind if I come down Friday night after work?"
"Not at all, listen go get ready for work and call me while you're on your way there."
"Okay, later." Said Tommy as he hung up the phone.
Tommy took the quickest shower of his life, pulled his long hair back into the ponytail that he wore every day. Since the only thing that ever really changed was his ranger color, he'd kept his long hair, and it really pissed off his boss. He finished getting ready and ran downstairs, he knew he wouldn't have time for coffee until he got to the school which was not the most appealing option, but there was no time to stop at Dunkin' Donuts.
As he headed out the door he dialed Jason's phone number.
"Hello?"
"Hey Trini, how are you?"
"Good, he who sleep like he's dead."
"Haha, very funny. I was up all night grading papers."
"What have I told you about that?"
"Don't do it empty-handed and for your information I didn't I had a beer with me the whole time."
"Tommy I told you not to stay up like that precisely for the reason that you oversleep."
"Trini I oversleep even when I don't stay up grading papers."
"Ugh, here talk to Jason."
"Okay." Said Tommy a little confused.
"Hey sorry about that."
"It's cool, I was just pretending it was Kim talking about shopping."
"Can you teach me that trick?" Said Jason with a laugh.
"It's not a trick bro it's three years of experience."
"I tried, listen you know she's coming right?"
"Jase, Kim, and I made up a long time ago."
"Okay."
"When's she coming anyway?" Asked Tommy knowing Kim would be driving down from San Diego.
"She's driving in Friday too."
"Okay."
"So I have a question for you." Said Jason.
"I'm almost afraid to ask what?"
"Since you and Kim made up when are you getting back together?"
Tommy resisted the urge to hang up the phone every time he talked to Jason and the subject of Kim came up Jason would ask the same question and Trini was no better.
"Jase, I don't know, and if and when we decided to give our relationship another chance, you and Trini will be told okay."
"Tommy you know I don't ask but come on will you two just stop being stubborn and get back together."
"I will talk to Kim, okay, now I have to go I'm at work now."
"K, later bro."
"Bye." Said Tommy just shook his head and headed into the school which brought him back to the present.
The final bell of the day finally rang out. And Tommy was more than happy to hear. As Tommy headed out of his classroom he heard heavy footsteps behind him, those of which he knew belonged to his boss.
"Dr. Oliver, I have explained time and time again about the dress code."
"And I've mentioned to you that there are no rules in the employee handbook that was given to me when I started and even in the one I was given this year against me having long hair now if you don't mind I'm on my way out." Tommy then turned around and walked out to his waiting jeep. Just as he got in his cell rang, he smiled as he saw the name on the caller id.
"Hey honey, how's work going so far?"
"Fine I had a free moment so I thought I'd give you a call and see how your day went."
"It was going good until Jason woke me up."
"What did rexboy want this morning?" asked the person on the other end.
"Him and Trini are having a barbeque this weekend and he wanted to know if I could make it." Said Tommy laughing at the nickname Jason had acquired through the years.
"That's why he must have called at 6 I totally ignored most of the phone conversation, what time did he call you at?"
"I overslept by the time I answered it was a little after 7."
"Tommy! Please tell me you at least made it to work on time."
"I did, and then just as I was leaving Henderson came up to me in the hall and mentioned the dress code again."
"I think he's jealous because you're younger and have more hair."
"Maybe tomorrow I should put the earrings in and ride the Harley, what do you think?"
"I think I wish I could be there to see his face."
"At least when Elsa was the principal things were a little more interesting."
"Before or after she kept trying to kill you?"
"Either, when she was principal she'd flirt like crazy with me which I ignored, and when she was trying to kill me she kind of reminded me of Rita only her mouth was in sync with her words."
"Nice comparison."
"Thank you."
"It's defiantly better than 'Biker Chick' which was what I got when I saw her."
"I think that's how most of Reefside saw her too."
"So what color are you wearing on Friday?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"You should go nostalgic and wear white."
"Trust me I'll be wearing plenty of white this weekend."
"So what time are you arriving at Jase and Trini's?"
"Uh, well I have to teach on Friday so it won't be until after classes."
"Well how about this I have Friday completely off so why don't I come down Thursday and we drive down together when you get off work."
"And what are you going to do all day while I'm at work?"
"I can probably find something to do, I'll bring you to work on Friday morning and pick you up that way we can head out as soon as you get out."
"Would you drop me off a block away?"
"Smartass, so does that sound good to you or not?"
"Sounds good to me, it means we can figure out how to tell everyone this weekend or not." Said Tommy.
"We'll talk about it Thursday night."
"Okay, so I'm almost home which means your break is almost over.
"I know I'll talk to you later."
"I love you and call me before you go to sleep." Said Tommy.
"I love you too, and don't I always? Are you grading papers tonight?"
"Yes, you do and yes I am."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye."
