You'd expect that after Calum stole that kiss like that, he would be my worst nemesis and that I wanted to take revenge on him. Nope. In fact, he became my best friend. Backing me up whenever I get into trouble. In fact, he would take the blame for me every time I would be punished.

****

In the middle of Year 7, I was getting bored of being the good girl. I started hitting on some of the boys. Yes, I know. Stupid of me. I consulted Calum for some advice on this.

"Bad choice, Kathy-kat. If you pull the wrong move, you could end up stuck in an alley, all beaten down," he warned me. This was the first time he's truly worried about me, and I guess I wasn't so used to it. Calum is usually the one getting into trouble, and I'd have to drag him out.

"Relax, Cal Pal!" I grinned. He hates it when I call him that. "I"ll be careful. I'm much more careful than you!"

"Okay, then," he sighed, although the worried pleat in his eyebrows never left. "I can't stand the sight of you being on the ground, in an alley."

Eventually, I ended up talking to Luke Hemmings, one of Calum's friends. I remember him hanging out at Calum's house when I was over once. I was on the topic of bands and mentioned how I loved listening to any type of band, and he instantly started listing all the bands that he loved. Surprisingly we had the same taste in bands, so I went over to his house. Calum was already at his door, so when he saw me walking with Luke, his face darkened.

"Kathy-kat, what the heck are you doing here?" he asked in shock. I couldn't tell him it was the shock from me walking with Luke or the shock from me hanging out with another boy that's not him.

"I invited her here," Luke answered as I opened my mouth to answer him. "You guys obviously know each other, so no need for introductions. Come on in."

"Actually," I found myself saying. "I'll go home. Have fun, Cal."

"Okay, then," he said slowly. "Be safe, Kathy-kat."

I started walking from Luke's place, feeling Calum's worried stare burning through my white collared shirt. I had just gotten to a corner when the old "Popular Girls" clique confronted me. Their leader, Teresa McLean, was glaring daggers at me.

"Tomlinson. Such a shame that good genetics weren't passed down to you. Your brother and Thomas are so hot, yet you aren't. Why do you deserve Luke Hemmings and Calum Hood?" she snarled. Instinctively, I rolled my eyes. My brother visits every summer and is practically the girl magnet whenever he comes over.

"If I were interested in them, I would've pushed you into the alley right there and beat you up already," I scoffed at her.

"Well, since we're interested, I think we should shove you in there," Poppy Richards suggested. Poppy is one of Teresa's underlings, along with Eliza Collins and Chloe Johnson. I blew my blonde bangs upwards and rolled my eyes again. I really don't want to get beaten up, but I do happen to know that they aren't very strong. The four of them nodded and started shoving me towards the alley. I was kind of surprised about their strength, but then, it's me against four girls.

"Now," Teresa gave me an evil smile. In reply, I lifted an eyebrow. She shoved me to the wall and placed her forearm at my throat. "It's time that you get that beating that you deserved."

"Go ahead," I replied, trying to leave the emotions out of my face. "See if I care."

"Alright," she snarled. Her first hit was down in my stomach, doubling me over. Pretty soon, I found myself facing the ground, blood dripping down from my mouth. My body was aching from all the punches and kicks. I silently wished that someone would come and save me from this torture.

"Hey!" a familiar voice called. I didn't have the strength to look up, and my brain wasn't functioning properly. "If she gets beat up, I get up as well. And, oh look! The cops are here!"

"What?" Teresa shrieked. She tried to run past the voice, but I heard sirens blaring around me.

The last thing that I remembered was being lifted into the air and the voice saying, "You'll be alright, Kathy-kat."

****

I heard the beeping sound before I opened my eyes. Pain pierced through my right arm, as something was taken out.

"I think she's waking up!" a voice that sounded like Calum cried out. I slowly woke up and saw him rushing towards me. "Are you alright, Kathy? Do you remember me? How old are you?"

"Be quiet, Cal Pal," I sighed, putting my hand on his arm. "I'm still here." I heard an audible sigh, knowing it came from him.

"You're lucky you brought her here right away, young man," the doctor said. I looked around and could only find Cal. I must've not been out for long. "She could've been in a coma if you didn't bring her here quickly."

"Thank god," Calum looked back at me. He sat down at the chair next to me and watched me. "I don't know what I would've done if you were stuck in a coma."

"Go ahead," I mumbled. "Scold me. Tell me 'I told you so.' Tell me that you were right all along."

"I'd rather not," he replied breezily. "I just feel safe knowing that you're safe." I looked up at him, and he smiled. He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. That's the most affection I've allowed Calum to do. That first kiss was too much, but I felt something else in this kiss.

I felt...

safe.

****

And then there was that time in Year 9. I was still stuck in pre-algebra, and it was starting to get boring.

"The answer to that question is 42, Ms. Tomlinson. Not life," Mrs. Hilderberg boomed, in her old, crochety voice.

"The answer to life is 42. And since 42 was the answer to that question, Life equals 42, which equals that equation," I simply explained. The class instantly burst into laughter. Of course, Mrs. Hilderberg had no time for humor.

"Katherine Ann Tomlinson!" she screeched, making me jump. The volume didn't scare me, but the fact that she used my full name shocked me. I haven't even heard it ever since I was seven. "I'm warning you. This is your last chance."

"Alrighty, ma'am," I mock-saluted. She sent an icy glare over to me before sauntering off to her desk.

"Kathy, catch!" Calum hollered across the classroom. I turned around and saw a paper airplane flying above me. It flew straight over my head and dove straight to the front of the classroom. Right at the old Battleaxe's heels.

"Katherine Tomlinson! That's the last straw!" she shrieked, pointing a long, red nail at my face. "You are in detention for the next week! Hopefully, you'll have learned your lesson by then."

I rolled my eyes, and the bell rang. I piled up all of my stuff and felt a warm hand on my wrist. I looked up to see Calum standing next to me with a soft smile.

"Battle- I mean, Mrs. Hilderberg?" Calum called out. I stifled my giggles from his near slip-up. "I was the one who threw that airplane, so I should get that detention. Not her."

"Mr. Hood," she rigidly replied. "When I say someone has detention, they have detention. Unless you want to join them." Calum's expression didn't waver. "As for you, Ms. Tomlinson, I can always fail you in Algebra."

"That's not allowed," I responded, internally horrified at the prospect of that happening. I didn't want to be sent back to Britain, as much as I missed my family. "In life, there's a moral about how teachers should not purposely fail a student because they do not like them. Grades are determined by their participation in class, their motivation, and their skill."

"What would you do if I intend on failing you two?" she asked with a daring look. Remembering a quick tip I learned from Thomas, I pointed to the corner of the room, nudging Calum with my other hand.

"I can get my parents to sue," Calum blurted out. I instantly turned to him, as if he just suggested that I shave off my entire head."This isn't fair treatment for her." Her wrinkled face frowned at my quick thinking, and her scowl was starting to look like it was permanent. To think, he didn't know about the fact that you can sue until a month ago.

"You two are off the hook," she growled. "But you better not cause any more trouble this year."

"Alright," I sighed, dashing out. "Mr. Calum Thomas Hood, I would like to thank you for helping me out there."

"Well, Ms. Kathy Ann Tomlinson," he grinned. "I would like to thank you for getting the both of us out of trouble."

"No problem," I cocked my head, looking at the clock. "Hey, are you up for cutting school? I'm not in the mood anymore."

"Sure!" Calum grabbed my hand, and we made a run for the front doors, going to who-knows-where.