"I don't want to do this anymore, Grace."

"You can't quit now!"

"I can, and I will. I'm done with this, and I'm done with you. Hasn't she been through enough already? What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Nothing, and I don't give a shit about what she's been through. If you back out now, it's just going to make it worse for her."

"Grace..."

"And I'll tell her what's really going on."

"Go ahead. What makes you think she'll believe you anyway? She can't stand you, and I don't blame her. You're a horrible person, and I'm ashamed that it took me this long to see it. I'm done with you, for real this time."

Matt stormed down the hall to the front office. He was going to get to the bottom of this. He was already pretty sure who did this, but he couldn't just go making accusations. He glanced down the hall as he passed, and saw two janitors cleaning up the locker. It made him sick, how cruel kids could be. Matt pushed the door open to the office harder than intended, and it hit the wall. The secretary behind the front desk jumped a little looking at Coach Sanders with startled eyes. "What class does Leah Jones have right now?" he asked with fire in his eyes.

The secretary quickly typed her name into the computer, "Literature with Mr. Haner." she told him, not getting a response as he turned, and stormed right back out the door. Matt stomped to Brian's classroom, and threw open the door. "Can I help you?" Brian asked looking a little annoyed his class was interrupted. Even if it was one of his friends. "I need Leah." Matt said, spotting her instantly. The look on her face telling him everything he needed to know.

Brian narrowed his eyes on his friend, noticing his tense angry features. He moved from his podium, putting a hand up, silently telling Leah to stay in her seat. He walked over to Matt, and had to literally push him out into the hallway. "What the hell is going on?" he asked once the door was closed. Matt started to pace, running a hand through his hair.

"I'll tell you what the fuck is going on. I have a sobbing Kimmie in my office right now because of those bitches. They vandalized Tammy's old locker-"

"What!?" Brian interrupted him with a fire in his eyes. What the fuck was wrong with these skanks? Haven't these girls been through enough? "Oh yeah," Matt continued with a nod, "Put pictures of her and that piece of shit up. You don't even want to know what they wrote about her." Brian balled his fists at his sides, "What did they write?" he asked through gritted teeth. Matt hesitated for a moment. He knew Brian had a soft spot for the girl, and wasn't exactly sure how he would react. "Tell me." he said, his voice dangerously low. Matt let out a sigh, "They called her daddy's little slut, and an incest whore."

The rage on Brian's face was clear, and made Matt a little nervous. He's never seen him look so mad. Brian violently threw the classroom door open, "Get out here now!" he snapped, looking right at Leah. "Shit." she cursed under breath as she gathered up her things. She knew what this was about, and more than likely she wasn't coming back this period. Brian held the door open, letting it slam shut once she was out in the hall. "Who put that shit up on Tammy's locker?" he got right to it, the anger clouding his eyes. "I-I don't-"

"Bullshit! Don't fucking lie!" Brian started to snap, but Matt put a hand on his chest, stopping him. Leah looked at the two teachers with wide eyes. It was obvious she was in trouble. She has never seen Mr. Haner look like this, or heard him swear. "Leah, we already know who did it just as well as you do. Don't defend them. They don't respect you, and you know it. All they're going to do is bring you down with them. Tell us who did it." Matt tried a calmer approach. Leah let out a sigh, knowing he was right, but before she could answer him the door to the classroom opened. "Aaron go back inside." Brian told him, but he didn't listen. "If this is about Tammy's locker, I know who did it." he said, both teachers eyes snapping to him.

"I heard Grace and Scarlette talking about trashing her locker to mess with Kimmie. Grace is pissed off and jealous because I broke up with her and I've been talking to Kimmie. Leah didn't have anything to do with it," Aaron told them, and she gave him a thankful look, "She even tried to talk them out of it, but well you know how they are." he said. "It's true," Leah's whisper brought all eyes to her, "I told them not to do it, and to just leave her alone. They told me to shut the fuck up, and tried to make me their pack mule," she spat out bitterly, "I didn't do it. I didn't want to," she continued as her eyes started to fill up with tears, "She doesn't deserve it. They didn't deserve any of it." she finished off softly, looking down at the floor as she tried to blink away her tears.

Brian's jaw was clinched tight as he glared at the two students. Matt glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. The guy looked like the top of his head was going to explode. "Why the fuck didn't you say anything!?" he snapped, causing the two to jump a little. "Brian." Matt said softly, trying to get him to calm down, but it was too late. "You could have prevented this!" he continued. "We didn't think they would really stoop that low." Aaron tried to defend, but Mr. Haner wasn't buying it. "Well they fucking did! All because you couldn't say anything, and now Kim is upset-"

"She saw it?" Aaron interrupted looking a little guilty. "Yeah, she did." Matt stepped in, taking control of the situation before Brian really flew off the handle. Normally he was the short tempered one, but Brian's been touchy and moody about this whole situation. It reminded him a lot of how he was after Michelle. "You both need to come with me to the office, and tell the principal what you know if you wanna make this right." Matt told the two, receiving nods. "Can't make it right." he heard Brian grumble. "Yeah, well those two can get what they deserve." Matt said, shooting him a glare. The kids were cooperating. No reason to yell at them like that. "Not like they're going to learn from it." Brian mumbled returning Matt's glare right back too him. He didn't give a fuck. They should have said something sooner.

Matt just rolled his eyes before motioning the students to follow him. "Let me know what happens!" Brian called after him, not getting any kind of acknowledgement, but he knew that fucker heard him. He flung the classroom door open, ignoring all the eyes on him as he walked in. "Read a book, do some homework. I don't care," he said as he walked strait to his desk, and grabbed his keys, "Just be quiet, and stay in your seats until I get back." he finished, not looking at a single student as he walked right back out of the class, and let the door slam behind him. His mood was shot, not that it was that great to begin with, but this just drove it strait into the dirt. He needed to get out of this fucking place, if just for five minutes.

Brian went out the side door at the end of the hall, and to the parking lot. He unlocked his car, and climbed in. Instantly lighting a cigarette as soon as his ass hit the seat. He inhaled deeply, and leaned back in his seat, not really caring he was breaking a big rule at the school. This place was really starting to piss him off, and he just needed a minute away. He didn't remember kids being this cruel when him and the guys were in school. Maybe they were, and he just never noticed. Why? What kind of pleasure did they get out of torturing these girls? It was obvious they were trying to get under Kimmie's skin, and it worked. It made him feel sorry for her. Tammy was gone, finally out of this hell, but Kimmie was still stuck, forced to finish out the year alone.

Brian let out a sigh, and shut his eyes. It was all his fault. That's how he saw it anyway. If he would have just left it alone like she had asked him to, then she would still be here. Another sigh escaped his lips as once again a certain someone entered his mind. She was there a lot lately. Often wondering how she was doing. If she was still mad at him for butting into her life, and tearing apart a beautiful friendship. What was he thinking? God he missed her so much it was almost painful. He didn't understand why. They weren't that close. She was his student, and nothing more, so why did he miss her smile? Why did he miss seeing her walk through his classroom door everyday? Even her laugh that he only got the joy of hearing a couple of times, he missed.

A small chuckle left him. He missed breaking up hers and Scarlette's little spats. He definitely missed her saving him from the others flirting. Brian pulled his phone out of his pocket, and brought up Zacky's contact. He hasn't been able to really talk to him since everything went down. Zack's been so busy with Tammy's case, and other cop stuff. Maybe he'll actually pick up this time. He just needed to know how she was doing. The line rang about five times, and Brian was about to hang up, but just as he got ready to pulled the phone from his ear, his friends voice came floating through the speaker.

"Aren't you suppose to be teaching a class right now?" Zacky chuckled, and Brian rolled his eyes.

"I'm taking a break."

"Old habits die hard, huh? Not going to be satisfied until you get busted smoking at that school as a student and a teacher?" Another chuckle came through, and Brian let a smile come out. He can't even remember how many times they got busted smoking when they were younger. "Well a mans gotta have goals." he said getting more of a laugh from his friend. "So what's up?" Zack asked already having an idea. He has probably 10 voicemails from Brian asking about Tammy. He's just been too busy to get back to him. "Do you really need to ask that?" Brian questioned, his smile now gone, "I just want to know how she's doing."

A sigh was heard on the other line, "Not as great as you would probably like," Zacky started to tell him, "I actually just saw her not but five minutes ago. Came out to give her an update on her case, and let her know I got approved to open a murder case on her mother." he told him. "And?" Brian pressed, wanting him to get on with how she was.

"And, what do you want me to tell you? She's been defiant since she got there. She won't meet any of the families that want to foster her, and if they make her, she's rude and insulting to the point they don't want her. She won't talk to any of the doctors. She either completely ignores them, or pisses them off to the point that they storm out, not wanting anything to do with her. She's a mess, and her social worker is pretty sure she's determined to stay there until she's 18."

Brian shook his head, and tossed what was left of his smoke out the window. This wasn't what he wanted to hear. He just wanted to help. Wanted her to be safe and happy, but that wasn't the case. It was just one big mess, and he didn't know how to clean it up. "She just wants to come home." Zackys voice pulled him from his thoughts. "They don't have anything here in Huntington Beach?" Brian asked. Zack shook his head even though Brian could see, "Nope. That was the first place they looked, and they are running out of in-state homes. If she isn't careful she could end up being sent to another state." he told him.

Another sigh escaped Brian's lips. How could he fix this? "Alright, well thanks for the update," even if it wasn't good, "I gotta get back to class before I really do get busted." he said, hearing one last chuckle before ending the call. Brian locked his car back up, and slowly made his way back inside. His students were all still seated, doing as they were told. He didn't acknowledge them much during the rest of class. Leah and Aaron returned just in time for the last five minutes of class. They didn't know anything about the punishment Grace and Scarlette would receive. They weren't allowed to stay for that.

The rest of the day went by a little too slow for Brian's liking. Matt came by on his way to lunch, and let him know that the skanks only got a three day suspension for the stunt they pulled. It was a little too lenient for Brian and Matt, but it wasn't their decision. They'll never learn their lesson. At least Kimmie wouldn't have to deal with the two for a few days.

Brian walked into his dark, quiet home at the end of the day, and went strait to the fridge for a beer. He downed half of it, and grabbed another before heading for the living room, and plopping down on the couch. He turned the TV on mostly to drown out the silence as his mind started to wonder back to her. It was all really confusing to him. He hasn't thought about someone this much since Michelle. The two relationships are completely different. He was in love with Michelle, but Tammy, well he didn't exactly know what was going on there. Something inside of him just wanted to protect her, hold her and keep her safe. He wanted to make her laugh, and be the reason she smiled, and he really didn't know what to make of these feelings. His brain was telling him they were wrong, but his heart didn't want to listen.

Growing irritated with the thoughts, he slammed the rest of his beer, and started to pace around his house. How in the hell could he fix this? He just wants her to be happy, to finally have some kind of peace. What could he do? Brian stopped in his tracks when Zacky's words ran through his head. "She just wants to come home." A small smile formed on Brian's face as a plan to fix this started to form in his head. He had an extra room. This place was really too big for just him anyway. The only reason he bought a two bedroom house was because he wanted to start a life and family with Michelle, but that didn't go as he planned. Hopefully this would.

Brian quickly walked back into the living room, and grabbed a paper out of an end table drawer. He pulled out his phone, and only had to dial the first three numbers before finding a substitute for tomorrow. He called the principal to let him know he wouldn't be at work the next day, and that he found a sub. Once done on the phone, Brian grabbed his keys, and headed out the door. About ten minutes later, he was knocking on someone else door. "What are you doing here?" Johnny asked with amusement on his face, and a little confusion. Brian never comes over here. At least not by himself. "I wanted to ask you for a favor." he said as Johnny stepped aside, so he could come in. "You want to ask me for a favor?" Johnny mused as he shut the door, and Brian gave him a slightly annoyed look. "Are you going to make this difficult? It's kind of a serious situation."

"Sorry man. It's just a little unusual for you to ask me for a favor."

"I realize that, but I really need your help, or rather someone I know needs your help." Brian explained as they walked into the living room. "What are you doing here?" he was greeted by Jimmy's voice. Brian let out a small groan. Was it really that weird that he would be here. "He came to ask me for a favor." Johnny said the amusement back on his face. Jimmy cocked a brow at Brian. "For what?" he asked curiously. Brian never asked for favors. He hated feeling like he owed people. "Tammy." Brian sighed out as he sat down.

The amusement faded from his friends faces. "That's that girl from the school right? The one with the home problems you had to report?" Johnny asked as he sat next to him. Both Brian and Jimmy nodded. Johnny had heard all about it from Jimmy the same night it got reported, and of course the media had no problem spewing her life all over the country. "I talked to Zack today, and she's not doing so well," Brian started to explain, "She won't talk to any of the doctors that try to help her, or she pisses them off to the point they leave. I was hoping maybe you could try to talk to her."

"What makes you think she will talk to me?" Johnny asked even though he would probably help anyway. "Cause you put up with a lot of shit from us, and I think you could handle the attitude she can have." A small smile came out on Johnny's face, "I'm going to take that as a compliment," he said getting a few chuckles, "But, yeah sure I'll see if I can get her to talk to me." Relief wash over Brian's face, "Thanks, man. I really appreciate it. Just try not to let her get to you too much. You know she's just scared." Johnny gave him a nod, "Don't worry about it. I can take whatever she dishes out." he said with a small grin.

"Thanks again." Brian said before standing up to leave. "No problem." Johnny told him, standing as well to see him out. "Oh and I won't be at work tomorrow," Brian paused, and looked at Jimmy, "I already found a substitute. Could you swing by later, and grab the curriculum, and give it to him in the morning." Jimmy gave him a nod, but looked at him a little confused. Brian never missed work. "Why won't you be there?" he asked, and a small smile came out on Brian's face. "I'm going to go apply to be a foster parent." he told him before just leaving the two a little shocked.

Notes

First I want to give you all a big THANK YOU for sticking around. I love you all :)

Okay so Brian has a plan...
Who was talking to Grace? Was it Leah or Aaron? I'm sure you can guess. It's not that hard :P

And Aaron, oh Aaron what am I going to do with you?
Torture the fuck out of my readers with you, that's what :D