As Time Goes By (James Cook)

Grade 4

A/N: Year 4 is for Seven and Eight year olds. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

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It was a slightly cold but bearable autumn day ;but that does not mean that it made this day any greater for the youthful lady that goes by the name of Kat Tyler.

It was year 4 and Kat had moved to Bristol a few months earlier from a small city within Leeds; and so far she absolutely loaths the people. The as equally young children who are labeled as Kat's classmates are currently assaulting her with words as well as kicks and punches ; for reasons she is not able to understand. " Street Cat , Street Rat" the 's chant at her as Rachel and a few others rip and beat her and her clothing to shreds.

The frail red- headed girls faces was stained and raw with tears alongside scratches from various people who she couldn't even identify through all of her cries for help. All Kat can do is listen to the words that are being shouted into the void that is presumably herself ; until she manages to apprehend a single voice that is roaring above the rest saying " OYE GET OFF 'ER" . This voice sounded male but Kat could not exactly pin point who it could possibly be with her head pounding from many causes.

Within a few seconds Kat no longer feels the beating of her aggrivators and so she tries to sit up. When her eyes finally refocus she sees the crowd is now starting to dispand slowly but surely ; unfortunently her bullies as some may say are standing in front of three boys who she have seen around the campus but hasn't heard or known their names ever in her life.

There is one of the three boys standing in front of the other two he has dark brown hair like the trunk of a large oak tree. He stands strong like if he doesn't the chilling wind passing by may blow him away. After what seems like forever someone else speaks except this time it is one of the mysterious boy's friends who says " Why are you hurting her ,what has she ever done to you" then the main bully whose name is Daniel responds with " because she is dirty and has red hair ... she is weird". "That doesn't give you the right to hurt her " the one with curly hair says incohesively. " What are you going to do about it eh" Daniel taunts the new faces who are helping Kat.

Suddenly right before Kat's eyes the dark haired boy threw the first punch that led to the riot that persudes straight afterwards. Kat finally sees her chance at revenge and gets up enough courage to knock Daniel upside the head with one of her heaviest school books ; while he was sitting on top of the dark haired boy about to punch him. The dark haired boy started to laugh after Kat carried out that ridiculous thought and he pushed Daniel off of him and grabbed Kat's hand as they started to run.

While the two of them ran the boy continued to laugh and the remaining two lads caught up shortly after until they ran off into the city ; that was still unfamiliar to the shy girl.

The four of them start to walk after they believe they have gotten far enough away. " Thank you for that" Kat thanks the boys unanimously.

" It was no problem love . That was loads of fun anyways" The one holding her hand spoke. The other boys agreed.

" So what are your names. I have seen you guys around but have never known what your names are" Kat gets the courage up to ask.

" Well I'm Freddie , the one next to you is James ..." the cheeky boy grabs the hand he has been holding and places a kiss on the top of her pale freckled hand.

".... and this curly head is J.J."

" Well it is a pleasure to know you" Kat smiles as much as she can without bringing pain to her face , which does not work in the end.

Kat winces as she touches her face , she then sees blood covering her hand.

" Oh no ..." Kat panics ".... my mom is going to be so mad at me".
" If you would like , you could come with us to my flat and my Mum can help" Freddie offers. " Really , I wouldn't be intruding would I " Kat asks to reassure. " Of course not " Freddie beams.

While the newfound quartet walk to Freddie's flat they share small talk . Trying to distract Kat from her injuries. " So how about a nickname for you Kat; if you want to be friends with us you need a nickname" the two other boys simply nodded. " I've never had a nickname before so I don't really know how it works " Kat admits. " Well each of us has nicknames mine is Cook , Freddies is Freds and J.J. Is made even shorter with J" . " You pick for me then" the red head smiles wide. "Sure how about Kitty ...Kitty Kat. Yes that is it" Cook is proud of his simple association of words but Kat is very much happy with it.

The four of them arrive at Freddie's flat and a pretty lady opens the door after being knocked on. "Freddie dear , what are you doing home so early" the lady Kat presumes to be Freddie's Mum says. She lets the four of them in without skipping a beat. " We got in a fight trying to help our new friend Kat. She is really hurt Mummy" Freddie explains the situation to his Mother.

The sweet woman takes a look at Kats bruised , swollen, and cut up body and face and her own face falls immediately . " Oh no honey. Let me help you " the kind mother says.

" James could you go and fetch me the hydrogen peroxide and band aids and as for you J.J. go and grab the coco butter from the bathroom as well" Freddies Mum gave instructions to the two boys. It is at this time that Kat realizes that the three boys must be very close if their friends Mum is so close to them that they know their way around the house. Freddie's mum's voice snaps Kat out of her

Daze of thought. Mrs.Mclair picks Kat up gently and sets her down on the counter.Cook comes running down the stairs with the supplies with J.J. following shortly behind him. "So this might sting a little okay" Kat nods.