Disclaimer: I do not own Wizards Vs Aliens or any of its characters. I only own this plotline idea. The characters and everything else you may recognize belongs to Russell T. Davies, Phil Ford, & CBBC.

Tom's POV

I got in trouble with the principal for skipping one of my classes after what happened in English on Thursday. I had to make up a lie so they wouldn't call my dad and tell him. I told him that I had eaten something bad and was in the bathroom for a while. And then I added the part about not wanting to go to nurse once I finished. I could tell he didn't completely believe me. Of course, anyone would use any excuse they could to go home. I would have if I could have. But they took pity on me and decided not to call my dad as long as it didn't happen again, much to my relief. I tried to be invisible and what I'd give to actually be invisible. If only there was a spell for that. After what happened in English I wished I could've disappeared. I'm sure Benny would have liked that since he seemed to hate me so much. But it didn't matter as my friends had essentially abandoned me before what happened on Thursday. I guess the only difference now is things wouldn't go back to normal like Quinn thought it would.

I managed to make it through the day without too much trouble. I kept my head down, not wanting to see or hear that people were talking about me. I went to the gym once school was over. I just had to get through these tryouts and then I would be free for the weekend. An escape from hell—school—sounded like paradise. I almost consider skipping the tryouts altogether. I knew I would have to face other kids from class and not just Quinn. But I did love football and a part of me hoped that when I got back on team maybe they would be able to quickly forget what happened in class. After all, Quinn did say the team needed me; maybe that would be enough. I went to the gym, noticing a few of the guys from the team, including Quinn, crowded around each other. They were talking about something until I came near. They looked at me and then stopped. Must have been about me.

"Hey Tom." Quinn greeted. "You made it."

"Yeah." I felt awkward. "I couldn't forget about tryouts." I was hoping that getting back on the team would help things go back to normal; if possible.

Eventually the coach blew the whistle, everyone started jogging up towards him. I stood behind Quinn and looked over, noticing a new coach. I tapped Quinn on the shoulder. "What happened to Coach Beckham?" I whispered.

"On medical leave—surgery or something." Quinn whispered back. "He started shortly after you left."

"Great." I groaned. Not only did I have to try out again, I had to make sure I didn't screw anything up. This coach wouldn't know me from last year or earlier this year before I left school. I thought because our old coach knew me I would have no problem getting back on the team; that this tryout was only a formality. But this was for real and everything may be riding on this.

"Hey!" I blanched as I noticed the new coach looking at me. "Quiet in the back!" Already off to a great start. He then continued to explain about how he was going to do this. "Okay, everybody on the benches over there." I followed the others and sat on the bench at the far end.

"Christopher!" Quinn was called to play first and he stood to go over, but stopped as he got near me. He leaned over to me.

"Don't screw up." He whispered. "We need you back on the team."

"Sometime today, Christopher!" Quinn then jogged over to where he was needed. Well that wasn't very reassuring. And suddenly, I felt more anxiety than I had when I first came into the gym. I then looked over and noticed Katie standing against the other set of bleachers.

"Katie?" She looked over at me.

"Hi Tom." She walked over and stood next to me. "Of course you'd be here for try outs."

"I think Quinn would have a fit if I skipped them."

"You're probably right." Katie chuckled.

"I almost thought about skipping it." I admitted. But if I wanted people to forget about Thursday, then this would be the best way. Then they would only be thinking about all the goals I score instead of how I can't spell to save my life.

"But you love football."

"I do." I nodded.

"Why?" Katie seemed curious.

"It's just been a rough week." I admitted, though it wasn't the whole truth.

"You'd probably have an easier time if you didn't mess around so much." Katie replied and sighed.

"I didn't mess around yesterday." I thought that had been obvious. Did people think I was messing around again? No, they couldn't have considering how it ended. "I just…"

"You could try studying more." Katie suggested.

"Why? It doesn't matter." I shrugged, not really seeing the point. Of course, I wasn't going to completely stop doing the school work. My dad would kill me, first of all. But I didn't see the point in trying much harder. I work twice as hard and I barely get by. I was just too stupid to learn anything; even some of the teachers think so.

"Maybe then people would see you differently. Tom, I know you. You are so much better than this—how you've been acting." Katie seemed disappointed in my answer. "Is this because of your mum?" Was she thinking I was doing this for attention?

"What? Because my mum died you think I want attention or special treatment?" I was a bit offended by that. "Clearly you don't know me." I was angry, but I regretting snapping instantly. "Look, you know I've never been great at school."

"Well, you're not even trying." Katie shook her head. "Tom, you were so much different before you left school." Yeah, I had a mum and Benny Sherwood didn't go to this school. "But I can't help you if you won't help yourself." It seemed things between Katie and I wouldn't be getting better like Quinn hoped.

"Katie—"

"Good luck with the game." She added. "Though I know you won't need it." I smiled slightly upon hearing that.

"Thanks."

"I know how much you care about that." I frowned upon hearing that comment. And now a part of me wished I had just gone home. I was tempted to get up and just walk out. But I couldn't punish the team because I was an idiot.

"Clarke!" I looked over and noticed the coach had gone through all the existing team players; now it was down to me. I gulped nervously before getting up and jogging over. "Alright, show me what've got." I nodded and then took the position I was instructed to. But as I did, I noticed Benny and Ellie walk into the gym. Why are they here? The whistle was blown and I was snapped back into reality as the ball was kicked right passed me. "Out of your head, Clarke!" He yelled and then I ran after the ball. Stay focused, Tom. Don't worry about him. I was on the field now and that was the only thing I had to worry about. I couldn't let Benny take football away from me. I managed to redeem myself throughout the rest of the tryout as I was placed at my old position and I played better than Quinn did. When it was over, the coach blew the whistle. "I see why Christopher wouldn't shut up about you." He remarked before motioning for me to take a seat.

"I didn't—" Quinn tried to cover himself up as the other teammates laughed at that comment.

"I knew you missed me."

"Again, only for the team." Quinn shoved me playfully. "And actually the entire team missed you. Especially since the coach had the bright idea to put Moose in your position in the first game after you were gone." That sounded like game suicide. "

"Well, sounds like I'll be back." I assumed by coach's comment that it was a good chance that I was back on the team. "You guys should be celebrating."

"Well, I wouldn't hold your breath." I turn around and notice Benny walking over with Ellie following closely behind. "I'm sure he won't be eligible to play in any of the games." I sighed, realizing where he was going with this. "Considering his academics."

"Unless he fails everything or doesn't show up, I think he'll be fine." Quinn chimed in.

"Not helping!" Though it was nice of Quinn to come to my defense, I didn't want the help.

"Don't you losers have lives?" Quinn chimed in.

"Oh, we're the losers?" Ellie chuckled.

"At least I know how to spell." Benny added. "I'm surprised you passing any of your classes."

"Did you come here just to harass me?" I felt angry that he seemed to be following me. "Or are you really in love with me?" Everyone made 'ooo' noises that were actually quite annoying. "Kind of stalkerish." Benny seemed pissed off at the comment.

"Wow, you're rude." Ellie chimed in and gave me a shove. "We were just coming to cheer you on."

"Sure." As if I would ever believe that.

"Well I hope you enjoy playing while you can." Benny retaliated. "Because you know, a little kick about is as good as it's going to get for you." I looked away for a moment, trying to ignore it, but it was really difficult. "Because you will never be good at anything else."

"Not true." I mumbled, but Benny heard me.

"Really? We've seen you in class. You're a complete moron." Benny insulted and then he pushed my buttons, literally, by shoving me lightly. "You are nothing." And that is when I lost it so I started shoving him back, but much harder.

"Shut up!" I exclaimed, feeling angry and hurt. Maybe he would respond better to this. "I'd like to see you give this a try."

"Tom, it's not worth it." Quinn attempted to stop me but it was too late for that. "Calm down…"

"Bug off!" I pushed Quinn off me. I was tired of this and maybe this was the only way to get through to him. I turned back to Benny. "Of course you couldn't do this! You're probably just jealous—you think you're better than me? You're not. Clearly because the only person you hang out with is just like you, geek!" I took a step towards Benny and then he tripped over something and then fell. His glasses flew over a few feet.

"Benny!" Ellie went to his side and then when Benny turned to us again, I noticed his nose was bleeding. "Look what you did!" She screamed at me and I blanched. But—I didn't do that—at least, I didn't mean to.

"I'm sorry—" I tried to apologize though I didn't do anything. It's not like I pushed him.

"What's going over here?" The coach came over and helped Benny to his feet.

"He pushed him!" Ellie insisted, pointing at me.

"What?!"

"On purpose! Look what he did!" She motioned to the blood running from his nose. "He is a bully! You can't let him get away with this!" Me? A bully? Ellie then turned to Benny. "Come on, let's go find a nurse—tilt your head back." And the two of them walked away before I could even get another word in to defend myself.

"I didn't—guys tell him." I turned around and all the teammates remained silent. "Quinn?" I pleaded, looking over to him. But he also remained silent. I turned back to the coach, glancing away for a moment. "I swear, coach, I didn't push him. He just…fell."

"That's not what it looked like." I bit my lip. "And I'm sorry, but I can't have someone like you on the team."

"No, please—" He couldn't be serious. "Please don't do this. I need to be on the team."

"I think you need to work on keeping your temper in check." Coach's mind was set now. "I can't have you losing it on the field. Sorry, kid." He then walked away from me with most of the other guys on the team following.

"Maybe Sherwood's right; that was really stupid." Quinn stated before he went to catch up with the rest of the team.

I left the gym with my head hanging low. I watched as the team was circled around coach in the gym and they then began running laps. I really screwed up. It seemed there went my chance to make people forget about my mistakes. And now everyone was going to think worse things of me; and they also would be right. And this time, I couldn't even blame Benny for it. I only had myself to blame.

A/N: So Tom put himself into a deeper hole which inevitably cost him being able to play football. Also Katie and Tom had a conversation, but it didn't go very well. Will she ever forgive him? And will things ever get better for Tom? Up next: We will meet another character who made a small appearance last chapter and Tom considers using magic at school.

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