My first shot at a Kickin' it story. Which, by the way, I don't own Kickin' it. Each chapter will alternate POVs: one in Kim's, the next in Jack's. This is Kim's. And yes, it's short, but the chapters will get longer.

"Kim, don't do it."

"Kim, you're better than that."

"I'll help you. Just don't turn to that."

"It's not worth it."

Their voices echoed through my head. They'd haunted me for two years. The voices of my friends. They would always love me, but they would always hate my job. And maybe it wasn't an ideal job. Heck, it wouldn't be an ideal job if they started to pay millions. Anyone would die to have one night with a prostitute. But how many people want to marry them? How many take the time to get to know them? Not many. It was a lonely job. A horrid job. But it was my job.

"Back again, kid?" the lady at the front asked as I entered, pulling a cigarette out of her mouth and emitting smoke. "You were really serious when you said you got a job here, weren't ya?"

"I'm not a kid," I said. "and yes, I was."

"Welcome to hell, sweetheart," the lady smirked. "It won't be easy; you know that, right?"

"If I wanted something easy, you think I would have taken this job?" I asked before I could stop myself.

"If you need some help, just holler." the lady said, returning to her smoking.

"I can take care of myself," I said, more to myself than her. I pushed open the door to one of the many rooms in the run down hotel. I really thought I could take care of myself, too. That all started before graduation. My need to stay strong, that is.

*flashback*

"I was accepted into Stanford! Isn't that great?" Jack said, his face lit up. His eyes danced with joy. He was really excited.

"Yeah. Good for you," I said with a smile, but Jack can sense when something's wrong way too often.

"I'll miss you," Jack said, and I smiled again because I knew Jack wouldn't pry.

"I'll miss you more," I said.

"Yeah, you're right. I won't miss you that much." Jack joked, but he pulled me into a tight hug. "You have to stay in touch, okay? I expect calls every day. No, every hour. And we have to meet up every week."

"You're getting ahead of yourself," I laughed. "Don't worry; I won't let you go that easily."

"Will you be okay?" Jack asked, his face falling somber. "Milton's going to Yale and Eddie and Jerry are going to some dance academy together. It won't be easy to communicate."

"Who said we've been through anything easy?" I teased.

"Where are you going?" Jack asked.

"I was accepted into Harvard and UCLA," I replied. "I haven't decided."

"I hear UCLA is closer to cuter boys," Jack said with a wink.

"Tell me when you find some," I said, and Jack caught my hand in his, cutting off my breathing.

"Whatever you decide, I'm going to stay by your side," Jack said.

"I know," I whispered.

"I won't always be there," Jack said sadly. "Though I want to be, you have to promise me you won't forget."

"I promise," I said. Jack gave me a wavering smile. Tears dotted his eyes. I couldn't believe that I was seeing Jack Brewer near tears. He held me tenderly one last time, and he released me slightly, so we were face to face.

"I got you something," Jack said. "I'll give it to you right now, but I just wanted you to know that I- I really care about you."

"I care about you too," I said softly, and staring into those deep brown eyes, I didn't want anything else in the world. His breathing slowed. My heart thumped. His arms tightened around my back as he leaned in. I slowly let my eyes drift closed as his lips met mine. It wasn't anything deep or passionate, that kiss. More soft. Gentle. And careful.

"Before we have to go," Jack hesitated as they pulled apart, "I wanted to give you something so you would remember- so you wouldn't forget." He stepped away from me and pulled something from his pocket. "Kim-"

At that moment, Jack was yanked away by some girls who wanted him to sign something. I contemplated going after him, but I figured he'd just give me whatever it was he wanted to give me after the ceremony, but he forgot and so did I. I never did get whatever he wanted to give me.

*end flashback*

"Hey, Kim," Mika greeted me as I pushed the door open. She "worked" with me, though I tried to get her out of it. The work wasn't tricky, I know, but I liked to do things by myself without anyone else getting hurt. She insisted on staying, though. Something about "no friend left behind" and "american experience."

"Hey," I said. Mika offered me a smoke but I waved it away. "Do we have any takers today?"

"They'll be here," Mika said and she put out her cigarette on her leg. "They always come; you know that."

"Your accent is hilarious," was my reply as I tried to lighten the mood.

"So is yours," Mika stuck out her tongue at me, and we dissolved into giggles. The door to the room we were in opened with a bang, and a group of men staggered inside. Mika and I exchanged looks. As always, duty called.

Besides "working" together, Mika and I shared an apartment. Julie lived with us too, but she worked as a reporter. I admit, her job sounds amazing. She offered to ask her boss about us getting jobs, but we didn't let her do it.

"How was work?" Julie asked us with her bright smile.

"Tiring," Mika said, and she dropped down lazily on the couch. "How was yours?"

"Boring,"Julie said, but she scanned us for any sight of pain.

"It was nothing major, Julie," I assured her. "Hardly anything." Julie went over to me and she pushed back the sleeves on my jacket. I let her do so, though I wished I had at least treated the cuts I had.

"This guy has been abusing you, Kim," Julie's voice began to tremble. "You don't have to do this, you know!"

"Mika does it too," I said defensively.

"Mika doesn't let herself be beaten," Julie said in a soft voice as she let my arm go. "You of all people now how to end it. You even know karate for Pete's sake!"

"Who is this Pete you people always speak of?" Mika asked, but we ignored her.

"Maybe I want to keep my job; have you ever considered that?" I raised my voice, mad she had the nerve to question my motives. "I don't like to use my karate unless necessary. I don't even like to use it; I might even have forgotten the moves..."

"Why don't you like to use your karate?" Mika said, interested. "Jerry loved to."

"It reminds me of Jack," I snapped before I ran to my room, angry. It had been two years. I was twenty years old and a whore. Jack was off in school, living the easy life. We hadn't talked in months. The last time we did was a year ago, when I told him I hadn't gone to UCLA or Harvard. He had been shocked, but all I did was tell him and hang up. I blocked his number after that, so he couldn't call me.

"Kim?" Mika knocked on my door.

"I'm not here," I called.

"Very funny, Kim!" Mika said. "I do not get it, though!"

"I want some quiet right now, please?" I called. Mika fell silent; she was respecting my wishes. I then did something I hadn't in ages. I went through my old stuff from high school. I kept it all in a box under my bed. I blew the dust from the box before examining the contents. My fingers gingerly pulled a picture of US. Jack and I had bright smiles, and his arms was around my waist.

I pushed it aside and found a picture of all of us- Eddie, Jack, Milton, Jerry, Julie, Mika, Rudy, and I. Even Phil was in the picture with his goat. Before I could stop myself, I laughed. I missed those guys. It wasn't until I picked up my old yearbook that the first tear fell. I hadn't contacted Milton, Eddie, or Jerry in the two years since. Maybe I should've; they were my friends too, after all. I opened the yearbook to where all their messages where. On Jack's message he had listed his phone number. One she hadn't called in months.

"Kim, I'm sorry," Julie came knocking on my door. "I know how you feel; I miss Milton. But you don't have to do this, you know. We can find you an alternative-"

"Julie, she wishes for silence," Mika's voice came in a whisper.

"Oh. Sorry," Julie said sheepishly. I couldn't help but feel a pang in my chest- they really meant well. Without thinking, I pulled out my phone. And dialed his number. With a deep breath, I pushed the "call" button after I unblocked his number.

"Hello?" his voice came through after the first ring.

"Jack?" my voice quivered.

"Kim?" his voice sounded delighted.

"I-I need you," I said. Then my eyes widened- what was I doing?! Jack was probably busy. He didn't have time for desperate girls calling him left and right. What was I expecting from calling him? He had nothing to offer me. I had nothing to offer him. So I did what had to be done.

I clicked "end call."

Please review! I'd love feedback!