CHAPTER 1

"THE HELL HOLE CALLED MY LIFE."

KIM'S POV:

My dreams were interrupted by the sound of my loud alarm clock. I lifted my head slowly from my pillow & looked at my clock. I hit OFF & buried my face into my pillow. It was 11:30 a.m on a Saturday in January & I had practice. After a few peaceful minutes, my dog, Buddy, came running into my room & jumped on me. I opened my eyes in shock as the beautiful golden retriever started licking my face. I sat up & started rubbing his back.

"Okay boy! I'm awake." He licked my face once more before jumping onto my window seat & looking out in amazement. I giggle & jumped out of bed. I opened the closet doors & started looked for a sweatsuit. Once I had some sweats on, I walked to my dresser & picked up my brush. I brushed the huge nots out of my long blonde hair & then ran to the bathroom to quickly brush my teeth. As I started brushing, I looked at my face in the mirror.

A big bruise was formed on my far, right cheek. I sighed & grabbed the cover up. I dabbed it on & entered my room. I looked at myself in my giant mirror. I smiled slightly, trying to convince myself I was happy with how I looked. I turned around, clapping my hands & Buddy ran out of the room. I grabbed my bag & closed the door.

I walked down the hall, into the tiny kitchen & sat down on the counter top to eat a banana. No one was home. My mom died 4 months ago. And honestly, I could care less where my dad was. I looked at the clock on the stove & my eyes widened. I grabbed my phone to make sure the time was right. It was. I grabbed my bag for the dojo & ran out of the small house.

I hated being late. I don't think I've ever ran this fast. Rudy was gonna kill me. He didn't like tardiness. I arrived at the dojo & ran in. Once I was in, I lied down on the bench & tried to catch my breathe. "You okay Kim?" I looked up at the familiar faces. It was Jack, Jerry, & Milton. I sat up, still breathing heavily & nodded my head.

"I was... running late...& I didn't...wanna get lectured...by Rudy... so I ran..." They all started laughing, I shot them a confused look. "Why is that funny?" I stood up & the boys stopped laughing, But they all had big smiles on their faces.

"Rudy's running late today." Jack answered.

"Your kidding!" I asked. After I ran here so he wouldn't freak out, he's late too!

"Nope!" Jerry said as I sat back down on the bench.

"Looks like you ran for nothing!" Milton said.

"You couldn't have called & told me. I would have taken my time getting here." They all shook their heads & they joined me on the benches.

The boys started talking about something, but I zoned out. My thoughts returned to last night. The guys had no idea. I didn't want them worrying, If they even cared about me.

I don't know who I am anymore. I'm not the same Kim I was a few months ago. I hated this new Kim. She was an embarrassment. I was in such deep thought I missed a hole conversation happening in front of me. I was snapped out of my thoughts by a tall, brown haired boy with big hands waving in front of my face.

"Kim?" Jack asked. My thoughts immediately vanished & I looked up at him.

"Sorry! What'd you say?" Jack & I were the only ones in the dojo. He sat down next to me.

"They went for smoothies." I nodded & looked back down at the ground. "Hey..." I looked back up at him. "You okay?" he asked me.

I nodded my head "Yea! Everything's fine!" I started playing with a piece of my hair & Jack kept looking at me. "What?" I asked him.

"Are you okay?" This boy always knew when I was lying.

I hated that.

I looked into his chocolate brown eyes & got lost for a second. I mentally slapped myself & tried to think of an excuse. "Yeah Jack! I'm fine!" I'm really hoping that sounded more convincing then I thought it did.

"Okay! I guess you don't wanna talk about it!" I shot my head up at him.

How did he always know when I was lying or telling the truth? I can't even tell if that was a lie. Am I fine?

"But just to let you know...you can tell me anything, Kim. I promise I won't judge you."

I looked up from the ground to meet his charming smile, big brown eyes & his - STOP IT KIM! Jack is just your friend! He doesn't feel that way about you. "I know..." I said. He stood up & started walking to get his things.

"You sure you okay?" Jack asked right before walking to the doors of the Dojo.

"Yeah! I'm good..." He smiled at me and started walking to the exit. "...Just another day in the life of Kim Crawford." I mumbled. I turned to see that Jack didn't hear me. He was already outside the door. I sighed & grabbed my bag. I was not staying here if I didn't have to.

JACK'S POV:

"...Just another day in the life of Kim Crawford." I stopped for a second then kept walking. I didn't wanna ask her what she meant, so I acted as if I didn't hear her. I was gonna catch a ride with Jerry, but changed my mind. I sent him a text telling him I left & started walking. I needed to think about...Things.

Kim didn't really talk about herself. All we knew is what she told us. Her mom died a few months ago & her father...well, she never went into detail about her father. Actually, She never says anything about her father.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I realized I was standing in front of my house. I walked through the door & into the kitchen. I was greeted by my twin sister, Kate. She had long brown hair, Brown eyes & she was 5'6. "Your home early?" I threw my bag on the floor & hopped onto the counter.

"Rudy never showed up. We hung out a little then Rudy called & canceled practice, so I headed home." She nodded her head & then smiled. "What?"

"Were you with Kim?" Kate teased, excitedly. I rolled my eyes & hopped off the counter. She stepped in front of me & blocked me from moving anywhere. "YOU WERE WEREN'T YOU?!"

"Yes! I was with Kim! She goes to the Dojo, She's gonna be there!" Her smile grew even bigger & she clapped her hands.

"Did you tell her you LOOVE her!" Kate teased again, stressing the word LOVE. I regret ever telling her that. She always bothers me when I come back from hanging out with her.

"No Kate! I didn't tell her & I don't plan on it either!" Her big, happy glowing smile faded immediately & her eyes filled with anger.

I walked away & up to my room. I closed the door & plopped myself onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. "Kim doesn't feel the same way about you." That's all that ran through my mind. That's the reason I haven't told Kim how I felt. I didn't wanna lose her as a friend.

The house was dead silent, I almost forgot Kate was home. But she decided to remind me. I heard loud stomping coming from the stairs. I sighed & then suddenly my door flew open & in came angry Kate. She ran towards me, jumped on my bed & started smacking me. "JACKSON DANIEL BREWER! YOU ARE SUCH AN IDIOT!" I grabbed her wrist & pushed her off me.

"KATE! WHAT THE HELL?" I asked. She was breathing heavy & sitting on my floor.

"YOUR SO BLIND!" She began, loudly. "KIM LIKES YOU JUST AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE HER BUT SHE WON'T TELL YOU FOR THE SAME REASON YOU WON'T TELL HER!" She stopped to breathe & plopped herself on my bed.

"Trust me, Kim doesn't feel the same way as I do..." I sighed & put my forehead in my hands. "She just can't." I mumbled. Kate looked back at me.

"Why can't she?" She asked softly. I sighed in relief & anger. Relieved because she was done yelling & angry because I hate having this conversation with her.

"Can we talk about something else?" I snapped. Her eyes widened, not in shock, but in anger. She opened her mouth to speak, but thankfully, nothing came out.

"Fine!" We sat there in my room in silence for a good 7 seconds before. "But Jack..." I looked up at her & her face was serious. "I see the way you look at Kim. It's different from when you look at anyone else. There's passion in your eyes, your smile is 10x bigger. You hole face lights up when she walks in the room-"

"Get to the point Kate!" I said. I didn't wanna talk about this anymore. Why does she keep bringing it up? She rolled her eyes & sighed.

"My point is...Kim looks at you the same way. She jumps out of her skin when your name comes up, her cheeks turn red when you talk to her, she bites her lip because she gets nervous..." I was looking at the ground & taking in every word coming out of my sisters mouth. "The list goes on. I really think you should tell her how you feel, Jack." And with that, She stood up & left me alone. I fell backwards on my back & stared at the ceiling.

Should I talk to Kim? No- Don't listen to Kate, she's wrong.

I groaned & fell back on my bed.

KIM'S POV:

I had so many thoughts running through my mind. I was so flustered I didn't even realize where I was. I saw a very familiar house across the street. It was Milton's house. He lived right across the street from me. I rolled my eyes & turned around. I then saw my small, simple white house. I slowly walked up the front steps & grabbed my keys. I turned to the driveway. The crappy car was in it's place. I sighed & quietly unlocked the door. Once it opened, I tip-toed in. I peered into the living room. It was empty. I sighed in relief & went to check the kitchen. I stopped in my tracks when I saw him sitting at the table with a half empty bottle in his hand. His head snapped up & I took it all in. His usual hazel eyes were blood shot red & filled with hate. His brown hair was all messed up & his button up shirt was unbuttoned. He slammed his fist on the table & it made me jump.

"Why are you home?" He asked me. His voice was raspy & it sent shivers down my spine. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. What happened next scared me. When he didn't get an answer, he jumped out of his seat, sending his chair flying down. He walked over to me & backed me into the wall. He slammed his fist into the wall, very close to my head & left it there. "I said...why are you home?" He yelled. His breathe reeked of alcohol.

"I-uh...p-practice w-was c-c-canceled." I spit out. I felt my heart start to raise & my breathing became uneven.

He growled at me & backed away. I stood there, frozen in the corner. He walked over to the table, he screamed & pushed everything off of it. Breaking all the glass & spilling alcohol on the floor. I jumped out of my skin & snapped my eyes shut. I took a deep breathe & I heard him scream again. My eyes flew open & I watched as he grabbed the bottom of the table surface & flipped it over. Leaving only the leg of the table underneath. It flew into the bathroom door, next to me & I shrieked, pushing myself deeper into the corner. He picked up the leg of the table & threw it down the a hall, hitting the front door. He pushed the other chair down & fell to the floor. I felt the tears building up in my eyes & I wanted to scream. He picked up a chair & slammed it to the floor. The sound of chair hitting the white tile floors echoed through the small house.

I covered my face & closed my eyes. I heard more glass shattering & more screams. Once it stopped & all I heard was the sound of his heavy breathing. I opened my eyes & removed my hands from my head. He was still on the floor. His head slowly rose up & his evil cat-like eyes met mine. He stood up & stared at me.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" He yelled. He charged after me & I ran. I ran up the stairs & to my room. I heard his loud footsteps following me. I slammed the door & locked it. I closed the bathroom door, so he wouldn't come through there. I stood there, waiting for the loud fist to bang on the door. I'm always expecting it, but every time he bangs his fist on the door, I have a mini heart attack.

Which is exactly what I did.

I heard the footsteps & then he turned the knob. When it didn't open he banged & yelled for me to open it. I couldn't breathe or move. I had no idea what to do. I sat down on the floor & stared at the ceiling. Why is this happening? Is all that ran through my head.

...

After about 20 minutes, he still kept banging. I darted up & started running around my room. I grabbed an over night bag & stuffed sweats inside & grabbed my phone. I need a distraction, just for one night.

I texted Kate, Jack's twin sister & one of my closest girlfriends, saying "Hey can I come spend the night?" I went into the bathroom quietly & closed the door to my room. I put in my toothbrush & my phone buzzed. It was Kate. "Yeah sure!" I sighed & texted back "Okay, I'm leaving now!"

I opened the bathroom door in the hallway & peeked my head out. My dad was still banging on my door. I tip-toed down the stairs. I slowly walked down & then I heard footsteps at the top. I spun my head around & found my drunken dad staring me down. I ran down the rest of the steps, knowing he's following. I got to the front door, but had no time to unlock it. My dad grabbed my arms & spun me around, pinning me to the door.

"WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOUR GOING?" He yelled in my face. I knew If I didn't stand up for myself, there was no way I'd be able to leave.

"If you think for one second I'm gonna stay in this hell hole & let you push me around like I'm nothing...Then your sadly mistaken." I yelled. Next thing I knew, his hand collided with my face & I fell to the ground. I didn't dare to move. He kicked me in me in the stomach & walked into the spare room. He slammed the door, causing the picture on the wall to fall to the ground, shattering the glass in the frame.

I sat there, feeling the tears fall down my cheeks. I picked my head up & my eyes widened at the picture. It was a picture of my parents, & I from last year. It's the last picture of all of us together as a family. I finally stopped trying to keep the tears in & I cried quietly. If my dad heard me, he'd come back. I slowly sat up & ran out of the house. I ran to the beach behind my house. I hopped the gate & ran all the way to the reef, where the rocks were. I put my bag down & sat on it. I grabbed my phone & pulled up the camera. The bruise was starting to show. I rummaged through my bag for cover up. I couldn't go to Kate's with a that on my face. She'd assume the worst & tell Jack. Then Jack would freak on me. I sat there & just cried. And I didn't try to stop it.