AN: So, I've never done a Never Back Down fanfic, but... I hope whoever reads it likes it, I have a lot more already written out, but not sure if i should keep going. Let me know :)

"Guess who I saw today?"

I shrugged, not really caring at this point. We had to go inside to class soon, and I wasn't looking forward to it. "I don't know, who?"

Aaron smirked, "The one and only Kai Daniels."

At this my eyes went wide. Kai was back? Why didn't she tell me? I nodded, "Where?"

Aaron nodded towards the school, "She was in the office… getting her class schedule. And… I just happen to overhear that she has first period in Mr. Roberts English class."

HE wagged his eyebrows at that, knowing damn well that I had that class. Kai was really back… I wasn't gonna lie, I missed the hell out of her. Thought about her a lot, especially before and after fights… She was always there, cheering me on, even when I was wrong. "Hmm… That's cool I guess."

Eric nudged my arm, "Man, you know you wanna go find her."

He was the only one of my friends that understood what I felt for Kai, the only one that got it. I shook my head, "Nah, I'll see her in class."

Eric nodded, sending me a doubtful glance. Man, Kai is back. Now I was glad I showed up today, I wonder if she's living at her old house… It was in my neighborhood, so I'd drive by later and see. Straightening out my shirt as the bell rang I started towards the school, more oomph in my step than usual, but hey, if you knew how Kai made me, you'd be dying to see her too. Kai took me for me, not caring that sometimes I was brutal, uncompassionate, and arrogant. She was willing to look past that, loving me for the ass I was. I actually tried to be better around her, even though she forgave me for screwing up.

Walking into the classroom my eyes scanned the room, landing on the familiar blonde curls in the back. She had her head down, focused on her book. What I wouldn't give to scoop her up in my arms and drag her back to my place, cave man style. Yeah, that was how this girl made me. Starting wards her I took a second to look at her, a low cut tee, showing off cleavage, her perfect legs were bare, she wore cutoffs, and no doubt when she stood up I'd be gawking at how short they were. Sitting in the seat next to her I grinned, "Hey Kai."

She looked up and smiled, her dimples prominent in her cheeks. Her blue eyes still had the silver tinge, almost sparkling. "Ryan."

"When'd you get back?"

She sighed, sitting back in her chair. "Last night at like two in the morning… I was so close to trashing my alarm clock and sleeping all day."

I nodded, my girl was tired, wait, she just got back. She may not want me like that still… that would suck ass. "I'm sure your dad wouldn't have minded if you stayed home… you look sleepy."

She smiled a little, "Jeez Ryan, do I look that bad?"

I instantly hated those words, "No, you look amazing, it's just…"

She giggled, biting her bottom lip a little. "I was kidding. And My dad wouldn't have minded me staying home… he wouldn't have even known."

"And why is that?"

"Well, he's kinda away… said since I was mature he'd trust me alone, so… I'm pretty much living on my own." She seemed slightly upset by this, but I brushed it off.

"Ah, I see… you at the old house?" It wasn't really an old house; just… she hadn't lived there in almost a year. We had some good times in that house, real good time.

She nodded, her curls bouncing slightly, "Yeah, missed my room."

I nodded, I missed her room too. The bell rang then, leaving me to only look at her out of the corner of my eye. She was still so gorgeous… god, I was never gonna pass this damn class sitting next to her. Tearing my eyes away from her I stared at the balding man at the front, listening to him talk was pure torture. I know, I was supposed to be paying attention but… Kai was on my mind. I remember when we first met, she had run by my house for days, I eventually caught on to her schedule and started running with her. She played coy, hard to get, and even harder to keep, but once she was mine, that was it. We were practically attached at the hip, but it never got old. I could stay with her for weeks without reprieve and never get bored of her. She was fun and exciting, not stuck up like most of these bitches here. She was about living for now, not planning for later. She made me happy.

As the bell rang I was pulled from my thoughts, Kai stood up, her shorts definitely as short as I thought they'd be. Picking up my books I fell in step behind her. She turned right, and I hoped to god she was in my next class too.

Kai POV

Ryan McCarthy. God, why does he have to be so damn attractive? Turning slightly as I walked down the hall I wasn't surprised to see Ryan behind me. Slowing my pace down I fell in step next to him, bumping his shoulder playfully. "SO, how's life for you?"

HE shrugged, "Alright… no complaints."

I nodded, of course, being a god among stringy high school boys has nothing to do with it. I had however heard about this Baja chick… apparently he had someone, but… we could be just friends. I hoped. "That's good… How's Eric? Haven't seen him yet?"

He smiled, "He's good, I'm sure you'll have him in a class or two."

I yawned, maybe I should have stayed home. I was freaking exhausted! Try driving all day the day before then going to school the next morning… not easy. But the bright side was I was here, in Orlando, and free. My dad was in Europe, something business… don't ask me what cause I really couldn't tell you… I have no clue what he's ever talking about. I was just glad I had the house to myself, not that I'd be throwing any parties.

Ryan turned into the same class as me, taking his seat in the back while I checked in with the teacher. Turning back to the rest of the room I saw Ryan motion me over. I took the seat next to him, smiling. "So how's your dad?"

He rolled his eyes. Ryan wasn't close to his dad, but could you blame him? He was glad before, that his dad had liked me, had no problems with him dating me. "He's good, still an ass, but good. You should come by, we could all have dinner. Mom would like it?"

I nodded, "Sure, I'd like that…" Ryan's mom Kate was an amazing shopping buddy. Since my mom was always busy, or pushing me to the side, she had taken me under her wing, helped me with practically everything. I loved that woman.

Ryan grinned, "Good, how about tonight, pick you up at… seven?"

I nodded, "Sure. Seven sounds good." I turned away then, back towards the front. I kinda figured I'd be around Ryan soon enough, but not the first day… I did miss him though, like every day. Once you're with Ryan, other guys just don't add up… not for me at least. He was always so sure of himself, I really liked it, but I liked it even better when he needed me. Which he did a lot. He would sometimes call after fights with his dad, he'd be so pissed off, not caring about anything, needing me to calm him down, make him see straight again. With Ryan and I it was like we needed each other, we craved the other's touch… hell, I still did. Seeing him now, his tanned skin, muscles under his thin t-shirt… it was enough to throw him down and never let him go. Shaking my head I tried to concentrate on class, catching the last of his sentence before the bell rang.

I stood up, grabbing my bag and books and started for the door. Ryan's class was the same direction, so we fell into step again. Seeing Eric across the hall I grinned and bee lined for him. HE beamed, wrapping me in a hug, lifting me clear off the ground. "You're so damn tiny! Can you even get on roller coasters?"

I narrowed my eyes, hitting him in the arm playfully. He was always on me about being short, always. "Just cause I'm not sasquatch…"

He smirked as Ryan reached us. "Oh really, Ryan, you better control her, she's getting feisty."

Ryan laughed, throwing his arm over my shoulder. I smirked, "He couldn't control me even if he had an instruction manual."

Eric laughed, shaking his head. Ryan shot me a look, "Well we can get out of here… find out."

I shrugged, "Sounds tiring… for you."

Eric laughed and Ryan smirked. "Right, see who gets tired first?"

I laughed just as a blonde stepped up in front of us. She looked pissed, and I'd be willing to bet that this was Baja. Oops. She stared at me briefly shooting daggers, before turning to Ryan. "Where were you after class? You were supposed to walk with me?"

I slipped out from under his arm, grabbing Eric and moving away fast. I did not want to be in the middle of that. I sighed, "So, how is he really?"

Eric shrugged, "He missed you if that's what you mean… and I wouldn't worry about Baja, I think they're on their last leg of that relationship. Besides, everyone knows you guys are like Beauty and the Beast."

I giggled bumping him with my hip. "Ryan is so not a beast…"

Eric shrugged, walking into the class, me right behind him. I checked in with the teacher and took the seat to the right of Eric. As it turned out, Ryan had the class in the room next door, which was okay I guess. I sat back in my seat, relaxing into the cold plastic. I zoned out through class, doodling away on my notebook. It was funny that I passed class, but never really paid attention.

Throughout the day I spent a lot of time with my old friends… most of them were really happy to see me, welcoming me back to my old spot, others had changed... And you know how that goes. Gathering my stuff from my locker, I slammed it shut and started out the back doors to the student parking lot. I was exhausted, and wanted to take a nap before Ryan came to get me at seven. Maybe I should have made plans for tomorrow… oh well. Climbing into my light purple Dodge Challenger, I started the engine and drove straight home.

Ryan POV

Walking through the front door earlier than I usually did, and alone, I went to the kitchen where I found my mom. She was already told that Kai was coming, and had already had time to plan dinner. I loved that my mom loved Kai like she did, it made it easier for me to love her. Sliding onto a bar stool I smiled at my mom. She was peeling potatoes. She turned and smiled, "How was school?"

I shrugged, "Fine, only good thing about it was seeing Kai."

She smiled big and nodded. "Yeah I'll bet… she didn't mind dinner did she?"

"I think she was excited... she missed you too mom." It was easy to talk about Kai with my mom, she was all game for whatever Kai and I wanted to do. God, I was turning into such a chick… what guy obsesses about seeing a girl? A girl he doesn't even know how she feels anymore? I knew more about Kai than most people, I still didn't understand why she made me the way she did though… what was it about her?

"You wanna go shower and change before you pick her up?"

I nodded, planting a kiss on her cheek before starting out of the kitchen, "Thanks for this mom."

She shook her head, "Don't worry, I missed her too."

I nodded, starting up the stairs to my room. After shutting the door I collapsed onto the bed. Kai… she really was back. After everything, she came back and was still the same girl, still my girl. I didn't care about the girls that filled the space when she left… they were all just place markers, they literally weren't anything to me. Was it wrong that I felt that way? I loved Kai, still did, bad would do anything she asked me to. Other girls didn't get that, they got the Ryan McCarthy that I showed to the rest of the world. Kai got the Ryan McCarthy she deserved, the one who got the door for her, and called before bed just to hear her voice. She was my everything for a long time… I hoped she still wanted that.