Chapter 1: Kim + Carson = Angry Jack

Jack's POV

It was an average day in the dojo. Jerry was using numb chucks, Kim was knocking over a dummy, and Milton and Eddy were sparing. An average day alright- until I walked in. When I stepped foot n the dojo, everyone said hi, then went back to what they were doing. Everyone that is, except Kim.

I went up to her. "Kim, are you still not talking to me?"

She punched the dummy again and it flew across the room and into the trophy shelf. I gulped and Ruby yelled, but I stood my ground. "Kim, please-"

"ENOUGH!" she yelled, causing everyone to freeze. Kim whirled around, and I took a step back. I expected her to be angry or mad, but her eyes were just a pool of tears.

I put my hand on her shoulder. "Kim, just let me ex-"

She turned around, head down. "No Jack," she almost whispered. "I will never let you explain." With that she stormed towards the locker room, angry as a hornets' nest.

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair, remembering how she wouldn't even look my way, let alone talk to me, at school all day.

Flashback to Yesterday

We had just won the tournament against the Black Dragons, and we were joyful. Afterwards, we came back to the dojo and had just set our stuff down when a kid I had never seen before walked it. He was about our age (14) and was tall, muscular, and had short cut black hair. The thing that caught me most though, was that he was staring at Kim as she set her bag down near the lockers, her eyes on her cell phone. He started towards her, but I quickly stepped in front of him. "Excuse me, do you need something?"

He regarded me with . . . pity almost, and tried to step aside, but I followed his every move. "I'm sorry," I said, trying to keep my voice level. "Can we help you?"

He glared at me again. "Excuse me?" he called out. "I am looking for-"

Suddenly as voice squealed behind me. "Carson?"

This guy, or Carson, put a smile on his face and pushed by me, right into Kim's arms. I turned around, as my blood started boiling, but I tried to remain calm. I said slowly, "Kim? Who is this?"

When I saw her face, my heart plummeted. She was looking at Carson like she . . she loved him. Kim retreated from his embrace, smiling. "Everyone, this is Carson. I met Carson when I was in vacation last summer in Hawaii."

I forced a smile on my face. "Well, thanks for stopping by Carson, see you later!" I tried to get between him and Kim, but Kim glared at me and I backed up, hands in the air.

She turned back to Carson. "So, what are you doing here, and how did you find me?"

I butted in. "Yeah, and when are you going back?"

He glared at me, then said, "Well when you said you lived in Seaford, and when I just moved here because my grandfather is in the hospital, I decided to see if I could find you." Carson smiled at her with straight, white teeth. She smiled back, and I felt something in my stomach, something I had never felt before. Jealousy. Since the time I caught Kim's apple on the first day of school, I have had a crush on her. When I didn't think things could get any worse, he put his arm around her.

I yelled, "That's it!" and grabbed Carson's arm and flipped him. I felt everyone staring, and suddenly I felt embarrassed.

Kim glared at me, then said in a calm, yet terrifying voice, "Jack." I froze. "You are going to pay for that."

I turned and ran, with her on my tail. She chased me for a few blocks, then gave up and went back to the dojo. I only stopped running when I reached the safety of my own house.

End of Flahback

I sighed again and got my bag out of my locker and started to head towards the changing rooms, but I was stopped by someone. That someone being my honored, yet goofy sensei. Rudy said quietly, "Jack, we need to talk.

I started to say something, but he cut me off. "My office. Now."

I hung my head and went into his office. Rudy sat down on his chair and I sat on the couch, my stuff thrown on the floor, discarded. He started. "Jack, you know you are like a son to me, and you can tell me anything." His voice turned rock hard. "Why did you flip Carson yesterday?"

"Rudy-" I stopped and took a deep breath. "I honestly have no idea. It was just an impulse, I guess. I mean, when he put his arm around Kim-"

"Jack, everyone in this dojo knows you have feelings for Kim, but those feelings nearly caused Carson a broken arm. You are very lucky that he didn't break it, for he could have cost your family a very expensive hospital bill." Rudy stopped, and I looked up. "Jack, I'm going to have to ask you to take the day off." I tried to protest, but one glare and I was quiet. "You are obviously distracted, and you need to apologize to Kim and Carson."

I sighed. "Fine Rudy, I'll see you tomorrow." With that I got up and walked out of Rudy's office. On my way out, I saw Kim leaving. I ran up to her. "Kim, wait."

Surprisingly she stopped and turned around, but the look she gave me was icy cold. "What do you want, Jack?" My name was said with venom.

I took a deep breath. "Listen Kim, I am very sorry that I flipped Carson yesterday, it's- Well, it's complicated." I rubbed the back of my head.

"Jack, when you flipped Cason, you almost look jealous." She paused. "What were you jealous about?"

"Look, did you and Cason ever, I don't know, date?"

A small smile came across her face, and it broke my heart into a million pieces. "Yeah, we dated for about a week in Hawaii, but then I left and we lost touch." She shrugged.

I paused, knowing I was going to regret this, but I said it anyway. "Do you still like him?"

Something crossed her eyes, and Kim looked up, angry. "I don't know, and why do you care?"

"You're my best friend, and I guess-" I stopped. "I don't know. See you tomorrow at school. Bye Kim." I left her staring at my back as I hopped on my skateboard that I had hidden behind the door and skated home.