Author's Note: Hello! I'm back to the Kickin' It archive with a new story after a short break! I am working on this one simultaneously with one from Rise of the Guardians! Check it out if you are a fan, it's called the Downside of Winter. Thanks! Now, enjoy and review!

Jack's POV

"HIYA!" Kim yelled as she finished off her hand came down on the 6 boards, breaking them clean in half. She smiled victoriously at me.

"Ten bucks, Brewer! Told you I could do it."

"Great," I grumble, reaching into my pocket and handing my blonde friend the ten dollars I owed her; I should really learn to stop doubting her on silly little things like being able to break six boards, since it was obvious that she had some pretty amazing karate skills. That made sense: she was a second-degree back belt just like me. I sighed; I wasn't betting against Kim again any time soon.

"Hey, guys!" Jerry says as he walks through the doors to the dojo with Milton and Eddie right behind him. "Let's start practice!"

"Jerry, we started practice ten minutes ago, and Rudy's not gonna be happy that you guys are late. Again," Kim points out with a laugh.

"Yo, hurry let's get into our gis!" Jerry says to Milton and Eddie, panicking; they run into the locker room, leaving Kim and I to ourselves once more, since Rudy was in his office trying to get some last minute bills done. Classic Rudy.

"So, Jack, do you want to work on -." Kim doesn't get to finish her sentence, because my cell phone rings from my karate bag on the bench, cutting her off. I walk over to retrieve it, Kim tagging along. Pulling it out, I look at the number, and I inwardly groan. I knew it all too well: Child Services. Kim must notice the change in my mood.

"Who is it?" she asks.

"Uhh, my cousin. He keeps bugging me to teach him how to skateboard," I lie. She doesn't need to know who it really is, mostly because I haven't told her or anyone else about my situation, about how I don't exactly have a real family like them. I've been in foster care for as long as I can remember, always being moved from family to family for various different reasons. I couldn't imagine what they wanted this time though. I had been with Mr. and Mrs. Brewer for a little over 2 years now, and had moved to Seaford with them. Everything was going pretty well right now. They probably just wanted to check up on me.

"Hello?" I answer. A female voice answers. "Hi, Jack sweetie, it's Karen." Karen was one of the social works there who worked on placing kids in good homes.

"What's up?" I ask, not liking the serious and slightly sad tone in her voice.

"Jack, it's about your foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Brewer. You see, hon . . . well, they can't house you anymore."

I know that my eyes widen, and I tense, because Kim looks worried now.

"Wha – What do you mean? Why not!?" I practically shout.

"Jack, please calm down, it'll be okay," she reassures me. "Listen, they love you a lot, but they are in a really bad money situation right now and they just can't afford to support a growing teenager anymore. I'm really sorry hon, but I promise it will be okay."

"But – wh- where am I supposed to go?" I question, and Kim shoots me a confused look now too.

"Well, have you ever heard of the Seaford Home for Boys and Girls? It's a foster care center, I guess kind of like and orphanage, and you'll be living there for now."

"I – But – I," I stutter, and although I feel horrified right now, I manage to compose myself. "Okay," I say, and although my voice shakes a little, it comes out sounding stronger than before.

"Alright, Jack. Why don't you come over to the Child Services Building? We'll have someone go collect your stuff and I'll drive you over there, get you settled in. Okay?"

"Yeah."

"See you soon, Jack,." I don't respond to that, and instead just hang up.

"Jack, what the heck did your cousin want? It didn't sound like he was asking about skateboarding. And I thought you didn't have any more family in Seaford besides you and your parents."

When Kim says "parents," I feel like a knife stabbed me. I don't want to talk about them right now, and I feel like if I don't leave soon I'll lose it in front of her, which would be awful; I hate looking weak in front of my friends, and I think I was already displaying weakness as I felt a tear slide down my cheek despite mentally yelling at myself not to break down.

"Jack, are you – are you crying?" Kim asks incredulously, and of course at that moment Jerry and the guys come out of the changing room, and even Rudy comes out of his office.

Swiping away the lone tear angrily, I put on a fake smile and say, "I'm fine Kim, really. Um listen, I gotta go, alright? I'll see you at school tomorrow."

With that said, I stuff my cell phone in my pocket, grab my karate bag, and speed walk-out of the dojo, ignoring the feeling of five pairs of eyes watching me as I go.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed the first chapter, and I'm sorry it was short! Future ones will be longer! Hehe please review!