"I do not understand your relationship."
Jack and Karen glanced up and frowned at Will who was staring at them with a mix of disgust and interest on his face. "What?" they replied simultaneously. They looked at each other and giggled, wrapping their pinkies together. "Jinx!" Karen leaned in a pecked Jack's mouth and he pinched her side as she squealed in laughter.
Will's grimace deepened. "See? That!" He gestured to their playful touching and small kisses. Karen was sitting on Jack's lap in the library, but they were avoiding their studies and playing around with each other while Will and Grace sat across them with their noses buried in their text books. "I thought you were just trying to hide your sexuality from your mom, not the whole school?"
Jack shrugged. "I mean, I'm not hiding anything right now. We're just being silly."
Karen nodded in agreement. "Believe me, he's ditched me for a boy before. Many times." She poked his stomach and he smiled, guilty.
"Still it's weird," the other teen said, shaking his head before he went back to his work.
Jack and Karen each rolled their eyes and continued teasing each other until the bell rang. The foursome stood up and gathered their bags, Will and Grace lacing their fingers together as they began their trek to their next class while Jack and Karen head in the opposite direction. "Where are they going?" Grace asked as she looked over her shoulder at the pair walking away.
"Jack has a free period and Karen has AP Art History," Will shook his head, looking behind as well. "How Karen skips classes and still manages straight A's is beyond me." He scrunched up his nose when he saw Karen pinch Jack's ass and the boy stuck his rear end out further so she could do it again. "They really are weird."
Grace smiled, still glancing at their friends. "I think they're cute."
Jack threw his backpack under the tree and plopped down in the shaded grass, leaning his back against the trunk of the large oak and spreading his legs wide so Karen could sit between. Karen tossed her bag next to his and sat down between his legs, resting her back against his chest. Jack reached down and grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together and placing their connected hands on her stomach. Karen laid her head back against his shoulder and closed her eyes, letting the fall breeze wash over them. No matter how hard she tried to listen to the sound of the leaves brushing together and the birds singing, she couldn't help but hear Will's voice repeating in her head about her and Jack's unconventional relationship.
"Jackie?" she asked quietly, biting her bottom lip.
"Hmm?"
Karen looked down at their intertwined fingers with a frown. "Do you think Will is right? Are we weird?"
He snorted and the movement caused her to look at him. His eyes were still closed as he spoke, looking like he had not a care in the world. "Of course we are, silly."
She raised her eyebrows. "Well is it bad?"
Jack finally opened his eyes to catch her stare. "No, it's not bad. Why would you think that?"
Karen shrugged, dropping her gaze to his chin. "I don't know. I mean even though you're gay and I'm straight-"
"Straight?" he exclaimed, his expression incredulous. "I recall a summer two years ago where you made out with Claire Barnes at the state fair."
"I was running the kissing booth! She paid to kiss me!"
"I had to pry you two apart after two minutes!"
"Anyway!" Karen continued on. "We have a different relationship, yes, but is it healthy?"
Jack pouted in contemplation, staring off at the empty football field. "Well, here's how I see it," he began, locking his eyes back on her. "You're my best friend. We've been friends since 7th grade. You let me experiment with my sexuality and then supported me one hundred percent when I finally came out, you defend me when you think someone is putting me down, you're there for me whenever I need you, and you let me make out with you whenever I want. Is it weird? Yes. Does that matter? No because I love you and I don't care what other people think. I care what you think."
Karen grinned and craned her neck to kiss his cheek. "I love you too," she whispered. "And you're right. Who cares what Wilma says. Or anyone else for that matter! We're happy, right?"
"Right!"
They shared another smile and a giggle and then relaxed back against the tree, enjoying the silence and the nature around them. Karen lived for these moments with Jack. She could forget about her home problems, the terrible memories of moving around so much, the lack of a father figure in her life since her dad passed when she was seven. Jack was stable, secure, and he loved her just the way she was. Karen wasn't sure if he knew how many times he saved her life, how many times he made her realize that she was worth it. And as she lay in his arms now, as he breathed with her and loved her, Karen finally understood what it felt like to love someone so wholly.
"Awww, look, the fag and his hag."
Jack and Karen looked up to see a fellow classmate, Danny Bingnam towering over them with a smirk on his lips and his girlfriend on his arm. Karen's eyebrows shot up when she recognized the girl as Claire Barnes and she looked pointedly at the blonde who blushed severely under her gaze.
"Just leave us alone, Danny," Jack said tiredly, his arms tightening around Karen.
The teen let out a laugh. "See, I would, but you're sitting under my tree, McFairyland."
"D," Claire tugged on the football player's arm. "Let's just go find another spot."
"No," he shook his head and continued to glare down at Jack and Karen. "This princess can get up and take his bitch with him like I asked."
Jack would normally tolerate the name calling and slurs, but the second he called Karen a bitch he shot up off the ground. Karen tumbled a bit, but Claire caught her to which she smiled in appreciation. They stood off to the side to watch Jack get in Danny's face, the rage emanating off his body.
"Take it back," Jack demanded.
Danny raised his eyebrow and grinned. "What, I'm just speaking the truth? You're a little queer boy and your hag over there is a bitch."
Jack shoved Danny back in anger and the football player lost his footing for a moment and then looked back at Jack as his own anger surfaced.
"Jack, leave it alone. It's fine-" Karen tried, but neither boy was listening. She gasped when Danny was the one to push Jack this time and he lost balance, falling back on the grass. She felt Claire grab her hand and Karen squeezed the girl's hand back, watching the scene unfold in front of them and feeling helpless. Jack scrambled off the ground and went to grab at Danny, but the teen dodged him and threw a punch, hitting Jack in the eye.
"Danny, stop!" Claire screamed.
Jack recovered quickly and tackled Danny to the ground, the boys struggling for control as they rolled around.
"Hey!"
The girls spun around to see the gym teacher running out onto the field, a class behind him staring on in amusement as the two boys continued to fight. The teacher pried Jack and Danny apart, holding them both by the collar of their shirts and shoving them in opposite directions. "What the hell are you two doing?" he bellowed, looking between both teens and glancing at Karen and Claire as well.
"Nothing, Coach," Danny shrugged, wiping a smear of blood off his bottom lip. "Claire and I were just walking by when Jack here started going off on me-"
"He's lying!" Karen shrieked, pointing to the boy. "Tell him, Claire!" She looked pleading at the blonde girl who still held her hand.
Claire looked between the four people in front of her and slowly slipped her hand out of Karen's, giving the brunette a look of contrite as she stepped beside Danny. She grimaced when she felt the boy's arm slide around her waist and set her eyes on the teacher. "Danny and I were just minding our own. The next thing I knew they were fighting."
Karen felt tears of anger spring to her eyes at the girl's words. "No," she shook her head. "He was defending me-"
"All right, that's enough," the teacher interrupted. "You shouldn't have even been out here in the first place. I want both of you to head straight to the principle's office. He can decide what your punishment will be. Go. Now."
Jack glared back at Danny who smirked in return, but his gaze shifted when he felt Karen lace her fingers with his. "Its okay, Kare," Jack told her. He tugged her hand and together they walked towards the principle's office while Danny and Claire trekked behind.
Karen paced the hallway outside the main office, her backpack hanging off one shoulder while she held Jack's tightly between her fingers. He had been in there for a long time and she was growing more nervous as time dragged on. She was pissed, hating the fact that Claire threw Jack under the bus instead of telling the truth. She appreciated Jack defending her, but it got way out of hand. The more she thought on the matter, the more upset she became. She was just about to collapse onto the waiting bench when the door opened and Jack stalked out slowly, a blue and red mark underneath his eye and his expression defeated.
Karen rushed over to him, her eyes wide and her heart racing. "What's going on? What's happening? What did he say?"
Despite all the events, Jack smiled at her concern and grabbed his backpack from her. "I'm suspended for two days," he explained. "My mom is gonna kill me."
"What?" Karen exclaimed. "Two days? But he's the one who-"
"He's suspended too, Kare," Jack told her, grabbing her hand. "No matter what the fight was about, we still fought and for that we are suspended."
Karen pouted, wrapping her arms around his middle and hugging him close. "I'm sorry," she mumbled into his chest. She lifted her head, her chin resting against his sternum. "You got in trouble because you were defending me..."
Jack slid his hands down to her lower back and pressed his lips to her ear. "I will defend you for the rest of your life, Karen. So don't go feeling bad for the choices I decide to make. I would fight Danny again and again for you. Got it?" Karen nodded against him and Jack kissed her temple before pulling back. "Let's go home, Bear."
The next day was Thursday and the first day Karen had to endure school without her best friend by her side. She basically pouted the entire day and was grumpy towards anyone who spoke to her. At lunch, Grace tried engaging her into a conversation she and Will were having, but Karen just rolled her eyes and pushed her tray of food away before standing up and heading to the bleachers outside so she could smoke. A certain blonde haired girl watched the teen leave the cafeteria and she excused herself from her cheerleader friends to follow.
Karen had just lit up when she felt someone approach her from behind. She didn't bother turning around, figuring if it was a teacher that she would have already been getting yelled at by now. She didn't care either; she hated being at school unless Jack was there with her. He was the one that got her through most of the day.
"Can I bum a smoke?"
Karen's spine straightened at the familiar and she slowly turned to see Claire standing there, a wary look on her face. Licking her lips, the brunette crossed her arms, her cigarette held delicately between her fingers. "Shouldn't you be with your boyfriend?" she sneered.
Claire rolled her eyes and sighed, reaching into Karen's front pocket where her pack of cigarettes was poking out and grabbed one, her other hand swiftly pulling a personalized lighter out from her letterman's jacket so she could light. The shock on Karen's face was evident and Claire smirked. "You already know I'm a lesbian, I'm surprised my smoking habit is the one that makes you speechless."
Karen realized her mouth was hanging open and she quickly clamped it shut, her eyes narrowing with a glare. "What do you want, Claire?"
The blonde took a long drag and let it out slowly, her eyes scanning Karen before she spoke. "I wanted to apologize for the other day."
Karen scoffed, shaking her head. "I just don't get it," she said. "Why didn't you tell the truth?"
Claire looked down at her shoes and swayed back and forth slightly, as if debating whether or not she was going to explain her actions and words from yesterday. Karen could feel the nerves radiating off of her and for a split second she felt sorry for the girl. "Like I said," the blonde began. "You're the only one who knows who I really am. Well, and Jack obviously. I'm just not ready to come out. To anyone. And if it got out that I'm..."
"Queer?" Karen raised her eyebrow.
Claire swallowed, nodding her head. "As soon as I graduate, I'm moving out of state and starting new. I'm going to live the way I'm supposed to, as a proud lesbian. But until then I have to put up some bullshit image for my family. And that bullshit image includes having a quarterback boyfriend and being on the cheerleading squad."
"Look," Karen started, stepping towards the girl and placing a hand on her arm. "You don't have to explain anything about hiding in the closet to me. I'm 'dating' the biggest homo in the school, remember?" She offered a smile and Claire grinned in return. "But secret or no secret, you didn't tell the truth about what happened yesterday. Your so called 'boyfriend' is a homophobe and I'm surprised you even affiliate with him at all."
"But I-"
"I know, your image." Karen took one last drag and put out her cigarette. "But you still could have told the truth without revealing anything about yourself."
Claire nodded slowly, looking ashamed as she took another drag. "You're right," she agreed. She looked up, her blue eyes shining. "Tell Jack I'm sorry?"
Karen smiled. "I will, honey." She moved to step away when Claire's hand on her arm stopped her. She barely had a chance to glance her way when she felt a pair of soft lips on her own. Karen gasped, her body frozen for a few moments, but Claire's persistent lips melted her quickly and she found herself kissing her back. She felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach as she opened her mouth and let her tongue brush the blonde's, tasting a mixture of tobacco and the tang of salad dressing from the cheerleader's lunch. Her touch was soft, sensual, and slow. Karen was completely infatuated.
Claire pulled away almost unwillingly, her eyes opening and a grin tugging her lips. "Sorry," she whispered. "I've been wanting to do that since the kissing booth years ago."
"Don't apologize," Karen smirked. "I hope one day we can do it again."
After school, Karen walked to Jack's. She climbed her way up the terrace and maneuvered her way through the open window of his bedroom. As she started to slide through, her foot got caught on the windowsill and she lost balance, falling hard on her knee. A loud thump sounded from her body hitting the ground and she screamed out, "Motherfuck!"
Jack came barreling into the room seconds later and saw his best friend on the floor, cradling her knee to her chest. He immediately got down and scooped her up, holding her bridal style in his arms. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked with a grin as he carried her to the kitchen. "You could have knocked on the front door?"
"I always come in through the window," she pouted, her tone obvious. He set her down on a chair and grabbed an ice pack from the freezer, putting it on her throbbing knee. "So Claire apologized today."
Jack raised his eyebrow and sat across from her, grabbing her ankle and bringing her foot into his lap so her knee was elevated. "Oh?"
Karen nodded, biting her lip. "And we kind of kissed?"
Jack's jaw dropped, his eyes wide with surprise. "You what?!"
"Believe me," Karen held her hands up in defense. "I just as shocked. But we were smoking under the bleachers-"
"Claire smokes?"
"So not the point of this, honey, but yes, the cheerleader smokes." She shook her head and continued on. "Anyway, she apologized to me and told me to tell you sorry and we were talking about how she's closeted and has to keep up an image for her family and then she kissed me and damn, honey..." She fanned her herself as she replayed the kiss over again in her head, knowing her cheeks were a deep shade of red.
"So what does this mean?" he asked curiously. "Does she like, want to date you?"
Karen shrugged, unsure of what it all meant herself. "I don't know, Poodle. I just know it was a hot kiss."
"Show me!" Jack bounced in his seat, clapping his hands excitedly. Karen rolled her eyes and removed the ice from her knee before standing up and sauntering over to Jack. She straddled his hips, pressing herself as close him as she could, her groin brushing perfectly over his. Her palms cupped his jaw and just before her mouth touched his he started to giggle. "She was not sitting on your lap," he said.
Karen glared down at him. "Do you want me to show you or not?" At his enthusiastic nod, Karen smiled and leaned down, capturing his lips in a slow, deep kiss. Jack's hands immediately went to her waist and then slid down to her backside, holding her impossibly closer while Karen moaned. His lips parted under her prying tongue and she slid inside, exploring the depths of his mouth. They pulled apart a minute or so later and Karen raised her eyebrow at Jack's dazed expression. "Good, right?"
"Wow," Jack said. "She's a great kisser."
Karen nodded in agreement. She gazed into his eyes adoringly, but suddenly frowned when she saw the bruise that Claire's asshole of a boyfriend caused. She reached over and grabbed the ice pack she was using for her knee and rest it delicately on his face. Jack winced under her actions and Karen leaned in to kiss his forehead in an apology. "He really did a number on your face there, Poodle."
Sighing, Jack tilted his head back, resting it on the back of the chair and letting the ice cool his overheated cheek. "Yeah, I got a few good licks in myself, though."
"You scratched him like a girl."
"Did it or did it not hurt?"
Karen chuckled and took the pack off his face, setting it on the table before she laid her head down on his chest, her nose pressed to his neck. Jack's hands smoothed over her back and he hummed contentedly. "What time is your mom coming home from work?" she asked.
Jack peeked one eye open to check the time on the kitchen wall clock. "Not until seven or eight."
Karen raised her head up and pouted at him. "Can we take a nap?"
Later that evening, Jack and Karen were walking down the streets of New York, their fingers laced together and their arms swinging between them. After an hour long nap and two hours worth of homework, Karen decided she better head home before Judith arrived. Jack, not wanting his best friend to walk home alone at seven pm, left a note for his mom and together they began their trek towards Karen's apartment. The walk was filled with a comfortable silence, the sounds of the busy streets and restaurants they passed filling the air. Jack had bundled Karen up in his jean jacket when he noticed the fall breeze made her shiver and she grinned at him in thanks, giving him an appreciative peck on the mouth when he finished buttoning her up.
He walked her all the way up to her floor and watched her dig through her jeans pockets until she came up with her key. She turned to him before she unlocked the door and puckered her lips for a goodbye kiss, but Jack shook his head, pointing to the door. "I'm walking you in, little lady."
Karen furrowed her brows and opened her mouth to protest when the door behind her swung open. Both teens jumped at the sudden movement and looked to see Bernie standing there with a look of disdain on his face. He sneered at Jack and then settled his eyes on Karen. "Your mother has been worried sick about you. Get in here and help her with dinner." With that he went back into the tiny apartment, leaving Jack and Karen in the hallway.
Karen rolled her eyes and looked up at her friend. "I'll come by again tomorrow after school."
"Karen," Jack ignored her, grabbing each of her hands in his and squeezing. "Call me if you need me, okay? I will meet you somewhere or come pick you up. I have my own phone line so my mom will have no idea. She even said if you need a place-"
"Jack," she interrupted, a warm smile on her face. "I know, honey."
"Kiki!" Lois yelled from somewhere inside.
"I gotta go, Poodle," she said, backing away, her hands slipping from his grasp. "I love you."
Jack watched her turn around and close the door, the lock sliding into place. "Love you too, Kare."
