I held on tight as w took of. I have never ridden on a motorcycle before but I know that my mom died while riding on the back of my dads. My dad got rid of his bike after her death but never really got over her death. He has always blamed himself for it and ever since then he never lets me out of his sight unless it's to go to school.
"Hold on tight Kim!" Jack screamed. I thought he was just making sure I didn't fall off but that was before I saw a car heading straight for us.
We are at an intersection. Some idiot ran a red light and was about to crash into us. There was nothing Jack could do. If he slammed on the breaks we would both fly over the handle bars. If he sped up we might face an even greater impact if it doesn't work. The only thing left to do was to brace for impact.
I held on to Jack tighter. Would I really have the same fate as my mother? I thought to myself. This was how I was leaving the world. I was only thinking about the worst things that could happen. As the car got closer I started to worry more. Jack gave me his helmet. If he dies it will be my fault. I've only known him for less then a day and I will have already killed him. When the car finally hit us it was like a huge weight was lifted off my chest. I no longer had to think about what might happen, it was happening. As I hit the ground my whole body went numb. I wasn't too concerned about myself though. Jack had no helmet and was the first one to hit the ground.
After inspecting myself I slowly pushed myself into a sitting position and looked around for Jack. I saw him lying on the ground, motionless a few feet away from me. I crawled towards him, hoping that he would have a pulse when I reached him. His face was cut up and his clothes were ripped.
"Come on Jack." I whispered once I reached him.
"Come on, you were a dick today but that doesn't mean that I hate you." I whispered. He still didn't move "You might be just what I need in my life." I was crying now, I'm not sure why I feel this way about him but at the moment I just feel completely in love with him. I barely even know him. I don't even like him.
"Please be okay." I cried.
"It hurts." Jack mumbled almost inaudibly. I don't know what came over me. I took the helmet off and pressed my lips to his. I was surprised to find that he kissed me back. I don't know if it was the overwhelming feeling I got when I realized that I didn't kill him or the fact that he was alive at all.
"What was that for." He was back to himself, smirking up at me while I cried my eyes out for him.
"I thought you were dead." I yelled angrily. I started to hear sirens getting closer and closer. I stayed where I was on the ground and moved Jack's head into my lap. I started playing with his hair. I wasn't sure what was wrong with me. Not to long ago I was reluctant to do anything with him and now I'm laying in the middle of the street, bruised and scratched up, playing with his hair.
When the ambulance and police cars arrived they put Jack on a gurney and started asking me questions. After the police were done talking to me the paramedics started talking to me. They asked me if I was injured and I told then no even though I was pretty sure I broke my arm. I told them no because they would make me ride in another ambulance so I wouldn't be able to ride with Jack. When I tried to hop in the ambulance that Jack was in the paramedics stopped me.
"Sorry, family only miss." The guy said.
"But- but I'm his girlfriend." I tried.
"I'm sorry." The guy said, then tried to close the door. I guess everyone in the truck was paying attention to me and in that amount of time Jack was able to slip himself out.
"I'm not going without her." Jack said. He grabbed my hand and pulled me close to him.
"That's against policy." The guy whined.
"Yeah so is leaving a patient." Jack replied.
"Fine but if anyone asks, your his sister." The guy finally gave in.
"Whatever." I mumbled. I climbed in after Jack. I held his hand the whole ride and didn't let go until they took him into the surgery room. While I was waiting for Jack, a nurse walked by and noticed that my arm was in fact broken and dislocated so she took me in and got that fixed.
By the time I was done they said that Jack was in a regular room and that I could go and see him now. I walked to his room and knocked on the door.
"Yeah." Jack said. I opened the door and walked toward his bed.
"How you feelin'?" I asked.
"Good, what about you?" Jack asked.
"I'm fine." I said quietly. "Do you have anyone you want me to call?" I asked after a minute.
"Yeah, umm can I just use your phone?" Jack asked.
"Yeah." I handed him my now cracked phone. I watched as he dialed someone's number.
"Hello- yeah- I'm at the hospital- yeah I'm fine- just a few cuts and bruises- okay- okay- bye." He hung up and handed me my phone.
"Was that your mom?" I asked.
"No." Jack said.
"Oh, who was that?" I asked.
"Did you call your parents?" Jack changed the subject.
"Umm yeah." I replied.
"Okay, you don't have to stay here Kim, if you want to leave you can." Jack told me.
"I'm not leaving you by yourself. It's my fault that your here." I said.
"Yeah and I'm half monkey." Jack deadpanned. I looked at him and shook my head.
"If I wasn't on that bike you would've had your helmet. I'm fine so it obviously makes a difference." I whispered.
"I was the one that forced you to ride in the first place." Jack said. "That reminds me, why were you scared to get on?" Jack asked.
"It's- its complicated." I replied.
"It can't be that complicated, try me." I was about to respond when my phone rang. I answered.
"I'm at the hospital, what room are you in?" My dad's voice rang out."
"Umm, second floor room 287." I replied.
"Okay, I'll be up there in a minute." My dad stayed true to his promise. About a minute later there was a knock on the door. I opened the door.
"Kimberly." My dad said and pulled me into a hug as soon as he saw me. When he pulled away was when he saw Jack laying the hospital bed.
"Who's that?" My fathers face was no longer relieved. He was angry and disappointed.
"That's Jack, he's a friend of mine. Jack, this is my dad." I introduced. My dad stared at Jack, never taking his eyes off of him. Jack turned his head to look at me.
'I'm sorry.' I mouthed.
"Are you the reason my little girl is in here?" My dad asked.
"Dad!" I was shocked that he actually said that. "Jack didn't do anything wrong. Some idiot ran a red light and crashed into us. There was nothing Jack could do." I said.
"Whatever, let's go Kimberly."
"No dad, I'm not leaving Jack here alone." I cried.
"No Kimberly, we are leaving now." My dad said sternly.
"But da-" I began but was cut off.
"It's fine Kim, my...mom will be here in a few minutes." Jack said. I knew he was lying. He said he didn't call his mom so how would he know?
"Well then I'll wait a few minutes." I offered. Jack just held his arms out, silently asking for a hug. I walked over to him and have him a hug. He kissed my head and whispered into my hair.
"I'll be fine." I pulled back and kissed his cheek.
"Can you call me when you get out of here?" I wiped away a tear that had escaped my eye. I wasn't even completely sure about what I was crying over. I liked Jack and then I hated him and now I think I'm in love with him.
"Yeah, I promise I'll call you as soon as I have access to a phone." Jack said. "But, I might need your number." I laughed a little as I looked for a pen. I found a one on the little tray thing thing that they keep in every room. I grabbed the pen and wrote my number right across his arm.
"I think I might loose your number before I get home." Jack joked.
"Yeah, you just might." I retorted.
"Let's go Kimberly." My dad growled.
"Bye Jack." I gave him one more hug before I walked out the room behind my dad.
We walked outside to my dad's car and got in. He sat in the seat just staring ahead of him.
"Why Kim?" My dad asked all of a sudden.
"Why what?" I asked confused.
"Why him?" He clarified.
"You don't even know him dad." I replied.
"No, but I can tell that he's a bad influence." My dad said quietly.
"How would you know." I wasn't mad at him I was just frustrated. He always thinks he knows what's best for me but he doesn't.
"Kim I'm just trying to help you." He told me.
"I know that you think this is what's best for me but it's not dad. I honestly think I'm in love with Jack and I've only known him for a few hours." I was crying for maybe the fifth time today.
"I'm not telling you that you can't talk to him or anything. I know that all the moving has made things hard for you. I know that. I know that you just need someone that you can trust. I get that but I don't want you to get hurt." For once in my life I actually appreciated one of his speeches.
"You know that I can take care of myself." I told him.
"Yeah, I know." From then on the car was silent the whole ride home.
When I got home I ran up to my room and waited for Jack to call. I watched tv for a while then I went downstairs when my dad called me for dinner. After I finished eating I went back to my room and continued to wait but ended up falling asleep at about 11:00. I really thought that he was going to call. I guess I thought wrong.
I woke up to the bright sunlight beaming down. I got up and started to get dressed when my dad came in my room.
"Hey Kim, if you want to you can stay home today." My dad said.
"Really?" I asked. He nodded his head. "Thanks dad" I gave him a hug.
"I still have to go to work though so your going to be here by yourself." My dad said.
"Is it okay if I go to the park or something?" I asked.
"Yes as long as your back by 7:00 tonight." Dad replied.
"Okay, bye dad." I gave him a hug and he was gone. I went back to my bed and laid down. I instantly fell asleep. I was awoken a few minutes later by my phone. I looked at it and saw that someone was calling me. It was a restricted number.
"Hello?" I asked more then said.
"Hey Kim, it's Jack."
"What do you want?" I asked.
"I know your probably mad because I didn't call last night but I didn't get home until 1 o'clock and I didn't want to wake you up." Jack said. "Can you forgive me?" I could practically see his puppy dog face.
"Only if you tell me why you lied last night." I tried.
"What'd I lie about?" Jack asked.
"You told me that you didn't call your mom yesterday but then you said that your mom was coming to pick you up so you lied about something.
"Oh, that." Jack began. "Can I come over, I'd rather tell you in person." Jack said.
"You can't come to my house, my dad would flip out. I can come over to your house though." I replied.
"Uhh o-okay I guess you can come over. I'll pick you up actually." Jack said.
"Okay, see you in a few." I said.
"Bye." I hung up and got dressed. I had a bowl of Cheerios before Jack got there. Once I finished my cereal I heard the doorbell. Knowing that bit was Jack I put my shoes on and walked out the door. Instead of his motorcycle there was an old beat up pick up truck.
"What happened to your bike?" I asked as I hopped in the truck.
"It was towed to a repair company." Jack replied.
"Oh." Jack drove down the street. "So you decided not to go to school today either?" I asked. Jack pulled out a box of cigarettes and put one in his mouth.
"My aunt wouldn't let me go. She said I was going to hurt myself even more. What about You?" Jack asked.
"My dad told me that I could stay home." I replied. He lit the cigarette.
"You have one of those dad's?" Jack chuckled.
"Not at all. This is the first time he has even taken me into consideration." I laughed.
"What do you mean?" Jack furrowed his eyebrows.
"I mean, I have moved 12 times and I'm only 16 the longest I have ever stayed in one place is about 2 years. My dad never once consulted me about a move until it was time for me to start packing." I told him. "He keeps saying that this is the last time we're moving but you never know." I finished.
"That sucks." Jack finished his cigarette and threw it out the window. We pulled up in front of an apartment complex. Jack hopped out the trick and walked into the building. I followed closely behind him. When we reached his apartment he opened the door and let me in first. I walked in and saw a bunch of empty beer bottles and cigarette boxes lying around. Jack then led me to what I believe is his room. I looked around for somewhere to sit. I didn't want to sit on the bed because the sheets looked really dirty so I sat on the desk chair across from his bed.
"So why'd you lie last night?" I asked as soon as he was situated.
"It's a long story." Jack began. " when I was little my dad, he uh,
Jack's P.O.V
I stood there watching my dad. I knew what was about to happen but I didn't know what to do about it. My parents were in a heated argument. My mom wanted a divorce and my dad wanted me. I understood more then I probably should have. I knew that they were fighting because of me. I knew it was about to end badly but there wasn't much I could do.
"How does it feel now!?" My dad shouts at my mother lying on the ground. "Do you still feel fucking superior?" He yelled. I could tell that he was drunk. He wasn't thinking straight. "What no answer?" He shouted.
"Dad stop." I cried.
"Stay out of it Jack. I'm trying to help you." Even as a three year old I could read through his lies.
"No daddy, your hurting mommy." My dad turned around and walked toward me, pointing the knife in my face.
"Your mother is hurting me too." He whispered.
"No daddy." I cried. He held the knife right in front of my face.
"Leave him alone!" My mom shouted. She pushed herself off the ground and slapped my dad. He dropped the knife and it landed right by his foot. At that point he was really angry. He picked up the knife and stabbed my mom. I was terrified. The only thing I could do was run. I ran to the neighbors house and told them what happened. They called the police.
My dad was arrested and my mom died.
"When I was little, my dad, he uh, he killed my mom." I chocked out, tears were flowing down my face as I remembered that night.
"I'm so sorry." Kim said.
"It's okay."
"What happened to your dad?" Kim asked.
"He was arrested." I replied.
"Wait, do you live by yourself?" Kim asked concerned.
"No, I live with my aunt and uncle." I answered. I pulled out my pack of cigarettes and popped one in my mouth.
"Jack." Kim whined.
"What?" I asked.
"Don't smoke." She replied. I took the cigarette out of my mouth.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because, that can give you lunge cancer." Kim replied. I shrugged. "You can't die." She whined.
"Why not?" I asked.
"I need you." She admitted.
"Smoking helps me when I'm stressed or upset." I told her.
"Yeah, and I'm assuming you drink beer when your stressed to." Kim asked.
"I only drink beer occasionally." I said, "I prefer whiskey, it's stronger so it helps more." I added.
"Jack you have to figure out other ways to work through your problems. What your doing right now isn't healthy." Kim said.
"Well what am I supposed to do?" I asked calmly even though on the inside I wanted to slap her.
"Well if you ever want to talk about it you can call me. If you just need a distraction I'm here for you." She had moved from the chair and was now sitting across from me. "I mean it Jack. I lost my mom too. I know how it feels." Kim continued. She started leaning in and so did I. Our lips met and it was amazing. It was like someone set off a bunch of fireworks in my stomach. I leaned back so that Kim was on top of me. The kiss became more intense, more passionate. Kim slipped her hands in my shirt and scratched my abs. I growled in response. We continued kissing for a while until I heard the apartment door open.
Kim pushed herself up and moved so that she was lying beside me.
