Okay, so last night, shortly after posting the first chapter of this story, I had a stroke of inspiration. I also realized that there's another story on this site already called "Family Ties." So, from this point on, this story will be going by a completely different title-Forgotten-and will be going in a slightly different direction than I had orignally planned. This chaper-and the title-and the new description should probably hint at what will eventually be happening. And, um, I'm still looking for a beta, so if anyone would willing to beta this story, I would be eternally grateful.

I don't own aything but the plot, a few original characters, and some 'new and improved' versions of some existing characters. Kickin' It is not mine.

Kim-2 Years Later

There were new kids at Seaford High. It was eerily reminiscent of Jack's first day, actually-but it was a girl who got in a fight with the Black Dragon kids, after they insulted her brother. I'd never actually met the kid, but I'd heard mostly nasty things about him-the sort of things people used to say about the Wasabi Warriors times ten.

The girl herself looked kind of like a jerk, kind of like a juvenile delinquent, and kind of like a scared new kid. She was dressed to intimidate-ripped jeans, combat boots and a leather jacket. I disliked her almost immediately.

"That's Leyla Richards," whispered Grace from beside me. "She's in my algebra class. So is her brother-Jack Richards? He's, like, a genius or something, cause after five minutes he was done with all the problems on the quiz. And she-she's got problems. Frank insulted her brother or something, and she broke his nose. I dunno why she didn't get in trouble for that, but I heard her dad's, like, rich or something, so he's probably, like, pulling strings or something."

Jack. Of course. Why did it feel like the universe was out to keep causing me pain?

I shrugged. "Maybe. So if she's here…where's her brother?"

Grace looked at me incredulously. "All that and you're worried about her nerdy brother? Kim, he's not even mildly attractive. Well, I mean, if he lost the glasses and started dressing cool he would be, but he's super nerdy and he's got a stutter! Kim, are you even listening to me?"

That's the problem with Grace. She's my…friend, I guess, but she's shallow and always assumes that a person's interest in anybody of the opposite sex is more than friendly. It annoyed me, but at the same time it was endearing. The same way Jack's constant insistence that I liked him had been endearing.

I stood. "Look, Grace-I need to go study for the English test. I'm going to go to the library." Seeing the look on Grace's face, I added, "I promise I'm not going just to get away from you." Then, before she could reply, I hurried out of the cafeteria.

The library was probably one of my favorite parts of the entire school. Right now it was dark and kind of chilly, but it still felt welcoming. Clutching my notebook and pen, I hurried in.

I was headed towards the 'required reading' section when I ran into someone. They crashed to the ground, dropping the huge stack of books they were carrying.

"Oh my god!" I blurted, embarrassed. "I'm so sorry!" I stuck out my to pull them up. "Here, let me help yo-"

It was Jack.

I stumbled backwards, letting go of his hand. It's Jack, it's Jack, it's JACK! I felt like I had been burned. Jack was here. Jack was alive.

"Jack?" I croaked weakly. The boy-Jack-looked up at me curiously. His eyes were obscured by thick square glasses, a floppy mop of hair hanging in his face. I blanched.

"I-I'm sorry," I whispered. And I ran.

Two hours later I was sitting behind the dumpster at the back of the school. Skipping, hissed the little voice in my head. You're skipping because you met the nerdy new kid. Such a smart little move. I'm sure your mother will be sopleased.

I moaned and buried my head in my hands. That was Jack. That wasn't Jack. Jack or not Jack. Jack or not Jack. Not Jack, sang the little voice. Just your imagination, Kimberly. Just your imagination.

Sniffling, I shook my head. I'd spent the last two years trying to move on from Jack. We all had. And then Jack-or a Jack look-alike-shows up at school and two years of moving on go down the drain.

"Dammit, Jack," I muttered, "even when you're gone you still manage to cause problems."

Then I sighed and pulled out "Why are you here," I muttered as I scribbled down the new kid's name down on the paper. "Jack Richards. Jack Anderson. Jack Richards is a scrawny geek with glasses, Jack Anderson was the most sought after guy in our grade. Jack Richards stutters, Jack Anderson acted like he owned everything."

Somehow, repeating all their differences only made me more certain they were the same.

Well, snickered the little voice, If Jack is back, won't those cutesy little Wasabi Warriors want to know about it?

And there was the other problem.

There was no way any of the guys were going to want to work together. Jack's disappearance had been it, and after that, we just sort of…fell apart. I quit the dojo first, though, and I honestly think they hate me for it. Or they did, anyways. Now, though, they're probably just indifferent.

You still need them, replied the voice. I groaned. I knew that. I just didn't want to admit it. Sighing, I began to run through where I could find all of them.

Milton would either be with Julie or with his nerd friends. Eddie would be…somewhere. Jerry would know. And Jerry…would be at the dojo. Him and Rudy both.

Great. I knew where to find them all. I knew what buttons to push and I knew what to say to make them help me. I didn't want to, though. Two years of progress, gone.

I knew it was necessary. I knew it was-inevitable, I guess, for us to do something about Jack. We had just skirted around the issue and it ended up destroying the Wasabi Warriors-the one thing Jack never would have wanted.

I knew I had to do it-I just wasn't sure if I was ready to be a Wasabi Warrior again.

Or if I was ready to face Jack.

Wow. That was way different than I had originally planned. And shorter. Way shorter. I don't like how some of it came out, particularly that last bit, but whatever. As always, any helpful feedback or constructive criticism you can give is greatly appreciated. So...review!