Chapter 2: I Hate You
Kim looked around, there was the immediate terror shown in her face. Her body shook with absolute fright and horror as she made her way down the stairs and into the coffee shop, with her bag in her hand. Each step she took echoed through the bare store and reflected every other noise. Her small brown eyes danced their way hurriedly from each and every object in the store to spot anything out of the ordinary. All of her senses were awake and in full motion; her legs were tingling with fright and she was prepared to run with any movement that wasn't her own. She moved stealthily and quietly as she tip-toed towards the double doors of the café. The room was dimly lit by the outside sunlight, the tables nicely cleaned and polished so the rays of the sun bounced upon them and shot a small rainbow through the room. It would have been absolutely breath-taking to Kim if she had not been so completely submerged in fright.
Nobody knew about her past and she was determined to keep it that way; she did not want anybody learning about her or him, especially not the police. As she thought of the possible ways that she could die, there was a tap at the café window; it only took five seconds for her to process that she had to run, unfortunately she didn't watch out for the door and crashed directly into it. She landed onto the floor with a loud thud and groaned in pain. When she heard a small chuckle she nearly jumped out of her clothes, she knew that laugh anywhere. By the time she looked up her whole body was screaming of fire and she had the urge to yell. She was about the shout when she looked up and was taken by complete surprise; it wasn't the serial killer that she was expecting. Instead it was the incredibly famous superstar, Jack Brewer, and he was standing outside her shop laughing at her stupidity.
She was suddenly angered by his presence; she was expecting the person who wanted her dead, not a rock star. She wanted to end her pain and sorrow, but now it had thrown her even deeper. By the way he smiled at her, Kim had known immediately that he was not the one that had been watching her earlier. She knew that the person she wanted to see was still here, watching her from a distance waiting to prance. She knew right away that she still had to be alert and awake; there was no need to get distracted by the world famous super star. A sudden thought had occurred to her, if her killer had sensed a new loved one around, then there would be a reason for him to come back. What if her loved one, was right in front of her? No, it wasn't possible. Her loved one couldn't be Jack Brewer, the rock star; he was too perfect for her, it couldn't be him.
He had brown wavy hair and chocolate brown eyes, his muscles could be seen from his white shirt which had been hung tightly to his chest. Even though he was unbelievably handsome, he was also unbelievably popular. There was no way she could ever love him and vice-versa, yet one thought came to her. What could he possibly be doing in Seaford then? What could he be doing at her coffee shop? Obviously anybody would think that he would be at a coffee shop for coffee, but somebody with Kim's 'talent' would know there was another reason. She was special. And she had a feeling something was going to happen. And it wasn't going to be something good.
Jack Brewer wouldn't stop tapping on her door and she hesitantly got up. She had to be careful with him; she knew by one look at Jack that he was trouble…for himself. She held her head as she went to open the door –wincing as she did. He strode in with a graceful flow and bumped her on the shoulder like old friends.
She shook her head in disgust and sat on one of the chairs, while he trolled around her café like an inspector. She let out a huffy breath and pushed her bangs over her head before snapping at him to stop creating dust before the customers arrived. He only looked at her with a sudden enthusiasm and gave her a cold stare.
"Since when do you tell me what to do?" His tone had an edge.
"Since you decided to walk in." She retorted.
He leaned against the counter next to a cash register and gave her an amused look, "Fiesty. What happened to you Crawford?"
"You know who I am?" She asked softly.
He narrowed his eyes at her, "Of course, who could ever forget you?"
"I thought you did." She said quietly.
Jack looked at Kim with confusion, "Why would I forget you?"
She knew she shouldn't be talking to him for long it was too risky, but she couldn't stop she wanted to know, "Because you left me…"
He ran his hand through his hair frustrated, "Please don't start with that; I just had to."
She put her hands on her hips, "What's the excuse?"
He glared at her casual stance, "Why should I tell you?"
Kim sighed and stood up, "Fine. I don't care anyways." She scoffed.
He didn't say anything, instead he slammed his hand on the counter, shattering a small glass into a million tiny pieces.
Kim gasped and sank in the chair with a thud, "My glass!" She gave him an accusing look, "I don't have millions of them unlike you."
His hands rose in surrender, "Sorry…I'll get you a new one."
She snorted and her feet rocked back and forth under the table, "You can't buy me you know." Kim made sure to raise her voice, so her killer could hear.
Jack gave her a pleading look, "Then what do I got to do?"
She narrowed her eyes at his shark-tooth necklace, "Nothing. I don't want you here." She pointed a finger towards the door, "You can leave now."
He laughed obviously amused, "You really think I'm going to leave you this easily?"
She played with the tips of her fingers, "Yes?" Her eyes focused on her hands; she refused to look at his eyes.
She heard him chuckle again, "Well you thought wrong." Before she could say anything he continued to talk again, "Did you seriously think that I would forget you?"
She glanced up at him surprised and nodded.
He kicked the ground and let out a huffy breath, "Why would you think that?"
She looked at the floor, "Because I did." She strained her voice.
His jaw clenched, "Why?" She could tell he was angry now for he continued to bang his hand on the counter.
"You won't understand." She said softly.
"I did then, and I will now." He looked at her with determination.
"No." She glared at his chest as he advanced nearer.
"Why?" He pressed.
She didn't answer, she didn't want to. He was somebody she was forced to forget, somebody she had to leave eight years ago. She was still angry at him for leaving her completely at that time, but also very thankful. If he had stayed he would've gotten killed along with the rest of her loved ones, and she was happy he had escaped just in time, though there was no way she was going to tell him that.
She rolled her eyes and tried to change the subject, "What are you doing here?"
He shook his head, "What else would I be doing here?"
She gave him a look which read: 'I-have-no-idea-what-you're-talking-about.'
He rolled his eyes, "Are you that stupid?"
She nodded before snapping at his smirk, "Yes. And I have to walk to school so if you don't mind…"
She shoved him aside and grabbed her bag, he cackled and his warm hand gripped her wrist.
She was soon thrown against his hard chest and she groaned again, "OW!"
He laughed, "That actually hurt?" He was obviously enjoying her pain.
Kim winced as his hand grasped her waist, "Yes. And I really have to go."
She tried to push Jack away, but his hands were like iron rods that refused to release, "Jack can you please let me go?"
His voice was surprisingly husky, "No."
"Please?" She asked.
"Never."
She slapped his shoulder, "Just go away. Please." It wasn't a question anymore, she was ordering him to leave before he made a mess of everything.
He glared at her, "I'm not going to leave."
She stomped on his foot, but it didn't make any effect, "Why not?" She shook her head nervously, "You don't get it Jack. You can't be here." She sneaked a pleading glance at him, "Please go."
Jack didn't say anything, instead he picked her up bridal style his eyes serious.
Kim gasped as he headed for the door, "Jack! What are you doing?!"
She tried to struggle under his grip, but his arms were solid and his hands were firmly on her body to make sure she wouldn't fall, "Just shut up, Kim."
She wriggled some more, "Jack! Don't be stupid, you don't know what you're doing!"
He ignored her and proceeded towards the door; in an attempt to stop him, Kim started to slap him, but he refused to drop her.
"Jack!" She cried cautiously as the front door came closer and closer.
He continued to ignore her.
"Jack! Please."
He wouldn't respond.
"Jack." She stopped restraining herself and decided to give up.
As Jack reached for the door, Kim's eyes closed shut as she braced for impact of some weapon, for example gunshots or knives being flung towards them, but nothing happened. She slowly opened her eyes to face the bright sunlight and the happy whistling of birds in the early morning.
Jack continued to move closer to his BMW until he sat her in the front seat.
"What are you-"
She didn't get to finish for Jack was strapping her to the seat, continuing to not respond to any of her questions. His eyes were full of determination as he got into the seat next to her. She didn't dare speak when he was raging white and trembling slightly; his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly and he shook with anger.
"Tell me."
She glared at the road, "Why should I?" She said waspishly.
"Will you tell me…or am I going to have to get it out of you." He growled menacingly.
She shivered at his tone, but refused to answer his question, "Then you tell me what you're doing here." She fired at him.
His grip on the steering wheel subsided and he smirked, "What am I made for…protecting right?"
"I'm not following you."
He rolled his eyes, "I'm here to protect you."
She looked at him disgusted, "After eight years, you come back just so you can get money?!"
He nodded, "Yup."
She gaped at him, "I can't believe you!"
He turned to face her, "Well what do you expect?" He crossed his hands over his strong chest and his smile turned into a serious frown, "After I left, about eight years later I get a call from Jerry saying that you've been attacked what do you expect me to do…huh?"
Kim was about to shout at him, but she stopped short, "Wait…Jerry…he's-he's alive?"
Jack scratched the back of his neck, "Well…"
She grabbed his shirt and tugged him forward –ignoring the closeness between them, "Tell me the truth."
Jack nodded and Kim suddenly felt like doing a happy dance.
Suddenly, horror struck her, "Wait so all these years- I- I had someone to help me?"
He nodded again.
Kim let Jack go and he rearranged his shirt, she let a happy breath go and the giant weight that had been on her chest was soon relieved.
But she was still confused, "I don't get why you're here." She pointed a finger at his chest.
Jack shrugged, "I told you, I'm here to protect."
"Why? You already have tons and tons of money."
"Yes. I know that."
She pushed her bangs aside and moved her hands in a motion as if to say, 'And…'
He apparently got the signal, "And I want to add some fun into my life. So the best way to do that is to become a bodyguard."
She would have jumped from her seat in shock if it hadn't been for the giant seatbelts that were covering her chest, not even allowing her to move a centimeter.
"A-a-a what?"
He smirked, "A bodyguard."
"For who?" She asked stupidly.
"For you, idiot." He said and playfully slapped her head.
"But-but…" She was at a loss for words.
Jack merely smiled at her and said, "We got special insights that you're life was in danger so," He raised his arms around his shoulders, "Here I am… you're personal bodyguard."
She was annoyed that he was gloating about himself, she was angered that he was being so stuck-up, "So let me get this straight, you're seeing me after eight years just so you could make money, and not because you wanted to see how I was doing?!"
He gave her a smug smile, "Yup, pretty much. I knew you were smart Crawford."
Kim let out a frustrated growl, "Ugh! You don't know how much I hate you right now!" She tugged on the stupid safety belts, which wouldn't release.
Jack opened the drawer in front of Kim's legs and pulled out a pair of sunglasses, "I think I figured that out when I left you." He put the glasses on and pressed his foot on the gas pedal –the car plummeted towards the school.
Kim gave him an annoyed laugh, "Yeah, you sure got that right."
The wind whipped her face for Jack had opened the window; the noise that was coming from outside didn't stop Kim from saying the words she had wanted to say the day he had left her in excruciating pain, "I will and always forever hate you Jack Brewer!"