Chapter two: Change, for better or worse

POV: Kim Crawford

(the next day)

I stared at Jack through the entire of my history class. He was wearing a black Dragon's T-shirt! And those black sweat pants that have the white and red stripes down them that we always used to agree looked kind of clownish.

I also followed him with my eyes everywhere I saw him. He was with the gang of Black Dragon's throughout the whole day, even sitting with them at lunch. I was still mad at him for ditching us, so I sent a glare his way every chance I got, and I knew he saw them. It was so gut-wrenching to see him sitting with them, as a part of them. I wanted to go over him and knock some sense into him, but that probably would do more harm than good.

I leaned over to Carson and whispered to him and pointed. He looked up and he and Jack locked gazes. Jack refused to look away, leaving poor Carson to look down, his face red. I patted his shoulder, then shot a glare Jack's way. He shook his head, scowling. I'd never been less attracted to him than I was now. I couldn't believe I'd loved him…

I felt my heart drop and the odium I'd had for him a second before was gone, and replaced by regret. I looked at Carson, who chewed slowly while he stared at his plate. He was innocent! I just knew it! Jack was making a big deal out of losing to him and it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that I had to lose my best friend because he was too stubborn to just accept that Carson was better at karate.

I felt the uncertain rage boiling again at how stupid Jack was being about this whole thing, and then it simmered down and I was sad again. Get a hold of yourself, Kim. Are you mad, or are you sad? I glanced over at Carson, and then Jack. I couldn't decide. Then I glanced at Jack again and saw him smiling and holding hands with a Black Dragon girl with firey red hair. Never before had I loathed any sight upon which my eyes laid.

I narrowed my eyes. He's one of them now, he's the enemy.

POV: Jack Brewer

(three weeks later)

"Ha! HIIIIYA!" I back-kicked and broke a board, then sprung forward, chopping another in half with my fist. Then spun and got another. "Great job, Jack!" Ty called. "Thanks." I smiled at him. Ever since I'd become a Black Dragon three weeks ago, I'd done nothing but train and improve. With, of course, some fun times in between. Frank and I –if you can believe it- had grown to be great friends, and I even had a date with Gemma, one of the Black Dragons I'd personally noticed before, but was never interested in because she was a Black Dragon.

"Okay guys, that's it for today. Go home and for heaven's sake, go to bed! We have a competition tomorrow, do not disappoint me! Again…" He sighed and headed for his office. I smiled and shook my head. "Hey Jack, you wanna go to Falafel Phil's?" Gemma asked, coming up to me and taking my hand. I smiled at her. "Sure, just let me get changed." I told her. I headed for the boys locker-room and she headed for the girls.

We were both ready to go in less than ten minutes. "Ready?" I asked, as she linked her arm in mine. "Yep." She smiled. I smiled back and walked her down the street. I opened the door for her. She smiled and walked in. We took a seat, the regular place the Black Dragon's always sat. Frank and a few of the other guys were already there. I glanced over at my old spot and my face fell. All my friends… my old friends, the Wasabi Warriors were sitting at their regular spot and were staring at us.

I stared back, a challenging glare. They all caught the intense look and looked away, unable to meet it. All but Kim. She continued to stare at me, shaking her head with a mixed expression on her face. I felt my gut wrench. I missed them so much! But they'd betrayed me. I felt anger boil inside me when I saw Jerry shift slightly, revealing Carson on his other side, the spot I normally sat. I glared a hole in his head.

"Jack?" I looked up, startled. "Huh?" I asked. It was Gemma. "Why are you staring at those losers?" She asked. I rolled my eyes. "No reason." I told her, going back to the food. She nodded and continued to chat with me. But I was no longer in a good mood. My good mood had died as soon as I'd seen them. And my new disposition had begun to simmer after seeing Carson. I pumped my leg impatiently under the table. I wished one of three things would happen; either they get up and leave, we get up and leave, or the ground open up and swallow them. I didn't care which, I just wanted one of them to happen.

I looked up again when I saw Rudy join them. His smile had faded when he'd noticed us. I glared at him. "Jack, you okay?" Gemma whispered. I glanced at the pretty red-head. She offered me a concerned smile. I smiled back, deciding to not let them bother me anymore. "Yeah, I'm fine." I told her, taking her hand as she offered it to me. "You know, I'm not really hungry, you want to go for a walk?" I asked her. She blushed and nodded.

We stood up, still hand-in-hand, and left. I opened the door for her again and she smiled. We spent the rest of the after-noon strolling around the courtyards, getting lost in the bigger stores. At the end of the day, when it was dark, I was walking her home. "So, see you tomorrow?" I asked, stopping at her driveway. "Sure, hotshot, see ya then." She smiled, starting to walk away, then stopped and turned back to me.

"Hey Jack?" She asked. "Yeah?" I smiled. She took me by surprise by stepping closer, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me. My eyes were wide for a moment before I let myself melt into the kiss. She pulled away and smiled before running to her house and closing the door. I stared after her and sighed. She was great.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets. Great. Was that all she was? No, she was… she was amazing. Yeah, that's it. I stared up at the sky as stars started to appear, my hands still in my pockets, my feet moving slowly. I thought Kim was amazing once too. She had kissed me… I had enjoyed it so much… how soft her lips were, how the wind had blown her hair into my face while our lips were locked… how warm and… no! I snapped out of it. Kim was the enemy now.

I felt my heart sink as I realized I'd never dreamed those words would form in my head. There was a time when Kim was my best friend, and more… so much more.

I shook my head and sighed, still walking slowly. It was an insulting, yet accurate fact of life that people changed, and not always for the better.

(A/N: Special thanks to my co-author, Amber Johnston. okay, so, there's gonna be a lot of mixed emotions, drama, heartbreak in this story! I can't tell you if there's going to be any Kick, because that would ruin the ending, so you'll just have to wait and see. ;)

I REALLY need idea's for run-ins, and competitions, crushes, dates, anything to make these chapters more awkward for Jack and Kim and the guys. thanks!