"You scared Kimmy?" The mean boy stuck his tongue out at me. I didn't like Frank. He was big, fat, and disgusting. Mom and Dad said I needed friends, but I didn't want Frank to be my friend. I wanted to stay away from Frank. "Come on, Kimmy. Fight me!" he yelled. I shook my head and crossed my arms. No fighting. Frank and his friends crowded around me and pulled my hair. Hard.
I screamed for help. "STOP!" I thrashed around.
"Jack..." I could barely breathe. He'd changed so much since I last saw him. The corner of Jack's lip curled up into a smirk.
"Hello Kimberly," he greeted professionally, but I could sense a hint of mischief. "How long has it been?"
"Almost eight years..."
"Why Kimmy? I thought you wanted to play," Frank hissed and one of his friends elbowed me in the stomach. A painful groan escaped from my lips. I felt the tears coming from my eyes as I fell to the ground. Frank was enjoying this.
Jack stepped closer to me. I didn't move. I couldn't move. He reached forward and gracefully slid a lock of my hair along his fingers. "You grew it out," he whispered. "It suits you." I blushed deeply. This was the first time I was seeing him in seven years, and he was playing with my hair.
I cried out for help again, but my voice was weaker. "Stop..." I begged, but the kicking and hitting continued.
"Hey!" I heard. The boys looked up and quickly scattered. They were scared. The boy with the voice knelt down beside me. He wasn't one of them. "Are you ok?" He asked frantically.
"How are you, Kimberly?" He asked quietly with his eyes glued to mine. My breathing quickened.
"I'm... I'm fine, Jack..." I managed to get out. "I should go. There's work that needs to be done." I pushed past him and ran out of the room.
He helped me up and checked my cuts and bruises. "How much does it hurt?" He questioned as he presses his finger onto one of the bruises. I cried out in agony and the tears came rolling in. My savior held me into a tight embrace. "Hey..." he soothed. "It's ok... What's your name?"
I managed to get to my room and shut myself in there. Jack?! Jack was Mr. Berkley?!
"Kim..." I said in between sobs.
"Can I call you Kimmy?" the boy asked. I shook my head. Only close friends and family could call me that.
"I'm Jack," the boy introduced.
"Kim?" I heard the door opened and Mika popped her head into the room. "Are you ok?" I managed to stabilize my breathing and nod.
"Just tired," I answered meekly and slowly stood up. Mika led me out to the dining room where we set up for dinner. Mr. Berkley would be dining alone tonight. "What do you know about Mr. Berkley?" I abruptly asked Mika. She set the fork down and looked up at me.
"Why the curiosity?" she retaliated with a smile.
"If I'm going to be working for him, I want to know his story."
"You know my story very well, Miss Crawford," A voice answered behind me. I turned to see Jack leaning in the doorway. He had changed out of his work clothes, but still had kept the white linen shirt. He wore a pair of dark blue jeans. Jack sat himself down at the head of the table and looked at Mika impatiently. He was waiting for his food. Mika got the message and scurried out of the room. I followed closely behind before I heard "Why don't you join me, Kimberley."
I turned once again to Jack. He had already pulled out a chair for me. I knew I couldn't defy him because he was my new boss, so I sat next to him. "Trying to avoid me, Kimmy?" He teased and threw me his charming smile. The smile that I fell for thirteen years earlier... I said nothing and sat up straight. I was not supposed to be sitting there with him. Jack sensed my uneasiness, for he leaned forward with his beautiful brown eyes filled with seriousness. "Kimberly?" It was amazing how his mood could change instantly.
Jack took me to his house, and he bandaged my cuts and iced my bruises. He was nice. I decided that I liked Jack. He was also very gentle; he was careful not to hurt me. I looked around curiously at the kitchen we were sitting in. "Why are they scared of you?" I blurted out before I could think. Jack looked into my eyes and his eyes sparkled with mischief as his face split into a huge smile.
Before I could say anything, Uncle Rudy came in. "Kim. Shouldn't you be with Mika?" he asked. I thought I was off the hook. Well, that was until I nodded and stood up. Jack grabbed my arm before I was able to take a step.
"It's fine Rudy. I asked Miss Crawford to join me for dinner. If you don't mind. We just have so much to catch up on," he persuaded. Rudy, who obviously couldn't do anything, just nodded and scurried out of the room. I was left with the boy who left me as a child.
Jack stood up and leaned back agains the counter. "I'm the only one who can kick their asses," he simply answered. My mouth dropped at the sound of asses. I had never heard anyone my age swear. Jack laughed. I liked his laugh. It was light, but not too light. If that made sense.
I looked down at my folded hands wishing time would go faster. My eyes wandered anywhere but his. "Kimberly," he said again. This man disappeared from my life leaving me in ruins. He was my best friend. Then he was gone. I once decided that I liked Jack, but now I didn't want to see him at all.