Author's Note: I hope you are all liking the new material :D Here's another chapter!

"Kim, what are you talking about?" Jack said calmly. On the inside, of course Jack just flipped three tables. But he didn't blame himself. How could she? After a year strong, they had gone through so much and she drops a bomb like that on him. Jack was pissed.

He was devastated.

"I jus-" she began. She stopped at the chattering of the other people in the halls. She wiped the excess tears from her face as she looked uncomfortably at her shoes. Kim never was one for public displays, Jack knew that. Jack sighed at her silence knowing she wasn't going to talk.

"Come on," he said holding out his hand to her. He still wouldn't look her in the eye, she noticed. "We'll skip today," he said quietly. She grabbed his hand and he lead down the back halls into the old boiler room in the basement. This became their spot after Jerry landed them into detention a few months back. They would declare they were "skipping today" and spend time together there. Jack never thought he would be down there with Kim, feeling so alone at that point.

They sat on the floor across from each other. Jack looked intently at Kim waiting for her to say something. When she stayed silent, he spoke.

"Kim please say something," he started swallowing the lump in his throat. "Please say that that was some sick pre-anniversary joke."

Kim looked her left as tears welled again before looking back down at her lap. She didn't feel as pretty as she did that morning.

~2 hours earlier~

Kim woke up on that Thursday morning, to see her phone buzzing. She looked tiredly over at her wall clock that read 6:37 am. She groaned and pulled the blankets over her head.

"Ugh, five more minutes world," she muttered. But of course, life just wasn't having it; Kim's phone buzzed again. She groaned getting up.

"Alright Alright, I'm up," she said to it, checking the texts she got that morning. All of her friends seemed really excited about the week's coming events.

Jerry- Mornin mama-K congrats.

Grace- Hey KimmyGirl! Love you and Jack! Congratz ;)

Milton- Congratulations Kimster! Happy anniversary with your Jack.

Kim smiled at the fact that Jack really was hers and he loved her just as much as she loved him. She texted back her thank yous and glanced back at the clock.

6:56 am

Kim gasped, "Oh shoot!" She ran into the bathroom and took a quick shower. When she got out she put on her fuzzy robe and scrunched her hair. After she sprayed her hair, she moved towards her makeup bag. She put on a lite layer focusing more on natural colors than heavy mascara. When she was finished she admired her work in the mirror.

Why do you do that, Kim? You don't need it, at all.

She smiled and blushed at the memory of when Jack had told her that.

-Flashback (within a flashback O.o it's inception!)-

Kim was getting ready while waiting for Jack to come and get her so they could walk to school together. She had pink skinny jeans and a floral shirt on that had ruffles on the bottom. While she was putting on her boots she heard a light knock at the door.

"Come in," she said casually not paying attention.

"Kiiiimm?" Jack said in a sing-song voice. She giggled and stood up walking over to him arms open.

"Mornin' babe," she said wrapping her arms around his neck. He smirked down at her and kissed her lips softly. When he broke the kiss, Kim let out a small sigh.

"Good morning," he replied. "You ready to go?"

Kim separated from him and nodded, "Gimme just a sec." Jack grabbed her hands and held them like they were the most delicate thing on earth and kissed her nose lightly.

"As you wish," he whispered softly in her ear quoting Kim's favorite movie. Kim shivered as the butterflies in her stomach were once again stirred by the warmth of his breath. He smirked knowing what he does to Kim and topped it off by kissing her hands before releasing them.

Kim moved to her white wood vanity in the corner of her room and opened the top drawer retrieving her makeup bag. She poured the contents on her dresser and looked in the mirror putting on a layer of mascara and eye liner. While she was trying to focus though, she noticed Jack was staring at her through her mirror.

Kim threw him a cute grin which he didn't return; in fact he frowned and he had a pained look on his face. She put down her lip gloss and made eye contact through the mirror. "What's wrong?" He shook his head.

"Kim why do you do that?" he asked seriously. Kim frowned confused.

"What?" Jack walked over and gestured to the spread out make up on her dresser.

"This," he said picking up her blush container. "Every morning you put this stuff on." Kim face flushed not knowing how to answer him. She shrugged.

"I don't know," she said. "I-I guess it just makes me feel… I-I don't know!" she shouted snatching her blush back fake pouting. He chuckled and pulled a piece of tissue.

"Kim," he said stroking her delicate skin gently. "I moved around from place to place almost every 3 years. So I've seen my share of girls." Kim scoffed and moved her head away from his grasp after hearing this. Jack gulped and blushed slightly clearing his throat. "Heh. Not that I would of noticed or anything…" he composed himself and chuckled. "Oh stop being jealous Kimmy, you know I only have eyes for you," he reassured her by poking her stomach. She giggled and lightly swatted his hand.

"Where are you going with this?" she asked as he stroked her other cheek.

"Oh right. My point is, is that I've seen so many girls who try their hardest to get attention, and they wear this stuff to do it," he moved to her chin with the soft tissue. "In the end, all I see is a deperate girl looking for a guy to give her a passing glance." He paused and circled the tissue lightly around her face one last time. Jack sat back on his shoes and sighed satisfied. "There's my Kimmy," he whispered softly as he touched her cheek lightly. She blushed fiercely looking deep in his eyes. "Don't be like those girls, Kim. You're beautiful and you don't need any of this to make it show. At all," he added waving his hand over her makeup.

Kim felt her heart pumped so hard she thought it would stop completely. She felt tears form in her eyes and she tried to blink them back but only made them fall. "Oh Jack," she whispered as more fell. She hid her face from him but he already saw them. His smirk immediately fell and an apologetic concerned one replaced it.

"Oh no, Kim! I'm so sorry, I didn't know that it would make you upset. I was just trying… I mean I think you are so great… and the makeup. Oh Kim! I'm sorry please don't cry," he begged panicking. Kim embraced him tightly. Jack didn't see this coming but didn't waste time by wrapping his arms around her waist.

"How did I get so lucky to have an amazing guy like you in my life," she whispered softly in his ear. "Let alone have you as my boyfriend." She kissed his cheek.

He sigh a relief and they made their way to school.

-End of Flashback-

Kim's heart still skipped a beat when she thinks about that day. Jack was the best thing that ever happened to her and she was so happy to be spending their first year anniversary together.

"And I'm still lucky to this very day, if not more," she said out loud winking at her reflection. She left the bathroom and moved to her closet. She picked out a pink and white striped dress that came to her knee; then wore a pink cardigan on top with white flats that had little pink flowers on them. Kim finished off the look with her a white bow in her hair. She twirled around in the mirror a couple times before she was ready to make her exit.

She skipped down the stairs past the family room and into the kitchen expecting to find her mother up and ready for work and her dad already off to work. Instead she found them both home, in their bath ropes and slippers sitting at the table in a deep discussion over nutella toast and coffee.

Okayyyy, Kim thought. Average breakfast… not so average surroundings. Kim usually missed her dad because he went to work so early and her mom saw her off to school but not this morning.

Kim shrugged it off and walked over to the fridge. "Good morning you too," she said taking out the orange juice. They both looked up.

"Oh Kim, you look beautiful honey," her mother said sniffling. Kim didn't notice this as she was grabbing a glass.

"Thank you mama," she said grinning. She looked over at her dad for approval. "What do you think daddy? Good dress to kick off an anniversary in?" she asked.

Just then, her mother and father looked at each other fast and looked even more disturbed than they had. Kim shook it off as nothing, only because she was so excited. "Well?" she asked again.

"Oh, uh, yes babygirl your mother's right. You look incredible." He said nodding. Kim's face lit up and she kissed his cheek.

"Thank you daddy! I hope Jack will love it too," she began.

"Kim there's something we need to tell you-" her mother said only to be interrupted.

"Ugh! Can you believe this will be our 6 month mark?!" she squealed. "Jack goes above and beyond with every anniversary, I just can't wait to see what he will do this time! Last month-"

"Kim it's impor-" her mother attempted again.

"And it was absolutely beautiful! The carnations were amazing and smelled fantastic," she continued to swoon.

"Kimmy we-" her mother said frustrated.

"Just a sec, mom! I have to tell you about-"

"No Kim!" her father shouted. She was shocked for a minute because her father almost never yelled at her. Reading her expression, his face softened as he grabbed her hands gently and sat her down in between them. "Kimmy, there is something important your mother and I need to tell you."

Moments later, Kim had her back turned from her dad. Her mom had retired to her room tears running down her face. Kim held her phone in her hand contemplating whether to text Jack or not. She shook her head and threw her phone on the table, tears welled in her eyes.

How am I going to tell this to Jack?

"Kim please," her father pleaded holding her shoulder. "This isn't even that big of a deal."

Kim ripped away from her dad and yelled at him, "You don't even care about me and Jack; you didn't even fight for this! Just because you don't like Jack doesn't me that I don't care about him. I love him dad! A year may seem juvenile and stupid to you but it means the world to me!"

Her dad sat there and took it because he was afraid of losing his little girl. Truth be told, he didn't like Jack. He thought he was a player and a stupid skater rat looking for another girl to move on to. But it still hurt him to see her like this. He tried reasoning with her but got nothing out of it, and eventually he found himself yelling right back at her.

"Kim, you don't even know how guys like that work! You don't know what those boys think about! They are pathetic creatures at this age and they don't know what real love is. It's a shame that you were so naïve to give this loser your heart so fast. That just tells me how ridiculously desperate you are, you completely are letting your heart overrule your mind. That leads to stupid mistakes Kim! You're not going to be here next year and I can say that I'm glad. Of course I don't like him he's doesn't even care about you! I raised you better than that, you foolish, immature brat!"

That broke her.

Kim's heart shattered; her father's approval meant everything to her and even though he didn't care for Jack she still wanted him to believe in her. Tears sprung to her eyes and before they fell she pushed hard passed her father up the stairs. Before she made it up there she turned and yelled something she would of never dared say to her father… ever.

"I wonder who regrets that more dad! Me or you!" and with that she stomped up to her room.

Now there she was in her room moping on her bed with her arms crossed wondering how the heck will she explain this to Jack today at school. Then it dawned on her. SCHOOL! She looked at her alarm clock on her bedside table.

8:07am

Kim gasped. "Oh god I'm late!" she screamed in her head. And as if on cue there was a knock on the door. Kim's door opened and it revealed her dad still flushed from their argument but had a stern look on his face. His frowned was so deep she thought it would become part of her face.

"Come on Kimberly," she winced at the use of her full name. "I need to get you to school. You're late."

Kim rolled her eyes and picked up her bag from the floor and walked past him to the steps muttering, "And whose fault is that?" It was loud enough to be heard by him but he didn't say anything.

The car ride to school was awkward for the two of them but the silence was fine with Kim. She could be mad in peace. She felt tears welling in her eyes but she bushed them back knowing how her father would react to them. She could tell he was still reeling from their previous argument and apparently he hadn't had enough.

"Kim," he said catching her attention. She of course didn't turn to face him but she was definitely listening. "I know you're upset about going but make today count. I may not care about him but Jack still cares about you strongly or not I don't know but I'm sure he cares enough to do this little anniversary thing after you get back." He said waved her off with a flick of his wrist.

Kim flashed a glare at her dad. It infuriated her how little her dad really cared about her relationship no matter how serious. She folded her arms and ignored him; this didn't fly with her dad though.

"Kim?"

No answer.

"Kimmy?"

No answer but an eye roll. Her father had had enough.

"That's enough Kimberly Ann!" he shouted. By then they were on school ground in the parking lot. As soon as the car stop, Kim hopped out slamming the door behind her. Unfortunately that was the wrong move with her already angered dad. He followed Kim and grabbed her arm forcing her to look at him. "Look here Kim! You may think you're 17 and you know everything but I am still your father and you will treat me with respect!" he shouted.

Kim felt eyes on her but didn't turn to acknowledge her nosy classmates. Instead she ripped her arm from her father's grasp and readjusted her backpack.

"You need to grow-up Kim," her father continued. "You are acting unbelievably immature right now and frankly I don't like it. I've given you a lot of slack but this morning taught me that you don't deserve any form of the upper hand. Fix your attitude and stop thinking about yourself! This trip isn't for you so you need to suck it up and deal with it. You're going to do this for you mom! That little boyfriend of your isn't as important than family. Got that?"

A tear fell from Kim's face without her realizing it and before long she was crying. But her father didn't back down.

"You need to fix it and shape up Kimberly," he said moving back to the car. He opened the door and got in rolling the window down. "I'll see you at home by 5 when I get off work. If you're not there you're in big trouble young lady." He said his fill and drove away.

Kim took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her face. When she felt ready to face the world she turned right into someone knocking the stuff from their hands.

"Trouble with the family, Kimmy?" a voice said picking up their things. Kim looked down to see Carson Hunter picking up stray pencils. He lifted himself off the ground and smirked at her. Kim rolled her eyes.

"Carson I'm not in the mood right now," she said pushing past him. Carson grabbed her arm slightly though.

"Kim, wait! Just wait a second, I'm sorry I was kidding," he said looking into her eyes. "Look Kim I know that I made a lot of mistakes in the past few months but-"

"But nothing Carson," she said gently taking her arm back from him. "You really hurt Rudy and the guys when you cheated at the tournament. Plus you didn't care so much that you joined the Black Dragons! You didn't just make mistakes you ruined everything we had!"

He hesitated. "You thought we had something?" he said quietly. Kim's stomach fluttered a bit.

Stay calm Kim, you have Jack who is ten times better and who would never lie you, she thought quickly. She put on her tough girl act and pushed past him walking inside the school. She walked towards her locker and it wasn't until she felt her arm grabbed again that she realized she was followed.

"Look that's not why I came over here," Carson said pulling her under the steps away from everyone else. "I really need to talk to you about something important."

"Well, what is it? It's been over 7 months since we last spoke and now out of nowhere you think we're besties again? What hole did you crawl out of this morning?" she shouted at him only loud enough for him to hear.

"Kim, I'm sorry! But I want you to know tha-"

"No Carson! I'm done with this," she said shaking her head looking down as tears welled again. Sadly, this didn't help the progress Kim's morning was going. Carson hugged her close and didn't say anything as he rubbed her back. "Kim I'm sorry to come to you like this, I've missed you so much though." Tears escaped from her eyes. She felt tired all of sudden and she didn't have the energy to push him away. He looked down at her and pushed her to arms length. Carson lifted her chin and before Kim could protest, he placed a small kiss on her lips.

Kim pulled back in shock. "Ki-Kim I'm sorr-" he stuttered. She stepped away before walking away from the steps. She stood and opened her locker and got books out while she came to terms of what just happened. It wasn't long before she felt a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and a hard chin on her shoulder.

"Mornin' Gorgeous," he whispered softly in her ear. At that moment crying became her morning.

Jack's anger had subsided when she told about her parents, and the heated fight Kim had with her dad. He never put his hands on his daughter but Kim had a slight bruise from where she was grabbed. He had pulled her close and stroked her skin as she rested under his chin with a hand on his chest.

Kim's grandfather was dying. Every year her family holds a family reunion that keeps the family close and together even though no one likes them but sadly this was grandpa's last family outing. Every vacation was scheduled around next month but, Kim's mom and dad got a call that morning saying grandpa might not make it till then. Which calls for a postponing...

Jack was confused why Kim would of been so upset over it, even though she wasn't close to her mother's side of family. He found out that she was upset that her parents didn't care about their relationship and could care less that they were ruining the plans that Kim had been looking forward to. Jack understood but he was definitely disappointed to not be spending his anniversary without his special lady as well. Right when she was wrapping up when her father drove off, she got quiet then said told him that that was when he walked up. Jack thought there was more to it but didn't say anything.

Kim prayed he wouldn't hate her for missing the most important date of their relationship. While she was telling her story, tears would fall every once in a while and Jack would catch them.

"I'm so sorry Jack," she said when she stopped looking down again. "You know I love you so much and I have been looking forward to this since forever."

He looked up at her and pulled her over into his lap holding her close. Jack sighed and said, "Kim you're my everything and I'm so sorry about your grandfather. I didn't know him but close or not he was still family."

She softly nodded against him sniffling. This made Jack stop and look at her again.

"Now Kim," he said looking at her grinning. "No more crying." He said shaking his head.

"Oh I'm sorry Jack, you just worked so hard-" she said. He put a hand up to stop her though. He broke into a gentle smile. "There will be other times. Enough about me, Kim. This is about you."

Jack couldn't help but think though, Would there really be other times? He decided not to tell her about Washington then.

Kim smiled at him and leaned into kiss him. They left the gap open for a second then Kim couldn't take it anymore. She put her hand gently on the back of his neck and slightly pulled his head towards her. There was a spark there that she always loves. Kissing Jack always made Kim feel better. When they broke apart they rested their foreheads together breathing softly. Until Kim broke the silence with a small chuckle.

"So what are we going to do?" she asked after a few minutes looking up at him.

"Well we can maybe do something when you get back, but aw Kim I'm going to miss you so much." he said hugging close.

"I'll will be back, right here in your arms, in two weeks. I promise."

Jack sighed. This day wasn't going how he planned.

The day passed on while Jack and Kim made a day just to spend with each other. They didn't go to any of their classes and went home early after lunch where she said good bye to all of their friends. Jack didn't miss all the pitiful and sympathetic looks they spied out at him.

He let it go though and took her back to her house. There was no point in staying upset about their date, Jack decided. But it was supposed to be when he told her about Washington, and now he didn't know when he would be able to tell her.

After homework they sat on the couch next to each other under a small blanket watching GI Joe.

"You know Jack, I always thought young snake eyes looked just like you." she said putting popcorn into her mouth thoughtfully. He shook his head as he looked at the young ninja.

"I don't see it," he grinned as he took the popcorn from her hand and put it in his mouth. She huffed and turned away back to the movie. He smirked and poked her sides a bit before holding her hand. They were enjoying themselves a little too much because it seemed like the time really did fly for the young couple.

"Okay, 5 o'clock came way too early," she said depressed. He nodded and handed her her hairbrush. She grabbed and packed her things and packed another shirt in. There was a pause when Kim sat down on her bed next to Jack with her hands in her lap. Her phone buzzed at that moment and notified she got a text.

"Who buzzed?" Jack asked.

She scoffed. "My mom. 'I will be there at 5:30 on the nose. Be ready. Dad's told me what happened.'"

Kim shook her head. "I can't believe I'm leaving," she said clearly disappointed in herself. "The day before our biggest anniversary yet, to top it all off." She looked over at Jack. "I don't understand how you couldn't hate me for this. I hate me for this!"

He chuckled not looking at her. "Kim the date was to mark the day that I finally got the guts to ask to go out with you." He said pulling her to him and added, "Also symbolizing my love for my perfect girl." With that he gently kissed the tip of her nose. "And yes that is LOVE you hear. You no hear no HATE."

In even in the most bitter of moments, Jack Brewer could make Kim Crawford laugh.

Womp like the differences? I do ;)