A/N: Gah, I didn't mean to let this go by seven months without an update . . Second, while major parts of this fic are indeed Kiva centered, not all of it, I just haven't reached that point yet. Also, I know it's kinda OC, but I've seen people who I thought I know change very quickly like I've depicted. Finally, I will explain (later) just how Kiva was able to get a job, etc, even though she didn't have any papers.

Chapter 2:

Goodbye, Jamie

They predicted a light rain. It started out as a light rain ... then it grew. Thunder and lighting were shaking the foundations of every building in Jersey City, and Coop's house was no exception. Everything would have been find and dandy expect for two things: First, Kiva was a remarkably light sleeper, most likely to years of half-expecting the Glorft to bust down the door. Second, she had a slight and inexplicable fear of thunder and lighting in general.

"Urgh ..."

BANG!

Kiva jumped slightly, hating herself that she would flinch over something as trivial as charged electricity. Although she didn't know the source of this fear, it was the only real thing she hadn't gotten over about in this time period. Most of her life was on resistance outposts scattered throughout the former Earth Alliance, so her exposure to the elements was limited, thus her inexplicable fear of thunder and lighting was never a problem ... until she came here. At first, she'd just stay up all night or day waiting it out, and somehow manage to avoid going out in that storm, usually because Jamie won't normally travel in bad weather, and Coop hated training without Jamie. Her thoughts again began to drift in the time between lighting strikes.

'Two years is a long time ...'

That thought started her mind to retrieve memories over the last two years. When Kiva first arrived here, she usually would sit in the back seat, and watch Jamie and Coop enjoy something. They were inseperible. It didn't bother her that much, she was used it, and never was that close with anyone in her own time. Then Gina entered the picture, and Jamie took her for a ride in Coop's car.

'I thought after the Glorft tried to steal the car, then meeting Coop, that she would take off running. Oh boy, was I wrong ...'

Gina actually got over the entire Glorft-car incident and her and Jamie began to seriously date. With time, Jamie began to change and the two inseparable friends began to drift. At first, it really wasn't that noticeable, but Jamie stopped hanging around as often, and his attitude and persona began to change. Soon, it was rare for Jamie and Coop to be seen together, although Coop acted like it was just a phase Jamie was going though. At first, Kiva wasn't sure what was going on, being very inexperienced with the whole relationship thing anyway, but even she began to notice Jamie's disappearance, and Coop slowly loosing his once best friend.

'I sure wasn't complaining, I could sit in the front, and not have to put up with most of Jamie's whining. I mean, he wasn't completely useless, but it was much more peaceful without him around, and I could keep a better eye on Coop ...'

For a time, this seemed to be the new order of things. Coop regularly saw Jamie during the holidays and for events like car shows or monster truck pulls and it seemed that Coop and Jamie would actually remain best friends, but he kept spending more time with Gina, and more distant with Coop. Despite this, there friendship still appeared to be holding, if just a little stranded. Then one dark September night ...

'I wasn't sure what was going on, I was hearing shouting from the house. When I looked out the window, I could see lights on from the kitchen, and Jamie fuming off. Coop could be heard shouting after him'

"If that's how you feel, then don't come back!".

I watched Jamie walk down to the curb, and simply walk away. Coop quite literary fell apart after this. He barely ate, stopped playing video games, didn't tinker with Megas, and fell into a state of depression.'

'Things went from bad to worse. Jamie's yard soon was sporting a For Sale sign, and Coop was quickly falling into darkness. I took up the burden of keeping everything together, and despite my best attempts, I couldn't even get him out of it. Goat came by to try and help Coop, and he confined in me that he's never seen Coop like this in the 20 years he's known him. I was more worried at the time that if he didn't train, the Glorft would destroy Earth while Coop just watched TV. I thought we had reached rock bottom, but it seems that fate was planning a cruel trick ...'

'Ms. Coopaski untimely death compounded the situation. Coop's depression worsened, and our only remaining source of income was served. Coop began to drink and sometimes I wondered just what was going through his head. At Ms. Coopaski's funeral, Coop hadn't shown up to give the eulogy, so I took the podium and gave it instead. Goat gave me a lift back to the house. On the way, we talked about Coop, and the future. He had become much more manageable after giving up trying to date me. He told me that part of the reason Coop fell into this state of depression has to do with his father and how Jamie and Coop first met. While he didn't give specifics, it sounded like there was history between Mr. Coopaski, who I never met and Coop, and somehow Goat and Jamie were related to this.'

'When we got in, Goat wanted to talk with Coop briefly. However, he never got the chance. When we walked into the kitchen, we found him, barely breathing, covered in beer bottles, and collapsed on the floor. On closer examination, I discovered his hands and feet were turning blue from lack of oxygen. Goat instantly recognized this as alcohol poisoning, and franticly called 911, leaving me to make sure he didn't stop breathing, and be ready to administrate CPR if he did. The ambulance arrived within 5 minutes, and I went with the paramedics while Goat following in his car.'

A/N: I wanted this chapter to be longer, but I also just want to get the next part up.