chapter 4
"Hey Jack, does Chloe like ninjas?" Kim asked the next day at the dojo.
"Um, I dunno. I don't care either." He continued sparring Eddie. "Wait...did you say ninjas?" Kim nodded. "Oh Chloe hates ninjas. With a deep loathing, I don't know why and nor do I care. Why?"
"Because she kicked me out of her house in under half an hour." Jack started laughing.
"That's...a new...low...even for...you Kim!" He said between laughs. Kim smacked his arm.
"It's not funny!" She exclaimed.
"Actually it kinda is," Eddie said while Rudy came out of his office.
"Jack what's wrong? Did you watch that ninja turtle video again? I told you not to watch it!"
"He didn't watch the video Rudy. He just thinks it's funny that I was kicked out of a sleepover in under 30 minutes. Which it is so NOT funny!" Kim cried loudly. Jack slowly composed himself, but took one glance at Kim's face and burst out laughing again.
"You're such a jerk," She said, and walked into the locker room to change back into her street clothes.
Inside the locker room, however, a surprise was waiting for her. A note.
Dear Kim,
I did not appreciate what you pulled last night. It offended both me, my family, and my heritage. You're petty ninja joke was not funny. Plus I TOLD you to wear pink, not blue.
And I told you who I like, so you better back off. I know you like him too. He's mine. For now, forever, and always. So quit the dojo, it's that simple.
And if you don't, you will have never wished you were born. Don't mess with me Kimberly.
Love,
You already know who 3
The handwriting was big and bubbly, with little hearts dotting the i's. Kim just stared at the note. Chloe wasn't serious, right? She was trying to make Kim quit karate!? And it said she liked Jack. And she said the movie suggestion was an offensive joke. Kim chuckled a little bit.
Two could play at this game.

"Hey guys," Kim said as cheerfully as she could, reentering the main part of the dojo.
"Kim, why do you have a fake smile on your face that is really covering something that you're thinking about but don't want us to know?" Milton asked. Did they really know her that well?
Kim dropped the smile. "Chloe wants me to quit karate...or at least quit taking it here." Four shocked faces. "Well, I'm not going to. I'm just thinking. Chloe said that if I didn't, I'd wish I'd never been born." Four relieved faces. 3 of them then turned to confusion.
"So this hot chick really has a dark side?" Jerry asked out of the blue. Kim and Jack nodded.
"She's not capable of a whole lot," Jack said slowly, "But she is a pretty good fighter. Probably better than Jerry, but worse than Kim. No offense Jerry. She also ... I don't know what she is capable of. I'm pretty sure she could probably get away with murder. Not that she would ever murder you, Kim, it's just a figure of speech."
"Jack, why are you getting all worked up about this? I don't care; I'm not worried."
"YOU'RE LYING!" Eddie screamed. Damn she thought they do know me really well.
"Okay so I'm a teeny worried. But I can take her. And if not, you guys are helping me."
-fast forward time to 3 days later at the dojo-
"Kim, oh Kim...KIM!" Jack screamed in Kim's face. She had zoned out. Again. "Kim, what's wrong, we're not stupid. We know something's up. Is it Lex? Is she on your nerves?" Kim shook her head. Lex was their codename for Chloe, so they could talk without worry.
"No, nothing's wrong. I'm serious."
"Okay, Kim. Play the hard way. How about this: We spar. I win, you tell us what's wrong. You win, we won't pester you on the subject again." Jack said. He had already won 15 times in a row against her. What made this time any different?
Kim stood up to fight. Jack stood opposite her. Kim fought her best ever, but Jack - as always - won. But not by much. It was more of the fact that Kim's vision was blurred by angry tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.
"Now tell us," Jack said. Kim looked from the door, to Jack, to Rudy, to Milton, to Jerry, to Eddie, and back to the door. She attempted to make a run for it. Jack caught on fast though, and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides so she couldn't escape.
"Seriously, Kim. We wanna know what's wrong. We need to help you."
"I DON'T WANT YOUR PITY!" She screamed with a hoarse voice as tears started streaming down her cheeks.
Feeling embarrased, she turned around and lay her head in Jack's shoulder so the rest of the gang wouldn't see her cry. Jack rubbed soothing circles on her middle back.
Right as the dojo door opened.
Chloe dropped the falafel balls she was holding at the sight of Kim in Jack's arms. "I CANNAWT BELIEVE YOU!" She screeched, making Kim and the rest of the gang jump. "I LEAVE FOR ONE SECOND, JACK, AND YOU CHEAT ON ME!"
"For one. We're not dating so there's no way I can even cheat on you. Second of all, me and Kim aren't dating." Jack said coldly, all his calmness thrown right out the window. Chloe narrowed her eyes, and Jack narrowed his eyes right back at her.
"Wait wait wait!" Jerry exclaimed, "I'm confused."
"Of course you are," Milton said, "I'll explain later." Jerry nodded and made a gesture for the others to continue.
"Hold on: I thought Kim quit the dojo." Chloe said. Kim turned around. Her face was red and her eyes were puffy. Tear tracks stained her cheeks and her blond hair clung to her tears.
"I'm not scared of you." Kim said, her voice wavering and cracking with every syllable.
Chloe took a step forwards. Kim stared her down, not breaking eye contact. "It's on," Chloe whispered.
"Wait," Kim said, her voice getting steadier and steadier, "Why are we fighting? What do I get?"
"If I win, you leave the dojo and never talk to these guys ever again. If you win, I'll leave Seaford and I won't bother Jack." Chloe took a deep breath. She was confident she was going to win, so much that she bet on what she had followed for the better part of 7 years: Jack.
"Okay, now it's officially on."