Words Unspoken

By: pnaixrose

Disclaimer: I don't own Kickin' It or any of its characters.


Chapter 4: Drinking Pt 2

Kim followed Jack into a secluded area of the beach, around the bend of a pile of rocks that deterred other people from entering. They had been silent the entire time and only the sound of the ocean lapping against the beach could be heard after the music from the distance faded. Finally, he led her into a small, shallow cove, partly hidden by a large rock. Luckily, there was still enough moonlight filtering in and Kim watched, fascinated with the place, as he ducked his head under the cove's rock-formed roof and plopped in the cool sand, opening a can of beer with a satisfied sigh.

He watched her as she walked around slightly, looking at the inside of the cove with great interest. As she rotated around, he couldn't help but stare at the slight sliver of her ass that peeked underneath her shorts. He told himself that he was only forced to look because he was sitting down and it was only inevitable to see from his position, but he couldn't deny his sudden desire to squeeze it. Maybe bringing her out here wasn't such a great idea.

She finally sat opposite of him, a smile on her lips. "This is cool," she admitted quietly. She held out her hand, asking for a beer, which he handed over.

"Yeah. Found this when the dojo got moved to the wharf. Haven't told anyone about it but you actually," he said taking a sip.

Kim flushed at the thought of being the first one he brought here, but quickly dismissed the feeling, knowing that he has probably brought plenty of girls here with the same story. After all, she had discovered that he was quite the ladies' man according to those girls in the locker room. Wanting to change the thought in her head and avoid thinking what he could possibly have done in this very spot with all those girls, Kim gestured toward the drink in his hand. "What number is that?"

He shrugged. "My fourth." He pointed to hers. "You?"

"Third." She sighed, thinking aloud more to herself than actually conversing with him. "It's strange how different we all are now, huh? Dating…drinking…" she said. "I've actually never really drank before…" she admitted.

"Don't feel pressured," he replied. "I don't like to really drink either. But I feel obligated to make these parties go by faster for me. I hate these things," he muttered. Socializing with people who only wanted to talk when they were intoxicated seemed fake to him.

"Really?" she snorted somewhat snidely. "You don't look like you do." She thought about how comfortable he looked with those girls at his side by the bonfire.

He rolled his eyes. "Jerry and Taylor love things like this. They're the ones who convinced Milton and me to go to our very first party."

"Sounds familiar," Kim said. "That's exactly why I'm here. Jerry dragged me out here and now his ass isn't anywhere to be found, that jerk." He grinned at her which immediately made her knees feel weak. Good thing she was sitting down already. "Just in general though, I feel like I've missed a lot of my adolescence after just one year of being away, you know?"

He was silent for a few minutes and the awkward, unspoken fact of their break up and her absence in the past year came to both of their minds. Wanting to dismiss the thoughts quickly, Jack continued the conversation. "Well, you haven't missed much. In no time you'll feel just as up to speed about what's going on." He gave a lopsided smile. "Not like Seaford High has anything interesting to offer anyway."

Except you. Oh, boy, she needed another sip.

Honestly, he had no interest in the mundane lives of Seaford teenagers. He wanted to hear more about what she had experienced in the past year in Japan, about what she's learned, and how she's grown…just everything about her. "Tell me more about Otai. I definitely want to hear about the grandmasters and what type of skills the students had."

Now this she could talk about forever.


They were both laughing hysterically by the time Kim finished yet another story, this time about catching her strictest, most feared grandmaster passing gas in the midst of a quiet meditation session.

"That actually reminds me of that time Rudy cut a big one in a middle of his training session," Jack said, wiping a tear from his eye.

Kim nodded, feeling warm and in the best spirits she's been in for some time. "Phew, yeah. We never ordered out from that taco place ever again."

Their laughter fading slightly, Jack watched as she tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear. The way her eyes had lit up when she had been describing everything she had learned and all the people she met told him just how much the entire experience meant to her. He was the teensiest jealous. Not because he wished he could have gone instead, but because he missed out on so many important moments in her life. It was ironic how she had been saying she had been left behind when he'd give anything to have experienced those things in Japan with her just to watch her grow into the fine woman she is now. It was no wonder that Rudy thought she was ready to become sensei already.

"Like I said the other night," Jack said sincerely. "I'm really proud of you. You've worked really hard."

This brought her back to that night at the dojo, when he had finally acknowledged her skills out loud. She felt her cheeks burn as the feeling of pride filled her. She used to always feign a confident, sometimes arrogant personality, but in reality she had been very self-conscious of the fact that people looked down on her because of her gender and her looks. No one seemed to take a petite, blonde martial artist seriously. Even Jack somewhat treated her as like a sidekick back then, albeit he did have skills that were incomparable to hers. "Thanks."

Talking like this allowed the memories of their pasts to come crashing down on Jack like a tsunami. They had been inseparable, two peas in a pod, even before they started being a couple. Having her next to him now reminded him of how everything seemed so simple just being by her and everyone else's sides back then. Why did they have to grow up? When was the last time he had spoken to Milton, Jerry, and Rudy like this? When was the last time they had laughed so hard together that they got stitches in their sides? When was the last time he had spoken to Jerry at all?

"I've missed y–" he realized what he was saying and was able to catch it at the last second. "—this. I've missed this."

Jack had just blurted that without thinking. He blamed the alcohol. He definitely was feeling it in his system and could tell because of that sensation, all his defenses had come down. Or maybe that was just because of Kim? He didn't know. He hadn't felt this vulnerable, this willing to talk about anything and everything, in a long time. But he regretted saying anything at all as soon as he had opened his mouth because he noticed her immediately tense up.

A few seconds passed before she took a deep breath and released. It was just an innocent statement. He wasn't saying that he missed her specifically. He was just saying how he missed how it used to be back then. A small, honest smile appeared on her lips. "I do too," she said quietly. And she really meant it. It just felt so right to be sitting here with him in some cove on the beach talking about random things and laughing about their friends.

Wanting to avoid more awkward confessions and silence, Kim made to sip on her beer but found that it was empty. Fumbling, she went to grab another from the remaining six-pack that was sitting next to Jack. He seemed to notice her off-balance and quickly retracted the beer out of her reach.

"Whoa there, I think that's enough for tonight, Kim," he said, knowing that he had hit his limit as well.

Her eyebrows stitched together like he remembered it did whenever she was told something she didn't like. Expectedly, she reached again and failed. "Jack, come on. I'm fine I swear," she slurred stubbornly.

"Kim, no." The next time she went to reach for one, she extended her lithe body over him and his hand immediately went to her small waist in an attempt to steady her while he pushed the beer even further away. As he did so, he accidentally placed his hand on her bare skin that her crop top had exposed and immediately felt her cool skin underneath his fingers. Meanwhile, she had stumbled and fell on top of him as he lay flat on his back.

"K-Kim, are you okay?" His voice was just above a whisper. He had been trying to control the immediate want for her body as it lay tantalizingly on top of his. After just one random, innocent incident of her falling on top of him whilst she was almost naked, his body already wanted to claim her for itself and was unconsciously capitalizing on the current situation. He grunted as she unknowingly grazed his cock through his shorts with her leg when she moved. He remembered how smooth her skin had felt against it when she had laid on top of her the other night.

Her entire body felt off balance as she struggled to lift her body off of his. She knew her cheeks were burning with embarrassment. For the second time in three days, she had fallen on top of his firm, built body. At least they were clothed this time. Although the memory of skin against skin didn't help to dissuade the desire to do unmentionable things to him. Why did she always end up on top of him anyway?

She heard a deep chuckle from his throat. "I-I don't know," he stammered. Oh no, had she actually said that out loud? "I…I don't mind it though..." Oh god, why was he talking like this?!

She stared down at him, a few wisps of hair falling onto his face. He seemed to have regretted that last comment. Kim convinced herself yet again that it was innocent. Besides, he had someone else who was probably on top of him all the time.

"Taylor," she suddenly blurted. At the name, she peeled herself off of him and both of them immediately sat up, drenched with guilt. Jack's rejection of having an innocent meal with Kim for hanging out with his girlfriend came rushing back to their fuzzy minds at full speed. She looked at him painfully. "You and Taylor…"

"We're on a break." He didn't know why he volunteered that information so quickly and so willingly and in a way that sounded like an excuse. He hadn't told anyone yet, not even Milton. And he definitely wasn't planning on telling Kim, at least not in this way. But there was surprise on her face and something that he swore looked like happiness.

The comments she overheard in the locker room of how perfect and cute Jack and Taylor were together filled her mind and they were making it hard for her to comprehend what he was saying at the moment. "You're…what?"

"Taylor and I…are on a break," he said quietly.

That explained why she wasn't here at the party. "Why?"

Jack swallowed, knowing that the alcohol was making him more talkative and more willing to share than usual. "It's uh…it's because we…" he struggled with his words not only because he was hesitant but also because it was hard to him to find them at the moment. "I…I can't seem to get…intimate with her." He saw her widen her eyes for a slight moment before returning to look stoic. He inwardly groaned. How enticing he must look as a man, not being able to have sex with his own girlfriend. Out of all people, he didn't want Kim to know that he couldn't do the deed. But at the same time, he was glad to reveal to her that he wasn't having sex with anyone. It was a strange conflict he was having at the moment that he didn't really know how to describe.

"Have you ever…with anyone at all?" She knew that this was sudden and personal and altogether too inappropriate. But she was exceedingly curious and the alcohol was inhibiting her reserves.

"Uh…" he scratched the back of his head sheepishly as he looked at the sand in embarrassment. He avoided her eyes. "No, I haven't."

Kim on the other hand was secretly elated to hear that he hadn't ravaged Taylor with his body or anyone else for that matter, unlike what those girls had implied. There was something satisfying to know that he hadn't gone farther than he had gone with her with anyone else.

"You look surprised."

Kim heard the slight shame in his tone of voice that he didn't hide well. "It's just that girls at school were saying you're dynamite in bed." She clamped her mouth shut at this.

"W-What? People are saying that?" he said incredulously. "And you believed that?" It strangely boosted his ego to know that she had listened to that bit of gossip even though it was complete baloney.

She promptly ignored him and cleared her throat. "I'm sorry about you and Taylor," she said, changing the topic, although she didn't mean it all too much. She shamefully admitted to herself that she was slightly happy at this flaw in their relationship.

"Oh, it's okay," he said nonchalantly. He honestly hadn't thought too deeply into his and Taylor's relationship yet. "I guess I'm just supposed to figure out what to do now…" He was implying more about what he was going to do about these conflicting feelings concerning the two blonds, one of whom was sitting right in front of him only a few inches away. The memory of her weight on top of his body came flooding back. He swallowed, trying to control his hormones. It was decidedly dangerous for Kim to be so close to him while he was not only drunk, but also on a break with his current girlfriend.

But unknowingly, Kim assumed he was talking about how he was going to fix things between him and Taylor. She shrugged, suddenly feeling uncomfortable in this situation. She knew she wasn't the right one he should be coming to for advice on the matter. "You…You're probably just nervous since it's your first time," she said.

"That's what I said," he mumbled. "But what other way can I get over these first time jitters?"

Kim was getting exasperated with the topic of the conversation now. She really didn't want to be talking to him about how he can start having sex with his girlfriend with whom he was currently on a break. "I dunno. Go find someone to do it with to break the ice?" sarcasm was dripping from the tone of her voice.

There was a silence and she caught his eyes. Her absentminded suggestion had set a wheel turning in his brain, a wheel that told him that the exact someone to break the ice with might be sitting right in front of him. He shook the shadow of an idea from his head. He was a sick, sick man for just having the thought of sleeping with her for this reason. He also knew that it was all an excuse just to finally touch her again.

Little did he know, she started to think the same thing. It made sense in her intoxicated, sexually heightened state of being. Taylor and Jack were on a break. He needed her help with this. And she was all too willing to help…as a friend of course. His smoldering eyes staring back at her didn't help. Neither did the knowledge of how firm or capable his body was underneath hers. She had fell on top of him twice in the past three days. That had to be a sign right?

"I can help you," she blurted. He looked clearly taken aback. Where had she gotten all this confidence from? Where had all her reserves and morals run off to? But knowing that his body was just inches away and the hunger she had for it fueled her nonetheless. "I'll help you…get over the first time jitters." She was red as she bit her bottom lip, a habit she hadn't let go of since she was a kid.

A jolt went along the length of his entire body. And oh god…she still did that lip thing? Did she know she was killing him right now with her suggestion and her seductive lip biting? She wasn't serious right? She couldn't be. "Y-You? Wait, you're saying that…you'll…" She did nothing but just slightly nod, an apparent blush on her cheeks. He had to take a deep breath at this, trying to calm his already excited body. Another thought came to mind. "That means you've…done it before?" He hadn't even thought of Kim having more experience than him and the realization somehow caused the green monster of jealousy to rise in his chest. Was it someone in Japan? Hell, was she doing someone right now? Was she even seeing someone right now? He had no idea of what her relationship status was and not knowing drove him crazy.

Of course she hadn't had sex before. She hadn't even drank a beer before tonight! And Otai had a strict policy about dating and relationships among the students. Plus, none of the boys ever interested her and the only thing she was focused on in the past year was getting stronger as a martial artist. She avoided the question, knowing that it could jeopardize her from touching his body in the way she wanted to. "I-I'll teach you," she said simply.

Jack sharply inhaled. His cock was already starting to throb at the potential of having her come anywhere close to it. The idea alone had gotten him hard. "K-Kim…" he said, his voice croaking.

They sat in total silence for several minutes, gauging each other. Kim realized how farfetched her suggestion was. She knew that it was immoral and wrong and so unlike her. But this was Jack. And this would be the only chance she would have to caress him the way she wanted to and to kiss him the way she wanted to. It would all be under the façade of friendship and altruism, she knew. She knew that it would probably be a one night thing that would never be mentioned again. She knew it could jeopardize the fledgling of a friendship they just started to recreate. And she knew that it would torture her to know that was only with him for only one night when she wanted so much more than that.

But this was Jack. And it all made sense right now. And she was drunk. And she wasn't thinking about consequences. And she was drunk.

And this was Jack.

...This was Jack.

What felt like forever passed by and his silence and blank expression made her realize that she had made a horrid mistake. She was scrambling for some excuse for her suggestion. Should she pretend it was a joke? She should just get up and run away for dear life?

And then all too suddenly with a sound that was between a sigh and a growl emanating from his chest, Jack had sprung towards her, capturing her lips.

He couldn't hold himself back anymore. She had suggested it, had given him permission. All the blood had rushed from his head to his penis and on top of that, the drinks were starting to tell him that it was a good idea, that it made total sense. And just the way she looked tonight with the moon reflecting off of her blonde hair and light brown eyes gave him all the motivation he needed. And it made total sense, he kept telling himself.

And goddamn was he glad that he did take the leap. Because the way her soft lips felt against his brought him back to the last time he was truly happy and reminded him of how damn amazing it felt to have her kissing him back. This kiss wasn't like all the others they shared all those months ago though. As their tongues danced, Jack knew that this was hot and heated and deep and driven by alcohol, hormones, and emotions that he had tried to place in the deepest corners of his heart.

His fingers were tangling in her hair as he explored her mouth without reservations. Kim let out a sigh as he gently pushed her to lay on her back on the cold sand. His other fingers were thumbing at her jawline and then they were caressing her neck and then dragging along her stomach. Everywhere he touched, he laid a trail of fire and she yearned for more, yearned for him in places no one else had touched before. Their breaths were heavy and stank of alcohol which they promptly ignored. Her teeth scraped along his lower lip and he groaned aloud, the sound intoxicating her even more than the beer. Needing air, she pulled away from the kisses that had become rough and forceful in order to focus on his neck. She lightly lapped at his Adam's apple, remembering how it had mesmerized her the other day. Another growl vibrated through his chest and she clutched onto the front of his shirt for the life of her. She started focusing on the crook of his neck, noticing that her nips made his body jolt ever so slightly.

Kim was a little minx. She surely knew what she was doing alright. But he quickly suppressed the thoughts of how she got to be so skilled at knowing how to make men swoon. And in retribution, he roughly pulled at the long sleeve shirt that had already fallen halfway down her arms. He needed to feel more of her, all of her. He ran his hands from her palms, to her elbows, to her shoulders, memorizing every swell of her toned muscles. His hands had become greedy. They started to flit over her collar bones to her chest where they grasped onto her breasts feverishly. This earned a satisfying yelp from her throat and he felt her slight fingers slide up from underneath his shirt. They were exploring his chest, playing with his nipples, and learning his abdominal muscles all at such a slow, tantalizing speed. And when it seemed that she finally ready to visualize all she had been feeling, she started to lift his shirt off of him. "Off," she demanded. He did as the lady said.

With her impatient help, he slid out of his shirt and continued to nibble at her collar bone, sighing all the while. Kim finally got a good look at his torso, at the muscles of his abdomen, and the wide pectoralis muscles that years of training had blessed him with.

"It's nothing you haven't seen before…or felt before," he whispered noticing her stares, referring to the time she had fallen on top of him in the locker room.

Yes, but this was different. She had seen him topless at the beach and at the dojo. She had indeed fallen on top of his naked chest that one night. But this…this was...just different. She was finally running her fingers across his smooth skin and the ridges of his muscles in a way she had been naughtily imagining since she caught sight of how grown he had become. She became aware of how terribly petite she was compared to him, how his body towered and covered hers completely. Suddenly she sucked a breath as she felt his fingers finally find their way underneath her top, teasing her by running along the rim of her bra. Without much hesitation, he peeled the first fabric off of her and his lips found their place in her cleavage kissing the area hungrily as his fingers impatiently fumbled with the clasp of her bra.

He finally got the darned thing unclasped. Breathing heavily he leaned back as he peeled the lace off of her, revealing what they were hiding underneath. He watched her squirm uncomfortably under his intense gaze as his eyes raped the sight of her naked breasts. His greedy hands continued their exploration as they cupped them, clutched onto them. He thumbed and flicked at both of her already erect nipples at the same time and she moaned, arching her back.

"Jack…"

The way she drawled his name from her throat was enticing. He wanted to hear it again. His lips began lapping at her nipple, while he grasped onto the opposite breast with his calloused hand.

"Jack!" He felt her pelvis buck into his and he grunted, his member begging for attention. But all his concentration was being devoted onto her perky, perfectly shaped breasts right now, the breasts which he'd been imagining since he returned to the dojo those few weeks ago.

Kim felt her groin starting to throb for him, unconsciously grinding into his pelvis, unaware what it was doing to him. She lifted her leg and wrapped it around his waist so that she could get closer. Her body was undulating against his in a way that she didn't know she could even move. All she could think about was how his rough tongue was licking her and when he would finally move on to other body parts that needed addressing.

And then he must have heard her somehow because slowly his lips were trailing down from her breasts to her navel to the rim of her jean shorts. He undid the clasp and zipper and slipped in a hand to realize that her panties were already soaked. He lightly rubbed her clitoris through her underwear and she moaned aloud, closing her eyes. After a few seconds, he roughly moved her underwear and shorts down her legs, almost ripping them, to touch her fully. It was so wet and warm and so close to where his throbbing cock had been yearning for that he couldn't help but slip a finger in her, all the while still rubbing the spot which seemed to make her flinch and recoil while moaning such seductive sounds from her lips.

The transient thought that he had been lying to her all this time about not being intimate with a girl crossed Kim's mind. There was no way that he knew how to pleasure her this much without having experience in how to do so. But the thought quickly passed as he slipped another finger into her. Her mind went blank as he moved faster, and she felt the pleasure rising in her pelvic region, threatening to explode. And then he did something else that was unexpected. Suddenly it wasn't his thumb that was rubbing her clitoris, but his tongue, lapping her up like his life depended on it. "Oh god, Jack!" He started moving ever faster. Her fingers were clutching onto the sand, desperately needing him to finish her off. She opened her eyes weakly to see that he was staring back at her, all the while continuing his ministrations. There was a dark look in his eyes, one that exuded that he took pleasure in watching her writhe underneath him. Dear god, he was going to throw her over the edge…! "Jack!"

And finally she exploded with a long, loud moan. Her lower abdomen and her legs were in spasms as the rush of pleasure overtook her. Jack kept licking her eagerly, seeing that each lick would tense her already spasming legs. Oh god. He loved eating her out so much. Everything from her taste, to how wet she had gotten, to the sounds of her moans, to the look of pure ecstasy on her face. He finally retracted his fingers from her wet vagina, licking her juices one last time. The thought of her warm, tight pussy wrapped around his cock instead of his fingers came to mind when Kim suddenly and roughly pushed him to his back, knocking the wind out of his lungs. A look of redemption on her face, she leaned over him, fully nude now as she worked on the button and zipper of his cargo shorts. He was too focused on the sight in front of him, from the swell of her dangling breasts, to how her long hair tickled his skin as it fell on him, to the silkiness of her creamy skin that when her small hand finally encircled his cock, he drew in a sharp breath in surprise. "O-Ooh!" She milked the entire length of it slowly and in a drawn out fashion and he fell into the most pathetic, sniveling excuse of a man underneath her, wanting more, begging for more. Soon she had covered his entire penis with his own juices and her hand was moving in a rhythm that was building up speed. It wouldn't be long before he fell into an orgasm of his own if she kept this up. He suddenly stopped her sly little hands, holding himself in, greedily and hungrily wanting something else to milk him dry. She would've been covered with come within seconds if he hadn't stopped her.

Kim didn't let Jack's actions deter her from her final goal though. If he didn't want to orgasm with a hand job, she'd make him orgasm via other means. She positioned herself above him, her pelvis parallel to his. She grinded down on him, moving her wet opening along his length.

"O-Oh shit, Kim…!" He was so close. So close to the entrance. So wet. So ready.

Her face was parallel with his as she continued to grind their pelvises together. Being face-to-face finally must have made them realize the extent of their actions and how close they were from completing the deed because both of them had a flash of hesitation in their eyes. All they could hear was panting and the little, alcohol driven voices in their heads to tell them to go ahead and fuck him/her already.

And suddenly Jack's cell phone rang, the sound startling both of them.

Kim stilled at the sound, her entrance resting on his pulsating member as she stared into his eyes. The ringing didn't stop. Maybe it was a sign that this was where things would end…should end. Kim suddenly peeled her body off of him and he immediately felt cold with the absence of it. "Y-You should get that."

Shaking and disgruntled after being denied despite being so close to the end, he did as she said and reached for the phone in his shorts pocket, which had been strewn aside. "W-What, Milton?!" he spat into it as he answered. He couldn't be more irritated with his friend than at this moment. He felt Kim's eyes on his naked body as he continued to listen to his friend frantically asking him to come back to the main beach on the other line.

Kim was able to hear some of the conversation. Apparently Jerry had arrived an hour ago already super drunk and belligerent, and was getting into fights with random guys. Milton needed Jack's help to get Jerry into the car and then he'd bring them all home. 'Have you seen Kim? She left some time ago and I haven't seen her since.'

At this, Jack caught her eyes. "I…I'll find her." He hung up.

His lie reminded them both of what they were doing, what they were risking. They sat in silence for a few seconds, the alcohol still buzzing in their systems and still coaxing them to continue their previous task. Their bodies were wet and naked and ready, but grew cold at the realization of their drunken actions.

"W-We should go get Jerry," Kim said, suddenly feeling self-conscious as she grabbed her clothes.

"Yeah."


The car was silent as Milton drove the last passenger in his car, Jack, towards his home. They had somehow restrained a drunk, irate Jerry who had been spouting nonsense about how he was "the stupidest guy in the world" when Jack and Kim had arrived, and threw him in the back seat. Kim had slid in next to a sprawled Jerry, ready with a plastic bag (more for her than for him since she still felt immensely drunk and very nauseous), while Jack had fallen into the front passenger seat next to Milton. They had been completely silent in the car after they somehow dropped a wasted Jerry off into his house. And when Kim had left, she hadn't said a word as she wobbled to her front door. She had avoided Jack's eyes the entire time.

Milton stopped the car in front of Jack's house who uttered a quick, groggy thanks to his friend before turning to leave.

"Wait, Jack."

He turned tiredly and dizzily to him. "Huh?"

Milton looked at him with serious, shaming eyes. "I saw you and Kim come from beyond the beach together. And you haven't been speaking all night," he said. "Did something happen between you two?"

Jack was able to maintain his cool, despite how much he wanted to vomit. "No," he lied simply.

"Good. Because Taylor told me you guys went on a break and I was afraid that you might've done something with Kim-"

"Look, Milton," he said tiredly. "Please spare me your accusations." He didn't have to address that they were indeed correct right now.

"I just don't want you to lose another friend over a girl," he replied pointedly, which quickly shut Jack up. "You already lost your friendship with Jerry because of Taylor. What will happen between you and Kim if you decide to act on your feelings?"

"My feelings?"

"Cut it, Jack," Milton said with a sigh. "I know you still like Kim. Or want her. Or I don't know, something along those lines." He made a reproachful face. "But she's moved on and you definitely moved on, too. In fact, you moved on to a girl whom Jerry dated too and look at how your friendship with him turned out."

His head was scrambling, begging to get away from this conversation. "Look, I don't want to talk about this!" His nausea was getting ahold of him.

"And that's your problem, Jack!" Milton insisted. "You're so willing to give us words on encouragement, to be the hero, to tell us that we'll always be together! But when it comes to times when we actually have to sit down and talk about something that makes you uncomfortable, something that forces you to open up, you never do!"

The words hit Jack like a slap to the face and he was silenced. It was better not to say anything anyway. He was scared that if he did open his mouth, the drinks he consumed would come up the wrong way.

Milton's face softened as he sighed, knowing that Jack might not even remember this conversation in the morning anyway. "Look, just please don't do anything with Kim. I hate that Jerry stopped talking to you already. I would hate to have to sit through even more tension at the lunch table."

At that, he unlocked the door and Jack left, stumbling towards his front door and hoping his parents wouldn't wake up with his retching into the toilet bowl.