Chasing Emptiness

~Old Friends and Uprising Press~

No Pov

Kim's heart raced even more when she exited her car. The press was all over her. She didn't understand. Yes, last night was a mistake in blowing up on Donna but hey, she's got to stay out of Kim's business. Yes, she was training at the dojo at late hours last night but there's no problem in that. Don't people know what late night work-outs are? Besides, they already bugged her yesterday. So, why were they attacking her this morning?

With a flick on her shades, she brought them down over her eyes so the constant flashes of the curses cameras wouldn't blind her. The stressed actress pushed through the crazy press. Thankfully, they weren't going at it as bad as they did last night. Kim's eyes scanned the people in front of her and she recognized some of the photographers.

'Wow,' she thought, 'Stalker-ish much?'

With a groan, Kim just kept on and tried to get through the sea of paparazzi to escape to the meeting. She ignored their questions not wanting to answer them, nor did she care. But in the back of her mind she had a feeling that she should have listened. She just didn't know why. Finally in the distance, she saw a black suited what seemed to be body guard emerge from the building. He lifted his hand to her and Kim smiled knowing he came to save her. The blond then pushed through the press even nearly throwing them away from her. She knew she'd hear back from the media about this incident. With a roll of her eyes she then walked very quickly across the heated, newly made parking lot and to the man. He looked like a spy and she smirked at the mere though. His shades were so dark she couldn't see his eyes and he wore a white button down long sleeve shirt under his black suite with a black tie.

"Miss Crawford," he muttered with a grin gesturing her to the door. Kim grinned back and nodded her head as in saying thank you. The guard then opened the door for her and followed her in. All the hallways were wide enough for four people to walk side by side comfortably. Kim was used to these buildings because she's been in various other movies and tv shows as well. Her guard for the day then walked next to her.

"Kimberly Crawford, but call me Kim or I'll never hear the end of the attack I made on you through the media." Kim greeted herself with her hand outstretched. With a chuckle the man then took her hand and shook it.

"Roy Adams Miss." he responded. She nodded with a smile. He then guided her to the room that the rest of the cast and director would be practicing. On the third floor room number 429, she walked in and she saw the familiar director.

"Just text the number 4 if you need anything else." Kim turned back towards the door and saw Roy giving me his card. Taking she nodded.

"Thanks Roy." he nodded and walked down the hall.

"Hello Kim!" she turned around with a gasp in hearing the familiar voice. The brunette young lady stood up and met Kim. She threw her arms around Kim as Kim hugged back.

"I haven't seen you since you moved the first time!" Kim exclaimed. She nodded.

"Well I never did expect you to come here. I thought you would have made a dojo with Ja-" Kim cleared her throat loudly as to keep her friend from finishing her sentence. Eyes widened, she stared at Kim. Kim then gave her the, "we'll talk about it later" look. The girl then nodded with a smirk. Kim smiled and just rolled her eyes.

"Okay, we'll do role call now." The director grabbed the many actors' and actress' attentions. Going in the order of the last name of their character and real names, the director started calling everyone.

"Kim Crawford as Angelica Iown*." Kim smiled and her friend gasped as she realized Kim got the lead female role. Kim walked to the director and he handed her the script.

"And Grace Anderson as Amy Mason." Grace grinned widely knowing that Amy was Angelica's best friend in the movie. Kim's eyes glowed as well.

So after seven years, Kim and Grace finally met. The two were like young children during the character picking. Now, here comes the reading...

:...:...:...:...:

Jack's eyes were still widened with shock after he heard the front door shut by Kim. He tried to snap out of it but realized that it would be better for him to make sure his stomach was settled. A smirk then pulled at his lips and he shook his head trying to bring it back to earth. A feeling landed in the pit of his stomach making him wonder if he would actually be able to go the whole day without feeling as if his knees were taken from his body. How on earth did she just make him get this way? She's driving him crazy that's for sure but he couldn't help but just hope it was for the better.

He shouldn't have kissed her last night like that. He thought that it wouldn't feel like it did but it actually did. He wondered if she felt the same way or if she was one hundred percent sure that she felt something. Anything. He sure did. But, it just didn't seem right. They have been best friends since junior high, it was a little awkward if he thought about it but never wrong.

Jack just tuned his thoughts out and started the day. He looked down to the ground and saw his shirt and Kim's sleep clothes. He just grabbed all of them and dumped them in the hamper. Walking back into the room from the closet, he slipped a shirt on and just left the bedroom with his phone. After closing the door, he just walked down the long corridor to the elevator where he traveled to the first floor of the house.

He realized that the TV was still on and just ignored it walking into the kitchen. After he opened the fridge, he heard scratching and grinned. Looking through the glass door, he saw the dog. His name was dog. Just to put it plainly. He was a big dog but not too big where he'd flatten Kim to a pancake as she once was back in Scotland, as Jack would say. He is a Boxer. With light brown fur with white around his eyes, nose, and feet as if he had on socks, he was a very playful dog. He was only four weeks old whenever Kim and Jack got him and they have had him for two years.

Jack opened the door and dog came running into the house and through the kitchen. Jack followed him and he instantly saw dog sitting in front of the fridge, paw up doing his trick "shake". Jack just chuckled and walked up to the fridge.

"Okay, since Kimmy's not here, lets see what we can feed you." Dog barked and his short tail started to wig. Jack smirked. He saw a box of strawberries and grabbed them. He washed them and then tossed one at Dog. Dog is a very weird dog, he never catches food out of the air. So, the strawberry smacks him in the nose then plops on the floor. Dog licked it all up and turned back to Jack. Now, you're probably like, he's a weird dog because he doesn't catch food in the air? Well, what type of dog eats strawberries?! Dog does. He loves fruit.

After eating a few strawberries himself, Jack tossed Dog another one and slid the box back into the fridge. His phone then vibrated. He picked it up off of the island and saw that it was from Jansen.

To: Jack

From: Jansen

Where are you? Get over here. Now.

Sent: May 23, 2020 11:23am

Delivered: May 23, 2020 11:23am

Jack huffed and wondered why Jansen was so freaked out about when Jack's arrival would be.

To: Jansen

From: Jack

What's the rush man?

Sent: May 23, 2020 11:24am

Delivered: May 23, 2020 11:24am

To: Jack

From: Jansen

The rush is Bobby he just got here!

Sent: May 23, 2020 11:25am

Delivered: May 23, 2020 11:25am

Jack nearly spit the milk he was drinking out. He forgot that the student evaluations were today.

Jack immediately threw his cup in the sink and sprinted upstairs. He threw on black jeans and a random t-shirt and grabbed his karate duffel bag and gear and bolts out of the front door grabbing the keys to his Viper and left the house. He turned around and saw Dog sitting in front of him. He groaned.

"No. In." he told the dog opening the door. Dog's head drooped as he walked into the house super slowly. Jack closed the door, locked it and raced to his car.

The Viper growled as he turned it on and the touch screen rose. Jack pushed his shades on over his eyes and backed out of the driveway, speeding off.

Jack walked through the doors of the East Campus Bobby Wasabi Dojo and Jansen saw him. Thankfully, no one else did. Jansen was in his gi and was sitting in the lobby. Without making any noise, he sent Jack a glare and pushed him to the right where he would enter the locker rooms the back way without Bobby seeing anything.

Jack quickly changed into his gi and raced out leaving his bag and stuff in there.

"Where's the girlfriend?" Jansen whispered folding his arms staring Jack down. Jack's eyes widened.

"Um what are you talking about?" Jack asked hopefully hiding the lies. How did he know that he and Kim became an item? It happened late last night!

"Ugh c'mon Jackson, it's all over the media!" Jack's eyes widened in shock. Jansen groaned and grabbed the remote to the TV. He turned it on turning it to the lowest volume. It was on the wall in the lobby so none of the students or instructors could see it except Jack and Jansen.

We come to you with yet more breaking news in your celebrity summer. Kimberly Crawford is still at it with Donna Tobin. Last night they were fighting yet again at the West Campus Bobby Wasabi Dojo. At ten pm!

Jack looked at Jansen quizzically.

"Don't worry! That's old news." Jansen fast forwarded it and what looked to be just an hour later, the breaking news lady came back up.

So, just a few minutes ago Kim and Donna were going at it, now she's picking on someone else if you know what I mean. Her personal guard and best friend since High School Jack Brewer were out on what looked to be a date just five minutes ago and here's them *A Picture Pops Up On The Screen* Just shortly after.

Jack's eyes widened as he gawked at the screen. There in front of him on international TV was him and Kim in the Shelby GT 500 kissing.

"It's all over the media man, everyone knows." Jansen told him. Jack just turned to him and slapped him lightly. Jansen chuckled.

"Get that smirk off of you're face before I rip it off." Jack threatened him. Still grinning, Jansen held up his hands in defense.

Paranoid about what Kim will think, Jack was distracted throughout the whole evaluation. Thankfully, everyone of their students passed and Bobby didn't even realize Jack, the owner, was even an hour late.

Jack was driving down the street right on the coast of the beach, towards the mall that was only five minutes away from where Kim's reading was. Jansen was behind Jack in his Red Convertible.

Then, Jack saw right as he parked, flashes.

"Great." he muttered to himself. He opened the door as hard as he could, not caring if he had hurt any of the swarming paparazzi. He saw Jansen running up.

"Jansen! Less Go!" he shouted over the photographers with a weird accent. Jansen smirked again and ran to follow Jack to the mall.

Jack needed to find Kim. She had to be here since the paparazzi was already all over him. But then again, they were probably waiting for the both of them to get here. How did they even know Jack and Kim were going to be at the mall? Stalkers...

Jack then pressed on and entered the outside mall's court. He then saw another swarm of the press. He focused and caught a glimpse of beach blond hair. His eyes lit up and he ran to Kim. Once he caught up to her, the press made a way form him to get to the blond. Whenever she turned around and met eyes with Jack, she looked mad. Immediately, her hand impacted his face.

"Oooo." Jansen cringed and mumbled. Great, with a rioting press, ticked Kim, a Jansen, and a media mess, Jack and his newly found girlfriend were already in the center of Hollywood's attention. Jack was now stuck. He didn't know how this would ravel out, nor did he even want to know.

**Pronounce: Ee-Own

R&R

~Lee:]