The next morning Jack met Kate on the block and he was at first embarrassed and repulsed by his self. After dinner he practically wanted to have a breakdown. He couldn't believe he had seen her, and then had watched her. Who do you think you are? He had asked himself. You are a creep, a big freaking creep who looks in windows of girls you've only just met. A peeping tom. He answered himself. But as he walked with her now he realized that it was purely an accident. She's beautiful, what man wouldn't stare? He'd forgive himself this time and he was sure he wouldn't make a habit of staring through her bedroom window.

"Are you alright? You aren't still mad are you?" Kate asked, raising her eyebrows at him in concern.

Jack shook his head as they walked. "No, no, I'm fine. I'm sorry about how I reacted by the way." He added looking down at her.

She smiled at him. "Don't worry about it Jack. I thought about it and I realized how awful that probably was. Us girls, just sitting there giggling at you, the new guy. It wasn't very nice at all." She looked extremely displeased with herself as they reached the bus stop. "You had better sit with us today." She warned playfully.

"I had better, huh?" Jack grinned raising his eyebrows.

"Ya-huh." Kate laughed. "Or else." Her eyes narrowed.

"Or else what?" He asked.

"Or..." But then the bus pulled around the corner, stopping at them. "you don't want to find out." She warned again. Jack laughed and nodded, following her as she boarded the bus. Kate sat down next to Sun again, and Jack sat in front of them once more. Jack saw Sun giving Kate a funny look and Kate giving her a confused look back and he acted like he hadn't seen it. Did Sun have an issue with him or something? The rest of the bus ride Sun and Kate tried to convince Jack to try out for football and by the end of the bus ride he was partially convinced.

The bus pulled in front of the school and the three walked in. Jack bid goodbye to Kate and Sun went to his locker.

*

Kate looked over her shoulder and stole one more lustful look at Jack before she turned around the corner. "Can we say, ow, ow, ow!?" Kate asked Sun laughing. Sun didn't laugh or even respond. "What's wrong?" Kate asked.

"He's different." Sun pointed out.

Kate frowned. "No, no he's not." She saw Sun's doubtful, critical look. "What? He hasn't changed. How has he changed?" She asked. Sun only rolled her eyes and pulled Kate around the corner and looked at him. Kate studied Jack who was bending over in his locker. "He seems the same to me."

Sun pulled Kate back around the corner. "The clothing, Kate. He's wearing different clothing." Sun explained.

"What? So is everyone else."

"No. Yesterday he was wearing a gap sweater today he is wearing Abercrombie and Fitch. Yesterday he had on Old Navy jeans and today he has Guess." Sun said as if this were obvious. Kate frowned. "Don't tell me he shops at both places, Kate. Because odds are, those duds from yesterday were his lame attempt to fit in. And now he sees who the 'popular kids' are, and has gone back to his Los Angeles roots."

"What?" Kate asked sceptically. "He doesn't know the meaning of popular, at least not here."

"Exactly, Kate! He doesn't know yet! I suggest that you tell him! I don't want to be friends with people like that!" Sun snapped and took off down the hall leaving Kate.

"I've only known him two days!" Kate called to her. "I don't even..." Kate trailed off as she knew Sun could not hear her any longer.

*

After school Kate and Jack stood outside the school locker rooms, almost in the stadium as they watched the football team warm up. Jack stood bouncing on the balls of his feet, wearing black sweat pants and a grey sweatshirt the school loaned him. During lunch they had finally convinced him to try out.

"So..." Kate trailed off. "You were dressed differently today." She pointed out. Jack glanced at her and then away.

"Huh? Oh well, yeah, I guess. Why?"

"Well...you looked good." She crossed her arms over her chest. "You have a good taste in clothing." She added, smiling at him shyly. Jack looked at her and grinned, his attention finally taken away from the players. "And um..." she started before he could interrupt with a cocky or even sweet response. "you seem to have a lot of money." She said bluntly and Jack frowned immediately. "Some kids here," she bit her lip "they don't have too much money." She explained quietly. She looked down on the ground not sure if Jack was watching her still. "There are some kids...who have a ton of money though. They are...well to be honest they are almost like a cult, Jack. They have tons of money and dress really well, like you. They only hang out with kids who dress like them actually." She glanced up and saw that Jack looked extremely offended.

"You think I'm going to hang out with a bunch of cult kids?" He asked, clearly trying to sound calmer then he is.

"I'm only looking out for you, Jack! Some new kids get involved with them! It's scary...I thought you might appreciate the concern. I thought you should know, friend to friend." She explained quickly. Jack's face soften and Kate felt relieve flow over her.

"Well...I do appreciate it, thank you, Kate." He said smiling. They smiled at each other, Kate enjoying the tender moment.

"Shephard!" The coach yelled. "Are you trying out or what?" Jack looked over at him and waved and then turned back to Kate.

"Well, I better be-" He started but then Kate threw her arms around him for a hug.

"Good luck, Jack!" She pulled away and Jack stood stunned for a moment and then grinned and jogged towards the field.