Broken Down And Built Back Up

Chapter Six: Jack's Teddy Bear

Notes:

(1)Sorry, my mistake, here's the chapter that should have been updated.

(2)There is a lot of kick and fluff in this chapter—you have been warned!

Last on Broken Down And Built Back Up:

I hugged it tightly to my chest and rubbed my belly. I arched my back and let my baby bump grow bigger and bigger as I held my breath in.

"Oh, hon," I said, talking to my stomach, "Why is it that you two little guys had to make such trouble for me? I know that it's not you babies' fault for being made, but I wish you wouldn't have been conceived until I was older. I'll love you no matter what, but I can't help but doubt that what will be best for you is not what I'll probably do and I'm sorry for that. I'm really really sorry, little babies."

My tears started rushing out faster and I began to sob.

I clutched the picture frame to me and cried for everything that was going on in my life and everything that would.

XxX

JACK

As I got into my house, I dropped my backpack, closed the door and ran up the stairs to my room.

I was supposed to meet the guys at the dojo in a little while, but I just had to get my duffel bag and check on Kim. This morning, she looked even better than the day before and, hopefully, with time, she would become the same old Kim. When I say 'even better than the day before,' I mean that she had looked calm and not troubled. She looked as if she'd finally found her heaven.

I knocked on the door softly, turning the knob carefully as to not to scare Kim and peeked in.

As I got closer to Kim, I noticed that there were tears that were recent still on her cheeks. Her arm was draped around a picture portrait and her free hand was on top of her exposed bump.

I watched her for a minute, amazed. How could she have kept her pregnancy hidden for so long? I felt a slight pang of guilt struck me. I was her best friend, wasn't I supposed to see this things—this differences—in Kim as soon as she got them? For goodness' sake, I was probably around her more than her own family. I fact, I was part of her family.

I brushed Kim's soft hair out of her eyes as I whispered, "Wake up, Kim."

I shook her a bit before her eyes opened and met my own.

I smiled softly as she clutched the picture frame tighter to her chest.

When she saw it was me, she let out the breath she had been holding and sat up.

Kim blinked a couple of times before she sat up and scratched her eyelids.

She looked down at the frame in her hand. She put it down in her lap and gasped. I sat down next to her and surveyed the damage. It had cracked.

Kim turned to me with worried eyes and said, "Jack, I'm so sorry. I didn't meant to break it, I just-"

I put my hand up in a 'stop' sign before she kept on rambling.

"It's alright," I said. "Really, don't worry about it."

"But it's of the day that you got that letter that said that we you could go to china for that championship," her voice was soft and sad.

I took the picture frame from her carefully as to not to let any glass drop on her hand and cut her palm.

I turned it around and placed it in my lap, opening it and taking the picture out.

I put the cracked picture frame in the floor beneath the bed and opened the night stand drawer, taking out another picture frame that was similar to the same that had been broken.

I put the picture in it and looked at the picture itself.

I glanced up to see that Kim had been watching me.

"See?" I said as I held the picture frame up to her face. "As good as new."

I laid back on my pillows and yawned, suddenly really tired.

"Why were you sleeping with this?" I asked Kim, showing her the picture frame. "And why were you crying?"

"Well…" she began saying, but then got off the bed, picking up something from the floor. A notebook. She opened her guitar case and dropped it, returning to my bed.

"Come here," I said, opening up my arms and putting the picture frame where it belong.

"Why?"

"Because," I said, yawning, "I suddenly miss my childhood teddy bear and you're the closest thing to Mr. Red Nose that I can find."

Kim laughed lightly.

"I'm serious, Kim." I yawned yet again. "Come here, ya blonde," I said in a mock demanding tone.

"Hey! First, I'm a teddy bear substitute and now I'm a 'blonde.'"

"Come here and I'll explain how things are to you," I said, my eyes were half-opened by now and my arms were still opened.

"Oh, yeah? What makes you think that I want that?"

I kept my eyes on her as I got up and tackled her in a bear hug, falling backwards into my old position with as much tenderness as I could (I didn't want to squish her; while she may be strong, I'm stronger than her).

I closed my eyes, hugging my sweet-smelling best friend to me.

"Weren't you going to 'explain' something to me?" Kim asked me.

"Yes," I said, trying to remember what I was going to say to her. "Oh, yeah. What I was going to say was that you're not my 'teddy bear substitute.' I'm giving you a once in a life time opportunity to be my secret teddy bear."

I peeked at her and saw that Kim had slight small smile on her face despite the fact that her eyes held sadness. I frowned and opened my eyes fully.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

She let out a sad sight before replying.

"Nothing. It's just that as long as I'm a momma bear, I won't be able to have anything like we-" she stopped herself before continuing. "How do I put this? As long as I'm pregnant and later on, have… babies, I won't ever be able to have the kind of chance at love as if this hadn't happen. I don't think there ever will be someone that would to date the girl, who's already fourteen— well, fifteen by then, that has already two babies. Most teenage boys are too immature and judgmental to go out with someone who would be labeled 'slut,' save you and the guys. I know you guys will always be there for me when I need you, but I still can't help but worry you know? I get it that it must look bad for me, but still, they won't know anything about me, yet I'll guarantee you they will think badly of me. I don't know what to do or feel or think."

Kim buried her face in my shoulder, probably embarrassed or ashamed.

"Why would you think that, Kim?" I asked in a quiet, husky voice. My arms around her tighten.

"Because it's the truth, Jack," she said, her voice muffled.

"Well, Kim, that really isn't true and you know what? If people judge you, it's their lost 'cuz they don't know how wonderful you are, especially guys. You're a wonderful person and you're just going through something none of them know enough to judge you on. You'll figure this out. I promise. And if guys our age don't like you for the fact that you're going to be a mother, then you know that they didn't really like you for you. Maybe they might have liked you for your looks, but you wouldn't know because they were too much of a coward to take a risk and find out. Maybe being pregnant might have just saved you from being heartbroken again and again, of going through more Rickys and Brodys."

"I get what you're saying, but what if I was supposed to, like, find my first love a few months-''

I chuckled.

Kim looked at me as if I was crazy.

"What if-" I began saying and tucked Kim's head under my chin, "there was someone who I knew would like you and have a crush on you no matter if you were skinny or fat or ill or healthy? Someone who liked you no matter what."

I felt Kim's lips twitch into a smile on my skin as she was close to my exposed neck.

Aw, crap, Jack! I shouted at myself and purposely bit my tongue, though it drew no pain. Now she's going to ask who this person is and I can't tell her—

"Are you serious, Jack? Do you really mean it? Do I know him?"

I hesitated before saying, "You might know him. I mean, he knows you and I know him, but the real question is do you know him?"

"Who is it?" she asked eagerly.

"No one I'm going to rattle out," I said. I wanted to add to the end of the sentence 'princess,' but I decided against it. It was so weird how I suddenly wanted to start calling Kim all this little pet names.

I came back to reality as Kim begged and said names of possible guys. She would never guess.

"Hey, how about you tell me why you were crying and then I'll decide on maybe giving you a clue on the guy or something?" I said, interrupting me.

"Promise?"

"Umhmm. Now, why was my favorite girl best friend crying?" I pulled her back and looked at her eyes. "Did you go back to your house, Kim? Please tell me that your crappy lack of a man brother didn't touch you. Please tell me that he didn't dare to even lay a finger on you, 'cuz if he did, I swear-"

"I didn't go home, Jack. I was thinking about my family. My parents would be so disgusted by me if they found out. I might end up homeless or having to move out of Seaford with my grandmother, and what about them?" She jerked her chin to bloated stomach. "If I ended up on the streets or something, I couldn't even dream of having money for my kiddos and myself, much less keep them." After a period of silence, she asked me, "Am I seriously your favorite? Or are you just saying that to make me feel better or because I'm your only best friend who's a girl."

"Are you kidding?" I said, glad for the change of topic. "You would still be my favorite even if I had a million female best friends."

I winked at her. After a second of silence, we both erupted into laughter.

I put my hand over her stomach absentmindedly and waited a second before little legs started to kick my hand as they had the night before.

Kim put her hand over my own.

"You know," I said, "I'm starting to think that your babies really like me. When I go near your stomach, they always start kicking."

Kim smiled at me. It was a real, amazing smile.

I lowered my eyes.

"He thinks you're beautiful," I said, looking at anything but her. My cheeks were getting red. "The guy who I was talking about earlier."

It was the truth. There were two Jacks: the one that I was around my friends and family and the one that was there when I was with her. My beautiful best friend.

XxX

Aww isn't that fluffy and lovey-dovey and about a million other things? Personally, it's way too cheesy for me to like it too much, but please leave a review that tells me what you think.

Also, if you spot any errors, please tell me.

K.P.: Hey! May I ask what your first name is? And you know what's funny? I was looking through my reviews and when I stopped at yours I was like 'hey, we have almost the same initials.' My initials are 'K.R.' My name's Karla. I'm 14 and my birthday is just a month after yours (lol). I went to a museum where they showed how amazing Africa's culture and traditions is; I was blown away! Africa's culture and traditions are so beautiful and the continent is so big! I hope you are doing well. I don't usually say this, but you sound like such a sweetheart! Thank you for reviewing and when you make an account, you let me know, okay?

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XOXO,

emeralgreenlove.