Kim

Jerry's dead. Jerry is dead. No matter how many time I said it in my mind it just didn't sound right. Jack needed some time to himself to think so I let him be. Jerry is in the same spot he was when we brought him here. I didn't feel right moving him and I don't think Jack would appreciate it. I did take the arrow out and buried it. Don't ask why I just did. It's been nighttime and I decided to get some wood to start a fire. I gather up some wood and place it in a pile near Jerry, close but not to close. I then start rubbing two sticks together quickly when I hear a loud bang. Like two rock slamming into each other. Jack. I just continue to rub while rocks crash and bump. The valley shakes a few times, scarring me. Then I hear a scream, I shoot up at the sound. Fear crawls up my spine like a spider on a spider web. I drop the pieces of wood and run in to the noise. I finally get to the source, Jack sitting on the ground holding his foot, clearly in pain. I stalk closer to him unsure if wanted me near him.

''You okay, Jack...''

No answer.

''I heard all the banging...I thought you gonna bring down the mountain down or something...''

''I wouldn't do that while you were in the valley...'' he said in a low, timid tone.

''W-what am I?'' he asked, not looking up at me.

I walk over to him and sit in front of him.

''You are amazing, nice, heroic, funny, protective, an Earthshaker, Jerry's best friend, and your Jack...my friend...my only real friend...''

After I finish I look down in embarrassment.

''I didn't know you saw me that way,'' he said finally looking up at me.

''All my friends were either gold diggers or stuck up...I made a promise to my mom to never be that way.''

He then did the thing I think he never do, he smiled. It was small but significant.

I stand and dust me off, ''come on let's have a look at your foot.'' I say offering my hand.

He takes it, getting a grip, hopping to his feet. I pulls on my hand a little too hard making me stumble forward into him as he stood. I hit his chest but luckily he had his balance. I notice that he is still holding my hand. I look up into his eyes and him into mine.

''W-what did you mean about earlier when you said try?'' he asked, holding on to my waist for balance.

I thought for a moment, ''to forgive...and forget...'' I said surly and slowly.

Jack

''To forgive...and forget...'' Kim said surly and slowly.

How? How could I do that? He killed Jerry in cold blood. I looked away, Kim shifted to my side. We quietly hop to the stream, I glance at Kim a few times. She is such a great girl and I'm a mess. I don't think I can ever forgive Carson though, Jerry was my best friend...my only friend. Now he was lying against a tree rotting. Why me? Kim stopped signaling we are at the stream. She helped me sit down in front of the stream and sat down beside me. I put my foot in the water, the cool water rushes all over my wound like a bunny snatching food.

''Close your eyes...''

I snap my head at Kim, speaking suddenly. I didn't understand.

''Huh?''

''Just close your eyes...'' she said, clearly getting annoyed.

I shut my eyes, ''why do I have to close my eyes, Kim.''

She was silent. That's when it happened. I felt the water around my foot change, its like starts pressure my wound. I tense up at the slight pain, a hand slides on mine. I relax at the warm touch of Kim hand, my cheeks burn. I hope Kim doesn't notice.

''Aww you're blushing,'' Kim says.

''Am not,'' I argue.

''Yes you are!'' she says.

I open my eye to she the water around my foot glowing with Kim's hand hovering over it. I jump at the sight of it but Kim squeezes my hand, reassuringly.

''Calm down Jack it's almost over...''

I continued to stare at the water wide-eyed until she moved her hand, stopping the water in the process. I stared at my foot then at her then at my foot.

''How what huh,'' I say making a confused face.

''Don't ask,'' she says while standing, ''there is still a lot of things you don't know about me, Jackson.''

I stand, ''okay...I gotta ask something.''

''Yeah,'' she replies.

''Can you like you know, it's about Jerry...could you-''

''Bury him?''

''N-not in the ground...by the tree...'' I say quietly.

She then pulls me into a tight hug, after a few moments she let's go and leaves me walking to the tree. I walk toward the front of the valley facing the empire. I take a deep breath and shake my shoulders. I'm coming for you, Carson.

Kim

I move Jerry on his back beside the tree and adjust him with his arms by his side. I fix his clothes and make sure his wound is clean, I then go on to place flowers all around him. I know it's a little girly but no one here's object. Speaking of no one where is Jack? I stand after I finish to have a moment of silence. Afterwards, I walk away to find Jack and convince him not to do something stupid. And that's when I see it. On the side of the mountain...like someone carved something in it. I didn't quite know what it said so I had to squint. So I run toward the other mountain side and then I stop to see if I could see it. I finally could read it and it made me cry.

It says...

Hey Kim, if you were wondering what all that noise was it was this. So I planned the smashing foot thing so I could leave. I knew you wouldn't let me leave 'cause you act like Jerry's mom. I just wanted to let you know that I care about you and I can't stand it if got hurt. I gonna make sure you stay safe. And don't let anyone tell you that aren't beautiful. 'Cause you're the best thing since air. Blondy you gonna brighten the world every time you smile. I love you...

JACK

It was so simple but so complicated. What's complicated HE LOVES YOU!! I took a breath and stared at it in disbelief. That's when I realized I love him too. I gotta do something about this and fast.

Review and enjoy. Oh and by the way the name of the sneak peek new story is 'The Guardians'.