Chapter 10 – Signs of Affection

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"Ron!" Josh waved frantically to the corn-flower haired boy crossing the street. Ron turned around suddenly looking for the source of the call. Josh smiled and ran across the road before the light changed. Ron tried his best to smile back at Josh. But this guy made his entire body quake. This was the boy who was trying to take his beloved KP away from him.

"Hey," He grinned and grasped onto a few sketch pads, "I have a question for you..."

"What?" Ron asked dully.

"Erm, I was going to visit Kim at the hospital today. Would it be okay if I took the letters you collected down from Ms. Oaji's class?"

Ron sighed. He had really wanted to spend today reading the letters to Kim. How couldJosh try to take that away from him?

"I don't think..."

"Ron, can I tell you something?"

Ron groaned at his rudeness but nodded.

"I really --- really like your friend Kim, a LOT. I want to tell her that today but I'm not sure how she'll react."

Ron rolled his eyes, 'Her eyes will light up and she'll squeal and dream of Happily Ever After.'

"Which is why," Josh continued, "I'd like to bring her these letters and ask you to take this day off for yourself." Josh Mankey was bold. He was trying to soften Kim up by reading to her the letters of her classmates. The letters that RON had collected. But still, Ron hadn't even mustered up the courage to tell Kim of how he felt. It was certainly braveof Josh to be taking the chance. But Ron already knew how much Kim adored him. Ron thrust a packet onto Josh's load and said, "There, Go." Before Josh got the opportunity to thank Ron he had run off ahead.

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Meanwhile…

"Please pay attention Kimberly," The tutor instructed her, "You have much to learn and little time left in your session." Kim defensively shouted, "I AM LISTENING!"

Kim's mother had rushed to find a tutor to teach Kim how to read Braille.

"Read this letter Kim," The instructor placed her finger on the page.

Kim pondered the symbol for a moment and guessed, "D?"

"Yes, that's exactly right Kim. Good work. I'll be back tomorrow and I want you to have learned letters E through J by then. Okay?"

Kim nodded her head very slowly as she held a few textbooks. Braille was coming easy to her and her instructor seemed pleased. She would pick it up in no time. As soon as the instructor had left a nurse entered the room.

"Kim would you like to see a guest now? He's been waiting around for about half an hour now."

Kim smiled and thought about Ron. Ron had promised to stop by everyday. He really was sweet. "Yes, please send him in."

"Hey Kim."

Kim gasped and clenched the covers of her bed. That wasn't Ron. That was JOSH.

"Josh!" She felt her checks getting hot as Josh sat down at the edge of her bed. She probably looked like a train wreck right now.

"I have some stuff to read to you."

"Stuff?"

"Letters from your classmates."

"OH!" Kim smiled and bounced excitedly in bed. That was such a thoughtful thing of Josh to have done. "Want me to read 'em to you?" Josh asked sweetly. Kim nodded. Her crush cleared his throat and read the first one.

"Kim,

Oh my gosh! I'm soooo totally sorry about what happened! That Shego is one tough cookie! You make sure you totally whip her ass when you get better! Please come back to school soon.

Love, Monique"

Kim felt tears coming to her eyes. Josh went to the next letter.

"Kim,

You are an absolute delight to have as a student and nothing can explain my deepest sympathy towards your accident. Please, take good care of yourself. I love you like I would my owndaughter. Come back to school soon. We all miss you.

Get well soon,

-Ms. Oaji"

Kim was surprised. She always thought Ms. Oaji hated her. Kim felt like screaming when she said, 'I love you like I would my own daughter.' Words like that made Kim forget about being blind. As long as people that loved her were here, she would be fine.

Josh scowled as he saw the next letter. This one was from Bonnie.

"Do you want me to read this one? It's from Bonnie." Josh shuttered, even her name was like poison. He couldn't believe this morning when he saw his good friend Brick had been seduced by the first class bitch. He was angry at Bonnie for what she had done to Kim. "It's fine." Kim said prepared for the worst.

"Kim,

I just don't know what to say. This was the biggest shock that I ever encountered. Despite all the times I scowled at you or did dirty things. I really really do care. I can't believe Shego, she's so heartless and cold. Just leaving you there blind, close to dying, all alone. I want to apologize for everything, the pool party and the taunts and the rumors. I can't believe the things I've done and I regret everything. I wish that I could take it back but I know I can't. If I were in Maine right now, I'd seriously give you the biggest hug if I was with you now. There's no doubt you would push me away. I mean -- - think of all that's happened! But even so, I feel a tugging reason. Kim if you'd forgive me, or even just forget, all the things that have happened I might just be able to sleep again. Anyway, even though you may not care don't forget I do. Work as hard as you can and I can't wait to see you back again in school. Take care.

-Bonnie Rockwaller"

Kim spat, "What in the hell?" Bonnie couldn't have written that, could she? Josh was as surprised as Kim. But surely enough, it WAS her signature. It was officially Bonnie's letter.

"Do you think she..."

"I don't know Josh, I really don't." Josh placed the letter down on the bed and decided it was time to make his move. He took Kim's hand and his heart began to beat faster.

"Josh..." Kim began, Josh hushed her and placed his finger to her lips.

"I want to tell you that I'm in love with you Kim. I don't care if your blind and I don't care about what happened at the party. I love you, and I want to know... will you go out with me?"

All the noise seemed to stop as Josh pended for her response. Kim was taken aback by this confession. And to conclude she felt the same. Could this be real? Or was this just a token of his sympathy? Kim shook her head. She had to know.

"This seems awful strange doesn't it Josh? I'm flattered you know, I'm sure if I weren't blind I'd see myself blushing. I'm sure you knowthat I like you... a lot and I now know you like me too. But even so, you say you love me, but how do I know your being true? You could be lying. I mean, god laughs at lovers who deceive each other. How do I know it's not a trap? But if you do love me, prove it to me. And if you think, I am easy; I'll play hard to get. I think you would do the same too. But I wouldn't do this for anyone else. And honestly, I would never behave as I described... I love you too much. And trust me; I'm going to be more loyal to you than those other girls out there that you might desire secretly. I wish I were like the other girls you like. I guess what I'm trying to say Josh is... if this is true love, let me know and if it's not, I just really don't want to have anything to do with it."

Josh grinned and kissed her softly on the lips. Kim felt herself melting into his arms. It was all coming back to her now. Fireworks shot off in Kim's ears as she remembered back to the night of their very first date together. This was their second kiss, hopefully of many.

"Did you feel anything?" Josh asked. Kim nodded. She felt absolutely wonderful.

"So will you go out with me?"

Kim kissed him back sweetly for her very first time and said, "You can consider that a 'yes'."

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(Notes: Leave reviews! Xox. Btw… thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. I haven't gotten any e-mails requesting a change in plot. So you guys will be getting the original story! Hope all the new readers will enjoy it the way I wrote it a year ago!)