Hey everybody. Less than a day, I couldn't help it. This is for missing my last double update.
Enjoy Chapter 11 [:
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Kims POV
I'm pretty f'ing pissed, to be honest.
Here I am, this sweet, innocent, nearly seventeen year old girl. I've spent my whole life attending class, never later than a tardy bell. Did my school work, obeyed my parent, even fed the homeless on thanksgiving a few years ago. All I've ever wanted to do was be averagely happy, and an overall good person.
But that just doesn't seem to be in the card's for me.
"I can't!" I declared, tugging back against Jenn's pull.
We'd been doing this odd tug of war bit for nearly ten minute's, and neither of us seem to be getting anywhere.
"You can!" She countered, taking a deep breath and making another jerky pull in her direction. The direction of the evil building.
"I caaaaaaan't!" I whined, jumping up and down like a two year old. I've been attempting to use this tactic in my favor, but it's not working very well.
Jenn glared at me, squeezing onto my finger's as tight as she could. Oh crap.
She took another shaky breath before nearly ripping my arm out of it's socket, "Get your ass in that building Kim Connelly!"
I ended up sprawled face first across the floor, on the other side of her. I then heard her muttering half hearted apologies from above me. Oh yea, Jenn, I bet your sorry now.
With many loud, angry, grunt's, I pushed myself up from the pavement and scowled in her direction. "You are so frickin pushy!" I shreiked, stomping my way past her.
She trailed behind, being careful not to make it into arm swinging distance in case I decided to get fist happy. "It's for your own good." She insisted casually.
I studied a scrape on the palm of my hand that was quickly morphing into many thin line's of red. Great. Just awesome. This is exactly what I needed to start the day.
I shoved my hand toward's her. She flinched back but observed, "Oh, c'mon, that's nothing." She rolled her eye's as if I was being a baby about the whole ordeal.
I muttered to myself unintelligibly until I reached my locker.
Of course, there stood Alex. Waiting, per usual.
"Hey there pretty girl." He murmured with a practiced grin.
I've come to distinguish the difference between his real smile, and his fake. He's not a very good actor.
"Hey." I replied, smiling back weakly. I shimmied past him to my locker, fumbling with the lock for a good awkward minute.
He leaned against the other locker's beside me, watching quietly. He sighed when his boredom seeped through, "So, excited for our date tonight?"
I flinched, "Mmm, definitely."
He nodded, as if this were the answer he'd expected.
What if I'd said no? 'No, actually, I'm dreading it. Glad we had this talk, let's call it off.'
Would he have nodded then?
"Me too." He said with another grand smile, "I'll pick you up at seven on the dot, that alright?"
I nodded back at him, trying and failing once again to appear euphoric.
He studied me silently, but continued to grin. Finally, he tapped a fist against the locker he'd been leaning on before pointing at me, "I'll see you at lunch, beautiful." He winked and then he ran off the greet his more entertaining friend's.
The first person I saw hug him was Breanne, of course. With her stupid curly hair, and big boob's. Ughh. Slut.
Why did he ask me out, anyway? He's got all these girl's, like Breanne and Tilly, sworming around him twentyfour hours a day. But instead of just doing the normal, uncomplicated, thing to do. He had to randomly choose me and overdramatize my entire life!
I like him -I think- and I love that he give's me attention. I even selfishly believe that I deserve it after all these year's. But it's just so sudden! And then Jared start's talking to me...Why did it all have to happen at once? It make's it so much harder to enjoy.
"We're going to be late." Jenn announced from somewhere behind me.
I turned around to chastise her for being a creeper, but was shocked into silence.
There stood Jared Tal, watching from across the hall.
I vaguely believe he opened his mouth to speak, but I was long gone. I took a lesson from my mother and mastered the act of fleeing the scene in under ten second's.
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I feel like I'm preparing to fight a caged beast...
Or be thrown into the lion's den...
Or something equally terrifying.
I shuffled my feet in front of my fifth period classroom door. I'm too chicken to turn around and see if I'm holding up traffic. I'm also too chicken to just open it and step inside. What to do, what to do. I sighed, tapping my foot.
"This is getting ridiculous." A voice muttered from behind me.
Suddenly I was being dragged away from the door by a very unfriendly hand on my arm.
I yelped, trying to feel behind for my attacker to incapacitate them. "Stop smacking me!" The girl demanded.
She released me-roughly-tossing my against some locker's. I turned to see Tilly Perks.
"What's up with you, Connelly? Your being extra weird lately. And I have to say, all of this blocking the door bullshit is taking a toll on my work ethic." She snapped, hand's on her hips.
I played with my hand's quietly, unable to form a good response.
The only time Tilly Perks and I have ever spoken, was related to her calling me name's or telling me off. This is some of both. But I think she's also maybe, like, concerned or something? Wow.
"Fine." She said, "Don't tell me. Doesn't really matter." She turned to go.
"Have you spoken to Jared Tal?" I asked, surprised at my own courage.
She turned back, her cheshire cat grin in full swing. She lifted one bony finger to wave at me, "I knew this was about him, I just knew it! Still got that pathetic obsession Kimmy?"
I cringed at her cruelty, but ignored the insult's. Underneath all of her attitude, I think we're about to have an actual conversation.
"Well, no, but lately-"
"Of course not." She cut in, her eye's narrowing, "Why would you need to crush on Jared when you've got Alex? You must tell me how you managed to bag Alex Benjamin one of these day's. It's a mystery to us all."
I ignored her painful jabs and continued, "Has he spoken to you?"
It was her turn to wince. As I'd figured earlier, even Tilly's stone cold heart was being tortured by Jared's silence. She shook her head, trying to keep her chin raised, "No. He hasn't." Then her cat-like eye's flickered up to me, with a look of honest curiosity, "You see, Kimmy dear, the only person he'll talk to is you. Not that any of us can see why."
I looked away.
She confirmed what I'd already known. Everyone is asking the same question's. What happened to Jared Tal, and why am I the only person he'll speak to?
Her angry defense suddenly dropped. I could almost see a sheild fall, it was such a drastic change in the atmosphere. Her entire pose changed and her eyebrow's puckered, "Has he said anything? About us, or why he was gone. Why he won't talk to us?"
I wished I could say yes. Even if it is Tilly, I'm sympathetic.
I shook my head sadly. "Nothing."
She scoffed, "What do you guy's talk about?"
I shrugged, "We've only really spoken once, yesterday. He gave me my school bag, and apologized for not knowing my name. And then he asked about Alex, and that was it."
Tilly became quiet, thinking to herself carefully. She sized me up, then a shocked expression lit her feature's. Her mouth became a wide O.
Her sheild slowly rose back up.
"OH MY GOD." She suddenly broke out into peal's of laughter.
"WHAT?!" I nearly shreiked.
She shook her head, snickering madly, "Nothing, nothing. HA! Oh god, this is too good. Good old Jared, gotta love him."
"What?" I asked again, completely lost.
She stared down at me -she's quite tall- with a superior expression. "Word of advice, Kim. You won't last long. So enjoy it while you can, freak." She then continue to laugh as she made her way into the unblocked classroom.
I frowned to myself.
What the hell did that mean?
Sighing I made my way back to the door. Just don't think about it. Just do it.
With a deep courageous breath, I pushed open my Spanish door, just as the tardy bell rang out. Mrs. Beaker gave me a dissaproving stare from her desk, "Almost, Kim." She warned, looking back down at her paperwork.
I blushed a deep red and scurried to my desk, dropping my eye's before they could betray me and look over at him.
This is going to be so awkward.
Yesterday hadn't exactly been pleasant. Seeing as the first and only time I've ever had a conversation with Jared, it ended up turning into a semi-fight concerning Alex Benjamin. It had eventually led to him dissapearing in thin air -nearly sending me into seizures by the way- right before my very eye's. He hadn't returned to school after that.
It's come to my realization that if this continue's, one of us will eventually need to change school's. Every other day we're forcing each other to flee the campus, it's completely unhealthy.
"Hey." He whispered in his silky voice, causing my to jump in my seat.
Don't you dare look at him! Keep your eye's on your desk, eye's on the desk. Calm down. Steady breathing, good girl. Calm. Chill. Relax.
"I'm sorry about yesterday..." He trailed off, souding as if he was frowning unhappily.
I bet he is frowning. And I bet it look's completely adorable. If I could just sneak a little peak...
No! Eye's on the desk!
"You were right, it's not really any of my business what goes on with you and other people. We're not even technically friend's yet." He chuckled in a friendly tone.
Euch. True, but euch.
Whoa whoa, wait. Did he say 'yet'?
"So am I forgiven?" He asked quietly, probably trying to avoid us getting caught by Beaker.
That's the second time he's asked for forgiveness is twentyfour hour's. I've known him three day's and he's already screwed up twice. Not a good sign for the future.
Not that we have a future! Of course we don't have a future. I'm such an idiot.
"Yea," I muttered, sighing, "Of course. It's no big deal. Like you said, we're not even friend's."
I heard him shift in his chair, his foot began to tap wildly, "Yea." He repeated, voice raw.
"But if we were friend's," I started, fishing for information. His foot became still. "Would you stop talking to me too?" I looked up to meet his gaze for the first time since entering the room.
Bad idea, but necessary.
I felt the gush of disbelief wash over me, smacking into me like wave's against the rock's. Could he possibly be more beautiful everyday? It's truly hard to believe. But apparently, not impossible. I vaguely feel myself melting in my chair. I hope it's not really happening, because then he'd probably have to mop me up, and I'd feel pretty humiliated.
He smirked at me, shaking his head. Today, as I'd come to expect, he still held the somewhat magical gleam in his eye as he stared at me. Like I was an Angel that that had just come down in a beam of light from the corner of the classroom. I like this stare. Although it's certainly creepy.
"You ask alot of question's." He repeated his word's from yesterday.
Damn. He's right. I do. But hell, I'm only human.
"Yea, but you've yet to answer any of them."
He laughed quietly, "True." He agreed.
I nodded. We fell into our normal awkward silence. But at least it's with Jared. I can handle awkward when Jared's involved. It make's the discomfort a thousand time's worth it.
Mrs. Beaker rose from her desk chair, slow and tired, her glasses low on the tip of her nose. She look's like hell. I wonder if she even sleep's anymore. Poor teacher's. They've got it hard.
"Class, I'm having a hard day, I have ton's of paperwork. So today we'll be having a free day, ok? Just talk quietly amongst yourselves. But if you get too loud, or any of you start throwing thing's or getting out of control, this is the last on we'll have. You got that?" She threatened. There were several murmur's of approval across the class, and then the familiar frenzy of voice's.
I automatically turned to Jared, used to my usual staring. Only now he stare's back.
"So it seem's we're at a crossroads." He stated suddenly. Whaa? "I can't answer any of your question's, because we aren't friend's. But you don't know if I'll even speak to you at all if we become friend's. Hmm, what will you do?" He gave me a teasing smile.
Yepp, I'm definitely a puddle in my chair right about now.
Is Jared Tal teasing me? Really? Did I die last weekend or something? Did I get hit by a car, and I'm actually just in a coma, dreaming that all of this is happening when in reality I'm tied to a bed with tube's feeding me?
I don't have a problem with that. I just hope it lasts another fourty year's.
I cleared my throat hesitantly, willing myself to be clever just this once. Please God, let me say something cute, I beg you!
"I-I-Why is it my choice? What about you?" I asked-more like croaked actually.
His eye's twinkled, "My choice come's later." He explained simply.
"Huh?"
He smiled his toothy grin, knocking the air from my lungs, "After you decide to risk being my friend or not, I'll decide whether or not to continue speaking to you."
"Oh." I muttered subconsciously, unable to say anything more detailed. Although I'm vaguely aware that I should be slightly insulted. Shouldn't I?
"So what's it gunna be?" He asked, leaning in curiously.
If you ask me, his eye's look a little panicked. He seem's, worried? Really worried.
Okay, think Kim. Time to get down to business.
I think Jared Tal just asked me to be his friend. I think? Wait. No-Yes! He did! In a very complex and teasing kind of way, but a question nonetheless!
Does he want me to be his friend? Is this a test? A game, perhaps? A trick?
Who would trick him? He doesn't have any friend's anymore.
I laughed quietly to myself. That's odd. Jared Tal has less friend's than I do for the first time in our entire live's. Never thought I'd see the day. And it doesn't even seem like he care's.
Suddenly I heard someone begin to tap their finger's hostily against a desk, and then a really crappy imitation of a drum roll began. "She's narrowed it down to two option's. She's on the clock. This is the final decision folks, it's now or never! Counting down, 10, 9, 8-"
"What?"
"7, 6-"
"What're you-"
"5, 4-"
"Wait! Hey, that's not fair!"
"3, 2-"
"I refuse to-"
"And the clock's run out! Time's up. Kim will be forced to give her answer now or leave empty handed."
"What was I gunna leave with in my hand's?"
"No stalling." He insisted, shaking his head. "What's your answer?"
"Well I need more then ten-" I started furiously.
"Nope, gotta choose." He grinned devilishly.
This is not at all fair. Like, what the hell? Who count's down on an important decision. I should say no, just because he's being rude. Ugh!
Unless that's what he want's me to do...To say no...Maybe that's why he's making me choose so fast...Of course that's why. He just want's me to stop bugging him.
"Are you okay?" He asked suddenly, making my eye's snap up. He was leaned in even closer, concern etched in every line on his face. I don't think I've ever seen his face more creased with worry.
I smiled weakly, taking several deep breath's. I probably zoned out and looked like a mental patient. God, I am a freak. "Yea, fine."
He sat back, frowning. "I-I'm only kidding...I...I wasn't going to-I wouldn't really..." He stuttered, fidgeting for the word's. He met my eye's with a guilty expression, "You don't have to actually decide if you don't want to."
Great, now he feel's sorry for me!
"Why not, I'll decide, I'm just the type of person who's overly critical. Please don't worry about it. I'll decide!" I insisted hurriedly.
What I was really saying was, 'Don't give up on my yet! I'll make a decision! Just don't stop speaking to me! I'll die!'
That truth hit my like a bulldozer. Now that he's talking to me, what's going to happen when he stop's? I honest to God will never be the same. It's like dangling ham in front of a starving man, and then shoving it in your mouth. Of course, I think the starving man would kill you for being an asshole before dropping dead. But it's the same general concept...
Either way, he may stop speaking to me. Whichever choice I make.
So, as he put it, what's it gunna be? Will I take the risk -which I never do- and agree to be his friend? Or wimp out -as I usually do- and scurry back under my rock?
I can't do that anymore. My rock's been moved, and I can't seem to locate it anymore. There's only one thing I can really do now.
"I-"
He cut me off, "Really, Kim!" God, I love the way he say's my name... "Don't decide, please. It wasn't meant to be taken so seriously. I lied anyway. Because honestly, whichever choice you make I'm not going to stop talking to you."
"What?"
Seriously? After putting me through that horrificly stressful countdown, now he tells me he was kidding?
He smiled shyly, "I mean that, even if you decided not to be my friend, I'd probably end up telling you what you want to know...eventually. And if you agreed to be my friend, I would never dream of ignoring you." It was his turn to blush.
Holy hell, I didn't know Jared blushed! This is a new developement. I'm filing this one away in my diary. 'Jared Tal blushed today, for the first time in my presence. And diary, it is a magnificent thing to see.' I'll put it in my important thing's section. Right next to my many definition's of Jared, including sexy, smart, theatrical, brilliant, and now teasing.
I shook away my thought's, "That's sweet." I said, trying to focus on his word's instead of his body. Which is more than difficult. "But in that case, I'd have to say..."
He leaned closer again, subconsciously. Mercy, this boy is too goodlooking!
We both became silent, waiting for me to work up the courage. And of course -with me being myself- I stalled, "Drumroll?"
His lip's parted into his biggest smile that I adore and he began to tap his finger's against his desk -quietly as possible seeing as the entire class still only sat a few feet away in every direction.
Okay, I can do this. I'm really doing this!
Oh my lord, am I really doing this? Wow, even I didn't think I'd do this.
I closed my eye's, preparing myself-and probably looking pretty stupid, I opened my eye's and met his anxious.
This is one step closer to the dream. This is one of the most important moment's of my life.
Oh yea, I can definitely do this.
"I'd like to be friend's." I said, quickly as possible. Like ripping off a bandaid.
Once the word's were out, a flood of emotions overtook me. Happiness, Relief, Worry, Fear, Doubt, Self-loathing, Embarassment, Hope, Joy, and more Relief.
I waited for a reaction from him. Any reaction.
For a long time, there wasn't one.
Instead of speaking or moving, Jared had automatically shut his eye's, becoming very still. Forcing me to wait in suspense for something to happen.
I looked around myself feebly. So many kid's were listening in on our conversation, they would be more than able to hear him put me down if this was all one big nasty joke. Or if he had secretly wished for me to say no. They would be here to bask in my moment of humiliation. I would never live it down.
I began to pick at my nail's, wishing I could stick them in my mouth and nibble them off. I need something to bite down on. I'm afraid to chew on my lip at the moment. I'd probably end up bleeding.
After a few torturous minute's, Jared's eyes popped open. And he smiled.
My entire body relaxed, sinking into my chair. I hadn't even noticed every muscle in my body had been tensed until I felt them all loosen and ache with a vengeance. I don't care. They can ache all they want. I'm still the happiest I've ever felt.
"I respect that decision completely." He said in a professional tone, his smile growing wider and wider with time.
I sighed to myself. He could've said that sooner. I nearly gave myself a brain hemorrage. "So we're friend's?" I confirmed breathlessly.
He nodded eagerly, "Yes. Friend's."
Jared Tal and I are friend's.
Friend's. Jared Tal. Kim Connelly. Friend's. Huh.
"Wow." I blurted aloud. I flushed immediatly.
"Hmm?" He asked, his intense stare strengthening slightly.
I hurried to cover myself, "Oh, nothing." Everything. Everything, this is everything. I'm such a liar. This isn't nothing. This is frickin my entire life's dream coming true-almost. My dream involve's alot more kissing.
He suddenly leaned forward in his desk, smiling curiously, "So, now that we're friend's, you should tell me more about yourself." The intoxicating expression in his sultry hazel eye's was blurring my coherent thought's into a jumbled mess.
What was he saying? More? About me? I'm sure he's speaking word's...Now all I have to do is process them...Oh, you beautiful, pretty eyed, boy...
"Uh-uhmm..Okay." I stuttered, "Wha-Whaddoyou wanna know?" I asked dreamily, even sighing a bit afterward.
His eye's suddenly burned with wary intensity, "Are you going to kiss him goodnight?"
What the-
I was snapped out of my dreamy funk, "What?"
"Nothing." He stated hurriedly, leaning back into his seat. He began to tap his foot sparingly against the white tile's. He looked around for a moment, obviously playing nonchalance, "So, have you ever had a boyfriend? I mean, before..."
I could feel my cheek's darken as I looked away from him in my embarassment, I shook my head until I could trust myself not to stutter too much, "N-not really." I met his eye's cautiously, "I had this serious crush that was holding me back from thing's like that."
His eyebrow's shot up, "Oh?"
I nodded, blushing deeper and picking at the metal on my seat.
I heard him sighing unhappily beside me and I looked up again, but he -of course- did not look the least bit phased. He was still smiling that mysterious little grin, and his eye's still sparkled like no-tomorrow. "Anyone I know?"
Yes, actually. You.
He seem's so interested...Maybe he know's it's him??! Oh god, I wouldn't be surprised. Of course someone would have mentioned my obsession after all these years! Just about the entire school knew!
I studied his face intently, but he seemed truly perplexed. It could be an act. But maybe he honestly doesn't know.
Good.
If he ever found out about my obsession...I shudder at the possibility.
"No, just this guy, you wouldn't know him." I murmured casually.
"You sure?" Jared asked, seeming dissapointed with my discretion.
I nodded, "Mhm, complete stranger."
Jared scoffed, "If he was a stranger, why'd you like him so much?"
Euch.
Awesome question.
I shrugged, feeling inadequate once again, "I'm not so sure anymore. I thought it was because I loved him, and that we were just, I don't know-" I laughed quietly, "-meant to be or something. But lately, everything is just alot more complicated."
Jared didn't speak for a minute, just stared at me with that creepy intensity that made me feel absolutely naked, in a good kind of way.
Finally he took a loud breath, "Well I guess it's all working out for the best. Now you can go on your date with Alex..." He trailed off, sounding bored.
I winced.
Yea. Great. Alex.
"He's really...nice." I defended quietly.
Jared was now leaning back, looking around as if he didn't care much for the subject. "That's good." He agreed. "Anything big planned?"
"Well, Al-Al-Well, he umm-he told Jenn dinner and a movie. So I'm-uhh. Ha, I'm guessing not." I stuttered miserably.
For some reason I don't enjoy talking about this with Jared whatsoever. It's probably the weirdest thing I've ever had to do. Other then eat Jenn's hair.
Jared made a sickened noise, "Typical." He muttered.
I frowned, "Why?"
"'Dinner and a movie'" He mocked, rolling his eye's, "It's so practical."
"It's nice." I murmured defensively underneath my breath.
Somehow, he still heard me, "If your into being the definition of normal, I guess it's nice. Seem's pretty lame to me."
That comment hurt. Everytime I'd imagined my first date -alway's with Jared- I'd pictured dinner and a movie. So basically he was mocking every date fantasy I'd ever had.
"What do you do on date's?" I asked, turning the table's.
He became instantly nervous, "W-Well, that depend's."
I raised my eyebrow's, daring him to continue, "Oh yea? On what?"
He lowered his eye's, having been caught in his lie, he hurried to try and fix his mistake, "On who I'm dating."
"What did you do when you took out Angela Hootts?" I asked, nearly spitting the name in distaste.
He smiled up at me, "Dinner and a movie."
That remark pretty much brightened my life. I never actually thought he cared for Angela. But having that confirmed made me one of the happiest people alive I'm pretty sure.
"But enough of me. I think you should totally hold out for more than dinner and a movie." He suggested, eyeing me with his creepy love stare.
"Like what?"
His eye's became gaurded, "Well, I don't want to give him any idea's. But just...more. You deserve more."
That caught me short, "I-I do?"
His eyebrow furrowed, "What do you mean, 'I do?', of course you do!" He shooked his head, rubbing his eye's. He seemed utterly dissapointed in me.
Which basically made me feel like a pile of crap.
"So when does this whole thing start? He's going to bring you home before ten right? You have a curfew don't you?" Jared asked.
His tone was somehow changing with time. Morphing into less of a casual 'friend' talk, and more of a personal interrogation. I don't like to be interrogated.
"I'll get home when he bring's me home. And I've never been on a date, so no, I don't have a curfew."
That's a lie. Last night, my mother had assigned me an eleven p.m. curfew for my date. Pretty reasonable in my opinion. I planned to tell Alex ten though, just to be safe.
"And he's picking me up at seven."
"Seven.." Jared muttered to himself quietly, looking lost in thought.
I nodded, "Uhuh."
Suddenly the bell rang, making us both jump to our feet in alarm. The class began to flood out into the hall's as we stood still, not sure what to do or say to each other.
He was the first to break the moment of awkward uncertainty, "I'll see you on monday, buddy." He said, reaching out his hand.
What? What am I supposed to do with that?
Does he want me to shake it?
What the hell, are we thirty year old business partners?
I reached my hand out and met his. But instead of shaking it, he held it there, rubbing my palm gently. The strangest expression crossed his face. Pain? I was rendered speechless.
Then a threatening voice interrupted our precious moment.
"I think we should go, Kim. Alex is probably outside waiting for you." Warren spat.
Crap. Warren. Of course he would wait and watch. Frickin Snoop!
"Y-Yea. I'll see you monday." I muttered, pulling back my hand and nearly running out to the hall.
Sure enough, there stood Alex, waiting with a smile. "Hey there, beautiful." He greeted predictably.
"H-Hey."
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Oh God, I'm in love with Jared lol. Seriously I am. I'm falling in love with his character.
Next chapter is THE DATE :D
And I have plenty of surprises waiting for that.
Tilly thinks Jared is playing Kim in case you didn't catch that.
Btw, Jared's pained expression was because he felt the cuts on her palm.
Please review and tell me what you thought [: I worked hard on this chapter.
Playlist:
Katie and I-Kill Paradise
Teasing To Please-Cute Is What We Aim For
It Ain't Me Babe-Dave Melillo