For the next three days of my suspension I sat in silence, unable to cope with the fact that my mother was indeed dead. I hadn't worked up the courage to talk to Charlie about it but I really wanted to confirm my suspicions. Instead of making the most of my three days alone with Jack, I shut myself in my room with the lights off and music on. Jack tried to get me to come out, tried to get me to talk about it, but when I did nothing he resigned himself to sitting on the edge of my bed for hours at a time, keeping my silent company.

I wanted to say something; it was just that I had no idea what I should've said.

"Oh, sorry I'm not talking or anything, it's just that I'm sinking into a pit of depression!" That did not sound right.

"My mom is dead, let's go get some pizza and forget about it!" Now that was worse, I had never really been good with words so I wasn't really trying.

I sighed, hugging my knees to my chest. My breathing was shallow and I was trying not to cry, I had promised myself that I wouldn't cry until I was certain it was true, and I was not going to cry in front of Jack. Not again.

He moved over to where I sat and draped his arm around me, pulling my body closer to his. He didn't say a word and neither did I; we just sat there together in the darkness of my room.

"I'm-"

I could not believe my timing. The moment I decided to say something, someone decided to bang on my door and cut me off. Figures.

"I'll get it," Jack said softly, getting up and walking to the door. I heard some mumbling and a booming voice before the door shut again and Jack came in with a half smile, "Congratulations, we are no longer suspended." I forced a smile on my face and nodded, getting up and changing out of the shorts I had been wearing to a pair of my uniform pants.

"Wait, where are you going?" Jack asked, watching me from the doorway.

"Out," I mumbled, pushing past him to pull on my chucks. "I have to play." I laced up my shoes quickly and before he could say another word I was out the door and on my way to the music room, my fingers itching to be on the ivory keys. As soon as I made it to the practice room I fished through my pockets for the sheets of music I had printed off of the Internet, the piece I was supposed to have been learning for the past month.

I was glad that nobody was there, or else I would've been mortified that someone heard all the mistakes I was making. Alone I could work out the bugs and criticize myself as much and as loudly as I wanted. I was so behind on my piece, it was embarrassing.

"Shit," I cursed under my breath as I stretched my arms and popped my fingers, this was turning out to be harder than I had expected. I let out a huge sigh and placed my fingers back on the keys, playing the same part I had been trying to do for the past hour.

"That part needs to be softer, you're banging on the keys when you should be barely touching them." I jumped, once again not expecting to hear Jack's voice through the silence. He seemed to do that a lot. I didn't turn to acknowledge his presence, instead I tried it again, softer that time. "Again, less pressure," he commanded, sitting beside me on the piano bench. This time I barely brushed my fingers on the keys, at least, that's what I thought I had done.

"You're still hitting it too hard," Jack mumbled, looking down at the keys deep in thought. I didn't say anything, I just watched him. "Try it this way," he said slowly, his fingers hovering above the piano. A few seconds ticked by and his hand was still poised above the keys, his face in a weird expression.

"You don't-"

Again with the timing.

His hand went down as if it were in slow motion, his fingers gliding across the smooth surface. The sound he produced was the softest, gentlest, sweetest melody I had ever heard. "Like that," he whispered, placing his hand on his lap. I just sat there dumbstruck for a moment, not believing what had just happened. Hadn't Jack told me he'd never play again?

Noticing that he was staring at me, I cleared my throat and tried again, mimicking the softness that he had just demonstrated. Clearly I still wasn't getting it right, because Jack gave a tiny sigh.

"Okay, think of it like your first kiss. It was really soft and warm, right? Try channeling that when you play," he explained, still looking at me. I guess I must've looked pretty alarmed or confused, because his eyes widened before asking, "You haven't had your first kiss, have you?"

I felt my cheeks turn bright red and I found myself unable to say anything, I was frozen. Jack studied my face for a second.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked softly, searching in my eyes for something.

"W-what? N-now?" I asked, stumbling over my words.

His eyes clouded over, "Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking it would uh, help you. You know, softness and warmth and all that." He looked to the ceiling, his face turning a cute shade of pink as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Yes," I whispered, almost inaudibly. Jack's eyes flashed back to my face, which was undeniably flushed.

"Are, are you sure? Because we can find another way to help you, you'll get this part eventually," he blurted. Anyone could see that he was nervous, but then again so was I.

I couldn't look him in the eye anymore, and I cast my eyes down, "J-just do it before I change my mind." I heard him gulp before he brought a hand to my chin, positioning my head so I could see him and nothing else. I was extremely embarrassed by the way he was looking at me and how slowly he was taking everything.

Jack took his free hand and moved my hair to the side while sliding his other hand down my neck, leaning in while he did so. My eyes fluttered shut so I wouldn't have to see his face as he brought it closer and closer to mine and so I could focus on not chickening out. My heart was beating out of my chest and I could feel his breath on my lips.

I leaned in slowly and his lips met mine, pressing down ever so lightly. I could tell he was trying hard to gentle, making sure he didn't take advantage of my first kiss or me. I kissed back of course, enjoying this new feeling.

Click.

Jack pulled away, "H-how was it?" he asked, blushing red and staring down at his hands.

"It, it was… nice. Good," I said, unable to look at him for more than a few seconds at a time. I cleared my throat, unsure of what to do next.

"Go on," he said, motioning to the piano. I nodded and tried for what felt like the hundredth time, tinkering the keys and feeling in my head what Jack's lips felt on mine. "Brilliant," Jack said with a grin at the sound I was making. "Just keep doing that." For the next two hours we sat together at the piano, working out the bugs in the parts of the song I was attempting.

"Put your hand on mine, fingers on top of fingers," Jack instructed, smiling at me then looking back to the sheet music. His hand guiding mine across the keys, playing a part I hadn't tried yet.

Click.

I retracted my hand, a question burning in the back of my mind. "What?" he asked, leaning his hand on the bench.

"It's just- why are you doing this?" I asked before I could psych myself out. "I mean, why are you playing? You said you'd never play again."

Jack sat quietly for a moment before answering carefully, "I guess I was just making excuses before. I thought that if I ever played again, it'd bring back old memories I'd rather forget. But it's not like that; I'm enjoying myself with you. Making new memories around the piano to replace the sad ones of that night, you're therapeutic."

"What do you mean?" I asked gingerly, unsure of what he meant.

"I like you, okay? Playing with you makes me feel better than I've ever felt before, and I'm not dwelling on my grandfather anymore. You're fixing me," he said quietly, inching his hand over mine and holding it lightly. I smiled and kissed him quickly on the cheek before hugging him.

Click.

"You're too sweet Jack Brewer," I giggled, reaching out to pick up the sheet music and folding it up to stick it back in my pocket.

"Hey, hey! Where are you going?" he questioned with a smile, pulling me back down to the bench, making me land on his lap. "Who said I was done with you?" I laughed and tried to get up, only to get pulled back again.

"Let me go Jack!" I hollered, making a very unconvincing 'serious' face.

"You're cute," he mused, kissing my nose before releasing me.

Click.

"I never said you could kiss me again," I said, feigning disgust and bringing a hand to my forehead like an actress in a Spanish soap opera- yes, I had watched a fair share of those in my days, not understanding but enjoying the dramatic acting.

"Yeah? Well I say I can," Jack said, leaping up from the piano and wrapping his arms around me, swaying and spinning as if we were at a ball. "Come on, dance with me!" I played along, throwing by head back in laughter as we danced around the practice room. "Here comes the dip!" Jack said with a grin as he dipped me low and held me steadily, staring into my eyes. "Did I ever tell you that you have the most gorgeous hazel eyes?" he said, giving me a peck on my lips.

Click.

I smiled as he pulled me back up, and I suggested we go back to our dorm because we'd surely get caught, and what a load of explanation we'd have to do. He agreed and he scooped my hand in his and pulled me lightly to the door, a goofy grin pasted on his face.

Click.

"Wait," I said, taking my hand back from his, "we can't just hold hands across campus, somebody will see something. This has to stay between us, okay?" Jack frowned a little, but nodded his head.

"I hate that I have to keep you a secret, I want the whole world to know about my adorable new girlfriend," he grumped, opening the door for me and stepping out himself.

"Baggage my dear, every couple has it," I said, shrugging as we walked back to our dorm. Once inside we drew all the curtains and made sure nobody would see us, backing into my room and flopping on the bed, kissing for hours. I'll spare you the details, although I will say that we didn't get any farther than kisses.

"For just having had your first kiss a few hours ago, you're pretty good at this," Jack said in a low voice, trailing kisses along my jaw and neck.

"I've learned from the best," I said with a smile, running a hand through my short hair. "Hey, when was your first kiss?" I asked suddenly, gasping as his lips reached my collarbone.

"Seventh grade, on a dare," he said unceremoniously, continuing with what he was doing.

"No, tell me more," I commanded, steering his head up to my face so he would look me in the eye.

"My friends and I were at a party and we were playing truth or dare, the typical middle school party game," he started. "This kid Mark dared me to kiss my friend Ally, so I did. My other friend Austin wouldn't look at me for the rest of the night, no matter how many times I apologized for kissing his crush. Middle schoolers."

I laughed, "Austin had a crush on Ally? It sounds like it should be a TV show!"

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," he said with a foolish grin. "Mark's mom walked in while I was kissing her, she got sort of mad." I went quiet, suddenly remembering the issue of my mom and Charlie. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking," Jack said quickly, sitting up and reaching for my hand in the dimness.

"I don't want you to have to tiptoe around me Jack, it's okay," I said gently, squeezing his hand lightly. "Besides, I have to talk about it with Charlie at some point." Jack rolled over and handed me my phone, giving me an encouraging look. I took a deep breath before dialing Charlie's number and waiting for it to ring.

"Hello?" came his voice, crackly through the phone. "Kim?"

"Yeah, it's me," I said awkwardly, walking to the sofa outside my room and sitting down. "Listen, I called to apologize about the other day. And to talk about mom." The silence on the other end of the phone was heavy, and I was worried he'd already hung up. "Charlie?"

"I'm here Kim, and you have no reason to apologize, I was being an asshole," he said, drawing a deep breath. "And I should've told you about mom, it was just that since dad stopped talking I knew you had a lot to deal with and I couldn't bring myself to tell you. I couldn't even tell dad."

"It's okay Charlie, you were protecting me. But I do have to apologize for how I acted; I was being a total drama queen. I should've called you too, should've told you when I got suspended, I'm sorry," I said calmly. "But why didn't you tell dad?"

"And risk him getting worse than he was? I couldn't do that to him. As for the calling though, try to check in every so often, I need to know how you're doing," he replied. Naturally I understood why he did what he did, and I respected him for living with that secret just to protect my father and me.

"Alright, I'll make sure to call at least once a week. Thanks for telling me about mom," I said, getting ready to hang up.

"By the way, you and… Jack was it? You and Jack should drop by my apartment one day, I want to meet the boyfriend on better terms," Charlie said suddenly. My eyes widened and I couldn't figure out how to respond to that.

"No, we're, he's not-"

"Don't even try Kim, I know you have a thing for each other. Kat's coming over Saturday night, how about you bring Jack at around seven?" he asked, I could imagine him greeting Jack at the door with a hearty handshake, approving of him.

"Okay, what should I wear?" I agreed, wondering if it was a casual or fancy affair.

"If you want, go into town and get a nice dress. Nothing too fancy, it's just going to be dinner at my place," Charlie replied. "I'm going to have to let you go though, Kat's getting impatient."

"Hot date tonight?" I asked, grinning in spite of myself.

"What? No, we're not-"

"Don't even try Charlie, I know you have a thing for each other," I said, repeating his words to me earlier.

"Nice kiddo, I love you," he said, hanging up as I told him I loved him too.

"Hey Jack!" I called, getting up and making my way back to my room where he lay on my bed.

"Hm?"

"We have a date Saturday," I said, waiting to see his reaction.

He looked puzzled, "Isn't it my job to plan dates? Besides, who said I was your boyfriend?"

"Uh, you did, earlier," I said with a smile. "And it wasn't my idea, Charlie invited us over to his place on Saturday for dinner."

"Alright, I'll humor you," he said, grinning and motioning for me to come closer. I sat down next to him and he attacked me in a hug, pulling me onto him and collapsing onto my pillows in a fit of giggles.

Click.

"Okay what is that sound?" I asked suddenly, hearing a 'click' for the millionth time that day. "Is that your phone or something?"

"No, but I've been hearing it all day. Wonder what it is…" Jack said, sitting up and looking around.

"No clue, but if I hear it again I'm probably going to explode," I said, lying down with my head on Jack's lap.

"No you won't," he whispered, running is fingers through my hair, trying to twist the longer pieces around his fingers. "So this is what it must feel like to play with a guy's hair. It's difficult," he decided, choosing to comb it with the tips of his fingers. I smiled, closing my eyes and enjoying the feeling, savoring the moment.

Click.

A/N: Click, click, click... What could it be?

Sorry for not updating in two weeks, but last weekend I had to take my computer to the store to replace the battery because it was being a little bitch and the week before I had a meet. Sorry! To make up for it I finally wrote in that Kick kiss everybody wants so much, I hope you all liked it! When I was writing it I thought about my first kiss, seventh grade man. Tell me about your first kiss in a review, will ya? Mine really wasn't anything special, seventh grade just like Jack but not on a dare. I had a "boyfriend" and on Valentine's Day after he tried to kiss me like eighty thousand times I finally let him kiss me and let me tell you it was not that magical OMG moment some people have. I dunno. I was probably being really annoying the days before then, I kept turning my head, I literally was not ready for that lip action. It wasn't even a long kiss though, it was like a peck.

As usual thank you so much for all the support and reviews, it means a lot!