A/N: I figured a little bit more of fluff wouldn't hurt anyone! And this chapter just kind of flowed... It's not what I'd expected to write, but once I started I just couldn't find it in me to change the direction of this chapter. So here it is, some fluff from Kim with a bit of insight into her anxiety and relationship with her mom. Thoughts, feelings, and reviews are like candy: wonderful and always appreciated!

Chapter 12

Kim's POV

Normally, I'm the first to complain on Monday mornings that weekends are too short, time goes by too quickly, and that whoever developed the weekday to weekend ratio was on drugs. Turns out, that's not really the case when you're looking forward to something… Or someone.

After spending Friday night with Jared I laid awake in my bed for hours upon hours trying, and failing, to fall asleep. Everything about our kind-of-date but not-really-a-date was running through my mind like a broken record: bits of conversation that had me laughing harder than I can remember, the looks Jared snuck at me when he thought I wasn't looking at him, the looks I snuck at Jared… Every last part of our Friday night excursion to the beach left me feeling electrified; alive in ways I hadn't realized I was missing before. And that kiss on the cheek at the end of the night? I'm not kidding when I say someone could've knocked me over with a feather.

The strangest part? My anxiety wasn't such an issue. My grams likes to tell me I'm an old soul, but a very nervous person; she's not wrong. After a total meltdown over a test that I'd prepared for but didn't feel confident about, mom took me to the pediatrician and not long after I was diagnosed with high-functioning anxiety… that was in sixth grade. Mom and I tried the medicinal route, but the meds made me foggy and I always felt 'off'. I'd been so worried all day Friday about Jared – was he actually going to come over? Was this a date? Was this not a date? Was this a joke? The list of worries could go on for miles; my nerves had felt like live wires and my stomach muscles had felt tight and ready to spring. But then Jared came. And the weird part? Nothing happened. I didn't explode or shut down or a million other things that have happened to me before… I was suddenly the best version of myself. For God's sake, I even sang along to music while we were driving to the beach! We talked and laughed and joked; he ran his hands up and down my arms when he noticed how cold I was – he laughed when I'd commented how hot he was and made some stupid sexual innuendo that had me blushing but laughing.

I'd woken up Saturday and taken a cab to the Makah Rez; I'd thought about bringing up the taxi ride to Jared the night before, just to see if he'd offered to drive, but decided against it. I was just happy he knew who I was finally; I didn't want to come across as a desperate psycho chick who was using him for his wheels. Turns out… I should've just mentioned it. Jared wound up texting me during the ride to Makah. I'd left early –at about nine in the morning so I could meet up with my mom and grams in time for brunch – and Jared's texts started coming in about thirty minutes into the hour and a half ride.

He'd been cheerful and sweet, asking if I wanted to grab breakfast with him before heading up to Makah; he even offered to drive me from wherever we went for breakfast up to my grams house. I'd responded quickly, completely thrilled that he was texting me:

Actually, I'm already on my way up to my gram's house. The taxi picked me up about half an hour ago! But thanks for the offer!

I never would've expected – honestly, I doubt I would've ever dreamed – the onslaught of text messages from Jared that had my phone buzzing nearly nonstop.

What?

You called a taxi?!

Why didn't you say you didn't have your own car?

I would've driven you up there!

Does this taxi driver have their license and certificate on display? Google says they need that…

The messages were coming so quickly it was all I could do to just read one before the next one came; they arrived one after the other, in such a quick succession that even the cab driver commented on how popular I was. Ha. If only he knew.

Jared, calm down. I thought you knew I didn't have a car; but it's not a big deal. I'm taking a cab up to Makah and I'll drive back down with my mom tomorrow night.

And yes, I can see the certificate; Ehsanullah seems like a very nice cab driver.

The rest of the ride had been spent texting Jared; I never even picked up the book I'd brought with me. We texted about anything and everything: school, hobbies, families. It was a lot like the night before and I couldn't help but to feel impressed by just how invested and interested Jared seemed in my life. For every question I asked him, he asked me two in return, always commenting on what I'd said or asking other related questions. Just like the night before, I felt special. Important. Interesting and wanted. I was riding a high; a high that was all thanks to Jared.

The rest of the weekend dragged by. I love my gramma and I firmly believe that had this been the weekend before Jared noticed me, I would've enjoyed myself much more. But being cooped up in a house with my mom and grams was not where I wanted to be. I wanted to be sharing all of the details of Friday night with Rowan and Lily, in person while eating chocolate and popcorn, as The Notebook played in the background. I wanted to sit down with my mom, alone in our kitchen, and tell her everything I knew about Jared while we had a bowl of ice cream loaded with hot fudge and sprinkles. I wanted to go to the mall in Port Angeles and finally take my mom up on updating my wardrobe. I wanted to dance around my room with my iPod blasting, swishing my hair around and around until I felt like I was invincible. Instead, I spent the weekend helping my mom cook and clean, doing school work, washing grams clothes, and waiting for a call from Lily or Rowan or a text from Jared. Pathetic? A bit. Normal? Probably.

It wasn't until Sunday evening, on the ride home, that I was finally able to tell mom all about Jared and the events of Thursday and Friday. And I'm not kidding when I say that she was so happy, she cried. Literally. She pulled over to the side of the road and started sobbing these happy tears. She cried and laughed and hugged me; I'm sure this sounds crazy, but it's my mom and she's one of my best friends. It's been me and mom for as long as I can remember; taking on the world together, traveling, and supporting one another. She's my constant. She's my rock. She's heard me talk about Jared for years and years – ever since he saved me that day at school all those years ago – and though she's always been supportive of my unrequited crush, she also empowered me to be my own person, take my future in my own hands and make it the life that I wanted. But, she's still my mom and she couldn't have been more ecstatic to see something I've been wishing for finally start to come true. Even though, as I constantly had to remind myself, there was nothing romantic between me and Jared.

"Sweetie, don't kid yourself… That boy kissed you on the cheek twice. You know what that means? That means he likes you. As more than a friend. Because, and I shouldn't have to remind you of this, friends don't just kiss their friends."

"Ma, don't be ridiculous. It's Jared." I whined, leaning forward to turn the volume up on the radio.

Mom was quick though and dialed it back down so I could hear her over the music. "No. Kimberly, I've raised you to be smart so don't you dare start flaking on me now."

"He's cool, and popular, and every girl at school likes him…"

"What's that supposed to mean? You're not good enough?" She laughed, "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me – that boy is lucky you're even talking to him."

I sighed, leaning my head against the cool window and trying to find the words to make my mom understand. "You have to say that. You're my mom."

"Well, you're not wrong. But that doesn't mean you're entirely right either. You're my kid, and you're perfect to me. As far as I'm concerned it's high time this Jared fella noticed you." Mom smiled over at me and I saw her hand itching for the volume dial, "Now, I'm thinking celebratory milkshakes on the way home?"

I nodded vigorously and mom blasted the radio.

That was hours ago; mom and I had laughed over our milkshakes and she'd made me promise that Wednesday night I'd take a break from studying for the SAT's so we could head to the mall for new clothes… Or in her words:

"New everything Kim. New bras, new panties, new jeans, and new tops. You could use a new leotard for dance too, and maybe even a new pair of sneakers if you're serious about training for the 5k you and Rowan were talking about last weekend. Why don't we make it a girls' night? Maybe invite Lily and Rowan? Grab dinner in the city?"

I'd called Rowan and Lily as soon as I'd gotten home and both were thoroughly on board; it was one of our nights off from dance class and there weren't any big tests scheduled for Thursday yet. By the time I got out of the shower Rowan and Lily had already started a joint, but secret, Pinterest board dedicated to giving me a wardrobe makeover. Even though I rolled my eyes, and knew I'd play it off as silly when they mentioned it to me tomorrow, I was secretly glad; I don't need a makeover, but the attention was nice.

It was about 9:30 when I finally settled into bed with my worn out copy of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I'd only just started reading where I'd left off when my phone chimed with a text message: Jared.

"Hey Kim, home safe?"

"Yup – got in a few hours ago."

"So you'll be at school tomorrow?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"Great, do you need a lift to school?"

I'd paused there, unsure of what to say… my nerves were starting to bubble up in my stomach, so I took that as a sign.

"Thanks, but no. I like my morning walks." I figured my alone time in the mornings was something I could use; just because I hadn't suffered an anxiety attack on Friday, didn't mean I was immune.

There'd been a few minutes of silence before another text message came through:

"Alright, but if it's pouring tomorrow when I leave for school, I'm picking you up."

He sounded bossy but I couldn't find it in me to be annoyed. I sighed to myself, texted him a smiley face, leaned back into my pillows, and found myself content with my book.

All felt right in the world.