Note: I do portray Kat as a bitter and cocky character in this chapter, so if you like her, you might be upset. And if you don't know already, I don't like her. Haha! Any ways, for those who've reviewed, I thank you SO MUCH! You're positive comments have made me want to continue and I really hope you enjoy the rest of the story. If not… well thanks for reading it any ways.
Endless Roads
Chapter 15 - Finding Kim
Lacey's POV
A whole day had gone by, and still we had no clue where Kimberly was. I called the police the day before, but they were no help. Jason and me had to finally realize that if we wanted to find Kim we'd have to do it ourselves.
We drove around Angel Grove to possible locations where Kim could have been, but we had no luck. Like before, Jason tried to stay positive, hoping that Kim would safely return back to the apartment. But it was hard to remain calm soon as night was approaching. The feeling of someone whom you care about, being missing and possibly in danger was the most horrible feeling in the world.
I was so upset at myself for listening to Jason the night back at Rocky's. If I had only listened to myself and never have given Kim those keys, we would never have been in this mess in the first place. I repeatedly thought about it in my mind, growing even more furious at myself than before. While I sat in Jason's car, I closed my eyes hoping that this was just a dream, but it wasn't. I opened them only to see the dark streets ahead of me as Jason slowly drove down them.
I turned my head to look at him. He had his eyes fixed on the road, taking quick glances at the sidewalks, hoping to see Kim walking down one. Although he wanted to stay calm I could see right through him. He was worried, maybe even more than I was. After all, Kim and Jason were like family. They had known each other for years. But for a man, who seemed to care so much for Kim, Jason had been dealing with the situation a bit disappointingly. He made it quite clear to me, as well as Rocky, Adam and Tanya (whom he had told) that it was absolutely forbidden to tell Tommy anything about Kim. I tried to convince him that it was a bad idea, but he was being so stubborn about it.
"If he knows, his feelings for Kim are only going to become stronger. It's going to hurt Kat, and it will hurt Kim." I remember him saying. "He's better off not knowing, that way he goes on with his life and Kat, and he won't be falsely leading Kimberly on with his feelings."
But Jason was wrong, he was absolutely wrong. Tommy loved Kim. I could tell by the way that he talked and looked at her the night of Rocky's party. I stood there watching the two, and it was painfully obvious the feelings that they both felt and shared for each other, were there. And for Jason to forbid it was totally out of line, but it was, however, smart in a way since it would prevent Kim from heartbreak, because we knew Tommy could never leave Kat for Kim. But even though, it was wrong to keep it from him, and I knew that once Tommy would find out, there would be more than Kimberly's feelings to be worried about.
"Has it ever occurred to you that Rocky, Adam or Tanya may have leaked the news to Tommy?" I quietly asked.
"Why are you bringing this up again?" Jason sighed.
"Because I think it's wrong Jason!" I exclaimed. "And what about Billy and Aisha? Are you going to keep this from them too? I'm sure they wouldn't be pleased about this secret kept hidden from them either."
"I'm not hiding this secret from them, okay?" Jason responded. "I'll tell them once I get around to it."
"And when's that going to be?" I asked.
"Tonight… okay? If you want, I'll do it tonight."
I rolled my eyes. "And what about Kat, huh, Jase? What if she finds out?"
Jason took a moment before answering. "I haven't thought about that." He muttered.
"OH WOW!" I exclaimed with sarcasm. "Finally, something you haven't thought out yet. Well Jason, I guess your perfect plan isn't so perfect after all."
"I'm only doing what's best for Kim." He replied.
"And what about you, Jason?" I asked. "Have you ever thought what this could do to your friendship with Tommy? You guys are best friends, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to risk it all just for Kim's sake."
Jason didn't answer.
"Or would you?"
"Lacey, could we not think about this right now, please."
"Oh! So I'm guessing you haven't thought that out either."
"Listen, why don't we focus on finding Kim first, before we worry about all that stuff."
I didn't say anything. I was just getting way too sick and tired of arguing with him.
"Lacey… I just don't want this becoming a big deal, okay?"
I still didn't say a word. A big deal? Kimberly is missing and could possibly be in trouble! Of course it was a big deal.
Jason gave out a big sigh and continued driving. The remainder of the trip back to the apartment was in complete silence.
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Kat's POV
After I had gotten off work, I decided to take a walk downtown during the night to take a look at things. For once I was feeling great, now that Tommy and me were okay again. For the past few days we had spent a great amount of time together just like the old days and I couldn't have been any happier. Somehow something in Tommy had changed; he was smiling more and we were interacting more. Whatever had made Tommy act the way he was, I wanted it to keep up because it was doing great things to our relationship.
The last week was stressful. The fights I had with Tommy definitely did not make me feel the greatest and I was actually worried where our relationship was going. Tommy was just going over to Jason's apartment way too often and I knew it was because of Kim's sake, and it really got to me. I hated every moment, thinking he was spending his time with her. Every time the phone rang, it was always Jason, luring Tommy into some plan for the day. And every time, Tommy just had to go, leaving me with nothing. But now that I thought about it, lately Tommy wasn't getting any phone calls from Jason, which was good. Maybe the two had a fight, and weren't speaking, which was great news for me, because I got more attention. If that were the case, I hoped Tommy and Jason would never speak to each other ever again.
I continued on walking down the sidewalk, looking into store windows. I saw a couple of outfits that I wanted and a few things that I knew that Tommy would love. And with things going so smoothly between Tommy and me, a gift for him would be a great idea to show my admiration. Maybe if I didn't have anything to do the next day I would come back here and buy a few of the things.
I always loved walking downtown at night. The environment was always so friendly. It was something I had always loved about living in Angel Grove, the great people. The streetlights brightly lit the streets before me, as people walked by with smiles upon their faces. I smiled back to them and continued my walk. Suddenly I had a craving for something to eat and just in time I saw a sign for a café a couple blocks up. Hopefully they had something that I would like.
So I made my way up the street, weaving myself through the crowds of people. I carefully crossed the streets, knowing that some of the drivers downtown were really crazy. A lot of people had made complaints about it to City Hall, but nothing really ever happened. So everyone just spreaded around the word to be extra cautious when walking downtown, and that's exactly what I did.
I safely made it to the other side of the street, and quickly made my way over to the café. Just before I reached it, someone bumped into me, knocking my purse out of my hands. It had dropped to the ground and I quickly bent down to pick it up.
"Oh, I'm so… sorry." The person replied, as I got up.
"Kim… what a coincidence." I said.
There was a look of shock on her face that got me quite curious. I didn't know why she was reacting the way she did. It was like she had never seen me before.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah. I-I'm fine." She answered, looking as if she wanted to avoid eye contact.
"So how are things?" I asked again. Usually when I was around her, I felt a little threatened, but now with everything going so well, I knew I had nothing to worry about. And maybe this was a great chance to rub it in her face.
"Things… are… um… they're all right." She nodded. "They're all right."
"Oh, well… that's good." I replied, a little curious to Kim's awkwardness.
"So how about you?" She asked. "How are things going for you?"
I smiled. I knew exactly what to say. "Things are terrific! Words cannot express how happy I am right now."
"Oh really." Kim nodded, with a slight smile.
"Yeah, I just can't believe how well things are going between me and Tommy. It's like we've fallen in love all over again."
Kim remained nodding. I looked at her and I noticed what I was saying was getting to her. It was perfect, so I continued on.
"I mean, the way he holds me… it just feels like… the greatest feeling in the world."
"Well that's good to hear." Kim muttered as her face began to turn a bright shade of red.
"Yeah." I sighed. "Tommy's such an amazing guy, but I'm sure you already know that."
"Excuse me?" she responded with an intense glare.
"Oh come on Kim. It's not like I don't know you both went out before. I just meant, you already know what a great guy Tommy is."
Kim nodded back at me, this time with a slight frown. I smiled again.
"I'm just really glad I have a guy like him in my life who really loves me."
"Wow… that's great Kat." Kim said bitterly.
"Yeah. And I'm sure Tommy is grateful he has me in his life as well." I added. "I swear, we're perfect for each other."
"Well… you're really… sure of things aren't you." Kim mumbled.
"Oh I'm very sure." I nodded again. "Tommy and I are absolutely deeply in love with each other than before."
Kim bit her lip. "Wow… that's… good."
The look in her eyes was priceless. I could see she was getting irritated, which was a sign that my message was loud and clear: Tommy was mine if she ever thought she could ever have a chance.
"And to be perfectly honest… the sex ain't bad either." I whispered.
I saw the affect those words had on Kimberly. He eyes widened, as her face became fuming red. She clenched her teeth and took a deep breath.
"Well nice to know your sex life's going well." Kim quickly spat out her words. "Listen, I gotta go. So I'll talk to you later." She said and darted off upsettingly.
Before I was able to say a word, Kim ran off towards the end of the block where the crosswalk was located. I turned around with a huge grin on my face. I left the winner.
But before I entered the café, everyone, including me was distracted by a huge screeching noise, which sounded like the breaks of a car. The screech was then followed by a gigantic thud. Screams and gasps were heard everywhere. I turned around to see where it was coming from. Crowds of people gathered around the crosswalk near me… where Kim had ran off too. I immediately pushed myself into the crowd to see, and there, lying before everyone on the hood of a car was Kim, with streams of blood running across her face.
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Lacey sat in her bedroom, staring across at Kim's empty bed. She didn't feel like eating that night, so she stayed in her room. She also couldn't stand being in the same room with Jason, being the stubborn person that he was being.
She just couldn't understand how Jason could keep something this serious from somebody, even if that person was Tommy. Quickly she shook her head, telling herself to forget about it. She knew she had to focus on finding Kim. Where was she, and what could she have possibly been doing?
Remembering back to that night, she could recall the tears falling down on Kim's cheeks. Tommy had really upset her. Lacey noticed the flirting that was going on between Tommy and Kat at the dinner table and she understood perfectly clear why Kim was upset, or even jealous.
Jealousy was a feeling Lacey hated. It was something she tried to avoid as much as possible. Jealousy made people do crazy things, things that were completely out of character. And knowing Kim, the feeling of jealousy could have easily taken her over. And maybe her disappearing act was a result because of it. Now this worried her. Kim was somewhere out there with no one to talk to, during a time when she needs someone the most. Lacey just hoped Kim would show up soon so she could quit being worried.
The ring of the telephone startled her as she remained sitting on her bed.
"I'll get it!" Jason called out.
So Lacey continued sitting, silently staring across the room. On Kim's empty bed lay her cell phone and a couple of shirts that she had taken out in order to wear to Rocky's party. Lacey's head was then filled with 'What Ifs'. What if they had never went? What if Lacey never begged her to go to the party in the first place? What if Lacey had never given her the keys? Everything just seemed so frustrating, and Lacey just wanted it to be over.
Suddenly Jason barged through the door, with a frightening look on his face.
"They found her!" he replied.
