Chapter 13: Exhale
By: Whitney Houston
A few days later
Kimberly was walking around the mall once again. These days it seem to be her only comfort. If that is what you call a comfort. She wasn't crying these days. She had cried enough. It was the Christmas season, with decoration going up seemingly right after Thanksgiving dinner. Jason would let her go off alone finally. Knowing that some times, the best cure for a broken heart is time alone to think. Adam told him, he's not helping her, if he's always there. She has to learn and feel she can survive on her own. So with some protest, Jason for the first time in a few weeks let Kimberly go off for hours at a time alone and only came by when she called.
Only when Kimberly asked, did the others spend time with her. They all gave her the space she needed. and Kimberly was thankful for that. She loved them to death, but some times they were suffocating. Tanya found Kimberly looking at dresses for the Christmas dinner. Usually she loved shopping, especially Christmas shopping for others. Though Kimberly never needed an excuse to shop, Christmas was a time for love, family, friends and happiness.
"I guess it's too much to be happy these days," Kimberly said, as she sighed, putting away a purple dress.
"Hey," Tanya said coming to the aisle where Kimberly was shopping.
"Hey."
"How are you feeling?"
"Peaches," Kimberly said.
"Of course," Tanya said with a smile. Kimberly looked at Tanya.
"Is something wrong Tanya?"
"Yes, but…I don't….if you knew somebody was doing something. Somebody who has done something very bad, but this someone, you love, you trust like a sister, could you betray them?"
"Depends on what they are doing. And what they have did. Why? Is someone you trust doing something bad?"
"Yes. Can I talk to you?"
"You are talking to me now," Kimberly said looking at Tanya confused.
"No, not here. Please, Kimberly."
"Fine, but about what?"
"Can we just go somewhere quiet and sat down? I really need to tell you this," Tanya said.
"Okay."
Kimberly and Tanya sat outside in the food court downstairs. They were alone. "So, what do you need to speak with me about? And if it's bad, just…don't drag it out. If you are going to tell me something, tell me it quick. I can't take all of this…lingering." Tanya put the cup of coffee in front of Kimberly before she sat down.
"What I have to tell you is the truth. The whole truth"
"What truth?" Kimberly asked. "Tanya, what is this all about!"
"From the beginning. About Katherine and Jasmine."
"Okay, let me repeat, then what truth about Katherine and Jasmine?"
"Well, since the Halloween party, Katherine has...has been planning to break you and Tommy up."
"What? Why?"
"She said you needed to pay for stealing him from her. And she wanted you suffer like you made her suffer. She was embarrassed that you beat up. So, she teamed up with Jasmine. "
"What!"
"I'm so sorry. Katherine is not an evil person, but she has done some evil things with Jasmine. Helping Jasmine to hurt you. At the cabin, Katherine distracted Tommy, while Jasmine drugged you."
"What!" Kimberly stood up.
"I know. I know what she was doing was wrong, but if someone came onto my boyfriend and took him away…I might have… I don't know if I wouldn't do the same."
"They drugged me!"
"Katherine didn't know about the drugs until afterwards. She just thought Jasmine was gonna get you drunk, and when you saw them kiss, you would beat Jasmine up, like you beat her up at the party. Katherine only meant to embarrass you by everyone seeing you drunk, but when you almost drowned, Katherine pulled away from Jasmine."
"She pulled away, how great!"
"But when she saw you...saw how… she saw you two kissing, when you two got back together. She couldn't take that and, she..."
"When you say, Katherine has been planning to break Tommy and I up, does that mean that…"
"Yes. What you saw…Jasmine, she drugged Tommy, like she drugged you up at the cabin. They wanted to embarrass you, hoping you would leave town if you caught him cheating."
"Why? Why are you telling me this now, you should have told me before! You could have stopped all of this!"
"I know, and if you hate me too, I understand. I should have told you long before, but Katherine is my friend and she was hurting. Tommy, she loves him too.."
"No, she's crazy! She is infatuated with him! Nothing more! A stupid crush! And she tried to ruin us!"
"I know, and I am so sorry for not telling you before. But I had to tell you this now. I can't stand to see this. Tommy is suffering because of them, and so are you. And you two deserve so much better. You two belong together"
"I could have died because of their sick plan!" Kimberly cried. "What else have they done!"
"Nothing since Jasmine's party, when Katherine drugged Tommy. "
"She drugged him! She fucking drugged him!" Tanya nodded. "Why? How could she do that to him?"
"She wanted him back, Kimberly.Katherine just felt like..."
"I don't give a damn what she felt! She drugged him! She lied to us! Because she wants him! Because she couldn't have him!"
"I'm sorry. Katherine realized, Jasmine was after Tommy for herself, not to help her. But in her mind, you stole him, and if that meant you couldn't have him, she didn't care. If he was alone, at least he wasn't with you. Katherine knew helping Jasmine would break you two up. And eventually, Tommy would come to her, because he would never be with someone like Jasmine. At least she thought that way. So, she helped Jasmine get him to the pool house, where they set you up and everyoneto see Jasmine fake making love to Tommy. I'm sorry." Kimberly had tears in her eyes.
"Jasmine and Tommy didn't..."
"No. What you saw, it was a lie. They never had sex. Jasmine took off all of her clothes and mostly Tommy's clothes, leaving him in his boxers, as she faked it all to make you think, believe they did. Tommy was too drugged to realize what was happening. They made sure of that. He slept through it all."
"I just...I-I can't…believe they...why..." Kimberly stood up and ran her hand through her hair. "I have to go."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell before. I let this all happen, but I thought Katherine was just hurting from losing Tommy and she was crazed with..."
"NO! She drugged me! She drugged Tommy! She is sick! Both of them! And you protected them!"
"I did, but I told you…"
"Because you felt guilty! Which you should! How could they…how could you not tell us!"
"Kimberly…"
"I need to go before I do something I really want to." She picked up her bags and rushed out.
Tommy came into the house and found the downstairs bare. His parents had gone out for the day. Tommy slowly walked upstairs and heard crying. He crept upstairs and found Kimberly crying. She was lying on the floor between their rooms crying. Tommy bent down to her. He had seen blood on the wall in the shape of a fist.
"Kimberly?" He kneeled before her and touched her face. "Kimberly?" She shoved him away as she sat up. "I'm sorry." Tommy sat on the ground. Kimberly laid back down. Tommy did the same facing her. She looked at him, with tears in her eyes. "Did something happen? Are you hurt?" Kimberly nodded. Tommy saw her bloody busted knuckles. He quickly ripped at his shirt and wrapped her hand softly. "Who hurt you?" Kimberly shook her head. "Did somebody…" Kimberly shook her head as she cried. "Kimberly? What happened?" Tommy touched her face.
"I hate you." Tommy pulled his hand back.
"Oh. I'm sorry, but….Kimberly, please believe me. I would… I would die before I ever hurting you…"
"No, I hated you. I actually hated you so much. Everything you were, everything you are, I hated you. Every time I looked at you, I was angry. I wanted to punch you. I wanted to kick you, beat the living hell out of you. I wanted to see you bleed…hear your bones crack from me because I wanted you to feel the pain I felt!"
"I'm sorry."
"No! Let me finish. I hated you. And I hated myself so much more for still loving you. I wished…I wished to have never met you. I wished to have never laughed with you, I never went weak at the knees because of you. Never to have kissed you, hold you, everything with you, I wanted to undo. I wished to have never loved you. Never loved you!" Tommy closed his eyes to his tears, as did Kimberly crying. She opened her eyes and looked at Tommy. "And I am so sorry for that." Tommy opened his eyes. She quickly moved over to him and hugged him. Tommy wrapped his arms around her quickly. "I am so sorry Tommy!" She cried on him. Tommy held her just as tight as she clung to him. Kimberly pulled away slightly as she kissed around his neck. Tommy kissed her quickly on the lips. Kimberly pulled Tommy on top of her as they kissed passionately. Kimberly moaned as Tommy deepened their kisses. Kimberly undid the belt from his pants. Tommy groaned, as her hands pulled down at his pants.
"No, no, no, wait. Not here." Kimberly nodded. Tommy lifted her up with ease and carried her into his bedroom. Making love came soft and passionate, as their bodies got back together, along with their souls.
Tommy laid to his back, rubbing Kim's head, as she rubbed his arm and chest. They had just made love having found out the truth. Kimberly was wide awake, her head against his chest. Tommy stroking her head and back felt normal. It was horrible to think she wished for this never to have happened. To never have herself in his arms again. To never make love again. How foolish she was to ever feel that way. This was where she was meant to be, forever. No other man could come within miles of what this man does to her heart and soul Their souls are one, and will be forever.
"So, what happened?"
"Tanya."
"Tanya?" Tommy asked.
"She told me the truth. How Katherine and Jasmine…what they did to us."
"What did they do." Kimberly explained to all to Tommy. Tommy laid to his back on the bed her, couldn't believe what he just heard. Jasmine has drugged Kimberly, nearly causing her to drown when she saw them kissing. But to turn around to drug him, and fake having sex him to break them up. That was sickening. Tommy didn't want to believe someone could be that way. Not that hateful. And to hear that Katherine was apart of the sick plan, made Tommy sicker. She is his friend, a good friend.
"It was all a lie," Kimberly finished shaking her head. "It was all a fucking lie."
"Why?"
"Because they are crazy! Because they are sick! A lie!" She sat up staring ahead in anger. "All of it! A sick lie! A fucking sick lie!" She screamed, red in the face. Tommy sat up, hating to see her so angry. He rubbed her back, pulling her shoulders back to him. "I hate them! I hate them!"
"Shhh…Exhale." Kimberly let out the breath of angry she didn't even know she was holding in. She took several breaths to calm down. "But at least we know now right," Tommy said.
"And that makes it so much better!" Kimberly started crying again. "We believe it. I believe it. I hated you. I hated you so much I went numb! I didn't listen to Mr. Trueheart. I wasn't strong enough, I wasn't able to stop it! I let it happen! I wasn't strong enough to stop it!" Tommy turned her face to him. "I wasn't strong for you…."
"Listen to me. They drugged me. They created this sick lie to break you. Anybody would have believe it." Kimberly shook her head.
"I shouldn't have! I should have known! I should have trusted you! I should have doubted them…I should have beat the shit out her, when I saw that and maybe…maybe we would have…"
"Hey, hey. No, this is not your fault! So stop feeling this way right now!"
"I am so sorry!" Tommy hugged her.
"I'm sorry too. It's my fault," Tommy said.
"How!"
"I almost believe them."
"What?"
"I knew I couldn't…I wouldn't do that, but everything led to it. Led to that conclusion and I almost believed it."
"What do we do now?" Kimberly asked. Tommy kept his arm around her as they laid down.
"I don't know."
"I want revenge."
"Revenge won't change what they did."
"True, but I will feel so much better when they pay for what they have done."
"And they will, Beautiful. They won't get away with this."
"But what can we do?" Kimberly asked.
"I know what I can do, right now."
"What is that?" Kimberly asked with a smile.
"Kiss you."
"What?"
"Kiss you." Tommy kissed her. "And never let you go again."
"Never." Kimberly smiled.
"I love you," they both whispered, kissing under the covers as they made love again.
Tommy laid rubbing the top of Kim's head, as she laid on his chest after they made love again. Kimberly rubbed around his nipple and across his heart.
"I have to tell you something."
"Okay."
"Everything."
"Okay." Kimberly raised her head from Tommy's chest as she looked at him.
"The truth behind, Master Morimorto."
"Okay." Kimberly sighed and slidto sitting ontop of him.
"I didn't tell you everything."
"I kind of figured that out, Beautiful." Tommy placed his hands at Kim's thighs.
"Not a lie I told, I have never lied to you, and I knew will. But I lied in the sense that I didn't tell you the whole truth."
"Tell me now then."
"I wasn't in Japan for what I said."
"There wasn't a pre-Olympic competition."
"Oh, there was. I competed, the first day. But I wasn't there to win it. I was in Japan, with Miles for something else. I purposely lost the competition in the first day. Failing on everything, falling off beam, bars, everything I could to make myself lose."
"But why?"
"I wanted revenge."
"Revenge for who?"
"Master Morimorto was murdered and I wanted revenge for his killer."
"What?"
"Master Morimorto had many family heirlooms, possessing great powers like the Zeo crystal I earned. That day he gave me that chest, he knew his days were short. He had a son, an evil son. Not Miles's father, but his uncle. Michael craved power and greed. He was very powerful in Japan, on a secret society of mobsters or something like that. Anyways, when he found out Master Morimorto had given away the famous chest, he went crazy with anger and killed him. I came back from the American cup and found from Miles. Miles was heading to Japan to fight his uncle, but I knew he couldn't do it alone."
"So you went with him."
"Yes and…I did something horrible."
Flashback
Fire surrounded the estate. Kimberly stood before Michael, he was bleeding heavily from his mouth and body. "I see my father has taught you everything he knows."
"Of course."
"Did he teach you how to be a murderer, because that is only how you can stop me." He tried to lift the beam again.
"I will not kill you.But I don't have to save you." Kimberly lifted up a sword.
"You don't have it in you to do it." Kimberly let out a scream and turned away. Kimberly helped Miles to his feet. "You can't do this! You can't..." Kimberly and Miles walked out the fiery building to safety.
"I killed a man."