Author's Note: This isn't one of my favorite chapters. It was a bitch to finish. Anyway I've been obsessed with Cobra Kai lately. Leo Howard should totally be on the show.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kickin it
Seaford High
7th Period Theater 1
Friday, February 1st, 2013
"You just have to accept we won fair and square." Desiree says smugly
"Bullshit." Remy immediately disagrees with a semi glare
"Fat chance of that happening." Brody adds
"Yeah what Rem said. You guys cheated!" Kim agrees
"We did no such thing."
Monday was Field Day. The day Kim has been looking forward to since she came back to school from winter break. Kim had trouble sleeping the day before. Too full of excitement for the big day.
She woke up about an hour before her alarm. Rushed through her usual morning routine quicker than she usually does. Only this time she wore the class shirt made for Field Day. The freshmen colors were red, sophomores purple, juniors green, and seniors blue. By the time she was eating breakfast the rest of the house started getting up. She was texting Kelsey while eating her bowl of cereal. Her bottle blonde friend was almost as excited as her for Field Day and also got up early.
By the time her mom dropped her off at school Kim was nearly bursting out of her skin with excitement. This was it. Finally the day she was waiting for. Field Day.
All the participating students met in the gym after breakfast. Thankfully they didn't have to sit with their first period class, they could sit wherever as long as they're sitting with their grade. So Kim sat clumped together with Kelsey, Donna, Remy, and Sloane. Honestly Kim was surprised that her fellow female Wasabi Warrior wanted to participate. From what Kim learned about her she doesn't seem like the school spirit type. When Kim asked her Sloane explained that it beat having to do schoolwork. So fair enough.
The first event was the classic egg-and-spoon race. Brody was the first one up to represent the freshmen. He was competing against the sophomore rep Marcus, the junior rep was Trent, and the senior was Rhyland. Kim cheered Brody on because it was what her fellow classmates were doing. It didn't mean anything so Remy really didn't need to be giving her the look he gave. Unfortunately Trent was the winner of the first game.
The first few games her freshman class didn't do so hot. The upperclassmen were taking the lead, with the seniors a little ahead than the juniors. The freshmen class finally won their first point in kickball. From then on they started getting a few more points until they were tied with the sophomores. By then the seniors had fell behind and the juniors were in the lead. The bean bag relay race was the next game up and Kim was hoping that that game would put her class above the sophomores. Luckily the game did when Tj ended up tripping.
The final game was flag football. Almost two hours have gone by and it was the final showdown between the freshman, sophomores, and the juniors. The freshmen class were tied with the sophomores while the juniors were three points higher than them. So first the judges had the sophomores and freshmen duke it out and the winning team goes up against the juniors. They won of course but the sophomore team did put up a good fight.
Then it was the final showdown between them and the juniors. The freshmen team was made up of Brett, Jack, Brad, Kim, Brody, Lyndsey, Katie, and Sloane. The game was tense and throughout most of it their scores remained close. Eventually they reached the final minutes of the game. The juniors took the lead by two points so if the freshmen team were able to score a touchdown then they would win. By then the remaining team members were Kim, Jack and Brett. Their team only needed one point to win the game and thus winning Field Day.
Kim had the football but was being closed in on by a junior teammate so she threw the ball towards Brett. He was a fast runner and ran towards the end zone to score the final point but Trent Blue was hot on his heels. Brett was close and just as he reached the zone Trent pulled his flag off. Kim believed he was in the clear and she wasn't the only one. Brett made it to the end zone, the flag was pulled off of him afterwards. But apparently the judges didn't think so. They got no point and Brett was out. From then on Kim and Jack tried to put up a fight but it was a losing battle. The juniors won.
"I never understood that saying, 'fat chance'. How does that mean not going to happen? What does fat have to do with it?" Remy pondered as he twirled his pencil in his left hand
The entire table stopped their bickering to stare at Remy. Kim in total confusion, Desiree in amusement, and Brody in consideration.
A thoughtful look crossed Brody's face. "Huh, that's actually a really good question."
Desiree laughs lightly. "Never change Rem."
Kim shakes her head, still getting used to the freshmen repeat's random ramblings. She quickly dismissed the interruption to get back on topic. "Anyway, you guys only won because y'all cheated
Brody stared at Kim in amusement. "Y'all?"
Kim's cheeks colored in embarrassment at her southern accent slipping out. "Shut up."
"You may have won this time but next year we will win." Kim promises while pointing to the junior anchorwoman
Desiree shrugs in unconcern. "If you say so."
"Feel kinda bad for the seniors though, this is their last year and they lost." Brody sympathized
"Eh it's their fault for sucking." Kim dismisses
"That's what she said." Remy quips earning a light hit and eye roll from Desiree
"What are you twelve?" The junior chides
"And a half." Remy snarks
Meanwhile Brody wasn't paying his fellow brunette any mind. "Ouch." He playfully exclaims with an exaggerated hand to his chest
Kim rolls her eyes. "What? Just because they're seniors doesn't mean they should've won. The judges judged fair and square."
"You're brutal."
"I'm honest." Kim countered
"Brutally honest." Quickly retorted back with a grin
Kim lightly shoves at his shoulder. "Shut up."
Brody smirks then retaliates with his own light shove. A grin spread on her lips as she shoved him back. The two of them continued to go back and forth as a sickeningly girly giggle escaped her lips.
When Kim's eyes strayed over towards Desiree she froze at the knowing smile on her lips. Kim's cheeks reddened and she felt like she was caught doing something she wasn't supposed to.
"Aren't you two just cute." Remy gushes in slight over enthusiastic his face cradled in both his hands as he watches them
Kim huffs in embarrassment and rolls her eyes. "Shut up."
"And to think, just a month you couldn't stand him." Desiree drawls
Kim could feel her cheeks flaming yet again and looked down at the table. She grunted out something resembling a 'shut up' while she tried to focus on the assignment they were supposed to be doing. She didn't want to deal with the knowing smirks and pointed jabs from Desiree and Remy. Didn't want to understand what they were implying. Brody and her were just friends. There was nothing more to it than that.
Even as she thought that for some reason a little voice in her head questioned if that was really the truth.
Seaford High
Corridor
Layla Corazon was going to kill him.
She was going to strangle him to death in front of the entire team. Then Quinton and the team were going to cover for her. Jerry Martinez will no longer exist. His parents wouldn't care less and Paula would be the only person in his family to be sad.
Wow. That got dark really fast.
Anyway Jerry was late to dance practice…again.
But it wasn't his fault! Mika asked him to ditch his last period class to meet up at the Wolfe Memorial Park. Jerry couldn't say no to her and he didn't want to say no to her. Besides science is lame, yo. It's been kind of hard to just get one on one time with her. She's either hanging out with Erica's group or Ethan or Randy or some new random guy. The past two weeks she's been busy with this junior dude. Too busy to hangout with him and rejected his offers of hanging out after school.
Jerry tried to take it in stride. Tried to pretend seeing Mika making out with an older, muscular guy with a car and is on the lacrosse team isn't a punch to the gut. She made it strictly clear that they weren't boyfriend and girlfriend. So in return Jerry decided to hit up Claire. They ran into each other a few times after Val's award ceremony thing back in November. The first time at the mall when the prep was surrounded by her snobby friends. She acted like a usual bitchy prep and that their makeout session never happened. Jerry was a little disappointed but not surprised but when Jerry was about to leave he ran into her again only this time was alone. She pulled him into a secluded corner and practically mauled him with her mouth.
It was actually really hot. But also really confusing.
He was completely blindsided by her sneak attack and before he even had time to really process what was happening she left in a rush. But not before slipping him a note with her number on it and telling him to call her.
Jerry took his time calling her. She was hot and all and not a bad kisser but he had his sight set on Mika Khan. Back then he was totally convinced that he could get Mika to change her mind. That it would be super easy to woo Mika with his swawesomeness.
Turns out he was wrong.
Every time Jerry suggested something that sounded like a date she rejected him. When they hung out at Ethan's or Erica's she would never stay by his side. She flitted around towards Ethan or Randy or another new guy. When Jerry tried to stay next to her she would urge him to go somewhere else. started to get annoyed at him and started ignoring him. Ignored his texts, walked the other way when they saw each other in the hall, and gave him the cold shoulder in Algebra. Instead she started sucking faces with some senior and that was when Jerry got fed up. He remembered Claire and the number she slipped him and finally texted her a few days before the end of winter break.
They met up at Shore Park. Claire made a comment about him taking a while to text but wasn't hung up on it. They didn't talk much at first, mostly kissing and heavy petting. It was easy to forget about Mika when he had another hot girl in his lap. It didn't go further than that. He tried to sneak his hand underneath her shirt but she stopped them. Then she started talking about her fabulous winter break trip and Jerry grew bored and came up with an excuse to leave.
He didn't meet up with Claire for the next few weeks after that. Mika was happy to see him and actually wanted to spend more time than usual with him because she missed him. That only lasted for about two weeks before she started flirting with different guys again. So instead of feeling bad about it Jerry texted Claire about seeing a movie. He let Claire choose the movie and big surprise it was a chick flick. Thankfully they didn't pay much attention to the movie because they were too busy making out. The night was okay, he had a good time. Though he could only stand hearing Claire's voice for so long before it became grating.
He met up with Claire one more time before Mika wanted to hang again. Turns out the senior she was hanging out with was an asshole. He had Cami drive him over to Mika's, her aunt and uncle were out. Mika was visibly upset when he came over. He tried to ask what was wrong but she snapped at him to leave it. She put on a foregin film and then practically jumped him.
Sex was still kind of weird. Him and Mika have done it only a handful of times. Each time was still awkward and a little uncomfortable for Jerry. He still hasn't gotten used to doing it and finishes too fast which is super embarrassing. He's still learning how to please Mika without her telling him what to do. He looked up
Jerry finally reaches the dance room. He sees the team sitting on the floor as they stare attentively at Quinton who was standing in the front of the room. Layla stood next to him with her arms crossed and her trademark hard look on her face. It could rival Sloane's usual look. Jerry was hoping to be able to sneak into the room without Quinton and Layla noticing. He was only fifteen minutes late, that's not too bad right? Jerry cracked the door open as quietly as possible. Thankfully the door wasn't creaky. He slipped in unnoticed and felt completely smug. Until the door slammed loudly shut behind him.
That gained the attention of the entire class including Quinton and Layla. Shit.
Layla being Layla was the first to speak. "Well look who decided to show up." She drawls. The calm before the storm
Jerry mentally curses as he walks further into the room. "I-sorry dude-er dudette? Ma'am? I didn't mean to be late I-"
Quinton raises his hand to silence him. "Just sit down Jerry." He dismissively orders the freshman
Jerry jaw snaps shut with a click and he nods. He walks to the last row of students then sits down next to Stacey Wiseman. All in all it went better than he thought it would. He was preparing himself for Layla to criticize the living hell out of him while interrogating him.
After he situated himself on the ground Quinton continued on with the meeting. He was discussing Nationals that were fastly approaching the team. It was less than two weeks away so they were in crunch mode. The competition was going to be held in Disney World which Jerry found kinda confusing. Why would a dance competition be at an amusement park?
Most of the class was spent on Quinton talking about Nationals and what to expect and ironing out all the details. Jerry was pumped, this was going to be his first ever Nationals competition. And he was going to be flying out of state for the first time ever as an added bonus. He's never been out of state before. The last twenty minutes of class they practiced their routine for Nationals then did a cool down exercise.
"Remember guys to practice, practice, practice! See you Wednesday." Quinton instructed the team as they slowly filed out of the class, chatting amongst themselves about Nationals
Jerry just threw his backpack over his shoulder and was gulping down his water when he heard Quinton call him. "Jerry, stay back, we need to talk."
Shit. He should've known he wouldn't be getting off with a slap on the wrist. He internally cursed again before turning around with what he hopes is an easy look on his face. He walks over towards where Quinton was.
"Quinton my man, what goes on?" He asks as casually as possible, trying to come off as calm and easy going when he feels anything but
The dance advisor just gave him an unimpressed look. His arms were crossed. "I'm a give it to you straight. This is your fifth time being late."
Jerry hangs his head. Guilt bubbling up inside him. "I know I'm sorry I-"
"I'm not finished." The advisor curtly interrupts. This wasn't the usual laidback, happy Quinton he's gotten to know. This Quinton was cold and very obviously mad.
"Nationals are coming up. They're less than a month away. Heck they're less than two weeks away. It's grind time now. Everyone needs to be bringing it their all. Their one hundred percent. Not eighty and definitely not fifty."
Jerry nods solemnly but remains silent. He knows that already. He's heard that many, many, times already too.
"I've been lenient but not anymore. Not only have you been late but your grades are dropping. You remember that if you get below a 2.0 then you're off the team."
Jerry nods, "Yes, I remember." It wasn't a complete lie. He remembered being told that but in the past few weeks he kinda started forgetting the rule. He thought it was a dumb rule in the first place. Why does grades matter in dancing?
"Then you need to get your grades back up. This team needs near perfect dancers. If dance isn't your number one priority then join again next year."
Jerry gulps. There it was. The threat that Jerry saw coming but it still shocked him anyway. The threat of him being kicked off the team. Of not going to Nationals.
Quinton holds his eye contact. It felt like the advisor was staring into his soul. "You feel me?"
Jerry nods jerkily, "Yes sir."
"Good. Because if you're late to another practice or if your grades drop any lower you're off the team. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir. I understand sir."
"Good. See you next Friday at four pm sharp." Knowing the threat landed Quinton turned away from Jerry, dismissal clear
Jerry stares at his back for a moment longer, fear settling in the pit of his stomach, before turning around towards the door and exiting the room.
Seaford High
Corridor
Monday, February 4th, 2013
"Dude what's up with you?" Randy finally asked him when he noticed Jerry wasn't paying attention to a single thing he was saying
Jerry sighed heavily then lightly thunked his head against the wall behind him. "I'm sorry man I just got a lot on my mind."
The two of them were chilling in the seating area by the staircase. Randy didn't care about being late for his next class, in fact he was thinking of skipping his science class altogether. Jerry was completely out of it ever since his talk with Quinton on Friday. He couldn't focus on a single thing, and for once he didn't try to flirt with Mika during Algebra.
"Is Val being bitchy again?" Randy asked half distractedly as he scrolled through his phone
"Nah it's not her for once. It's Layla and Quinton."
Randy looks up from his phone at that. A smile breaking across his lips, "Ah Layla, the super hot hardass."
Jerry scoffs, "She's really not that hot when she's constantly yelling at you." He got over any attraction towards her when she started yelling and criticizing him. She reminded him too much of Ezra
Randy shrugs, unconvinced, "I don't know, I think a girl in command is super hot."
Jerry shakes his head, deciding there's no use arguing. "Quinton threatened to kick me off the team if I miss any more practices or my grades drop anymore in English and Algebra."
Randy clucks his tongue in sympathy. "Man that sucks." He says but his gaze returns on his phone again
"Yeah it really does! And I blame Layla."
"Why do you blame her?"
"Because she's been up my ass ever since I joined the team. She comments on every little thing I do and always singles me out. So I'm late to a few practices and miss some others, so what? I'm not the only one. But for some reason when I do it, I get in trouble." He rants
"Maybe she has a thing for you." Randy teases with a smirk and wagging of brows
Jerry laughs then shakes his head. "Dude, don't."
"Hey boys." Mika purred as she walked towards them with her usual coy smirk
He took her in. Today she was wearing a flower print skirt that showed off her tanned, toned legs. A pink knitted sweater over a plain white shirt and her shoes were white boots. Usually seeing her instantly made everything better for him. Any and all previous sour emotions were wiped away by her appearance. But today that wasn't the case. Despite her being there looking as hot as ever it did nothing for him. He still felt shitty.
"Mika." Randy drew her name out as his eyes lingered on her legs
Jerry forced a smile on his face, "What a do girl?" He greets her but this time with slightly forced enthusiasm
"I want to borrow Jerry for quick second."
Randy was clearly taken off guard from her request but tried to play it off. "Oh ok, sure."
Mika flashes him a smile as she tugs Jerry up. "Thank you." Once Jerry was standing she pulled him into a more secluded corner on the other side by the lockers
Once they were alone she leaned up to give him a deep, long, kiss. When they pulled away for air it took a minute for Jerry's brain to function again. "So what's up?"
"Erica is having having small get together at her house. Cathy is bringing Zane and I want to bring you." She purred and leaned in towards him so her lips were brushing against his
Man was that tempting. Jerry had a half a mind to immediately accept her offer consequences be damned. But he stopped himself. Dance was important to him. He was very close to being kicked off the team. He cannot fail his upcoming Algebra test or its bye bye dance team.
Jerry leaned slightly back from her. "That sounds totally swawesome," Hebegins before slumping his shoulders in defeat, "but I can't. I already have plans
Mika frowns in confusion, "You never deny plans."
It was true, he never does. It was pretty much if she asked him to jump then he'd ask how high. Ethan made a few whipping jokes at his expense that he tried to ignore. When a girl that hot asks him to do something, who is he to deny her? "Yeah I know but I really can't tonight."
Mika removes her arm and steps back from him. "You choose schoolwork over me?" She was giving him a look he's never seen before. Her greenish blue eyes hardened as anger was building in them. Her lips thinned and jaw tightened.
"No, no, it's not like that you know I like you. If I could, I would always choose you." Jerry tries to appease her, "but if I don't study then I'll get another bad grade and then I'll be kicked off the dance team."
Mika's lips pursed and she looks down. "I see." She nods once then looks back up towards him with a stony look. "I ask Ethan then."
Jerry's stomach twists at the boy's name as he works hard to keep his face from scowling. He opens his mouth, trying to think of something to say but no words come to mind. How did this turn so bad so fast?
She nods once. "Bye Jerry." She quickly brushes past him to climb up the stairs
"Wait Mika-" He tries but she didn't turn around and eventually disappeared into the throng of students heading to class
Jerry blows out an exhaustive breath. Well, that could've gone better.
Cafeteria
2nd Lunch
At Seaford high there were three places you could sit at for lunch; the cafeteria, amphitheater, or the courtyard. That was because the school wasn't just a high school, it also held middle school grades too. Because of the extra students that meant there were a little over a thousand students in the buildings. Which meant extra seating areas were needed.
Despite the seating options, Kim usually eats lunch in the cafeteria. She doesn't like the hard steps on the amphitheater that leaves her with a sore rear. Also that area was claimed by Grace and Co so enough said. She sometimes sits in the courtyard in front of the school but it's only every now and then. That's where Randy sits and every freaking time she sits there he comes over to her table and tries to flirt with her. Threats don't even work on him because he actually seems into that which is just ew!
So the cafeteria was where she sat with Kelsey, Donna, and sometimes Milton and Sloane. Whenever Sloane sits with them Remy isn't far behind since the two of them are friends. Kim will admit she's still a little surprised at their friendship considering their different personalities but she guesses opposites attract and all that. Sloane used to be besties with Ana or should she say Stassie. It was obvious something happened between them that dissolved their friendship but when Kim tried to pry Sloane snapped at her. Kim knew when to leave well enough alone so she hadn't tried to ask since.
Today Milton chose to spend his lunch period studying for his AP bio test tomorrow. Sloane and Remy haven't appeared yet but Kim was pretty sure they were gonna join them. It was becoming a regular thing for the two of them to sit at their table and Kim was happy at that. Sloane was becoming a good friend of hers, not just someone she sometimes talks to at school and the dojo. She started inviting Sloane to hangout with her, Kelsey, and Donna. Sloane being Sloane was standoffish the first few times but she began to warm up to her friends.
"Hey, do you guys mind if I sit here?"
Three heads looked up in surprise at the male voice. There standing at the edge of their table shifting nervously on his feet stood Brody. Kim's eyes widened in shock at his appearance before she looked over to her friends. Donna regarded him coolly while the shock was clear on Kelsey's face. Shock that was slowly morphing into irritation.
Kelsey raises a brow in surprise, "Brody Carlson."
The boy nods even though it wasn't a question. "Uh yeah that's me. And you're Kelsey. Kelsey Vegas right?"
Kelsey's eyes narrowed. "Vargas." She sharply corrects
"Oh, sorry."
Kim shoots him what she hoped was a reassuring smile towards him. "You can sit down." She tells him
A relieved smile broke across Brody's lips as he moved to sit on Kim's right which was directly in front of Brody. "Thanks."
Donna levels the boy with a challenging stare. "Don't you usually sit with Grace and Company for lunch? Surprised Lyndsey let you out of her sight long enough for you to escape." She snarks
That was one thing that kind of concerned Kim. It was bad enough he was friends with Grace and her gang, but he also seems to have gotten close with Lyndsey Pryce of all people. Now that Brody and her were Facebook friends that means she could see when he was tagged in different people's posts. A lot of the posts he was tagged in were Lyndsey's. In most of the posts the pair were in a group made up of Katie, Grace and Brad or just Cara, and Tj. But there were pics of just the two of them together goofing off. Plus not to mention their numerous Keeks together.
Kim's not afraid that they're together or have feelings together because Lyndsey has made it clear that she still has a huge crush on Jack. It's just the Lyndsey of it all. Kim despises the girl and in return the brunette strongly despises her back. Kim can't even remember why Lyndsey hates her so much. It's just something that exists and Kim started hating her in return because she doesn't take kindly to being treated badly. You disrespect her once she's willing to let it go if they apologize but twice then she'll bite back.
Brody's eyebrows crinkled in confusion at the nickname. It was cute. In a completely platonic way. "Grace and Company? Is that what you call us?" He asks Donna
"It's better than what Sloane calls you guys." Kelsey says
"It's better than the stupid name Elite." Donna adds before taking a bite from her chimichanga
Kim hides her smile in her water bottle. While her and Brody are on better terms Kelsey and Donna were still doubtful and unimpressed. Kelsey more than Donna. Kim has a feeling it's because Kelsey was afraid that Brody was a threat to what she calls her 'epic romance' with Jack. Which is completely silly, her and Brody are just friends, and barely that. Kim still doesn't fully trust him. Dating him would be completely stupid and a very bad idea.
"Still Lyndsey is your favorite lady right?" Kelsey asks mockingly causing Donna to nearly choke on her food from laughter
Brody shoots a look at Kim. She shrugs unashamedly at the snub her friend aimed at him. Just because she was cool doesn't mean she was going to force her friends to like him. Besides, there was nothing wrong with harmless teasing. It builds character.
Brody sighed, looked back down at his plate and shrugged. "Not like that. Lyndsey's cool and all but we're just friends." He glances at Kim when he stressed that fact and she tried not to read too much into it. Into why he felt the need to look at her when he said that.
They were just friends.
Kelsey full blown laughs at the boy's statement. "Lyndsey? Cool?!" She incredulously repeats
Meanwhile Donna was leveling him with a judgemental look. "Lyndsey's a grade A bitch."
Brody winced at that. He looks down at his plate. Kim felt a crazy urge to place a reassuring hand on his arm but resisted. "I'm not gonna touch that. You guys have good reasons to hate her from what Kim told me. I've just seen a different side of her."
Kelsey nods exaggeratedly before she props her left elbow on the table and rests her chin on her hand. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear, you giving us permission to hate Lyndsey." She says in a sugary sweet tone
Brody's eyes widened in shock as a flush of embarrassment crept up his neck. He shook his head in denial and stammered out an explanation. "No that's not-"
Donna hides her laugh behind her hand. She was enjoying Kelsey's rare show of pettiness and snark. It was such a contrast to her usual bubbly demeanor. Though if Kim was being honest lately Kelsey has been acting differently. If she really thought about it Kelsey hasn't been the same since the prank last semester.
Finally Kim took poor pity on the flustered boy. "Lay off him, Kels." Kim tells her but with no heat behind her words
"Relax, she's just messing with you," Kim assures him and she rests a hand on his forearm. Brody glanced over at her with a startled expression.
Donna zeroes in on their point of contact with narrowed eyes. Kim quickly took her hand away and placed it in her lap
Thankfully Kelsey missed that. Moment entirely. She took a bite from a baby carrot then looked back at Brody with an insincere doe eyed expression. "Yeah I'm just messing with you brochacho."
Most of the tension had drained from Brody but he still looked like he was thinking of jumping from the table. Kim didn't want him to. He wanted him to stay and maybe smooth things over with Donna and Kelsey. Things would be so much easier if her best friends didn't hate him.
Kim clears her throat, "So," she begins, "I have strong thoughts about yesterday's pll episode."
Thursday, February 6th, 2013
Main Corridor
When the dismissal bell rang, Jerry high tailed out of his first period Algebra class. His eyes were set on a certain light brown haired girl who was leaving the class. He didn't want to lose her in the crowd. He distractedly did his handshake with Randy as he left the room and entered the hallway.
"Hey Mika, wait up!"
The girl in call turned around towards him, her face blank as she made eye contact. He stepped to the side of the hall to allow other students to pass by as she waited for him to catch up. When he finally did she continued walking again, hardly sparing him a glance, "Hello Jerry." Her tone was cold and slightly dismissive
Jerry was taken back from her cold tone but tried to power through. He cleared his throat and nervously rubbed the back of his neck, "Hey, uh what a do girl?"
Instead of her usual giggle or coy smile at his line she continued to stare straight ahead. "I still do not know what that means." Was what she says
If there was one thing growing up with seven sisters taught Jerry was how to read girls. And everything about Mika was screaming she was mad at him. Only he doesn't understand why or what he did. She was the one that's been avoiding him and ignoring his texts for the past week. And who started paying more attention to Randy in Algebra and even chose to pair up with him!
"Um. How was your get together Friday?" Jerry wasn't about to admit that he stalked her and her friend's Facebook and Keek that night. Saw how cozy she was with Ethan in the pictures posted on Erica's account.
"It was fun," Mika shares before finally glancing over at him to give him a side eye, " you would know if you were there." She says the last part pointedly
So that's what this is about. She was still upset about him turning her down. He thought she understood, she seemed okay when he told her. Guess he still has some girl stuff to learn. He should've known better. "Yeah, I'm sorry but-"
"I know Jerry. It was important for you," Mika interrupts as she glances back over to him with a slightly forced smile. "No worries. Ethan made me feel better."
Jerry's stomach twists at that. The pictures he saw more than confirmed that for him. Especially when he saw the two of them making out in the background of Erica's Keek with Cathy. "Glad to hear it." He somehow managed to choke out
He pushes that out of his mind as he narrowly avoids bumping into another student. "I haven't seen you around much." He continues
Mika shrugs at the observation. "I didn't want to be bother since you are busy."
And there it was again. The none too subtle jab. "I'm never too busy for you."
Mika fully stops in the hall to turn towards him with an unimpressed stare. Her hand propped on her hip. "Until Friday."
Jerry winces at that. He should've come up with something else. "Well, yes but that was a special occasion. It doesn't mean we can't hangout or talk."
Mika just hummed then turned back around to continue walking. She pulled out her phone.
"How about we sit together at lunch."
"I'm sitting with Erica and the girls." She tells him then glances up at him, "they do not like you." She finishes
That wasn't shocking news to him. He knew that already, they didn't try to hide it. He sees their eye rolls, scoffs, and whispering to one another when he's around. Julie never hides her dislike for him and always loudly asks why he's even around. Their dislike wasn't just at him, Julie and Cathy don't like Randy that much either. But they dislike Randy slightly less than they dislike him.
"I know, the feelings mutual," Jerry admits, "what about after school? We can hangout then? Maybe go to the memorial park?"
Jerry likes to think of the memorial park as 'their' place. Whenever it's just the two of them that's the place they go to, to smoke weed, makeout, and talk. Sometimes she opens up about her life in Hakmakistan and her parents. In return he opens up about his parents and their messy divorce and how he tries to distract his younger sisters from it.
Mika shakes her head, "No, I have plans already."
"With Ethan?" Jerry couldn't help but ask
Mika shrugs, "None of your concern." She says, not confirming or denying. They reached her next class and the boy racked his brain to try and come up with something before she goes inside
Jerry opens his mouth to respond back but she beats him to the punch. "Later, Jerry." She dismisses over her shoulder then entered her classroom
Seaford High
Auditorium
"How have you not seen that movie?!" Brody asks incredulously to Kim
Their after school play practice was coming to an end. Their duties as assistant stage managers were completed so the two of them were sitting in the auditorium seats towards the back as they watched their classmates rehearse. Or they were watching before they got to talking about their weekend plans. Which then somehow changed into movies.
"Because I'm not a comic nerd?" Kim quips
Brody huffs and rolls his eyes. "Neither am I." He denies
Kim raises a questioning brow. "Yeah? You just told me the movie is based on a comic book." She points out
Brody rolls his eyes again as he sits back in his seat. "Yeah but you don't have to be a comic nerd in order to see the movie."
The blonde beauty was unconvinced. "It sounds like you had to be one in order to even know the movie existed."
"I mean it stars the guy from that preggers teen movie and has the dude that plays Captain America in it."
"Preggers teen movie?" Kim distastefully repeats
Brody nods. "Yeah the one where the girl was going to give her baby to this couple but the husband starts having feelings for her. It was with the girl from Inception."
Kim's brows furrowed as she tried to piece the information together. It sounded vaguely familiar, she thinks she knows what he's talking about. She thinks Donna had Kelsey and her watch it in one of their sleepovers.
Finally a light bulb went off in her head. She snaps her fingers in realization. "Ohh. I know what you're talking about."
Their conversation briefly lulled as their gaze returned to the stage up ahead. Ms. Evaheart was on the stage standing in between Ashanti and Benny and critiquing them on the blocking on the scene they just rehearsed. Brody was shooting Kim nervous glances every now and then before it looked like he steadied himself for what he was about to say.
"We should watch the movie sometime." Brody blurts out
"Juno?"
"No, I mean the first movie I was telling you about."
Kim's eyebrows rose in surprise as her heart thumped faster in her chest. She blinked as she tried to regain her speech. "Oh."
"Yeah, we could watch it together. At my house, if you want."
"Um," Kim hesitated as she tried to understand why her heart was speeding and her face felt flushed. She has no reason to feel like…this.
It was a simple question. It was a thing that normal friends did together, even guy and girl friends. She watched a few movies at Milton's house though it was with Jerry, Jack, and he-who-should-not-be-named. It was never one on one with Milton. But she had watched movies alone with Jack but she's not sure that's a good example.
Seeing Kim's clear hesitance and discomfort, Brody rushed to fix the sudden tension between them. "We don't have to! It was just- I was just- forget I said anyth-"
"No I want to," Kim impulsively interrupts. She blinks, surprised at her own words
A slow relieved smile spreads across Brody's lips. Again, Kim doesn't understand why that dumb smile caused a weird, fluttery feeling in her stomach. Maybe she's coming down with something.
"Cool. That's- that's great."
"But uh not tonight right? Because I need to study for my Algebra test tomorrow and on top of that I'm babysitting my sister tonight. My mom and Chuck are going on this date night."
Brody nods his understanding. "Yeah of course whenever you're- we can do it whenever you're free."
"Okay."
They lapsed into silence as they focused back on the stage. Ms. Evanheart announces for the cast to start from the beginning of the scene again with the Weird Sisters coming back onto the stage. But while Kim's eyes were watching the scene, her mind was far from it.
Krupnick Residence
Study Room
"C'mon Jerry focus." Milton urges him for what felt like the millionth time
"I am, I am."
"No you're not," Milton denies, "you have to pass this Algebra test if you're gonna stay on the dance team."
Jerry begged Milton to help him study for his Algebra test and being the most swawesomest friend ever agreed. Though Jerry would've preferred if he could just cheat off of Milton but sadly his friend was in another math class. A higher math class for all the nerds.
After school Jerry was in Milton's house trying but failing to focus on his schoolwork. He was in Milton's family's study room. Because since Milton was a prep-in-training of course his family has multiple extra rooms and of them is dedicated to studying apparently. It was a nice room. It had two bookshelves with a huge window in the middle that had handles and could open. The window also had a seating ledge with a black and white cushion. Milton and Jerry were sitting at the desk with a computer and lamp. There was also a black and white bench and a cool brick fireplace.
Jerry was trying to focus. He really was but he couldn't stop thinking about Mika. About how cold she was towards him. She was pissed. Jerry doesn't need to be Milton to know that. She was giving him the cold shoulder. Jerry doesn't know how to fix it.
"I know, I know."
"So tell me, how do you solve this problem?" Milton repeats with slight irritation in his voice as he points to the equation on the paper
Jerry huffs as he searches through his memory of what Milton taught him. The first step to solving the equation. "Uh, you uh, start with that thing."
Milton blinks at him. "What thing?" He asks flatly
Jerry snaps his fingers as he tried to remember the word Milton taught him. "You know uh, PENDANT?"
"You mean PEMDAS?"
Jerry nods. "Yeah that."
"Good, okay so where in this equation do you start using PEMDAS?"
Jerry looks down at his paper. "Around here." He points to the area of the equation with parentheses around it
Milton claps him on the shoulder then gets up from his chair. "Good so you do this equation and when you finish tell me."
"Yes Mr. Krupnick." Jerry quips
Milton rolled his eyes, "I'm gonna get some OJ, do you want anything to drink?"
"Nah," Jerry denies, "ooh wait!"
"Yes?"
"Does your mom have any of that root beer?"
"No, you know she's iffy about soda."
Jerry groans, "Ugh, yeah, yeah I forgot."
"I'll be back."
He tries to focus on his math equations, he does. He tries to remember what Milton taught him about solving the Algebra equations. But one thing led to another and he found himself on Facebook on his phone. He looked up Cathy's profile because he knows how tight she was with Mika. He knows Mika doesn't use her Facebook that much. Before she moved to Seaford she didn't even know anything about social media. Probably at Erica's or Cathy's persistence Mika created an Instagram and Facebook account. She uploaded a few pictures of herself and with Cathy and her little posse.
Cathy hasn't posted any new pictures but she has updated her status. It was something about not letting guys run free in your kitchen. Jerry's mind immediately went to Ethan and Randy. He quickly clicked over to Erica's profile but hers wasn't any helpful to see what boys were over at Cathy's house. Jerry decided to click over to Keek to see if that'll be any helpful. Randy's profile was the first thing in his feed. It was a clip of Ethan and him chugging something down in red solo cups. Randy finished first earning cheers and whoops then Mika came into view at the end to peck him on the cheek.
The video ended after that but Jerry still stared at his phone. His stomach was twisting uncomfortably as the end of the video was imprinted in his mind. Despite popular belief Jerry isn't completely clueless, he knows Randy has a thing for Mika. That he also wants to claim Mika as his own. Officially date her. Jerry tried to be cool with that and he never has to try too hard because he knows that Mika doesn't like him that much. Not as much as she likes him.
But now, with her ignoring him and spending more time with Randy, Jerry can't help but feel nervous. Afraid that he might be losing her to him. Which sounds so ridiculous just thinking about it because it's Randy. Don't get him wrong Randy's cool, he's like a brother to him but he's never had much luck with girls.
Jerry just can't. He can't sit here focusing on his math when he was possibly losing the best thing that ever happened to him. He somewhat understands the Algebra equations thanks to Milton. He shouldn't completely fail the test. And he won't miss the next dance practice or be late. It'll be fine. And in the worst case scenario he is late he's sure Quinton wasn't really serious when he threatened kick him off the team. After reassuring himself he pulled out his phone to text Cami.
Crawford Residence
Living Room
"Can't you see me with a special little lady rowin in a rowboat down the stream? Though I'm one disgusting blighter I'm a lover not a fighter 'cause way deep down inside I've got a dream I've got a dream!"
Kim was staring at Brody's newest Facebook post. It was a video of him playing a song on his acoustic guitar. He was actually pretty good at it though Kim doesn't recognize the song he was playing. Kim remembers him telling her he's been teaching himself for about a year now. His brow was furrowed in concentration as he strummed his guitar and he looked kinda… cute. Kim nearly dropped her phone at the thought. Where did that come from? How could she even think that? Why would she think that?
He looked cute or would look cute if that was someone else. Another boy with fluffy yet spikey, brown hair and hazel eyes. Yeah that's what she meant. If Brody was another guy then he would look cute like that. But he's not another guy, he's just her friend. Yeah they're just friends. Friends. And it's completely normal to be a little nervous about going over to her friend's house to watch a movie together.
A tapping on her arm broke her out of her thoughts. "Kimmy!" An impatient young voice exclaimed
Kim turned her head to look at her pouting younger sister. "Yeah Bells?"
"C'mon play princess with me!" She demanded
Kim sets her phone down on the couch and sighs. "Okay, okay." She relents
For once Kim was glad for her sister's demanding behavior. It stopped her train of thought going any further. She doesn't need nor want to think anymore of Brody. That's a route she's afraid of going down any further.
Seaford High
Friday, February 8th, 2013
Jerry Martinez is the man.
After ditching studying at Milton's and Cami dropping him off at Cathy's house he smoothed things over with Mika. It took some grovelig but an hour later he and Mika were hooking up in one of Cathy's spare bedrooms.
Unfortunately after a night of drinking he fell asleep at Cathy's place. Thankfully her parents were out of town so she didn't catch him over. Cami had to drop him off at school but he was able to get her to bring him a change of clothes as well as some aspirin. Being hungover is definitely not swawesome. He almost completely forgot about dance practice by the end of the day.
When the end of the school day came Jerry decided to skip his last period. Biology was lame. He snuck into the auditorium for a nap. He was still really feeling the effects of his hangover. He woke to the feeling of someone tapping him on his shoulder. When he cracked his eyes open he saw a pretty Asian girl staring down at him with barely disguised disgust. Turns out it was play practice and when Jerry checked his phone he saw it was a little past four. Meaning he would be late to dance again.
Jerry raced out of the auditorium wondering how the hell he slept through the dismissal bell. When he reached the dance room he needed a moment to steady himself. Turns out running wasn't a good idea because now he wanted to puke. He stood there for a few moments but after making sure he wasn't going to puke he straightened. He still didn't feel one hundred percent but he can make it through practice.
Jerry opened the door with slight forced enthusiasm and a grin on his face. Quinton and the entire team turned towards him. Layla had her signature glare and judgemental scowl on her face. Smooth was looking at him in a mixture of annoyance and disappointment.
As for Quinton his face was unreadable but his arms were crossed. "What are you doing here Mr. Martinez?"
Jerry stared at him in confusion. "What do you mean what am I doing here? I'm here to practice, yo."
Quinton continued to stare at him blankly. "You have no reason to be here."
Now Jerry was really confused. He glanced over at Smooth but he was no help. The junior just shook his head then looked away.
"This is a closed practice. For dance team members only." Quinton says. And you're no longer on the team."
Jerry's eyes widened. "What?!" There's no way. Quinton wasn't serious. He couldn't be serious.
Quinton's eyes narrowed as he started walking towards him. "I warned you. I gave you chance after chance because you're a good dancer. I wanted to take a chance on you even though you're a freshman. But you blew it. You really let me down."
This wasn't real. This couldn't be real. Maybe he was still dreaming. His stomach was starting to twist in knots. "Quinton c'mon-"
"No!" The advisor forcefully interrupts. Anger seeping into his voice. "you made it clear that this team isn't your number one priority. So you don't have to worry about it anymore."
"No Quinton don't do this-"
"I'm sorry but it's already been done. Maybe you can try out next year when you're able to have your priorities right."
Jerry was speechless. This was actually happening.
"Goodbye Jerry."