Two weeks of dating and Jack could count on one hand the number of dates they had. Between his work with his father and Kim's multiple jobs, they had to actively look for any free moment, where they could see each other. He asked once if it was necessary for her to work so much and got the wry smile in return.
"I don't want to state the obvious, but my father and I aren't exactly swimming in money. I need to save for college, so I work." She stopped there, but he could hear the unsaid 'unlike you.' Not that Kim ever pointed out or even commented on his wealth. She was surprisingly unaffected by the apparent disparity of their situations. To her he was Jack first. Not Brewer, or the son of Christopher Brewer, heir to the Brewer Inc., or a grandson of the great sensei. He didn't realize how much that would mean to him, to be taken just for himself.
He remembered his conversation with mom when he voiced his frustration at not being happy while having so much. He did his part: he visited the charities and submitted the short list of two that were most deserving in his estimation. Doing this though, guaranteeing that at least one of them received the funds from the Brewer Inc., only made him feel like a walking purse: full of money, but little purpose. He admired Kim for doing the active part, for volunteering, even when her own circumstances were so limited.
Friday night Kim was working and they made plans for Saturday. Jack, now feeling more confident about the whole dating thing, planned to take her to a nearby town for the retrospect showing of the the Ziegfeld Girl.* He thought she would appreciate both the music and singing. He wasn't sure he would get the chance to spent any time with her during winter holidays, so he wanted to have one more proper date with her to exchange gifts.
However, and he was actually ready to kick the Human Resources for dawdling too long, his father was working through weekend and Jack was expected to be with him. He understood, if not entirely accept, the reason behind it. It was a week before Christmas, most workers were out and HR could not quite arrange for a nice line up of hopefuls so quickly. He only got half a day off on Saturday morning.
He called Kim with bad news and her disappointment was nearly audible, which surprisingly made him feel a little better.
"I am sorry we have to postpone it again. You cannot imagine how sorry I am. I only got tomorrow morning off, but I know you work tomorrow..."
"Only tomorrow morning? What kind of business hours does you father keep? And does he know of child labor laws?" Kim said with a chuckle and he was relieved that she was not mad at him. "It's a shame, but I guess it would a rain check for us."
The little word "us" lifted his spirits, but he still hung up with a heavy heart and went to bed wondering how long would Kim tolerate the constantly busy guy.
He could not sleep, tossing and turning, his mind circling around the same topics: he wanted to see Kim, who was busy, and who was very-very alluring. He had revisited the memories of the make out they had at Phil's. He was worried at the time that he would scare her off with his daring actions and intensity of the physical reactions to her, but she surprised him. She may have been surprised and - he was savagely glad for it - a little unused to, inexperienced with it, but she responded to him. They only came close to the same level of action one more time and he was supremely glad that no one was walking down that hallway in school or that he could hold the binder in front of himself. Kim ended up with a hickey that she somewhat covered with her loose hair. Not that it prevented Grace or Mike commenting on it the next time they saw him. Seeing Kim beet read, but smiling nonetheless, was worth the discomfort he felt.
He wanted to see her again. And soon.
Next morning he left early for his run, but instead of running he hopped into his car and drove to Kim's. It was still early and he prayed she was awake, when he called her.
"Good morning, Kim. Are you awake enough to talk?" he said when she answered. Her voice came out muffled and raspy, and he pictured her, in her bed with disheveled hair and sleepy eyes.
"Yeah... Jack? Why are you calling so early?" she sounded more awake now.
"Are you hungry?"
Kim laughed, "Are you?"
And he had to bite his flirty and corny response of "for you, always." Instead he offered, "You game for breakfast? I know a good spot."
It was so incredibly normal - breakfast with his girl. Somewhere during the course of the night, between dreams that he couldn't recall, Jack surfaced just long enough to register that thought.
"OK, give me fifteen minutes?" Kim's voice came through excited and he could hear the smile. "And there better be bagels."
"What Kim wants, Kim gets."
She laughed and said something too low for Jack to hear, followed by the rapid patter she runs down the hall. If he had to guess, Jack was almost sure she said 'I may hold you to that.'
It turned out that Kim was a girl scout and was ready in less than 15 minutes. Her hair was actually in loose braid and her clothes casual (skinny jeans with rips on knees, white t-shirt with Captain America shield, and red converse, with a leather jacket thrown over). Somehow she managed to look very comfortable and stylish at the same time. Jack filed the choice of the Avenger away, along with the fact that she liked avocado and cream cheese on her bagel, but no tomatoes, because they were 'oozy.'
She was about to sit in the little cafe, but he shook his head and offered her his hand. She laughed again (so gallant) but took it anyway and walked with him.
With the last doubts about their dating status stripped away, they were both free to talk without any boundaries, and the stories began to flow. He already knew Kim's middle name (Beulah, 'and if you make fun of it, I will end you, Brewer! Black belt or not!'), where she grew up (mostly California, but she spent last three years in Tennessee) and that she was allergic to bee's venom. So, he offered some of the same information about himself.
Jack told her of growing up in the North West and moving here for high school. Of his Grandfather and his lifelong dedication to martial arts. Of his Grandma and her cooking and how his Aunt Mellie continued the tradition. Their back and forth was refreshing, with none of the expectations and undertones. There was no sarcasm that was mean, like he was used to hear at school. With Kim, the jokes were not malicious or belittling. He remembered how his grandparents were, and he always wanted the easy give and take that existed between those with obviously close affections. He could understand now what was so completely addictive about it.
"You have a nice laugh. You should laugh more," she said, swinging her hip into his thigh. She has been trying to knock him off balance for blocks, but it would take a lot more momentum than her tiny frame to do that. He simply laughed again, and followed her under the wrought iron arch into the park.
They walked for a few hundred feet before veering off the paved path. It took a few minutes for Kim to find the perfect spot, stopping here and there before finally settling in underneath a cluster of maple trees.
"There," she said, "Safe if it rains, and not sun won't be right on us."
"If you are sure," Jack said. He pulled his backpack off and got the beach blanket he brought with him. He made the expansive motion with his arms, "Voilà. It's not much, but with our schedules, I had to improvise to find time to see you."
"I like when you improvise," Kim whispered and then blushed and he had to wonder if she thought of Phil's bathroom.
He decided not to dwell on it, or the breakfast picnic would be most uncomfortable for him. Instead he eased himself down onto the blanket while Kim laid out their feast, first spreading napkins, then dumping the half dozen bagels they'd purchased on top. When she stole a sip of his coffee, Jack nudged her with his foot. She toppled over, arms flailing more for production than for need.
"Way to be a gentleman, Jack" she moaned. "Don't you get it? I am now simply addicted to coffee. It's an occupational hazard. I even like cappuccinos now."
It's the first time she directly acknowledged his near stalking – or observing, as he liked to say. He expected it to be awkward, but not this…the strange surge that filled his chest and warmed his cheeks. She was smiling slyly and he realized that she was teasing him and admitting that she liked him.
It's only with that grounding that he had the courage to broach the remaining unanswered questions. It's the only one he's been afraid to ask.
"So... and you don't have to tell me anything of course, but... does your mother live with you?" He asked haltingly and the change in her was heartbreaking. Her face froze and the smile she had slipped off. But the most telling change was in her eyes, they dulled and when she blinked they were glassy.
Kim pulled apart her bagel, wiping off the extra cream cheese from her fingers. "I guess I hoped that you would have heard it by now." she fell silent. "Mom died less than a year ago." She waived off his hasty sorry. "She was sick for a while. It nearly killed dad. He was barely existing for the last year. So, it's just dad and I now..."
Her delivery was so casual, that Jack almost doubted that he saw that dramatic change in her expression her for a second, But then he thought back on their interactions, of how careful she was about personal details. How he thought she saw something like this when they talked about home cooking. Only he thought it was her grandmother that she lost.
"I could kick myself for bringing this up. Truly, I am sorry. I know it is probably meaningless to you... But if you want to talk about it or just to be silent for a bit, I am here."
She looked at him for a long time and her slow smile was fragile, but held the hint of her usual brightness.
"It is touch and go, really. She has been sick for so long, we were all ready. Or so we thought. Knowing something intellectually, and experiencing it... Some days a simple word, or music, or even smell could bring the flood of memories. And then there are days I don't think of her at all and then I feel guilty..." She shivered under her jacket and his heart ached for her like it hadn't for anyone before.
He scooted closer and wrapped his arm around her, holding her close and wanting to take all the troubles off her small shoulders.
She huffed a little choked and watery laughter, "well, I successfully ruined the mood."
"No, you didn't. I want to know you. This is you."
She sighed and turned into his chest and he could feel the warmth of her breath through his own shirt.
"You are too good to be true. How did you hide so successfully under that cold and aloof demeanor?" She asked with a small smile and looking at him wonderingly.
"That would be a long story for another day that could and would ruin the mood too. Rain check on that?"
"Rain check," Kim's smile was growing bigger and he smiled back. She leaned for a small kiss and it was chaste, but somehow still very profound.
The wind picked up, ruffling the canopy of leaves above them. Jack lied down and stared up at the branches, marveling at just how everything that seemed to be such a worry days ago was really nothing consequential at all.
"What are you grinning about?" Kim asked.
"You said I'm too good to be true" His smile was growing, stretching his lips.
"Modest much?"
"If the shoe fits."
"You also stalked and stared and interfered, but who is counting?"
"Please, I never stalked or stared. I observed. Very closely." She laughed, shaking her head at him and he felt the mood shift and her recent ennui lifting off.
All it took was one small tug, and Kim was there, close enough to bump noses. A slight elevation of his head, shoulders barely off the ground, and he was kissing her.
More importantly, she was kissing him back. Her free hand was warm against his chest.
When he released her wrist, she didn't pull away. Instead, she flattened her palm against his check, her fingers skimming over his mole.
"So, which of your relatives gifted you this one?" she asked, and kissed his cheek gently. His answer was lost in awe at the tenderness of the moment. Overhead, the wind picked up again, and down the hill, a child squealed, a mixture of terror and laughter as the sky opened up, releasing the rain that had been threatening for hours.
When she sat up, Kim was smiling, but it was different, shy and soft. "Come on," Jack said. He didn't want to leave, but the rain was coming down harder. "Let's get you to work. Can't leave my girl out in the rain, can I?"
They half walked, half ran back to the car hand in hand.
Jack drove her to the GreenBean and they shared another breathtaking kiss almost in front of the shop. When she got in, Mike gave her a high-five, "I'd be all over that hunk myself if he drove stick. I'd even give his creepy cousin a go. They sure know how to make 'em in that family."
Kim rolled her eyes at Mike and went to put her apron on. She hoped that the rain would keep people in and she could have some free time to go over the results of Milton's algorithm. She needed to come up with the list of the suspect shelters and find the ones that were located nearby and have another drive-by look-see with guys. So far, the list of the suspects had about ten shelters in it and majority were located in California. She thought that the perpetrator, and she had less and less doubts about it being a fraud, was also located in California. She was mulling whether she should talk to Steve about it.
Her plan did not quite work out. There was a rush of people doing their Christmas shopping and the rainy weather drove them all into the mall. She and Mike were running ragged. Worse than the number of people who came in demanding their complicated drinks, was a few customers that rolled in closer to lunch hour.
Donna and Lindsay and a few cheerleaders from the junior years came in one large group and the sheer ridiculousness of their drinks was intentional. It was clear they wanted to make her life harder. They have done this twice already and today both Donna and Lindsay found their order to be wrong and demanded the re-make. It was fine: Kim plastered the smile and armed with her practiced politeness she served the girls as if they were the average customers. Unfortunately, they did not stop with the just remaking the orders. They held up the line, ordering and changing their minds, and causing a huge congestion at the register. Mike offered to take them on, but Kim would not do that to him and just gritted her teeth and went on with the apparent revenge. Mike made her laugh by offering to spit in their drinks or worse, make their drinks with whole milk.
She was almost done with all the orders from the cheerleaders, when Lindsay 'clumsily' lost grip of her cup and it spilled over the counter. Clearly, it was meant to splash over her, but Kim had reacted quickly and jumped back protecting herself for the most part. She ended up with a burn on softer inside part of her arm, which was red and raised, but thankfully did not blister.
"Oh, I am so sorry, but the floors here are so slippery." Lindsay said and smirked at Kim.
"And here I thought it was you balance that is off. You should be careful with that. I can't imagine it is easy to be a cheerleader and do all the vaults and tumbles when you are clumsy. Kind of the baseline requirement for cheer squad that you are sure on your feet." Kim smiled back at the girl, fighting the urge to shake and cradle her injured arm. Lindsay huffed and turned away.
Mike helped her with the wrap for her burn, but the tender hand was giving her a lot of discomfort. Coupled with the bruise that formed on the same arm from when Frank landed a hit during the fight a little over a week ago, her arm hurt quite a bit.
Well, she thought, as revenge went, this wasn't so bad. They couldn't keep it up for long and she only had to keep her tongue and make their ridiculous drinks.
Just as the girls were leaving, Kai came in with requisite smirk that lifted the corner of his mouth. Kim was almost grateful that her hand was burned, because Mike took Kai's order and Kim could sit this one out.
"Kim, hi!" Kai was jovial. "What happened to your arm?" He asked curious and Kim could see Lindsay stop and look at them. For goodness sake...
"Occupational hazard." She said quietly.
"Oh, play with fire and all that..." Kai returned and Lindsay turned around and went to the self-service counter as if to grab more napkins.
"Not quite. More like deal with clumsy customers and all that..."
Lindsay glared at Kim from behind Kai's figure and Kim just smiled back.
"And you didn't douse them with water?" Lindsay's eyes widened a little and she left hurriedly after that. "I feel special," Kai continued.
"You are. So-so special."
Mike cough-laughed and Kai just tipped his cup at Kim. "And how is our mutual acquaintance these days?"
"Frank? Probably in the dog house..."
"Nice diversion, but I know you are now dating. I guess you like them cold and brooding. Just remember, that his father's approval and the Brewer Inc. come first." Kai spoke with mock concern and was studying her carefully for any reaction.
Kim stopped what she was doing and looked up at Kai. "So, third on the list? Not bad for a painfully average girl." She stared him down and was grateful that another customer came up. "Next!" She yelled and Kai stepped back.
She hoped it was the worst that Lindsay, Donna and Kai could come up with.
The day dragged on for Jack. His father had him running reports for all divisions and he had to talk with all the department heads and he felt acutely that he was too young and they were experts and him suggesting improvements or even asking to change things was entirely out of place. However, he knew what his father's thought process was. He would ask for all these changes and would not be too polite about it. So he swallowed his discomfort and pressed for the changes in reports.
His father wanted him to come to some function at the country club and he had little time to change and bring his father's dry-cleaning before departing for he club. He was on the way to the dry cleaners after changing, when he realized that it would bring him close to the GreenBean. Smiling, he called Kim and she took her time to answer. When she did, she sounded tired, but perked up when he said he would stop by.
When he got inside the GreenBean Mike was manning the cash register and Kim was in the back restocking supplies. She hadn't noticed him yet. Mike waived at him and motioned for Jack to lean in closer.
"You girl had a hard day. Some mean girls showed up and were nasty and then that creep, sorry, your cousin came in."
He looked at Kim concerned and noticed the bandage on her arm that wasn't there this morning. Already upset, he saw that she moved stiffly and when she turned he stopped breathing for a second. There on her shoulder was an ugly bruise, still blue in the center with uneven circles of lighter blue and green surrounding it. She turned her arm and it must have hurt, because she hissed in pain and Jack, propelled by desire to get closer, simply vaulted over the counter. Mike squeaked and moved hastily to the side, muttering something about crazy jocks, but Jack was only vaguely aware of that.
Kim turned to the sound and her tired face lit up at the sight of him. It quickly morphed into confusion as she registered that he was on her side of the counter.
"What..." was all she got out as Jack took two large steps and was by her side. He gently took her injured arm and studied the bruise and the bandage.
"What happened, Kim?" He demanded. It was all crashing in on him faster than he could process. Mean girls, Kai, injuries, bruises, Kim in pain. "Was it Kai?"
Kim turned her head down to look at her arm like she just noticed her own injuries. "No, just some hot drinks spilled and a bruise from the fight with Frank."
Jack looked at Mike and pulled him close by the front of his apron. "what happened?" Jack demanded again.
"I don't know about that," Mike quickly said pointing at Kim's shoulder "but the burn is from the spilt drink. Some mean girl was 'clumsy' on purpose, if you ask me."
"Frank hit you hard enough for a bruise." He said coldly and fury that overtook him was stunning. "And someone spilled a drink on you on purpose."
Kim sighed and turned her arm so she could hold his. "Lindsay is not happy with me right now. But it's fine. She showed her hand. I will be more careful with her next time. As for Frank, I got him back good. You saw. So, please, don't get protective and try intimidate them. I can handle myself. Promise."
She tried to pull him for a hug or kiss, but stopped when her hand hurt, her breath hitching. Jack let his instinct take over, gently moving her arm so it was resting on his chest and slowly skimming over edges of the bandage and bruise. His fingers move slowly up her shoulder to her neck and then bury themselves in her hair. He was always surprised anew just how small Kim was, how fragile, even with all the bravado and fierce attitude. There was a strange, visceral urge bubbling up through him, the need to be the one to take care of her, to make everything better.
He didn't question anymore how this happened and why her and not any other girl, he just knew there was no going back.
*Ziegfeld Girl, starring Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr and Lana Turner, was based on Ziegfeld Follies, which was a series of successful Broadway productions in the 1930-s. It was known for lavish productions, memorable music, singing, and dancing.
