Chapter Four: Fallin' in the Big City

Disclaimer: I do not own Kickin' It!

KIM POV:

The plane was landing. It was Tuesday night. My mom and I glanced at each other. I had tears streaming down my face.

"Kim, I promise, I'll call you every day. I won't let you go, not ever..." I remembered Jack's words in my head.

God, how much I loved that boy.

"Baby, it'll be alright," my mom said, stroking my hair. "You'll fit right in, make new friends-"

"But I like my old friends."

"You can still talk to them! Everything will be fine!" My mom looked me in the eyes, searching for some sign of acceptance, or hope.

I wasn't giving her any.

I just wished, more than anything, that she was right.

The taxi came to a stop in front of my grandparents' apartment. I remembered it- West 75th, a good-sized apartment with a kitchen, two bedrooms, a living room, and a loft. Oh, not to mention the patio.

My grandmother's cat, Kitty (long story how he got his name) met me at the door. I patted his hat. "Long time no see, huh?" He was a Siamese cat, so he was non-allergenic, just for my mom. She was allergic to so many things, I could write a good sized list.

"Rachel! And Kim! Oh girls!" My grandma rushed to help us with our bags.

"We got it, mom, don't worry!" My mom shooed her away.

Once we got our bags in the door I ran up and have my grandma a hug. However unexpired I was for this change, I was happy we were at least with them.

"Kim! Look how big you got!" My grandma exclaimed.

"I have so much to tell you!" I cheered.

"Good, good! Kim, your mother signed you up for karate at the Red Lions down by the school. I talked to the sansei and he's very excited to have a new black belt!"

The first thing I thought of was Jack. It would bring back too many memories of him. Then the Wasabi Warriors...if there was any chance of me going back to Seaford, I wasn't going to go back bound to a new dojo.

"Gram...I appreciate it, but I've been thinking. I don't really eat to keep up with karate...I kind if want to focus on cheerleading. I can make some new girlfriends, you know..."

"Oh yes, yes, of course! Ill call the school, I'm sure they can sign you right up!" My grandma rushed out of the room to call the school and my mom carried my bags to the spare bedroom.

"You're in the loft," she said. I smiled.

The first thing I did when I got to the loft was pull out my phone and laptop. I had a text from Jack.

Jack: Hey Kim! I miss you already! Text me when you get to the apartment!

I smiled, and started typing my reply: miss you too! I'm at the apartment, get on Skype!

I turned on my laptop and got on Skype. About a minute later my notification went off. Jack was calling.

I almost immediately hit the green answer button. "Jack!" I shrieked. I wanted to hug him, kiss him, just touch him so badly, but I couldn't.

The tears came.

"Kim, Kim, Kimmy, don't cry!" Jack hushed me. "Kim, my mom booked me a flight already. I'm coming up to visit you in a month. Over Thanksgiving break!"

The news made me so much happier. My face and eyes lit up, and I couldn't help my ear-to-ear smile. "Jack, that's really great!"

We sat in silence for a moment. Finally, Jack said something.

"Kim, I miss you so much, and it's only day one."

"We'll get through this, trust me. Just wait. I'll see you in a month, that's not long, right?"

Jack smiled, we said our goodbyes, and we logged off.

But I was wrong.

The first week went by really slow. My mom was right, I did meet some new friends cheerleading, and some of the football players had no trouble hitting on me, but I could only really focus on one person: Jack.

"Hey Kim!" My friend Charlotte called from across the gym. "You're cheering tonight, right?"

"Of course!" I said with the most enthusiasm I could muster. "I couldn't miss this for..." My thoughts faltered to Jack. I would miss it for Jack.

"Kim, what's wrong?" Charlotte's green eyes sparkled. She had sympathy on her face. "I know, you moved in the middle of the school year. I did that freshman year-it's not easy."

"I miss everyone," I admitted. "Especially Jack."

"Jack?" She asked with a smirk. "Who's this Jack?"

"Everything you could imagine," I sighed. "He did karate, he was super fit, his hair, his hair was perfect. But more than that, he was my best friend. He was just perfect. He understood me...he loved me."

"Kim, I know you miss him, but things will get better, I promise. It took me a while, but look, New York isn't bad!" Charlotte was shorter than me, and her big eyes almost begged me to believe her.

"I believe you," I said, and I honestly meant it. "I just need some time."

"Hey Char- oh, Kim." Ronnie Williams, the cheer captain, walked into the gym. She didn't like me since the moment I stepped foot in the gym. Her mahogany red hair (yes, the color was as fake as it looked) was pulled up into a high ponytail. She was skinny, but not too skinny. Her spandex barely covered her butt, and her tanktop that spelled "Read My Shirt" across the chest was rolled up so it showed her stomach and pulled down so it barely covered her. She might as well write S-L-U-T across her forehead.

"Oh, hey Ronnie, I'll be ready in ten. Just finishing up with Kim," Charlotte said. As much as I liked Charlotte, her choice in friends was not the greatest.

"Ronnie, Hun?" I called sarcastically as she was about to leave. "Next time, put on some clothes before you leave. It's cold outside."

She gave me a death stare and left the gym.

"See ya, Char. Thanks for everything," I said.

"No problem!" She replied. She was always so peppy.

With that I left the gym. Little did I know I'd run into someone that would change my life forever.

While I was walking down the hallway something fast and huge ran right in front of me. I ran into it and fell to the ground.

"Oh my God! I'm sorry! You're Kim, right?"

"Yeah, yeah. And you are?"

"Scott," he said. He had a skateboard and jeans on with a long sleeve tshirt. His brown hair was swept to the side, just a little shorter than Jack's.

"Well, I'm sorry, next time I'll pay more attention-"

"No! No, that was entirely my fault, I wasn't paying attention. Here," he said, picking up my backpack that I had dropped. I had pins-reminders of my old life- on the front.

"Thanks, I really should be going," I said.

"Wait," he said, seeing one of my pins. "I have something to show you."

I followed Scott out of the school and down a few blocks. Then we were standing outside of the Red Lion Dojo.

"Scott, I appreciate it, but I don't do karate anymore."

"Kim, you were a black belt," he said, motioning to my pin of a black belt. "Don't just give up."

"Scott, I really have to run, I'm cheering tonight."

"Hey, just show me what you've got. I used to do karate...take it from me, don't quit."

"Fine," I sighed. Scott led me in the dojo. The first thing I thought of was when Jack and I were in the dojo alone: our first kiss.

I pushed the memory away. I needed to go on with this life.

I took Scott's hand and dragged him to the sparring mat.

"You said you used to do this. Well I'm a bit rusty myself, so let's go." I flashed Scott a smile, and started with a punch that he easily dodged. He threw a kick, and I dodged out of the way. Then he threw a punch, and I caught his fist and flipped him, landing on top of him.

"For being rusty, you're good," Scott told me. I smiled.

"Yeah, well, what can I say?" I looked Scott in the eyes. "You remind me of this boy, from Seaford. He was perfect," I said, sitting up. "He did karate with me, made me even better. He was everything to me, and then we just moved here, leaving it all behind. He's coming in a month, but I don't know, it's not the same."

Scott didn't say anything. He looked at his hands and then up at me.

"I'm sorry, I probably -"

"No, you didn't do anything, Kim. I'm sorry," Scott said. "Do you want to go grab a bite? Then I could ride you to the school, I'll probably stay for the game."

"Yeah, I'd like that," I said, smiling. Maybe moving wasn't as bad as I thought.

"Fire it up!" I clapped. "Fire it up!" Clapped again. "Let's get some and fire it up! Go Warriors!" I ran across the front of the cheerleaders and did a front arial. Then they lifted me up and threw me in the air. I held my breath until they caught me.

I wasn't in the mood for cheerleading. My date with Scott was fun, but I couldn't help but compare him to Jack. The weird thing was, it was like I was with Jack. They were almost the same person.

I reminded myself that there was still a possibility of us moving back to Seaford, and Jack was coming to visit! But I still thought of Scott and Charlotte, and the rest of the new friends I had made.

As I shook myself out of my thoughts I noticed Ronnie glaring at me. I walked up to her.

"What are you doing?" She hissed at me. "You're ruining the lineup!"

"Calm your tits," I snapped. "What do you have against me?"

"Look at you! You come in here in the middle of effing October and join my cheer squad. Then you take over with your flips and shit, and act like you're the little princess! What gives?"

"I am not a princess," I said sternly. "And I've done gymnastic-related activities my whole life! I'm a black belt in karate, I could do any of these flip things."

Ronnie scowled at me. "You're disgusting, Kim. Oh, and Scott McCaber? You could do so much better. He's such a dork."

Anger filled up inside of me. "If anyone's disgusting, it's you. Like honestly, please attempt to cover yourself up. And don't stick your nose up my business, I'm allowed to hang out with who I want."

"Alright, Kim. Well, you better get back to your spot, because we're about to start 'Hey Fans'." She gave me a fake smile and I walked away.

When I got back to my spot, I glanced back at Ronnie, who was staring at me. I gave her a sarcastic smile.

"Hey Fans!" I called, starting the cheer. "Hey fans, in the stands, get up and clap your hands!" Clap, clap, clap clap clap, clap clap, clap clap, clap clap.

All of the cheerleaders turned to look at me. The seniors were laughing, probably because they didn't like Ronnie (not many people did.) Some of the juniors were smiling, but some were scowling, wondering what a stupid sophomore (who was lucky enough to make varsity, anyway!) thought she was doing. Charlotte, the only other sophomore besides me on varsity, looked at her feet, not wanting to meet anyone's eyes. She was my friend, but also one of Ronnie's best friends.

After our halftime routine, a junior named Elise came up to me. "Okay, miss Kim. Next year, I'm going to be captain, and if you ever do that to me-"

"Elise, I won't. You're not like Ronnie."

"Ronnie's my friend."

"Well, you're not like her."

Elise stared at me for a minute. I shrugged, and walked away.

The night consisted of a few more cheers and glares from Ronnie, but it went fast. After the game, Scott came up to me.

"You need a ride home? You really shouldn't walk home on Friday nights at this time."

"Believe it or not, I can take care of myself, Scott."

"Come on, Kim!" He flashed me a smile.

I smiled back. "Fine," I replied. "But I call shotgun!"

"Anything for you," he replied.

And that got me thinking of Jack again.

JACK POV:

Kim hasn't called me in two days. She had mentioned that she was super busy with cheerleading, but I had hoped for at least a text. Instead, I got nothing.

I wondered how her new life was. I hadn't really admitted to myself that we would probably drift apart. I knew it would happen, but I didn't accept it. Now I had to.

Kim was probably happy with new friends in a new school. I had to move on.

KIM POV:

Scott walked me up to the door. Kitty walked up and looked at me with big eyes.

"This is Kitty," I said, scooping him up.

Scott pet his head. "He's just like you," he said.

"S'cuse me?"

"You're both cute," he said, poking my cheek.

"Well, aren't you the charmer," I said. "I better get inside, my mom will be wondering where I am."

"Alright. Well, we should hang out sometime. Call me or something." Scott gave me a piece of paper with his phone number on it.

"Maybe I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked.

"Sounds like a date." Scott gave me a quick hug and I shut the door.

A date, I thought. Great.

Okay, I know you guys probably hate me for this chapter, I do too! But it's needed for the story! I promise, in the next two chapters Jack will come back! This is a Kick story I promise! Please review!

Xoxo,

Marie*