Okay, here is the next chapter. I got a job the other day so it is taking me much longer than hoped to post. Ill try my best to give you them at a somewhat normal pace but i cant promise anything.


They finally get settled in that day. It becomes more comfortable and less hectic. It's now lunch and the large group had to put extra tables together to fit everyone. Kate and Jack are sitting next to each other and Sarah is sitting across from them. She looks towards him and smiles. He's polite so he smiles back. Sarah looks down. Jack looks to Kate and gives her an 'I don't know' look. She giggles at this. Sarah's head snaps up.

"What's so funny?" She snaps.

"Oh nothing, Jack just made a funny face to me." Kate responds.

Sarah rolls her eyes. "So Jack, I heard you're on the football team."

He nods. "I made JV."

"That's amazing Jack, not many freshman make JV!" Sarah adds. "I'm a cheerleader, Ill make sure to cheer extra loud for you."

Jack nods and half smiles. He looks very uncomfortable. Kate smiles at this.

"So...what do you do Kate?"

"I'm joining the art club, and taking as many art classes as I can, and then I'm also doing band."

"Oh really, what do you play?"

"Guitar." Kate flashes her a fake smile. It was her first day and she already did not like this girl and her fake loveable ness.

Julia then comes and sits down next to Sarah. "Hey." She says across the table.

"Hey Julia, Kate here is going to be in band too, she plays the guitar."

"Really? I play base."

"Really! Me, Ana, and Jacks sister Claire were thinking about starting up a band, and we need a base player, would you consider joining?"

"OF COURSE! I've always wanted to be in a band!! Where do you guys practice?"

"We'll were just starting it up but we have a recording studio in our basement with brand new instruments and everything!"

"OH I'm so excited now! Do you guys have a name?"

"No unfortunately not, and we don't plan on it until someone comes up with something really really good."

"Okay well that doesn't matter, as long as we get to play!"

Sarah rolls her eyes at how much these two hit it off so well.

The lunch bell soon rang and it was back to classes.

Jack loved learning about what they were going to cover that year in biology class, and Kate couldn't wait for her basic art class to start up and that year to be over because she has such great choices next year.

After school everyone was filing back onto the bus. Kate was already in there saving Jack a seat. She looked out the window and sees Jack with Sarah. She's giving him her number. Kate gets that weird feeling in her stomach again. For some reason she gets really mad at him. He walks onto the bus and sits down next to Kate. She's facing the window.

"So Katie, how did you like the first day?"

No answer.

"Katie?"

Still no answer. He turns her to face him. He knows that look, it's the look she gets right before she's about to break down.

"What is it?"

"Nothing" she says very quietly. And then she turns to face the window again.

Jack sighs knowing now's not the time to pry. He doesn't want to make whatever it is worse, especially in front of their friends. Then it dawns on him...she must have seen Sarah give him her number.

"Katie, she needs a tutor and she heard I'm really good at biology. That's all."

She's surprised he knew that the whole number thing was really the thing bothering her. "Sure it is." She mumbled. But he heard her.

"Katie." He sighed.

She turns around to face him. He watches a tear fall down her cheek. "Are you jealous?"

"No, its just...I'm not use to girls acting like that around you."

Charlie leans over the seat.

"Sorry to butt in love, but you might have to get use to it; Jack might end up being the most popular kid in school."

Kate sinks down further in her seat and looks back out the window.

Charlie looks at Jack sympathetically and then goes back into the conversation he was having with Ana and Sawyer.

A week later Sarah was over to study with Jack. Unfortunately Sarah was partnered up with Jack to be lab partners. She stayed for dinner and after they were done Jack walked her to the porch. Kate watched out her bedroom window as Sarah leaned in and gave him a peck on the lips. Kate flew back away from the window and onto her bed. Claire had also been watching out of a downstairs window.

"Do you like her?"

"What?" Jack asks shutting the front door behind him.

"You heard me, do you like her?"

"As a friend, yes."

"Then why did you kiss her?"

"I didn't, she kissed me."

"Did you enjoy it?"

"What is with all the questions Claire?"

"I'm just curious." She pauses. "But you didn't answer my question...did you enjoy it?"

"I don't know." Jack says and then heads upstairs to his room. He's almost in there when Kate comes running out of hers. She heads for the door and is now running outside. Jack runs after her seeing the tears in her eyes. She climbs up a very high and not so safe tree. Jack reaches the bottom.

"KATIE PLEASE COME DOWN, THIS TREE ISNT SAFE!" He calls up to her. "ANY TREE BUT THIS ONE!"

She doesn't answer and just keeps climbing.

He is terrified of heights, but he's even more scared of her falling out of this tree. He starts to climb. She looks down from the perch she's on. "STAY AWAY JACK!"

"NO! I NEED TO EXPLAIN!"

"WHAT DO YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN? I SAW WHAT I SAW AND THAT'S THAT!"

"KATIE, IT'S NOT YOURS TO DECIDE WHO I HANG AROUND WITH!"

"BUT WHY HER!" She screams down at him.

"JUST COME DOWN...PLEASE."

"NO ITS FINE...SEE (she shakes the branch) IT'S NOT GOING TO..." The branch she is sitting on snaps and she starts to fall. She screams until she feels a strong hand on her arm. Jack had caught her.

He brings her close to him and holds onto her tightly for a few minutes so Kate can calm down a bit.

"You're always rescuing me." She says quietly in his ear and he's climbing down with her on his back.

"Well isn't that what your knight in shinning armor is supposed to do? Rescue the beautiful damsel in distress?"

"One day Jack, I swear I'm going to save you, just to prove to you that sometimes the knight needs rescuing right back."

Jack smiles as they walk back to the house. His arm around her shoulder and her arm around his waist.

"This whole year I promise you that I won't even deal with girlfriends or any of that mess. I'm going to work on getting straight A's and becoming captain of the football and soccer teams. Maybe start working on my campaign for next years class president."

Kate smiles. "Thank you."

Jack puts his head to hers as they walk in to the house to do the homework they have left.

Freshman year past quickly. Jack did get straight A's as he had hoped and did become captain for the soccer team. But not the football since he was on JV and was just a freshman. He didn't have a girlfriend that whole year as his promise to Kate. And like Charlie had predicted he became one of the most popular people in the whole school...not just the freshman class...everyone in the school knew his name. Kate hated it because lots of girls were all over him. Kate only had to take one semester of basic art before the art teacher said she was too good for it and moved her to an advanced drawing class. She also started up the band, which Julia immediately wanted on board. Julia quickly stopped talking to Sarah and hung with Kate a lot more. By the end of freshman year Sawyer and Julia were going out. They really fit perfectly together. Sarah became the queen bee of the freshman class. Everyone seemed to love her. But there was something about her that made Kate just want to slug her. Maybe that she was always clinging to Jack. Jack didn't really seem to mind though which made Kate even angrier. But they still all sat together for lunch which was weird since every other class was all split into cliques.

Now was sophomore year. Jack turned 16 early in the year so he got his license right away, which his parents got him a brand new black ford truck. He loved it. It was his love.

About three months had past and Jack was starting to teach Kate how to drive. She was pretty good at going forward but she still hadn't practiced backing up. Kate was always very cautious driving his truck knowing he loved it so much. But today was the day she got to practice backing up. She was all buckled up and Jack was right next to her.

"Alright, now just put it reverse and try no to back it into the fence.

She did as she was told and put it in reverse. She starts to back up and BAM!

She hits a light pole.

"SHIT!" She yells out. Soon her hand flies to her mouth and she becomes bright red.

Jacks surprised that's the first time he has ever heard her swear. He just smiles at her.

"IM SOOOO SORRY JACK!"

"Katie it's alright." He says taking her in his arms and giggling slightly.

He gets out to look at the damage. It's not too bad, just a small dent. She gets out slowly. She keeps her eyes to the ground as she stands next to him. "I'm so sorry Jack."

"Katie, I said it's alright, its no big deal."

"But you love this truck, and so do I."

"Well, I just so happen to love you more." He says taking her in his arms again.

She smiles and blushes. "Really?"

"Really Really." Jack states.

Suddenly Kate's hand flies to Jacks chest. "YOU'RE IT!" Kate calls out. She quickly runs off.

Jack laughs and quickly takes after her. And after about two minutes of chasing her he catches up and tackles her to the ground.

"You're it. He says breathlessly.

"Am I really it Jack?" Kate asks somewhat teasing. Somewhat serious.

Jack nods looking into her eyes. Both knew they weren't talking about Tag anymore.

There is a short pause.

Jack starts to lean in. Kate sees where this is going and she raises her head to meet his.

Just as their lips are about to meet... "KIDS DINNER!" Margo calls.

Jack sighs loudly as his head falls to the ground next to Kate's. She lets out a giggle as Jack gets up and helps her to her feet.

They head back in the house quietly both thinking to themselves.

It was now already football season. And Jack had started off as captain of the JV football team, but after three games he was moved up to Varsity, and just as Kate had feared Jack was starting to part from their group and hang around with more popular people in the sophomore class...and in the junior and senior classes because they were all like one big clique...and of course Sarah and her friends were in that clique as well. They never let him alone, they were always saying that he didn't need to spend time with his old group, and that he would have so much more fun with this group. Jack also was elected class president...Sarah just happened to be secretary as well.

Kate missed him. But she too had made some new friends, but had kept all of the old ones as well. One day the worse thing at that time that could happen...happened. That day Kate couldn't even touch her food. Jack had stopped sitting with her at lunch. That was the only time during the day she had left with him to just be them. He was rarely ever home anymore and when he was he did homework or had friends over. Sawyer was also in that clique since he was on both football and soccer, but he evened it out so he could spend equal time with both of his groups. Sayid and Shannon also did the same as Sawyer, they still all sat together at lunch.

"Common Love, you have got to eat." Charlie was close to practically begging her.

"Yeah hunny, don't let it get you this upset." Julia said.

"Plus you always have us." Ana added.

"Thanks guys, us band and art geeks need to stick together. Its just I miss the old Jack."

"You're right; we do have to stick together." A not so familiar voice said from behind Kate. She turned around and saw a very cute boy facing her. "Hi I'm Tom." He says as he sticks out his hand, she shakes it.

"Kate." She smiles.

"I know, I really like your work in Miss Klughs Class."

Kate smiles again. "Thank you..." She pauses. "OH WAIT, you're the Tom who does all those amazing sculptures."

"We'll I wouldn't say amazing."

"Please...they are brilliant."

"Thanks Kate." He stops. "We'll I will see you around...maybe we can get together and discuss art or something soon." He smiles shyly. "Or you could model for one of my sculptures."

Kate nods. "That would be great." She smiles as well. He turns and goes back to the table with his friends.

Jack just happened to look over when that junior introduced himself to Kate. He got this bad feeling in his stomach at the sight of it, but he couldn't keep his eyes off it. After the guy left the every girl at the table giggled and Kate got a huge grin on her face. But Jack watched as that grin changed, more into a forced smile than anything. He knew she was hurting because of him just leaving her without telling anyone. But...

"Hey Jack?" His thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

He turned to look at Chloe...a senior girl who was on the cheer squad. Probably about the third most popular girl in school. "Yeah Chloe?"

"I was wondering, since you're just a sophomore, and you can't go to prom without a junior or senior taking you, well I was wondering if you would go with me?" She asks somewhat nervously.

"Sure. Yeah that'd be great."

She smiles. "That's like, totally cool. I can't wait."

"Yeah...yeah me too." He says and smiles politely. As soon as she leaves he looks back over towards Kate.

"Oh wow Kate, a junior...maybe he and you might become something, I mean he looks like he's into music and he's an art geek too." Ana says.

"You really think we have that possibility, I mean we just met..."

"Duh, the way he was looking at you all like...oh my gawd I want her-ish."

Kate looks at Shannon like she's crazy and then looks back towards Charlie. He's nodding.

Kate glances over towards Jack who she noticed was staring at her. Jack quickly shakes it off and gives her his 'I'm sorry' smile. She nods sadly and turns back towards the table.

The end of the day came quickly and everyone was piling onto the bus. Jack and the gang still took it because it saved money and they didn't have to worry about parking which was really hard to come by at their school. Jack was sitting up front with some of his new friends. And Kate was in the back with her real friends. She was at the window seat. Soon Tom runs up to the bus window.

"KATE, OH MY FAIR KATE!" He yells out. The whole contents of the bus turn around to look what's going on. Including Jack.

Kate sticks her head out of the window, slightly embarrassed.

"What Tom?"

"Would you please do me the honor of letting me take you home."

"Woo!"

"Go for it Kate."

"Oh My Gawd Kate, like he's sooo cute."

She kept getting continuous cheers from her friends.

"Okay, ill be right there."

He gets a huge smile on his face.

Kate picks up her backpack and walks off the bus. As she passes Jack she gives him a small smile.

Tom is at the bottom of the stairs holding out his arm. She takes it and they walk to his car.

Jack gets the same bad feeling again seeing them together. And it doesn't help that their friends are in the back cheering her on.

After about five minutes a small Porche comes up next to them quickly. Its Kate and Tom. He honks the horn at Kate's friends in the back of the bus and she waves to them. Soon they speed off.

"He's gonna kill her going that fast." Jack says quietly.

"Why do you care man, not like you know her...she's an art geek." Said his friend next to him.

Jack doesn't respond. He just rolls his eyes.

As soon as he gets home he checks the house for Kate. She's not home yet.

"Where Kate, Jack?" Claire asks.

"She got a ride with her friend...I don't know where they are...I'm sure they would have beaten us home."

"Maybe they went for some ice cream or something."

"Yeah...ice cream." Jack says and heads to his room.

A few hours later he hears the front door. So far everyone else was home so all that was left was Kate. He slowly makes his way down the stairs to see who it is. It was Kate.

"Where have you been Kate?" Margo asks.

"Oh, Tom took me for ice cream then to a park where we drew."

"Oh that's nice." Margo says.

"Yeah, it really was." Kate smiles. She heads towards the stairs. Jack quickly runs to his room. He quickly turns around again to act like he's just coming out.

"Oh hey Katie."

"Hi Jack."

"I was wondering..." Jack starts.

Kate stops and looks at him curious.

"I was wondering if you, Charlie, Sayid, and Shan wanna go out tomorrow?"

"But tomorrows Saturday, don't you usually hang out with your friends?" She asks coldly.

"But you guys are my friends."

Kate lets out a small sarcastic laugh.

"Kate I'm serious."

"Alright. What time, ill call them and ask them."

"I already did and they said it would be cool. And we'll leave around six."

Kate nods and turns around to go to her room.

"Katie."

She spins back around. It seems all in slow motion to Jack, the way her hair flips, the way her eyes gaze into his, the way her body moves with such gentleness and care. It was like one of those chick flicks Kate always makes him watch with her.

"Yeah?

"I'm sorry."

She looks down trying to think of something to say. She looks up again. "For what?" She replies and then walks away back to her room.