Sorry this one has taken so long, I have strep throat today so I can take the time to update. If I don't fall asleep later I will add two or three more chapters. Enjoy.


Some of the gang is standing by their lockers.

"Well I'm so bloody happy you two are on good terms again, it was getting ridiculous!" Charlie exclaims.

"Charlie it wasn't like we were like that for a long time, it was just a couple days." Kate says.

"Yeah but you were so depressed."

"Well were okay now."

"Yeah but for how long?" Shannon asks.

"What do you mean, were fine and understand where each other is coming from."

"Yeah but soon enough he's going to be a junior and then a senior...he will be the most popular kid in school." Charlie states.

"He's already the most popular kid in school numb nuts." Hurley says to Charlie.

"But he will be the most popular senior; he will be in charge of the whole crew."

Kate hangs her head down silently agreeing that's what is going to happen.

"Way to go Charlie, get her upset again." Ana smacks him on the arm.

"Sorry, hell I was just stating the facts."

"Well just keep your mouth shut." Ana threatens.

"It's okay Ana." Kate says lifting her chin up. "I know he's right. We just have to try our hardest not to let it happen."

Everyone nods in agreement.

Pretty soon Tom comes over to Kate's locker. The rest of them go off to another area of the hallway leaving the two alone. He rests his hand against the locker and is looking straight into Kate's eyes.

"Hey so Katie. What do you say we go to the County Line Barn this weekend? Would you go with me?" he asks leaning closer.

They didn't notice but Jack is watching from his friend Jeremiahs locker where he is currently at.

"Isn't that place just for juniors and seniors."

"Nah, not if you come with an upper-classman. Or if your name is Jack Shephard and you want to be the fucking king of the school...stupid pretty boy Jock." He says with distain.

"Don't talk about Jack like that." Kate says getting angry. "What did Jack ever do to you?"

"It just pisses me off."

Kate raises her eyebrows as for him to keep explaining.

Tom leans in even more.

"Tom stop it." Kate says somewhat loud...at least loud enough to really catch Jacks attention. "Have you been drinking?" She asks Tom as she smells the alcohol on his breath.

"Maybe a little...But stop what? Talking about that Dumb-ass or stop doing this." He says grabbing her arm and leaning in to kiss her.

Kate struggles. "Let go of me Tom. What's gotten into you?"

He leans in even more holding her arm tighter.

"Stop you're hurting me." Kate says letting out a short squeak.

Instantly Jack comes ripping Kate from Tom's drunken arms and punching him squarely in the jaw.

Tom falls back holding his chin.

"What the hell, why the hell did you do that?" Tom asks getting up.

Jack glares at him. "Leave her alone."

Tom is now rolling up his sleeves. "What it's not like you care about her, all you care about is your little popular group of friends and your social life."

Tom comes at him and hits him in the stomach hard. Jack avoids his next punch and hits him in the side knocking him down to the ground. He sits there groaning holding his side. Jack goes over to Kate.

"Are you okay Katie?" He asks brushing her hair away from her face.

Tom watching the interaction of the two and rolls his eyes.

She squeezes her lips together tightly and nods her head. "Yeah, yeah I'm okay."

Jack nods and looks at her arm which is already starting to bruise.

"Are you okay?" She asks slowly starting to lift up his shirt to look at his stomach. He too is already starting to bruise. She places her hand on the hurt area and he winces in pain.

"Ill live." He says with his heart-melting smile.

"Good because I don't know what I would do without you Jack Shephard."

The next day Jack wasn't feeling too good so he stayed home half the day. Kate was standing at her locker.

Tom comes up to her.

"Kate, I'm sorry."

Kate turns around and glares at him. "Just stay away from me, alright Tom."

"It was a mistake coming into school drunk like that, it's just my dad recently died and I've just been going to alcohol to solve my problems."

Kate turns around listening intently.

"But then I saw you and it's like everything disappeared." He pauses." Please give me another chance. I promise no more drinking. As long as I get to spend some time with you."

Kate looks down. When she looks back up she has a slight smile on her face. "I guess we can be friends."

Tom smiles and nods his head. "Friends would be good."

Soon Jack walks up to his locker quickly as soon as he sees Tom there.

"Get away from her." Jack says fiercely.

"Jack." Kate says going to him putting her hands on his chest to stop him. "Its okay, were going to be friends. He apologized and everything is okay."

Jack keeps his glare on Tom but then he looks down to Kate and he can't stay mad when she's looking like that.

Kate's hands are still on his chest when he winces in pain again.

"Jack are you okay?"

"I...I don't know." He says falling to the floor.

"JACK!" Kate screams going down to his side. "Tom run and gets the nurse."

Tom nods and runs through the doors downstairs.

Kate holds Jack in her arms.

"What is it Jack? What's wrong?"

"Something's wrong Katie, it's my stomach. It might be my appendix."

Kate looks at him worried.

"How long have you been feeling like this?"

"Since last night."

"Jack you should have said something, appendicitis can be deadly."

Jack nods then smiles. "You've been watching the discovery health channel? Haven't you?"

She smiles. "Yeah, just incase I may ever need to save your life I need to know my stuff."

He smiles again groaning in pain.

Soon Tom returns with the school nurse.

They call the ambulance. Kate stays there with Jack as everyone is told to go back into their classes.

Soon they come. Jack is lifted onto a stretcher. Kate starts to walk with him.

"Oh no Miss Austen, you have to get back to class."

Kate stops and looks at the nurse straight in the eye. "No, I am going with Jack." She starts to walk again holding onto Jacks hand.

"Very well." The nurse says somewhat intimidated.

Kate waited in the waiting room for Jack. Pretty soon Margo joined her.

It was a while before they heard anything. Then finally the doctor came out.

"Mrs. Shephard."

Both females get up and go towards the Doctor.

"Luckily we caught the appendicitis in time before the appendix exploded. A few more minutes and it could have been tragic."

Kate's eyes widen and how if the ambulance would have taken a bit longer she could have watched as Jack died in her arms. A tear fell down her cheek thinking of that.

"But he's going to recover just fine and will be able to go home in two days."

"Thank you Doctor." Margo says shaking his hand.

Kate nods to him.

"Would you care to see him?"

Margo nods as Kate and her follow the doctor.

They reach the outside of the door when the doctor stops. "He is still going to be a little groggy and probably won't remember anything he says later on since the drugs still have yet to wear off. So be nice." The doctor says with a smile.

The two are let in the room as the doctor leaves.

"I can only stay for a little bit because I have to get back to work. But if you want to stay overnight Kate that's okay."

"Yeah...yeah I would like that."

"I would toooo." Jack says from his sleepy state.

Kate giggles.

"I love your giggle Katie."

Kate goes over to his bedside. "Well I love that's you're okay."

"Of course I'm okay, I wouldn't ever leave you."

"Do you promise?"

"Of course Katie, I promise to the stars."

Kate giggles again.

"I love your giggle Katie."

"Yes, we've established that."

Margo is sitting in the chair laughing.

"Hi Jack, how you feeling."

"Mmm...Better now that you're here." He looks at Kate.

Both women now laugh.

"Well I should get going." Margo says getting up. She goes to her son and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"Bye mooooom."

She laughs. "Bye sooooon."

Jack laughs.

So does Kate and Margo.

After Margo leaves Kate gets to the actual conversation.

"It felt really good to hit him, ever since that day at lunch I've wanted to."

Kate smiles. "Why?"

"I didn't like the way he looked at you."

"Oh...Do you like Sarah?"

"Hmm who's...oh her."

"Yeah, do you like her?"

"Well do you like Tom?"

"No." Kate says quickly.

"Then No for me too."

Kate smiles.

"Do you like me?" She asks.

Jack squints at her.

"No." Jack says bluntly.

Kate looks down.

Suddenly Jacks hand reaches under her chin and lifts her head.

"I don't like you Katie; I never have and never will..."

A tear falls down her cheek.

Jack wipes it away.

"Like can't even explain what I feel for you Katie, its love all the way, has always been, and always will be."

Kate lets a huge smiles spread across her lips. Thank God.

Jack lets out a yawn. Kate leans over planting a small kiss on his lips. "Goodnight Jack-Jack."

"Goodnight Katie." Jack says as his eyes close shut. "I love you."

"I love you too."

After that the rest of the year came and went like the speed of light which could be a good thing...or could not. This next year Claire was going to be a freshman at their high school and Jack was ready to protect her from anything and anyone. Kate and the family got news that Sam had died in the war by a roadside bomb. Margo and Christian took it much worse than Kate since Kate didn't remember her dad. Kate and her band still haven't come up with a decent name they like for their band, but they did compete in battle of the bands and took second place. They decided not to go in the talent show this year since they weren't quite ready for that yet. This year Jack was elected class president again, and Sarah secretary. He was also captain of the varsity football team even though he is only a junior. Sarah, well Sarah is the head cheerleader. Kate on the other hand is one of the best art students. Her art teachers keep telling her if she works hard she could get a scholarship to any major art college, anywhere.

"Will you go with me?"

"I don't know Katie."

"Common Jack please, we haven't been in so long."

"Exactly. I have a game tomorrow and I don't want to hurt."

Kate giggles. "Please Jack, if you do it right you wont hurt tomorrow." She gives him her puppy dog eyes.

Jack huffs giving in. "Alright I guess."

Kate smiles that smile that makes Jack melt every time he sees it.

An hour later they are miles away from town on Casper and Joel. Two of the horses from the stables in town. They are riding in the middle of nowhere and enjoying every minute of it.

Soon Kate takes off on Casper going fast.

Jack watches in awe as she lets go of his reigns and holds her arms out as if she's flying. The wind making her hair flow crazily all over the place. She moves with the horse perfectly. Jack soon clicks the horse's side and attempts to catch up with Kate, even though he knows exactly where she's going.

The breeze flows with them towards their destination.

Finally they reach it, tie the horses up to an old fence but the small creek, and go towards their old hideout.

"We haven't been here in years." Jack says walking along the stone.

Kate's fingers trace the outline of their old cave. "I remember we use to ride out here and pretend this was our own private castle, you were the king."

"And you were my queen." Jack cuts her off.

Kate looks down bashfully and smiles. "Yeah, I was your queen."

"And every night when it was time to go home we would ride off into the sunset together. Like we were out on the range, same horse, cuddled close. And you would end up falling asleep in my arms on the way home."

"Mmmhmm. I miss that." Kate smiles at him.

"Me too Katie." he smiles right back.

They both go down to sit by the creek with the horses and lay in the tall grass.

Jack picks a purple wild flower and brushes it against Kate's nose.

She squints her eyes and smiles.

He hands her the flower and she takes a long sniff.

Jack moves closer putting his arm around her.

They lay there watching the sunset. Soon enough Kate is fast asleep in Jacks safe arms.

"Goodnight my someone." He whispers in her ear. He too soon falls asleep.

Jack wakes up and its pitch black out.

He looks at his watch. "SHIT!" He exclaims. Soon he hushes himself so not to wake Kate. He goes to the horses and saddles them up. He ties Casper's reign to Joel. He lifts Kate up onto Joel and holds her up there until he hops up. He cuddles her close to him as they ride into the sunrise.

Pretty soon the sun starts to make Kate stir.

She lets out a yawn while still relaxed in Jacks arm.

"Morning." He says looking down at her with a smile.

"Morning." She says giving him a smile right back. She watches the sun. "It's just like old times." She cuddles to him closer.

"Nooot really." He says with a smile.

"What do you mean?"

"This is the sun rise, not sun set."

"Are you serious?" She asks calmly with a laugh. "Your parents are going to be mad."

"I know...at both of us."

Kate smiles again. "Oh well."

He smiles. "Yeah, oh well." he says bringing her closer.

He starts to lightly sing all the pretty little ponies which was Kate's favorite lullaby when she was little. She soon falls back asleep in Jacks arms as they ride into the sunrise back home.

As soon as they drop off the horses Jack softly picks Kate up and puts her in the truck. She's still sleeping when they reach home.

The lights are on and he knows his parents are waiting.

"WHERE WERE YOU TWO?" Margo comes out the door in her bathrobe.

"Shhh." Jack says pointing motioning down to Kate. "We went riding and we feel asleep."

Margo sighs loudly. "You best take her upstairs." Margo says. "Thankfully it's Saturday and your game isn't till late, go to bed Jack."

Jack nods and heads upstairs with Kate in his arms.

He enters her room. Tucks her in and kisses her goodnight.

He shuts her curtains and turns off the light.

He heads into his room and is asleep as soon as he hits the bed.