A/N: Oh yeah, another chapter! So, first of all, a guest reviewer (Kickluvr) didn't get the last chapter because of Jack and Kim's attitude towards each other. That's how they are. They're not mean people, but they act mean towards each other because they're full of stereotypes. Well, I hope that's clear. I hope you guys like it! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Kickin' it or any other registered brand that may appear in this chapter.

Chapter 6

Way too close

KIM

Ahhh, life was good. School hadn't started yet, so even though it was Tuesday she had slept in, and just spent her morning in the pool, tanning under the California sun. She hadn't been bothered by her father telling her to cover herself up just in case there were onlookers, or her mother telling her about her friend's son who was so polite and so nice and a bunch of other things Kim didn't give a damn about. Not even Mae and her...let's call it affair for lack of a better word, had disturbed her today.

She was sure today couldn't get any better. And, as if someone had read her mind, her phone buzzed, proving her wrong.

Hey Kim! It was really nice seeing you the other day, and I was wondering if you'd like to hang out so we can actually talk and not be interrupted this time.

'O. M. G. I can't believe that he...eeeeeeeeeep!' She got up and started doing a little happy dance, until she realized she still hadn't respond to the text. 'I should probably stop squealing in my mind and reply. Yep, sounds like a plan.' She quickly typed her reply, obviously agreeing to this...whatever it was and arranging the details. Once everything was settled, she flopped back onto her hammock, a happy, satisfied sigh escaping her lips.

"Well, well, well, someone's happy." Mae stated while making her way over the hammocks that were next to Kim's, closely followed by Milton and Julie, who had been in deep conversation until they had seen the blonde's bright – and quite creepy if you ask them – chesire grin. "Care to share why?"

Kim sighed again and held her phone against her chest. "Guess who just got a text from Ricky Weaver?"

"No way!" Julie exclaimed. "What did he say?"

"He said that it had been nice running into each other..." Julie beamed at her while Mae gave her a knowing smirk, perfectly aware of the fact that he didn't only text that. "...and that he wanted to see me again!"

"Oh yeah baby, my girl's got game!" Mae said, and Kim nudged her while they all burst into laughter.

"Shut up!" She said, trying to hide the slight bush that had crept onto her cheeks.

"Oooooh Kim and Ricky sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G" Mae teased, and Julie snorted at that.

"Well, if they're anything like you, kissing won't be the only thing they do in that tree."

There was a silence as everyone observed the nerdy girl, who'd hardly ever sass anyone, let alone sass her best friend about sex.

"Ummm Mae?" Said girl looked at Kim. "The pool's right over there, in case you need some water for that BURN!" She got up and high fived Julie, while Milton tried to stifle a laugh at her twin's dumbfounded expression, a cherry color making its way to her cheeks. Once the laughter had died down, he turned to Kim.

"So, are you sure about this?"

"Why wouldn't I? Have you not seen him?"

"I didn't mean if you were sure you were attracted to him. I meant if you're sure you want to go to a date with him. Last time I checked, you didn't do the whole dating thing."

"Yeah well, neither did Mae." She simply shrugged.

"Yeah, the world must be coming to an end. I mean, Mae Daniela Krupnick and Kimberly Anne Crawford are considering a long term relationship." Julie teased.

"Okay, what has gotten into you?" Kim said, throwing her the cushion she was resting her head on. "Where's the sweet, nerdy, sympathetic girl I've spent my whole life with?"

Julie shrugged and smiled. "You two have rubbed off on me, so technically, all of this is you. You are sassing yourselves through me."

"Okay, that was confusing." Mae said. "But anyways, so what if we try to commit to one guy? You've been trying to talk us out of one night stands ever since you found out!"

"I know, I know. But it's still weird. I mean, if you two become responsible, who are we gonna scold?" Milton asked, a playful smile tugging at his lips, receiving a glare from Mae, who stuck her tongue at him.

"Guys, I'm sure about this okay? I like Ricky, he's cute, has money, and he's really nice to me. Plus, he has good enough taste to be interested in moi."

"Oh my gosh, you're such a show-off!"

The group started laughing and throwing stuff at each other, until all of them ended up in the pool, a splash war full on, all the drama that was going on in their lives long forgotten.

But Kim had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach, as if telling her she had just made the wrong choice, though she couldn't figure out why. However, she passed it off as fear for her first real date ever, and continued to have fun.

'It's going to be amazing...right?'

"Thank you." She said as she sat down on the chair he had held out for her.

"No problem." He answered with a charming smile, taking the seat in front of her.

"Hello, would you like to order something?" A waitress with long black hair and soft honey eyes asked them, eyeing Ricky up and down before smiling flirtatiously at him.

"Yeah, I'd like a frapuccino. Kim?"

"Mmm, I'll have a chocolate milkshake and a piece of red velvet cake please."

"Okay, coming right up." The waitress left and Ricky chuckled quietly.

"What?"

"I just find amusing how that waitress hasn't got the hint that this is a date and she still tries to flirt with me."

"Oh well, some girls are helpless like that."

"So, Kim, tell me, what are your future plans?"

"Wow, what an easy question." She said playfully. "Well, after high school I plan on going to college and get a degree in Arts."

"Arts?"

"Yeah, I've always wanted to become a fashion designer. What about you?"

"After I graduate I'll take a couple of years to travel around the world and just have fun, and then I'll take over one of my dad's companies."

"Seems like you have all your future planned out. What about family? Do you plan on getting married?"

"Is that a proposition Kim?" He teased and they shared a laugh. "Well, I haven't really thought much about it, but yes, I'd like to find that special girl and spend with her the rest of my life. The American life, you know? Big house with a white fence, front yard and backyard with freshly cut grass, kids, dog and all that."

"You know, for someone who hasn't thought much about it, you sure have a pretty good idea of what you want."

"Yeah, well, I guess. What about you?"

"Me? I don't know. I do want to get married, but it has to be a really special guy, someone that can keep me interested long enough for me to say yes, and that doesn't make my life a horrible routine."

"Well, whoever that special guy is, he sure will be lucky." He said, winking at her, and earning a blush from the blonde.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a flirt ?"

He laughed at this. "Maybe. Hey, when you finish that, how about we go for a walk?"

She hadn't really paid attention to that, being to busy stuffing herself with the last of her cake. She looked up at him, and with her mouth still full, she asked "What?"

He laughed at her. "I was asking if you wanted to go for a walk with me."

She grinned and swallowed what was left of the cake. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"I'll go pay the bill. Be right back." He made his way to the counter, where the same waitress that had served them was. She looked at him flirtatiously again, and took his money, then gave him his change, subtly adding a piece of paper between the bills. This didn't go unnoticed by him, who assumed the paper contained the pretty girl's number, and then smirked at her and winked, before going back to the waiting beauty that was his date. "You ready?"

"Really girls, he's such a gentleman." She sighed, flopping on her bed, still clad in the soft green dress she had worn to the date, her hair tied up in a half up-do, letting half of it fall out freely.

"Okay, never in my life would I have imagined that you would say that about a guy. Usually it's like 'he knew what he was doing' or 'you wouldn't believe the things he did to me'." Mae said.

"Well, he was. While we were walking, he held my hand. And then insisted in walking me home."

"Did he kiss you?" Julie asked.

"No, just a peck on the cheek. I think he doesn't want to rush things. But that's good, I don't want to either."

"Yeah, it's better that way." Mae agreed.

"Well, well, look at you two. What happened to the girls that would sleep with a guy they had only met a couple of hours before?" She teased, earning a glare from Kim and a stuffed bear thrown at her by Mae.

"Well, those girls have met really nice guys. Speaking of which, Kim, have you talked to your contact already about my date?"

Kim facepalmed. "Gosh, I'm sorry Mae. With all this Ricky thing I completely forgot. I'll contact him tonight and get you the details tomorrow okay?"

"Okay. Now, c'mon, keep telling us about the date!"

"Okay, okay, settle down girls." She laughed at their enthusiasm. She started telling them everything about the date, from the moment they entered the cafe, to where they held hands, and even had someone draw a cartoon of them, to when he walked her home. Her two best friends looked at her as if they were five-year-olds eager to know if Snowhite did or did not wake up.

After being done, the both of them started talking at the same time, already thinking of the outfit she'd wear for their next date or what they could do, and even scheming about getting him to kiss her. She shook her head at them.

'Gotta love them.'

"Jack."

"Kim."

"We need to talk about their second date."

"Well, have you thought of anything?"

"Yeah, but I'd rather discuss this in person."

"Okay, I'll come over tomorrow morning."

"What? Why?"

"Because you want to talk about it in person?"

"Yeah, but why do you have to come here? Last time it was here. Now it's turn for me to go to wherever you live. Besides, my parents will be here tomorrow, we could get caught."

"Alright, alright. I'll give you directions, do you have paper and a pen?"

"Yep." After scribbling down the instructions, she repeated them out loud to make sure there weren't any mistakes. "Okay then, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Don't dream too much about me Blondie."

"Only if I have nightmares Casanova."

"Emm ew! What is that smell?"

He shrugged. "I think Jerry didn't do the wash up last night, so that's probably what we had for dinner."

"Well, it's disgusting. But then again, so are you."

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever, what had you thought for their second date?"

"Well, it needs to be somewhere private, and there's this really cute cabin not far from here, that has a beautiful pond, and only me and my friends know about it."

"You really want to take them somewhere with beds?" He snorted, and she sneered a bit.

"Well, discomfort ain't going to stop them as you could see, so might as well make sure they don't break any bones."

"I guess you're right."

"Please, I'm always right." She said, flipping her hair over her shoulder, and making him roll his eyes.

"Whatever Blondie, just tel-" He was cut off by the sound of a door being shut. "Shit, someone's coming! C'mon, we gotta hide!" He quickly grabbed her hand and guided her to the kitchen, pushing her into a larder and quietly shutting the door after him.

"Okay, I get that I need to hide, but why exactly are you hiding as well? I mean, you live here."

"Yeah, but in order to meet you I had told them I was visiting my grandma, so I can't exactly be here either."

"Oh. Well, what now?"

"Well, now we..." He put his ear on the door, trying to hear what was going on on the other side.

"We what?"

"Shhhh!"

"Ugh! Will you stop shushing me!" Suddenly, he was pressed against her , one of his hands on her mouth, preventing her from talking. The door burst open, and the African-American guy she remembered from the party came in, quickly taking a bag of some snack and closing the door after him.

When they were alone again, Jack took his hand off her mouth. "That was way too close." He was still pressed against her, her back hitting the wall of the furthest corner in the larder, leaving her barely any room to breathe properly.

"No, you are way too close."

He smirked at her, not moving. "Please, don't act like if you didn't love it."

"It's not acting. I don't." She scoffed.

"Really?" He said, putting both of his hands on either side of her head, pressing up a bit more against her. "Are you really gonna de-AAAH!"

She was also screaming. Why?, you may ask. Well, you usually scream when you're sliding down a ramp you didn't even know was there. They finally came to a halt, her landing on top of him, their arms awkwardly wrapped around each other, her head tucked in his chest. She slowly looked up at him, then down at their intertwined bodies, and quickly got up, untangling herself from him and dusting herself off.

"Are you okay?" He asked also getting up.

"Yeah. Wait, no I'm not. I just slid down a huge ramp full of dirt. Where the hell are we?!"

"I honestly don't know." He answered. "I've never been down here before."

"Great, so now I'm lost in God-knows-where with you."

"We're not lost."

"Well, I wouldn't know since it's pitch black in here!"

"Feel around the walls and try to find a torch." She did as she was told, and sure enough found a torch hanging on the wall.

"I found one." She said, taking it towards him. "But how are we gonna light it up?" He took it from her hands and suddenly, the torch was burning. "How did you...?"

"It's called a lighter." He said, showing it to her.

"You smoke? Wait, why am I surprised, you're disgusting like that."

"No, I don't smoke. But it comes in handy when a pretty girl that smokes asks you for fire." She rolled her eyes at his antics. 'So desperate.' "Now c'mon, lets go that way and see where this takes."

The walk was pretty quiet, and well, awkward. They barely exchanged a couple of words, not even insults, both of them too busy in not tripping over anything. They came to the end of the path, and found themselves staring at another ramp and a set of stairs sculpted in the rock. They quietly made their way up the stairs and found a door. After glancing at each other briefly, Jack pushed the door opened and walk through it, Kim right behind him.

"Wait a second." She said the moment she took a clear glance at the place they were in. "Why are we in my shed?"

"What are you talking about?"

She rolled her eyes and walked through the shed, making her way to another door, which she opened, revealing her backyard to a really confused Jack. "That's what I'm talking about."

After recovering from the shock, Jack thought about it for a bit. "I guess the Hide-out and your house are connected by those tunnels."

"Are you kidding me? What is this? 'The Goonies'?"

"That's probably what happened." He said, deep in thought.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"There's this legend about the Hide-out being haunted because the people that lived there suddenly disappeared. No one saw them leave, so they assumed the house had spirits or something. I'm guessing that whoever lived in that house found these tunnels and came here, going on with their lives without telling anyone."

"That actually makes sense." She said, going to the back of the shed where the door to the tunnels was. "I guess now it'll be easier for us to meet."

"Oh, so you want us to meet regularly?" He asked, a smirk gracing his features, knowing full well he was pushing her buttons. 'Bastard.'

"Not even in your wildest dreams. Anyways, the cabin is in the mountain. I'll text you a map with the directions. Make sure Jerry is there tomorrow at eleven o'clock. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Okay, now leave." She said, pointing at the door.

But suddenly, she was -yet again- being pressed against a wall, and without giving her time to process it, a pair of lips were on hers, kissing her. He was kissing her. Who did the bastard think he was? 'Though he is actually a really good kisser...' Her mind was losing power over her body, and just when she was about to kiss back and actually enjoy it – well, enjoy it more than she already was -, his lips were gone, and he softly whispered in her ear "Told you you loved the closeness, Blondie." And just like that, he was gone down the stairs.

She was still leaning against the wall, breathing a bit heavily, her mind running a thousand miles per minute trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. And suddenly, it all clicked.

He was trying to piss her off. That stupid remark right before he left, regarding one of their previous arguments. He was trying to push her until she snapped at him, just because he enjoyed seeing her fuming. 'I can't believe that jerk! How could he kiss me?!' And then, she swore she was going crazy, because a little voice in the back of her mind told her that she was actually pissed that kissing was all he had done.

She shook herself out of that internal debate, already sensing a headache coming over, and exited the shed, going straight to her room and falling onto the bed. The voice inside of her head was crazy. She was mad because a loser had thought that he was good enough to kiss her without permission. She put a pillow to her face and screamt, letting her frustration out.

'I'm going to destroy you Brewer!'

JACK

He smirked to himself as he made his way back to the Hide-out, lighting up the rest of the torches that were on the walls. The look on her face when he pulled away had been photo-worthy. He didn't exactly know what had come over him, but he had just gone with it. She had declared he was disgusting and that she didn't want him close to her. Well, that was not was her tongue was about to tell him when he pulled away, that's for sure.

When he reached the ramp, he also saw a set of stairs he hadn't noticed before due to the lack of light. He quietly made his way up and found himself in the basement. 'Huh, should've seen this coming.' He went to the stairs, and after making sure no one was on the other side of the door, he made a run for it and exited the house without being seen.

After regaining his breath, he casually strode into the house, making himself noticeable but not too obvious.

"Hey Jack." Grace greeted from the couch where she was painting her nails. Eddie just nodded his greeting, being to focused on lifting the 5 pound weight with his left arm, going over his daily routine of training.

"Sup dude." Said Jerry, coming from the kitchen with a really gross looking sandwich. "How was your grandma?"

"Ehm, she was fine, she always is. Anyways, Jerry, while I was there I talked to my contact." The latino's eyes lit up, and he smiled brightly. "I arranged the date for tomorrow. It's in a cabin, in the mountain. It's really private and there's a pond or something."

"A pond? Whoooo! Skinny dipping with ma lady!" He said, flopping himself in the same couch Grace was, making her stumble and paint half of her feet with deep purple polish.

"Ugh! Jerry! Look what you did!"

"Sorry mamacita."

She rolled her eyes, picked up all her items and exited the room muttering something about how hard it was being the only girl in the group and something about Jerry's head in a stick. Whatever, Jack didn't care at the time.

"Hey, I'm going to my house for a while. My mom needed help with something." It wasn't a lie, his mom did need help, it just wasn't so urgent that he'd need to leave. "I'll come over later."

After saying their goodbye's, he took his skateboard and started his way home. It's not that he didn't want to be with them, but right now, he just needed to be alone and think all of this through.

The whole Jerry and Mae thing was getting more complicated by the minute. At some point, Mae will want to go public, and then the truth will be revealed. And he knows that if she rejects him for being 'poor and a loser', his best friend was going to take really it hard. And then there was the whole 'secret contact' thing. They almost got caught today. Sure, now that they knew the Hide-out was connected to Kim's house, it would be easier, but still, they were risking their necks.

Kim. He still hadn't figured her out completely. And the whole kissing thing just made this more complicated. Sure, annoying her was one of the funniest things he's ever done, but it could also bite him right back in the ass. Whatever, she was a bitchllionaire. No, she was the bitchllionaire. The queen of them all. 'Though I must admit, I enjoyed that kiss a bit too much.'

It was true, he had liked the feeling of their lips pressed together. But then again, that's what kisses do, right? Feel good. And he'll also admit he had liked to have her against him, with barely any space between them. If only he had touched that silk-like skin. She was wearing a sweatshirt and really, really short denim shorts, paired up with some Vans. And she looked good, with her hair cascading down her shoulders and barely any make up on. She looked natural, and he had always liked that on a girl.

But she wasn't a girl. Well, she was, but not just any girl. She was the almighty Kim Crawford, one of the most spoiled brats he's ever gotten the chance to meet, let alone annoy, and he was going to cherish every moment of it.

'You better watch your back Crawford.'

A/N: You wanted Kick? Well, here you have Kick! Bet you didn't see that coming haha. And who else loves sassy Julie? Like seriously, I loved writing that part.

As always, your support is amazing guys! I was having a major case of writer's block with this chapter, and then I looked at my emails, saw a bunch of reviews, favorites and follows, and just started typing.

See you guys soon! xoxo

Joker