A/N: I feel like i should apologize for this story. The premise is so trite that I am embarrassed. But, this plot bunny wouldn't go away no matter how much I ignored it. Read at your own risk.
They went on like that conversation in the locker room didn't happen. Just like they went on all the other time they nearly kissed or said something to each other.
Kim had plenty of experience ignoring her crush on Jack. She had a routine.
Right after the conversation she binged on ice cream and sappy movies. Once she reached sugar over saturation and dehydration from crying, she collapsed exhausted into an uneasy sleep haunted by images of herself running either towards something unseen, but very bright, or running away from a large animal that she could never make out. She pretty much hated her subconsciousness sometimes.
She refused to wallow. She would not mope after romantic disappointment like her friends from the cheer squad. Kim is a strong independent woman. Who doesn't feel insecure.
Especially not about keeping a guy or, even worse, being turned down by a boy she likes. She is fine and great. She is cool with it.
She is! She does karate and cheerleading; has best friends who are boys and girls; she cannot dance, but she can sing; she is not afraid to look silly and can rock a pretty dress like the best of the pageant contestants. She can hang. And her silly crush on Jack Brewer is just a nuisance. She can ignore it.
Her mind betrays her sometimes and tells her that swallowing her emotions would only lead to a spectacular eruption in the most undignified manner. It's like a volcano of ignored feelings inside that makes her feel nauseous and lightheaded.
All and all she hated when she felt like this: like there was a promise between her and Jack, which he somehow broke. That's why she usually ignored her feelings until they are buried so deep, it's like they disappeared. Not what an adjusted adult would recommend, but she is teen, she doesn't always listen to adults.
These days, sitting in the lunch room watching Jack flirt with every girls in school, the possibility of erupting all over the Formica table in the cafeteria becomes more and more real. Kim could already taste the vomit at the back of her throat.
To be honest, Kim was ashamed of her own jealousy; her crush on the Jack didn't entitle her to anything. But watching him and his local fans made her want to stab herself in the eyes.
After the pity party for herself, she concentrated on everything else in her life. Kim had friends other than Wasabis, so she tried to stick to them. She volunteered in the hospital and the animal shelter. She had kept to her usual schedule of cheer practices and vocal lessons.
She was busy. She was not avoiding Jack. But if she made sure there was always someone with them at all times to minimize the time they spent alone, who could blame her?
The times they spent together she reminded herself that he was just another teen boy, like Jerry, who was sometimes dense, sometimes immature, often times disgusting and she wouldn't care about him as much if he was a little less attractive. It wasn't true, but it helped Kim to remember to be less shallow.
Jack's appearances in two popular teen shows made him a lot more recognizable and he was in the talks to be the lead in a project involving action or martial arts.
There was a lot more interest in him now and he was seemingly proved right. Some of the attention was very negative.
Throughout this all Jack was infuriating: he was just like always, like he hadn't put them on hold indefinitely, like it wasn't bothering him. He was tactile as usual, often touching some part of her during chats. He stuck close to her, looming tall and large, when she talked to others or was distracted by books, phone, or school work. He practically appointed himself to be her crossing guard/driver and routinely picked and dropped her off. And always, always, staring intently and longingly. His mixed messages were giving her a massive headache.
Truthfully, Kim was thrilled to see this. He liked her, her wanted to be with her, he cared. But part of her knew that it was going to hurt more in the end. The way things were didn't stop their feelings, but he had to come to this conclusion himself.
Jack was cursing his own luck and noble nature. He wanted to be with Kim. He wanted to finally kiss her.
But the creeps were still out there and he saw first hand the sort of attention and scrutiny girls get in media. He wanted to protect Kim. As long as he reminded himself that he could withstand all the tension between them.
Their dojo was participating in a tournament in LA and Jack was relishing the chance to be a normal karate loving kid. Kim was getting sharper in her routines and he expected her to win spectacularly. He knew she was hurt and mad at him right now, he kind of hated himself too, but he felt that it was better this way.
The tournament began as usual and both Milton and Jerry had a great showing and soon it was Kim's turn. She was incredible: sharp, fast, controlled, powerful. She dominated her matches and won easily.
Moments like this he knew that he was long past the point of crush or even simply falling for Kim. He was already deep under water and this girl held his heart in her hands.
When his turn came Jack was focused and prepared. His opponents matched him well and the fights were exciting. Jack wouldn't say it out loud, but the staging of the action scenes in the movie bothered him. He did his own stunts, but director called cut enough times that there was no fluidity to the actual fight.
He won and as usual Kim was the first one to reach him with a big hug. She must have realized what she was doing and tried to move away, but Jack held on. He noticed the lack of physical contact that she initiated and relished this moment a little too long. He straightened from the slight crouch and lifted Kim cleanly in the air. She laughed and awkwardly patted him on his back to get him to drop her. He loosened his hold and she slid down his front and it was the most amazing and awkward thing ever.
They sprang back embarrassed. Jack coughed; Kim blushed; Milton rolled his eyes; and Jerry muttered something along the lines of amigos, que nada.
The Wasabi Warriors were celebrating their overall good performance and after the meal they decided to explore the area around their hotel. Jack and Jerry went checking motorcycle store and Kim joined Milton at the music shop. She felt like she needed to put space between herself and Jack again after that hug fiasco. Besides, Milton was circumspect and would not say anything gross to her like Jerry would.
This was a relatively small place, but it had a surprising variety of instruments. Kim was browsing the sheet music, while Milton stuck to the horn section. Kim was ready to go when she turned the aisle and stumbled into someone. She almost lost her balance, when another person took hold of her by her elbows to steady her. She looked up and froze for a moment.
It was Ricky. He was taller, his frame changed from a boyish beanpole into that of a young man. He was still slender, but it looked more wiry, than skinny. She could see multiple tattoos on the visible parts of his arms. He dropped his phone in a shuffle and Kim could hear someone's voice demand that Ricky cut the crap.
"You should probably finish that conversation," Kim said, wondering if he remembered her at all.
"I'd rather talk to you, Kim. Even with a chance of you throwing me into the wall you are a better company than my manager."
Well, that answers the question whether he remembered her.
"Still, you don't want to be rude," Kim waived her hand and it dislodged Ricky's hold on her. He let go, but did not go after his phone. Instead he held her gaze and was studying her.
"You have grown even more beautiful. Do you still do karate?"
Kim nodded and looked away, uncomfortable with his scrutiny.
"Beautiful and strong. Just like I remember..." He trailed of and Kim sneaked a look at him. He was was still staring and Kim was ready to bolt. The tension was broken when his phone rang. She motioned at it, and he went to pick up the phone and Kim tried to slink off. Before she could finish turning away, Ricky called her. "Hold on a second... Kim, I was hoping to have a chat with you? Can you wait?" he looked expectantly and Kim was honest to god tempted.
Still, she shook her head no and said softly, "I don't think so. You haven't changed, if one to believe the press. Neither have I. Bye Ricky." She turned and left the store, spying Milton outside through the window.
They were back at the hotel in no time and left to go home.
Kim and Jack shared the backseat and maybe because she ran into Ricky, but Kim was reminded yet again that Jack was one of the best guys she knew.
She was not wrong about Ricky. He stayed popular and dated some high profile people. It seemed that he went through several girlfriends and, if stories were to be believed, routinely cheated on them all. Kim wasn't surprised. Meeting him left her wistful. She wondered about what ifs and maybes, but she was sure that fame wouldn't change Jack drastically. He was fundamentally a good guy.
She could not have known that one of the few customers in the music shop recognized Ricky and took a few snaps of him on the phone. She certainly did not know that he took pictures while they collided and held onto each other. She could not have imagined that the guy went on to take pictures while she was half turned away and finishing her short conversation with Ricky.
No.
Kim was blissfully unaware that her life of relative anonymity was going to end soon.
The entry on Ricky's fan site less than two hours later with embedded grainy pictures of Ricky holding hands and being generally very touchy-feely with a mystery blonde read as follows:
Ricky's Pics from LA: Date or Fan?
The speculations went everywhere form the "definitely a fan" to "there is definitely something going on" to "this is who he left Helena for?" to "she's his type" to "ugh, she's ugly."
The fans went on like this for a while and it would have calmed down, but someone tweeted the picture of the two of them with Ricky's hands on Kim's and the two looking at each other with a hashtag #weaverwoman #newlovericky #whoisshe. Overnight that tweet was retweeted multiple times, slowly gaining steam.
