There was a moment of silence after Ricky and Co. left. Soon enough Rudy turned around and went to his office, "I'll be just here if any stars and managers are coming to talk to any of you."

Milton and Jerry started talking simultaneously.

"Oh, chica, you got the Weaver back here. What'd he want?" came from Jerry, while Milton said, "I would like to know what happened that he is back here again."

They paused obviously waiting for an answer, but neither Kim nor Jack were talking.

After Ricky left and she absorbed his parting whisper, Kim slowly turned around ready to face all the questions.

Of course, what she immediately saw was Jack's face and that shot her plan to all hell because he was looking at her with some impossibly pained mixture of longing and jealousy and, oh god, she simply couldn't at that moment. She was back at the same place with all her ignored emotions dangerously close to the surface. How does Jack do it to her every time without even trying? Every single time.

"Hey," she said, awkwardly frozen in place a few feet just inside the doorway to the dojo.

He was standing in the middle of the mats with a bo staff in hand, looking literally ready for battle.

"Hey," he replied anxiously, stock still, and looking like he had no idea what the thing in his hands was for.

There was another long silent moment, which was ridiculous because they have so much to talk about right now. But they didn't. They just sort of… stared at each other. And in some ways it was a conversation all on its own. His eyes were practically telegraphing How are you and What did he want and What is going to happen now and I'm sorry and I like you and I'll protect you and Please and she couldn't even breathe under the weight of all the emotions that Jack apparently was ignoring as well.

"I'm gonna go… see if I can find an edible food item at Phil's," Milton said as he walked towards the door dragging Jerry with him by the arm.

"Wait, Milton, where are we going?"

"Somewhere without all the tension. Trust me it is better for us all to leave them to it." Milton whispered harshly, but it was loud enough that Kim heard it.

There's another awkward silence after they left. It was just Kim and Jack and all the ignored feelings between them.

Kim distractedly thought that this was the quiet before the storm. What this moment needed was a swell of the music or maybe some crickets because this was getting so pointed and dramatic. Really, how did they manage this level of melodrama with just a hey and a glance.

"So…" she said finally going for a nonchalant approach, "I was offered to become a fake girlfriend."

Jack's face immediately contorted into a grimace of anger and jealousy and Kim would just laugh, if she hadn't felt like her volcano was about to erupt.

"What? Why? ...No, I get why. What did you say?" he said with a bit of a wince. "I mean you are free to do whatever you want and I-"

She cut him off immediately. She might not know precisely what he was about to say, but she knew the hero tone.

"Don't," she ordered with a warning look.

"I just-"

"Oh my God, Jack, what part of 'don't' didn't you understand? You don't get to brood or be jealous about this. Or, okay, that's not fair," she corrected. "You can brood if you need to or be jealous, but I'm going to take offense because a girl needs a life too, and she can't have it if her number one choice for a guy is all hot and cold, and says no and then acts jealous about others in her life. It's not fair to me! And I am selfish right now! And you are an idiot! I was just offered to be in a relationship with a mega-star. And he was kind of sincere. And no, I did not even consider it for a moment because I am an idiot as well and can't turn off my feelings. And I really shouldn't be saying that to you, and, oh my god, I would need so much ice cream after this is over. Pleas, just shut up Kim..." her tirade was interrupted when Jack pulled her to him and kissed her.

They stood like this in a tight embrace, kissing like they weren't in the middle of the dojo.

Kim's brain shut off for a moment and all she could do is feel. The skin of Jack's lips were a little chapped, but underneath his lips were soft and supple. He moved confidently and she had a brief moment of curiosity as to where he learned it all, but then he slipped his tongue in and all coherent thoughts stopped altogether. Everywhere they touched the sparks of something amazing were igniting, she was tingly and warm, and Jack's arms were so strong and secure around her and his tongue, oh, his tongue...

They finally parted when Kim's lungs started to burn and she pulled away to breathe and noticed with satisfaction that Jack's mouth chased after hers. He peppered small kissed on her lips and face and finally moved them to her ear, "I can't turn off my feelings either. I am an idiot, but you like me and I will take that."

"What do you mean?" Kim looked at him warily not sure what he meant by that.

"I stupidly thought that I would be protecting you if we remained friends only, but maybe I was looking at it backwards. Maybe I should trust you to know what you want and not to be intimidated by circumstances. Maybe 'safe' and 'easy' are overrated and unrewarding... I was making us both miserable."

"How miserable?" Kim was curious and wanted Jack on the record about his coping ways, because she blurted it all out first.

"Well, I did not eat ice cream, but let's just say that my bo staff routines and upper body muscle tone thank you for being so attractive and amazing."

"Oh... Just how strong is your upper body?" Kim asked cheekily and then squeaked when Jack lifted her easily with one hand and used another to move her leg around his torso. She got the message and wrapped her legs around him and they proceeded to kiss some more in this new position, with Jack's hands holding her up.

They only stopped when Rudy came out of his office and shouted "Not in my dojo!"

The two teens just laughed and left holding hands.


They went to an ice cream shop and Jack goofily asked her which flavor were the "Jack is the idiot" flavors and insisted he needed to eat them in penance.

"So, are we dating now?" Kim asked after a couple of chilled and chocolate flavored kisses.

"Yes. Or do you always go around kissing guys like that?" Jack had playfully asked her.

"I don't. Normally. But you never asked..." Kim drawled with a smile.

"See, I am an idiot. Would you be my girlfriend?" now Jack's face was soft and open.

"...Yes."

"Why the pause, Kim?"

"Well, I am not sure. I just thought that we should wait a little to become public about it," Kim said and then, seeing Jack's expression, rushed to finish. "Because of the pictures fiasco with Ricky, wouldn't you rather wait to make sure everything is settled and no one connected me to the mystery blonde?"

"What does it matter even if they do? You were not dating him or me, so it should be OK."

"Yes, it should be, but it all can be twisted like a love triangle or used to paint me as a gold-digger and a fame whore. I mean I don't mind it, I think, but you are the rising star. Would you want that to be the focus of the media or your actual work?" Kim wasn't sure what she was suggesting exactly. It felt horribly like the time Jack put them on hold.

"Kim, I get what you are saying, but I am not hiding you or our relationship, OK?" there he was again, hero with a plan.

"OK."


Access Hollywood blurb:

Hello, this is Billy Bush. So the story of the day is that Ricky Weaver's camp officially denied any rumours about his secret lover. We all have seen those photos, and if Weaver's PR team is to be believed, there is nothing going on between him and the mystery blonde. This is a first word we got on this story from either party. Interestingly, the denial did not come right away and Weaver's team waited full four days before issuing denials. It certainly raises questions, but, without further information, we can only speculate.

In other Ricky related news, he was recently at the town of Seaford, CA, to visit a fan in a local hospital.

Moderator Post – Re: Mystery Blonde

This is a reminder that this forum is for fans to appreciate and discuss our favorite singer. We understand the natural curiosity, but we are here to remind every user that discussion of his love life is not an appropriate topic. We've all seen those photos. We also heard the official word from Ricky's PR team. Let us repeat: THERE IS NO TRUTH TO THE STORIES. Let's just hope he's happy, that's all that matters. Further discussion on this will be deleted without comment.

Fan exchanges:

rw4ever: they are hiding. I bet shes a celebrity too.

weavermagic: if she is, why not go public? more press for her.

rw4ever: not if shes w/ smone else now.

weavermagic: you think she cheated?

rw4ever: mb not, mb she's like tempted or smth. if it was me, i'd choose Ricky.

weavermagic: yeah, you would. all of us would.

rw4ever: i know. did you see his new tats and hair style? i mean...