A/N: WARNING: There is mention of animal cruelty in this chapter. Please be advised.
WeaverWorld dot com
We have new pics of Ricky behind the scene during his appearance on Good Morning America. On air he performed his new single Fever and it was, as always, good. He was asked about the rumors surrounding his friendship with Kim Crawford (Wasabi) and Jack Brewer. Apparently, they knew each other for a while and Jack even helped Ricky to ditch paparazzi when he was in Seaford first time. He laughed off any ideas about the song inspiration and just said that any artist finds source for his art in his own life and experiences. So, take it as you will.
But that is not the news. When he was backstage he got some bad news and was seen trying to call someone. He then left the studio very quickly and was last seen typing messages while being driven away. Take a close look. He is obviously very worried. We can only speculate, but this concerned behavior coincides with the news about Kim's recent fainting spell and trip to the hospital. It is, of course, not unusual for a person to be worried about his friend. Would we see him visiting his sick friend at her home? Time will tell.
blackbeltkimc at blackbeltkimc: Thank you everyone for your concern. I am well. It was a bad case of food poisoning and everything is fine now.
Blackbeltkimc: [picture of Kim in school, near lockers, smiling with one thumb up.]
Kim was constantly amazed by how many people were interested in her. She was initially convinced that the only people following her were there to get a some scoop on the relationship drama, rumors, Ricky or Jack. And there were a fair number of those. But she apparently had some genuine fans? friends? She was not sure what to call her online following, thinking that she was not a real celebrity and therefore the term fan was misplaced. But among those who followed her, there were girls interested in cheer leading and martial arts. There were people who were animal lovers and praised her work at the animal shelter. There were fans of Jack, who thought she was good for him. There were Bobby's fans, who somehow thought they'd support him by supporting her. It was this camp of friendlies that were concerned about her health and she was deeply touched by their good wishes.
Of course, she also had quite a few haters. Most would just leave a nasty comment or two, trashing her, her looks, morals, mental capacity and everything in between. She sometimes struggled to ignore it, to not let it get to her. Some days were good, and some - pretty bad. Among the group of haters, there were few that were consistent and constant. She tried to block those, but they would simply come back with the new handle. By now, she could recognize the tone and the language unique to those few. She was convinced that most of those were very young people, pissed off at her for being with their idols - Ricky or Jack, or because they did not think she deserved any attention - useless as she was in their minds. This camp of people was quite verbose when the news of her sickness broke (and really, how was it her life now that her being sick with food poisoning was some sort of news?). One user went as far as saying that they wished she did not get the help and just died. They also wished that the same happened to her joke of a father.
She would admit that she was very hurt when she read that. How could anyone hate her so much as to wish her dead? Jack, who was constantly near her and who apparently now had her dad's blessing, was good at distracting her from all the negativity. She could see that he was mad at all the hate, but managed to swallow it and to focus on her. Yeah, some days were good.
Ricky called her soon after she woke up in the hospital. He wanted to come immediately, but his schedule was too tight and he settled on a phone call after she reassured him. He swore that macaroons were not from him and she was glad for it. It would have been very hard for Jack to even pretend to be cordial with Ricky.
Jack was always protective and took the mantel of a hero very seriously. This illness made him a little intense. He was constantly hovering, asking her is she was fine, if she needed anything and promising that he would protect her from anything. She was not sure what he went through while she was unconscious, but if his hand and the way Jerry and Milton treated her and him were any indication, he took it badly.
Since Ricky did not send the sweets, everyone was at a loss why someone would hand deliver pastry to Kim's house. Was it a mistake? Were macaroons meant for someone else? The box itself had no identifiers to hint at the sender or even the bakery that prepared the sweets.
therealrickyweaver at blackbeltkimc: you should have gotten the surprise by now. Did you not like it? I followed your friend's advice. Talk to me.
The second day she was back at school, Kim walked to her locker room with Jack following her like a guard. They got some curious glances every now and then. Kim found out that her fainting was captured by someone in the school and the pictures were widely circulated on the social media and were picked up by some gossip sites. Of course, the only pictures everybody was interested in were the ones with Jack kneeling over her and with Jack carrying her bridal style out of the gym. This wasn't the first time that she noticed that pictures of her, Jack, and the Wasabi gang in school setting appeared on the social media. Apparently, there was a wannabe paparazzo or reporter in their midst. She was getting used to the idea of being photographed at all times, but it irked her a little. Aside from the fainting spell, there were also pictures of Jack and Kim at the cafeteria where she offered him one of her apples. It was a thing with them now, ever since that first apple she dropped, she carried extra one for him. When she saw it on the internet, she was upset. She felt like this was too much of a personal thing to be seen by others. It was their thing. She did not want it to be discussed by others, speculating whether it was staged, comparing her to Eve, comparing the moment to that Twilight scene. She felt like it diminished the genuine moment between her and Jack and made it something that public would have opinions on.
She shrugged off the unhappy thoughts about the nature of the celebrity life and went to open her locker... And then promptly closed it with a bang... She stood there, unmoving and not breathing, shock evident on her face. Jack saw that something was wrong. "What is it, Kim?"
She could not speak. She was staring at the closed door of her locker, pressing hand against her mouth, clearly holding in a scream or a whimper. She turned to Jack slowly and he was now very concerned. "Is there something wrong with your locker?" She only nodded, eyes huge and terrified.
Jack gently moved her away from the door and went to open it. He took a look inside and bit off a terse curse. It was disgusting. And disturbing. And very, very sad. There, in the middle of Kim's books and papers lay a small mutilated body of a puppy. He slammed the door and turned to Kim. She was still in the same pose, picture of shock and holding in the scream. She had tears slowly rolling down her cheeks and he could see that she would be full-on bawling her eyes out soon. He stepped up to her, hugging her close and tucking her face against his chest. She shuddered and he could feel the tears coming out faster now, just as she started panting into his chest. He signaled Milton to come close and quietly told him of the situation. Milton's eyes rounded and he was about to say something, but Jack shook his head pointing with his eyes to Kim's head.
Milton nodded and Jack whispered to Kim, "Come on, baby. Let's get you out of here. I can take you home if you want to. OK?" He did not wait for her answer and slowly started walking with Kim tucked into his side, his arm looped over her neck and his hand practically covering her face. She obeyed mechanically and he was grateful that the hallways were fairly empty. Once he got her to the car and buckled her in, he drove off thinking that he really wanted to know the name of the sick fuck who sent Kim this message.
Kim was asleep having cried herself out. Jack called her parents to let them know that they ditched the school and her dad was surprisingly understanding. He promised to clear it out with the school and told Jack to take care of Kim and not to leave her alone until he or her mother came home. He was waiting for them to come and was checking all the recent messages from his friends.
Milton informed the school administration. The principal was flabbergasted and very concerned. The locker was cleaned out and the principal made a school-wide announcement about unacceptable act of animal cruelty that was apparently perpetrated in their school. He also informed the student body that the incident would be investigated and that the wrong-doers would be severely punished.
The school was buzzing like a beehive. Most figured out that Kim was the target of the disgusting display, because some saw her leaving the school distraught and because her locker was cleaned out. While thankfully no one had pictures of upset Kim or seen what was in the locker, almost everyone assumed correctly what happened. Everyone by now knew that she volunteered in the animal shelter, what with her constant stream of animal pictures. The story spread to the wider circles and Kim's social media pages blew up with messages of support and outrage against the cruel treatment of animals. Jack, Bobby, Milton, Jerry and even Ricky were getting supportive messages. It was the latter that got Jack's attention. Ricky was sending him a private message.
therealrickyweaver at jackbrewer: Jack, was it a puppy? Jesus, I sent her a puppy. Because she was in love with that one from the shelter. How did they get it? Who would do that? Is she OK?
jackbrewer at therealrickyweaver: Yes, it was. She is very upset. She cried herself to sleep. I don't know who did it. It is too cruel to even think of.
therealrickyweaver at jackbrewer: Jack, I know you hate me, but I care about her and I am coming to see her.
jackbrewer at therealrickyweaver: I do, but she doesn't. If it was your gift, then you should tell her.
Kim's parents came home and her and her dad looked very worried. They went to check on sleeping Kim and came back.
"We got some news from the hospital. The toxin they isolated is a naturally occurring one, but in this case, they think that the toxin was synthetic." He told Jack after asking specifics of the incident in school.
"Does this mean it was intentionally added to the macaroons?"
"It still could be a negligence. Someone had the toxin on hand may have accidentally added it to them. But, we don't know where the sweets came from and which bakery made them."
They sat silent for a while and then Mr. Crawford said, "I am now worried that the macaroons were not the mistake, but intentionally used to hurt Kim. Now that there was this act of intimidation with a puppy... What if somebody really wishes Kim to hurt? I just can't comprehend what caused them to hate my girl so much."
"We may not know who brought the macaroons, but the school is investigating who messed with Kim's locker. Hopefully, we'll know who was behind it soon."
"Jack, is there a way to trace those commenters, who leave nasty messages on Kim's accounts?"
"Probably. But I have no such skills. Even Milton doesn't. Why? Do you think someone did both the poisoning and the puppy?"
"I should check with lawyers and the police. Maybe there is something we or the police can do about it."
Re: Kim Crawford/Wasabi
jbgirl: how terrible! kim just recovered from poisoning and now this! i feel very sorry for her.
bbelt: i know! there are some real sickos out there.
graceinspace: you don't know half of it! Her entire locker had to be cleaned out and she now refuses to use it. hell, nobody wants that locker. you know, she stayed away for two days. and when she came to school she was very quiet and Jack is, like, attached at the hip with her.
jbgirl: i get it. i wouldn't want that locker either.
bbelt: is is true that Ricky showed up in Seaford?
graceinspace: yeah. i haven't seen him, but others have.
jbgirl: well, if you go on weaverworld there are tons of pic of him at kim's house. he even ate out with Jack and Bobby. i guess they are all friends.
graceinspace: oh, everyone in school wants to help somehow, but what can we do?
bbelt: you can volunteer at the shelter. or donate to it. i don't know. kim seems like an animal lover.
Seaford High Facebook post:
We were all saddened when the act of animal cruelty took place at our school. While we are working to find out what exactly happened, we urge everyone to show your support to fellow students. On our part, at the suggestion of Kim Crawford, we are organizing a fundraiser to help raise money for the Seaford Animal Shelter, Pawtastic Pets. Details will be coming soon.
therealrickyweaver at blackbeltkimc: I will match the total amount that your school raises. I am so sorry Kim.
bobbywasabi at therealrickyweaver, blackbeltkimc: My darling girl, I will match the donations as well. Take care.
