A/N- Hi! Alyss Mei and Taylor here with the ninth chapter of Halloween Thief! Thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed! Epilogue is ON! You have no idea how much this means to us, I can't believe we are up to more than 50 REVIEWS! It's amazing! Thank you all so much for the support! You all are the best! Keep reviewing…it means the world to Alyss Mei and me! ENJOY THE CHAPTER!
P.S-This chapter will be like part 1 of Kim's Birthday. It will be continued in another chapter…you'll see why later. But just know that the next chapter wills STILL BE Kim's birthday.
PART ONE: KIM'S BIRTHDAY-
Kim's POV
Beep. Beep. Beep. I slammed my hand down against the alarm clock, which effectively shut off the beeping. Probably broke it too- I was strong, even if I had just been rudely awakened from my deep sleep.
I swung my legs out of my bed and stretched. Well. At least it was a Friday…wait! It was Friday! And that meant…I'm officially FOURTEEN!
All fatigue immediately disappeared, and I leaped out of bed and cheered exuberantly. It was actually my birthday! Instantly my mind flew to my party. I had been wishing for a really nice party, but of course, my parents had to fly out of town. Instantly my dreams had swept out the window. At least I had arranged for the guys to come over after school to celebrate. And that was definitely better than nothing!
I was about to stomp downstairs and get breakfast, but my phone promptly buzzed. As soon as I heard the annoying ringtone, I remembered the disgruntling text from last night. Chills crept over my skin, and the air seemed to grow colder- as if the A/C had just been cranked up.
I rubbed my hands over my arms and walked across my room to check my phone. Please don't let it be another scary message, please don't…I breathed a sigh of relief. It was from Jack. He wanted me to come over to the dojo to see something. As relieved as I was that it had nothing to do with the thief, I was slightly disappointed. Jack hadn't even mentioned my birthday.
I tried to brighten up. Maybe he would tell me at the dojo. But why was he over there at 7:00 AM?
I quickly changed into some clothes and pulled my hair into a ponytail. Grabbing my skateboard, I rushed out of the house. The dojo wasn't too far away, and I was there within 5 minutes. I frowned. The lights were off and the stores all looked deserted.
The chills quickly came back. Maybe it was the thief. Besides…wasn't Jack supposed to be here? I frowned and grabbed my skateboard, ready to use it as a club if anyone attacked. I crept towards the door and took a deep breath. Quickly, before I could talk myself out of it, I slammed open the door and turned on the lights, preparing to either see abandoned punching dummies laying on the mat, or the thief and whatever trick he had planned for me.
It must be because it's so early in the morning, because both my guesses were off by a long shot.
SURPRISE!
My lips curved into a smile as I took in the scene. Blue and white balloons floated over the mats and the walls were festively decorated with matching streamers. Glitter and ribbons covered the floors. Near the lockers was a table covered in food and a cake with the dojo's logo (which I'm pretty sure Eddie won't let anyone even touch), while presents were stacked in the corner. Floating over everything was a blue sign that said Sweet Sixteen? Someone had crossed off "sixteen" and written "fourteen" over it.
But most importantly, Jack, Milton, Eddie, Jerry and Rudy were standing in the midst of it all, their arms spread wide and smiles stretching across their faces.
"What's up with the sign?" I asked, smirking.
"Hey, they didn't have the right sign!" Jerry protested. "At least I crossed it off!"
I laughed. "I don't care…I love it so much! Thank you guys!"
"Don't thank us, thank Jack!" Milton exclaimed.
"He planned the whole thing!" Eddie chimed in. "He even paid extra for the cake! I can't wait until I…I mean, we…eat it!" I rolled my eyes.
"Happy Birthday Kim!" Rudy said. "Oh and uh…when my birthday rolls by, I expect you to TOP THAT PARTY!" Jack smacked him playfully.
"Why do you want good parties? You don't have that long to live for, you know," Milton replied. Rudy shot him a death glare.
"Time for presents!" Jerry shouted, running over to the stack of neatly (and some not so neatly) wrapped boxes.
He quickly grabbed the one on top. "This is from me and Eddie! Eddie and me? Eddie and I! Anyway, total swag!"
I walked over and picked up the present, sloppily covered in…"Tin foil?"
"Hey we couldn't find any wrapping paper!" Eddie defended. "It's the thought that counts!"
"I'm kidding!" I exclaimed, smiling. "You guys didn't have to get me presents!"
"But what's a birthday without them?" Jack replied. "Just open his present…hopefully it's a good one"
I eagerly tore off the foil and opened the white box to pull out…a white T-shirt. On the front was a picture of me and the guys and on the back was the Bobby Wasabi logo. I turned to Jerry, who shot me a goofy smile.
"So? So? What do you think?" Jerry asked. "Awesome right?"
"I love it," I replied. "It's very…swag."
Jerry's smile widened. I wrapped him in a giant, sisterly hug. Jerry was like an older brother to me. An annoying, less intelligent, obnoxious older brother. I gave Eddie a hug too. I honestly thought it was one of the best gifts I've ever received. It had value- and that was the purpose of a gift.
"Alright guys, we need to make this a little quick," Rudy said. "School starts in an hour!"
Milton rushed to get his gift. "Okay, this is from me and Rudy. I hope you love it, considering ours has actual wrapping paper on it! And look, there are little smiling ducks on it!"
Rudy hissed in my ear. "I think you'll like it. It was Milton's idea…I just paid for it." I laughed and tore open the gift.
"A Compilation of Poems by Robert Frost," I said, scanning the title.
Milton brightened up. "I knew you would like it! Robert Frost is the greatest poet of all time! You read his poems…you're in another world!"
"It was Milton's idea. I just paid for it." Rudy repeated.
"Milton," Jerry said slowly. "Your parents did give birth to a baby bird!"
I playfully smacked Jerry. "Milton, Rudy, I love it! And I will read it cover to cover!" I said smiling. "As soon as I find out who Robert Frost is!"
Milton shook his head, but I still gave them a hug. "Thank you guys."
"Happy birthday, Kim!" Milton replied.
"Okay," I said, examining the two amazing presents I got. "So…"
"What about mine!" Jack exclaimed. He approached me, his hands behind his back. I smiled. I've never felt this happy on my birthday. Ever. Even when my mom and dad were home, it was never this fun. Sure, I got loads of expensive presents, but today…it felt like I was really celebrating with family.
"Okay, so let's see it," I said.
'Before I do…" Jack began. "I want to say something."
Jerry, Eddie and Milton gave me knowing smiles. I shot them a look, and their smiles abruptly dropped off their faces. I glanced back at Jack, who looked pretty excited about something. It was funny…but sweet, too.
"Aw, he has to say something!" Jerry teased.
"Uh…well, happy birthday Kim!" Eddie said. "We're just going to uh, head off to school…we'll cut the cake after practice."
"Yeah!" Milton agreed. "We have that big chemistry test to take!"
"Wait- we have a chemistry test? Do we even take chemistry? I thought it was science…" Jerry replied, quickly following them out the door.
"Yeah, and uh, I have to do some bid-ness in my office…excuse the pun," Rudy replied, quickly darting into the back room.
So now it was just me and Jack alone in the abandoned dojo…fantastic.
"So what did you want to tell me?" I asked awkwardly.
"Well for one thing, happy birthday," He said. I smiled.
"Thanks," I laughed.
"And another thing," He said, walking over to me. "Close your eyes."
"Close my eyes?" I repeated.
"Do you want to know what it is or not?"
I rolled my eyes. "Jack…you're going to pull a trick on me…aren't you? I have ears like a hawk…and claws like one too."
He chuckled. "I won't do anything. Just trust me. C'mon, why would I pull anything on your birthday?"
"Okay," I sighed. I closed my eyes, and Jack walked behind me. I felt something cold drop around my neck and I instinctively flinched.
"It's okay," Jack reassured. Leave it to him to be the kind, chivalrous soldier. Can't he tell I don't need it? His hands were busy don't something behind my back…to be more specific, my neck. What was he doing?
"I think you'll really like it- it has sentimental value. Okay, you can open your eyes," he replied. My eyes flew open and I examined the thing he had placed around my neck.
It was a delicate necklace, with an elegant golden chain. Dangling from it was a beautifully crafted flower made from a pearl- my initials were engraved in the center.
"A necklace?" I asked, gently fingering the flower.
"Don't you like it?" Jack replied, worry jumping into his voice.
I turned around to face him. "I love it," I replied, softly.
"It looks beautiful on you," he complimented.
"Thank you so much," I said, pulling him into a hug. Something sent shivers over my body and butterflies grew in my stomach, but it was a good feeling. When I had hugged Jerry and Eddie…it was like embracing my brothers…but with Jack…it was something more. Much more.
"Happy birthday, Kim," he said, pulling away. I smiled at him. "We should get going for school. We don't want to be late. I still have to retake Ms. Francis's history test."
"Jack…we all need to retake it!" I said.
Jack grabbed his skateboard and headed out the door. I started to follow him, when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out. It was another unknown text message. My heart jumped. I began to call out for Jack, but my voice broke off.
Happy Birthday Kim. We know Milton loves Frost…hope you like it too. It doesn't look like you will though, after you read "nothing gold can stay." How did he know I got Robert Frost poems?
I was quaking with fear. I hurriedly grabbed the little poem book and flipped through the pages until I found the one titled "Nothing Gold Can Stay".
Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature's green is gold.
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower.
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing Gold Can Stay.
Okay…why did the text want me to read this? All it's about is nature and things. What does that have to with anything? My phone rang again. Oh great.
Confused? Let me enlighten you. What does gold mean?
I skimmed through the poem, before my eyes widened and my heart thudded in my chest.
Nothing Good Can Stay…forever.
Part Two: Jerry's POV
OH…health class was TORTURE!
I burst out of the room, and sprinted towards my locker…I had to get OUT of there. After seeing that video...I don't feel like eating the enchiladas and tres leches my mom made. Great timing too—we have lunch next.
"Jerry! JERRY!" Milton and Eddie ran towards me.
"Ready for lunch?" Milton asked.
I slammed my locker shut. "Ugh, no! After seeing that video, I'm not ready for anything, man."
"Come on let's go! I don't want to miss what Marge has for me today! She said she got something…sweet planned for me!" Eddie said winking at me.
"Okay, Romeo let's get going," Milton said, pushing Eddie. We walked towards the lunch room, before running- not literally- into Jack at his locker.
"What's up, man?" I asked him.
"Oh hey," he replied, pulling out his lunch box.
"You seem awfully nonchalant about something," Milton said, winking at me. Finally, I realized what he meant with all this winking!
Jack looked at us, puzzled. "What are you guys talking about this time?"
"Nothing," Eddie sing-songed. "Just…what did you get Kim?"
"A gift," he said, shutting his locker. Before we could argue, Kim walked up towards us, a smile plastered on her face.
"Jack thanks again for the necklace. Donna Tobin even complimented me on it," she replied, heading past us, towards the lunch room.
"Ah…" Milton began. "A necklace! That means…"
"You love her!" I exclaimed.
"I do not!" Jack exclaimed. "It was either the necklace, or a gift card. So I went with the necklace!
"You still LOVE her! It's so obvious! Just ask her out!" I continued my badgering.
"No!" Jack replied, a steely resolve crossing over his face. "I don't love her…I don't even like her! Kim's…just not my type, okay? She's bossy, moody, doesn't understand when I try to help her, thinks she can take care of herself, but obviously can't. Oh and she-"
"There's more?" a voice cried out, standing just to my right. We all turned around to see Kim, standing just a little ways away, tears filling up in her eyes.
Whoops.
We all turned to look at Jack, who was opening and closing his mouth, not knowing what to say. "Kim…I….I didn't mean…You're…"
"Save it!" Kim snapped. "I never want to see you again! You're the worst friend ever! I…I HATE you!" She tore the necklace off her neck and tossed it at his feet, before storming off. Jack shot us a worried glare.
"Kim, wait!" Jack screamed. He turned to us. "Thanks a lot guys." He ran after her, but I knew that it wasn't going to end well.
"Too far?" I asked Milton and Eddie, a sheepish smile creeping onto my face.
"You think?" they retorted.
I rolled my eyes. We decided to give Jack some back-up. He obviously didn't mean anything…I could tell he just wanted us to leave him alone. We ran after Jack, all confident…when we bumped into someone.
"Ow, watch where you're going, man!" I screamed.
"Ugh, people need to seriously look!" Milton said.
"Why would I want to look at you filthy beasts?" A voice replied. A voice…with a British accent! We looked up and saw…
"Marcus?" Milton said. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be in jail right now."
"Yeah!" Eddie defended.
"You haven't seen the last of me," Marcus eyed us coldly. "Mark my words."
"The last time we marked your words, it wasn't true." I said. "What makes you think we'll believe you now?"
"It was true…even though I changed it, Jack said the words." Marcus said. "When I mark my words, I never lie…especially now." He sprinted away, leaving us alone in the empty hallway…
A/N- Oh. My. God. MARUCS HASN'T BEEN CAUGHT YET? WHAT THE FUDGE IS HE UP TO? And…Jack and Kim…FIGHTING? Is this the END of Kack? And…what's with the poem? The text message? OMG. Questions and questions…they never go! But, all these questions will be answered in the NEXT chapters! PLEASE CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW and review! :D Thank you guys SO MUCH for reading!
PEACE. LOVE. HAPPINESS.
-Taylor and Alyss Mei.