Today could very well be classified as one of the best days ever.

First of all, today was my 16th birthday, the most important day in a young girl's life! We were going to have my Sweet 16 party at the end of the week, and I shook with excitement every time I thought about it.

Then, I found out that I got a 5 on my AP Biology Exam (which is like a perfect score)!

Needless to say, I was practically glowing with happiness when I walked through the doors of the dojo. Immediately I was tackled with a flying hug as Grace screamed, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Ever since Jack moved, I had grown extremely close to Grace; she could be classified as my best friend now. I don't think I could ever forget Jack though, no matter how hard I tried. I still wore my good-luck necklace every day, even if my heart ached every time I looked at it. I realized that I couldn't be without it either. So we were stuck together, the necklace and I.

"You know you've told me that like twenty times today, right?" I laughed as I untangled myself from her.

"I'm just making sure you know how excited I am! Plus I expect the same treatment in a couple months," she said, winking.

I laughed and started dragging her to the locker room so we could change.

"Oh children, before you go get ready for workout, can I have a moment?" Sensei said, nimbly jumping up from his meditation pose. The dude's like 70 and he could probably still run a marathon. I promised myself that I would always eat my vitamins.

"Kimberly, I have a letter for you, it's from the karate competition that I sent your application to," Sensei said, handing me a letter.

"Oh my god, did I make it?" I squealed as I tore open the letter.

"I have no idea, my child. For the sake of your privacy, I did not read the letter," Sensei said as he waved Kai over. Sensei handed Kai a letter similar to mine. Kai had joined our dojo soon after Jack left. It was horrible, having to look at his hateful face every day, but I made that sacrifice because of my love for karate and this dojo. Hear that, karate? I better be rewarded for that.

"I didn't know that you applied for this competition," Grace questioned, eyeing Kai apprehensively.

"You don't think I'm as good as the red-head, sweetheart? Well news flash, I'm way better!" Kai said smugly.

I rolled my eyes at this exchange and scanned my letter. One sentence stood out to me, 'You, Kimberly Crawford, have been invited to compete at the Junior World Karate Championship in China! Congratulations!'

I waved the letter in the air and screamed; my eyes wide with excitement. Grace snatched the letter from my hand and read it. Her eyes grew wide as she started screaming.

"Where's the fire?" Brantley hollered as he ran in with a bright red fire extinguisher.

Immediately we stopped hollering and jumping around. "What?" I asked, confused. But then again this Brantley I was talking to, so I should be confused.

"Girls plus screaming equals fire," he said simply, as if expecting us to take him seriously.

We just turned around and resumed our freak out. Brantley rolled his eyes and went to return the fire extinguisher from wherever he stole it from.

"When are we going to China?" Grace excitedly asked.

"Um it says here in a couple of weeks," I said, scanning the letter.

"WHAT! That's so not enough time, I gotta pack!" And with that she zoomed out of the dojo, faster than I've ever seen her run.

I looked after her, amused, as Kai sauntered up to me. "Well it looks like we're going to China," he said smugly.

"Who invited you?" I said pointedly.

"Nobody had to, I got my own invitation to the party."

"You made it?" I said incredulously, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm shocked sweetheart, you know that I'm better than you. So of course they're going to beg me to come," he smirked. I would almost give up my letter just to see that smirk wiped off his face, almost.

"Don't call me sweetheart, Kai," I said sternly, before heading to the locker room. I was determined not to let Kai ruin my day.

"Whatever you say, cupcake," he laughed.

I abruptly stopped. That boy was making it really hard for me to ignore him. I spun on my heel and walked back to where Kai was laughing. I grabbed his wrist and pushed his pressure point, hard. He yelped in pain and tried to knock my hand off with his other hand, but I grabbed it and twisted it behind his back.

"You gonna call me that again, cupcake?" I sneered in his face.

"No," he managed to choke out. Satisfied, I released the pressure and headed back to the locker room. I couldn't stand that kid, but maybe he'll be put in his place during the tournament. Some of the world's best martial artists are going to be there and maybe teach him a lesson or two.

Suddenly the enormity of the contest hit me. The world's best martial artists were going to be there. What chance would I have? I know I wasn't the best, and I didn't think I was even close. I sat down on the bench and put my head in my hands. Who did I think I was, going up against those masters? I'm just a girl from a small town.

I thought of what Jack would say to me in a situation like this. He would tell me to suck it up and go. I got chosen for a reason, and I'm going to go to China and prove that reason to the rest of the world. The more I thought about it, the more I convinced myself that, I can do this.

I shook my head and smiled to myself. Even though I haven't seen Jack in over two years, he still influences my decisions. That cannot be healthy, I should probably go see someone about that.

I hurriedly finished changing and returned to the training room. I was literally shaking with excitement as I jumped from foot to foot, trying to use up some of the excess energy.

"Either you have to use the bathroom, or you just drank four Monsters in a row," Riley said smirking as he walked through the door, hand in hand with his girlfriend, Amanda. He had finally gotten up the courage to ask her out, and to his surprise, she was just as in love with him as he was with her. They were a match made in a carnival side-show but they seemed happy.

"Bye hon," Amanda said as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek, "Go beat someone up for me."

Riley just stared after her, mesmerized, until I came up to him and gave him a flick on the side of his head.

"OW! What the heck was that for?" He grabbed his ear and started hopping around.

"You were swallowing her with your eyes! Leave some for the rest of us to see, 'hon'," I said smirking as I danced out of reach of his long arms.

"You just watch your back Kimmy. 'Cause one day, I will get even!" he paused dramatically before disappearing through the door of the locker room.

Some things never change.

Anybody catch my quote? I'll give ya a hint, its from a book! REVIEW!

PS.. ya'll wanna see my pig again? I know you do.. Okay.. Wait for it.. Annddd... :O

-Courtney(: