Woop Woop! *dances to disco music*

Heeeyyyy :D So I'm back, and with another fabulous - if I do say so myself - update from yours truly.

There's an important Author's note at the end, so make sure to check that out ^^

Enjoy!

I felt like I was floating on a cloud.

Things after my little confrontation with Jack, things between us had gone back to exactly the way they were before. Perfect.

I'd been going back to his house after school again, although my dad still had his reservations about letting me sleep over, and I found myself wishing that I could spend every single moment with him. I know, it sounds a little obsessive, but he was just so amazing; helping me with my karate, listening to my stupid girl problems, helping me through my stupid girl problems...

He was the most incredible person ever, I had no idea how I had gotten so lucky.

Of course, I hadn't forgotten how he avoided me for weeks and then refused to explain to me why, but frankly for the moment I just wanted to enjoy having him back with me

"Oh my god, Jack! Slow down!" I squealed in delight.

"Psshh, you big baby. I'm not going that fast," he said right before speeding up again.

It was a Saturday afternoon and the whole gang had decided that it would be a good idea to sneak into the school grounds to spend a few hours out on the massive football field. Jerry's uncle Fernando had lent him a ladder, and we managed to climb over the wire fence unnoticed.

It really was a gorgeous day, especially since we were about to plunge into winter, and there were just enough clouds in the bright, blue sky to keep in the heat that was radiating from the warm sun rays. It was hot enough to stroll around in shorts and a tank top, and seeing as we might not get another day like this for some time, we had decided to make the most of it.

So there we were; Milton sitting over by the bleachers, his nose buried deep in an autobiography of some sort of famous scientist, Jerry and Eddie were busying themselves by playing with water balloons, both already soaking wet, and Jack and I were...well, he was running across the field like the roadrunner on coke, and I was trying desperately not to fall off of his shoulders. It wasn't working very well, to say the least.

"Jack, I'm serious,-"

"Why so serious?" he cut me off, and I could practically hear the smile that was probably plastered on his face.

I detached an arm from around his shoulders momentarily so that I could whack him around the head. "We're gonna fall, you loser! Now put me down!"

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Well I was glad that Jack was finding my fear amusing.

"Come on Jack, just - Aaah!" I screamed as Jack, running like a lunatic, ran straight into a huge puddle of water courtesy of Jerry and Eddie's balloons. Before we had time to brace ourselves, we were tumbling to the ground, a heap of flailing arms and legs.

Luckily for me, Jack had taken most of the impact - although I suspected that he had done so on purpose to protect me - which left him sprawled out on the ground, flat on his back, his arms wrapped rather tightly around me, crushing my body to his chest.

He had tried to cushion my fall. Cute.

"Whoa," he wheezed out. "I was not expecting that." His arms still hadn't loosened their grip.

"Yeah, well, maybe you should've," I huffed, rolling my eyes.

"Aw, Kimmy-bear, don't be like that." The pout on his face was too cute to ignore. I had long since stopped reprimanding his use of the nickname. I had actually come to like it. I liked the fact that he had his own little name for me, it made me feel special.

"I was just trying to get you to loosen up, is all. I know you've been worried about that chem test coming up, but I have no doubt that you'll smash it. You're so smart, it's dumb," he joked.

I didn't dare look at his face. We weren't even in the same chem class; I had told him about that test days ago and he had made the effort to remember, even when he had absolutely no reason to do so. This whole friend thing was becoming increasingly difficult.

"Yeah, well now I'm just sore and wet." I felt Jack stiffen beneath me, and I realized just how my words could've been interpreted.

"No, that's not what I -"

"Kim, you dirty girl! I didn't know you had it in you!"

I felt a flush of heat rise to my cheeks from sheer embarrassment.

"Come on, Jack, you know that - "

"No, no, no," I was cut off. "I don't wanna hear it!" He paused for a moment. "Or maybe I do."

I whacked his chest for that. Pervert. I moved to get off him, but found myself unable to do so as Jack pulled me back down to the ground, rolling us over so that it was I lying on my back, and he had his head resting rather comfortably, by the looks of it, on my stomach.

"Mmm, much better. And to think you were trying to get away," he reprimanded.

I gave him no answer, simply choosing to run my fingers through his lusciously soft hair, loving the way if felt.

We stayed like that for a while, just talking, and I would occasionally scrape my nails across his scalp, the little growl he emitted each time making me giggle.

It was only when the sun started to set that we finally decided that we should start heading back home.

"So, what did you get up to today?" My dad asked between bites of his lasagna.

I swallowed my own, taking a second to remember the lie that I had rehearsed. "Nothing much," I tried to look as nonchalant as possible. "Me and the boys just went into town, down at the arcade. They've got the new ScreamFest game now, although the queue was so long that we didn't get to play."

I hated lying to my dad about my life, especially concerning Jack and karate, but I knew that if he was aware of half the things that I was doing behind his back, I'd probably lose his trust forever. And I understood that, I did. I knew that he had every right to be mad at me for things like breaking into school, swimming in the mall fountain and spray painting 'Fellatio' on the walls of Swathmore Academy.

But practicing karate and hanging out with Jack? That was just ridiculous. I needed to make my own choices, my own mistakes, and dad just couldn't see past his fear of his little girl getting hurt. I would tell him eventually, accept any punishments necessary, but not until he was ready to understand.

I just hoped that it would be sooner rather than later.

Luckily, my father seemed to believe my lie, but he still didn't look very happy. It was no secret that he didn't like Jack, and I guess that his dislike had spread to Jerry, Milton and Eddie by association. Which was really unfair.

Still, there was only so much that I could lie about, and my friends would not fall into that category.

He didn't say anything though, knowing full well that nothing he could say would make me change my mind about them, instead settling on a disapproving stare that conveyed his message perfectly.

"Were you with Eddie?" Isabelle asked, having suddenly become more attentive at the mention of 'the boys'.

Since the first time that I had taken her with me to the park to meet up with the guys, she had become smitten with the goofy, adorable 'playah'. She practically stuck to him like glue the entire day, but Eddie didn't seem to mind. He was such a kind-hearted person and he adored kids, so it was no surprise that my little sister had been drawn to him. By the end of the day I practically had to drag her away.

Aaah, young love.

I smiled at her and swallowed my food. "Yes, Izzie, Eddie was there. And he told me to tell you that the next time he sees you, he'll make sure to finish telling you the story about the greedy giant."

"He said that?" Her eyes seemed to brighten, and I knew that Eddie was going to have a lot on his hands with her. Izzie always gets what she wants.

"Of course he did. You made quite an impression on him last time," I winked at her, shoving another forkful of lasagna into my mouth.

"Okay, I think that's quite enough talk about boys," dad announced, and I could tell that the fact that Izzie was starting to take an interest in boys - as innocent as it may be - was making him uncomfortable. Poor sucker, he got stuck with two headstrong daughters, one of which spent her free time gallivanting around with a group of teenage boys in her spare time.

Changing the topic, he asked me : "Do you think you can look after Isabelle Tuesday afternoon after school? I have an important business event and Marie can't make it. I know that's usually when you have cheerleading practice, but I'm sure they'll understand if you need to skip just this once."

I winced internally at how well I had fooled him. He had somehow believed me when I told him that because of the large amount of school clubs at Seaford High, the cheerleaders had to rehearse after school hours every Monday and Wednesday, which was when I had karate lessons. In actual fact, cheer practice was every Tuesday and Friday during lunch period, but he didn't need to know that.

"Yeah, of course, I'll let them know," I assured him.

And with that said, we finished the rest of our meal listening to Izzie talk about the hardships of being a six-year-old girl in the modern world.

Later that night, as I was getting changed into my pyjamas, I noticed a sudden movement coming from outside my window. At first I ignored it, brushing it off as a bird or tree branches swaying in the wind.

But then it happened again. And then again. And when it happened again, I became seriously freaked out. I slowly approached my window, the street lamps outside illuminating my garden.

As I peered through the transparent glass, I saw nothing but grass, trees and Toto's dog house - the one he never used because he was too afraid of the dark, instead choosing to sleep on the couch every night.

I was starting to think that it was just my imagination, that I was going crazy. But just when I was about to turn around and head to my bed, I noticed it.

A large, dark figure standing in the middle of my garden, next to Izzie's swing set.

I was paralyzed, frozen in shock. What the-

Before I could do anything but stare, it was gone. Just like that. I shook my head, reminding myself that I hadn't had a good night's sleep in a while - due mostly to late-night text conversations with Jack - and that it was probably just fatigue making me see things.

But still, even as I lay in bed that night, eyes heavy and buried under the covers, I still couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong.

During the following week I went about my life as usual - cheer practice, karate, looking after my sister, walking my dog, hanging out with my friends, going to the mall, cuddling up with Jack. Things were pretty standard.

Oh, apart from the small fact that I was losing my mind.

Everywhere I went, it seemed like that damned shadow was, too. Ever since I'd spotted it that night, it had been popping up all over the place. I couldn't even tell anyone, because I wasn't even sure that it was real; I only ever saw it when I was alone, which only helped further prove my theory of insanity.

I had given up blaming it on sleep deprivation; I had slept for a full twelve hours Wednesday night, even forgoing spaghetti night to go to bed early.

It just didn't make sense. Not to me, anyway.

But I had decided not to let it turn me into some paranoid freak. Nothing had happened to me so far, and it didn't look as if that was about to change any time soon.

"I still can't believe you kissed him," gushed Grace, staring at Mika with mischief in her eyes. "I mean, Howard? The computer geek? I mean I guess he's kinda cute, if you're into the whole 'adorkable' type, but..."

Kelsey, Mika and I just listened to her drone on about our love lives. Grace was a great friend ans all, but...she had some serious meddling problems. She just couldn't not interfere, poor girl.

"It was just a one-time thing!" Our foreign friend defended. "It didn't mean anything! We just happened to find ourselves alone in the media room and one thing led to another..."

"And you totally started sucking eachother's faces! And don't even bother trying to deny it, I have an eyes witness."

Mika looked at her, baffled. "What do you mean, you have a witness? Were you spying on me?"

Grace just rolled her eyes. "Please. I have a whole network of informants who will gladly report back to me with any juicy gossip. It's like I'm a female Sherlock Holmes. But not R. Downey Jr's Holmes; the one played by Cumberbatch. He's so dreamy," she sighed.

I chuckled at her comparison and shook my head.

Yeah, that was Grace, alright.

"Anyway, coming back to our original topic, how's the fashion column coming along?" The question was directed at Kelsey, who was part of the team of students who ran the school website. Although it wasn't exactly the school website, so much as a student website, where you could chat, gossip and stay up to date with everything going on. There was a sports column, a literary column, a fashion column, an advice column, even a food column run by lunch lady Marge.

Only a select few were chosen to keep it up and running, and Kelsey was lucky enough to be one of those people. She did have a wicked fashion sense.

"Well," she started, exited to be telling us about her latest achievement. "You know how Rosemarie Timberland came to school last Thursday with that adorable reindeer sweater? Well it, like, totally inspired me to come up with this whole article about holiday fever and how, with the end of the year coming up and everything, Christmas-themed clothing is so the way to go. Nothing too over the top, but snowflake prints, Uggs and maybe a touch of red lipstick will go a long way this season."

She said it all without hesitation as if she had already memorized it word-by-word.

"Wow, Kel. I'm impressed. Although this does mean that I'm going to have to do some serious shopping," I teased, making everyone chuckle.

I took another long sip of my banana milkshake and glanced across the diner-style room, almost choking on the magical creamy concoction when I noticed the large, red clock hanging on the wall.

"Oh, shit!" I cursed after recovering from my coughing fit. "I can't believe it's already six! I've gotta get back home, I've got a French test tomorrow and I'm no where near ready for it." When my female friends had asked if I wanted to hang with them after school that day, I had immediately agreed. They were great company and lots of fun, so I loved spending time with them. We'd spent a while window-shopping before going to Circus Burger for drinks. Unfortunately for me I had neglected to remember that it was a Thursday night, and that I had school the next day, not to mention a very important test. I cursed again.

"Sorry girls, but I've gotta run. I'll see you tomorrow at school, okay?"

I got up from my comfortable padded chair and grabbed my school bag, swinging it over my shoulder.

"Adios!" I heard Grace shout as I headed out the door. I chuckled before calling out, "That's Spanish, dummy!" and heading out for good.

About halfway home, I had my headphones in my ears blasting some Taylor Swift song at full volume, thinking for some reason about the invention of the spork.

I mean, who was the genius behind that?

It wasn't really much of a surprise to me when I noticed the dark figure once again, lurking in he did surprise me, though, was how close it was. Normally I'd see it from afar, and maybe catch a glimpse of it.

This time, though, was different.

I could her no sound of footsteps, no breathing, no indication of any kind that there was anything behind me; apart from the cold chills running down my spine, rendering me acutely aware of the dark being closing in on me.

This was bad. This was oh, so very bad.

I started to pick up my pace slightly. Not enough to seem to obvious, but I was hoping that it would be enough to gain even a little distance.

The chilling feeling was getting stronger and stronger, though, and soon I found my feet moving faster and faster, my legs carrying me further and further down the absurdly deserted street.

For a moment I had thought that I had lost it, that I was safe from whatever it was that seemed so hell-bent on tormenting me, but my hopes were just as soon crushed by the sight of another dark figure approaching me from my right, seemingly gliding across the cement sidewalk and onto the empty road.

Another could be seen coming at me from my left, and I suddenly realized that I was trapped. They were closing in on me, and as I struggled not to let the panic override my system I felt my breathing become choppy and uneven, and my legs become weak from exhaustion causing me to stumble a couple of times.

All I could think about was getting away, getting home, locking myself in my room and snuggling up with Toto, but I was beginning to think that that might not be an option ever again.

There was a very good chance that I was going to die that night, and the thought alone provoked a sudden surge of adrenaline that hit my body like a tidal wave of energy.

My mind felt clearer, my limbs stronger and more stable, and I was able to push through my panic and keep moving.

Unfortunately, though, hat just wasn't enough; even with my new-found energy, the figures were still able to keep up with me and even get closer by the second. I tried to make out from my peripheral vision how many there were, but the sky was already dark, as is usual in winter, and had it not been for the dim street lights, I doubted I would've been able to see anything at all.

Just as I was thinking that I might possibly be able to make it home before they got too close, the universe stepped in and decided to place a plastic bottle in the middle of the road, the very one that, not a moment after spotting it, I tripped face-first over, landing rather painfully on the road, my cheek feeling like all the skin had been grated off.

My limps positively aching, I found it almost impossible to lift myself up, my arms screaming in protest as I attempted to raise my body off of the ground.

I managed to push myself halfway up before I was knocked over by what I would only be able to describe as a freezing cold whip, colliding into my side with an inhuman speed as I screamed out in pain.

Giving me no time to recover, I felt another lash, and another, and then another, and before long my throat had become too hoarse to scream; The pain was overwhelming, I couldn't feel anything but the ice-cold sting attacking my skin even through my jacket and my jeans. I struggled to even stay conscious through the pain.

Just when I thought that I couldn't take it anymore, my ears picked up the rhythmic sound of boots crunching against gravel, moving at a fast pace and getting closer and closer to where I laid.

I wasn't expecting my abuse to relent but when several moments passed with no hits, I was surprised to find that the ghost-like creatures were gone.

The last thing I remembered before my body went limp was a pair of strong arms turning me over and lifting me up into a warm embrace, an all-too-familiar voice frantically urging me to stay.

But I was tired. Oh so tired and in a world of pain. And so I let myself drift away, finally sure that I was safe.

I had been pacing back and forth for what seemed like an eternity, and I was pretty sure that I had started to wear holes into the carpet.

How could I have been so careless? I was supposed to protect her, to keep her safe, to make her happy...instead, I do the exact opposite and end up getting her almost killed.

I should have stayed away the first time; I shouldn't have allowed her to convince me so easily to stay. I had been doing a good job at keeping my distance until that damned Halloween party when she ambushed me and made me feel things that I'd never felt before her.

I should've been stronger, should've shut her out.

Maybe if I had, she wouldn't have been in this situation.

I took a deep, shaky breath and tugged on my hair.

The amount of anger I had felt upon finding my sweet, beautiful angel lying broken in the middle of the street surrounded by those...animals was beyond explanation. If I hadn't been so worried about Kim, I would've been disappointed that they hadn't even bothered to stay for a fight. I had certainly needed to vent some anger.

I was so scared when she wouldn't answer me, when she went limp in my arms. For a good minute I had been petrified at the thought that she might be dead, but I had refused to believe it. My Kim was a fighter, and she would get through this.

I hoped.

When I had assured myself that she was, in fact, breathing and alive, the first thing I had done was take her back to my house and bring her up to my room. My parents were away so I couldn't call on them for help, which meant that if anything went wrong I would have to take action.

I wished that I could've taken her to the hospital. That would've been difficult to explain seeing as she had absolutely no visible wounds save her right cheek, which was sore and red after coming into collision with the concrete road.

Knowing how worried her father could get, I took her iPhone from the pocket of her hoodie and unlocked it, using the code '1002', which I had long ago guessed represented my initials - 'J' being the tenth letter of the alphabet and 'B' the second.

I went into her messages and scrolled down until I found her conversations with her dad, writing him a message.

Hey dad, I hope you don't mind but I decided last minute that I'd be staying at Grace's tonight to study for an upcoming test. Love you xx

I pressed the 'send' button and put it down on my bedside table, along with her watch and bracelets.

Her dad would probably be angry with her for giving him such short notice, but I figured that it was better than no notice at all.

That was when I had started pacing, and I hadn't stopped since.

It had been over an hour.

I was still awake and alert when I saw the first sign of Kim waking up. It started with a slight shifting of the body - which I had gently tucked under my blankets - then a flutter of her eyelids, and then finally the faint yawn that slipped out of her lips before she opened her eyes completely.

I immediately rushed to her side, watching her attentively as she blinked her eyes, and looked around the room, probably wondering why she was in my bedroom.

"Kim," I called out softly, causing her to notice me for the first time.

"Jack?" She croaked out. "What - Aah!" She hissed in pain as she tried to move her head to face me. It almost physically pained me to see her like this.

I took a hold of one of her hands, gently stroking her soft skin with my thumb in a way that was meant to be reassuring.

"Shh, Kim, don't move, okay? You're gonna be fine, I promise. You just..."

She just what? What could I possibly tell her that wouldn't put her in immeasurable danger? It wasn't supposed to happen like this, nothing was supposed to happen like this.

"You were attacked by a group of thugs. They were beating you pretty badly..." my body started shaking slightly at the memory, rage filling my veins. "But they ran away when they saw me coming. I'm...I'm so sorry Kim, I never should have let this happen to you."

I could tell by the look in her eyes that she knew I was hiding something, but she seemed to tired to address it. Instead, her gaze softened, conveying all of her emotions; gratitude, relief, fatigue...and something pretty close to adoration. That one baffled me; how could this angel possibly feel that way about someone like me? I was a no-good truant, a flirt, a delinquent...a monster. No, she definitely wouldn't feel this way if she knew what I really was.

I was almost tempted to distance myself again, maybe even leave town if it meant hat she was safe...but it wouldn't help. Not this time. She was already in his sights, and if I wanted to protect her, I would have to stay by her side.

"Don't be stupid," she chided me. "None of this could have possibly been your fault. I guess I just have an affinity for danger," she joked.

It wasn't funny.

Her gaze turned serious. "Jack Brewer, you are probably the single best hing that's happened to me since moving here. You've been the best friend I ever could have asked for. You're funny, kind, rich, look ridiculously good in black and you're always there to save me when I need you the most. Are you sure you're not Batman?"

That remark made me chuckle, and I had to admire how light-hearted she was being even when I could tell that she was in a lot of pain. She was such an incredible person.

"Get some sleep, Kim. I'll see you in the morning."

She was barely able to nod her head as her eyes drifted shut, her hand going limp in my own.

Awwww :3 I wasn't planning to write a Jack POV in this chapter, but I just couldn't resist *dancing heart emoji*

Anyway, this is the part where I tell you my ingenious scheme to get loads of reviews - because I, unfortunately, am a review whore.

Basically, since the next chapter is going to be a very, very important one for our karate-loving couple, it's also going to take me quite a while to write.

Soooooo, if you don't want to wait for ages, I'm prepared to give you a juicy little sneak-peek.

If you review.

See? Ingenious!

I won't be doing this for everyone, though, so I'll be choosing three random reviewers and sending them the teaser via PM (That means that if you don't have a fanfiction account, well, then make one.)

So that's it. I'm actually posting a chapter before midnight. Yay!

REVIEW.

Please :3

-CCC