A/N: Damn, this was quite a long chapter to write. From the previous chapter I basically asked you're opinion before my mind came up with a brilliant twist (prepare to not see that one coming next chapter). So I'm currently writing the chapter where you guys and gals will see Jack's reaction and Kim explain it all. So you guys will have to wait. I'm still holding a few things back.

Another thing is, I just started school. I'm currently in my third week and it was busy (I had orientation week which was basically all day, every day for 1 week) that was why I didn't have time to update. I will try my best to update whenever I'm free. But to all my loyal readers; I'm a busy girl. LOL

The next thing, you know that guy from Wrath of Swan episode? Brody? I decided I liked him enough to include him in the story. So he will be included in the story starting from this chapter. This chapter is a flashback chapter. I repeat in capital letters. THIS IS A FLAHBACK CHAPTER.

Anyway enough of the author's note, oh one more thing thanks for all the reviews! Enjoy…

Not Since You

Chapter 7: Our Past

"You know staring is rude," a voice said from behind the seventeen year old.

Kim jolted and turned around to see Brody. He was his signature easy smile. Kim knew him from school but it was during what could only be described as the dance fiasco did they established their first proper communication. Sure at that time Brody was a Black Dragon, he still is. But after that whole fiasco he apologized and Kim accepted it.

They started an easy going friendship that soon rivaled the one she had with Jack. Brody was just that type of guy. The guy you just can't help but like. Kim knew that Jack didn't like the friendship she developed with Brody. It also did not help that Brody lived just a couple of houses down from hers and was she and him were constantly going to school and back home together unless she had practice.

Kim had assured Jack that Brody was just a friend and even teased Jack that he (Jack) would always be her best friend. But now as Kim looked at Brody, it seems like she was closer to Brody than Jack.

"I am not staring," Kim mumbled before looking away from him and into her lockers, "Was it really that obvious?"

"To me, but you know how observant I am," Brody said in a superior voice that caused Kim to roll her eyes. Kim peeked to where she was staring at before Brody called her out. She could see Jack and Heather arguing. Kim heard Brody sigh, "Crawford."

"Why is it that you know my last name and I have no idea what yours is?" Kim asked trying to distract Brody.

"Kim."

"What?" She said is a resigned voice. She could see where this was going. They had this argument countless of times. Each one ending with one of them dropping it or changing the topic but never settling the argument.

"He is an idiot you know, for doing this to you," Brody said. Of course Brody knew about Jack asking her to give him some distance to sort things out with Heather last year. Kim was doing fine but Brody was watching her like a hawk as if she was going to break anytime soon.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kim said.

Brody gave her a leveled look before saying out the blunt truth, "Going out with other girls when he obviously likes you. I mean even Frank could see it, and you know how dim witted he is."

The Frank part was for her humor. Frank was not the brightest kid, he was now, what, in his twenties and still in high school? But the rest of what Brody said etched into her mind. Heather arguing was Jack was quite normal. Their breakup was rather messy and bittersweet. Of course their arguments were slowly diminishing. This was their only argument in a few months.

"I don't feel that way about him," Kim said before correcting herself mentally she did not have any idea how she felt.

"Keep telling yourself that Crawford," Brody said.

Kim glared at him before replying, "What about you and that girl you have as a partner for chem. Whats-her- name…Sarah?"

Kim had the amusement of watching Brody turn a shade pinker. There were not many things that made Brody blush, Sarah happened to be just one of them that Kim knew.

"Shut up," Brody mumbled before speaking more clearly, "Do you have Dojo after school?"

"Yes, but I don't feel like going. We'll see," Kim said as she closed her locker. The school bell rang and Kim made her way to her next class with Brody. The Jack thing was dropped just like every other time. They were talking about easier topics.

…

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late," Kim said as she rushed into the dojo and straight into the girls changing room. Kim expertly changed into her karate clothes quickly before going out to the practice area. She placed her stuff at a nearby bench before searching for her water bottle.

The boys plus Rudy were already practicing.

"So why were you late?" Milton asked.

"I had to sort something out with Brody. We got partnered up for our class project," Kim said as she took her water bottle out and took a gulp.

"What project?" Eddie asked.

"Miss Darbuson's," Kim said as she started stretching.

"Miss Darbuson's? Good luck, you're going to need it," Milton said.

"Why?" Kim asked curious, "I thought that the project outline is relatively simple…"

"But doing it isn't, trust me," Eddie cut her off, "I got partnered up with Milton when we had that class. We started earlier than anyone else but we still had so much to do. I even had to sleep over at Milton's for the weekend just to complete it."

"Well it's a good thing that Brody lives near me I guess," Kim said, "He only needs to walk a couple of houses."

"I didn't sleep Kim, I stayed up all night," Eddie said before muttering something about Milton's dictatorship.

"Oh, I guess my mom would be okay with Brody staying over," Kim said still planning about the project.

"Yeah, yeah, Can we stop talking about Brody and get to practice," Jack said.

The matter was dropped as they began practicing. Kim could see that Jack was trying hard not to show how much the idea of Brody staying over at her house just for a project bothered him. She might have forgiven Brody but Jack didn't. It was a stupid prank designed to embarrass her. But even if she was covered in chocolate she would have just laughed it off and have fun.

But in Jack's eye it was unforgivable, which she thought was stupid.

"You going home?" Jack asked Kim.

It was after practice, Kim had just finished gathering her stuff and zipping her bag.

"Yeah," Kim replied.

"Walking home with Brody?" Jack asked. Kim pretended not to hear the venom in his voice.

"No, he's training late. He has that upcoming competition," Kim replied.

"Oh."

"So, who did you get partnered up with?" Kim said.

She and Jack had the same classes just at different timings. The only time they ever saw each other in school was during lunch and English, well they see each other at the hallways but those don't count.

"Heather."

Ah. That was why they were arguing just now. And then Eddie's words were brought to mind. Would she be alright if Jack and Heather stayed up late together? The thought made her feel funny. Jack and Heather were capable of anything. They were once voted cutest couple in junior year.

"Oh"

"So you want to grab a burger?" Jack asked as they went out of the dojo.

"Nah, I think I'm just going home. See you tomorrow," Kim said before walking away, her mind troubled.

…

"You have got to be kidding me," Kim said as her voice shocked. She was staring at Brody, watching to see if he was bluffing but she could see he was telling the truth and was very amused at her reaction.

"It's true," Brody said, a laugh in her voice. Kim tried to picture it but she couldn't.

"You used to have an afro," Kim repeated, she did not believe it. Brody's hair was nowhere near an afro now, "What did you do to deserve that?"

"Hey for your information, I looked quite alright," Brody said.

Kim snorted. She was at a booth at phalafel Phil's with Brody. She was originally alone, waiting for Jack, who was almost an hour late. Brody showed up a while back and decided to keep her company.

"Fine I looked weird," Brody said giving in. He then looked at his watch, "So how long have you been waiting for him. I've been here about 15 minutes."

Kim knew Brody was about to talk, but in all honesty she really didn't want it today. She was exhausted enough, "Can we just talk about something else?"

"Like what?" Brody asked.

Kim was thankful that he allowed her that, "I don't know. Anything I guess….Oh! Have you received any acceptance letters?"

Graduation was catching up on them. She had been drafting and sending so many applications and she was not the only one. Grace, Juliet, Milton, Eddie and even Jerry. Every senior was doing it. The past week she had seen people receive news that they got into their dream school and others in tears wondering where to go on from there (they were the ones who received rejection letters.)

"Yeah, NYU and Yale," Brody said.

"Wow, congratulations," Kim said her mouth practically open.

"I got one other acceptance, it's my dream school. You know I applied to Yale just for my grandfather. Anyway this school is amazing but I will have to graduate earlier," Brody said sharing his dilemma.

"Go for it," Kim said, "It's good for your future."

"But is it good for me right now?"

"I'm not sure I'm following you," Kim said. The way Brody phrased it confused her a little. Wasn't getting accepted to where he yearned to go good for him now?

"I know that it will be good for me in the future, but I just don't want to miss out on now. If I accept it I will miss not only graduation but prom and the rest of my senior year. I don't know if I want that," Brody explained. He looked so torn that Kim yearned to reach out and comfort him.

"I can't pretend to know what you're going through but I can try to understand. Just choose whatever that feels right for you."

"Thanks,"

So if you do accept, when will you have to go there, by when I mean?" Kim asked

"In a month," Brody replied before changing the subject to her, "So what about you? Have you got any acceptance letters yet?" Brody asked.

"NYU," Kim said, "I should receive word about the others sometime next week."

"Maybe I should just go to NYU, we could become dorm mates," Brody smirking a little at the idea. Kim laughed it off. It would certainly be fun 'living' with a friend but in no way would that ever be possible. Brody would probably go to Yale or his dream school.

Still she entertained him with that idea, "We could stay up late all night. And I won't need to go looking around for a spar partner," She said excitedly.

"Don't forget all the stupid routines we could still do and the things the weekends would have for us," Brody added. His words painted a pretty picture. She would have a friend at some unknown part of her future. But she quickly shook her head. No use mixing fantasy with reality.

"I'm going to miss you, you know?" Kim said breaking a comfortable silence they created.

"Yeah, I know."

Kim rolled her eyes but could not help the small grin in her face. Trust it to Brody, to be overly cocky.

"I'll miss you to and you know it," Brody said.

Kim looked at him and out of nowhere both of them laughed. It was quite amusing to watch both of them act all sentimental and emotional. The door of phalafel Phil's open and in rushed a sweaty and re-faced Jack.

"Hey Kim, I am so sorry I'm late," Jack said before he noticed Brody, "Brody."

"Jack," Brody said before stepping out of the booth and facing Kim, "I better go, see you around."

Kim nodded and smiled, watching Brody walk out before facing Jack, "So how come you're late."

"I got caught up in something"

"Fell asleep?"

"Pretty much," Jack grinned sheepishly.

"Well, you're an hour late so let's get this started," Kim said as she opened her binder.

…

"Jack we need to talk"

Kim cringed. Those words were not something anyone wanted to hear let alone with an audience. Kim was now in all fours, beside the dumpster trying hard to hold her breath and not inhale the foul stench from the dumpster. She was she could see Jack's and Donna's shoes. They had no idea she was hear and she in all honesty did not want to be there. But she could not move without giving her position away. Donna had obviously thought that this was where she would not be overheard, guess she got that part wrong.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm…I'm pregnant," Donna finally stammered out.

Kim felt her heart accelerate. There could only be one reason, Donna needed to tell Jack.

"You're the father."

And just like that her heart stopped. She wanted to come out and do something; hug and tell him it's going to be alright or scream her head off for not only ruining his future but Donna's. And yet both were inappropriate.

Someone she knew got pregnant when they were a teenager. She used to scorn and said those girls who got pregnant when they were teenagers were such idiots. Giving up everything for just being physically intimate with a guy who might not, in the long run, love them enough to stay with them.

It was pathetic.

But she could not bear to say those words now. Donna was usually such a careful girl, how could she have gotten…Kim could not even think of it. As if this moment was designed for her to listen she could see her future in one clear vision while Donna and Jack's would be sacrificial. She knew Jack was going to take care of Donna with his hero complex and all.

Her future was completely free, she could be selfish and work on her while they would need to put their child as priority. Their child. Those words were a stake through her heart. It finally dawned on Kim that she will never ever get to explore her feelings with Jack. She was sure she felt something for him but what was the use now?

Her eyes burned. Why the heck was she crying? She still had a future. Yeah but is it the one you wanted a voice whispered venomously in her ear. She did not hear the rest of Donna and Jack's conversation. She was crying, for Jack, for Donna. And for herself. Any girl, Kim reasoned, would be crying if they found out that they would never had a chance guy that they might actually love.

Done. Okay a lot of you might ask what's the point of this chapter, why am I 'coupling up' Kim and Brody in this me it will all work out, Anyway I really have to go to sleep now, I have to wake up early to prepare for school (I have a morning lecture). Till next time :)

Oh! Apologies if there is any errors in spelling or grammar. I was sort of in a rush. Hehe