AN: Chapter eleven is here! This is officially my longest story ever:)

Thank you Kicklover3000, QueenCupcake101, Maddy and hgirl for all your reviews.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kickin it.

Chapter 11

A Missing Piece

Kim's pov.

I rolled over in bed, my eyes adjusting to the light. I hadn't slept well for the past two nights. The thing was that I wasn't really tired when it was time for me to sleep and I've been spending hours tossing around in bed thinking about Jack.

All the worrying had made me emotionally exhausted though and I was more or less acting like a zombie when I was awake.

I glanced at my clock, noticing that it was time for me to get up. I didn't want to go to school today, but my mum would never let me stay at home. I'd already tried to convince her that I was too depressed to go to school yesterday, but she'd insisted of me going.

I had skipped three classes though, without her knowing. I'll probably gonna get detention for that, but right now I couldn't care less. All of them had been classes that Jack also took and I just couldn't stand to see his empty seat.

I reluctantly got out of my bed and started to get dressed. For once I didn't get through my whole wardrobe to choose what to wear. I just picked the cloths that happened to be on the top and were easiest for me to get, not really caring about how I would look.

I brushed through my hair and just let it hang loose, not feeling inspired to do anything with it. What was the point anyway?

Actually nothing seemed to matter anymore. Nothing was like it used to be when Jack was still here. I'd never noticed how much time I use to spend with him or how much he meant to me, until now. All of a sudden there was a huge hole in my every day life.

I made my way downstairs and into the kitchen. My mom was already sitting at the table reading the newspaper. She looked up at me as I took a seat.

"Haven't seen you wear that sweater before." She said. I looked down at my clothes realizing I was wearing the green sweater that my Aunt made for me. The reason why I hadn't worn it before was because I didn't like it.

"It suits you." She smiled as she put the newspaper away. I didn't say anything instead I grabbed the cereal box and started to pour its contents into my deep plate that mom had already set up for me. Mom probably noticed that I wasn't in the mood to chat like we use to do at the table and she tried to sooth me as she said. "I'm sure he will come back. We just have to trust that the police know what they're doing and in the meantime you are not going to act as if your whole life is gone."

I looked at her in silence. Jack was my life and when he disappeared so did my life, but of course mum would never understand that so why bother to discuss it?

And I was going to act like this for as long as I wanted to, especially now when I was mad at her for not letting me stay home. As if she could read my thoughts she said. "Do you really think that Jack would want you to skip school just because of him?"

I couldn't argue with her on that one. Jack would probably insist of me going.

"No…he wouldn't want that." I shook my head as mum gave me a satisfying look knowing that she'd succeeded. "Fine, I'll go to school." I sighed. I don't know how she does it but she always seems to know what to say to make me come around. Sometimes I even think she knows me better than I know myself. There was only one more person in the world who could claim to know me just as good – Jack.

"I'll pick you up at three and drive you to the dojo. I think that it's ok with Rudy that you'll be there a little earlier than you supposed to." Mum said as she stopped the car outside the school building." I don't get of until eight o'clock, so you're gonna have to wait at the mall if you want a ride home otherwise you'll have to walk."

I had to think of my options for a moment. I had refused to walk alone to school, that's why my mum had started to drive me and walking home from the dojo all by myself seemed just as bad. Actually I didn't want to go to the dojo at all; it wasn't the same without Jack.

"Why can't you just drive me home after school?" I said. "I can skip one practice."

"No, you're gonna go to the dojo. I don't want you to stay home and be miserable, you should be with your friends, besides do you really think that Jack …"

"Fine! I'll go." I said annoyed as I jumped out of the car.

"I'll pick you up at three. Love ya!" Mom hurried to say just before I slammed the car door shut. She waved at me as she drove of and I sighed. This was going to be a long day…

"Hi Kim!." I recognize that cheerful voice anywhere and I smiled as Grace walked up to me. She had been very supportive and understanding and without her I'm not sure that I would have made it through the schooldays at all.

"Any news?" She asked concerned.

I shook my head 'no', dreading that I wouldn't be able to hold it together if I had to speak.

"Don't worry. He'll be back soon." She said softly.

"It's just that…" I had to pull myself together not to flip out or break down as I continued to speak what was on my mind. "…Everybody seems to think that he's ran away, but his not the kind of person that would do anything like that. He never run's from anything."

"You should tell them that." Grace said even though she knew that I already had since we had this conversation before, but being the good friend she was she knew I needed to vent this stuff over and over.

"I have…" I said a little louder than necessary. "…but the officers say that the evidences that he's run of are pretty strong. The last thing anybody saw of him was when he ran of from the courtyard. And they couldn't find anyone's DNA on Jack's phone except Jack's, mine and Mrs Brewer, which points to the fact that Jack must have thrown it away himself and that could only mean that he doesn't want anyone to contact him or find him, which leads to the conclusion that he's left on his own and…"

"Kim, it's okay. Just don't forget to breathe." Grace had taken hold of my shoulders when she noticed me rambling on, just upsetting myself. I sighed and gave her a small nod, trying to ignore the growing lump in my throat. She looked me in the eyes and asked "What do you think happened?" knowing that I was probably going to need to vent that as well.

"I don't know…but I fear that someone has done something to him. Maybe taken him somewhere or he's hurt and unable to get home on his own." Deep down inside of me I feared that Jack wasn't even alive, but I did my best to suppress the thought and told myself that as long as they haven't found his body there was still hope. A hope that I was willing to hang on to until the end of time… "The worst part is not knowing and I'm stuck here unable to do anything to help." I said, my voice cracking slightly.

"Hey, you have helped. You have told the police everything you know and you were the one that found the phone, which turned out to be the strongest clue, the police have to work with." Grace comforting words made me feel better and we started to make our way into the school building.

The school day was almost over and I had started to relax somewhat, knowing that I only had one class left before I could leave this place and focus on Jack. The idea of getting to the dojo early was more appealing now when I'd had some time to think about it. I would have enough time to go on another search around the mall and just maybe I would find something that we'd overlooked. The thought made me feel calmer and I couldn't wait to get there now.

I had just left my locker with my math books in my hands as a certain dirty blond guy showed up.

"I heard that you Bobby Wasabi warriors have pulled out of the tournament. What's the matter with you guys? Too scared to face us without the mighty Jack?" Frank mocked and my temporarily bright mood quickly changed into anger, although I tried to ignore him and kept walking.

"I knew that Jack was too much of a wimp to fight us when it really mattered. He's probably hiding somewhere waiting for someone to…"

"Just shut it!" He looked at me surprised at my sudden exclamation. "You know nothing…" I inched closer to Frank making him back of. "Yes we've pulled out of the tournament but only because finding Jack is way more important. And Jack's not afraid of you; he's proved that over and over again. As soon as he's back we all gonna meet you in a tournament you will never forget." I said through gritted teeth and he cowered under my glare. I can be pretty scary when I'm angry…

"Are you coming?" Grace walked up to us. "We have like one minute to get to class." She pointed out as I reluctantly turned away from Frank, who walked away, muttering stuff to himself.

"What was that all about?" She asked as we made it through the hallway.

"Nothing important…" I shrugged. "…just Frank being a jerk as usual..."

She seemed satisfied with the answer or she noticed that I wasn't in the mood to talk about it and she remained silent.

The day had been a real pain so far and I didn't expect the karate practice to be any different. I had searched the mall again just before I got to the dojo without any results. Now I was sitting on one of the benches in the dojo just waiting for this day to be over, for this nightmare to be over…

The dojo looked like it used to do, but the atmosphere was totally different. Jerry and Eddie were sitting next to me watching in silence as Rudy instructed Milton on the mats. A few boards lay scattered on the floor and they would soon be followed by a lot more since Rudy's planed the whole session to be focused on board breaking. That actually suited me pretty well; it felt good to get your frustration out on those boards.

"Okay good, but remember to hit it straight from above." Rudy said.

Milton gave a small nod before raising his hand just to send it back down again with full force. The board broke in pieces that fell to the floor, as we all jumped slightly at the sound. Milton was starting to get really good at this.

My phone started to buzz in my bag that was lying right next to me. I had refused to be any further than three feet away from it in the last days, in case someone would call about Jack. I frantically searched my bag both hoping and dreading that it would be Jack's mum or dad or the police telling me some news about him.

When I finally fished up my phone I was disappointed to see Austin's number on the screen. After a brief moment of debating with myself whether or not I should take it, I answered.

"Hello" I said uncertain, as I stood up and walked to the girls' dressing room, knowing that it would be hard to hear with the boards breaking right next to me.

"Hi Kim, it's me, Austin." Yeah I kinda figured that out when I saw your number, I thought. "I was only wondering if you have any plans on Saturday, now when the tournament is off." He sounded hopeful and I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but I also didn't want to hang out with him on Saturday. I knew that he was going to ask that if I didn't make up any other plans like now. I quickly searched through my mind for anything I could use as an excuse.

"Kim, are you still there?"

"Yeah… I'm here. What were we talking about?"

"Do you have any plans on Saturday?" He asked again.

"Oh, Saturday… I think my mum said that we were going to visit my grandpa."

"Oh… ok." He sounded a little hurt and I couldn't help myself but to say. "But maybe we can meet afterwards."

"Yeah that'll be great." I could almost hear him smiling on the other end. "See you then." He said before hanging up.

"See ya…" I let my head fall back in frustration. What had I just gotten myself into?

When I got back out to the dojo again, I noticed everyone staring curiously at me.

"It wasn't about Jack." I stated knowing that they were all waiting for any news. They looked a little disappointed and returned to whatever they were doing.

"I hope he comes back soon." Milton said.

"Yeah, I've been trying to give this to him, but if he doesn't show up soon I'll probably forget to give it to him." Jerry flashed a small piece of paper in his hand.

"What's that?" I asked curiously heading over to him.

"Oh, it's some kind of letter addressed to Jack. I found it in the boys' dressing room." He explained. I snatched the letter from Jerry's hand and unfolded it.

"What does it say?" Eddie wondered.

My eyes traced down the written lines as I read it out laud.

Hey Jack.

I don't know if you remember me…

We'd met on your last tournament.

You know the ginger haired girl with her dad by her side…

Anyway, we (me and my dad) have been following your success for the whole season.

Don't get me wrong…

We're just huge admirers of what you do.

So my dad owns this company that would be more than happy to sponsor you.

It's a great opportunity for you (at least that's what I think).

Meet me by the bench behind the gym after school.

Don't tell any of your karate friends about this…

Really hope you can make it, Tess.

I looked up at Jerry.

"He's already seen this. He was actually waiting behind the gym for her, but she'd never showed. He told me about it last Friday." I explained.

"Oh ok, then I don't need to worry about it anymore." Jerry shrugged. "Hey, Rudy is it ok if I bring my sister Nelly here on Friday?" He asked." Mum and dad are visiting my uncle, and my brothers and sisters are all out hanging with their friends and Nelly doesn't want to be home alone…"

"Of course she can come." Rudy said.

"Thanks Rudy." Jerry smiled.

Rudy returned the smile before turning to me.

"Ok Kim, you're up." He said pointing to the board that he'd placed on two blocks. I walked up to it and raised my hand…

I know that this wasn't a very exciting chapter but it needed to be there so...

Please don't forget to review:)

/MJ