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…One Teardrop at a Time…
…Chapter Seven…
Previously on One Teardrop at a Time…Jack finds out the truth about his memory loss.
Kim pushed the mop bucket down the near empty halls, exhausted from a long hard day of work. She swiped the dripping mop across the floor, cleaning and sterilizing the area. But, she forgot to grab the wet floor caution sign from the janitor's room.
"I'm serious about you taking anger management classes, Taylor." Jack reminded her as he let go of her, but she still held onto him, making the hug awkward.
"I told you already that I promise to do that!" She snapped.
"Okay, can you let go of me already? I don't mean to sound rude, but this is starting to get uncomfortable." He replied with annoyance clear in his deep voice. Jack had his hands resting at his sides as Taylor clung to his chest. Her head leaned against his collar bone. Then, he felt her dig her nails into his back.
"Well, you are being rude!" Taylor yelled.
"That's it. Rudy, help me get her off of me!" Jack exclaimed.
"Nobody touch me!" She demanded, as she unlatched her nails from his back and stepped backwards.
"Taylor, what has you upset?" Rudy asked, putting his hand on her shoulder, which she shrugged off.
"I don't know…I'm just a screw up." She breathed, sadly.
"It sounds like you need to see a therapist, too." Jack added with concern etched on his facial features.
"I don't need your advice! You know what, Jack?! Forget it! I don't ever want to see you again!" Taylor screamed as tears flooded her eyes and she ran from the room.
What the heck is wrong with her?! Her anger wasn't a problem when she was at the dojo. There's something that she isn't telling me and I'm going to find out what it is.
"I'll see you later, Rudy." Jack said.
"Bye, Jack." He replied.
Taylor completely vanished out of sight as Jack hurried down the corridor searching for her. He had been her friend for some time now and he wanted to help her, but she was plainly gone. Jack kept running until he turned right and didn't see Kim mopping the floor. His foot slipped out from under him and he hit the floor hard.
Kim was in the corner of the hall, mopping with her back turned. When she heard the impact, she immediately twisted around to see Jack lying on the cold floor tiles with his eyes shut.
"JACK!" Kim cried, rushing to his side and kneeling over his body.
All the commotion caused Lindsey to stick her head out of room 210 to see what was going on.
"Kim, what did you do to him?!" Lindsey shrieked, rushing to Jack's other side.
"It was an accident!" Kim panicked, feeling his pulse under his jaw. She inhaled and exhaled a couple deep breaths before she could calm herself down.
"Great, Kim. You just knocked out the only doctor here." Lindsey hissed, holding Jack's hand.
"The night shift workers will be here soon and Rudy is still here." Kim responded, terrified for Jack's health. She was too traumatized to be angry at Lindsey's harsh words. Her brown eyes were focused on his peaceful, sleeping face.
"I'll get Dr. Gillespie. I'm sure he would love to hear how you hurt him. You might get fired." Lindsey smirked, as she hurried down the corridor.
"How could she think about something so childish at a time like this? I hope you're okay, Jack. I didn't mean for this to happen. I'm so sorry." Kim talked to herself. She lightly smoothed some of his brown hair out of his eyes with her hand.
Kim gasped in shock when Jack raised his hand, and captured her fingers in his palm.
"Jack? Are you awake?" Kim asked, nervously.
His eyes slowly opened and he looked directly at her.
"Kim, you have no idea how much I missed you." Jack said. He tried to sit up.
"No, please don't move. Do you remember anything that has just happened?" Kim replied, placing her other hand on his chest. He laid back down on the floor, gazing up at her.
"Why am I on the floor? When did you get here from Japan?" Jack wondered.
Oh no. This cannot be good. He has forgotten about me working here. I can understand if Rudy wants to fire me. I don't deserve this job. Look at what I have done. Jack doesn't even know that I'm the reason he fell.
"It's a long story." Kim sighed.
Jack squeezed her hand lightly and smiled, "I haven't kissed those beautiful lips in a long time."
"I don't think this is the appropriate time to do that." Kim furrowed her eyebrows.
"You don't love me anymore?" Jack whispered, frowning. He slipped her hand out of his palm.
"Oh, no! No, no, no. I love you with all my heart." Kim's bottom lip trembled as she rested her forehead against his.
"I never stopped loving you." Jack spoke softly; his breath lightly blew a few strands of her blonde hair. He cradled the back of her head in his hand, pulling her closer to his face until their lips touched.
"He's over here, Dr. Gillespie. Kim purposely hit Jack with the mop." Lindsey's voice could be heard from down the corridor. She was leading him to the scene of the accident and she was adding lies to what had really happened.
Jack and Kim's lips disconnected as Lindsey's voice increased in volume from further down the hall. Her footsteps were loud and quick paced.
Is she running? How could she be so excited to get me in trouble? It seems a little psychotic.
Lindsey was looking behind her as she ran; making sure Rudy was following her. The over-enthusiastic brunette tripped over her own two feet. She landed on top of Jack's chest, accidentally kicking him in the face as she fell.
"Jack?!" Kim panicked.
He was knocked out again.
Lindsey rolled off of him and stared at him in shock.
Uh-oh! Jack isn't going to have any brains left in his head if he keeps getting hurt. I can't believe that I tripped over my own two feet?! I'll just blame Kim. Obviously, it's her fault the floor is wet!
Kim pulled Jack into her lap and she gently held his upper body against her chest.
"What happened here?" Rudy asked, finally catching up with Lindsey. He kneeled beside Kim.
"He's knocked out, Rudy. He just remembered me and now he's out cold." Kim replied, sorrowfully.
Where am I? What's going on? Why does my head hurt? I can hear voices! Where are they coming from? Hello? Someone help me! I'm lost. What happened to the lights? Am I dreaming?
Is that Ricky Weaver?! What is this place? I'm at school?! There's Kim in her purple dress. She looks so young. Wait a minute. My body is shorter! I'm younger, too. How is this possible? I must be dreaming.
"No, Kim! He's going to hurt you. He's just using you!"
She can't hear me? Can anyone hear me?!
"Hello?! What's happening?"
"Jack, I made this for you."
"Kim? You can see me?" Now I'm at the dojo? How did I get here?
"Of course I can. Here, it's a bracelet with our initials on it."
"Thank you, but how did you and I change our age so quickly?"
"Jack, you're silly."
"We should watch another movie together."
Now I'm at the movie theatre! Wow, Lindsey is here and she's so annoying. I don't want to set through another movie with her. Wait. There's Kim! She's beautiful.
"He can't. He promised to help me with my science project." I remember when this happened. I'm glad Kim saved me from another date with Lindsey.
Now I'm outside under a cherry blossom tree?
"Jack, I'm going to miss you while I'm in Japan."
"Kim, what are you saying? You left for Japan years ago."
"Goodbye for now, Jack."
Well, that kiss was amazing!
"Jack, are you okay? Jack, please wake up. I can't live without you."
Who's saying that? Everything is black dark again. That's Kim's voice! I feel someone rubbing my hair?
"His eyes are open!" Kim shouted, joyfully.
Jack cringed at the loudness of her voice, while he was lying on the floor in her lap.
"I'm sorry, hun." Kim whispered, softly. She hugged him closer to her chest.
"How do you feel?" Rudy asked.
"I feel fine. I had the strangest dream, though. I was re-living some old memories. It seemed so real." Jack responded.
"You better get it checked out anyway." Rudy said, concerned. He hoisted Jack up on his feet by holding to Jack's arm, with the help of Kim.
"Guys, I can stand on my own." Jack insisted, "I'm tired and I just want to go home."
"You could have a concussion." Rudy said, "Come with me to make sure you're okay."
"Please, Jack. I'm worried about you." Kim pleaded.
He looked into her concern-filled eyes and felt regret. He remembered everything. From the days when they were in school, to the day Kim started working at the hospital, and he remembered how he hurt her by not knowing who she was today.
"Okay, guys. I'll let you help me." Jack replied, wrapping his arm around Kim's waist. She gazed up at him with her cheeks blushing and a smile on her face.
Lindsey sneaked away long before they noticed her. She felt bad for hurting Jack and she didn't want to get in trouble with Rudy.
To be continued…
Wow. It's been a week since I last updated. I had a stressful June so far. Chapter 7 was written and ready to be updated earlier, but it got deleted from my computer by a certain someone. I was so traumatized! Anyway, I finally was able to re-write it.
READ/REVIEW/FAVORITE/FOLLOW :)
—Emily Jane