My head pounded and I felt as if I were in a freezer. Being sick sucks. I looked at the clock sitting at my desk and groaned; it read 8:51am. I dragged myself out of bed and went downstairs.

I plodded down onto the couch with my cereal and watched TV for a little while. I noticed the answering machine was flashing next to me so I pressed it. It was my dad and he just told me to feel better, take out the trash, that mom left some chicken in the freezer and they'd both be home from work tomorrow. In all honesty, I only have a vague idea of what my parents actually do... They both work for the same company with financing or something. That sounds desperately boring but they're far from that. Sometimes you love them and more often than not, you want to strangle them. This feeling most likely mutual.

I washed the dishes and begrudgingly headed towards the front door with the trash. I put on my rubber boots, my waterproof coat over my pajamas and with the large hood, I prepared myself for the ten-meter trek to edge of my front lawn. I opened the door and the rain was so immense that everything blurred. I know, I could've just left this for later, but who knows when the rain will stop?

As a totally irritating and cruel irony (I'm ill - I'll say what I want), I sneezed thrice on the way to the garbage can and on the way back I spurted out a long line of horrible crackling coughs. I stood on my porch, took my hood off and then I heard someone call my name.

"Kim?" Oh god, who is that giant of a man calling me? I squinted through the dense rain. They began to walk towards me and I still had no idea who it was.

"Kim! It's Jared!" I was trying to process the situation and all I could think of was confusion. He reached my porch in no time and says,

"Hey, I didn't know this was your house. I was walking and obviously I saw you... I've been meaning to ask you something... And since we're here, I might as well ask you now."

He was dressed very much like the last time I saw him. Just shirtless. Ahem.

"Um, OK. It's pretty loud out here; do you wanna come in quickly?"

"Oh. Thanks." He enters first and I follow, closing the door behind me, still fully aware of his bare, toned and muscular chest. "Sorry about my... attire. I was running."

"In this weather? What are you, invincible?"

"Something like that." he grinned.

"If you say so." I replied a little hoarsely, clearing my throat a little.

"Wait. You're not ill are you?" He examines me quickly and I feel self-conscious. "Sorry to barge in like this." he puts a hand around his neck worriedly. This was so strange and I couldn't wait for him to leave. It's not that Jared's annoying but human interaction isn't fun when you feel like dying. I stopped a cough from coming.

"No, it's alright. You're already here anyway. What did you want to ask?"

"Could I borrow your notes on English since I missed out on so much? Mrs. Kotoua suggested it since we've sat next to each other for so long."

"Sure," I shrugged. "I'll get it now."

I took my boots off and headed upstairs. As I half jogged towards my room at the end of the hallway, I slipped on my brother's sock.

My left ankle turned on its side and my whole weight was put on it. I gasped in pain and landed agonizingly on my butt; all of this happening within a second.

"Kim!" Jared was beside me in no time and he kneeled next to the ankle I was holding. "Kim, you should be more careful." He elongated the "I" in my name and tutted. His eyebrows knitted in concern.

"OK, mother. I'll try. In my defense the sock was very unobtrusive and camouflaged." I replied.

Jared smiled. "I'm gonna take off your sock now, OK?" I frowned and nodded. And there it was: a freshly swollen ankle.

"Oh, I'll be fine," I waved my hand in reassurance,"-this happened to me once before - it'll heal in a few days." It was Jared's turn to frown. "Hey, it's not like it's you with the twisted ankle." He suddenly looked at me intensely. I looked back at him for a millisecond and averted my eyes to my lap and slowly began to stand up.

"I'm guessing your room's at the end, over there?"

"Yeah."

"Do you want me to... uh, help... You've got a pretty long way to go."

"Um, thanks. If that's OK. So I'll just -woah! What the hell do you think you're doing!"

"What?" Somehow, Jared felt this was an appropriate time to smirk.

Shirtless (and wet) Jared was carrying me. He was carrying me like a baby in his arms. I felt like a huge helpless baby and I knew I would infinitely try to erase this from my memory.

"You knew what I meant!" I started struggling against his arms without trying to move my leg (extremely difficult I tell you) and I honestly pushed with all the strength I could muster against his ridiculously warm and stupidly toned chest. He responded in no way whatsoever. I squirmed as much as possible and said, "What is your problem? Put me down! Just help me down the hallway like a normal person!" My voice definitely cracked at one point.

"Too late. It's too much effort to put you down." He wasn't funny and I didn't reply. I was fuming. I absolutely despised this kind of thing. If it were possible, I tried to keep my distance from him as far as I could. I wish he'd catch my illness right now and start coughing his guts out like last week. When we got to my room, Jared finally put me down on the bed and had my ankle elevated on one of the pillows. I begrudgingly said thank you.

"Seriously! What was that about? I might have twisted an ankle but my legs didn't fall off!"

"I was trying to be helpful."

"Whatever. Let's just be clear that I'm not a damsel in distress."

"Sorry." He obviously wasn't and why was he joking around with me? I didn't know him. I know it seems like I'm exaggerating about the whole thing but who does he think he is? He's barged into my home shirtless, asking for my notes, we've hardly spoken two words that could be considered meaningful and now he's pretending we're best buddies or something. Jared's totally unaffected by the wrath I was trying to exude and it probably didn't help that I was sick and disabled but I still felt like punching him - even though I knew I would disable myself so much more. He was looking around my room intently. Look at him, prying around my things with his perfect body.

"Hey, the English book's on my desk."

"Hm?"

"I said, the English book's on my desk."

"Oh sorry, yeah."

"So... Bye."

"Thanks for letting me borrow it. This was... Interesting." I raised my eyebrows at him.

"OK, fine. I'm sorry I carried you without your consent and it was probably my fault you twisted your ankle."

I stayed silent. Why was he so... Oh, never mind.

"OK, OK. I'll leave. Do you want me to fetch you any ice from downstairs before I go?"

"No, thank you. Oh, wait. Take this so my book doesn't get wet."

I grabbed a shopping bag I used yesterday and he replied, "Thanks, again." I nodded in response and he left. I heard the front door shut and I wondered. What on earth was that about?

It's been weeks since, as I like to call it, 'my clumsy moment.' Of course no one knows anything of my encounter with Jared and I intend to keep it that way. Particularly Chloe, as she would certainly start spinning a wild story and by wild story I mean the two protagonists of her story almost all the time end up passionately making out. I almost roll my eyes at the mere thought. Chloe's so cheesy but it's probably why we always end up laughing in most of our conversations. Anyway, relationships are chaotic and I have plenty of time to eventually turn into an old and lonely spinster. I'm kidding (I hope) and it'll happen, if it happens. If there ever is a guy who's crazy enough to take an interest in me, boy, I already feel sorry for them. They're going to have such a tough time.

It's not that I have a 'type'. I was going to say that I wasn't picky, but I would be lying. I could just use the excuse that I have standards and I think I will. What's so wrong with wanting a funny, smart and attractive boyfriend? Yeah, I guess these days it sounds impossible. I mean it's not like I make the effort and I'm not exactly a dream girl. But, it's so irritating in this century how boys and girls alike are willing to date someone just because everyone else has somebody or they're lonely. By lonely, I'm talking about people who are desperate and annoying. There's a difference to want to be someone because you want to, not because you need someone. I've never been that kind of lonely so I can't really talk, I guess.

Speaking of being alone, I don't mind it all. I headed out the the door for my daily run at the beach. I cherished these days. Rain or shine I go and it's great because I feel like my thoughts are a completely jumbled mass of a myriad strings and as I run, I can feel them slowly unravelling and arranging themselves more neatly. These runs are very... therapeutic for me. Ha, I'm turning into Chloe! Luckily, it was sunny today and there was a breeze that would come and go. The beach looked very beautiful. The rays of sunlight landed on the grey sand and sea and everything glimmered gently. The waves were calm and the sea was almost turning from a dull grey to a dark shade of blue.

I reached the end of the beach an hour later and walked nearby to a small rock pool resting on flat rocks. For some reason, I never went to it until now. Before, it felt like I'd be disturbing something. But today, it felt right.

I took my shoes and socks off and dipped my tired feet into the cool and clear water. Clouds moved hypnotically in the sky and sunlight shone into the pool. The water turned into a very faint colour of turqoise blue and I could see more of the seeweed brushing against my feet. I stared out into the sea and listened.

There was suddenly a large distorted figure reflected on the pool. I turned around and squinted.

"Hey." Jared grinned.

"Hi." I smiled politely.

"Mind if I join you?"

"No. Go ahead." He took off his shoes and socks and sat a reasonable distance away from me. Boo, he ruined my 'me time'. Oh well, it's not like I own the beach (I wish).

We sat quietly for a little while and enjoyed the view.

"So, you're dressed pretty smart for the beach aren't you?" I said.

"Yeah, my sister's back from college for a while and she has something "important" she needs to tell us later. And she's bringing her boyfriend and his parents." He replied gloomily.

"It can't be that bad."

"Well, do you want to trade places?" He smiled.

"I'm good thanks."

"Hey, I still have your English book. My house is literally just over there. Want me to go get it?"

"It's fine. It's only a book. You can give it to me in school."

"I'm 100% sure I'll forget it until it starts rotting in my room."

"That sounds like torture to my poor book. And sheesh, your room sounds toxic."

"See? So I'll go get it then?"

"Fine. But I'll come with since your house is so close and you're going through so much trouble for my beloved English book. I don't want you to feel like I'm burdening you."

"Don't worry you're not."

We both put our socks and shoes back on and Jared lead the way to his home. We didn't say anything on the way and I felt reasonably awkward. We arrived at his door and I said to him,

"I'll wait out here."

"You don't want to come in?"

"No, it's OK. It can't take that long to get it."

"True." He started to get the keys out of his back jeans pocket when the front door opened.

"Well well, Jared. Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend?"

A/N

Hey, guys! A thousand apologies for not updating in ages! Life and school really like getting in the way.

Lots of Kim and Jared action for you! I have to admit as I wrote this chapter, I was so tempted for Jared to start saying things that would've been utter perfection in Kim's eyes and the chapter would end with them snogging passionately...

Alas, that would be no fun whatsover, as I don't want the story to end so quickly! Don't you think this Jared who doesn't confess his feelings in 10 seconds (aka strong What is our beautiful Jared thinking to seduce our Kimmy (eyebrows wagging)...

(A stubbly Jared just popped into my head. Just saying.)

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