Thank you so much, everyone. I'm blown away by the early support!
I am Kim
Sometimes I'm blessed with not having to wake up to an alarm clock. Today is one of those days.
I roll over to look at my phone and I see that it's 11:00 am. Me and Jack were out last night pretty late, but not 11:00 am late. I also see that someone blew up my phone with messages, missed calls and emails.
I spin through them to see that they're all from friends and my manager/captain of security, Rudy.
"Hey Rudy." I say sleepily after hitting his speed dial.
"Don't 'hey Rudy' me!" This isn't how I wanted to wake up.
"What'd I do now?" I ask with a deep sigh. It's always something with him and it's always my fault. I mean 9/10 it is...
"What happened to staying off the radar, Kim?" Rudy sounds REALLY pissed this morning.
"What do you mean? I'm purposely in the middle of nowhere." I tell him, sitting up and running an already frustrated hand through my bed head.
"YouTube still found you. Who's this guy you're with? The entire internet thinks you have some new budding relationship guy with this local yokel."
"I don't know what they're talking about, but Jack is NOT a yokel." Damn right I'm sticking up for Jack. After all he's done for me in two short days?
"Jack... Jack..." Rudy was thinking about something. "Jack Brewer?"
"I don't know." I admit. How have I not gotten Jack's last name yet?!
"Kim, where are you?" Rudy sounds urgent. Is Jack actually trouble?
"Why?" I don't want to give location away until I know what's up. I don't want to leave, but with how Rudy is, I'm not sure I'm safe right now.
"Because if that Jack is the Jack I think Jack is, I'm taking the next flight out." This has got to be serious.
"Northborough, Michigan." I answer slowly.
"That's it, I'm coming up there!"
"Rudy, wait, am I in..." Danger. Jack's got Rudy all worked up and I'm in the dark. And I have lunch with him in an hour.
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We need to get better at communicating. We agreed on lunch, but we never said where. I just assumed lunch to be at noon, so that seems like a good time to head over to his place.
Given Rudy's reaction and just how little I know about Jack, I'm actually kind of nervous now.
I make my way out of the hotel I'm at and Short Change Hero is stuck in my head. We sang it last night and Jack actually isn't that bad. He can't sing high. He has more of a blues voice, a Johnny Cash voice, maybe. When he went deep, it made my knees a little weak.
Damn it! Jack might be a threat to me and I can only think of how great last night was! He can't be dangerous, though. He saved me twice! Maybe he just wants me to feel... No, I'm being an idiot about this. Rudy's hair brain is rubbing off on me I think.
Oh man, Jack's face when he heard the song, though! It was so priceless! He had no idea I'd ever even heard it. Damn it, focus, Kim.
Before I know it I'm at Jack's place. His house is decent. It's pretty big, actually. It's a two story with a full basement and attic. If I had to guess, I'd say three to four bed. But I'm not an expert. I cue up I Walk The Line by Johnny Cash, but I won't play it till he's in the car.
I'm anxious. I'm torn between wanting to see him and just wanting to be done with this lunch. Given that push and pull, I'll go drag him out here.
I go up to the white door with simple but pretty French glass and knock three times. I wait only a moment before the door opens. It's not Jack, but a guy with glasses and sandy blonde hair, just a little taller than me.
"Hello?" he questions like I'm some door to door saleswoman. It's clear he doesn't know me. There wasn't a single spark of recognition.
"Hi, is Jack here?" I ask with a smile.
The guy watches me with... maybe suspicion. He does turn and go to the foot of the stairs. "Jack! There's a really hot blonde girl here to see you!" Wow, absolutely no shame. Okay.
I hear some rushed footsteps, then some thumping, then more quick steps, and a hard thump. Nothing. More steps and now he's flying down the stairs. Extra points for enthusiasm. I guess he likes me after all. I was starting to think he was hanging out with me just to be nice. I get that I'm Kim Crawford, but I'm still a nineteen year old girl with a few insecurities, okay?
"Good afternoon." His voice is happy but I think he's trying to bite back a smile. I think he and his roommate may have an emotionally challenged living arrangement. Urgh, men and their inability to show emotion around each other!
"Ready to go to lunch?" I say overly excited, just to see what he and his roommate will do.
"Uhh, yeah." Jack says, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. Oh, this is just too much fun.
"Dude, we're talking about this later." Jack's roommate looks at him with a wily smile. Oh Jack, you poor little bastard.
"Yup, fuck you too, Corey." Jack pats Corey's back, the last one being a little rougher than it had to be. "Let's get out of here." Jack guides me out with his hand on the middle of my back. He avoided the small of my back? Maybe there are gentlemen in small towns.
As soon as we were both strapped in, I hit play on I walk the line. It isn't five seconds in before his fingers are drumming on his legs. He starts singing and my heart stops. I knew it. He's a bass from hell. I should say heaven, really.
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Jack knows Northborough like the back of his hand. He knows every shop and every park. He told me where the 'sorry excuses for things to do' are, along with the best places to eat.
"So are we going to where you work for lunch?"
"Oh God no!" Jack says laughing, and his laughing makes me laugh just as hard. It's contagious. "If I walked in there with you, I would never hear the end of it. Ever."
"Do you work with a bunch of assholes? I've seen what you can do, Jack. Don't let them bully you." I can't picture it being a good idea for anyone to pick on Jack. He must have thick skin to not just put anyone he wants to through a table. I can't see why anybody would want to pick on Jack.
"It's not like that." Jack shakes his head. "I'm the kitchen's baby boy. That kitchen was my first job. I started there not two months after I turned seventeen."
"That's really sweet that they've been watching out for you. I still don't see why you can't go in there with me." Is Jack ashamed of me for some reason? Ah, I got it. He doesn't want them to think he's latching onto my name.
"They're going to ask if you're my girlfriend and I'm gonna have to tell them no, and they're gonna ask why, and they're gonna ask why I've been single for the last three years." Jack drops his head into his hands, obviously flustered at the thought. Is it bad of me to think he's kind of adorable right now?
"Why have you been single for so long?" Oh shit, did I really just ask that?
Jack chuckles but I can tell it's not actually a fun topic for him.
"You don't have to answer that, Jack." I shake my head, sorry now that I asked.
"No, it's cool. What do I have to lose by telling you this?" What do you have to lose by telling me this? What's that supposed to mean?
"You don't have anything to lose?" I have to ask. It's bugging me now.
"Yeah. I don't tell people things because everyone talk to seems to have loose lips and I learn new things about myself every day from someone else. But what would Kim Crawford gain from tossing Jack Brewer around the water cooler?" So that's his last name!
"I get where you're coming from. I have nothing but secrets because it's people's job to spread everything I say." Me and this small town guy have more in common in our personal lives than I expected. "Is there something you need to talk about?" It's been a long time since I've had a real one on one conversation. I'd like to really talk with Jack.
"Maybe when we're not in a parking lot." Jack chuckles and opens the door. Jack gave me directions to get here, but he never said where HERE was.
I get out and follow Jack to the little hole in the wall café. Stepping into it, I think the best word for it is quaint. It's obviously a working class joint, but it's distasteful. Wow. I sound like a bitch just saying that.
"Booth or table?" Jack asks breaking my thoughts.
"Uhh, booth. They're more comfortable." I say as Jack takes my hand and leads me to a nice window seat. Wait... Jack is holding my hand? Why do I have butterflies over Jack holding my hand? Does celebrities get butterflies?
"This is the best seat in the house. I'm glad you said booth." Jack smiles, the two of us sliding into the soft red pleather cushions. This is THE plushest booth I've ever sat in. It's like sitting on a crimson cloud.
We're not here long before a pretty black haired waitress comes with menus and two waters. "Oh, hey Jack. Who's your friend?" Does Jack know everybody?
"How's work today, Jess?" Jack asks the girl with a smile and ignores addressing me. He's probably just doing it to keep my cover low, especially if this town's water cooler moves as quickly as Jack says.
"It's been really slow today. I'm happy you two came in just so I have something to do." Oh my God, that's not sarcasm. We're the only two in here. "Can I start you off with anything to drink?"
"Coffee's good." Jack says, his eyes scanning the menu.
"Can I have the raspberry iced tea, please?" I ask, looking up at Jess with a smile. She's focusing on Jack. I don't blame her, but he doesn't look interested and we could be on a date for all she knows.
"I'll be right out with those drinks." Jess smiles to both of us and leaves. So she DID hear me. I thought she was too lost in Jack Brewer Land.
"So uhh... she seems nice." I offer, subtly trying to get him to talk about her, for better or worse. Preferably worse.
"Yeah." Jack says plainly and leaves it at that. This guy is not a fan of talking about anything involving himself.
"What are you Jack, nineteen or twenty?"
"I'm twenty. Why?"
"Because you're the most self detached twenty year old I've ever met." I say with a short laugh. The look on his face says tells me to keep talking. "You've barely told me anything about yourself these two days."
"Why would you care?" Jack's voice isn't cold or harsh, but I didn't want him to say that!
"What? Why wouldn't I care?" I'm honestly lost here. Why's he shutting me down?
"Why should you care? What good does knowing anything about little Jack Brewer get you? I'm a small town college kid and a line cook. You're a celebrity, Kim. You're rich. You're famous. You're talented. Have your fun hanging out with me while you're here, but don't act like you care about me as a person instead of an interactive tour guide."
Oh. Alright then. "Jack, give me your phone." I order, no room to argue.
"What?" Jack chuckles. Oh come on, just...
"I said give me your phone." This time I'm even more forceful.
"Alright, God." Jack digs into his pocket and hands me his phone. What the hell? A Windows phone, really Jack?
I go into his settings and I check his number. I text it to myself. I give his phone back and I pull out mine. I ignore any alerts on my phone and compose a new message: I'd like to think you're a friend. Not tour guide. Are you reading this? This means I want to keep in touch. I hit send and look at him expectantly.
I can tell by the look on his face that he knows he hurt my feelings with that 'why should you care' comment.
Jack jumps a little. He got the message. He digs in his pocket and pulls out his phone. I think he's reading it. He puts the phone down and looks at me. "Kim, how do I put this simply. You're great. You know you are. So do millions of people. I'm average. I know that. So do five-hundred people. Tops."
I sigh, because he's honestly starting to piss me off a little. Here's why. "Jack, how shallow do you think I am? I'm famous and you're not. That's clear to me. What isn't clear to me is why you give a shit when I obviously don't." I pause and give him time to respond. Nothing. Mhmm. "You may think that all celebrities don't waste time with anyone that doesn't have an IMDB file. There are some that don't. But I'm still a nineteen year old girl that wants a REAL friend. You're the most real person I've talked to in months, maybe years. When we first met you ignored that I'm a big deal to a lot of people. Why can't you now?" I lean back and cross my arms over my chest.
Jack leans forward, his forearms on the table supporting his weight.
"I thought yesterday was going to be a one time thing. Your thank you for saving you and then I thought you'd be gone." Apparently Jack has some trust issues.
Jack thought I was just going to write him off. I lean in to meet his posture, my arms resting in between his. Wow. I am a lot smaller than him. "You don't want to get attached. I get that. But will you promise to talk to me if I promise we'll stay friends?" I don't know why myself, but I'm amazingly pulled to Jack. I'm not talking only physical attraction. The man looks like a Greco -Roman statue, but there's more to it.
Jack chews his bottom lip and drums his fingers. I didn't think this would be such a big thing for him. He seems so calm and decisive all the time. "I won't hurt you." I add softly.
"What do you want to know?" Jack asks leaning back, crossing his arms. Here we go.
"Why are you still single?" I'm not going to give him reasons why he should be taken. Why I would take him if I could. I want to hear what he says.
Jack smiles and chuckles, shaking his head. Jess comes back with our drinks and Jack takes his coffee, drinking without letting it sit. I can tell by his face that he burned himself, but he's trying to hide it. He's nervous now that he agreed to let his cat out of the bag.
"Girls just aren't interested in me." Jack shrugs.
"You expect me to buy that, Jack?" I challenge with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't have a car, I'm a sophomore in college that isn't much of a people's person. I don't do sports and I'm a simple line cook. I don't have a lot of money and I don't wear designer clothes. Bottom line Kim, I'm as average as it gets."
This poor guy has no self-esteem. He's gorgeous, smart and strong. He takes care of himself and doesn't take handouts. Are all the girls here so superficial that they won't even talk to him? If they gave him a shot that he deserves and they don't, he would have to beat girls off with a stick.
I can't tell him that. He wouldn't believe me if I did tell him. All I offer is, "Yeah, well they're idiots."
Jack lightly chuckles and stares into his coffee, letting the matter drop. "What about you?" He asks looking up, his eyes holding mine into place. That look takes my breath away.
"About me?" I ask just above a whisper. I know what he means, but now that it's my turn to open up, which is fair, I want to duck under the table. Instead, I bury my face in the menu that we've both failed to look at.
"Chicken enchilada. You won't be sorry." Jack is still watching me. I can't see him through the menu, but I can feel his attention. "Ricky Weaver. What happened there?"
"He cheated on me." I say like it's no big deal, my eyes staying on the menu even though I'm going to take Jack's recommendation.
"Why would the stupid fuck do that?" Jack mumbles. That's a rhetorical question, right? And did he just call Ricky a stupid fuck for cheating with me? That's also the first time he's sworn around me, I think.
"Because he's a sleazy dirt bag and I refused to sleep with him after five dates." I answer anyway, rhetorical or not.
"So when you sang Hide Away last night, that was for Ricky?" Jack asks, scratching his chin. I don't think he's shaved since I've been here. I kinda like it. It gives him an Aragorn, rugged badassness look. It suits him.
"Partly." I smile and go back into the menu. I'm not admitting that the good boys in the song was for him.
Jess comes back and we both order the chicken enchilada. XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Jack and I fell into lighter conversation as we waited for the meal and ate. He was right, too. I've eaten at places where the entree went for $50 but this $12 meal was killer!
I look at my phone to see that it's 3:30 already. Oh shit! Jack works at 4:00! "Jack, we should get you to work. It's 3:30."
"Do I have to." Jack groans as he drops his head onto his arm.
I giggle at his reluctance. I don't want to let him go either. "You probably should if you want to keep your job. I mutter. I run my hand through his hair. It just looks so silky and smooth like chocolate velvet. Oh my God, is it ever! What conditioner does he... focus Kim!
"Urgh! Fine!" Jack relents and grabs the check I never noticed.
I try to pluck it from his hand but he's like a praying mantis, I swear. "It's okay, Kim. I haven't bought a girl lunch in a year." How has he not taken a girl to lunch in a year?! Who would pass that up? Has he not asked a girl to lunch in a year?
"The girls of Northborough missing out for a year." I joke with a smile.
"Meh." Is all I get in reply as Jack drops some bills. I glance at the bill. The price is unbelievable for how good it was. Jack's tip is more than generous. Is it because he likes Jess more than he'd admit, or is it because he's in the dining business? The world may never know.
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I pull up in front of Jack's workplace. They even have a canopy over the entrance. I look at Jack as he undoes his seat belt, but it doesn't look like he wants to leave. I don't want him to.
"Do I get to see you again?" Please say yes.
"Only if you promise that it's because you want to. You don't owe me anything, Kim."
"I do, Jack. But that's not why I want to see you again tomorrow." Can't he get that I like him because of who he is? The only average thing about him is his economic situation. Jack Brewer is severely underappreciated if everyone believes the picture he paints of himself.
"If you have time and you do want to see me tomorrow, I get off at 4:00 pm. We can watch a movie or two and I'll make us dinner." Wow does that sound perfect.
I smile and an idea comes to my head. I'm a feminist. Scratch that, equal rights activist maybe? I think I have the power to switch this gender role for once. I take Jack's hand in mine and I immediately have his undivided attention. I raise it higher and bring my lips to his knuckles. His eyes don't leave mine even as he fumbles with the door handle.
He's adorable. Muttering all kinds of awkward goodbyes and see you later until he finally gets out of my Jeep. He power walks to the front doors with his hands thrust into his pockets. He kicks the door open, his foot easily pressing against the handle.
Gotcha.
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Jack's at work, he and the pool having been my only entertainment so far. The guy behind the front desk better enjoy that picture of me I saw him take with his phone. I got his first name in case I need to make his life hell if he posts it online.
He's working again today so I won't give him any more 'alone time' fuel. Which means I need to keep myself busy somewhere else. Jack was right about this place being boring as hell. How he can live here twenty plus years without going insane is beyond me.
After today, I've also decided that I'm not going to let Rudy make me think Jack is dangerous. That's the biggest ball of B.S. ever. He might be dangerous to people that try to grope me and put things in my drink, but I don't think he could bring himself to hurt me. Never. I trust him more than I should, maybe. I can't help it, though.
With those thoughts swarming my late teenage brain, I take to google for suggestions on what to do around here. Westborough, the next town to the west obviously, seems like more fun.
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I find a decent looking mall with a JC Penny's. It's low budget compared to what I'm used to, but Jack won't care. I want something fun to wear for dinner and a movie at his place tomorrow.
It doesn't take me long to find a nice black miniskirt and a sleeveless, navy blue satin blouse. It's almost too professional, but I want to look nice and fun at the same time. I think I look hot in it, but I'm sure Jack won't say anything one way or another. He seems stubborn like that.
I pay what feels like a modest price and I leave the store, but I feel like someone has taken notice of me. I speed up and now I can hear the footsteps behind me.
Fuck it. I'm running out of this bitch.
I look behind me and three guys are following me! Can you believe this?!
I make it out of the mall and I'm nearly at my Jeep when one of the guys dives and catches my leg. I fall down but catch myself on my hands like I'm doing a push up. I twist and land on my back. I'm in time to see the guy about to crawl closer to me, but I have just enough room to kick him in the teeth. With my biker boots on, he's going to need a dentist.
I kick up and I'm on my feet. The next guy runs straight into a front kick that connects swift and hard to his perineum (that's right between his legs if you don't know anatomy).
The third guy pauses. "Come on you little shit. You started it." I really want this guy to bring it. I'm fired up now.
He fakes me out, turns and runs! Oh hell no he didn't! "That's it!" I shout. I'm chasing this jerk down! He's fast, but he's not in great shape. He gets tired quickly and I have him. I jump up and catch his shoulders, allowing me to drive my knees straight into his back to knock him down.
"Say you're sorry, say it!" I shout as I pull his head up by his hair. "Say it!" I order, slapping his face while my knees are still in his back.
"Sorry sorry sorry sorry! We just wanted your purse!" The loser admits he was trying to rob me!
"Go kill yourself next time you think about robbing a lady." I tell him as I stand up and flick my hair back over my shoulder. Jackass.
Suck it, Jack. You're not the only one who can take care of me. Me and my black belt do a pretty good job of it.
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So that's my first shot at Kim narration. I hope I did okay.
The little "I am Jack" "I am Kim" is just an easy way to start you off knowing who's narrative I'm controlling. It's not some kind of weak intro.