Sigh. And here's another chapter from yours truly! And now, I must go continue to write my next Online chapter! Till tomorrow my fellow Kick lovers! Till tomorrow!
I was scared. Every day for that last week whenever I had walked into a room I would see Jack get up and run out. My friends would give me looks of sympathy, like they knew what was going on. The only thing was, I didn't! I have no clue why Jack's been avoiding me! And when I had tried to ask him why he was ignoring me, it ended with me almost getting punched.
So now I was just living with it. It was hard. I didn't know what to do! There really was nothing for me to do, I guess. And no one else from our group was shunning me, and he wasn't shunning them. What's wrong with me?!
And then Jack crossed the line. He stopped coming to the dojo. Now, why should that matter? Well, ever since I had heard that Jack did karate, I wanted to do it too. Jack got to do it in his basement; his grandfather built him a mini-dojo down there and taught Jack karate there too. But since I didn't know anything and he didn't really know how to teach me, we had joined the Bobby Wasabi dojo, where we had met Milton, Jerry, and Eddie. He was the reason I found my passion. But he was always there for all of my accomplishments. Whenever I got a degree higher, he would be there to celebrate with me.
I'd had enough of his stupid attitude. If he wanted to shun me, fine. But not come to the dojo? That not only hurt me, it hurt Rudy, our sensei, and all of our friends!
And that is how I found my shoes striking the cold pavement at exactly 9:07 PM. I had said that I had a horrible headache, and then had snuck out of my window. I didn't have that much time, but luckily Jack only lives a few blocks down from me. I got in front of his mansion and clenched my hands nervously, having second thoughts. But then I straightened my shoulders and promptly rang the doorbell, and took a tentative step back, still nervous.
"Hi Kim. Why are you here at 9?" Jacob, Jack's older brother, sounded cheerful, but he had dark circles under his eyes that begged to differ. He had his mother's green eyes and they were sparkling with agitation. But other than that, he looked just like Jack. Including the way he looks when he gets mad.
"Are you ok Jacob? You don't look so good." He clenched and unclenched his jaw, and then sighed.
"Yeah." He said. And then he pulled me into a hug. Not in a romantic hug, no. Ew. Jacob was 14 for crying out loud and I'm 10, so don't go getting any ideas! Ever since I had moved here Jacob was like my big brother. Since I was always around the house with Jack, Jacob and I had grown close. Besides, every girl needs an older brother, even if he isn't really your big brother.
I looked up at him, worried, and smiled reassuringly. He grinned a little in response.
"So again, what are you here for?" He cocked an eyebrow at me as he talked. Just like Jack. "I mean, I know you missed me and all, but…" As cocky as ever.
"I just need to see what's wrong with Jack."
"Something's wrong with Jack?! Since when?"
I sighed and looked at my shoes. "Well, ever since last Monday Jack's been avoiding me at all costs. And I was prepared to let him go. I'm obviously hurting him somehow." Jacob tried to interrupt, but I cut him off. "But then he had the nerve to ditch the dojo, and I now I know something is seriously wrong with him."
"Oh Kim." He pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. "I'm so sorry." He murmured into my hair.
"Do you know what could be making him like this?"
Again, he sighed. "My mom and dad are fighting again, and Jack's been taking it harder than the rest of us. I guess he's just scared of losing anyone else, so he's pushing away the people he loves."
I slightly pulled away from his embrace and looked up in confusion. "But I know for a fact that he loves all of his friends, and he's only pushing me away!"
"I don't know Kim. I'm not my brother. I can't tell you what he's doing." He squeezed me one last time and let me go. "If you want answers, go see him."
I nodded and started up the fancy staircase, tracing my hands over the patterns that were engrained into the wood. I walked slowly, not really in a rush to face Jack. But soon I was standing in front of his door. I poised to knock, but then I heard soft singing coming out from under the green door.
I'm tired of fighting
I'm tired of fighting
Fighting for a lost cause
There's a place where you are going
You haven't ever been before
No one left to watch your back now
No one standing at your door
That's what you thought love was for
And then I heard sobbing. I gently opened the door and saw Jack, sitting on his bed, face in hands, his shaggy brown hair hiding his head. Tears were streaming down his arms and he was shaking slightly. My heart shattered right there.
I slowly came in and sat on the opposite edge of the bed. He jumped at the sudden movement, and puffy red eyes met my sad ones. He just stared at me for a minute, sniffled, and then promptly ignored me. I frowned slightly. I thought he would at least talk to me. I edged closer and tentatively touched his shoulder. He flashed up and glared at me.
"Why are you here? Huh? Who even let you in?" He started pacing his room.
"I was worried about you and so was Jacob." He started mumbling angrily under his breath. I followed him with my eyes. "What's wrong with you Jack? Maybe I could help…?"
He laughed bitterly. "I don't think you'll be able to help me with anything. Besides, I don't need your help, your pity, or even you. I never have Kim."
I closed my eyes. Ouch. That hurt.
"Jack, I know you're not thinking clearly right now so maybe if you just calm down we-"
"No Kim! You calm down! I don't need you! Leave! LEAVE!" He was right in my face.
"No." I murmured. He grabbed my arm tightly and pulled me up to my feet. He drug me across the hall and shoved me into a dark room and locked the door. He flicked on the light. We were standing in a huge room with blue pads covering the opposite portion of the floor. There were training dummies in the corner. Apparently the Brewers had built another dojo.
Jack pushed me a little further away from him and then took a fighting stance.
"Fight me." He ordered. I shook my head. "Fight me!"
"No Jack. You're not thinking clearly." I said slowly, just as he threw a punch at me. I didn't even blink, knowing my lack of defense would stop him. And it did, but only for a minute. He yelled in frustration and side kicked my stomach, I heard a distinct crack, and I was sent screaming into a wall.
For a minute I just laid there, stunned. I couldn't breathe and pain started lacing through my injury. I tried to talk but all that came out was gasping. I didn't really have a voice. Suddenly, Jacob crashed into the room and shoved Jack out of the way, running to me.
"Kim! KIM!" His voice sounded a little funny since I was still dazed from the pain. I could see Jacob standing over me, but I still couldn't talk, so I just curled up on the floor. Or at least tried to. It seemed that when I tried to move my stomach, it would just hurt worse.
"Kim? Can you get up please?" I nodded my head, or at least I think I did. He grabbed my back and started to lift me up. Suddenly, an acute pain stabbed right under my heart, and I sunk back onto the floor, tears slowly leaking out of my eyes.
Jacob swore a little and turned to Jack. "YOU IDIOT! SHE WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU! COULDN'T YOU SEE THAT?!" He yelled.
"I-I'm sor-ry… I-I didn't know!"
"Oh you didn't know!" Jacob let out a humorless laugh. "You didn't know that you'd injure her by kicking her into a WALL?! I'M ASHAMED TO CALL YOU MY BROTHER! You just don't know when to STOP!"
Through my tears I could see Jacob towering over Jack, who seemed to be crying again. I groaned and tried to roll over. Jacob flashed over to me.
"What is it?" His deep green eyes looked at me, and he gently started feeling my ribs. I screamed a little, but he hushed me. "Tell me when it hurts the most."
His hand brushed over my t-shirt, and I let them. See, Jacob's been in karate long enough to be able to classify most injuries. Then his fingers hit my lower left ribs. I let out a cry of anguish.
"Just as I thought. They're cracked, if not broken." He stood up. "Ok. I'm going to have to carry you now, so I want you to be strong. Alright?"
I tried to nod. He gently grabbed my legs and back, trying not to jar me around. I bit my lip to keep for crying out, more salt water washing down my face. Each step Jacob walked hurt, and my lip started to bleed from the force that I was putting on it.
I wasn't aware of anything else until a cold breeze hit me. I opened my eyes – I didn't even know that I had closed them – and saw that we were shuffling through the door.
"I'm sorry Kim. I'm so sorry." I saw a shaking Jack, holding the door open, with tears soaking into his shirt. I lifted a hand and gently brushed his hair with my fingers as we passed him.
"Itsok." I slurred, before losing consciousness.
Hahahaha... I feel bad about making Jack so mean... Sigh. Next chapter he'll be nicer. Look tomorrow (or today) for a new Online chap.