Hi! Continue downwards!

"Darlin, you do look good!" I smiled and complimented myself. I had a very special outfit planned for tenth grade, even though it was almost the start of 4th quarter. We'd just moved back to Seaford from New Mexico, and my mom wanted me and my little sister Hanna to wear the school colors from NM.

Speaking of Hanna…

"Complimenting ourselves now, are we?" I jumped and twirled around, glaring daggers at her.

"Who asked you to come in my room?" Well, technically I'm in the bathroom. Correction, my bathroom. My new room has one! Just for me!

"Mom needs us to go. Now. But if it's any consolation, I think that your outfit is totally fantabulous!" I grinned. Oh Hanna. Always the little fashion diva.

I looked at myself again. My blue purse matched my jean shorts and silver leggings, which in turn complimented my white tee and silver bangles. Yep. Our old school colors were blue, silver, and white.

"Thanks." I said, fixing my sister's blue jacket. I ushered her out and into the kitchen. "You don't look too bad yourself!" I called to her.

I walked to my mom, gave her a quick 'good morning' hug, and grabbed an apple.

"Kimberly!" I sighed, knowing that she was about to complain about me just eating an apple, and grabbed a banana as well.

"Better?"

Her blue eyes twinkled at me. "I guess."

We bustled outside to my mom's SUV.

"Shotgun!" Hanna called out. She ran to the front door and waited impatiently as my mom tried to dig her keys out of her purse. I rolled my eyes and took the back. It didn't really matter; we'd be dropping her off first anyway.

We were only a two-minute drive to the elementary school. When we pulled up my mother started lecturing Hanna on behavior and politeness. Finally, I had enough.

"She gets it!" I snapped, and then threw my hands in the universal 'I surrender' pose as my mother turned to glare at me. Hanna just smirked.

"Eager to see that special boy?" I thwacked her shoulder.

"Owie!" She rubbed her 'boo-boo' and stuck her tongue out at me. Then the bell rang, signaling that the kids should get to class.

"Sixth-grade here I come!" Hanna hollered, jumping out of the car and sprinting towards the red-brick building.

"Finally." I muttered while climbing into the front. Yes, I'm too lazy to get out of the car, walk two steps, and get back in.

"Careful!" My mom yelled when my blue Ugg boot almost hit the 'honk' button. I huffed and slipped on my seatbelt. We pulled out and made our way to the place that would decide my destiny. Seaford High.

As we parked, my mother looked over at me.

"Are you sure you'll be fine?" I sighed.

"Yes. Yes I will. Look!" I pointed at the manicured lawn where a group of girls were waiting. "There's Jessica, Elle, Julie, and Grace! I'll be fine!"

"Okay, well, call me when you need to get home." I waved good-bye and sprinted towards the huddle of girls. They hadn't noticed me yet so I sneaked behind them and sat down. The grass made a muffled 'thud' when I put my backpack on it. I watched Grace whisper to Julie.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know! It's not like I keep tabs on the girl's everyday life!" Julie replied, picking at her red nail polish.

"Well, Kim's text said that she'd be here at precisely 8:10, and its 8:11!" Jessica wailed, acting like her life was over. I smirked. Good to know that some things never change.

"Well it's not like her to be late." Grace said. They all scanned the parking lot.

I decided to grace them with my presence. "Yes, it's not like me to be late!"

They all gasped, whirled, around and pulled me up into a gigantic group hug. I laughed while being tackled. I have a new appreciation for footballs.

"You're here, you're here, you're here!" Jessica sang as we all hugged and jumped around, earning some weird stares from passer-bys.

I giggled, content to be here, on this fine morning, with my friends.

Elle suddenly grasped my arms. "You need to see the school! They re-did the halls! They're so shiny!" They all grabbed me and led me through the blue metal doors and into the huge hallway.

"Woah." I breathed. The high school in NM hadn't nearly been this grand. And Elle was right. The floors were very shiny, and the metal lockers gleamed.

"Here's my locker." Julie said, pointing to the wall that was a little bit away from the door, but not too far from the staircase. Her locker was blue, and she continued to the right. "And Grace's, Elle's, Jessica's-" she paused for dramatic effect, "-and yours!" We all cheered and clapped.

I opened my pretty locker and shoved my purse into it. I then looked at the bottom where a bunch of scary-looking books sat.

"What're these?"

"Well, you're textbooks, obviously." Elle's green eyes twinkled jokingly into mine. I wrinkled my nose in disgust as I looked back at the books.

BRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGG GGGGGG!

"Crud!" Jessica cursed under her breath and then scurried off, Julie and Elle scrambling after her.

"Are you coming Kim?" I looked up and saw Grace staring at me.

"No, the principal wants to see me, but first I've gotta figure these books out."

She bit her lip and lingered a little bit. "So…"

"Go before you're late!" I said, smiling. She waved and ran off.

I sighed and started flipping through my enormous pile of textbooks. Let's start with finding the Algebra 2 textbook…

After a few moments of peace, I sensed a presence. A distinctly male presence, judging by the light smell of cologne.

"Can I help you?" I asked drily, lifting my head. Suddenly, I was looking up into the perfect face of Jack Brewer. I stifled a gasp. I would've known that bouncy hair and those chocolate eyes anywhere! And right now, those big eyes peered down at me.

"Yes, but I'm pretty sure I can help you more." He knelt down and placed the stack of books that I had made on the floor into my locker, including the Algebra book I had successfully found. He then gently closed it.

"Hey!" I yowled as he jumped up and stuck out a hand, "my purse is in there!" I scowled and took his outstretched arm. Whoosh! I was suddenly standing.

"Wow, not bad!" I poked his arm, a little annoyed at how he had at least five or six inches on me.

"Not bad?" His eyes laughed down at me.

"Fine." I crossed my arms. "You're pretty strong." He chuckled. Man, just staring at him makes my mouth go dry with anticipation!

A little flustered, I started down the unfamiliar hallway. We had taken a fieldtrip into the high school before, but everything looks so much different when you're not a third-grader. Jack hurried up to me and matched my pace.

"What's the rush?"

"Well, I'm thirsty!" I answered, rolling my eyes.

"Oh. Well, here." He grabbed my arm and turned me the other way. Lo-and-behold, there stood the magical water machine! (As Jerry likes to call it…)

"Ouch! Brainfreeze!" I yelled, promptly sticking my thumb to the roof of my mouth. He just sniggered.

"What's with you and laughing at me?" He just shook his head.

"I just haven't seen a girl like you for a while. Hey, do you wanna play Five Questions?"

My brow furrowed. I mean, I know for a fact that Jack knows me better than anyone else… but I decided to humor him. "Five? What happened to the other fifteen?"

Well, I'm already late, but I don't want to sluff art!"

"Ok… fine. But I get to go first!" His eyes twinkled at me, waiting.

"Um…" Crap! He hadn't emailed me for a few weeks, but not a lot could change during that time! I searched my mind for a question. Finally, I came up with one he had never told me.

"What's your middle name?"

"Nope."

"What?! Why? That's an easy one!" He just looked at me. "Fine…" I grumbled. "Your turn."

"What's your middle name?"

"Now why would I answer that question when you wouldn't answer it?"

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty Please?!"

"No! Gosh! Get that through your mind!"

"Oh, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty please?!" Oh no… he's getting out the puppy eyes! Stay strong Kim, stay strong! I stared up at the ceiling fans until he sighed in defeat. "Fine. If I tell you my middle initial, then will you tell me your middle name?"

"Correction: If you tell me your middle initial, all you'll get is my middle initial."

"But that's not fair!" He stared down at me, arms crossed, and a sulky expression fixed onto his face. I couldn't help but crack up. It made him sulk even more.

"Let's just move on…" He muttered. I suppressed more giggles.

"Ok, lemme think." We stood in silence for a minute. "OH! Tell me, do you have any pets?" The Jack I knew was very much a dog person.

"No, my mom's allergic to dogs and cats. Actually, anything that has fur."

Wow. I never knew that. Explains why before my dog Lila died she'd never come inside to pick Jack up.

"That's too bad." I looked down at the tiles.

"My turn! Let's see, what's your favorite TV show?"

My eyebrows knitted together in confusion. He should know this one…

"Hello! Earth to… Wow! I don't even know you're name!" His eyes shone into mine. It's ok. Breathe. He's just teasing you with the getting-to-know-you thing.

Except I couldn't really convince myself.

"Well, you don't get to know my name yet! Only one question per turn!" I placed my hands on my hips. "And to answer your question, my favorite show is I Dream of Jeannie."

Jack wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Barbara Eden? Seriously? Like, that show from the 60s?"

"It's a classic ok!?"

"I'm just messing with you! Calm down!" He laughed. "Besides, I learned not to dis that show a while ago. I had a friend who loved that show, and probably still does."

You bet you socks she stills loves it! Wait. He said had. What?

"Hey! I'm waiting for a question!" I looked down at his worn-out blue converse with deep concentration, waiting for something to pop in my mind. I impulsively voiced my first thought.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Since we hadn't talked for a while, I had no clue who my best friend is even friends with, much less if he has a girlfriend! We are seriously out of touch! And then I realized how that sounded.

He cocked an eyebrow at me and my face turned a delicate shade of pink. He opened his mouth, but I cut him off.

"Look, that came out wrong. Let's just forget it." He peered at me with confused eyes. I slightly backed up, him following.

"What's your name?" I squeaked out. We were back at the drinking fountain.

"Jack." He murmured, scanning my face. "Jack Brewer." I was against the fountain now.

I gulped. I was having second-thoughts. What if he doesn't know who I am? I mean, what if he really doesn't know who I am? Does that mean he broke his promise? No. Jack doesn't break his word. But he promised to remember me! And would he be trying to seduce me with his freaking eyes if he knew who I was? No. He just doesn't recognize me, that's all.

Great. Nothing comforts me more than fighting with myself. Gosh.

"Jack?" I let out weakly. He was getting closer, and it was making me extremely uncomfortable.

"Yeah?" His eyes flashed over me and then back to my eyes.

"Do you still want to know my name?"

"It can wait a few minutes." He whispered, taking a step forward, looking right into my soul. Wow, cheesy much? I felt myself melting. Great Kim. Turn into a puddle right in front of him! Pathetic, thy name is Kim Crawford.

I chuckled nervously and walked sideways, only to bump into a wall.

"Well," I stated, trying to get out of my awkward situation. "My na- oomph!"

He had grabbed my waist and pulled me towards him, taking my lips captive with his own. I just stood there dazed, as his mouth molested mine. Part of me wanted to kiss him back; I mean, who can resist such a good kisser? But most of me was horrified, especially when he pinned me against the wall. I let out a groan of pain when my spine hit the rough concrete, and I tried to push him away. But of course, being Jack, he misinterpreted. His hands grabbed mine, which were splayed on his chest, and wound them around his neck.

I swear this kid is just like Jacob Black. HE JUST CAN'T GET THE FLIPPIN DRIFT!

Then his hands skimmed down to my legs. He began to lift them up.

That. Was. The. Line. I am not straddling him!

Using my sharp, and freshly painted, fingernails, I reached under his short sleeves and scratched his shoulders like a cat. He gasped and dropped me. I stood there like a deer in the head lights. I was positive that my hazel eyes were wide with shock, horror, and probably fear too. He stood there, breathing heavily, looking at me with confusion and a bit of resentment. I didn't know what he would do next, but I really didn't want to find out. So I did what any girl in my situation would do.

I ran.

I didn't make it far.

He picked me up and slung me over his shoulder, only to put me down where our 'make-out' session had occurred. Sitting there, I watched him pace.

"What was that?!" He asked loudly, still pacing. I was surprised no one had come out to see what all the commotion was about. Looking at his eyes, which were roaming the halls, wide with disbelief, I felt a tad bit guilty.

Wait a minute. This is all his fault.

How dare he, after kissing me without my permission, try to blame me for his pain?! This is all on him! Besides, pain was the only thing that would make him stop his attacks! So what if he got a little scratched up!?

So I ignored his question.

"No, what was with you kissing me?!" I yelled at him.

He stopped the erratic pacing. "You wanted to me to kiss you." He said quietly. I scoffed.

"And how do you suppose that?" There was no warmth in my hazel eyes.

"Well you were kissing me back!" His pacing resumed.

"I hate to break it to you, but I was trying to push you away. And really Jack? Kissing a girl you have known for six minutes?! What kind of sicko are you?" He just looked at me, expressionless. "The Jack I knew was better than that."

"You used to know me?" Then he cracked up. "As if someone like you would know someone like me! Ha!" And he resumed laughing.

Ouch. That hurt. Not because of the way he said it, or the snideness in his voice. The words. They hurt. Jack had changed, not in the way I could see through emails or phone calls. He was a whole different person. It almost made me feel ashamed to be near him. Right then I had a certainty that Jack had broken his promise. I felt that if I followed him, I would find a stereotype girl sitting where I would sit, doing what I would do.

And I had to accept this fact and move on.

My gaze hardened. "What? One minute you're trying to sire me to you, and the next you're insulting me? Sounds like someone has rejection issues, Jackie!"

Wincing, he looked at me. "If you really know everything about me, then why don't I know who you are?"

I was saved from having to answer by the person running down the hall, a detention slip waving like a flag in one hand.

"Mamacita! You're back!" The guy swooped me up from the floor into a bear hug and twirled me around.

I shrieked. "Jerry, put me down!" He refused so I started slapping his shoulders. He yelled in pain and surrender, but as soon as I was down he immediately pulled me back in.

"I'm sorry! I'm just so happy to see you again!" I grinned up at him. Once again, the boys I knew in elementary school were not as short as they once were.

Jack suddenly cleared his throat. Jerry looked at him, confused as always. Jack rolled his eyes and sighed. "You're interrupting something!"

"Oops…" Jerry looked at me, at Jack, and then back to me. "Wait a minute… was that you guys making out?" We both blushed.

"You heard us?"

"Dude, you're not that quiet. But I should know what to expect since Donna."

I perked up at the name, simply because I had never heard of her before.

Jerry slapped Jack's back. "But congratz bro! You finally did it!"

Jack just looked at him. Jerry's eyes slowly started to un-focus.

"What?" Jack hissed, snapping Jerry out of it.

"Dude, she's, like, her!" He motioned wildly at me. "And I'd at least expect her to flip you! And we all know how that feels!"

Confusion overtook Jack's eyes. The flitted towards Jerry, and then to me.

"Wait dude, what happened here?" It seemed that even Jerry could tell something was up.

"Nothing. I helped her with her books, she mislead me into kissing her, and then she clawed me." He pulled his sleeves up and showed Jerry the fresh, slightly bleeding wounds. Jerry guffawed.

"Ya know, I would have thought she would've started punching you!"

Jack's expression was showered with extreme disbelief.

"A girl like that pummeling me? She weighs what, 110?"

I judo-flipped him.

He let out a string of profanities.

"Never guess a girl's weight, Jack." I turned to Jerry. "And I did not mislead him! He just suddenly kissed me!" Jack got back up.

"You asked if I had a girlfriend!"

"Well, excuse me, but I wanted to know more about my best friend!" We were both yelling by then.

"You never have, aren't, and never will be my best friend!" His eyes were dark, his fury overwhelming.

"You think I don't know that now?!" My voice shook slightly as we glared at each other. I finally broke and ran down the hall, ignoring the tear drops streaking their way down my cheek.

Jack's POV

Jerry spun around to face me. "Not cool man, not cool." I'd never seen him this mad. Fury was emanating from him.

"It isn't my fault!" I cried. Jerry started towards the direction that the girl had ran to. "We're cool, right?" I asked tentatively, a little put out by the way Jerry was acting.

He suddenly whirled around and pushed me into the lockers. "You made her cry! She never cries! You know that! You hurt my sister dude. We are not cool."

"Jerry, there is no way that chick is your sister."

He turned around and started walking away. "She's my family either way Jack." It occurred to me that he still thought I knew this crazy chick.

"Jerry!" I raced up to him. "You seem to think that we share some common knowledge of this girl, when I know that this is the first time I've ever saw her. But if she's cool with you, then I'll apologize."

"Jack," he sighed. "If your childhood best friend didn't recognize you, basically insulted you twenty times, but then apologized without knowing who you are or what she did, would you forgive her?"

I don't quite understand where this is going… "I guess not…?"

"Then Kimmy-cat's not going to forgive you."

Kimmy-cat? What kind of name is-

Wait.

Kim Crawford. Blonde hair, beautiful brown eyes. Never showed weakness, always stuck up for her friends. I gave her the name Kimmy-cat the day she got her dog Lila. I decided an hour after playing with that dog that I wanted a pet too. Of course, my mom had said no, so Kim meowed and growled, saying that she'd be my pet. She was Kimmy. My Kimmy. A black belt who never cried, even when Eddie accidently dropped a box full of bricks on her arm and savagely broke it.

Until now. My eyes widened. She was my best friend, and I had forgotten her. I didn't even recognize her, even though now I could see that she was the same girl I was crushing on in sixth grade! And I had just jeopardized our friendship by kissing her. If we even have a friendship anymore.

Well, crap.

I turned to Jerry. "That was Kim?!"

"Just like I thought. You did break your promise." He spat. His brown eyes were cold and flat. He turned to go after Kim, following the trail of tears.

I slumped down to the floor and placed my face in my hands.

Kim hates me. I know it.