CHAPTER 16

Hey guys! I'm back from my trip! And I am glad. There was no internet and there are lizards. There was also a snake that came into the house. But I got to see my new 1 month old baby cousin (2nd cousin, but it still counts) and she was so adorable! She sticks her tongue out and licks things. :P Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for the plot.

Jack and Kim's day of school went by normally. Well, normally for Jack. He was still being hit on. That was normal. But what was NOT normal, was that guys were also hitting on Kim! Kim stood at her locker at the end of the day, sorting out her books. She was in the middle of putting her Math textbook in her bag when someone suddenly snatched it from her hand. She looked up to see Brody.

Brody was always a pervert. He was also a player. He has slept with all the plastic dolls and half of the school. "Hey, baby." He said slyly. But that didn't impress Kim. She just rolled her eyes. "Give me my book, Brody." She said, bored. Brody put the book back in her still open locker. "What do you say about me and you getting a milkshake after school. We can go back to my house and have some fun right after. Or we can just skip the milkshake." Brody said while putting his hand on her waist. Kim looked around the hallway. Deserted. Where are all the people! Ugh. Jack! Jack! Jack! Come on! Read my mind! Come to me! Kim thought.

Brody came closer to her. His hand was now uncomfortably close to her bottom. He trapped her between himself and the locker. Brody leaned in and his lips just brushed hers when he was pulled off. Kim was happy to see Jack. But he looked like he was about to rip Brody's balls out. He deserved it. "Never touch my Kim. Ever." Jack said, dangerously slow and calm. His voice was dark. Scary. It even scared Kim a little bit. But she knew that he was only getting rid of Brody for her. Brody just stood there, with a puppy dog like look. He looked as if he just wet his pants.

"Y-Yes... J-Jack." Brody said, almost shaking. Brody ran away, out of the school. "Are you okay, Kim?" Jack asked, seriously and worriedly. "Did he do anything to you?" Jack asked. "No. You came just in time. Thank you." Kim said, hugging him. She closed her locker. "Let's go." She said. Jack smiled. He took her hand and the couple walked out of the school building. "So what do you want to do, today?" Jack asked Kim. She shrugged as they got into the car.

"Jack, you have been spending so much time with me. We are always together. I love you, but I don't want you to feel like you need to be with me all the time. I want you to have a life of your own. You have a family. Spend time with them. You have other friends. Guy friends. I'm sure every once in a while you would like to go out with them. I don't want to hold you back from having a life of your own." Kim said. Even though Jack already read her mind, he let Kim speak her words. He didn't want her to NOT communicate with him through words. Plus, she would be annoyed if he just kept answering her without her speaking.

Jack looked at Kim. "Kimmy, I don't feel like I need to be with you. I want to. I want to protect you. It seems like every time I leave you alone, something bad always happens. I just can't deal with you gettig hurt. I have lost my real family because I turned into-" He paused. "This." Jack said pointing to himself. "I'm not losing you just because I have some enemies that would like to hurt my loved ones." Jack said seriously.

"Come on, Jack. I'm sure that you get tired of always being with me. I'm not holding you back from your life. I don't like it. It makes me feel guilty. I know that trouble likes to come and find me but come on. You will go crazy if you watch another chick flick or hear me talk about girl stuff all the time." Kim said. Jack just sat there and thought about it for a little bit. He forgot that they were in the car, ready to go home. He started the engine of the car and pulled out of the parking space.

"Well, I'm not leaving you alone. Like by yourself. You need to be with someone. Like another person. Another friend. And I'm going to call you every hour. I can't risk anything. Not until this whole thing blows over. Jude and his gang are still after you, remember? I'm not leaving you by yourself. Especially in your house." Jack said. Kim rolled her eyes. "Fine." She said. Kim thought about who she could hangout with while Jack had a day to himself.

Julie? Maybe. Grace? Oh my gosh... Grace! I haven't talked to her for five years! Maybe I can call her and see where she is now! She was my only best friend back then before she moved. Angela? Sure, why not. Wait... Those are my only girlfriends... I'll call them when I get home. Julie is a yes. Kim thought. Jack chuckled as he read her thoughts. The car suddenly halted and Kim snapped out of her thoughts as she realized they were home.

They both got out of the car and walked to the house. "I think you should have some time with your guy friends Friday night." Kim said. It was Wednesday. "I will be fine. I am going to call some old friends and see if they would like to catch up. If they can't, then I can go to my grandparents' house." Kim said. Jack chuckled. "Awe. You are willing to play bingo with your grammy so that I can have time with the guys. Now I know that you really love me." Jack teased. "Shut up." Kim simply said.

Jack chuckled. "I'm going to go upstairs. Just do whatever." Kim said lazily. Jack smiled. "Okay." He replied. Kim went into her room and took out her phone and phone book. She was very organized. She flipped through pages and looked through names. She found the write ones. She first called Julie. An old friend of hers that she hasn't talked to in a year. Maybe two. They were very close and Julie was Kim's only friend in Freshman year. They were both Juniors now so it has been two years.

The two girls were very close but in sophomore year, they just faded apart. Julie got into so many clubs and got busy. She made new friends and well, nothing more to say except they faded apart. Kim dialed the number. It rang. It felt as if it rang for days until someone picked up. "Hello?" A sweet voice said. "Hello? Julie? It's Kim." The blonde said.

(Italics- Julie Bold- Kim)

Kim! I haven't talked to you in ages! How are you! What's going on?! Oh by the way did you finish that Biology project?

No. I didn't. But anyways, I was hoping you would like to catch up. Wanna hang out Friday night? I'm also going to invite Grace Sanders. Do you remember her? And also Angela. The girl who used to work with me at the diner before I quit.

Sure! Of course! I would love to! We HAVE to catch up. I got to go now but text me the details!

I will. Thanks. Bye!

Kim hung up the phone, smiling like a goof. She was going to hang out with Julie again! She was happy that she was going to have a girls night. She really needed one. But she had two more phone calls to make. Next was Grace. Kim dialed the number and waited for an answer.

(Italics- Grace Bold- Kim)

Hello?

Hello? Hi Grace! This is Kim. Do you remember me fro-

KIM! Of course I frudgin' remember you! Oh my god! We HAVE to catch up! I'm in Cranewood. It's only half an hour from your house. I am coming to you. Name the time.

Oh, okay... Wow. That was easy. How about Friday night? Can you make it then?

Done! I'll see you then. I will come over to your house.

Awesome! Julie Martins is also coming. And I'm inviting Angela Garcia from the diner I used to work at.

Cool! I will see you then. I have to get to cheerleading practice. I'll see you then!

Okay. Bye! I'll see you then.

Kim hung up the phone. Two down. One to go. Kim dialed the number and there was an immediate answer. She wasn't surprised. Angela ALWAYS had her phone right beside her.

(Italics- Angela Bold- Kim)

Hello? Kim?! Kim Crawford?! Is that you! Well it must be you since my caller ID says it is! Hi! How are you!

Angela! How are you?! I'm fine! It's been so long! I called to ask if you would like to join Grace Sanders, Julie Martins and I for a girls night on Friday. It would be awesome if you could make it.

Of course! I have no social life. I can make it. Okay I really need to go because my mom is yelling at me to clean my room. Bye!

Bye!

Kim chuckled as she hung the phone up. Same old Angela. It seemed like none of them had changed. Those three girls use to be like her sisters. They were so close to her. But then Grace moved. They kept in touch but then it became harder and harder to call because they both got so busy. Julie got into all AP classes and so many clubs to look good on her college applications. She was too busy to have a well functioned social life. They just faded apart. And Angela goes to a different school. She goes to Hillside West. Kim only saw her at the diner and when they went out together.

They stopped hanging out because Angela got really busy. She had to juggle with school, homeword, her job at the diner, clubs, etc. There was no time. That's what became so precious to everyone. Time. It was really valuable. But Kim was just happy that she would have some girlfriends to talk to. Deep down, she always did feel lonely until she met Jack. She couldn't wait to tell him the news.

A/N: Done! Not very interesting, I know. But the next chapter will be better. I hope... Anyways, I hope you enjoyed! Please remember to review. Gimme some feedback guys! I can really use any constructive criticism. It would help make the story better so that you guys can read better content and my writing can improve. Thanks again!

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