Author's Note: Thanks so much for the guest reviews, you have no idea how much those mean to me and makes my day. As for the adding more kick scenes…we'll see ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own kickin it or any of the characters besides my oc's Audrey, Anastasia, Leslie, and Jerry's sisters.
Now onto the story
Main Corridor
Tuesday September 18th, 2012
Sloane yawned tiredly, she leaned her head against the cool metal of her locker door then took a long sip from her coffee cup. The school coffee was trash in her opinion especially since the creamer in the cafeteria ran out way too fast and it was a first come first serve type of deal. She was able to persuade her aunt Winnie to drive her to school in order in order to stop by the Blue Bottle Café for her morning fix. She refused to go to Starbucks because that crap they sell wasn't coffee it, barely even had coffee in it, it was processed sweetness. Whenever Ana buys a drink from the place, Sloane made sure to shoot her a look of betrayal which the other girl pointedly ignores.
"Hey you." Brad greeted her with a smile as he walked up to her locker
Ever since last week when they had that double date at the Froyo Den, Brad continued to pursue her. He texted her daily, met up at her locker every now and then to walk her to class, and even asked her out on another date over the weekend at the movies. The brunette hated to admit that Brad wasn't a bad date and was actually kind of a decent guy, she was very annoyed at that. If he was an ass and as bad as Lyndsey then it would make her blowing him off easier. Plus gets Ana off her back, who refused to let her blow him off. So, with constant nudging from Ana, Sloane replied to the texts that Brad sent and allowed him to walk her to her classes when she felt like it. Despite admitting to herself that Brad wasn't as bad as she initially thought, that doesn't mean she was going to make it easy for him and fall putty in his arms. He was still friends with Grace and her bitch squad which had to mean there was something wrong with him or he was just Grace's bitch. Just because Ana already seemed to have fallen in love with Brett and the feeling seemed mutual on the boy's behalf doesn't mean the Wasabi Warrior was going to do the same. This was life not some cliché rom com or love story where two idiots fall in love within a day of meeting each other!
Back to the date that Brad proposed to her, she wasn't ready to go on a date solo with just him, it seemed too intimate in her opinion so she turned it into another double date with Brett and Ana to watch the new Resident Evil movie. Ana was scared throughout the whole movie and clung tightly to Brett's arm, spending more time with her head buried in his shoulder than actually watching it. Sloane secretly wished that Ana would've done that to her instead, it was absolutely adorable seeing her so worked up over a movie. The Wasabi Warrior spent her time swapping criticism of the film with Brad and laughing at the most horrendous parts. During the movie Brad tried to subtly hold her hand but she managed to swiftly divert it, and grabbed a handful of popcorn to make her hand disgustingly greasy.
"Okay don't ever say that to me again, that is cliché, lame, cringey and the most irritating thing I have ever heard in my life." Sloane demanded of the boy, pointing a finger straight at him with his free hand as he came closer
Brad just laughed before he leaned against the locker next to her with an amused expression on his face
"Did you just use the word cringey?" He sought to confirm
"Yeah so?"
"You complain to me about saying 'hey you' but you use cringey." He shot back with a teasing smirk on his face
The more she spoke to the boy over the past week, the more she realized that the ken doll is actually kind of a smartass. That won points for him in her book that he wasn't some cardboard cutout bland golden boy with no personality. Still that doesn't mean that she liked him or would fall for him, he was still a ken doll, Grace's ken doll.
"That is actually different okay?"
"How? Cringey is not even an actual word."
"Says who?" The junior black belt challenged causing Brad to roll his eyes playfully
"Any American English dictionary ever." `
As much as she hates to admit it the girl didn't have any response to back so she just took a long sip from her cup, trying and failing to think of a reply. She felt heat rising from her neck to her cheeks but it was probably just from the annoyingly hot fluorescent lights not because she was tongue tied.
"You know what screw you." Was all the brunette could think of and definitely didn't say it in a huffy tone that Brad laughed at
She wanted to change the topic of the conversation, now
"The more important thing at hand is your shirt. What the hell is that?" She gestured to the light red top that had a printed picture of Grace's face on it as well as her slogan for success vote for the best! Her theory about him being Grace's bitch was starting to sound plausible.
"Grace demanded that we all wear them for support of her campaign okay? Especially since today was the introduction and best time to gain followers so no jokes okay?"
"No promises but you're lucky that for now I don't have any material."
"She has a lot of extra shirts, is there any chance you wouldn't mind wearing one?" Brad asked causing Sloane to snort
"Thanks but no thanks, besides I'm not sure she would want me too." In what universe would she support Grace Overland?
Also, in what world do people even care about high school politics and wanting to be presidents of this godforsaken place? Why would you want the responsibility of letting random annoying students run up to you and complain about the most trivial things like long bathroom lines or the gross cafeteria food? Though she supposes that the senior president thing she understands but the underclassmen president just seems really stupid to her, what are they really even doing? What responsibility do they even have? Why is she the only one who thinks about these things?
Brad looked confused, "Why wouldn't she?"
Right, poor Brad was so oblivious that he didn't realize the queen bee in training had a crush on him. Sloane wasn't sure at first but she's pretty sure that was the problem with the girl. The longing looks Grace sends Brad when he isn't looking and hate fill looks she gets from her. Said queen bee despises her because she has Brad instead of her and when no one is looking she shoots her icy glares.
"I'm just not sure I'm worthy of wearing a shirt with her face on it." The sarcasm in her voice was unmissable
"What are you talking about? You are totally worthy of wearing Grace's face, if anything, I'm not sure that she's worthy of being worn by you." The blonde boy half joked
Sloane tried to hide her stiffening posture by downing the rest of her coffee to cover her face. She knew that if he said that to any other girl then they would probably melt into a puddle of pathetic goo on the floor. Her, she just felt uncomfortable and completely caught off guard and didn't know what to say to that. She was still trying to decipher if she even liked the boy in a platonic way let alone actual romantic ones?
How should she respond to that? What would Ana want her to reply back to him? Some flirty reply obviously but she doesn't know how to and she's not sure she even wants to. Kim's campaign poster on the wall suddenly looks very interesting.
"I see someone's been working on their flirting." Was her calm reply
"Well I had to make up from my awful first impression."
"I'll say."
"And how am I doing so far?" Brad asked with his boyish grin
Sloane just shrugged opting to take another sip of coffee wanting to draw out the suspense of waiting and to slow her racing heart. "Well I am still talking to you so you're doing something right I guess."
Brad chuckled, "That's the best compliment I'm going to get for you huh?"
"And be grateful."
"Trust me that I am, can I walk you to yearbook?" He offered
Sloane rolled her eyes and shrugged,
"I suppose that wouldn't be a chore." Was her reply then the two started walking in the club's direction
"So who are you going to vote for in the election? I have a feeling it's not going to be Grace." Brad tried to make conversation as they passed the many campaign posters down the halls, from seniors to freshmen.
"Oh so you are more than a dumb jock."
He rolled his eyes, "Ha ha, you're hilarious."
"It's been said." This was good, this was something she can deal with. Something she's used to and is in her comfort zone. Talking and lightly ribbing people instead of delving into any romantic areas.
"But in all seriousness, who?"
"'I don't even understand what's the big fuss over this stupid election, were freshman it's not like we're really going to even do anything for student council. That's all going to be the upperclassmen." The junior black belt ranted
"Says the girl who's running for class secretary." Brad challenged
"That's different?"
"How so?"
"I'm not making a big fuss or competing to be the useless president, I just want to be the secretary. Also, I already know that I'm not going to do much which is one of the reasons why I want to be it." Sloane explained
"But to answer your question I guess Kim, we both go to the Wasabi dojo and she seems cool, definitely not fake like all the other girls."
While it was clear in the dojo that Jack didn't like her, Kim held no such qualms and wanted to be friends with her. She helped her get used to the different environment of the small dojo and was empathetic with the change of scene since she herself took a while to get used to the different pace since she came from The Black Dragons. The blonde told her how at her old dojo was more fast paced and tensed since it was full of members who didn't see each other as team mates or friends but rather competition and in return Sloane did share how at her old dojo her old sensei, Trent Darby was strict and commanding but towards the last two years on the dojo seemed to started losing his passion for the sport. He showed clear favoritism towards her over the other students which ostracized her from her former classmates. Sloane didn't care she wasn't there to make friends and already had Ana which was all she needed. Sloane wouldn't call Kim a friend but more of an acquaintance and who sparred together from time to time and acknowledged one other when they passed in the halls.
"Yeah she's cool despite Lyndsey hating her which I don't really know why and we haven't talked much since seventh grade. Also, according to a girl who I think is the little sister from one of Kim's friends told me that she had a crush on me back in seventh grade and gave me a song that Kim supposedly wrote." Brad finished with a blush on embarrassment
Of course he was the type to blush from people having crushes on him,
"So uh, you know the fall festival next week…" The boy continued, rubbing the back of his neck shyly
"It happens every year." The fourteen- year-old sassed then threw away her empty coffee cup in a passing trash can
"Well would you want to go with me? Like as a date?"
Too fast too soon, too fast too soon was a running mantra in her head as she inwardly panicked. She knows that this time he probably wants to go as just the two of them instead of a group thing and she still wasn't ready for that. Ana and Brett served as her buffer and as it pains her to see her best friend be all lovey dovey with the guy it was still better than being alone with Brad. With if the boy tries to hold her hand again, or worse kiss her, she's never kissed anyone before and the idea of kissing him didn't really seem all that appealing to her. Sloane chalks it up to the fact that she was still trying to get used to the ken doll and that she takes a while to warm up to people.
She definitely doesn't think about her dream last night where her and Ana were way too close to one another than friends should be and the fact that they were at kissing distance and that appealed to her in ways that it shouldn't.
"Do you usually go to it with your little clique?" She asked the boy once they stopped outside next to the door of the yearbook club
"Yeah but we end up breaking into smaller groups anyways since there are a lot of us. They wouldn't mind really and I really would want to go with you."
Sloane needed an out, now.
"Let me get back to you on that, this is me so I need to go inside before I'm late bye." She didn't wait for him to say it back, instead opting to speed inside the classroom
As Sloane stepped further into the room she surveyed the space. The color scheme was black, white, and turquoise with the walls staying white. The classroom was medium sized with a row of iMac computers lined against the left wall of the room and stopping in the middle of the back wall. In the back right corner was a floor to ceiling bookcase with the bottom shelf holding the past editions of the yearbook. The other shelves held turquoise and black storage baskets. Right of the bookcase was a five turquoise bean bag chairs. In the middle of the room were two tables, one closer to the left side and the other to the right. In the front of the room in the right corner sat a thirty year old looking blonde white woman with rocking a pixie hair cut. Sloane recognized her as her health teacher.
Once she had her fill looking, Sloane decided to sit at the table on the right since it only had one occupant that sat on the opposite side of her. Once seated she reached into her backpack to pull out the assigned reading book for her English class.
Joining yearbook was a decision she made on the last week of summer that actually came from her aunt. While karate was and always will be her life, she also enjoyed photography as well and has ever since she was ten. It was a hobby that she kept to herself and her pictures were mostly made up of still life as she just recently started portraits photography this summer. She was still trying to improve her pictures and from the suggestion of her aunt decided that the best way to do that was to join yearbook.
"So the rumors are true? You're dating little Wolfe?" A male voice with a light English accent asked
The girl in question heaved out a deeply aggravated breath before looking up. A lanky, pale brunette boy with mischief dancing in his bright green eyes sitting across from her.
She arched an unimpressed brow, "Excuse me?"
"I just saw you walking and talking to him and he asked you to the fall festival so he's taken by you. Also from my sources you already went on two dates together."
Sloane squinted, unsure how to feel about the load of information getting thrown at him, "Your sources?"
"Tj you can't just approach people like that out of nowhere drilling them with questions." A girl admonished him, coming to the table and Sloane found herself unable to look away from her
The girl had an hourglass body with puberty hitting her like a truck. Long raven haired tumbling down her shoulders in waves, porcelain skin that looked soft to the touch, a heart shaped face, baby blue eyes and full pink lips. Not to forget to mention she had long legs that peeked out from the summer dress she was wearing. The girl was beautiful, nothing more nothing less and Sloane found herself wishing that she opted to at least fix her hair this morning and checked to see if the jeans she were wearing were clean.
"The people want to know Ro, and I must be caught up in the know otherwise they won't trust me to keep them caught up in the latest gossip." The boy, 'Tj' argued back
"SDL doesn't need to have any post about the 'wannabees'." Another boy chimed in as he too walked over to Sloane's table.
This boy was lean with his brunette hair in a buzz cut and had a few small moles scattered on his face. He sat in the seat next to Sloane while the girl leaned against the table next to Tj.
Tj gasped dramatically at the boy's statement, "I'm hurt Remy you know the whole point of my blog is to be in the know and have the latest, latest at the-moment news."
"Uh, hi what the hell is SDL?" Sloane interjected feeling completely out of the loop. She closed her book.
At that Ro and Tj both whipped their heads to look at her with surprise looks,
"You don't know what SDL is?" Tj questioned in bafflement
"No I don't, isn't that what I just said." Sloane sassed
"Seaford Dirty Laundry is my gossip blog and is the gossip blog for this school and informs everyone about what's happening within the popular cliques. You seriously never heard about it? I'm shocked and a little insulted." Tj informed her
Sloane thinks that she maybe heard Ana talk about something about that, one time at their sleepovers but she couldn't be sure. Whenever Ana starts talking about things like that she zones out.
"I don't care about shit like that."
"You got spunk, I like that." Tj told her with a smirk; she frowned at the wording
"But like is it true? Are you dating Brad?" The other girl pressed, leaning over the table so she was a few inches from Sloane
"Ro come on." The buzz cut boy, 'Remy' admonished the girl
"What, I'm curious?" The girl argued back, she leaned back away from the table and crossed her arms, pouting. Sloane never thought someone putting could look unfairly attractive. Sloane was shocked at her thoughts, where did that come from?
"Seriously ignore these two idiots, they don't know what privacy means." Remy told her
"You wound me, Remy." Tj whined
"You gonna cry about it?" Remy snarked
"So, spill girl!" The girl demanded, ignoring the bickering
Sloane surprised herself by actually obeying the girl, she felt totally lost by the trio's bickering and questions. She just wanted to read her book, "We just went on a few dates, it's nothing serious."
"Well the look in little Wolfe's eyes beg to differ. He looks really into you." The raven haired girl countered
Tj nodded, "I have to agree, he looks like he's fallen for you already. Beware the wrath of Grace." he warned
"Why?"
"Because she's in love with Brad, and has been for the past few years. Especially with everyone from family to friends telling them that they're going to get together and be the next Corpanga then he ends up with you." Tj shared
Sloane wasn't sure if she should feel creeped out that he knows all this, "I already figured out that she has a thing for him. But what's your point anyway?"
"She wants Brad but Brad wants you. And knowing when something doesn't go Grace's way she'll do whatever it takes to get rid of that insignificant person."
"I'm not afraid of a girl who shops at H&M, afraid of mother nature and sweat." The girl snarked, causing the trio to laugh
"Don't underestimate her, you know the saying; hell hath no fury like a women scorned." Tj sing song
"Oh by the way, I'm Remy, this is Aphrodite, and that's Tj." The buzz cut boy introduced them all
"Charmed." The fourteen-year old deadpanned
"And your name?" Aphrodite asked
"Sloane."
"Well nice to meet you, we love new additions to the yearbook club." Aphrodite greeted her with a dazzling smile
"Your name is really, Aphrodite?" Sloane sought for confirmation
The girl in question groaned, "Yes, after the Greek Goddess, but I go by Ro. I heard all the jokes so please don't even start."
Sloane nodded, "Noted."
"Anyway, what position are you doing for yearbook? I'm a photographer while Remy and Tj are the reporters and writers."
"You know Tj and Remy can speak for themselves." Remy butted in and Tj nodded his agreement; Ro ignored them
"I'm also going to be a photographer."
Ro clapped excitedly, "Cool! You joined the cool group. Our photo editor, Rhyland is amazing! He'll show you the ropes."
Before Sloane could reply to that her health teacher got up from her desk. She walked to the front of the room in front of the white board, "Okay everyone quiet down, the meeting is now starting!" she announced
"First I want to thank you all for joining yearbook this year. I'm the yearbook advisor, Ms. Applebaum some of you may recognize me for my other job the ninth grade health teacher. I definitely recognize a few of you guys but I can't wait to get to know the rest of you as we work on this year's edition."
"Making the yearbook is a team effort so that means everyone needs to be on the same page in order to make it great," as she let that sink in she surveyed the group, "I'm going to give a quick rundown; the editor-in-chief is the head of all the yearbook positions. Any questions, comments, or concerns, you turn to them. That position goes to Joslyn Walker."
Ms. Applebaum gestured to the girl sitting sitting at the table near the left. She was a light skinned African American girl with dark curly hair that gave a short wave.
"Our other editors are Axl Murphy for index, " she gestured to a freckled gingered hair guy sitting at a computer, "and photography is Rhyland Miller," said boy was brown skinned with short black hair and sat next to Joslyn
"It's Kingston." Rhyland corrected the teacher
"Right I'm sorry."
"Now I'm a turn it over to Joslyn." Ms. Applebaum sat back down in her desk chair and Joslyn got up from the table to take her place in the front of her room
"We will have a busy schedule this school year. First up is..." Joslyn turned around to grab an expo marker and write on the board
"The fall festival, it's next weekend and we are going to cover it. So our two photographers be ready. Jennings, Rhyland will fill you in on what type of pictures I'll want. Ihe deadlines for the photos are Monday, October 1st and the deadline for the entire two page layout will be the following Monday. My goal is to have the entire yearbook done by late April."
Ro raised her hand, "I'm going to be in the festival since I'm on the dance team so I'm not sure how many pictures I can take."
"Okay, well just take as many as you can, I'm sure Jennings can step up and help put with the task. Unless, you are also performing in the festival as well?" The editor-in-chief addressed the last part to Sloane
The girl in question shook her head,
"No, no I'm not."
"Excellent. Now the next thing on the list is the homecoming game and dance…"
Cafeteria
"Today is the day of another awkward dinner with mom and dad, I can't wait for it." The sarcasm in Jack's voice was unmissable
"Well it's better to have awkward dinners than dinners that end in screaming matches." Audrey pointed out
"Paula was talking about how most of her parent's dinners ended that way, and I feel grateful that our parents don't do that."
"Yeah, you're right still I don't understand why they even have to do it in the first place. You can neither want of them want to do it."
"For us I guess, to show us that even though they're divorced they can still be friends?" Audrey guessed
Jack laughed,
"Yeah friends, if that's the case they're not doing a very good job at it."
"At least they're trying." The youngest Brewer argued quietly
Jack knew she was right, here he was complaining about their parents while Jerry's situation was much worse than him
"I overheard mom telling Stephanie that she was going to cook her special meatloaf for tonight." Jack told his sister
"Ugh, she has to know by now that none of us like that and we don't even eat it." Audrey declared
"I think she does and just finds it's hilarious of how hard we try to pretend that we like it." Jack shared thoughtfully
"That does sound like mom." The recently thirteen-year old agreed
"Let's just hope that she ducks out to the kitchen long enough for us to spit in our napkins and cut up the meat so that it looks like we ate it." Was the older sibling's reply as he sat down at an empty table
"And then recover our taste buds by eating dad's delicious mash potatoes."
Audrey smiled, thinking of the fluffy side dish
"He needs to tell me the secret ingredient one day so I can pass it on to my kids one day."
"And I'm sure you'll be an amazing stay-at-home dad." Audrey teasingly complimented with a sly smile
"Ha, ha Audrey." Jack deadpanned causing her to laugh
"'I've been meaning to ask you, how are you getting along with Paula and Leslie?"
"Good, they're both really nice though it seems like Paula hasn't warmed up to me as much as Leslie. I understand though, I'm so painfully quiet and shy that I'm not much fun to be around. It takes me nearly a month and a half just to finally warm up and speak freely and some people don't feel the need or have the patience to wait until then."
"Hey it's not your fault that you're shy okay Bambi? Some people are like that just like how some people are born confident. Don't beat yourself up over it."
Audrey rolled her eyes and Jack wasn't sure if it was because of the nickname or from hearing the same spew of words for the last three years.
"I know that Jack, if I had a dollar for how many times I've heard that I'll have at least fifty bucks right now."
"If Paula isn't being nice to you I can talk to Jerry and-"
"No, I didn't say she wasn't being nice she just didn't really seem all that interested in being my friend. Which like I said I understand she prefers more outgoing people but she's nice so don't go all protective big brother okay?"
"Okay I understand, sorry."
"Besides Leslie suggested that we all go the fall festival together, well us and a few other people from class as a group."
"Is that a good thing? I mean making new friends is always good but I know big groups make you nervous."
"It is, at least I know it's supposed to be. I have Leslie to be there with me as well and I feel more comfortable with her than Paula."
"Good for you, I'm happy for you." The skater praised and Audrey rolled her eyes but pink dotted her cheeks
"Speaking of the festival, are you going to ask Kim?" The seventh grader questioned while pulling out a book from her backpack
"Not you too, I swear everyone is asking me that same question."
"Well what do you expect it's obvious that you two are in like with each other?"
"In like with each other? Did you really just say that?"
"Shut up that's not the point, the point is that you need to ask her out already Jackie." His sister argued, using her own nickname for him
"Bambi." He groaned
"C'mon you're always telling me that I need to stop worrying and do stuff that feels right. It's time for you to follow your own advice."
"It's not that simple."
"I think it is, you're just making it more difficult than it has to be." The youngest Brewer argued
Jack was about to respond when he saw said Blonde with Kelsey and Eddie in tow walking towards the table. Kelsey seemed to be trying to chat up the boy who didn't looked all that interested while Kim was looking through flash cards.
"She's coming over so don't say a word about this okay? This stays between us." Jack warned his little sister
Audrey rolled her eyes but nodded her agreement,
"Got it Jackie, because it's easier to suffer in silence, right?" Jack's response was to glare at her while she held his gaze challengingly
"Hey jack! Jack's sister." Kelsey greeted them as she came over
"Hey Kelsey, like the outfit." Jack complimented the girl with a smile
Kelsey was clothed in a short black flower printed dress paired with tights, black combat boots and fingerless lace gloves. Her choice of cat ears today wear black lace perched on her brunette locks that were in two pig tails. This year, from what he heard from Kim, Kelsey decided to get in touch with her quirky side and embrace it with her clothing.
Kelsey blushed from the compliment while sitting down across from him with Kim next to her,
"Thank you, Jack." The girl simpered as Eddie plopped down next to him with of course a breakfast tray in his hands
"Audrey that was a great take down you did to Jerry yesterday, I almost died from laughing." The yellow belt complimented with a huge grin on his face
Audrey looked up from her book then let out a nervous laugh from the compliment, she was never good at taking compliments
"Oh uh, t-thank you, thank you It was nothing really though and he was a good opponent."
"Jerry's never going to live that down, I wish I would've filmed it." Eddie continued before taking a bite from his choclate muffin
"Eddie did you forget all the times Kim took you down?" Jack asked with a cock from his head then glanced at the said blonde absorbed in the flashcards in her hands
"That's different, she's the same age as me but Audrey is only twelve."
"She's actually thirteen." Jack corrected
"Still Jerry got taken down by a preteen." Eddie declared
"So, you're thirteen? Why aren't you in eighth grade then?" Kelsey asked the youngest Brewer
Audrey froze up at the sudden attention,"I well um, I well um just turned thirteen last month so it hasn't been that-that long." The girl stammered out
"Oh okay cool, I like your bracelet."
"Thanks." The girl mumbled then turned her attention to the book to block out the others
"So am I the only one who's going to comment on the fact that Kim hasn't said a word ever since she's got to the table." Jack prompted the table, wanting to draw the attention away from Audrey
"She's been obsessing over those flashcards since yesterday, 'my introduction has to be perfect! It's my first public appearance to the people!'" The cat ear wearing girl mimicked Kim's voice for the last part
Six pairs of eyes turned to Kim, wanting to see what she'll say for Kelsey mimicking her but it was as if she didn't hear a word the girl said.
"She definitely would've had something to say about that." Eddie commented, earning nods of agreement
"We should take the cards from her." He continued; everyone minus Audrey looked at the boy liked he was crazy
"Do you want to get your wrist snapped?" The shaggy haired brunette boy asked
"Kim wouldn't do that." The boy in question continued but with the looks he was getting from the others that suggested otherwise he backtracked
"Okay she should." Eddie conceded
"Just get her attention in a more…safer way." Jack chose his words carefully and gotten nods of agreement from the others
Kelsey turned to her friend then started to gently nudge her,
"Kim, Kim, earth to Kim to Kim do you copy?" The brunette prodded until Kim slapped her hand away irritably
"What? What do you want?" The blonde snapped, glaring at Kelsey
"There she is." Kelsey announced instead of answering Kim's question
"Stop ignoring your friends and talk to us." Jack demanded but Kim shook her head in refusal
"I can't I need to focus on my introduction speech." The blonde started shuffling her flashcards
"C'mon from what Kelsey said you've been doing that nonstop since yesterday, I'm sure you have it memorized by now. Stop obsessing." Jack urged Kim
"Okay fine, then I'm going to focus on the interview with Desiree tomorrow instead." Kim decided
"No you don't Kim, look at me." The blonde sighed before surprisingly obeying, brown eyes on brown
"You're going to be fine, calm down okay? Don't work yourself up over it."
"I have to, there are two other people who are good candidates, especially Grace who has all ninth grade in the-"
"No you don't and no she doesn't. Kim you also have lots of supporters, the girls on the gymnastics team and some on the pep squad as well."
"That's not enough."
"Well I'm sure you're going to gain a lot more today, you're very easy to fall for." The words came out of his mouth before he could even stop them and he could feel everyone's eyes from the table on him
Jack suddenly found the table very interesting as well as his neck up extremely warm. Kim finally snapped out of her election mode and was staring at Jack with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. Kelsey bit back a grin the same time Eddie's eyes ping ponged back and forth between Kim and Jack while Audrey finally looked up from her book to watch the scene unfold.
"Thanks, Jack." Kim was also blushing pink and shyly biting her lip
The table fell into silence with Jack and Kim not looking at one another while the others all shared looks,
"Wow." Eddie stressed
6th Period Gym
Sloane stretched her legs on the grass she was sitting to wind down from the soccer game that they just finished playing. Her team lost because she was paired with a bunch of idiots who didn't even try to win and instead wanted to just goof off. She cursed Coach Funderburk for pairing her with these morons but then again the coach was an idiot himself and she still didn't understand how he was still hired. The guy was a joke and the only thing he seemed to care about was flirting with the health teacher, Ms. Applebaum who wasn't interested in him in the slightest. Ro and Remy were also in her mixed gym class and the two of them were paired on the same team
"Hey Jennings." Ro's voice greeted her
"How's it going?" Remy added
Sloane turned her head to see the pair walking towards her. Ro's hair was pulled into a bun but a few loose strands escaped. The tenth grade girl still managed to look look. Sloane pushed that thought away, "Hey."
Ro flopped down next to her on the grass, "Your team sucked badly, you were one of the few good players on it."
"Yeah tell me something I don't know."
"Okay, you look cute in your gym shorts." Ro complimented startling Sloane
"Huh?" She ineloquently uttered, feeling her heart rate speed up and her cheeks reddening
"Forgive Ro she has no filter." Remy told her causing the raven-haired girl to stick her tongue out at him. He sat on Sloane's left leaving her in the middle of the two of them
"It's cool. So you two are…" The junior black belt trailed off
"Best friends and only that. We've already tried the whole kissing thing but it didn't work out, I figured out I'm gay while she figured out she's bi."
"Oh, splendid."
Remy made a face at that, "Splendid? Did you really just say that?" He shared an amused look with Ro
"Shut up." Sloane murmured, embarrassed once again today with what came out her mouth causing Ro and Remy to laugh
"You're adorable, I like you." Ro told her this time causing Sloane to make a face
"Adorable?" She repeated, slightly affronted
She's been called many different names throughout her fourteen years of life and adorable hasn't been said since she was four. Even back then she hated it and scowled at her mother which just caused her coo over her even more. She's gotten more used to being called a bitch quite frankly.
"Yes adorable, I like you already Jennings I can tell we're going to be good friends." The tenth grader decided
"We literally just met a few hours ago." The Wasabi Warrior pointed out
"So? Rem and I decided to become bffs like the moment we met."
"To be fair we were six and things were a lot different back in grade school." Remy pointed out
"Same difference." Ro dismissed with a hand gesture
"No, not really."
"You guys are both very intense."
The tenth grade girl surprisingly grinned at the statement, "Thank you."
"We get that a lot."
"Big surprise there."
"How was your first yearbook meeting?"
"Informative." For the entire first meeting they just went over the rules as well as the entire schedule for the year
"Yeah it gets more interesting once we start doing the tasks so once the fall festival hits, it'll be more fun."
"I'm more excited for the week after the fall festival." Remy
"Because that's when Once Upon A Time comes back on?" Ro guessed
"Absolutely I need to know what happens next after the cliffhanger. Also because of Seaford on Parade as well."
"Yes of course you care just as much about Seaford on Parade as Once Upon A Time." Ro teased
"What's Once Upon A Time?"
"You never watched Once Upon A Time? It's only one of the top five shows ever! I mean it's not as good as Glee, Shameless or The Vampire Diaries but it's tied to Skins because the newest seasons haven't been that good."
"How dare you say that."
"C'mon Grace didn't deserve to die and what did the gang decide to do? Throw a freaking party."
"Okay true but what more can you expect from them? Also did you forget poor Franky after learning about Mini's baby-"
"Okay you guys just lost me after you started talking about all of that."
"Sorry."
"As you can tell we get into many arguments surrounding Skins."
"It's one of our favorites shows to watch together."
"Never heard of it."
"Please tell me you at least heard of The Vampire Diaries and Glee." Remy pleaded
"Yes I heard of those two shows my best friend, Ana loves them to death."
Remy cocked his head to the side, "Ana?"
"Her full name is Anastasia but I call her Ana for short. If she's not talking about Hollywood and Beyonce then she's talking about Glee and Rachel and Kurt and blah blah blah."
"You don't like Glee?" Ro questioned
"Musical comedy TV shows where the character's break out into song every five seconds isn't my thing."
"Technically it's a dramedy but point still taken."
"Is your best friend Anastasia Walters? Because I know her she's in drama club with me."
"Yeah that's her."
"I like her she's a very good actress and very insistent that the fall production has to be Nice If You Can Get It."
Sloane chuckled at that,
"So what shows are you into to?"
"Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead and Dexter."
Ro's eyes lit up at the mention of The Walking Dead,
"You watch the Walking Dead too! I love that show!"
"Really?" Honestly, Sloane was surprised
"Yeah, what I don't seem like the type to watch a gory show like that?" The tenth grader challenged
Frankly no, she was insanely gorgeous, watched Glee and was on the dance team, she was similar to Ana who refused to watch that show. Girls like Ro are usually afraid or disgusted to watch gory shows, they fell into the Grace category.
"I mean, yeah." Sloane was nothing but honest
"Well I can't wait for season 3 and in my opinion the group should've left Rick because I officially hate him after the whole Randall thing and keeping Jenner's secret."
"I kind of understand where he was coming from keeping the secret because he couldn't be too sure that he was honest."
"Now you guys are boring me with your zombie apocalypse talk." Remy complained
"Okay you hormonals teens it's time to head back to the lockers and change." Coach Funderburk ordered
"Well it's time to go." Ro said and the trio got up to start walking back towards the school
Remy turned towards her
"Have you ever watched Scandal?"
"Uh no."
"Revenge?"
"Nope."
"Sloane Jennings, I don't believe it! It's not one of my favorite shows but it's still really good and you need to watch it. It has a strong HBIC female lead Emily Thorne and she…"
Brewer Residence
"This dinner is lovely as always Quinn." Christopher Brewer complimented his ex wife with a smile
"Thanks Chris, do you want any more meatloaf?"
"No thanks I'm good." The man in question quickly declined
Jack smirked into plate
"So Jack, Audrey how is Seaford High going?"
"Good the classes are harder but I thankfully have most of them with my friends and speaking of them Milton and Kim are both running for class president."
"Good for them, why didn't you want to run Jack?"
"Politics aren't my thing besides I don't see how running for class president can help me get into Otai Academy."
"Don't you want to get into another college? What if you don't get Otai?" His father pressed,
They've had this argument a few times before in the past years. A major reason for his parents divorce was her lifelong dedication to karate but he preferred to call it an obsession. Since karate has been a huge part of her family dating back to his great-grandfather who insisted on teaching the sport for protection from generation to generation. There was also the huge rivalry between his mom and uncle River, both competing to be the best student over the other and impress their father once and for all. With the rivalry when she wasn't doing something involving their church or her job then she was doing karate. Training, working out, competing, and working on some secret project that she refused to tell. Once she started breaking dates in order to train and became more interested in karate then him their relationship crumbled fast. His father grew to despise karate and quietly hated that his kids were invested in it as well.
"I will and that's the only college I want to get into." Jack said with finality
Seeing he won't get anywhere with that topic, he changed the subject,
"How are things with you and that Kim girl, are you together yet?" The patriarch broached
"Dad!" He exclaimed feeling his face heat up,
"What I may be up in age but I'm not blind, you like her." He continued while his mother smiled
"Gosh." Jack sunk lower in his seat, wanting to hide away from this
"No, they're not together yet, but today he made his feelings obviously known at breakfast." His sister answered with a mischievious smirk
"Audrey!"
"Oh really please tell me what happened." Christopher pressed, sharing a grin with his ex-wife
"Well-ow!" Audrey yelped when Jack kicked her in the knee then kicked him back in retaliation
"Shut up." He hissed at her
"Jack kicked me!" The 13-year-old tattled
"Okay Jack don't kick your sister, apologize." His mom demanded of him but there was amusement laced in her voice
"Sorry." He spat out, not mean one word of it; the narrowed eyes from the younger sibling showed that she knew that
"And let's stop embarrassing Jack, if he blushes any harder he'll turn into a tomato."
"Okay munchkin how are you enjoying Seaford? Do you miss Ojai?"
"No not one bit. I like this school and I think I already made a friend thanks to Jack."
"Really? What did Jack do?"
"He introduced me to Jerry's sister Paula and her best friend Leslie who's around my age."
"Oh that was nice of him." His father complimented him, patting his arm while Jack just smiled tightly
"That's me, the nice guy." Jack commented, picking at his meatloaf
"But why did you say you think you made a friend?" The word phrasing didn't go unnoticed by his mother
"Well I'm still trying to get to know her, them but we're going to the fall festival together so that's something." Audrey elaborated then bit into her dinner roll, not wanting to speak further
"So is there something you want to tell us?" Jack blurted to his parents
He couldn't wait in suspicion anymore of wondering why his parents were acting like they did before the divorce and all the fighting. They were acting civil, and joking around and no passive aggressive comments were being made. They haven't been this nice to each other since Jack was twelve and it was kind of creeping him out.
His parents froze then shared a glance while Audrey stopped chewing on her dinner roll,
"What do you mean?" His mother tried to play coy
"All dinner you've guys have been so nice to each other and hardly arguing and dad you're actually eating her meatloaf. Something's up, what is it?"
His parents shared glances before his dad set his utensils down
"Are you guys getting back together?" Audrey asked
Jack hoped it wasn't that, he got over the wanting of his parents getting back together after seeing all the fighting and hearing his mom trying to cry silently in her bedroom but failing. He knew it was for the best that they stay separate but Audrey still held onto hope, believing that they belonged together.
"Oh no, that ship has sailed." His mother dismissed quickly and Audrey's face fell
"Then what?" Jack asked
"I wanted to wait until after desert but I guess this is as a good time as any." Christopher sighed heavily
"You're making it sound so serious." The freshman tried to joke
"You're kind of scaring me." His sister added
"You know my job as a diplomat requires me traveling a lot and this time I have to go to Afghanistan for my new tour."
Jack's eyes widened in shock as he was at lost for words. A quick glance at his sister showed that she felt the same.
"How long are you going to be gone?"
"I'm not sure it could be months maybe even a year it all depends how long it will take." Christopher continued
"Can I be excused?" Audrey asked, hearing enough but didn't wait for permission as she scooted her chair back then ran out of the dining room; Jack watched her go and felt the need to go after but was glued to his seat
Out of all the scenarios that ran through his head the fact that his dad was moving again wasn't one of the options. His dad hasn't had another tour in over a year since Audrey came home from Ojai on the weekends and spent it with their father.
"When are you leaving?" Jack asked
"This weekend, I didn't want to miss the festival and some of our friends are going to throw a goodbye party."
"Wonderful." Jack remarked flatly
Numbness washed over him and his stomach was filled with lead, suddenly asking Kim to the festival wasn't the biggest problem with him anymore.
