Chapter 3

Kari made her way down to the cafeteria. She was unsure how long she was in the linen closet. She entered the crowded lunch room and quickly slid in and sat at the nearest table. Mr. Kimo was facing the group, his back to Kari as he spoke.

"After the temple, we will come back and have dinner. We will then leave the next morning. Any questions?" No student put their hand up.

"Alright, have some lunch and then we will meet out in the garden for our first activity." Mr. Kimo gave a nod to the teens then turned. He looked at Kari.

"Oh! Miss. Kamiya I apologize. You were sitting right there. I was about to come looking for you." Kari swallowed and then smiled.

"It's okay Mr. Kimo." Mr. Kimo put a hand to his head.

"Enjoy your lunch. I'll see you in the garden." Mr. Kimo walked past. Kari blew out a breath. She hated lying but was grateful she wasn't in trouble. The students got up and made their way to the buffet to grab their lunch. Kari's stomach growled. She really needed to eat something. Davis walked over to her.

"Hey I was looking for you." Davis said with a smile. Kari looked up at her friend. Her breath was short. She wanted to be around people. She felt a cold breath on her neck. She felt her inside curdle. She then stood.

"I'm going to get air. I'll meet you in the gardens." Kari then slipped past Davis. She didn't look back. Her chest felt tight. She felt the woman was following her. She wanted to run. Kari felt tears threaten to fall. She needed to escape. A hand gripped her forearm. Kari gasped feeling her heart stop.

"Kar come here." TK had her. He pulled her aside. The students were all queuing up. Kari and TK stood off to the side. TK kept his hand gripping Kari's arm. Kari looked around. The woman was gone. She was gone. Kari felt tears fall. She was so relieved so unbelievably relieved she was no longer being followed. She couldn't feel the cold nor the darkness. Kari finally looked at TK.

"I can't do this anymore." Kari whispered. TK nodded. He leaned closer to her. Kari felt her cheeks warm. His closeness was doing something to her. TK then whispered in her ear.

"Does it stop when I'm with you?" He asked. TK pulled back. He stood staring at Kari who slowly nodded.

"I don't know why. But she's gone." Kari said. Kari started to feel a little light headed. She stood her ground.

"Who is she?" TK asked. Kari looked at him. She wanted to tell him. Tell someone! Her exhaustion was hitting her. She had no energy for this. TK growled.

"Okay let's go grab food. You look like you're gonna pass out." TK kept his voice low. He let go of Kari's arm. Kari felt her heart rate pick up. TK then kept his hand on her back and pushed her forward. Kari felt embarrassed. She didn't mean to take up TK's time. They walked to get some food. Davis was standing in front of a bunch of desserts.

"Kari?" Davis asked. Kari was grateful, TK kept contact with her but no one seemed to notice. Davis came and stood next to Kari. He looked up at TK then to Kari.

"What is it?" Davis asked. His voice was low. TK stepped to the side to grab him and Kari trays. His absence sent a shiver through Kari. She grabbed onto Davis' wrist. Davis now looked worried. He looked into Kari's eyes

"Kar? What is it?" He was gentle. Kari felt her stomach flutter. There was a tray slid in front of Kari. TK pressed against her back.

"I'll tell you both when we eat okay?" Davis and TK looked at each other. Kari squeezed Davis' wrist.

"Davis scope us out a seat out of the way." TK instructed. Davis nodded. He reluctantly pulled away from Kari's grasp and went to find them seats. Kari moved along the buffet line. She was starting to panic. She wasn't sure what this would do. Telling TK and Davis. She didn't want to put them in danger. TK put ramen in a bowl and put it on Kari's plate. Kari shifted and moved the tray. TK picked his own tray up and kept his shoulder next to Kari's. They maneuvered together. Her peers past her but everything felt blurry. TK pushed with his elbow on her back.

"Davis is over by that window." TK said. Kari nodded and made her way. TK managed to keep contact with her. He'd walk behind her holding his tray and pushing it gently into her back so his fingers were touching. Davis sat not eating. Kari felt concerned. Davis sat looking at her like seeing her made him sad. Kari sat across from Davis.

"Davis you're not eating. Are you okay?" Davis broke his stare and let out a small laugh.

"Am I Okay? I'm worried about you!" Davis shook his head,

"Jeeze Kamiya." Davis still wore a smile. That relaxed Kari. She smiled at him. TK slid next to her. He then put a hand on her leg.

"Eat then tell us everything." TK commanded. Kari almost wanted to smirk at TK's tone. She felt famished. She opened her chop sticks and dove into her ramen. It was salty and everything her body needed in that moment. For the first time in almost 2 weeks the woman was not around. Kari slurped and TK and Davis chuckled.

"Is she stopping you from eating?" TK asked as he ate his own noodles. Davis still hadn't touched his own food.

"Wait who is she?" Kari made a noise to answer. She swallowed and replied plainly.

"She's dead." Davis and TK went wide eyed.

"What?!" Both asked and Kari took another slurp of noodles.

"I don't know who she is exactly but she's dead." TK and Davis looked at one another. A small spark in TK made him want to say I told you. He kept this thought to himself. Davis pushed Kari for more information.

"Well don't just stop there! Who and why-?" Davis stopped himself as he made gestures with his hands. TK felt the same. Kari shrugged.

"She showed up one day after school. Just stood at my locker. I thought it was some prank or something. The side of her face is all caved in and bloody. I think she threw herself from the top of a building." TK dropped his chopsticks.

"Sorry can you see dead people?" TK blurted out feeling very confused. Kari actually started laughing. She laughed harder and Davis and TK looked at one another.

"Kari?" Davis asked and Kari shook her head.

"This is not funny it's awful but that-" She stopped to laugh.

"TK that was funny." Kari covered her mouth as she laughed more. Davis started laughing too.

"So can you?" Davis asked and TK felt a smirk tug at the corner of his lips.

"No I can't" Kari said as she sobered. Her smile slowly went into a straight line as she thought.

"I don't think so anyway. She's the only one I've seen anyway." TK looked upwards

"Okay so this woman has been following you?" TK asked trying to get back on track. Kari nodded.

"Yeah she was in front of my locker but I realized no one else could see her. People would pass right through her. She stood at my locker just staring at me." Kari put her hair behind her ears as she swallowed.

"It's been 2 weeks or so. She just follows me and yells at me." Kari shuddered.

"What does she yell?" Davis asked. Kari took a deep breath in.

"She asks me, if she goes will it stop?" Kari was no longer feeling jovial. She felt scared. It was awful what she was asking. Kari looked at her lap. She inhaled

"She yells it at me all hours of the night. I can't ever sleep. Then if I try to avoid her..." Kari trailed off TK squeezed her leg.

"What?" He asked. Kari looked at him and then Davis.

"She grabs me. She, uhm..." Kari felt it hard to finish the sentence. She looked down then up to Davis. His eyes were watching her hanging on her every word.

"She hurts me." Kari admitted. TK squeezed her leg and Kari suddenly felt very exposed. Davis nodded,

"She did that to your arm right?" Davis asked and Kari nodded.

"It's so weird she gets violent sometimes but most of the time she just stands staring at me. I don't understand it." TK leaned forward.

"Is she, you know, from you know where?" Kari looked up at TK and nodded.

"I don't know how but she must be. If she's not there there's black water pooling around me." Davis's eyes went wide.

"Did this happen on the bus?!" Kari looked at him and tilted her head.

"Yes." Davis looked to TK.

"I saw it. Kari was sleeping. I could see the black water all around her all around all of us. Then it just went away." Kari put a hand to her lips.

"Davis, what if it's effecting you! What if I'm infecting you with this!" Kari's eyes were wide and she started to trembling.

"No Kar, I'm fine. It's not you." Davis said. TK then moved his hand from her thigh and started to rub her back.

"Kari this isn't because of you. You haven't done anything-" Kari cut TK off

"But it is me! TK, think about it. Dragomon wanted me. Not you, not Tai me. Now this woman is following me around!" Kari spoke sternly. TK shook his head,

"But think about Ken-" Kari growled.

"Then why am I the only one who sees this dead woman?!" Kari snapped. Davis then cleared his throat.

"Hang on. I think I saw her." Kari and TK looked at Davis,

"What?" They both asked. Davis nodded.

"When we were getting our room keys. I wasn't paying attention cause I saw her! She was all bloody and standing next to Kari!" Kari put her head in her hands.

"This is bad, I shouldn't be around you guys." TK grabbed Kari's arm.

"And that's exactly what it wants! Jesus Kari you got taken by Dragomon when you were by yourself. You're not infecting Davis-" TK then lowered his voice.

"He's a digidestined and is just as sensitive as you to this kind of stuff. Including the dark ocean." TK looked to Davis for support.

"Well why haven't you seen any of it?" Davis asked and TK felt a little irritated. He wanted Davis to just agree and steer Kari away from feeling responsible. TK shook his head.

"That doesn't matter-" Kari then looked at TK

"No it does though, How come I can't see her when you're with me?" Kari asked. TK looked from Kari to Davis. Davis was pushing his mouth to the side. TK breathed out.

"I don't know. But that is an indicator you aren't infecting us, otherwise I would be seeing her and the dark ocean too." Kari looked at her food. She was quiet a moment.

"But Kari why would you let it get this bad before telling us?" Davis asked. Kari looked up at Davis. He looked wounded almost like he was the last kid picked for dodgeball. Kari blushed feeling embarrassed.

"It just felt like I needed to deal with this. On my own." She said in almost a whisper. TK and Davis shared a look. TK then rubbed Kari's back.

"Well that's enough of that." TK said matter of factly. Kari looked up at him confused.

"Yeah I think TK and I are pulling rank. You are not allowed to make decisions for yourself." Kari spat out a small laugh.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?" Kari asked with a smirk. Davis then put his chest out.

"Because we are men." Kari then burst into laughter.

"Oh my god." Kari said as she laughed. Davis started beating his chest.

"Yes we are very manly men who must now make decisions for you. For...ever." Kari snorted TK and Davis both started laughing.

"I think I have rights these days." Davis nodded,

"Yeah they're revoked. TK took care of that." Kari then hit TK.

"Taking my rights now are we?" Kari asked. TK waved.

"No - no you are your own person-" Davis cut him off

"No no he clearly stated you were a damsel in distress and we must intervene" Davis said. Kari laughed TK then laughed too.

"I did not!" TK said to Davis. Davis then beat his chest.

"It's okay we are the same." He then reached across to bump fists with TK. Kari swatted Davis' fist away.

"Okay you two-" She was interrupted when Mr. Kimo called to the cafeteria.

"Students you should be making your way to the gardens. Davis I am looking at you. Move it." Mr. Kimo glared at Davis. Kari looked at the teacher then to her friends.

"Don't let him separate us." Kari said to the two boys. TK nodded as the trio rose from the table. Davis came around and the three of them walked together to dispose of their lunch trays.

"Are you still hungry?" TK asked Kari. Kari shook her head.

"No that was good. Way better than breakfast." Kari admitted. Davis came to Kari's right side.

"What was breakfast?" Kari shook her head.

"It was weird. Dinner last night was noodles, when I saw the leftovers in the fridge I was hungry and it looked normal. Then I took it out of the fridge and it was full of maggots." Davis recoiled.

"That is disgusting." Kari nodded

"Yeah it was horrible." TK was behind Kari he kept a hand on her lower back.

"What did the food look like today?" He asked. Kari sighed,

"Not maggots." She answered. The group funnelled through the doorway and out into the fresh air. They followed their classmates around the building until they were standing in a manicured garden.

"Whoa, it's like a zen garden." Davis commented.

"It's pretty." Kari said in a soft voice. Mr. Kimo gestured to all the students to huddle together. Kari found herself squished between TK and Davis. She took a deep breath feeling safe. Mr. Kimo introduced an elder gardener who had been tending to this garden for over 50 years.

"My grandfather started tending to this garden after his father. This garden has been the responsibility of my family for almost 2 centuries." Kari was impressed, she barely knew the background of her great-grandparents let alone great-great-great-grandparents. Davis's gaze drifted to the side. He could see Jennifer was standing near him. She shifted and Davis noticed her skirt was caught. He could see a lot more of her thigh. Davis stared almost entranced. He felt someone hit the back of his head. He whipped his head around and could see TK shaking his head. Kari was between them and was shorter than the two of them. It made it easier for Davis to mouth

"Hey!" At TK. TK shook his head and mouthed back

"I saw you." Davis rolled his eyes. ugh Davis thought.

"Okay I want you to go in small groups to explore the garden. Get all of the historical information on the plants and the way they are treated. This will be on the test!" Mr. Kimo rose his voice and everyone perked up.

"Okay off you go." Mr. Kimo stepped back and went to talk to the gardener. Davis turned to Kari and TK.

"Why don't we go over that way, we might have some privacy." Kari and TK nodded. The trio found themselves nestled behind some larger bushes.

"So Kari what are your thoughts? How should we handle the well, dead woman?" Davis asked. Kari let out a breath.

"I keep thinking she'll go away but she's getting more aggressive." TK put a finger to his chin.

"I think we should call Izzy. Let the others know." Kari shook her head,

"No TK-" Kari was cut off when TK looked at her sternly,

"Kari-" TK was then cut off when Jade came around the corner.

"Oh TK hey." Jade greeted. TK swallowed and looked over at Jade.

"Hey, how are you?" Jade shrugged.

"No updates." She responded. Davis then broke the tension.

"Hey Jade nice to see you." Jade nodded,

"Yeah uhmm are you three going to just hide out over here?" Jade asked. The three teens looked at one another as Davis spoke,

"No, we're just having a small pow wow about, about-" Davis trailed and TK quickly came to his rescue,

"Just Davis wanting to tell us about a rash he's dealing with." Davis then growled and went to hit TK. Kari smacked his hand away.

"We're just catching up Jade. Do you want to join us?" Kari spoke up. She kept her voice even and smiled at Jade.

"Er, I guess. I don't really have a group." Kari stepped forward.

"Well come with us. We haven't got much done." Kari said honestly. Jade nodded.

"Alright." Jade stepped to the side as Kari walked towards her. TK mulled this over. He needed to stay close to Kari. Kari stepped next to Jade. TK quickly put himself on Kari's left side. Davis came up next to him. The group walked through the garden. Jade kept looking at TK suspiciously. TK tried to ignore it. Davis then leaned forward,

"I realize this is a hot topic but Jade is looking very jealous." TK rolled his eyes at Davis. Jades phone dinged. TK looked over at her as she checked her phone. Jade's face fell. She then pocketed her phone and looked at her shoes. TK was torn. He knew Jade now needed to talk but also knew she would not talk in front of Kari and Davis. TK looked down at Kari. She was pressed up against his side as she read a sign. TK bit his lip and looked at Davis who was watching the rest of their class move around the garden.

"Hey why don't-" TK was interrupted.

"Davis and TK. Can you come over here please." Mr. Kimo was standing behind their group. TK felt himself panic. He discreetly grabbed onto Kari's wrist. Kari turned with him as the teens looked at Mr. Kimo.

"Jade and Kari why don't you two go check out the forbidden plants. I need to speak to the boys." TK and Davis looked at one another. Kari let out a sigh. She moved her hand to TK's and gave it a small squeeze. She then let go and stepped away from TK. She then turned to Jade,

"Let's go Jade." She said in a small voice. Both Davis and TK were scared for Kari. She walked with Jade and the boys pulled themselves away from watching their friend to focus on their teacher.

"Shit." TK whispered to Davis.

"Gentlemen I wanted to talk to you about your rooming situation. Davis you are on thin ice and I'd like your word." Mr Kimo looked at both teens,

"That there will be no destruction of property." TK nodded and Davis saluted,

"None what's so ever teach. Scouts honour." Davis then held up two fingers. TK felt like he wanted to face palm but resisted. Mr. Kimo looked upwards,

"I hope you mean that Mr. Motimya. Now I think you two should take some good notes on today's visit. Understood?" Both teens gave a small bow,

"Yes, Mr. Kimo." Mr. Kimo turned and walked away. Davis then looked around.

"Shit, where did they go?" TK blew out a breath.

"Well they went that way so let's start there." He then pulled out his phone and sent a text to Kari,

Where are you? - TK

TK then pocketed his phone. They couldn't have gotten far. Davis nodded,

"True just a dead woman could be tearing Kari to pieces." TK frowned,

"Look who's all concerned. What happened to "Its a phase she'll snap out of it"?" Davis growled and rounded on TK.

"Don't you think I feel awful?! I had no idea it was this bad! She's been suffering and I barely noticed!" Davis then looked down.

"I don't get it man. You always know when shits bugging her and look! You're the one who can make her better!" TK frowned. He now felt bad almost, sorry for Davis.

"It's not quite like that." TK offered.

"Kari and I have kind of always been in sync. It's weird. When I first met her I could just feel her, you know?" TK then shook his head, Davis looked at him with one eyebrow raised.

"Get your head out of the gutter, it was just I dunno a thing between us. I mean we were the youngest at the time and we just could read one another. It's always kind of been that way." Davis sighed,

"Great." Davis said with a defeated tone.

"I'm not with Jade by the way." TK said. Davis looked at him.

"You're not?" TK shook his head.

"Her parents are going through a really messy divorce. She has a younger sister who's 6 or 7. She's scared that they're going to be separated. She talks to me because of what Matt and I went through. She's trying to understand how she can help her sister." Davis was silent a moment.

"That's really shitty." Davis commented.

"Yeah she likes me or at least she did. We did date but not for long. I'm not into her in that way. She's really nice though and cares a lot about her sister. She just doesn't like people to get to know her." TK finished. Davis let out a breath.

"Oh, okay. So..." Davis stopped. He wanted to ask. He wanted to know about Kari. But he also felt like, he was feeling closer to TK. He didn't want another rift between them.

"Sorry I was a dick." Davis said. TK smirked.

"Sorry I'm not more open with you. You're one of my best friends and I sometimes forget I can talk to you about this stuff." Davis smiled,

"Yeah but I guess it technically wasn't your shit to share." TK nodded,

"Still could have been clearer about it." Davis clapped a hand on TK's shoulder.

"This is super romantic but I'm kind of worried Kari might be dead now." TK laughed,

"Yeah let's go find her." The two boys looked at one another. Both felt closer to the other. TK was grateful for Davis and Davis felt grateful for TK. The two made their way through the garden hoping to locate Kari and Jade.

Kari was nervous. She had only been a little over an hour without the woman, but it was a luxury she was not ready to give up. Jade and her walked in step with one another. Jade blew out a breath and Kari was on high alert. Already the air around her felt cold.

"So you and TK and Davis, are you guys like close?" Jade asked breaking the silence. Kari tried to keep her focus forward. She felt like someone was behind her and didn't want to look.

"Oh. Yeah." Kari replied. She heard footsteps behind her.

"So what's the deal then?" Jade asked and she stopped walking. Kari stopped as well. She then felt cold breath on the back of her neck.

"What, uh, what do you mean?" Kari responded. The woman was there. She was running her nails up and down Kari's back. Kari shuddered.

"You know you and Davis and TK. Do you like them?" This question struck Kari. She felt embarrassed. No! She thought. But then she had a moment, thinking about Davis looking so concerned, TK whispering in her ear. She felt fluttery and uncomfortable.

They're my friends, my best friends.

The woman poked her back more aggressively. Kari winced.

"If you go, I'll stop." The woman whispered. Kari felt flush.

"They're my friends." Kari said. She kept her voice even. The woman gripped her shoulder.

"Go, and I'll stop." The woman said again. Jade sighed.

"So you're not into them. At all." Jade asked. Kari bit her lip. There was something inside her something that quivered when she thought about them.

"Why?" Kari asked she then tried to take a step forward. The woman kept her grip. Kari then stuttered back.

"Isn't it obvious." Jade said. Kari closed her eyes. She was losing focus on the conversation. She had no idea what Jade was talking about.

"I don't know." Kari said forcing her voice to sound light.

"Ugh. I like TK." Kari was struck once again. Her stomach dropped. And suddenly she didn't feel so good.

"Does he like you?" Kari asked and she felt her hands grow clammy.

"I think so. But you take up a lot of his time." Kari nodded. The woman breathed.

"You're not wanted." The woman said. The new words out of the woman's mouth caught Kari off guard. She blinked and looked ahead at the cages of plants in the garden.

"Oh, I didn't know." Kari said. Jade then walked forward.

"Whatever." Jade spat. Kari needed to change the subject. She zeroed in on a plant in a small black cage. It was a word she hadn't seen before.

"Mary-ge-wana? What kind of plant is that?" Kari's breath was shallow. Jade looked offended.

"You're kidding." Jade said and then she almost laughed. But Kari could tell the laugh was at her not with her.

"Kari. It's fucking marijuana." Kari felt embarrassed. She did know that plant. She just had never seen it spelt out before. She would feel mortified but the woman kept a hold on her.

"Right." Kari said in a soft voice. She could already hear her brother laughing. She would have to tell him. He would laugh with her and make her feel silly but in a caring way.

"K well this is boring." Jade commented as she walked over to other caged plants. Kari refrained from reading of them out loud.

"Kari!" Kari felt her heart rate increase, that was Davis' voice. He came jogging to her, TK right on his toes. Davis reached Kari first and put a hand on her arm. Davis then saw the woman gripping Kari's shoulder. Davis yelled and stepped back letting go of Kari.

"Jesus!" Davis exclaimed. Kari was wide eyed watching Davis try to compose himself.

"What?" Jade asked and Davis blanched looking over at her.

"Oh, yeah, uhh, got a shock when I touched Kari." Kari felt like the woman was turning into a snake the way her hands slithered around her neck. TK stepped forward to put a hand on Kari's back. Jade spoke.

"Hey TK want to walk with me?" TK froze. He then slid next to Kari and discreetly touched her with his shoulder. The cold and the woman vanished. Kari thought she might fall over she was so relieved. She barely registered TK speaking.

"Yeah let's all go together, was the forbidden garden cool?" TK asked. Davis was impressed. TK could always keep his composure. Davis was still processing what he had seen. The woman, her face caved in and bloody was holding Kari captive. There was darkness swirling around her. Davis still wasn't sure why he could see her sometimes. He moved his hand towards Kari. He placed his index finger on Karis left hand. Kari didn't flinch at the contact. Davis looked around. He couldn't see the woman. Davis sighed and dropped his hand to his own side. TK moved himself and Kari forward to Jade. Jade blew out a breath and then grabbed TK's hand. She pulled him forward.

"Come on I think there's some flowers this way." TK broke contact with Kari and Davis watched Kari's eyes go wide. Davis reached for Kari then thought better. He jumped forward and pulled TK back.

"Actually I think I want TK as my walking partner." Davis grabbed onto TK's arm. TK was then next to Kari. The two were able to walk shoulder to shoulder.

"So TK tell me about your hobbies?" Davis asked making a joke out of the situation. Jade growled a little. Her phone rang and she pulled it out.

"Hey what?" She spoke into the phone. Davis watched Jade while he hung onto TK. Jade then rolled her eyes and moved away from the group.

"That's not what Dad said!" She yelled into the phone. She carried on away from the group. Davis blew out a breath.

"Okay Jesus Christ TK you will not believe what was hanging onto Kari." Davis let go of TK and stood in front of his two friends. He looked at TK who was watching where Jade went. TK looked conflicted.

"TK I know but you can't go after her." TK nodded and looked down at Kari.

"Kar?" TK asked in a gentle voice. Kari hadn't said anything. She was looking ahead. She closed her eyes. Davis stepped forward.

"It was bad TK. That woman was wrapped around Kari it was eerie." TK frowned.

"Did she hurt you?" TK asked. Kari shook her head.

"She just held me. It was weird. I don't know I feel kind of light headed." TK grabbed onto Kari's arm.

"Do you want to sit?" Kari shook her head.

"No I'm just relieved she's gone. I think she wants me to go." Davis raised an eyebrow.

"Go? Go where?" Kari quickly shook her head.

"It's just a feeling I don't really know." Davis and TK shared a look. TK then had a thought,

"Wait, Davis? All these times you've seen the woman and the black water, is it when you're touching Kari?" TK asked. Davis thought for a moment and then his eyes went round.

"Yeah, yeah it's been when I'm touching her." TK brought a hand to his chin.

"Okay so when I touch Kari, the woman is gone, but. Davis you're actually able to see what Kari's seeing." TK then pulled out his phone.

"I'm gonna text Matt and Izzy." Kari blew out a breath and Davis put a hand on TK's.

"Hold it. I agree, we need help but also, let's not forget this is really kind of sensitive. Right?" Davis looked to Kari who looked up at him.

"TK this feels-" Kari stopped Davis spoke for her.

"Embarrassing probably." Davis finished. TK looked between his two friends.

"You feel embarrassed by this?" TK asked Kari. Kari shrugged,

"Kind of, I mean it's just-" Davis then interrupted.

"Dude she hates being the centre of attention. texting everyone is going to put her at the centre. Maybe just the three of us try handling this." Kari looked at Davis. She couldn't express how much she appreciated him. She smiled at him. Davis gave her a smirk and Kari felt her cheeks blush. TK growled,

"Kari you can't actually fell embarrassed? This isn't your fault. It's not like you called this woman and asked her to harass her." Kari shrugged,

"TK the dark ocean exposes all my insecurities, there's a place in me that thinks, maybe I did do this." TK shook his head,

"That's ludicrous, you can't cause this." Kari frowned

"TK please just try to hear me-" TK then cut her off.

"No! We need to tell the others!" Kari then snapped,

"TK listen to me! I don't want to tell the others! please respect that!" TK and Kari glared at one another. TK then started dialling. Kari threw her hands up.

"Fine I'm leaving." Kari broke contact with TK and started walking. TK and Davis looked at one another,

"Kari! Kari kamiya!" TK called Davis then shoved TK. TK stumbled backwards.

"Dude! Can you have some compassion for one fucking second?!" TK pushed Davis back.

"Me?! Im trying to save her!" Davis pushed TK.

"That's your problem!" TK stood back a moment.

"What do you mean?" He asked. Davis got close to TK.

"She doesn't want to be saved all the time! You're always rushing into save her and rescue her but what about her? Maybe this is something she has to face on her own!" TK growled,

"Davis she is getting hurt-" Davis laughed,

"Fuck man! Listen to yourself! She's a fucking human who is going through something. Yes it's scary but we don't need to call everyone and make her feel self conscious. She just told us about this like an hour ago. Give her some fucking room to breathe dude." Davis took a deep breath. TK looked stunned. Davis continued.

"We're her friends. That means we support her and help her get through this. We can't do this for her." TK was still. He couldn't believe what Davis was saying. TK felt conflicted. He didn't want Kari to be hurt. He didn't want her to suffer. He looked to the direction she had left them. She wasn't in sight. There was a panic in TK's chest. He wasn't sure what to do. He felt stupid for making Kari feel self conscious. He looked at Davis.

"She's scaring me." TK admitted. Davis put a hand on TK's shoulder.

"We're not gonna let her die man. We just have to be with her but let her find her own strength." TK took a deep inhale.

"Okay. I won't call." TK then pocketed his phone. Davis clapped TK's shoulder with his hand. He then gave TK a small tap on the cheek. TK laughed,

"K don't" Davis hit TK's cheek again.

"Just keeping you in line." Davis then stepped back.

"Now we should go find her though." Davis said and he turned to where Kari had walked. TK nodded and followed. The boys walked down one path. Dominic came running towards them,

"I heard there's weed here. Where?!" He asked Davis and TK. The teens looked at one another,

"It's back that way." TK instructed. Dominic then yelled,

"Lewis! This way!" Lewis came running towards Dominic. The boys ran and Davis turned to yell at them.

"It's in a cage idiots! You can't smoke it!" Lewis fingered Davis and kept running. Davis shook his head,

"They already have some." Davis commented. TK smirked,

"Yeah but this is ancient forbidden pot. Probably makes you super zen." Davis laughed.

"Straight to nirvana" TK and Davis shared a laugh. The boys came around the corner of the hedges. To their relief they saw Kari sitting on a bench chatting with Jennifer. The boys jogged over to Kari.

"Hey, you okay?" Davis asked and Kari and Jennifer looked at the boys.

"What? Were you worried about her?" Jennifer asked. Davis then gave Jennifer a tilted smile.

"Just checking in on you ladies." Jennifer giggled,

"Well I think we are fine." She replied. TK stood next to Davis. He was directly in from of Kari. He stepped forward and had his leg touch Kari's. Kari nodded at him and then at Davis.

"So when are we done, I feel like we've been out here for ages." Jennifer giggled,

"I think we have one more hour. Then apparently we go into this like conference room and Mr. Kimo's going to tell us some more stuff about the grounds." Jennifer shrugged,

"This gardens cute but I wish they had like bubble tea or matcha or something." Kari nodded,

"That would be nice." She said and Jennifer stretched. Davis could see the outline of her chest and went a little wide eyed. Jennifer then stood. She rubbed Davis' arm.

"K Well I'm gonna go find May. I also heard there's marijuana here?" Jen asked. Davis and TK smirked,

"Yeah but I think Dominic's about to smoke it all." Jennifer rolled her eyes.

"Ugh he's such a burnout sometimes." She then walked away. Davis and TK looked down at Kari. Kari then rolled her eyes.

"I feel like I'm about to get a scolding. How about you both sit?" Kari instructed. TK smirked and then sat next to Kari. The bench was tight and Davis quickly sat on TK.

"I call TK's lap." He announced as he plopped onto his friend.

"Jesus Davis! Get off!" TK pushed Davis off and Kari laughed.

"Now there's a sound I haven't heard in a minute." Davis commented looking at Kari as he got his footing. Kari nodded.

"She was here but she wasn't near me. She just stayed over there." Kari pointed in the distance. There was a large tree and a trash bin.

"Well that's good." Davis responded. TK turned to look at Kari.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to you know, push you. You're right this is your call." Kari smiled. She grabbed TK's hand and squeezed.

"I know you care and that's why you want to solve this." TK nodded. Kari released his hand and looked at Davis.

"But Davis might be right, I think this is something I've got to deal with. I just don't know how yet." Davis and TK nodded,

"Okay well this is going to be interesting. I mean, how do the three of us stay together for the rest of the day? What about at night?" Kari felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand. Night, She hadn't thought about the night. She shook it and smiled at her friends.

"Let's just focus on right now. But, TK?" TK looked at her.

"If you need to go talk to Jade, you can." TK looked at Kari surprised.

"Oh, er, no. It's fine." TK said. Kari sighed.

"You sure?" She asked. TK nodded and gave her a wink.

"I promise." He said. Kari felt her stomach flutter. She then looked away. Davis turned.

"Come on. I think we're supposed to be taking notes or something." Davis commented. Kari went wide eyed.

"Oh god we have a paper due about this!" TK stood and Kari did as well.

"We'll figure it out." TK said softly. Davis cracked his knuckles.

"Yeah TK's got us. He knows everything about this place. Don't worry Kar, we'll just cheat off him." Davis started walking. TK smacked him in the back of the head, Davis dramatically grabbed his head.

"Violence? Violence TK?! In a Zen garden?!" Kari laughed at Davis' antics. TK rolled his eyes.

"You are a child." He said and Davis smirked,

"With rock solid abs." Kari burst into laughter. The three walked together and made their way through the rest of the garden.