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She didn't know who else to call.
Well, to be honest, she knew that she had other options. Rudy had always told her (and everyone else at the dojo) that he was only a call away if they were ever in a sticky situation. She knew that Milton and Jerry would drop everything if they heard that she was in trouble, and Eddie would even make the long journey back to Seaford if he found out.
Even so, she was a bit tipsy, and his number was one of her favourites in her contacts, and she had called him before she could stop herself, although she immediately regretted it when it went to voicemail.
She could hear the wobble in her voice as she recorded her message, but she stubbornly shoved the emotion down. She'd blame it on the alcohol. However, when a car came to a stop on the street in front of her about fifteen minutes later, Kim came to a sudden realisation.
She looked horrible.
She could feel the mixture of mascara and tears staining her features, see her purple dress all crumpled as she sat on the cool pavement outside the house. However, as she glanced up at the bang of a car door, she couldn't hide her relief at the sight of the person striding up to her.
Jack.
He had gotten his license not so long ago, and had joked that since he was the first of the Wasabi Warriors to do so, he deserved serious props from the others. Kim hadn't intended to use his new-found ability for her own benefit so soon, but desperate times and all that.
"Kim, I got your message - are you okay?"
He crossed the distance between them in no time, sitting down beside her without hesitation. Kim had spent enough time in his presence to figure out whenever something was worrying him, and no matter how much he tried to hide it, she could hear the slight panic in his question.
She nodded, smiling weakly.
"I might have drank a bit too much, and I couldn't call my mom, and you were right there in my phone, and I just thought..."
She trailed off, fiddling with the hem of her dress.
"I've had a bit of an awful night, to be honest, Jack."
Jack wrapped an arm around her shoulder, giving her a comforting squeeze.
"You can tell me if you want? Or not - whatever you want to do, I'm here."
That was enough for the dam to open, as she began to retell the story of tonight's events while sitting in front of the crime scene.
She spent so many hours of her life sweaty and dressed in her gi, why shouldn't she take the opportunities to dress up and feel pretty? She was a cheerleader, and as such, she got invited to social events that the others often didn't, and tonight was such an event. One of the guys on the football team, Grant, had been so friendly towards her at school, that his invitation was gladly accepted by her.
His wealthy parents were away for the weekend, and the football team had just won a big game. It was a perfect recipe for a house party. The night had been going so well, with the girls chatting and dancing with her, and the boys showing interest in her, especially Grant.
The alcohol had begun to take effect when it all went downhill.
"Grant made it seem like he wanted to ask me out, but then..."
Kim laughed - a bitter, false laugh.
"I found out that it had all been for a bet. The jock who could make the karate tomboy fall for them got money or something - I didn't bother sticking around to find out what the prize was."
Grant's parting shot had been running round in her mind on loop, and it made her stomach churn.
"All of your friends are guys, right, Kim? No wonder no one wants you, you're just one of them."
That final word - them - had been spoken with such disgust, that Kim had been thrown by the insinuation. Joining the dojo had been such a life-changing decision for her, and it had shaped so much of her teen life. Sure, she had other friends, but none of them were as close to her as the other Wasabi Warriors and Rudy. Hearing them being disrespected in such a way... Wasabi Code or not, for once, she had let herself go and kicked him in the crotch as she left.
Her own parting gift.
"It's getting cold - put this on."
The world got momentarily dark as the material was pulled over her head and her arms led into the sleeves. Had he noticed her shivering slightly?
It was warm, cozy, and yet just a little bit too big for her. It felt somewhat strange to wear the hoodie - Jack's hoodie - over her dress, but the sentiment was still evident. He was only in a t-shirt now, and her dispute died on her lips as she caught a glimpse of his concerned gaze.
"I can stick up for myself, you know that. I've dealt with jerks before - Ricky Weaver, for example - but this time... This time it felt different, y'know? It felt personal."
Jack balled his hands into fists for a moment before releasing the tension with a deep breath.
"You should never have been put into a situation like that - it was not your fault, not at all. Don't even think that."
He wiped a stray tear away with his thumb as she blinked.
"What he said to you doesn't matter - it's not true. You're not just one of the guys. You're Kim - and that's amazing. When you find the right person, you'll just know. Someone as great as you shouldn't settle for morons like that. You can spend time with whoever you want, and if the jocks don't agree with it, then maybe they don't have your best interests at heart."
How did he always know exactly what to say?
They stayed like that for a while, being close to each other, before Jack broke the silence once again.
"C'mon, let's get you out of here."
Noticing the momentary fear in Kim's expression, he smiled.
"I'll send your mom a text - tell her that you're studying with me, and you'll be staying over at mine."
Once they were both in the car, and driving away from Grant's house, she finally began to relax. The hoodie was so comfortable, and the motion of the car was so soothing... Kim was asleep before she could stop herself.
The next morning, she woke up with a banging hangover. She had slept in Jack's bedroom, with a glass of water and painkillers laid out on his bedside table, ready to be consumed in the morning. As she stared at the ceiling, trying to piece together her memories, it was all pretty foggy. However, if things were clearer, something should have floated to the forefront of her mind.
Jack, not daring to wake her, carrying her out of the car and up to his own bedroom, and planting a tender kiss to her forehead before he took his usual sleeping spot whenever she stayed over - the couch downstairs.
Kim put it down as an alcohol-infused dream.
Yeah, that had to be it.
The alternative was too much to think about right now.
Later.
She'd dissect what it all meant later.