WOWZA. You all gave me so many reviews I'm going to do half of them here, above the chapter, and then the other half below, alright?
SwiftStar1: Thank you! My teacher didn't think so. ;)
kyiomi: Omigods, I literally died when I read that. I don't think I'm THAT good, sheeshies! *blush*
DontMessWithADreamer: Thanks so much!
alinging street lights: Love your usernames, and you people, I'm already as red as a tomato! GAH! :D
Wolfprincess99: Alright! I'm doing it, I'm doing it!
ilovesports1999: 'It was frickin genius!' I love your choice of words there. :)
chey1235: Will doooo!
sadielove2: LOVE your picture! And this is the last part so, YAY!
LiveYourPassions: Its a-comin!
Okay, onto the last chappie. :D
Hope y'all lovelies enjoy! I started it a little differently than usual...
You're invited to:
Jospehine Esmerelda Selene Dominica Caroline Fredrico;
's Quinceanara!
Date: December 17, 2012
Time: 6-11 PM
Place: Rivermore Caterring, Seaford California (for more details ask Jerry Martinez)
Hope to see you there!
(bring presents)
Love,
The Martinez-Fredrico-Lopez Family
"Fifteen days, Julie."
"I know."
"It's been fifteen days since Jack left on that damned family trip."
"Kim! Language!"
"When is he going to back, Julie! WHEN? I can't take this anymore! He just left me, left me alone, in the cold, in the dark, without him-
WITHOUT HIM, JULIE."
"Sh, shhhh. I know Kim. I know."
"Why the hell does it hurt so much?"
"I don't know, Kim."
"I can't decide if I want him to come back or stay the fuck away."
"Language, dearie."
"..."
"Are you going to Jerry's cousins thing?"
"...the Quincenara?"
"Yeah."
"...I guess. Why?"
"You need the distraction."
"But I...yeah. You're right. I'll go."
Jack: Kim? [4:20 PM]
Jack: Kim, I'm coming home. [4:20 PM]
Kim: NOW you text me? What the fucking hell, Jack?[4:21 PM]
Jack: I'm so sorry, Kim. Give me a chance to explain? [4:22 PM]
Kim: Go to hell. I hate you. [4:23 PM]
Kim: Do you even fucking REALIZE what we did? [4:23 PM]
Jack: I'm sorry, Kim, if I had known that we were going to do what we did, I would've told my dad to postpone it, but. [4:24 PM]
Kim: ...You couldn't have stayed home? [4:24 PM]
Kim: What am I saying. Stay the hell away. [4:24]
Jack: KIM. I'M TRYING TO TALK TO YOU. GIVE ME A CHANCE TO SAY SOMETHING. [4:24 PM]
Contact: KIM CRAWFORD is writing a response
Contact: JACKSON BREWER is calling Contact: KIM CRAWFORD
Call denied.
Kim: Jerry invited us to a ball-thing this weekend, Jackass. [4:25 PM]
Kim: If you're going to be there, you can talk to me then. [4:25 PM]
Kim: Maybe. You douche. [4:25 PM]
Jack: What color? [4:26 PM]
Kim: What? [4:26 PM]
Jack: What color dress are you wearing? [4:27 PM]
Kim: Dark blue purplish. Indigo, I guess. Why do you ask? [4:27 PM]
Jack: See you Kim. And remember, I'm so, so sorry... [4:28 PM]
Jack: And I'll always be there for you. [4:28 PM]
"This is great, Jerry. I mean, really great."
My voice came out a little higher than expected, but I guess that's because I was really surprised. Whenever we end up going to one of Jerry's little 'gatherings' its usually at a dingy place that thugs could hang out at, with way too many people and too many hugs; normally, the only thing redeeming the whole affair was the spectacular food we'd always end up consuming. This place was certainly a step up.
The affair was held at an old, converted Catholic cathedral, with truly beautiful architecture and gorgeous stained glass windows and balconies. The entryway was a spectacular, swooping staircase, and striking red, green, white, and black draperies and accents really put a partygoer in the Christmas spirit. The food was delicious and served as a buffet, and the place that the priest would usually preach had been converted into a stage for the alternating bands.
"Thanks, Kim," Jerry grinned, thumbs in the belt loops of his tuxedo pants, suit jacket open to reveal the silver vest and neon, silk gold tie that he donned to match the equally startling fedora on his head. Another thing I hadn't realized, and that Jerry hadn't told us, was the fact that the ball was a masquerade. Of course, it was a pleasant surprise, but his mask was very…disconcerting. It was a half-face mask in gold and silver checkered, but who was I to complain-the ladies sure loved it.
Speaking of lady killers-I never would have believed it, but Eddie was finally doing the whole 'player' thing he'd trying to accomplish for as long as we all could remember. The white tux he was wearing slimmed him down significantly and the grey, Phantom-of-the-Opera-like mask he was wearing had the same era of mystery that bowled girls over like no one's business.
Milton and Julie were spic and span in matching blue outfits, Julie wearing a floor length halter neck gown swooped like Belle's and Milton in a navy blue, tuxedoed ensemble that though clearly dated, still had that old fashioned charm. Julie's ginger-brown hair shone in a chignon that I can proudly say I managed to slap together myself and her boyfriend's hair was cut short, a new style for him that really worked, I must say.
He must have the same trouble at the barbers that Jack has.
Jack.
I still hadn't seen him yet. It was wrong of him to leave me like he did, after how far we went in that heated room; I'm telling you I will never look at that closet the same way again.
"Kim, you look great!" Julie enthused, motioning to the dress I had donned myself after a good shopping stint with said girl. "I'm sure Jack is feeling bad about missing this." She smiled. "Heaven knows you don't wear dresses too often."
I blushed and gave a little spin. I was dressed, well, to impress. Julie had squealed like a little child when I brought the dress to her, and something in me was really ecstatic that I had finally gotten a dress that I liked. It was the same indigo-purply color that I had told Jack about, made up of a bodice and skirt. The top was strapless, with a shimmery silk heart dipped neckline that stopped right underneath of my bra with a mass of artfully arranged rhinestones decorated like a tiara on my waist, announcing the beginning of a tulled, waved skirt that rustled when I moved. My heels were the same indigo color as the dress, platform with peep toes, and my hair fell over my shoulders like a curly waterfall, the golden strands sparkling with the glitter that Julie had thrown in it last minute. My mask was as white as the fallen snow outside, a handmade piece that was styled just like wrought iron on my face, masking my mascara'd brown eyes.
Despite how pretty everyone told me I looked, and the looks that all the guys seemed to be giving me, I was doubtful of my own appearance. My chief supporter wasn't there to assure me.
~flashback~
"Omigods, guys." I eyed myself in the mirror distastefully, turning back and forth to look at myself in the mirror, frowning at the reflection. "I look like a piece of shit that the dogs rejected."
The dress was a mauve, bubbly sort of thing that made me look fat and washed out my skin, as well as managing to my hair like weak and as ugly as straw.
Only an outfit my mother could have picked out.
Julie had a horror-stricken look on her face, Milton had fainted due to shock, and Jack was laughing so hard his face was turning red and you couldn't see his eyes, his laugh lines were so pronounced.
"Kim, before you ask, that dress makes you look fat," Jack chuckled, wiping the tears from his eyes as his face went from tomato red to washed out ketchup. "What kind of sicko thinks that would look nice on anybody?"
I crossed my arms and glared at the reflection. "The damn idiots who made it," I grumbled, and Jack laughed again, getting up while shielding his eyes.
"I know I suck at this, but let me give it a go," he husked, a smile still lingering on his face, fingers grasping the price tag to lift it up to his shielded coffee brown eyes. His hair was a sexily messy as ever and I cursed all the clothes deities in hell for making a plain white v-neck and brown white-washed jeans look good on him. Jack had sort of gotten dragged into this whole dress choosing thing for Jerry's cousins Quinceanara (see! I told you we get dragged into these things too often!) and although finding a casual dress as Seaford Mall's resident dress shop was looking bleak, Jack had gotten a good laugh at every fucking dress I put on.
Damn him.
Ten minutes later, a still grinning Jack handed me a slip of green and white fabric, his hair ruffled at the ears from searching through the dress racks.
I eyed it dubiously as Julie fanned a still-shocked Milton into recovery, taking it from him like a brand new lion tamer picks up a whip. "You sure?" I asked him, eyes scanning the normal looking article of clothing, relieved it wasn't hot pink, super short, or revealing everything like a few I'd tried on beforehand.
Jack shrugged. "Give it a go."
"Okay," I agreed, and courageously reached out, smoothing the ruffled hair so close to the identical moles that I adored so much. "Your hair was mussed." I explained, blushing, taking the dress from him and dashing to the changing rooms.
Gods he's so hot.
Slipping on the dress, I came out once more to face my friends and Milton got out a "HOLY CHRISTMAS-" before fainting again, this time from happiness or horror I couldn't tell.
"Kim you look like a freaking angel!" Julie shrieked happily and I flushed once more, twirling for the mirror.
The dress was touched my calves in the back and the top of my knees in the front, a glorious white dotted with emerald green with large sleeves that encompassed my hands and made me feel medieval. The square neckline and drawstring waist emphasized what little curves I possessed, and put it simply, was perfect.
Jack was leaning against the dreamy couch that the happy couple was sitting on, arms crossed so the muscles in his biceps bulged (DAMN HIM!) and a satisfied look on his handsome face. The black backwards basketball cap on his head did nothing to hide the huge smile he was sporting, and I gave Jack another twirl for confirmation.
"Well?" I asked, stepping down from the pedestal, ready to whisk myself into the changing rooms again to put back on my longed for t-shirt and skinnies. "Do I look like a dropout from an unproduced Audrey Hepburn movie?"
"Naw," Jack murmured, coming closer and tweaking a few things on my dress like he seemed to be doing more often than friendly necessary recently. "Julie's right. You do look like a angel."
"Thanks Jack-"
"A dying nineteen twenties one!" he jabbed, and just like that I was after him, screaming bloody murder.
Damn him and his good dress picking.
"KIM!" Shaking out of the reverie, I nervously smiled at a flustered Eddie, stuffing his face with-tuna rolls? "You were out of it again."
I sighed. "Sorry Eddie."
The kid, the youngest and undoubtedly the cutest of us, just shrugged and resumed his fishy treat. "Wasn't important anyway."
Rolling my eyes I searched Jerry's cousin out from the crowd, wondering what she was doing as she pushed through the four person band on the stage, heading for
the microphone and motioning for the deejay to stop 'Firework' by Katy Perry.
"Hello?" the pretty Latino called, tapping on the mike to get everyone's attention. Once she had done so, she smiled happily at the crowd. "Not to interrupt everyone's partying, but we have a special request!" The crowd wooed, not as well or as loud at the "WHOO!" that came from our one and only dancing friend.
"Anyway," the cousin continued. "One lucky person will be allowed to sing a song with our live band! Everyone clap for Lighting, and special guest, um, Michael Brewer!" The band, all guys with a very attractive one on electric guitar, waved as the crowd willingly applauded for them. It struck me that it was kind of weird that the guitarist, Michael Brewer, had the same last name as Jack, but I let it pass. My hearts too sore to be drawing random conclusions.
Jack didn't come, and I should accept that.
No matter how much that lovemaking had seemed to mean to me, it obviously meant nothing to Jack.
He left my heart broken, and that's the way he seems to want it to be.
Damn him.
"…come on, guys! Raise your hands!" Jerry, smirking knowingly, appeared from nowhere and lifted the hand not occupied with sipping some punch that I'm positive might've been spiked with some grapefruit juice. That sour tang was not natural.
Jerry's cousin, smiling gleefully in that suspicious way that Rudy tends to do when Tip-Tips vomited in someone's locker, pointed directly at me. "Kim Crawford! You're the lucky girl!"
Wait, what?
"Go on up there, girl!" Jerry instructed, ignoring the 'What the hell?' look on my face and forcibly shoving me towards the stage. "Show them what your made of!" his face got serious. "Just do my favor, and don't. Under any conditions. Dance."
~flashback~
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Jerry had a terrified look on his face and he jumped off the stack of practice mats and came over to me. It was still early in our friendship, but he was as frank as ever when he said. "What d'ya call that!"
I folded my arms at him defiantly. "Uh, dancing." Jerry obviously didn't know what real dancing was.
"Uh, uh, uh, uh, UH." Eddie's hands were placed in front of him as if to stop me from dancing again. "That was not dancing. That was a crime AGAINST dancing."
~flashback~
"So Kim, what are you going to sing?" Jerry's cousin was even prettier up close than far away, and her smile was almost blinding at close range.
"Uh, maybe-"
"Perfect!" she grinned. "You're singing 'Battlefield' by Jordin Sparks."
I shrugged and approached the microphone, taking it down and clearing my throat at the cousin stepped daintily off the stage. Singing I could do.
Michael, the guitarist, walked closer to me, holding his black and white electric guitar like it was a treasure, a smirk on his face that was entirely to much like de ja vu for me to comfortable with it. Finally close to enough to actually see him, I appraised his outfit; he was wearing a deep, royal blue dress shirt with the sleeves cuffed up to his elbows, the first two buttons undone, a black vest hanging open on his taller frame. His hair was a chestnut brown that swooped near the ears (Omigods, whats with him? He's so familiar…) and his mask was as ornate as mine, but in a darker, more thorny style than my soft swoops, a black color matching the color of his Supra's and dress pants.
"You ready for this?" he whispered to me, plucking out a few tunes with a white pick, glittering eyes to far in the recesses of the mask for me to see the color.
I grinned easily at him, unhooking the microphone from the stand and moving around a bit to warm up. "Yeah. I don't know the song, but I know the singer."
Michael shrugged and murmured. "Kill it, shawty," then faded back into his usual place in front of the drummer, faced away from me.
Before I could fully process how much Michael looked like Jack (FINALLY placed it, thank goodness), the music started, a thick drumbeat from the musician behind the percussion instruments.
The words, golden, straight font against a black background, scrolled on a TV screen to the left and right of me, and I opened my mouth and sang to the opening line of a pianos keys.
"Don't try to explain your mind
I know what's happening here
One minute it's love
And suddenly it's like a battlefield.
One word turns into a war
Why is it the smallest things that tear us down
My world's nothing with you gone,
I'm not here without a shield
Can't go back now
Both hands tied behind my back with nothing
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
Why we gotta fall for it now!"
A few of Jerry's cousins guests were hooting a bit, liking my voice, and I fought down a blush, continuing singing, putting more feeling into the lyrics as I listened for the over all tone of the song. It seemed violent, unsure, heartbroken, defensive, and lonely all at once.
Kind of like me.
"I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield? (x2)
Why does love always feel like…"
Jordin Sparks was a phenomenal singer, yes, but it was like she was my own personal psychiatrist right now.
This, was currently Jack and I's relationship.
It had become a battlefield, with ammunition and soldiers, and hiatuses, with our friends the neutral parties just trying to stop the civil war.
With that realization, I poured even more into the song, loving the feel of the words in my vocal chords, relishing the crowds reaction, letting the electric guitar, piano, drums, and random violin sweep me away with the feelings that rose out my heart, out of soul to tell the world what I couldn't do on my own.
"Can't swallow our pride,
Neither of us wanna raise that flag, mhmm
If we can't surrender then we both gonna lose what we had, oh no
Both hands tied behind my back with nothing
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
I don't wanna fall for it now
I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield? (x2)
I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your...
We could pretend that we are friends tonight (oh-oh-oh)
And in the morning we'll wake up and we'll be alright
Cause baby we don't have to fight
And I don't want this love to feel like..
A battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield,
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield
I guess you better go and get your armor...
I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for (fighting, fighting for)
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield? (x2)
I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
Why does love always feel like...
Why does love always feel like...
A battlefield, a battlefield..
I never meant
to start a war
Don't even know
What we're fighting for…"
With the conclusion of the song, the crowd burst into applause a few wolf whistles piercing the sound of hands being slapped together in excitement, and as red as a fire engine, I curtsied and prepared to step of the stage.
Damn you Jack, for missing that performance.
You could have learned something, you douche bag.
"Ms. Crawford!" Jerry's cousin (dammit I'm going to have to learn her name) rushed back up onstage with a chair. "Ms. Crawford, we'd like to ask you to stay seated on stage for the next song if you don't mind." With that, she practically forced me down onto the chair and sprinted merrily to the mike again. "Correction, everyone!" she yelled. "Jerry's just told me that the lead guitarist is actually Jack Brewer, my bad. He and Lighting are about to do one last song before Jack retires for the night! And now, without further ado, 'Kiss Me' by Ed Sheeran!"
Shell-shocked, I stared at Jack as Jerry's cousin (I'm just gonna call her Sam) ran off stage once more, and the brunette waved once at the crowd, adjusted the microphone, and cleared his throat.
"This is a solo piece, going out to my best friend." He husked into the mike, the pianist, and violinist settling in as if knowing that the next song only had an electric guitar and drum in it. "I just wanted to say that, well…I'm sorry."
"I love the way you yell at the TV set when your favorite singer doesn't win at American Idol, the way you know the lyrics to every song you've ever heard, the weird way you dance and the way that you hate English even though you're freakishly good at it. I love the way you can never decide whether of not to keep your hair naturally curly or straight, and your insecurity whenever you have to babysit. I love your badass personality and the special way you threw that doll haired loser across the room, even though he broke your fan girl heart. I love the way you're not afraid to lose at karate, and give everything your all, from helping us sell chocolate balls to trying to stop Rudy from ruining Shakespeare. I love the way your eyes light up when you're doing something you love and the smile you get on your face when your embarrassed and are afraid that you read too deeply into peoples actions. I love the way you hate and love chivalry at the same time, and can manage to beat the stuffing out of the training dummies at the dojo even when your heart is facing so much turmoil its almost inside out. I love the way you kiss me, like you're pouring your entire soul into that one kiss, as if I'm the only thing holding you to the earth. I love the way your cheek felt against my chest in that closet a few weeks ago, I love the way you always end up falling asleep on movie nights and curling into me even though I never tell you. I love the way your hair feels when I run my hands through it, and the little noises you make when you've eaten too much and I end up carrying you to bed because you fall asleep in the middle of studying. I love the way that you keep pushing on no matter what pushes you down, and I love the way that you now love beanies because of that one December experiment." Jack ran a hand awkwardly through his hair, and the crowd gave a unanimous look of approval for him to finish. "What I'm trying to say Kim, is that through it all, I've always loved you. Yes, I realize I was a total dick to take your v-card," he swept a hand at the audience. "you all didn't hear that, but I hate the fact that I left you all alone to go on trip and only texted you this past Wednesday." He took a shuddering breath. "This song is for you, Kim. And if you're willing to accept it, my heart goes with it."
He strummed a chord, a loud but poignant note in the now totally silent cathedral-turned-party place and in a low, husky voice, began to sing.
"Settle down with me
Cover me up
Cuddle me in
Lie down with me
And hold me in your arms
And your heart's against my chest, your lips pressed in my neck
I'm falling for your eyes, but they don't know me yet
And with a feeling I'll forget, I'm in love now
Kiss me like you wanna be loved
You wanna be loved
You wanna be loved."
His voice was calm but heartbreaking, holding as much emotion as mine had, but with a much more vulnerable quality.
"This feels like falling in love
Falling in love
We're falling in love
Settle down with me
And I'll be your safety
You'll be my lady
I was made to keep your body warm
But I'm cold as the wind blows so hold me in your arms."
I could feel the tears slide leisurely down my cheeks, but all I could do was stare at Jack, my Jack, sing to me, in front of what seemed like a million people.
"Oh no
My heart's against your chest, your lips pressed in my neck
I'm falling for your eyes, but they don't know me yet
And with this feeling I'll forget, I'm in love now
Kiss me like you wanna be loved
You wanna be loved
You wanna be loved
This feels like falling in love
Falling in love
We're falling in love."
He paused singing to do the musical interlude and my legs trembling I slowly stood up and made my way towards him, heart shivering.
"Yeah, I've been feeling everything
From hate to love
From love to lust
From lust to truth
I guess that's how I know you
So I hold you close to help you give it up
So kiss me like you wanna be loved
You wanna be loved
You wanna be loved
This feels like falling in love
Falling in love
We're falling in love
Kiss me like you wanna be loved
You wanna be loved
You wanna be loved
This feels like falling in love
Falling in love
We're falling in love."
His voice broke on the last note, and as the last chord rang through the room he removed the guitar from around his waist and turned to me, the mocha eyes that I loved so much glittering with what looked like tears.
"Kim?" Jack whispered, utterly spent just as I'd been that night in the janitors closet, his arms held out with a fear that I thought I only felt.
Breaking into sobs, I flung myself at him, and he cuddled me close, cooing to me and rocking my back and forth, running his hands through my curls, bodies shaking together.
"It's okay." Jack murmured to me as I drew my head back from his now tear streaked shirt, hands just as hot as I loved, taking the mask from my eyes and his own from his eyes so we could take in each others faces, search each other for the feelings we knew each other to have.
"Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you. And I forgive you. Now kiss me?"
And finally, the crowd cheered.
Okay! A few more reviews, and then I've got a few things to say...
GlitterGirl123: ADORE YOUR CHOICE OF WORDS. Going to change that right now. ;) I love educational reviews.
Sup & Guest: Glad you think so!
WeShallConquerxo: Really? *blushes heavily* Aw, shucks...
Lily: No, I'm not yet ready for the real hot-n-heavy stuff yet. It sort of tells you what went down in this chapter, though, so I hope thats enough...I love writing make-out scenes though. For a virgin, I think I'm pretty good at it. ;D
Guest: I love that episode! The Emoreader idea DID come from that actually, but Jack and Kim took the reins from me from then on. This whole thing was originally a one-short, then a two-shot, and finally a three...I used to many words to finally tie up the ends, but I think it was worth it. :)
paint the roses red: Well here it is! Hope ya likes it. ;)
Guest: Ya really think so? Y'alls just too kind... X)
ima5er4life: No! Wait! Come back! *catches the blown-away reviewer* Okay then. Much better. ;D
NOW THEN.
This chapter literally took me a week to write. I had no idea what the HELL I was going to do with it, until I found out that my schools doing a masquerade for a winter dance.
BINGO. :D
I had a better beginning, but Microsoft Words literally deleted it and I had to write it on the fly tonight.
Hope y'all liked the flashbacks. Good ol' Kickin' It times.
AGAIN I apologize for the bad language, but Kim seems to be that one girl who'd be broken on the inside and tough as rock on the outside. I hoped I wasn't to OC.
As stories go, this pleasantly suprised me. So. Do you guys think I should write some more? ;)
If so, choose one:
Forwood
Delena
Good Luck Charlie (Spencer/Teddy)
or
Clintasha (Clint/Natasha) from Avengers
Love you all to pieces and from the moon and back!
Lil