Karate Involves a Kick

My Life Isn't All That Bad

KIM"S P.O.V

I ran. Ran from the one and only Jack Brewer. Just when I thought my life couldn't get any worse, he walked in.

1 HOUR AGO

Jack and I had just finished karate practice with the rest of the gang. Jack always walked me home, despite my disapproval. It's not that I don't like Jack, in fact, I'm in love with him, but I don't want him to see how different I am at my house. When I'm home I'm a coward. I can't even leave my room without checking the hallway to see if my dad is waiting out there for me. 

You see, ever since my mom was killed in a car crash my dad has been beating me. He sais it was all my fault that my mom died but I didn't even know she died until about a week after she died. Only Jack knows that my mom died, but he doesn't know about my dad beating me and I'd like to keep it that way. 

As we were walking out of the dojo Jack offered to carry my bag for me. I handed him my bag as we began the walk to my house. Along the way our hands brushed a few times sending chills up my arms. When we reached my house Jack and I said our goodbyes and he started walking to his house. I felt like I was forgetting something, but what? 

I decided I would sit outside for a little while. So I walked over to the porch swing and sat down. Sometimes I just need to be alone and think. 

I walked into my house to find my dad standing right in front of the door, waiting for me. 

"Where we're you?" He spat out angrily. 

"At the dojo" I said nearly inaudible. 

"Didn't I tell you not to go there anymore?" My dad shouted at me. 

"Bu-" Before I could finish what I was saying my dad slapped me. 

"I told you not to go to that f-ing dojo anymore and what do you do. Your mother was right when she said we should have put you up for adoption" He shouted, repeatedly hitting me. 

I was use to the phisical abuse but when he started talking about my mom I blew up. I knew my mom, and I knew she would never say anything like that. 

"Your a liar, mom never said that" I shouted back angrily. With that I ran upstairs. 

As I was running up the stairs I heard the front door open and then slam shut. Hoping that it was my dad leaving I ran to my room and looked out the window. As his car pulled out of the driveway, I let out a so sigh of relief as I looked down, only to see a pull of blood on my windowsill. 

I was about to get up and clean myself off when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I immediately flinched thinking it was my dad. 

"Kim" wait that's not my dad. 

"Jack" I said breathlessly. "What are you doing here?" I asked. 

"I started walking home when I realized that I still had your bag, so I came back to give it to you and heard shouting coming form your house" Jack answered. 

"Did you see anything?" I asked. 

"Well .......... Yeah, look Kim-" Jack began but I cut him off. 

"I already know, you don't want to be friends anymore, and you don't want me to talk to you, I've heard it all before" I shouted angrily before I got up and ran out the house, not caring about the blood, and not listening to Jack screaming my name. 

I ran, and ran until I reached my special place, the place I went to when Jack started dating Donna, the place I went to when my dad first started beating me, the place I went to when I found l out that my mom died. If you couldn't tell this place means a lot to me, it my sense of security. It was my own hidden pond. 

I was sitting on the deck with my feet dangling above the latter, when I felt a presence beside me. I looked to see Jack, sitting there beside me. 

"Kim, I wasn't going to say any of that" Jack began this time I didn't cut him off because I didn't have the energy to. "I was going to say that you should have told someone about this" Jack continued. "I wouldn't have made fun of you or told you not to talk to me, I would've helped you. I will help you" Jack said. "No matter how much pain your in I will stand by your side even if you dint want me to, that's how much you mean to me" Jack finished. 

"I'm not that important" I mumbled looking down. 

Jack gently grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. 

"Don't say that, you are so important, especially to me" Jack said leaning closer. 

"Thank you" I said. And with that he closed th gap between use. 

This was the first time in a long time that I finally felt completely safe, and I liked the feeling. 

When we pulled away Jack and I just looked at each other. 

"Kim, would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" Jack asked. 

I guess I was wrong, Jack walking in didn't make my life worse, it made my life a lot better.