+chapter.sixteen+
The four of them all decided they would all meet up and go out for pizza and a movie. Jenn was going to pick up Kim and they would meet Tay and Zac at the pizza place. Kim was home, getting dressed when her step-dad came home from work. She could hear him go into the kitchen and get a beer and go watch TV, which he usually did when he had a bad day. Kim’s mom and dad had split up when she was four and her mother remarried her step-dad about a year ago. Between then, her mom and had gone from boyfriend to boyfriend, but never found the right guy. Her mom was so happy to get married, but Kim didn’t like her new dad. There was something about him and today would be the day she found that something out. As Kim was getting ready, she decided she would go tell her dad about the plans for tonight.
“Dad, I’m going out tonight, about six, okay?”
“No. How come you just make these plans and expect me and your mother to go along with them?”
“But, Jenn is picking me up.”
“But what happens if we have plans?”
“But we don’t,” Kim muttered under her breath.
“Excuse me, did you just talk back?” her dad questioned as he stood up from his chair on the couch. “You never talk back to me, do you hear me? Never.” He raised his hand and slapped her across the face. She fell to the ground. She laid there for a second trying to understand what had just happened. No one ever hit her before.
“Stand up and listen to me,” he spoke harshly, his foot nudging her side viciously. “Stand up!” She stood up, tears running down her face. He held her arms tightly and shook her. “You never talk back to me! Never!” His voice echoed. He shook her one last time and pushed her to the floor again. She laid there and cried for a moment, and then struggled to her feet.
“Now, go to your room,” he yelled. She walked to her room and laid down on her bed and cried her eyes out. ‘How could he do this to me?’ she thought. ‘I will never let him hurt me again.’
Just then, the doorbell rang. She heard her dad answer it and came to her room. “Hun, it’s Jenn,” he spoke as if nothing had taken place.
Kim got up from her bed and walked to the door. She walked to the car with Jenn who had noticed she had been crying.
“What happened?” Jenn asked once in the car.
“My…my…dad. He…hit me!” Kim sobbed.
“Ohmigod. Why?”
Kim gave a shrug. “I don’t know.” Jenn’s mom handed Kim a tissue and she wiped her face.
“Hun, why don’t you stay over our house tonight? I’ll call your house and talk to your parents for you okay?”
Kim just nodded a yes and wiped away the rest of her tears. “Kim, you can always come to us if you need anything,” Jenn spoke lightly.
“Thank you,” Kim replied.
“Does your mom know?” Jenn asked.
“No, this was the first time.”
“And it will be the last,” Jennifer’s mother spoke.
“I can’t be so sure of that,” Kim said as they pulled up at the restaurant. As soon as they got out, they spotted Tay and Zac waiting. Kim could only hope that tonight would get better.
+chapter.seventeen+
“Hey, Baby,” Zac smiled at Jenn as he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
“Hey, Hun,” Taylor spoke to Kim, giving her a light kiss.
“Hey,” Kim smiled lightly.
Kim gave a light shudder as their lips met for the second time in the past five minutes. Tay's lips parted from t when she pulled away, he knew something was wrong.
"What's the matter?" Taylor asked gently holding Kim. When she realized he knew something was the matter. She covered it up because she just didn't want to tell Taylor.
"Nothing, Hun," Kim said, pulling Taylor closer. "Nothing, now that you're here." Smiles appeared on their faces and they engaged in a long, passionate kiss.
"Come on you two, let's go eat," Jenn said with a smile on her face. She grabbed Zac's hand and led him towards the door.
Taylor and Kim parted and walked, hand in hand into the restaurant. They were seated at a booth near a window. They ordered a large pizza with extra cheese and a huge pitcher of soda. The whole time they were ordering, Kim stared out the window at the cars rushing by on the highway.
"Hey, are you okay?" Tay asked, slightly whispering in her ear. She gently nodded. He pushed a piece of hair behind her ear and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"So, did you guys hear about Eddie?" Zac asked.
"No, what about him?" Jenn replied. Kim was still not quite paying attention to the conversation.
"He transferred out of school," Zac gossiped.
"What?" Tay exclaimed, jerking Kim away from her fascination with the window.
"Supposedly, Sean found out that Ed liked Jenn and he threatened to hurt him if he interfered."
"Oh my God, no way," Jenn said, "That jerk!"
"I can't believe he would do that!" Kim exclaimed, finally paying attention.
"Zac, you don't think he would hurt you, Baby, do you?" Jenn asked.
"If he tried, he wouldn't get very far. He would get more hurt than I would, if you know what I mean. So, don't worry about it."
Everyone started laughing. All except for Kim who, once again, found herself looking out the window. She still couldn't believe what her step dad had done to her. She had no clue what to do about it. She had told Jenn and her mom, but she didn't know if she should tell her mom or just let it ride. 'I mean, it did only happen once,' she thought.
"Hello, Kim...Kim?" Taylor's voice rang through her thoughts.
"Huh?"
"Did you want some pizza?" Tay asked as he pointed to the pizza on the table.
"Uh...yea...sure," she replied, as Taylor cut her a piece and put it on her plate like he had done for everyone else. They all ate their pizza and when they finished, they walked down to the mall strip to the movie theater. They walked in and bought their tickets. Tay paid Kim's ticket and Zac for Jenn's.
"Which theater?" Kim asked Taylor as they walked down the hallway of the theaters.
"The lady just said it when she took your ticket. Are you okay? You're not yourself all of a sudden. What's the matter?" Taylor asked as he took her to the side and wrapped his arms around her.
"Nothing, Baby. Nothing at all," Kim spoke, kissing Taylor. He returned her kiss with his. Slowly, he pulled her closer and snuck his tongue in her mouth. "Babe, let's save this for inside the theater."
"Okay, Babe. Whatever you want," Tay grinned, winking and giving her an evil grin. When they got into the theater, they found Jenn and Zac and sat with them.
"Hey, where were you two?" Zac asked.
"Oh, no where," Taylor grinned as he put his arm around Kim and kissed her. The movie started and the lights went out. Kim really wasn't paying attention again. She couldn't help but think about what had happened earlier.
Jenn was sitting watching the movie, when she felt Zac's hand gently swipe a piece of her hair behind her ear. She turned to him and placed his lips on hers. Jenn gently slid her tongue in his mouth.
Meanwhile, Taylor was staring at Kim who was lost in deep thought. Tay took his hand and turned her face to him. She smiled at him. Taylor kissed her and she returned it. He then slid his tongue in her mouth and caressed the side of her leg with his hand. She did the same to him, but she caressed the back of his neck. She always felt so safe in his arms. He always made her happy and took her mind off the bad things. When the movie was over, they all walked out to Taylor's car. The seating arrangement was the usual.
"So, anybody know what the movie was about?" Zac asked jokingly.
"Wait, we saw a movie? When?" Tay joked. Everyone gave a light laugh.
"Were you guys as busy as we were?" Jenn asked.
"Yea..." Kim said with a smile, her mind off the day's earlier events. They pulled up to Jenn's house. Kim and Jenn got out, each kissing their guy goodbye. When they got in the house and Kim's parents were there.
+chapter.eighteen+
Kim's eyes widened at the sight of her parents. "Kimberly, I thought I told you that you couldn't go with Jennifer to the movies," Robert spoke through gritted teeth.
"You never said that. You said you wouldn't drive," Kim argued.
"No, Kimberly. You're coming home right now."
"Actually, Rob, I was hoping we could have Kimberly spend the night. I realize that she's in some trouble, but I'd really like her to stay. Please?" Angela asked.
Robert's brow furrowed. It would be a way for him and Emily to have a peaceful night. He wasn't in the mood for any major yelling either. "Fine."
Angela breathed a silent sigh of relief. "Thanks...I'll take her home tomorrow sometime." "Okay, thank you," Emily replied. "Why don't we go now, Rob?"
Robert nodded. The two left, Angela showing them to the door, Kim and Jenn headed up to her room to talk. Once the door was shut, Kim let out a huge sigh. "Gawd, I seriously didn't think that he was gonna let me stay."
"Yea, me either," Jenn replied. She walked over to her large collection of CDs and pulled out her Everclear CD. Jenn was into a variety of music. She loved all the boy bands, as well as the hard core stuff such as Everclear and Green Day. "Kim?" Jenn spoke as "So Much for the Afterglow" started playing.
"Yea?" Kim was pulled from her train of thoughts.
"Everything's gonna be okay. My 'rents are gonna do everything they can to stop what's happening."
Kim nodded. "Thanks, Jenn."
"Hey, that's what I'm here for." There was a moment of silence between the two. "You wanna call Tayter?" Jenn asked, a small grin sweeping across her face.
Kim smiled. "Yea."
Jenn picked up her portable and dialed, handing it to Kim afterwards.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Zac?" Kim replied.
"Yooo, that's me," Zac smiled, recognizing the voice.
"What's up?"
"Nothing. Just got in actually."
"Ahh, I see. Is Tay there by any chance?"
"Maaaybe."
"Don't go Sean on me, Zac."
Zac laughed. "Okay, okay. Here he is."
"Hello?"
"Hey, Tay."
"Hey, you. What's goin' on, Baby doll?"
Kim smiled. "Nothing...I'm over Jenn's place."
"I'd much rather you be over here."
Kim gave a light laugh. "Yea, I bet you would rather have me over there."
Tay's smile was audible in his voice. "You wanna come over?" he asked and added quickly, "You can bring the blonde, too."
Kim laughed again. "Sure, lemme check with the blonde and her parents."
"Aight."
Kim put her hand over the mouthpiece. "Hey, Jenn?"
"Lemme guess...Tay wants you to come over and you're gonna ask me if we can cause God forbid you two be away from each other for more than twenty minutes."
Kim smiled innocently. "Right on."
"How'd I guess?"
"But I wouldn't talk if I were you. Cause you and Zac are just as bad if not worse than Taylor and I."
Jenn stuck her tongue out at Kim. "I'll be right back. I'll ask mom if we can walk over there."
"Okay."
Jenn got up and left the room as Kim and Taylor talked. "Yo, what was the deal with your rents at Jenn's house?"
Kim tensed. She'd hoped that he hadn't noticed any of that. "Nothing...they came by to drop off...drop off some clothes. Yea."
"Oh..." Taylor replied. It was obvious he wasn't buying it though. Very obvious.
"We can go," Jenn announced, plowing through her door, a huge smile on her face.
"Great!" Kim smiled. "Tay, we can go. We'll be there in a little bit!"
"Okay. See ya soon!"
"Bye!"
With that, Kim hung up. "He's catching on, Jenn. He asked why my parents were here before."
"What'd you say?" Jenn asked as she popped a piece of gum in her mouth, then offered Kim some.
"That they were dropping my stuff off," Kim replied, taking a piece of the gum.
Jenn nodded. "Good cover-up," she spoke as she watched Kim check her make-up, then did the same.
"Thanks," Kim replied.
Jenn nodded once again. "Ready?" She turned off her CD player, then turned to Kim.
Kim nodded and the two walked out the door.
'Thank God we have off again tomorrow,' Jenn thought as they walked up the street. Maybe she could convince her mom to let them stay the night at the Hanson's. Or maybe she'd just fall asleep there. Diana would always let her and Kim stay over. She knew that. That was the great thing about Diana. No matter what, she'd always take you in. She was a great woman. Jenn loved her just like her own mother. She had known her for about a year now, so had Kim. They both loved her like anything. Diana was the type you could tell anything and you knew she wouldn't spill if you didn't want her to.
A light smile came across Jennifer's face as they stepped up to the stoop. "Hey, if you want to leave whenever, just say so. Or if you don't want to leave. Whatever. If you wanna talk or anything, I'm here."
Kim nodded. "Thanks, Jenn."
"Anytime, Bud."
