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A Missing Part
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Jaded Let's Go On a Date
KariKari felt like crap stopping by Judy's Bakery, but she needed something to take with her and had reconciled the fact that Sicily's shop wasn't opened yet, and Sicily had asked her to - sort of. She got out of the car and walked quickly to the door, turning to make sure the coast was clear before slipping into the small bakery.The smell of sticky goodness rose up around her and she breathed in deeply, her stomach rumbling from lack of sustenance. An older woman her grandmother's age looked up from behind the counter as the large bell on the door above her jingled. Every door in town must have a bell. Kari smiled at the thought."Hello, dear. How can I help you this fine morning?"Kari walked toward the large glass case, the pastries filling her gaze and making her decision all the more difficult. She had the worst sort of sweet tooth - one that demanded a fix more often than not. She smiled at the woman, a little confused at the conflicting information she'd received about 'Judy
Jaded Vanish
JakeJake watched her walk away, her reaction to his hesitation stabbing him in the chest. He hadn't meant for it to come out like that. He was interested. He wanted to know everything about her. He wanted to learn every inch of her body, steal her heart, hear her call out his name in need or pleasure or love... He sighed and brushed his hands across his face.Fear shut him down and he had stumbled."Fuck," he muttered and walked toward the kids, looking over as she sped off much too fast from the small school parking lot. She was hurt. It had looked like rejection, but it wasn't - was it? Hell if he knew. He wanted her to move back, to leave him alone until he could heal, and yet life didn't work like that. His heart and mind wanted two different things, and yet every time he'd listened to his heart, he'd ended up emotionally jacked for months, not sleeping for weeks, not wanting to eat.Love sucked so badly, and even still, he ached to get in his truck and go after her. He looked up
Jaded Pressure
KariKari stepped out of the car, her brother turning from the bushes he was messing with and smiling. His face dropped as he moved toward her. She didn't have the energy to pretend everything was okay. He reached out and pulled her into a hug, the musky smell of him mixed with grass wrapping around her. Her eyes burned with hot tears again and she sighed heavily."What happened? You okay?" he asked and rubbed his chin along the top of her head."No," she mumbled between soft sobs as all the emotion from earlier came crashing in around her. She hated being weak, hated the need to be loved and desired that plagued her. She wasn't so different from everyone else in that way, she knew it, but it didn't make things much easier."Was it the landlord guy?" Marc growled and moved back, still holding her shoulders.She looked down, not wanting to bring her brother and his anger into the mix. Knowing him he would get in the car and go beat Jake for honestly doing nothing."I just wish I didn't
Jaded She'll Forget Me
JakeHe shouldn't have come. The way Kari's brother was eyeing him it was obvious that she'd come home and her emotions had spilled over. He felt like shit for doing anything that might make her feel any way other than what she was - perfect, beautiful, sweet, and kind. He took a scone as she spoke to him with falseness hanging on her that just didn't belong.He lifted it and smiled. "Good to see you, too.”He turned and caught the grimace on her brother's face. He needed to get to work. Why had he thought stopping by to apologize would be a good idea? He looked over at Lisa and smiled. "I just wanted you to know that I'll be stopping by on Tuesday afternoons from now on to deal with the yard.”She smiled and picked up her coffee. "Sounds great to me. I'll just give you our rent check on the Tuesday before the 1st then.""Perfect." He took another bite of the scone and turned to the dark-skinned girl wearing an apron. "This is delicious. You should open a bakery.""I am!" She beamed a
Jaded Save Me
KariThe rest of the week went by quickly and she avoided going anywhere that Jake might be. She would have to talk to Sicily and Lisa about him as both of them spent the rest of the week asking. They all met on Friday for lunch at a little café just across from Judy's bakery to chat. Kari slipped out of her car and looked over at the bakery, reminding herself that she needed to talk with Sicily about the sweet little old lady who really ran things there.She walked in as a large man yelled from behind the counter, "Seat yourself, kiddo, and we'll be right with you."Kari smiled at him and walked toward the back where Lisa and Sicily sat, both of them with a glass of wine. She pointed to their drinks as she sat down."One glass of that at this time of the day and I'd be asleep."Lisa shrugged and took a long drink, draining her glass. "Who's to say I'm not asleep?"Kari and Sicily laughed, Sicily's face changing quickly."Okay, spill. Something is wrong with you and I want to know wha
Jaded Just a Kiss
KariThe drive inland was beautiful, and she listened to her favorite playlist the whole way there. She was proud that Jake had only crossed her thoughts a million times and yet it was almost refreshing to have a new hurt to cover the old one. Frank wasn't part of her meanderings, but Jake remained ever present. The night at the hotel alone had been a treat as well. She'd curled up with a good love story and fallen asleep with a seed of hope for her own romantic life. It was void and painful, but whatever was down must come up.She woke up late and hurried to get herself together, slipping into a pair of jeans and a Bar Harbor Boys Basketball T-shirt that Martha had given her to wear. She pulled on her lanyard that read "press" and rushed to the car, driving like a bat out of hell and praying that she wouldn't get lost.Kari pulled into the large high school parking lot, the stadium much bigger than she'd expected. She grabbed her camera and got out, making sure her license and a few
Jaded Could It Be Love?
KariKari walked out of the gym, the sound of the crowd almost deafening behind her. Reaching up, she brushed her fingers across her lips and let a shaky breath go. Jake's kiss had tainted her resolve. How weak was she? Emotions spinning out of control left her confused and feeling dizzy. She needed to go, and yet, what if he was the one? She languidly walked to her car, her head tilted toward the ground, heart beating so fast it hurt.His rejection earlier that week hadn't been harsh or really a true rejection, but more of a hesitation. Rather than getting in the car she turned and leaned against the door, looking up at the early morning sky and trying to determine her next steps.Stay, take the picture, and end up with him wrapped around her for the evening?Go and hopefully save herself from her next great heartache?"But what if it isn't a heartache in the making?"Closing her eyes, she dropped her head back and let the serenity of the moment move around her. The passion in his ey
Jaded That's A Win
KariKari watched, taking pictures here and there as the game dragged on for most of the morning. Martha and Cliff had been right - the boys’ team was top notch. They moved around the court like they owned it, Kari finding herself yelling and cheering right alongside the fans for them. The desire to learn how to shoot or play a little herself kept washing over her as she got more and more excited. The win was only a few points from being theirs and the last few minutes of the game were highly intense, a large blond kid hitting a three-pointer just before the final clock sounded.The crowd went wild and the joy on Jake's face caused her to laugh. Her heart filled at the sight of the boys jumping all over him and him jumping right alongside them. She grabbed her camera, pulling it up and taking a few shots of the first win of the morning.The team played a total of three games before noon, two of them back-to-back. The lunch bell rang and all games stopped for a two hour break, Kari put
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