After Kimberly had run out, the four remaining teenagers stood and looked at each other for a minute.
"Why would she just run out like that?" asked Taylor.
"Yeah, and why didn't she want the CD player? Most of my friends would love to have a free CD player," was Zac's input.
"I don't know," replied Amy, "but she definitely was acting...weird, if you'll pardon the pun."
"No, Amy, we won't. You are not allowed to make jokes with our songs," said Isaac with a straight face.
Amy poked him. "Oh, you! You're impossible, you know that?"
Isaac grinned. "I've been told that, yes," he replied, "but," he paused for effect, "you never know!"
"Hey!" complained Amy. "If you can do that, then why can't I?"
Isaac deliberated for a moment before replying, "Because I'm a Hanson, that's why!"
He grabbed Amy and pulled her to him. Amy shrieked and pushed at him, trying to get away. Taylor finally pulled them apart. "Guys, quit flirting!" he said, to which Amy and Isaac both gave the ever-so-mature response of rolling their eyes at him. "No, I'm serious. I'm worried about Kim."
"Ooh, you called her Kim! That must mean you like her!"
"Shut up, Zac!" Taylor said, although his cheeks had turned a faint shade of pink. "You called her Kim also, does that mean that you like her, too?" Zac stuck his tongue out at Taylor. "Well, it's true! Besides, she told me to call her Kim." He ignored Zac, continuing, "Anyway, like I said, I'm worried about her. I'm gonna go see if I can catch up to her and find out what's wrong."
"No, Tay," Amy objected. "I think I'd better go. I know her better...not a lot better, but better. I think it would be better if I went."
"Okay," Taylor relented with a sigh.
Amy left the Hanson house and began to walk down the street, looking for Kimberly. Finally, she spotted the familiar figure at the corner.
"Kim, wait up!" she called as she ran to catch up. At first, she didn't think the other girl had heard her call, until she slowed to a stop at the crosswalk. Amy hurried down the street until she had caught up with Kimberly. She waited for Kimberly to speak first, to make some sort of explanation, but none came. Finally, Amy asked, "Kim, what happened? Why did you run out like that?"
Kimberly looked down. "I told you, Mom wanted me to be home already. I just lost track of time, that's all."
Amy shook her head. "Kim, I haven't known you for very long, but even I can tell that that's not true. What is it? Please, tell me. I'm worried about you, Kim."
Kimberly looked up briefly, meeting Amy's eyes. "You're not gonna like it," she said. "You probably won't want to be friends with me anymore. But," she sighed, "if you insist, I'll tell you."
Amy smiled sadly at Kimberly. "Kim, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. But you know, no matter how bad this is, it's not gonna change our friendship. I'll still be your friend." She put her arm around Kimberly. "I promise."
Kimberly smiled back at her friend. "The thing is...remember how I said Mom didn't want me spending my money on a CD player?" Amy nodded. "Well, that's not entirely true. I suppose she wouldn't really mind...if we had the money to spend. But we don't...and Mom doesn't like receiving charity...she has her pride, I guess, as do I."
"Oh Kim, I'm sorry!" Amy exclaimed. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable...if I'd known...I'm so sorry. But that's nothing to be ashamed of, really. I know lots of people who are...um...not so well off, and we're still friends."
"That's not all," Kimberly interrupted. "You noticed that I've never mentioned my dad?" Amy nodded again, slowly. "That's because...well, I don't have a dad. I've never known him...I don't even know what he looks like."
"So your parents are divorced," said Amy. "That's okay, some of my friends have parents who...what is it?" she asked when Kimberly shook her head violently.
Kimberly could feel the tears that always came when she talked about her father begin to run down her cheeks. "They...they're not divorced. They were never married in the first place." She started crying harder, and Amy put her arm around her and hugged her tightly.
"Shh...it's okay, hon," she said, "it's not your fault. It'll be okay."
"No, it won't!" cried Kimberly. "That's just it! Every time I make a new friend and they find out, they suddenly don't like me anymore! Except Jen. Jen was different; Jen actually liked me. No one else did, and now you're not gonna like me anymore either!"
"Kimberly," said Amy, "look at me." She took Kimberly's chin and tilted it up so she had to look at her. "I still like you. Remember, I promised: you are my friend, and nothing, NOTHING, will change that. Okay?"
"Okay," Kimberly said softly, smiling at her friend.
Amy smiled back. "Now come on, let's get back to the guys!" Kimberly's smile disappeared. "Don't worry; they won't stop liking you just because of that. Especially Taylor," she grinned mischieviously at Kimberly.
Kimberly blushed. "Stop it!"
"Hey, it's true! In fact," Amy had a sly look on her face, "I have it on good authority that he does like you. For one, he was the one who wanted to go look for you first, but I said that I should, since I knew you better. And his face was very much like yours when Zac accused him of liking you."
Kimberly's cheeks darkened. "So you think it's true? I was under the impression that he was just a major flirt."
"Of course it's true! He usually is," admitted Amy, "even towards me. Isaac pretends to get mad, but he knows that it's just for fun. But I know from experience that Taylor doesn't blush unless he really likes someone."
"Really?" Kimberly asked, still unsure.
"Really," Amy confirmed. "Now come on, they're worried!"
"Well...okay," said Kimberly, and she followed Amy back up the street towards the Hanson house.
Chapter 7 - Not Up Yet
Untitled Untold
Story Page
Back Home
