[chapter nine]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-) Warning: Contains "colourful" language.
**
Kendall had to admit, Jimmie had a helluva way of trying to win her back.
Most girls would want flowers and candy delivered to her door, but Jimmie knew Kendall better than that. Every day since her fateful "debut", she had gotten various deliveries - a box of new art supplies, two tickets to a Machines of Loving Grace concert, her favorite Chinese meal delivered at dinnertime, an Amazon gift certificate. Every gift had an enigmatic, one word message attached, like "Why?" or "Please?" or "When?".
Kendall was so turned around on her own emotions at this point, she didn't know which way was up.
She still hadn't called him, though. And he hadn't called her. When they wanted, they really could be the most passive aggressive people on the planet…
A sharp knock on her door roused her from her reverie, and she quickly unlocked it to admit a harried looking Chad into her family room.
"Hi." She said shyly. She hadn't seen him since 'Katherine' had sauntered off pit road, and she was still a little embarrassed about her whole performance.
"Hi." Chad said, giving her a comforting smile. "I have to talk to you."
"Shoot." Kendall replied, gesturing towards the couch.
"You gotta stop screwing up my driver." Chad said without preamble. Kendall's eyebrows raised in surprise, and she waited for him to continue. "The guy is a mess because of you."
Kendall looked down, her cheeks reddening at Chad's chastisement of her behavior. "He looks fine on the track." She murmured.
Chad nodded and sat down. "Yeah, he's fine in the car, but that's the only time. That's the only time he's not thinking about you - the only time he's totally distracted from the rest of his life. Otherwise, he's walking around like an idiot who can't find his village."
Kendall giggled despite herself and looked up at Chad, her eyes silently pleading for help. "I'm so fucked up, Chad."
Chad's deep laugh comforted her. "I know. So's he. That's why you're perfect together. So stop this game and make up already."
"I don't…I don't know if I can. If he can. We've fought before, but not like this…" Kendall trailed off. "We've always backed each other up, always been there for the other, but now…" Kendall bit her lip. "I feel betrayed. Just…betrayed."
"Wanna know what I think?" Chad asked. Kendall opened her mouth to respond, but Chad interrupted her. "I'm going to tell you anyway." He added, making Kendall chuckle. "I think you were so busy being a tough girl, and then so busy proving you could be 'perfect', and then so busy not letting anything get to you, and then so busy proving that nothing could hurt you, that you got hurt, and you forgot who you were hurting."
Kendall looked at him quizzically, trying to puzzle out what he had just said.
"Stop playing a role. Stop trying to be so tough. Stop this 'I don't need nobody' attitude. And stop torturing the guy and get back together. He just wants you, Ken. He doesn't want Katherine, he doesn't want you to change, he just wants you." Chad added to his earlier sentiment.
"Does he still want the real me?" Kendall asked, her voice tiny. "He's this superstar now, he could have anyone…someone more perfect for him, someone that can be what he wants and needs."
"Kendall…" Chad said, his voice serious and commanding. "All Jimmie has ever wanted in this world is to drive a car like this in this series, and you. Don't make him choose one or the other."
Kendall blinked rapidly, fighting the sudden onslaught of tears forming behind her eyelids.
"So, that's why I came by." Chad said, standing up. "To tell you I miss you, to tell you hi, but mostly to tell you to stop screwing up my driver. Okay?" He said brightly, making Kendall laugh even as one tear slid down her cheek.
"Okay." She whispered.