TKD

I glanced out the window to see the rain pour down. I was home alone today: my parents had work and my sister was out with friends. I—being the lazy bookworm that I am—

decided that I would rather sleep or read a book than hang out. Besides, I didn't get much sleep the night before so I figured this would be a great day to catch up. Leave it to me to have myself a boring senior Spring Break. Oh well. I'll get over it by the time I wake up.

I walked to my room, yawning as I dropped onto my bed. I felt my eyes droop. I pulled the covers over my head and hugged my pillow tight. Oh, heaven. I was ready to slip into peaceful oblivion, free from distractions and problems, and free from noise aside from the rain against my window. I was just about to dream…

…until the phone rang.

Of course the phone just HAD to ring now. Grumbling, I sat up in my bed and reached over to my bedside table. I was going to murder whoever was on the other end. Well, not literally, although that wasn't such a bad idea at the moment. I didn't even bother to check whoever was on the other line.

"Whoever this is," I growled. "You better have a damn good reason for calling. I was just about to sleep until your precious call decided to interrupt. Either you tell me what you want or I'll murder you."

"Sleep? At noon? Are you going nocturnal on me?" the person on the other line asked. It was a guy, but no one I recognized. I could tell because of his deep voice, unless my best friend decided to take hormones…yeesh.

"Yes, whoever you are. Look, I don't know who you are," I said. I checked my phone. "And you're not in my phone. So good-bye." Before I could eve hang up, his loud laugh stopped me. "What is so damn funny?" I asked, scowling.

"The fact that you don't know who I am," he answered. "I'm shocked, TKD."

What the heck? TKD? No one's ever called me that except… "Jake!" I yelled. "You asshole!"

Jake Moore and I took Tae Kwon Do together a couple years ago. We were always at the same belt together, but he always said I was better than him. He called me TKD, or TK, in honor of my supposed skills. I always said that he was more graceful and fluid with his moves, but he shook his head. I was better, apparently. I guess I didn't see it the same way he did. Then again, my name was Trina Kristen Durall. That might have had some help into my nickname.

I heard another laugh. "Finally. Jeez, TK. Didn't think you'd forget me so quickly, especially after that promise. It's only been a year."

I felt a pang of guilt. Before he left the state to go to college in Maine, we promised that we'd never forget each other and that we'd have a match whenever he got back. That, and that we'd put in each other's phone numbers in our phones. I had gotten a new phone soon after he moved, and I never transferred any of my old numbers in. I guess it was just luck that I kept my same number or else Jake wouldn't have found me.

"Aw, shoot. Sorry, Jake. I'm sorry. I got a new phone, and I never transferred your number in…" I started.

"Hey, it's cool. Look, I'm back in town. Meet me at the Starbucks on Gerald Avenue?" he asked. "You might fall asleep on my if we talk on the phone."

I snorted. "I might not meet you if you keep being suck a jerk."

"Fine. I'm sorry for waking you up in the middle of your nocturnal nap. Please come to Starbucks and meet me?"

That was better. "Fine. I'll be there in ten minutes."

"Got'cha, TK. See you there."

We hung up and I dragged myself out of bed. I looked at it longingly for a moment, but then shook my head. I headed into my closet and got out a pair of old ripped jeans and a black form fitting t-shirt that had "TKD" on the back of it. I used to wear it to class, but I quit soon after Jake left. Senior year was starting up and I didn't have any time. I still visited the place every Saturday, just to say hi and help out.

I put on my white Pumas and headed out to the garage where my car sat. It wasn't one of those flashy cars, although I wanted one. It was the Toyota Camry I got for my birthday the day before my senior year, and I loved it to bits. I pulled out of my driveway and into town, meeting an old friend. The thing was, I also used to have a little crush on Jake, but it was suddenly crushed when he brought his long time girlfriend, Marie, to a class. It was obvious that he really liked her, loved her. I backed out and sat content with being his best friend.

I soon found the Starbucks and hurried inside. I didn't want to get too wet. I spotted Jake sitting in the back with two cups of coffee sitting in front of him. He looked like he was concentrating really hard on something, like he was trying to figure out a complicated math problem. Or trying to say a tongue twister.

I walked up to him just as he saw me. A smile came to his face, and I was brought back to old memories: him flashing me the same smile as I took first place at a tournament and hugging me tightly; another one of him giving me a thumbs up as I received a new belt; the time when I convinced him that Marie was perfect for him and he smiled at me like the best friend I was…

The memories hit me like a wave, one after another. I forced them back. We were meeting as old friends, not as old flames. I smiled back at him. If anything, he was even more handsome than before. The brown eyes I remembered seemed to be brighter, and his jaw was more prominent. His hair was shaggy, like he just got out of bed. He had on a yellow polo and dark jeans.

"TK!" he exclaimed. He held his arms out for a hug.

"Hey, Jake," I greeted, and returned the hug. I pulled back, and sat down. "You look good. How are you?"

"You don't look so bad yourself," he said. "But I never pegged you for the sentimental type." He smirked as he recognized my shirt. He sobered as he answered my question. "But, I'm okay. Broke up with Marie last month, though."

I was shocked, relieved, and furious. Shocked because I really thought they were going to make it. I was relieved because a small piece of me was still pining for him. I was furious because some girl didn't know that Jake was too good of a guy to cheat on. I groaned inwardly. I thought I was over him already. However, I wasn't going to say any of this, especially not the part that I liked him.

"Really? I'm sorry," I said, though I knew deep down that I really wasn't all that sorry. Ugh, I feel like such a shallow bitch.

"No, don't be," he said. "It just made me realize that she was no good for me. I found her with another guy. My room mate, actually. So, after a test I walk in and bam! There they are. I guess I should have realized that something was going on between them. You must think I'm stupid, huh?" Jake chuckled.

"No, you aren't stupid. She was the stupid one. C'mon, seriously. Don't get all sad on me or else I WILL fall sleep on you."

He smiled at me. "That doesn't sound too bad," he said, being cocky.

"That's not what I meant." Although I wish it was.

"I know, TK. Just kidding around. So, do you think the studio's open? We still have that match, remember."

I shook my head. "They're closed on Mondays now."

"Man…so where're we going to have that match?" He looked at me thoughtfully.

"We could postpone it until tomorrow," I suggested. "We could use it before class starts."

"Are you chickening out on me?" He asked with mock belief.

"No," I said defiantly. "I'm just saying. We have no where to go."

Suddenly, he got up and grabbed my hand. "I know of a place." He smiled as we headed for the doors. "Get in your car and follow me," Jake said excitedly.

I rolled my eyes as I got into my car. He only got this excited when he though that he had a really good idea. Whenever he dragged me into it, it usually wasn't a good idea. There was one time that he wanted to bring me to the mall so that he wouldn't look like a lonely bloke shopping by himself. We stayed in Forever 21 for three hours while I helped him pick out something at Marie might like. That was old news now.

We drove for about five minutes when we came up to the old field that our instructor used to tell us to run around. The grass was short, and there was plenty of mud. Ah, hell. What'd I tell you? Bad idea. As soon as we parked, I got into his car and glared at him.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"Here? When it's pouring rain out and when there's mud everywhere?"

"Don't tell me you're scared of a little mud and rain. Didn't you used to make mud pies when you were little?" he teased.

"That was different!" I argued.

He just smirked. "You're just stalling."

Damn him. He knew that I'd never back down a challenge, no matter how small. I grumbled and got out of the car. "Fine!"

I was soaked immediately. Thankfully, I didn't wear a white shirt. That would have sucked so much. Only when I stepped into a deep pile of mud did I remember that I was wearing white Pumas. Jake owes me a new pair of shoes.

We walked to the middle of the field, both of us soaked to the bone. I looked at Jake, and he had a smile on his face again. He looked cute like that. Like, little boy cute. It was like when a kid goes out to play in the rain and comes back in head to toe in mud, but with a smile on his face. Jake reminded me of that little kid.

"Ready, TK?" He asked seriously.

"Whenever you are," I responded automatically.

He struck at me first with a punch. Instinctively, I blocked it, and countered with a sidekick. With grace—just as I said before—he moved out of the way, and struck at me again, this time with a back kick. I moved to the left, and then came at him with a combination. It continued on and on, almost to thirty minutes. It ended, however, when I went for a kick, and ended up slipping forwards into Jake. He tried to retain balance, but we fell anyway.

Jake fell on the ground with a groan, and I looked down at him. "Oops," I said. "Sorry…"

He laughed. "Well, TK, you win. Although, I don't mind losing," he said thoughtfully.

"Why?" I asked as I cocked my head to the side, wondering why. He hated to lose.

"Because this position is kind of fun," he said, smirking.

I immediately started to stand up with a pretend look of annoyance on my face, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back down. Before I knew it, his lips met mine and we were kissing in the field as the rain still came down and the mud still covered us. I pressed my body closer and put my hands on the ground by either side of his head. His strong arms wrapped around my waist.

Soon, we pulled apart, and looked at him strangely. Don't get me wrong—I was waiting for that kiss for almost two years. I still couldn't get why though. He never showed any interest in me, and he couldn't have gotten over Marie that easily. I think Jake sensed my confusion, because he gave me a rueful smile.

I got off him and sat down on the ground, not even caring anymore. I was already dirty so the mud wasn't a problem. He sat up too, and then brushed a stray lock of hair out of my face.

"It never occurred to you that I brought Marie in to make you jealous?" he asked quietly, barely heard over the rain.

"Jealous?" I repeated incredulously. What'd he have to jealous—oh. My ex-boyfriend Darren. He and I dated a while, and I count him as a "first love" type of guy. We broke up last summer after I found that the relationship wasn't getting anywhere and that I was tired.

Jake nodded. "Yeah. You just looked so happy with Darren…" he trailed off.

It was right then that I started to laugh. I laughed so hard, I fell back against the hard ground, mud splattering deep into my hair. I sat back up, and it was my turn to smile.

"Oh my God. I did get jealous when you brought her in Jake," I said. "But YOU were the one that looked so happy that I decided to back off and be the best friend I thought I should be."

All Jake did was blink, but then he smiled. He stood up, and then helped me to my feet. I stood up, and he hugged me tightly and kissed the top of my head. I didn't know what we'd do when Spring Break was over, but it'd be all right. Nothing would ever top what I felt right at this moment.

Suddenly, I cursed. I looked up to find Jake looking right back at me with a worried expression.

"What?" he asked.

"I never got to finish the coffee…" I said lamely, giving him a smile.

He laughed and took my hand as we walked back to the cars. "We'll get cleaned up and I'll buy you another."

It was only then that the rain stopped. Too bad the mud wouldn't magically come off.

A/N: So there. The end. What do you guys think? I know the ending's a little lame and the actual fight needs work (I was too lazy to go all in depth about it, and I've gotta go for MY tae kwon do class myself.). Anyway, review, please. I'd appreciate it!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Starbucks.