Kimberly O'Connor

Bitch

Sailor Mouth

Black Diamond

Rose O'Connor - Sister *(Deceased)*

Donovan Hall - Former boyfriend *(Deceased)*

Romeo Logan - Former boyfriend *(Deceased)*

Amy Mason - Former girlfriend

*"Keep going. You have- you have to. I used to believe everything was gone. That the world meant nothing because I wasn't happy. That- that life could never matter. But I know now that it does. Because you've made me happy, Cloudy. I- I just...."*

*—* Kim's last words to Amy

**"Kimberly Sherry O'Connor,"** (born April 7th – November 16th)was a highschool cheerleader, an affectionate of Amy Mason and the secondary protagonist of Black Diamond and the Incorruptible Heart. An irish born eighteen year old highschool student, her views of life and love had become soured due to the death of her former lover and younger sister. She attended her final year at Massey Highschool, meeting Amy there, and changing her views on life before it was suddenly taken when she was stabbed by Romeo Logan while trying to protect Amy.

## Overview

Kimberly O'Connor was born to a school teacher and navy seal, irish immigrants who came to the United States looking for a better future. Because of her father's death, she and her toddler sister were left only with their mother, and she struggled to take care of them for years. However, after Haley got a job as a vice principal, this greatly increased their quality of life. One day, however sadly, a boy whom she planned to be with was forced to move away. Now dealing with this loss of connection, she was forced to connect with him through letters. In what was a freak accident, he was then struck by a bolt of lightning. Her younger sister then died after drowning in the pool causing her mother to go insane and begin using hard drugs. Kim began to change after this, going from a bright girl who was hopeful for the future, to a pessimist who rejected any semblance of making other's happy out of the hatred and loss that still resided within her. She eventually ran to the hill in which Don had been killed, fell on her knees, and wished for the "lightning to take her." When it didn't, Kim considered herself cursed as nature had refused to take her because she was too selfish, believing she had caused Don's death just as she had "caused" Rose's death.

A year later, Kim began attending her final year of highschool still with the thought that the selfishness she convinced herself of having would last forever. She would go off after cheer practice to a secret place, a dry area right outside of a not fully developed suburb as it brought her calm in the emptiness of it and dead trees and brush. There she would sometimes coax the injuries she would get from cheerleading. This became something Haley consistently told her to stop doing because it was taking it's physical toll on her. Kim ignored her, and continued to hurt herself because she felt she deserved and enjoyed the pain. However, she started to be bothered by people at her school who attempted to be friends with her, and continued physically bullying some others. Not long after, she met Amy Mason. She was caught off guard by the girl's larger than life kindness, and considered her to be uptight and stuck up. As the two continuously conflicted with one another, Kim was forced to attend Amy's Heart Club by the school staff, something she was unfathomably averse to, but did anyway. Eventually Kim warmed up to the Heart Club a bit, and they urged her to apologize for much of her bullying. Kim as well began to become more frenemies with Amy when she realized that Amy truly cared for people, it wasn't a front, and that despite her boyfriend not valuing her, she still loved him.

After inviting Amy over to her house, Romeo attempted to kill Amy in a fit of blind rage after he mistakenly believed they had been sleeping together behind his back. Kim protected her, however, twisting the knife around until it stabbed her in the stomach. Amy then took the gun she had bought for protection at Kim's insistence and shot Romeo in the leg. Kim then lay in a puddle of blood as Amy attempted to save her. With no other options, the two limped their way out of the front door away from Romeo while Amy called 9-1-1 and landed not far while attempting to find another house. Kim, lying in a large field of flowers just as the sun began to rise, then slowly passed in front of Amy's eyes as she told her that she had helped her believe in life and hope again. Crying on her chest, Amy called Sam, and waited for emergency services to arrive and find Kim's body.

## Black Diamond and the Incorruptible Heart

Kim starts off the story as a bitter, mean person who hates herself and pushes away others. She is in a relationship with Romeo Logan, formed because the two shared grief upon losing the same person, Donovan Hall. However, Romeo is consistently absent from his commitment to her, and barely appreciates her wanting him to open up to her emotionally. He as well sleeps with other girls but denies it to Kimberly's face. When Romeo leaves her one more time, Kim decides to break up with him, not knowing Romeo considers this a betrayal to himself and Don's memory. She begins attending the new year, picking up where she left off as her reputation has grown to be of fear after she punched a girl in the face for insulting Don's death. Causing trouble in her classes, Kim is bothered by many kids trying to get to know her, people she wants nothing to do with. She then meets Amy Mason, a bright, cheery optimist who fundamentally disagrees with everything Kimberly says. The two argue and fight constantly, leading Kim to be put in the Heart Club, something she begrudgingly has to accept. As this happens, Kim is introduced to some of Amy's friends, notably Sam Scott, who advises her to try and get a long with Amy, saying that she only means well. However, Kim is still completely hesitant. As the Club goes on a trip, Kim begins noticing others talking about Amy, and how she lets her boyfriend walk all over her because she loves him, something Kim doesn't understand but slightly sympathizes with. As some of the students are walking across the street, Kim sees Amy constantly giving her money away to homeless people, despite the fact that others are telling her not to waste her money. She then cries when she runs out of change. Kim is confused and wonders why Amy wants to help people, saying she could just care less. She then tells her that it's because people deserve help. Kim doesn't want to admit it, but this moves her emotionally, as she remembers that she used to do the same thing. As they return to school, Kim asks if Amy's okay, being concerned with what happened. Amy wonders what she's doing, saying she thought she couldn't care for how she felt. Kim is confused, wondering why Amy thought this, and says that something about seeing her sad hurt her inside, so she needed to understand why. Amy doesn't answer her. Kim spends the rest of the day thinking about it, and is scared of how it reminded her of who she used to be. She then decides to text Romeo, asking how he's doing. He is cold to her, stating that he already feels he's moved on from her. As she goes to bed that night, Kim brushes everything off, reminding herself that she doesn't care about others and to stop acting stupid.

Upon sitting in her brush area early in the morning, Kim thinks about Don sitting next to her, and wonders where he went, almost as if he's there to her and then suddenly gone. Back in the Heart Club, Amy instructs everyone toward a game that will prevent you from cussing, by forcing yourself to stick your hand in ice water and trying not to curse. Whoever doesn't curse wins. Kim thinks the idea is ridiculous and dedicates herself to making sure Amy curses. Amy confidently states that she can stick her hand in the water for upwards of three minutes, something Kim doesn't believe. She then bets her to hold hers in water for four minutes and not curse. Amy agrees. As this begins, the two face off and Kim doesn't curse, but keeps putting ice in Amy's water. Kim eventually gets Amy to curse as she gets angry enough. The entire class silences when she says the word fuck, but then laughs, quietly embarrassing Amy. Afterward Kim notices this and puts her hand on Amy's to comfort her, which amuses Amy, as Kim suddenly realizes that she doesn't know what she's doing and pulls her hand away. In response, Amy asks her if she would like to go out ice skating sometime. Kim coldly agrees, saying that she shouldn't bet on her showing up. As she is in bed that night, Kim suddenly begins to touch herself, but stops, and almost cries.

Kim eventually decides to join Amy, something she says she knew would happen. The two begin to have fun as Kim falls on her backside multiple times. Amy also takes Kim's hand to steady her, something Kim finds weird but accepts. However, as Amy leaves the skating rink, Kim asks her who she's texting, and says that she decided to invite her boyfriend. As he comes out of the back of a van, Kim is shocked when Romeo steps out and Amy kisses him. Romeo as well notices Kim there, and is coy with her, as an oblivious Amy is ecstatic that they get to meet each other for the "first time". Kim subtly warns him not to hurt Amy, but Romeo is able to get the advantage when he implies that the Kimberly he knows doesn't feel protective of anyone, which makes Kim question herself.

## Trivia

* Through Amy's perspective, Kim is a characterization of a battle with self-love. She struggles to overcome the trauma that she's endured, and pushes others away when confronted with opening up.