A/N: So I've been reading a lot of stories like this, and was inspired to do my own. I really hope all you Jori/Cade/Catorade lovers enjoy this one!
WARNING: VERY SAD. If you don't like that, turn back now. Well it may not be that sad, seeing as I don't know how to write sad stories very well…k I'll shush now.
Summary: Jade's gone, and Tori/Cat are trying to learn how to deal with it.
Chapter One: Losing Her – Tori POV
At 3:30 on Friday night, if you'd told me Jade West was going to get in a fatal car accident, I would have punched you in the face and told you to never talk to me again.
Unfortunately, you would have been right.
It seemed like a normal day after we left school. We were talking and laughing without a care in the world.
We got in our cars, separate of course, and we drove home.
But not all of us made it home that night. All but one.
Let me just go back and relive the memory for you, as hard as it will be, so you can see everything.
*FLASHBACK*
I started up my car with a smile on my face. Jade was actually being nice to me and Cat today, and we were all getting along perfectly. It's never happened before. Who wouldn't be happy?
I decided to turn on the radio and see if anything good was on. There was something good on. The song was called "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes" by Ke$ha.
My phone started ringing. It was Jade.
I picked my phone up and clenched it between my shoulder and my cheek to I could talk and drive. I turned the music down a little so I could hear her.
"Heyyy!" I said, in a happy voice. I could practically see Jade smiling through the phone.
"Hey. Look…I just wanted to talk to you about something. You know how I'm always so mean…well I don't want to be. I want to change. It's just my personality, always has been, but I need to change that right now. I need to be a better person. Can you help me? And do you forgive me for being mean to you?" said Jade.
I was about to say that of course I forgive her and would help her, but the worst sound I could ever hear came through the phone at that moment. It still haunts me in my thoughts, my dreams…everything.
"OH MY GOD!" Jade yelled, terrified. I heard a crashing sound, the sound of breaking glass, and repeated screams from Jade. All the sudden all the noises stopped. So did my heart.
"J-Jade?" I said after a silence louder than thunder. My heart started to beat again, but it was fast, and my breathing was heavy.
No noise.
"J-Jade? Come on, answer me!" I cried.
Suddenly, I heard a faint noise. A groan.
"T-tori?" came Jade's weak and raspy response. I lost it. tears started pouring down my face, and I was shaking with no chance of controlling it.
"Come on Jade stay with me, okay? I can see your car from here," I said through my crying. I could see her old black truck in a ditch only a few yards ahead.
"Don't…you…dare….hang…up," she said between breaths. Every breath she took sounded painful. I heard a gurgling sound, which didn't sound very promising.
"I won't. I can see you, I'm pulled up to the ditch, and I'm getting out. Do you see me?" I asked Jade.
She took in another painful breath and whispered yes.
I threw my phone into my car through the open window and ran down to Jade's truck, which was so beat up it was barely recognizable. It was flipped over so that the bed of the truck was facing downward.
"JADE!" I yelled, trying to get on the ground to see her. I found her in all the mess.
She turned and looked at me, and I was disturbed by her condition.
She reached out her hand, and I had to choke down a sob that was rising in my throat.
I grabbed her hand, her oh-so-fragile hand, and looked her in the eyes. The usual fire that burned in her icy eyes was nothing more than a mere spark now. The embers still burned, but barely. The ashes were already cooling.
"You're gonna be alright, understand? Now I'm gonna flip the truck over. I know its gonna hurt and I'm sorry, but its for your own good. Can I?" I asked, trying to keep calm.
Jade took in a quivering breath and nodded her approval, then shut her eyes tight.
I don't know how I did it, for I am like the weakest kid you've ever met, but I used all the strength I possessed and flipped that truck over. I almost regretted it when I heard the ear piercing scream.
I thought it was coming from Jade, but she just sat there silently crying from the pain all over her body.
I turned back to see Cat getting out of her car and running down to us.
"Jade!" she yelled, looking through the broken window of the truck. Jade saw Cat and tried to reply, but didn't have the strength to. She just stared at her with her eyes full of sorrow and anguish.
Cat put her hand up to her mouth, and her face turned a deep red. Knowing what was going to happen next, I wrapped my arms around her as she started to cry. I realized the only hope of saving Jade was if we called 911 right now.
"Cat…Kitty, listen for a minute. I'm gonna go call 911, you call Beck and Andre, even Robbie, ok? Don't worry, Jade's gonna be fine," I said, trying to reassure her. truth be told, no matter how many times I said "Jade's gonna be ok" I wasn't sure if I believed it myself.
Cat just nodded and got her phone out.
I turned to Jade.
"Hang in there ok?" I said. Jade nodded, but winced as she did so.
I ran up to my car and grabbed my phone, shakily dialing 911.
"Hello, what's your emergency?" came the woman on the other end. I composed myself for just long enough to talk to her.
"My friend Jade drove into a ditch by accident, she's seriously injured!" I said, trying my hardest not to cry again.
"Where are you?" asked the lady.
"On the corner about 30 yards from Hollywood Arts if you're coming in from the north," I said, looking around and making my best estimate. (A/N: I just made that up.)
"Alright, we know exactly where you are. Help is on the way," said the lady.
"Thank you, thank you so much!" I said, hanging up. I ran back down to Jade and Cat.
Cat was on the phone with Beck, I could hear his screams from the other end.
"OH MY GOD THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!" he yelled. Cat winced.
"I'm so sorry Beck! I called Andre and Robbie already. Just get here quick!" cried Cat, wiping the tears off of her face. I paced nervously around, my eyes locked on Jade. She was just sitting there, fighting to stay awake.
I walked up to the window and reached my hand in.
Jade tried to smile, I think, and she grabbed my hand.
I heard police sirens and almost went towards them, but Jade gripped my hand tighter.
"Don't leave me here alone!" she cried, tears streaming down her face.
"I'll never let you go," I replied, choked up with tears. I held her hand until the police had to tear me away from her.
One Hour Later – Waiting Room of the Hospital – Cat POV
Jade. Of all people, it had to be Jade who got in the accident.
The five of us were sitting in the waiting room of the hospital. We had stopped crying a half hour ago. Now we just sat in silence.
Beck, Robbie and Rex, and Andre were all in the same position. Their elbows were on their knees, and they were supporting their heads in their hands. All three of them stared blankly at the floor. Robbie had Rex sitting next to him.
I was sitting next to Tori, who had her arms wrapped around me. I had my head on her shoulder, and my eyes were closed. Tori's eyes were closed too, which I knew because I had glanced up at her a minute ago.
We weren't asleep, just basking in the comfort of the other's presence.
As you may have figured out, I'm not the ditzy red head most people see me as. I'm actually really smart. I have a really wide vocabulary, and my thought process is way faster than anyone would think. But that's beside the point.
I opened my eyes as I heard footsteps. I expected it to be a doctor.
Sikowitz walked up to us without a word and sat down next to Beck. Beck didn't even seem to notice he had sat down.
I'm not sure how long we sat there. I'm not sure if I cried or slept or just stared at the nothingness.
The next thing I knew, a doctor was walking up to us. That got all of our attention.
"How is she?" asked Sikowitz.
The doctor sighed and lowered his head.
"We've done all we could," he said. That was all he said.
I glanced down at his clipboard and saw the words "Jadelynn August West – Room 394".
The next thing I knew, Tori and I were running as fast as our legs would allow us to room 394.
We got there, and we slowed down about 10 notches. My breathing was heavy, and my brain wasn't working right.
I looked over at Tori, whose eyes were wide, her face flushed.
Tori grabbed my hand. Not out of love, of course, out of best-friend-comfort. It was a sense of security.
We opened the door, and my knees about gave out on me.
Jade was hardly recognizable. She was bandaged from head to toe, casts around every limb, tubes attached in every possible place on her body.
Tori elicited a shaking , quivering breath. She nearly fell, but I put my body underneath her shoulder to keep her upright. My own knees were wobbly and my legs felt like jelly.
"Jade?" I asked, my voice nothing more than a mere whisper.
Jade turned her head ever so slightly to face us.
I saw the corners of her mouth curve up into a smile. The pain on her face was unmistakable, even to the untrained eye. Her icy blue eyes weren't as crisp and cool as they were. I watched in silence as her heart monitor beeped in a sort of odd pattern.
She opened her mouth, as though to say something, but closed it again. tori and I just stood there, in too much shock to do anything.
Jade reached her shaky hand out to us, so distorted by the cuts and bruises.
I never once would have thought it so easy for her to be so….broken. yet there she lay, unable to do anything at all.
The others walked in behind us quietly.
Jade didn't seem to be able to acknowledge them. She kept her eyes on me and Tori, her arm outstretched.
I walked almost cautiously up to Jade and put my hand near hers. She clasped her fingers around mine, the bandages scratching my skin. I felt tears in my eyes and sobs rising in my throat, but I didn't dare cry. I was going to stay strong for her.
Tori came up behind me, and Jade did something I never would have thought she'd do. She reached out her other hand to Tori.
Tori gratefully took it.
"Jade…Jade y-you know…you know I d-don't hate you right?" asked Tori, trying to find her voice. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Jade nodded, almost imperceptibly. She let go of our hands and put her hands together in a heart. Tori let out a breath that she had been holding in and smiled.
Beck and the others just watched silently. Suddenly Sikowitz stepped forward, and the boys followed.
"You're a great actress Jade," began Sikowitz, his voice thick.
Jade glanced at him and smiled again. "Thanks," she whispered.
"So how about we act like this never happened?" he asked. He knew it couldn't happen, I think he just wanted a way to compliment her, to say something before…you know.
Jade chuckled softly. She tried to clear her throat.
"Tori, I know you don't hate me. I don't hate you either. I have always cared about you," Jade said. It took her a while, since she got out of breath quickly. It looked like every breath she took, every word she said, was just adding to the pain.
Tori POV
"Tori, I know you don't hate me. I don't hate you either. I have always cared about you," Jade said between breaths. She had to pause to breathe a lot, which was not very promising.
My eyes flooded with tears, and my throat tightened. I smiled. This one wasn't forced, like all the other ones I had given tonight.
We stood in silence for a while, then Beck stepped forward. His eyes were full of tears, and the best way to explain his face was pure agony. He was scrunching his nose up in an attempt to stifle the cries that were bound to come.
Jade turned and faced her lover with sad, sympathetic eyes. Her usually pale face was flushed into a deep red, her icy blue eyes pink and bloodshot. Her breathing was odd and uneven.
"Beck…I'm so sorry," she said in a whisper. She took in a deep breath and tried to keep calm.
Beck sniffled. "For what, Jade? This isn't your fault. It's no one's fault," said Beck. He was fighting very hard to keep a straight face.
Out of courtesy, Cat and I stepped away from the bed so Jade and Beck could talk and say goodbye.
Beck sat at the edge of Jade's bed and took her hand. He kissed it ever so lightly, letting a tear slip from his eye.
"I wasn't paying attention. I should have paid attention to the road," said Jade, her eyebrows scrunched together.
"Jade don't go blaming this on yourself, understand? You did nothing wrong at all. It was a freak accident," said Beck, taking his girlfriend's face in his hands. Jade leaned into his hand and closed her eyes.
She opened them a moment later.
"I just want to remember that feeling," she murmured. Beck sniffed and nodded.
"I love you so much. Don't ever forget that. And no matter where you might be, or where I might be, I always will love you. Distance is only a label. It doesn't mean anything," said Beck. I had never heard anything so deep from him before. It made me tear up all over again.
Cat grabbed my arm and put it across her stomach. I wrapped my other arm across her stomach too and held onto her. She leaned into me.
Jade gave Beck a watery smile. "I know you love me, I never forget it. I will always love you, whether I'm here or somewhere else. And you're right, distance is only a label," she said.
Beck nodded and flashed a quick smile at Jade.
He leaned down and kissed her softly. Jade sighed as he pulled back.
Jade's heart monitor was slowing down now. I knew we were limited on time.
"Robbie, Andre?" said Jade. Beck moved to the other side of the bed so the two boys could come see her.
Robbie, as always, had Rex in his arms. He started to put Rex down, but Jade stopped him.
"No…don't put Rex down," she said. It was the first time she had ever addressed Rex as a non-puppet.
Robbie half-smiled as he went and kneeled down with Rex and Andre at the edge of her bed.
Jade glanced at the two boys and took a deep breath. She was very calm now.
"Andre…you have always been a great friend to me. Thank you for that. I love you, like a brother," said Jade. Andre grabbed her hand and nodded. He murmured something like "I love you too" to Jade.
Jade turned to Robbie and Rex.
As she did so, Robbie sort of looked down and ducked. It was his natural habit when he was around her.
"I won't hurt you Rob," she began softly, in a soothing tone. Robbie slowly moved his head up so he could see her eye to eye. His gaze softened, and he relaxed his tensed muscles.
"I'm sorry for annoying you all your life," he said, not breaking the eye contact.
"Robbie, you've never annoyed me. Truth be told, I love being around you. You're funny and sorta cute," Jade said. Beck didn't seem to be bothered by it. I remember Jade telling me and Beck at the same time how she sorta liked Robbie. Beck never minded it.
Robbie sighed and smiled at her, eyes glazed over with tears.
He hesitantly reached for her hand, seeking approval from Beck before he did so.
Beck nodded, and Robbie took her hand in his. Cat was shaking now in my arms.
"I still remember middle school you know," Jade said in a soft voice.
There was a silence as Robbie took in what he had just been told.
"You were my best friend back in middle school," Robbie replied, smiling at the memory.
"And you think that ever changed?" asked Jade. Robbie took a minute, but he got what she meant. He smiled wide.
The two of them said their final goodbyes, and the rest of us joined Jade at her bedside.
Jade reached up to her neck and shakily undid her necklace, and handed it to Beck. It had a gold chain, and a small jadestone with the words "Beck and Jade" engraved on it.
"I want you to have this," she said. "So you know I'll never be too far away."
The tears in my eyes overflowed, and they rolled down my face. Cat turned around in my arms and hugged me. I held her close to me.
Beck sniffed and nodded, putting the necklace around his neck.
"So…I guess this is goodbye?" I asked. I bit my lip, and soon started to taste blood.
Jade nodded, and a tear slid down her cheek.
"Jade no!" cried Cat, grabbing Jade's hand and kneeling down by her.
"Come on Jade, be that tough girl we all know," said Rex, speaking for the first time since we had been here.
"I can't…I'm gonna have to give up," she said. She sniffed and took in another deep breath.
"But you're not weak like that," whispered Andre. He wiped a tear that shed from his eye.
"Giving up doesn't mean you're weak," said Cat. She sniffled and tried to stop the river of tears flowing from her eyes.
Everyone turned and looked at her, waiting for her to continue. Unfortunately, she couldn't, because she started crying all over again.
"It just means you're strong enough to let go," finished Robbie. Jade smiled up at Robbie.
"Thanks, Potter," said Jade.
"Anytime, Malfoy," replied Robbie. It was one of their inside jokes. Robbie told me about it once. They always called each other Potter and Malfoy, because Robbie had glasses and black, messy hair, and Jade just reminded everyone of a Malfoy. Tough on the outside, but kind at heart.
Beck leaned down and kissed Jade once more.
"I love you guys. All five and a half of you, with all my heart," said Jade. We chuckled and smiled.
"We love you too," I said. Jade looked me straight in the eye, in a way that comforted me, that made me feel better.
"I'm gonna go now," Jade said. We nodded, and sobs rose in my throat. Cat didn't even try to hold them back.
Jade closed her eyes, a peaceful expression coming across her face.
And for the first time all night, she smiled. A real, genuine smile.
Her chest rose once more. The beeps from the heart monitor started to get farther and farther apart.
Her lips parted ever so slightly as she said her last words.
"I'll always love you."
Her chest fell for the last time. Her heart monitor went flat.
Jade West was dead.
A/N: If I made you cry (which I doubt I did) I am so sorry! I hope you liked this. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! It makes my day when someone reviews. Thanks, I love you guys.
-BraveAtHeart