A/N: Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Hope you enjoy it ~

Disclaimer: All rights go to their respective owners.

i. cascade

"1025 Beat Mesa Street."

Jade jumped at the driver's sudden declaration. She had gotten so lost in watching the rain splatter upon the window that she hadn't been paying attention. Really, she should have checked the weather before coming, but she didn't think Texas got a lot of rain.

"Thank you sir," She chirped, paying the man, "Have a happy Valentine's Day!" She got out of the cab, holding her hands above her head in a desperate attempt to protect herself from the rain as she peered through the darkness. It was a very last minute urging that led her here; into the dark and unforgiving Texas rain. Really, if John wasn't such a supportive brother and if Rose wasn't such a great friend she didn't think she would've had the nerve to see him again after such a long time. Especially when Valentine's Day was looming on the horizon.

Once inside, she peered at the piece of paper she'd taken from her purse, "Room…413?" She saw a door that led to a flight of stairs, and took a deep breath. Oh, why did he have to live on the fourth floor? The stairwell was dimly light, the inky black pressing in on the windows making it even more eerie. Jade couldn't help but giggle as she thought about him going up and down these stairs every day, probably to do something really ridiculously cool.

By the time she arrived at the fourth floor, her invigoration had been replaced by an onset of nerves. It had been years since she last saw a certain coolkid, but after a quick assurance on Pesterchum by Rose, Jade felt much better. Rose would've picked her up, but she had already had Valentine's Day plans with her fiancée Kanaya. Gosh, it was so hard to believe that they were all adults already.

She swallowed as she arrived at apartment 413. Jade took a final deep breath and knocked. They were the only two that had stopped talking to each other. John still spoke to him and Rose every day. Jade blamed it a lot on regret, and of course, he always seemed too busy with coolkid things. And then, they had stopped talking at all. Until John and Rose urged her to reconnect with him, after Rose's insistence that he wasn't really as busy as he claimed. But then, where was he?

He wasn't answering. Was he not home? Maybe he was asleep? She knocked again. No reply. Jade frowned, checking Pesterchum on her phone. He appeared to be online. She bit her lip. No, she would send him a message anyway.

- gardenGnostic [GG] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] at 21:15 –

GG: hey dave! :) its jade!

GG: in case you forgot heehee

GG: so this might come to you as a shock but

GG: im in texas right now!

GG: i wanted to visit you and rose! It's been foooorever ):

GG: i didn't think youd be busy right now but i guess i was wrong :o

GG: maybe later we could hang out!

GG: im sure youre even cooler than the last time we saw each other :)

GG: see you soon!

- gardenGnostic [GG] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] at 21:25 –

As she turned around to approach the stairwell, her phone suddenly vibrated with an incoming new message. She took a step, examining her phone eagerly to see if it was him, when suddenly she felt her balance teeter…

- tentacleTherapist [TT] began pestering gardenGnostic [GG] at 21:27 –

TT: Jade, please enlighten me as to your status.

TT: You must tell me Dave's reaction to your presence. John and I are betting on this, thus it is of vital importance you tell me.

TT: …

TT: Jade?

gardenGnostic [GG] disconnected.

TT: …

TT: This is not good.

- tentacleTherapist [TT] ceased pestering gardenGnostic [GG] at 21:48 –