...You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew you never knew
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sun sweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth
The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends...
I strode down the hall, snapping at anyone that passed by me. That's it. That's the last time Beck stands me up. I don't know where that boy was, but he sure as hell wasn't getting away with this.
I decided to blow off Sikowitz's class today so I could have some free time without make up work. The bell had already rang, so there weren't many students in the hallway and it was easy to get to the janitor's closet without being seen. I had Sikowitz last period, so people would just assume I went home sick or something.
I grabbed the handle of the door to open it, but to my surprise, it was locked. Locked? The janitor's closet was never locked, mainly because the janitor doesn't care what happens in there. I swear, he'd love it if that closet exploded and he never had to come to work again. Half the time, he's just sleeping in there under his dirty leopard-print blanket.
I decided the lock wasn't much of an obstacle. I rummaged in my bag for the bobby pin I always carried with me, and once I had it in my grasp it took less than ten seconds to click the lock open. When I opened that door, I got a huge surprise.
I wasn't expecting that at all, though I should have seen it coming. That explains why Beck wasn't with me. They were stupid if they thought they wouldn't get caught in this closet.
Before either of them could speak, I kicked Beck hard in the crotch and yelled, "We're through!" I was satisfied when he doubled over in pain, and I exited that closet, slamming the door behind me.
Without looking where I was going, I walked quickly through the commons, hoping to get to the Black Box without any interruption. I couldn't get that scene out of my head. Vega in lacy blue lingerie and Beck with his shirt off, in a heated make-out session.
I felt a warm body collide with me. "God damn it, watch where you're going!" I screeched. I looked up to see who it was, and it felt like a blow to the stomach when I caught a glimpse of Cat's red hair.
"I'm sorry!" she cried. "I was just coming to find you, because I knew I saw you here earlier, and Sikowitz needed you for a scene, and I..." she trailed off, looking extremely upset.
"Cat!" I yelled, trying to get her to shut up. "I'm sorry; I didn't know it was you," I apologized. It was true; I wouldn't cuss at Cat on purpose, not in a million years; she was too sweet. Especially because she and Andre are officially the only people I don't hate.
Cat looked up at me, smiling, but when she saw my face it faded again. "Jade, why're you crying?" she asked. I was crying? I didn't know...I reached up to touch a finger to my cheek and drew it back. It was wet and black with mascara. Dang, I was so upset I didn't even realize I was crying.
"Uh...no...no reason," I stammered. I hoped Cat would believe me and go back to class; I really needed to cut something up right now. I don't think it would matter if there were just a few holes in the stage curtain...
Cat looked around as if to make sure nobody was near us, then turned back to me with a frown plastered onto her face. Where had she learned to look so serious? The only time I'd seen her like that was when she'd caught Vega kissing her boyfriend...that little slut! She's messed with the wrong person, and it was going to be even worse now that I remembered her little incident with Daniel.
I was lost for words as the little girl grabbed my wrist in a surprisingly strong grip and dragged me into the theater. I didn't know what to do, so I let her take me into one of the dressing rooms behind the stage.
When we were as far from the entrance as possible, Cat dropped my wrist and crossed her arms. "You can't fool me," she said. "You know, Jade, I thought you were a better actress than that."
"I...Cat?" What had happened? Her voice wasn't high and cheerful like it always was; instead, it was slightly lower and far more serious. She just raised her eyebrows, then sighed.
"I'm sorry," she said. "You should know that I'm not all happy and optimistic like I seem. I don't trust people to take me seriously...so I don't act serious. You understand, right?" she asked.
"I...yeah. What makes you act normal now?" I questioned. Cat shrugged and ran a hand through her hair. This was seriously confusing me.
"You were crying. You don't cry. I want to know what's up," she stated. Simple, but true. I decided to tell her, not caring if the news got around the school anyway. It'll give them all the negative attention they deserve.
"Beck. And Vega." Cat waited for me to continue. "If you really want to know, they'll be in the janitor's closet. I doubt they care enough to come find me. I wonder how much more clothing they've taken off by now..." I added almost as a disgusted afterthought.
"Tori and Beck were...?" I nodded. "I'm sorry," she murmured, and hugged me around my middle. I was a little startled, but I kind of appreciated it. I hugged her back, unsure of what I was supposed to do in a situation like this.
A moment later, I found myself sobbing into the shorter girl's hair. It felt so wrong...I've never cried this hard with anyone around. Especially not with someone I don't know. I say I don't know her because her entire public life is apparently an act.
"Is this how you felt with Daniel?" I asked her, knowing I would get the intelligent answer that wouldn't have been said in public.
"No. I was mad at Tori for a little bit, but it was fine. Jade, you can never completely trust a guy. They'll rip your heart out and leave you with an accident," she said bitterly.
I pulled away from her, wiping my eyes. That wasn't exactly what I thought she would say. "Cat, are you all right?" I asked. Wait, how was this turning around? I just caught my boyfriend about to have it with a girl that I hate. And I was asking Cat if she was all right?
"I'm fine. Just repeating what my mother told me," she muttered. "Do you need me to skip the rest of class with you?" she inquired. It was a nice offer, and if it was anybody else I would have slapped them across the face, but I accepted.
"Thanks," I murmured as I slid down the wall to sit on the floor. Why did I trust Cat so much, you ask? Maybe it's because my bad girl façade is a bit of an act, too. I'm sensitive, but I take it out on other people with harsh words, though on the inside I usually feel quite differently.
Cat sat down opposite me and let me rant on about how Beck was never a good kisser anyway and how he was trying to transform me into a stupid little good girl, like Vega. I'm Jade West; I'll never be good, or nice for that matter.
"What hurts worst is that he doesn't care," I said between hiccups. I'd stopped crying, but now I couldn't slow my shuddering breath. "He doesn't care that I saw the two of them like that, or he would have come and found me and tried to give me some stupid excuse. I hope they both go die in a hole," I finished.
"You don't mean that," Cat said softly. "You know what? Do you want to spend the night at my house tonight? We could watch movies and stuff," she said as if I were any other normal girl, not the "Goth, Emo Jade".
"Um...I-I guess I could," I responded. I actually wanted to, but I was a little scared of what my father would do if I didn't come home tonight. He could be slightly...abusive. Well, actually, fuck it. He tries to beat me and I'll have the cops on him. "Yeah, I do," I said in a more confident, Jade-like tone.
"Great!" Cat said, smiling after the bell interrupted us to dismiss school. "I'll see you whenever you come over, then! I live at—"
"I know where you live, Cat," I laughed, cutting her off. "We've known each other for three years, remember?" Why was I laughing? Maybe this whole Beck situation was making me a little crazy. Oh well, at least I kind of feel like I have a friend I can trust now...
Written by Mu5icWolf157