Chapter 1

Beep, Beep, Beep.

Jade's eyes flung open. Panic rising in her chest, until she remembers where she is.

"Home. Safe". Jade thought to herself as she turned off her alarm clock. Jade sighed audible as she got up to prepare for school. After she had finished getting ready she walked next store to Rose's house. She and rose usually walk and talk to school together. Jade had always look forward to it, as Rose was always just so smart and she always had some new wealth of knowledge to share with her. Jade was wondering what she and Rose would talk about as she walked up to the door and promptly knock on the door.

"Hello, Jade. What'er ya doing here?" Ms. Lalonde said as she open the door.

"Great, she drunk and it's not even nine o'clock yet."

"Umm, I'm just here to walk with Rose, would you mind telling her I'm here?"

"Oh, didn't she tell ya? She already left. She said something about walking with John or sometin."

"Oh no, she didn't mention that. Sorry to bother-"

she was cut short when she noticed him behind Ms. Lalonde

"S'up Harley?" Dave said when her saw her.

"Oh, God. Why him?"

He noticed her expression, "Everything all right?" He inquired.

"Yea, yea. Everything is just fine. Do you know why she and John are walking together?"

"Oh, that." he said as he step outside, closing the door behind him. "Umm, yea. She did say something about walking with John this morning, but I really didn't think much of it. But I thought she told you."

"Oh, no, she didn't"

"God why did he have to be so damn good looking?"

"Oh, so thats why you were standing out side." he remarked.

"hey, Jade. I was wondering if..." he let it drop,

"if, what Dave?"

"if you … uh... would like to walk with me?" he asked. Excitement rock though her. Never EVER! had she thought that she would walk to school with Dave Strider, cool guy extraordinaire.

"sure!" She said almost letting go of her cool.

There she was. Outside his door. everything had worked out perfectly. he had gotten Rose to walk with John and not tell Jade. Everything was falling into place.

if only he had not said "S'up Harley?" he was so nervous he wasn't able to say anything else.

And she, being all fucking adorable as usual, did not help his confidence.

"just be cool." why did she make him so nervous? no other girl made he this nervous. but then again no other girl was Jade Harley.

"it's just a short walk to school. nothing more." oh but he so wanted it to be more.

"Um, jade. i was thinking we could go do something after school?" he said after they had been walking awhile.

"Really? that would be great." she replied visibly blushing.

"hm, i make her just as nervous as she does me." that thought was slightly reasuring.

"yea, i thought we could maybe get something to-"

"JADE! WAIT UP!" someone yelled from behind.