I'd like to thank omggcece, who inspired me to write this, with her story "ignorance is your new best friend".
Our Lives, Victorious
Chapter One: Blackout
"Dad!" the girl screamed, her young eyes welling up with burning hot tears. It was so devastating, so horrifying. The man never stopped throwing punches at Jade's father, forcing his hard, bony knuckles colliding his with warm, loving face. Blood splattered out of Mr. West's nose as his head was thrown back by a mercilessly fast snap of his opponent's fist. "Daddy! Daddy, please! Stop the fight!"
But no one listened. Jade's father was knocked back into the rope, his head down, staring down at the blue mat. His neck was barely able to support the weight anymore, and he watched drop after drop of blood fall from his burning nostrils. Feeling the cold sweat on his hot, throbbing forehead, the man looked up at the other boxer, his expression furious. Relentlessly, the other man charged forward, and repeatedly threw his fists into Jade's dad's stomach and chest. Every blow felt like the hot embrace of a bullet on Mr. West's body.
"Alright! Break it up! Break it up!" the referee screamed, trying to force the two apart. Growing violent, the man with the black and white-striped shirt threw the attacker off of Jade's father, cussing and throwing his hands up and down.
Thousands of people cheered and hollered obscene comments. Pictures flashed without mercy, and the very building seemed to tremble.
The bell for the next round rang almost immediately after the two were split up. Still weak and struggling to walk straight, Mr. West advanced forward, covering his face with his fists. The other boxer quickly assaulted him with jabs and hooks until he was on the ground. Several people could hear the bones pop inside both of the men's bodies as arms snapped straight and collisions were made on Jade's father's body.
"Dad!" Jade screamed, growing frantic.
The punches kept coming, growing more vicious with every second. Blood splashed out of Mr. West's nose and mouth. "Stop it! Enough, damn it!" the referee yelled, running towards the two. One of his eyes extremely dark, Mr. West tried to look at what was going on, seeing only a bright blurr above him. Sounds faded into one another. Dad! Daddy, please! Daddy! Things started to get dark. "Baby," the man whispered, trying to take his little girl's hand. However, she was too far away. A naive smile formed on Mr. West's face, his eyes barely open, then, he fell on his back, and stopped moving.
"Daddy!" Jade hollered, her throat throbbing, her mother's arms keeping her from jumping into the ring to help her beloved father.
"Honey, honey," Jade's mother replied, trying with all her might to restrain her daughter. It was all such a nightmare.
That was the last time I'd ever seen my father. That was twelve years ago, but I remember it all so completely...so unbearably, agonizingly clear. Life changed after that. It felt like everything shattered around me in that instant...
"Jade, you're not going out like that," Marilyn West scolded her daughter.
"I didn't ask you," the seventeen-year-old replied, her voice cold and laced with anger. Her hair was long and dark, her face pale and Gothic-influenced. With that, Jade went out the door of her home, proceeding without ambition towards her school.
A summary of Jadeyn West's life could be made in three words: I don't care. Emotions were scarce and hidden. It was the only way that really made sense. Who cared anyway? She wasn't the top of anyone's priority list. Outside, it was cold, and the wind was chilling and indifferent. Jade's hair blew gently in the breeze, but she ignored it.
I wonder what's been going on with Cat, the girl said in her mind. She always has something simple and sweet on her mind. Catarina Valentine was Jade's closest, and one of her only friends, though the two were different in so many ways; Cat was constantly happy and upbeat. Her mind was youthful and innocent. Jade was depressing and dark. Her mind was complex and untrusting of others. Maybe ignorance was bliss for Cat. Pulling her cell phone out of her purse, the girl dialed Cat's speed-dial number, and listened for the electronic ringing.
"Hello?" Cat answered, her voice upbeat and pleasant as ever.
"Hey, Cat, it's Jade," the dark-haired girl greeted.
"Oh, hey, Jade," the brunette replied. "What's up?"
"Not much," Jade answered, her voice growing upbeat. "Hey, you wanna have lunch off-campus today?"
"Sure. Sounds fun," Cat replied, growing excited. "Thanks, Jade. See you in a few minutes."
"Bye, Cat," the dark-haired girl said, a smile on her face. "See you soon." The teenager hung up her phone, then slid it into her purse. It was stupid; calling her friend minutes before getting to Hollywood Arts, where both of them attended school and had almost every class together. Who cares? That's right; no one. Cat was one of the only bright parts of Jade's life, and there was nothing to be ashamed of.