Chapter 1.
"I swear to God I will brutally murder the next person who interrupts my audition!" screamed Jade West, Hollywood Art's resident badass, as she stormed across the stage to restart her scene for the fourth time. The first time she started she was interrupted by a perky freshman, who was promptly chased away. Next it was the nurse seeking Sinjin (no one dared to ask why). Unlucky number three happened to be Lane, who burst in looking for Jade herself. She continued fuming on stage, her limited daily quota of patience already used up, as two men in black suits followed Lane into the theater.
"Jade," the guidance counselor began evenly, "these men are from the police department. They need to speak with you."
"Am I being arrested?" Jade asked indifferently.
"No."
"Has my car been stolen?"
"No, but—"
"Then it can wait!"
Lane responded with a resigned, "'kay," and led the suits from the police station out into the hall.
Ten minutes later Jade joined them, looking significantly less outraged, her bag slung over her shoulder.
"Alright, what?" she demanded, slipping her Pear Phone into the pocket of her jeans.
"Jade, these—"
"I didn't ask you, Lane." Jade turned her attention expectantly toward the suits. Suit #1 looked down at her, grim determination clenching his jaw as he spoke.
"Your father was attacked last night."
"Oh." Jade was significantly subdued by her shock. "By whom?"
"Well, that's what we're trying to figure out," Suit #2 supplied.
"Oh."
They were all quiet for a few seconds, until Jade asked apprehensively, "is he dead?"
"No," Suit #1 responded quickly. "But he is in an induced coma until the swelling in his brain goes down."
"So he was beaten." It wasn't a question.
"Well… Yes."
"Jade," Lane said, in therapy mode, "I've given you the last three periods off."
"Why would I need that?" she snapped, recovered.
"Well, we assumed you would want to see your dad…"
"I know what he looks like!" she retorted. "I mean, I've already seen him for this month."
"This month?" Suit #2 questioned. Jade rolled her eyes at his lack of tact (and intelligence).
"Yes. Monthly visits. That was the custody agreement." Her words were clipped.
"Oh."
"Yeah. Oh."
"Jade," Lane tried again. She was starting to want to cut out his tongue. "Jade, I really think you should go see your dad."
"I can't. I have tests in two classes and an assignment due in the other."
"I'm sure your teachers will understand."
"Well I don't! Why would I want to visit someone who's unconscious?" Without waiting for an answer, Jade stalked around the corner and out of sight.
The rest of that day went smoothly. Jade didn't tell anyone what happened, and no one was looking at her funny (or funnier than usual), so the policemen must have gone unnoticed. But when the end of the day came around, she dragged her feet and took a detour, dreading her mother's hysterics when she got home. Thought it had been nearly two years since the divorce, Linda West clearly harbored a hope that her ex-husband would come home again. Jade knew he wouldn't — exes rarely do.
When she finally did get home, Jade found her mother exactly how she expected her to be: sitting on the couch surrounded by wet tissues, bawling her eyes out. When she noticed Jade's presence, Linda leapt off the couch and smothered her daughter in a hug.
"Oh, honey, have you heard?" she sobbed.
"Yes, Mom."
"Isn't it just terrible?"
"Yes, Mom."
Linda stepped back and started gathering up the tissue mess.
"Let's go see him tonight, okay?"
"Um… Not tonight. I have a lot of homework."
"What? Your teachers haven't laid off? Even thought your FATHER almost DIED?!"
Jade shrugged innocently.
"I'm calling the school."
"No, Mom, don't." Jade quickly stopped her mother's dialing fingers. "It's fine. You go visit him tonight. I'll stay here."
"But when will you see him? You need to see him."
"I'll…" Jade sighed. "I'll go tomorrow. During lunch."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Okay, sweetie." Jade's mom perked up considerably. "Go get your homework done. I'll give your father your love."
"Right."