My name is Jade West. I go to Hollywood Arts. I'm 16, and have a gorgeous boyfriend. Oh, and I'm in love with my best friend Cat. I can't help it, really. Everyone is at least a little in love with her. Sure, she can be annoying. She can be annoying as hell! But we all deal with it because she's so, well, she's so Cat. She's one of a kind.
I'm what you call the polar opposite of Cat. I'm dark, pessimistic, and mean. My life hasn't been easy. My dad, he neglects me, insults me, and sometimes hits me. That's only when he drinks though. He knocked me into being a legit Goth, rather than a poser, like I was before he hit me. Thanks, dad. My mom... who knows? She hasn't left her room in like a year. I leave food by her bed everyday; to make sure she doesn't starve. Then I kiss her on her cheek, tell her I love her, and leave. I have this stupid, naive thought that somehow I might be able to help her. I shouldn't want to; what has she done for me?
Beck, my boyfriend for about 2 years now, is sweet, but clueless. He can't please me. I would argue that any teenage boy would be able to do that. I do love Beck. But more as a brother. That's why I stay with him. That, and he's also a cover up. I couldn't tell anyone that I think I might actually be a lesbian. The only person who wouldn't judge me is Cat. She doesn't judge anyone.
Everyone knows that Cat's like, not all there. She's always somewhere else. I want-no, I need to know the real her. There has to be something behind those beautiful big brown eyes. I have seen the real her, I think.
We were texting back and forth. Just random stuff mostly. Then it started to rain. She called me, and with a shaky voice, asked if I could stay over at her house for the night. I had to, I could just picture those cute full lips quivering, and her big eyes filled with tears. I drove over right away. [Nope, no licences. I just took the car. My dad didn't notice.] I knocked on the door.
"Come inside, quick!" She said, sounding frightened, pulling me into her house. Her house was surprisingly... normal. Right as I closed her front door, she hugged me tight.
"Are you okay Jade? The storm didn't hurt you, did it?" She said, her arms tight around my neck, strangling me.
"I'm fine, Cat. Stop strangling me." I said, pushing her off me. I grabbed onto her arms, and looked her right in the eye. "Are you okay?"
"I'm..." She trailed off, and I could see tears form in her eyes, and her full lips start to quiver. All of the sudden, she broke out sobbing. We've been friends for years, so this isn't the first time I've seen her cry. But this was different, more real. I knew she was letting me in now.
I hugged her. Her small body clang to my bigger one. I kept telling her she would be fine and rubbing her back and stroking her hair.
"I hate storms Jade." She said.
"I'll protect you, Cat." I say back.
We sat on her couch and watched movies all night. They were mostly Disney movies. [Yeah, I know. I wanted to die, but it was worth it, being with her.] Every time we would see lightening, or hear the piercing sound of thunder, Cat would grab onto me, scared. And I would hold her.
I have seen the real her. But I need to know why that's the real her.