Jade was sitting perched on the breakfast bar as Gail cooked something, the two talking animatedly. Gail looked up at a picture Jade had on the counter top and nodded, looking impressed. 'He's good' 'Mmm, and I'm thinking of doing it on a really big canvas, mostly black and white apart from this part'. Gail smiled 'I think that's a brilliant idea, you really are very artistic you know'. She laughed as Christian and Ana came over, having heard most of the conversation. Ana smiled 'So you've seen Jose then?' She nodded, flicking through some photos 'Seen him a few times, he's really incredible isn't he? He's got a good eye for detail'. Christian stiffened slightly and Gail glanced at her phone, which was ringing, and excused herself, answering it.
Jade turned to her Dad, sighing and looking annoyed. 'What? What's the problem now?' 'I don't know how much I want you hanging around with that boy'. She rolls her eyes obviously 'Uhuh, well I'm earning a living from painting-'. He cut her off 'You don't have to-'. Jade sighed and exhaled deeply, looking annoyed again 'I don't want to live of your money okay Dad? We've had this conversation many a time'.
She flicks through the pictures in hand again 'Jose's seriously good Ana, thanks for getting him to contact me, I've got a good few ideas going on now'. Ana smiled, noticing Christian purse his lips again 'I think he's trying to put a show together'. Jade was in a world of her own, nodding vacantly as she looked intently at the photos, clearly thinking of something else 'Yeah…he was saying something at dinner…' Christian coughed obviously and Jade looked up, glaring at her father. 'What?'. 'You just seem very…close…with Jose at the moment' She laughed loudly 'You think I'm dating Jose?'. He nodded awkwardly 'You're not?'. Jade shook her head, laughing again and getting down off the chair 'Uh no, Dad, I am getting laid though if that's what you're wondering, not Jose though'. Jade laughed loudly at Christian's horrified expression.
Christian had been duly horrified by Jade's little admission a few weeks before and hadn't got any details, despite asking her literally every ten minutes when she was around. She had been deliberately coy and seemed surprised that her Dad wasn't aware of who it was, evidently finding it funny to string him on.
Ana and Christian had been spending more and more time together and he had taken to forcing either Taylor or Sawyer to take her to and from SIP where she was working as an assistant. Taylor was always stoically quiet unless Ana spoke first, and she always got the idea that he didn't want to say too much- not wanting to give away too much about Christian probably.
Sawyer was far more forthcoming, but annoyingly he never gave away anything she couldn't find out for herself. Jade was part Israeli on her mother's side- the elusive and never talked about mother- and she had moved out to Israel when she was 18, not telling Christian and beginning voluntary National service. She was fluent in Hebrew, having had a tutor since she was four, he mentioned that she'd been injured but that was all he would say on the subject. She could see why Christian had kept Sawyer with him, he had joined Taylor a few years ago and was a far more optimistic and bright presence than the stony Taylor. He was around 25, she couldn't really tell, but he was tall, well- built and Ana had to admit that he was incredibly good looking.
She had been…'seeing' Christian for a little while when he invited Ana to a family dinner, meeting Mia, Carrick, Grace and seeing Elliot again. Christian and Ana turned up just as Jade did in her vintage Mini Cooper, which Christian evidently disliked, probably because it wasn't on his 'list'. Jade was wearing grey skinny jeans, purple converse and a longline purple vest top, covered by a black zip up hoodie. She looked particularly unhappy to be there and whilst Ana was being introduced to the over excited Grey's, she went straight through to the Dining Room, put down her sketch book and began sketching quickly. After a little while everyone moved into the dining room and sat down, Elliot put his hands on Jade's shoulders and kissed her hair 'That's pretty cool'. She smiled and closed the book, putting it on the floor as Grace, Carrick and Mia kissed her on the cheeks before sitting down. The conversation was easy and Christian visibly relaxed, not saying much but listening intently.
After the soup was taken away their plates were replaced with huge plates of roast beef with an array of vegetables and gravy, the steam quickly heating up the room. Jade took off her jumper and everyone went quiet for a second. Her vest top showed off her chest, shoulders and arms; it also showed a circular scar on her left shoulder just below her collarbone, a series or scars rippling out from it. Stiffly Jade moved her shoulder to ease tension before realising everyone was looking at her. 'What? You all know I was injured'. Carrick's voice is quiet 'Yes…but you've always kept it covered' she shrugs, forking her food. 'Well it's healed now- as much as it ever will at least- there's no point hiding it forever'. She looks up at Ana 'I assume Dad's told you?' She shakes her head and Mia buts in 'You've barely told us anything Jade'. She sighs and lays down her fork, readying herself to tell them.