Jade's POV

I woke the next day to the annoying ringing of my alarm clock. I shut it off violently, and sat up in bed to check my phone. No surprise, 12 unread messages and 7 missed calls from Kris.

I started scrolling through the messages reading as he first asked where his car was, then got mad when he found it, and then he proceeded to apologize nonstop. I deleted them all, and went downstairs to my kitchen.

There was a post it on the fridge from my dad that read "Working late tonight, money in the basket." I looked to the fruit basket on the counter to see a crisp 100 dollar bill. I don't know why he bothered, I had like 10 credit cards. Oh well.

It was just the two of us living in a big house in West Hollywood since my mom passed away 5 years ago. I don't think my dad ever really got over her death, so he just buried himself in work. I, on the other hand, released my emotions into music.

I loved to sing, dance, and act. Singing was my favorite, though. I'd even secured myself admission to Hollywood Arts this year, but since it took me awhile to convince my father to let me go, I wouldn't be starting for another week.

I hated the idea of starting a new school a month after it already started, but I was still excited to get out of Dawson Academy; school for the preppy, rich, douche bags of Hollywood. Hopefully the kids at HA were cooler than them.

The long musical note doorbell of my house interrupted my thoughts, and I went to answer the door, already knowing who it would be.

"Babe," Kris grinned at me when I opened the large double doors. I stood with my arms crossed over my chest, my wrist still sore from yesterday. "Aren't you gonna invite me in?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you love me!" he poked at my stomach, still smiling like an idiot.

"Not today."

"Alright, so things last night got a bit wild—"

"Hah!"

"But if anyone should be mad, it's me!" he walked around me into my living room. "I mean, what kind of girlfriend steals her boyfriend's car only to ditch it in the middle of nowhere?"

"The kind who—" I started

"Don't worry, boo. I'm not mad at you. I forgive you," he smiled.

"Whatever," I sighed. What was the use in fighting? We'd be having the same exact argument next Saturday morning when he got wasted again Friday night. Truth is, I was over the whole party scene last year when we were sophomores, but that's when Kris was just getting started.

Now, every weekend he liked to dress me up, and parade around a lame house party like a bad movie. And the movie always ended with him passed out and me pissed off. Well, except last night.

"That's my JJ," he pulled me in for a tight bear hug. I pushed him off when I started to lose oxygen, and he sat on my couch, making himself at home.

"How'd you get home, anyway?" he asked, flipping on my plasma TV with a remote.

"I uh called a taxi," I don't know why I lied. Well, yeah I did. Kris gets crazy jealous when I'm around other guys. And I highly doubt he'd approve of me letting the boy who knocked him on the ground walk me home.

"Oh, cool," he said, dropping the subject to focus on an ESPN special about Michael Jordan. I moved to sit next to him, still wearing my pajamas.

I thought back to last night when Beck had walked me home. After I'd yelled at him to never bring the dolphin subject up again, we just talked. About anything and everything. We started with music, then movies, books, plays, and before we knew it, we'd arrived at my house.

He'd been in awe of the mansion I lived in, and told me it looked like a castle. I kind of loved that he wasn't afraid to tell me what he really thought. That kind of honesty is hard to find.

Everything else about Beck got me mad, though. I hated how calm he acted, and how he seemed to see right through my attitude and sarcasm. Still, I found myself thinking about him until I fell asleep last night.

Especially when we were saying goodbye on my front porch. He had stuck his hand out for me to shake, and I surprised him by kissing him on the cheek. I don't know why I'd done it, it just felt right. Like it was meant to happen or something. He had blushed like a girl, and the look on his face was priceless.

"What're you smiling about?" Kristofer's question brought me back to reality. I cleared my face of all emotion quickly.

"Oh nothing."

"Yeah?" he said, leaning closer to me. "I'll give you something to smile about." With that, he gave me a sloppy kiss on the lips, and quickly felt me up. His hands rubbed all along my body with swift movements, and before I knew it, he'd worked my shirt off over my head.

He kissed, then bit at my neck, which usually I enjoyed…but for some reason it felt weird now. I unzipped his jeans, and pulled them off, wanting to fix the way I felt. He tore off the pajama shorts I was wearing, and pulled me onto his lap. I kissed him with all the passion I had, but still…I felt nothing.

He positioned me above his erection, and pushed into me, gravity working in his favor. I felt myself stir, and grinded my hips into him, wanting more than anything to feel a connection. He gripped my hips and pumped harder inside me, and I started to feel my orgasm build.

"Ugh," he made groaning noises. "J-Jade," he called out as I felt him release himself into me. I was nowhere near finished when he stood up, letting me fall to the couch.

"Ahh," he smiled, obviously satisfied with himself. He put his jeans back on, got up, and gave me a quick peck on the lips. "Gotta go. Told Jeremy I'd meet him at the country club for a round of golf."

He picked up his keys off the table and left me sitting naked on my couch feeling stupid. What was up with me? I typically enjoyed sex with Kris, or at least pretended to. I couldn't just now though…it was like my body wouldn't let me.

His lips on mine felt smooth, but not at all fiery like all the songs described. Did our kisses always feel that way? And did he always make sex feel so lonely? Why am I just noticing this now? Maybe I was just dizzy from the Nyquil I took last night. I just need to clear my mind of that creep Beck.

He was starting to mess with my head, and I don't like it.

Beck's POV

Jade. Jade. Jade. I couldn't shake the thought of her ever since last night. Why did she kiss me? Granted, it was only on the cheek, but still. What was that about? Did she like me or something? She acted like she hated me so what was her problem?

"Earth to Beck!" A thin arm waved in front of my face, and I snapped out of my daze. "Is everything okay?" my girlfriend Allison asked, looking concerned.

"Uh yeah," I nodded. "I'm just kinda tired."

"Too much partying last night?" she raised her eyebrows, and laughed.

"Haha no, not even," I laughed. Allison was supposed to be gone for the whole weekend, but ended her trip sooner, surprising me at my RV when I got back from Jade's giant house last night. "Too bad you couldn't make it, though. Lots of fun." I lied.

"Aww, well next time for sure," she smiled. "I'm gonna get another iced tea, you want one?" she asked standing up from our table at Starbucks.

"No, thanks," I shook my head, and she turned around towards the counter. I watched her honey brown hair flip back and forth while she chatted with the barista working the register.

She was one of those people who could make friends with any random stranger she met. Unlike Jade, who could probably find something wrong with anyone she met. Still, she was so interesting. The more we talked last night, the more I wanted to know about her. I was too afraid to ask anything personal though, so all I got was a list of her favorite songs and movies.

"Hey, guess what?" Allison asked, as she sat back down with a new drink.

"What?"

"Andre just texted me saying a friend of the guy whose party you were at last night is throwing another party this Friday!" she said excitedly, flashing me a big smile.

"Oh wow," Another rich kid party? "That's so great," I faked enthusiasm.

"I know, right?" her hazel eyes twinkled. "Now we can both go to a big high school party together! It'll be so much fun."

Probably not.

But if this new guy was friends with the other guy….maybe Jade would be there?

Jade's POV

(Friday Night)

I had originally planned on telling Kris that I was still sick and staying in tonight, but then my father told me he'd be using the house for a dinner party, so here I am yet again.

Tonight's lame party was thrown by Kristofer's best friend, Jeremy. His parent's are out of town, and were stupid enough to trust him with the house.

I stood next to Kris where he was being severely beaten at beer pong by some of his friends. They were all so wasted, I don't know how they managed to make the ball into the cups. This should really be an Olympic sport or something.

I was wearing a new strapless dress the color of blood that stopped just below my butt. I'd traded in my combat boots for simple black high heel pumps that were starting to kill my feet.

"JJ, go make sure the keg is full inside, yeah?" Jeremy asked me.

"Do I look like your slave?"

"No, but you look like mine," Kris winked at me. "Come on babe, Jer and I are co-hosting this party so that makes you like a…a…"

"Hostess by default," Jeremy finished for him, and they high fived. I was really getting sick of their little bromance.

"Fine," I gave in and walked back inside his house to the kitchen. Inside there were the burnouts of Dawson Academy, smoking up as usual. I walked to the keg, and confirmed that it still had alcohol.

Now what? I could hear the DJ playing one of my favorite dance songs, so I wandered into the living room to watch the drunk dancers. I was amused to see a nerdy kid with a puppet in his hand trying to do the sprinkler, while a darker kid with dreadlocks stood next to him acting like he didn't know him.

My eyes drifted throughout the crowd until I felt like someone was watching me. I shifted my gaze near Jeremy's fish tank and directly onto those chocolate brown eyes I recognized so well.

Beck stood next to the tank wearing black jeans, and a Beatles t shirt, looking too cute for someone who wasn't my boyfriend. He was looking directly at me and kind of smirking. I creased my eyebrows at him while he lifted his hand to wave. Before he could though, the girl next to him said something, breaking our stare.

She was a lot shorter than him, I noticed. And probably one of those girls who was nice to everyone. She had on a light blue dress that looked like something I'd only wear on Easter…when I was 4. She took Beck's hand in hers, and started to whisper something in his ear. I hated her instantly.

Alright, this party was just getting worse by the moment. I walked towards the front door, and left the house completely just wanting to get away. I don't know what came over me, but all of a sudden I just couldn't breathe in there.

I walked out into the empty street, and stood still, closing my eyes. I let the breeze surround me, and tried to picture myself anywhere but here.

Beck's POV

Where was she going? I thought, as I watched Jade leave the house. She didn't have any keys with her, and it was freezing outside.

"Don't you think so?" Allison finished talking close to my ear.

"Uh, yeah," Damn it, what had she said?

"I'm gonna go look for a bathroom," she said, squeezing my hand before letting go. "Stay here, so I don't lose you."

"Yeah okay."

She started ascending the staircase, and I immediately walked out the front door. I'm just going to make sure Jade's not dead, and then I'll go back inside. I looked around the front lawn for her, but instead saw her standing in the middle of the street.

She was standing under a streetlight with her arms out at her sides and her eyes closed. Her hair was blowing wildly around by the cold night air. She looked like a goddess to me.

I jogged over to her and called her name, but she didn't even flinch.

"Jade!" I said again, this time touching her shoulder. Her eyes flew open and she looked at me with a confused expression.

"What are you doing here?" She put her arms down.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," I said honestly. "Why are you standing in the middle of the street? You're gonna get hit by a car."

"I'll be fine."

"Why are you out here?" I repeated. "Is something wrong?"

She just sighed, and closed her eyes again. Alright, I'm just going to make sure she's okay, and then I'll go back inside.

"Jade," I touched her shoulder again. "Come on, talk to me."

"Do you ever wish you were someone else?" she opened her eyes slowly.

"Yeah," I responded. "Well no, not really. Maybe."

She smiled and shook her head. "Never mind."

"No, explain what you mean!" I pushed. I just want to know what's going through her mind.

"I mean…" she took a few steps away from me. "Do you ever wonder what things would be like if you had said yes the times you said no. Or what would've happened if you made a different decision…that kind of stuff."

"Oh…" I moved so I was in front of her again. "No, I never really did."

"Until?"

"Until I met you," my own honesty was surprising me.

"What do you mean?" she tilted her head.

"I mean, that when I met you…I started to wonder what my life would be like…with you in it. Like what if we'd met a long time ago instead of last week? Or what if I'd let you drive yourself home? What if I'd…" Had the guts to kiss you goodnight.

"What if you'd what?" she looked at me with those gorgeous blue eyes.

"Nothing," I lied. She laughed and nodded, letting it go.

"Sometimes I wonder what dating would feel like if we lived in the 50s," she said randomly. I laughed at her odd thoughts.

"I would imagine there would be no groping, and lots of chaperoning."

"And malt shops," she added.

"Where you'd share a strawberry shake with two straws."

"And then take a moonlit walk," she bit her lip, and looked up at the moon.

She looked so pretty in the moonlight. I just wanted to give her everything she ever wanted and more. I never want to see her frown again.

"Miss West?" I took a step back and bowed to her, coming up with an idea.

"What?" she laughed.

"May I have the pleasure of your company on this fine night for a moonlit stroll?"

She laughed again, but nodded, and we started walking away from the booming music of the party. I don't think either of us knows where we're going, but I don't think either of us cares either.

A few minutes later, our hands accidentally brushed each others. A second later, I reached to hold her hand, and to my surprise, she let me.