Have you ever noticed the thing about Fireworks? The way they shine brightest right after they disappear and go away. It's been almost a year since Jade and I first started dating and things were going great. Cat and I made up a few months after she confessed her feelings for me. It took that long because for almost four weeks she was avoiding me every chance she got until eventually I conerned her and tried to plead my case. I'll give lil' red credit she can be very stubborn when she's upset and hurt. If you could have seen the hurt that was in her eyes, it would have made even the most heartless feel it. The thing about Caterina Valentine is that she has this innocence and light that you would do anything to protect and so I did. Instead of using candy or something shiny like Jade or Sikowitz's keys I used something just as good- the truth."Look lil' red Im sorry that I hurt you I would never want to hurt you; it's just that I don't see you in that way so please forgive me". In reality everyone knew how much Rob liked this girl and one thing I don't do is hurt my friends, at least not voluntarily but back to Cat. The girl was looking like she was still unsure but there was still a little of the hurt that was once there so I used my last resort, I got down on my hands and begged until she had to forgive me I hoped but when I looked up I saw that warm smile of hers and I knew that she has finally forgiven me. We hugged and were friends again, so fast forward to now and its Robbie, Cat, Jade and I all sitting at our usual lunch table when Tori flopped down looking pretty upset.
"What's the matter Tori?" I ask with genuine worry in my voice. I will give Jade credit, ever since we started dating, she has been making a serious "effort" to care about what's going on in Tori's life…. somewhat. I will say that it's been much more quieter ,well other than that day when Sinjin sat on Jade's scissors AGAIN. How is it possible that a tall lanky guy like Sinjin is heavy enough to bend the kind of scissors Jade uses anyway?
"It's that new guy Lucas that Im seeing."
"Is everything ok?"At this point Im really starting to get worried now but decided not to push the issue too hard because at this point Jade was squeezing my hand so hard that I almost lost feeling in my hand. While I was checking my hand for a possible break, I noticed this guy staring at me. It was weird as hell and made me feel super uncomfortable. Jade noticed this and followed my eyes to where I was looking. The guy standing there was about 6'2 maybe 6'3 mocha skin, with an Afro that was puffed out. I gotta give it to him he looked fly with a button down shirt over a Jimi Hendrix T and a pair of fresh air forces but it still wigged me out the way he kept staring at me like he was some grade A stalker type.
"Who's that babe?"
"No idea. but the way that guy is staring at me is giving me the heebie jeebies!"
"I hear that! Let's bail."
With that everybody got up to go to class. Lucky for me Jade and I had theater arts and Art appreciation together. The rest of the day seemed to have flown bye and what happened at lunch was forgotten just as fast as it happened. When I realized the last bell sounded I grabbed Jade and my book bag and we headed to my car and the guy from lunch was there waiting for me. I stood in front of Jade to make sure if this guy was bad news I could protect her BUT….this is Jade fuckin West so instead of letting me try to protect her, she decides to push the issue. "Hey Asshole!" "Who are you and why are you stalking my boyfriend?" I couldn't help but smile hugely at Jade for calling me her boyfriend but I shook it off as I wondered the same thing.
"Is there anywhere that we can talk…..alone?" the guy asked politely.
"Hell NO! Anything you have to say, you can say it with my girl here, besides would you go somewhere with someone that you just me alone?"
"I guess you are right; ok then here goes…..hello Andre...I am you father." I stood there in shock for a few seconds but then I couldn't hold back any longer and started laughing. It's been a while since I laughed that hard. Jade almost reading my mind asks "Hey Darth! You missed Comic-Con dumbass!" He just stood there stone-faced and when I realized that he was serious the smile melted from my face.
"My father is dead!" I said with an anger that I never knew that existed and I could tell that what I said hurt him. "If you are my father and Im not exactly sure you are, where the FUCK have you been dude?"
"Charlotte didn't tell you?"
"Tell me WHAT man?"
"She's not your grandmother not your REAL one at least."
"WHAT! "YOU'RE LYING!"
I don't remember much after that moment but from what Jade told me I clutched my stomach and started hyperventilating and passed out. When I awoke I saw Jade and those beautiful sky blue eyes I wondered if what happened was a nightmare or was it real. From the look on her face though I knew it was real. When I tried getting up it felt like I got hit by a bus and the bus won. I looked around the room and saw Beck, Tori, Cat, Robbie, Rex and of course Jade looking like I had stage three terminal cancer. I heard Jade say that she told everyone what happened and I just nodded my head letting her know that I understood. Cat hugged me tight as she could and said "It doesn't matter if you are adopted or not you're still Andre." I gave Cat a half smile and said thanks and before I could get comfortable, the guy from before came in and Jade being Jade asked "What are YOU still doing here?, Haven't you done enough already?" The guy said that Kendra my cousin let him in and she walked in with a cup of cold water to drink because my throat was really dry. After I drunk it I had to ask who else knew that I was adopted and after a few minutes she told me that the whole family knew.
"How could you all keep something like this from me?"
"We kept it from you because it's the reason why grams lost her mind Dre". As if I didn't feel worse enough. I needed an out so I could process everything, so with all the strength I had left I got up and left the room.
"Where are you going?" Kendra asked with a worry that I never knew she had.
"To the bathroom, would you like to hold it while I go?" I answered cruelly. While in the bathroom after washing my hands I splashed cold water in my face."Damn Dre what a situation you got yourself into this time huh?" I asked myself. Just then I heard some light tapping at the door and knew who it was. "Come in" I said. I closed my eyes and pulled the girl close and as we were kissing, it was like all therapy I needed was inside the full icy lips of Jade Fuckin West and as we broke our kiss I asked simply that she never leave my side and she responded the only way Jade can- "Over my dead body Harris, you're stuck with me".