''Oh Jade" Tori said pulling away from her, moving across the sofa an inch. "Im sure Andre will still be friends with you and you've got Cat, and me now. God knows Robbie is awful at things like this so he'll be there for you..." Her positive gaze dropped a little "Or at least be there." Jade wiped her face with the edge of the sleeve of the jumper and sniffled ,thinking how all Tori said was true, there was just one flaw. "I know, it's just the one person i want is the one who will never be there anymore." Jade began looking down into her hands again as if it would magically change everything. Tori yawned moving back to the other sofa and laying her head on the top of the back cushion, " Jade, you're welcome to stay if you'd like. But im going to sleep soon, it is Monday now, and i'd offer you a ride but you know i cant drive..." Jade nodded and smirked, she knew because she'd tormented Tori about it only a couple of days ago. "Thanks but im going to go, and ill walk"
"But Jade it's nearly one thirty am. You live awhile from here right?"
"I'll be fine, it's only a couple of blocks once your on the main street"
"Are you sure? I mean I could take the couch," She paused as Jade interrupted.
"Look, I seriously already owe you big time. I swear it's fine." Tori stared blank at her face, tilting her head to the side slightly before sighing in defeat.
"Okay..." She then headed towards the door, Jade following behind her. Opening the door she spoke, "I'll put your clothes in the dryer and bring them to you tomorrow."
"Thank you," Jade nodded looking at her feet. "I seriously do owe you big time."
"Don't worry about it." Tori smiled as Jade turned to walk away. Once she was off the drive, Tori closed the door and headed upstairs; flopping straight onto her bed into deep slumber. Jade held her own hands, pulling the jumper over the bottom of her wrists and onto her palms. She was almost completely lost in her thoughts, kicking a pebble across the asphalt, until a voice as smooth as chocolate called, "Hey, hot stuff. Where you heading?" Jade lost her train of thought and quickened her pace only slightly. "Did you hear me lady?" She could here the voice closer now, footsteps just like her own boots crunching along the loose pebbles.
"I heard you I just didn't answer." She replied bluntly.
"What was that?"
"Go away." Jade answered, just managing to keep her voice from shaking. She dug her hands deep into her pockets, so whoever was behind her couldn't see them trembling. The steps behind sped up she tried to match the pace, until she felt two hands either side of her hips. "Get off!" She screamed turning to face her stalker, whilst taking two steps back. He was a tall man she guessed maybe 30 ish, dressed all in dark clothes. "Why dont we go to your place?" He said, his words slurring slightly as the air between them filled with a sweaty, sickly alcoholic smell.
"No. Just leave me alone." Jade said as she turned and ran, turning down two roads before her cul-de-sac. The man followed somehow, but was awhile behind yelling at her. It was luck that she had explored the area as a kid, she knew every short cut back home. Once mid-way down the street, she turned down a skinny path, ducking under loose branches that hung over peoples fences. Eventually making it out the other side, she took a breath and turned, the man no where behind her. She walked for the rest of the street heading towards the end where a field led a pathway to the end of her street. Then she heard the voice that had been ringing in her ears since he first called her. "Where are you going?" Jade turned, and like a flash the man had appeared midway down the street, 100 feet from her.
"Home." Jade then ran again, swinging her leg over the metal gate as the rain began to pour again. The man had regained his athletic strength, catching up quickly, jumping over the fence as if it were a foot off the ground. Jade's boots slid across the mud of the path, when her knee's buckled beneath her as something caught the back of her legs. She turned to face up where the guy stood before her, his tall figure looking over hers. "I'm not going to hurt you sweetie." He said as he stuck out a hand to help her up. She took it, and once on her feet leant in like she would to hug him, before smashing her knee as far into his stomach as it would go before dashing down the rest of the path and pushing through the over-grown hedges into her street. Her mom's house was just seconds away. At least no one would be there to see her like this. Fumbling through her purse as she reached the door, pulling her keys out and turning them in the lock, entering before closing it and locking it once again. Jade pulled off her boots and dumped her purse onto the ground, the only noise being the uneven in and out takes of her breath. Out of nowhere she burst into tears and she sunk down to the ground with no hope of ever feeling safe again. She dragged herself to her feet, heading to her bedroom where she peeled of the freshly wet clothes dumping them into her bathroom sink, before pulling on one of her favourite long t-shirts to sleep in and led in bed. Jade's tears dampened the pillow, alongside the ends of her hair dripping down her back wetting her shirt. She wasn't sure what time she went to sleep, but when she woke in the morning she had no feeling to go to school. It wasn't until she undressed and began to shower that she noticed the tiny red criss-cross patterns up each of her wrists that she realised what else had happened that night. Everything seemed so surreal, as the steamy water ran over her face and down the rest of her body, letting her mind be at ease. A quarter of an hour later, she was dressed in a long sleeve black top, black jeans and her dry pair of black boots. She looked at herself in the mirror before she was to head downstairs, at which a new found feeling of digust over herself. Somehow it eventually led to her realising how everything had gone wrong and she stood staring at herself for minutes whilst she cried. It wasnt until she looked at the clock on the night stand that she needed to leave now or she would be late for class. So she did,headed out to the driveway where her black car was parked and climbed in starting the engine. The ride was only 10 minutes so minutes later she pulled up into her space in the parking lot and got out, adjusting her sleeves just to make sure they covered the freshly scabbed cuts. Then headed to her locker, grabbing her copy of the script for sikowitz and history textbook for first and second period. She headed towards the corridor which led to the to her first class hoping because it was early enough that no one else would be there but as she turned the corner Andre and Tori were stood as if waiting for her. They cut the coversation short, Andre attempting to break the tension but with the worst subject. "Hey Jade, I heard about you and Beck, You okay about it?"
"Sure. Why should i care if he doesnt?"
" i talked to him this morning and he seemed like he regretted..."
"he broke up with me he wouldnt have if he had cared!" She snapped looking at her toes. "I've got you're clothes in my locker Jade i could get them for you if you..."
"Ill come and get them later. Ive got to go..." With that Jade left a stunned Andre and a concerned Tori as she walked the rest of the way to class. Waiting outside the door until the first bell rang, she waited in her seat whilst other students gathered, soMe silent as ever about her prescence. Others smirked and laughed at her , lbviously ones who knew the update on her relationship. The class went well apart that a note was chucked onto her desk that read 'Why would you do that to Beck? I hope you die horribly nasty goth. -Love those who sincerely wish you'd drop off the face of earth" Jade thought about gettin up and leaving, or even having an answer back. But. Arried on retaining her emotions. It wasnt long after that that second period started with Sikowitz. But when she entered the room, Beck looked right at her, then down to the empty seat that would no longer be hers. This class would be hell.