If I Were You

Jade and I were working on a school project when I decided we needed a break. I had left Jade alone in my room while I baked chocolate chipped cookies. They were my favorite, and I knew Jade wasn't a big fan of chocolate, but she always seemed to like my cooking.

I hummed a tune to myself as I baked. I had already put two trays in the oven, planning to take the extras to my friends at Hollywood Arts.

I inhaled a whiff of the delicious cocoa scent making me feel so calm. I smiled and popped one cookie in my mouth, delicious I thought. Standing on my tip-toes I reached to the above cabinet and pulled out a large metal tray and laid a long cookie sheet on top of it, humming happily to myself as I carried it to my room.

I'll give her the burnt ones too. Because I knew she liked them.

I entered my room and saw Jade holding something looking awfully perplexed. Then I saw the card in her hand, and the tray slipped through my fingers and crashed onto the ground, the cookies flying off in different directions.

Jade looked up at me. I was paralyzed in place at a loss of words. My breaths were warm and fast.

"Cat?" Jade asked, stepping forward. "What is this?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I snatched the card away from her, "Why were you in my wallet?"

"What's that card about Cat?"

"Don't you ever look through my stuff without asking me!" I shouted.

"Look, I just want to know what this is all about. Tomorrow? What does that mean? What happens tomorrow Cat?"

I turned my head to the side, "Nothing."

"Just tell me." Jade placed a hand on her tanned shoulders, "Tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong!" I shouted.

"One." Jade began, crossing her arms.

"No, don't count!"

"Two."

"Jade please-"

"Three."

"Oh, I love three!"

"Four."

"Fine!" I yelled, "My parents are taking me to where my brother is." I rubbed my elbow nervously, "Tomorrow."

Jade was shocked, "That's not something to keep a secret about!"

"Well if you were me, wouldn't it be hard to bring that stuff up?"

"If I were you I'd tell your friends, so they could help you."

I said nothing. Jade sighed and walked out of the room.

Is she mad? Sad? Worried?

I could never tell with Jade. I plopped down on my own bed and buried my face into my pink pillow.

In the distance, I heard an engine start. Jade was leaving. So, she was mad after all. I curled myself up into a tight ball, crying until I fell asleep.

Jade returned to my house fifteen minutes later. She swung her tote over her shoulder and walked into the house.

She walked into my bedroom and set her bag down against the wall. Jade saw me asleep on my bed, with all the covers shoved off.

"Cat?" Jade whispered.

My long eyelashes fluttered open within seconds. My milky brown eyes met Jade's green ones. "I thought you left."

"And I did." Jade said, lifting her tote. "Is your Nona home?"

"No. She's spending the night at the doctor's."

"Well, then I guess it's just us then." She rooted around in her bag until she found what she was looking for. "Here, I got these for you." Jade tossed three DVDs at Cat.

I smiled at the choices, "OMG! You got Zootopia, that's my fav!"

"I know. That's why I bought it you idiot." Jade said.

I looked down at the other selections which were Sing and Moana.

I happily selected Zootopia and threw the DVD box at Jade. She caught it just before it hit her face and inserted it then hit play.

Jade shoved me over and joined me under the covers. We were halfway into the movie when I fell asleep.

Jade powered off the television and carefully tip-toed over to the light switch, not wanting to wake me. She turned the knob down to dim the lights and soon found herself staring at me.

I wonder what it would be like, Jade thought, if I were you.

Unbeknownst to her, she would soon find out.