This story is pretty awful so far, and my writing is on par with that of a seven year old, so I apologize, but hopefully this chapter is better. Thanks, guys. (:
"Mom, that isn't funny." Beck spat, jumping out of the car and slamming the door shut loudly. Andrea sighed and Cat opened her mouth and searched for the words to say but no matter how hard her mind and mouth worked no words would spill from her lips and her head felt full of cotton wool. She simply widened her big brown eyes and her lips parted in an O shape, not letting herself believe that her best friend from years ago was alive and sitting in Andrea's living room.
"I'll go get him," Cat eventually says, quietly opening the door of the car, and stepping out, her heels hitting against the floor being the only audible sound. Andrea sighs - she could have handled that much better than she did, and she knew it. What could she have said? Sweetie, listen, I have your little friend back at home. She's not dead. Right, buckle up, kiddies.
Nothing would have been right and everybody knew that, but Beck still trembled with anger at himself and everyone else, and he hyperventilated with the shock of what he'd just heard. Cat cried silently, sniffing now and again as she searched the car park for Beck. "Beck?" Cat calls softly, and her face melts as she sees him - tears spilling down his face, making him look like a little boy, hand over his mouth, and, like Cat just moments ago, his mouth grappling for the right words to say.
"It can't be her," he whispers hoarsely, closing his eyes and leaning his head on the cold brick wall in front of him. The sky, feeling unforgiving, opened up and droplets of rain began to shower down on the both of them. Cat's mouth turned into a watery smile, and she nodded her head though he remained silent.
"It is," she says, gripping his clammy hands in her own, and she breathes out shakily, "It really is!"
"Don't do this to me," Beck pleads, his eyes still glistening from tears not daring to fall. "She's...d-dead. You know that."
"No!" Cat frowns. "She's not. We always knew she wasn't, didn't we? We talked about her all the time and then you stopped talking altogether."
Beck blinks at Cat reproachfully and then encases her into a bear hug, shaking his head slowly. "I never meant to cut you out, Cat, I just-"
"I know," she murmurs, stroking his hair. She then pushes him back and takes a look over him. "You're a little messy, but you'll do."
"I'm messy?" He stares at her chipped nails, scribbled eyeliner and dyed hair, and laughs a low laugh. "You're messy, too."
Cat gives a coy smile and flips her hair, "Oh, but it looks good on me."
"Keep dreaming."
The car ride back is just as tense as it was before, but there is a lightness in the air. Cat's buzz at the good news is enough to spike anyone's adrenaline and Beck's fidgeting was driving both females crazy, though Andrea gave him a sympathetic smile as she started to drive down the street which led to their home.
Andrea suddenly felt sick to her stomach - what if something had happened while she was picking up the kids? What if Jade had run away, now afraid? What if she thought no-one was ever coming home so she slunk off to somewhere else? What if-
"Mom?" Andrea snapped back to reality as she heard her son's voice and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, as if to say, "I'm okay," and she gripped Cat's hand tightly, gathering her thoughts up into one bundle and pushing them all to one corner of her mind. Beck, Jade and Cat were her main priorities right now. They ambled slowly up the front path and Andrea's hands shook as she grasped for her keys in her purse. Turning the key in the lock, she opened the door. No sound came from anywhere in the house and Andrea felt the bile rise in her throat. This couldn't happen - she wouldn't have her children hurt again.
Cat was the very first to say something, with an almost anxious calling of: "Jade? Where are you?" Panic flooded through the little redhead and she looked around for a hint of Jade. She found none until she looked straight ahead.
A willowy figure stood under the living room doorway, dark and mysterious. The body was skinny - the girl's waist could easily be encircled by Cat, and she was tiny, her head was looking towards the floor or her feet, her hands lay crossed against her chest.
The light from the recently opened hall window shone on the mystery girl's face - though everyone had already known who it was - and a gasp was released from the small gathering of people, and they all held their breath after that, though Cat got lightheaded from the shock anyway.
And though fresh tears sparkled in those oh so familiar icy blue eyes, and trails of salty water ran down her porcelain cheeks, Jade smiled, and tilted her head to the side. Her arms uncrossed and hung by her sides, her fists clenching in anticipation, and she crossed the room to the other two teenagers. The atmosphere was heavy but all tension was released as Jade forced her arms open, an invitation for a hug. She'd been conditioned not to trust anyone, but as soon as those two - her former and now current best friends - fell into her arms, her hands found their way to clench them tightly, and Jade swore to herself that she'd never let go again, not for anything.