Moments In-Between
Summary: Jade and James were a mismatched pair, but that didn't mean there wasn't anything in-between them. Actually, there were a lot of moments - just not everyone saw them.
Rating: T
Pairing: Jades [Jade West and James Diamond]
AN: Per usual, this idea was spurred on by an RP and this is actually quite the throwback, because I'm pretty sure this was back when AllOfMeHatesYou and I were RPing in 2014. So yeah - two years is pretty extensive! Most of it was the RP, for instance the scene upon waking up and beach scene, but I also added some fluff and banter in there just because it added some character.
Plus, I'm in such a mood for mush that it's kind of funny. But you can only blame it on AllOfMeHatesYou, because he literally made one of the sweetest Jades YouTube videos to ever exist [not that a lot of them exist, but even if a lot of them did, HIS WOULD BE THE BEST].
He took me by such a surprise with making that, that I decided to stay up and finish this to surprise him! Cause he's asleep right now and I figured staying up a little past what I usually do on school nights will be okay. He deserves this, :P Especially considering for his birthday [I'm terrible] back in February, I left him an IOU cause I had no idea what to do for him that I hadn't already done before!
This isn't that IOU yet, but it WILL be coming, so just wait, darling. Once it comes - it shall be good! But until then, this chapter will have to suffice for you. ENJOY! And once again, thanks for the glorious video!
And for those of you who that doesn't apply to, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
[OoOoOoO]
S is for Support
Her blissful bout of sleep was cut off immediately by a shrewd interruption: her phone alarm. She'd almost forgotten about the alarm she'd set after the late night her and James had, had. No, it'd been a completely innocent night - they hadn't been awake enough to have a desire to do anything other than collapse in bed and sleep.
Per usual, she was spending her weekend with him at the Palm Woods. After an evening of just hanging out after she'd finished up with school, they'd both been much too tired from the day's activities to do anything else.
In fact, they'd been so exhausted and dead with sleep, that during the night they'd managed to twist themselves into a two-bodied pretzel of limbs, which was oddly comfortable. Their legs were intertwined, his arm splayed across her abdomen, her fingers clutching his shirt in substitution of the sheet: they were a complete mish mash of limbs.
So it was quite the effort to detach from him, swinging her body to the side to make a grab for her furtively sounding phone. Squinting at the much too bright light, she managed to swipe across her Pearphone to cease the alarm, slamming it back down. It was only eight - that was much too early for a Saturday.
The problem with Jade's alarm was that it had forced James awake as well, and if it hadn't been the obnoxious sound, it had certainly been her disruptive detachment from him that had done it.
Tiredly, he brought her back to him, winding his arms around him and burying his nose in the flesh of her neck, attempting to get re-comfortable. "What was that set for?" He muttered almost inaudibly, but she was able to catch it from the proximity at least, not that she was competent enough to muster a decent reply.
"Just for - an audition." She retorted under her breath, her eyes re-shut, trying to focus on finding sleep again.
"For what?" He continued sleepily, smacking his lips and cringing at the taste of his morning breath - if his limbs weren't so heavy and the bed not so appealing, he would absolutely get up and swish some mouth wash. He /hated/ morning breath.
She attempted to shrug her shoulders nonchalantly, but it turned into just a shift of her body. "Just some - Broadway thing." Her voice was so thick with the need for sleep, that the idea of actually getting up and going to try out for it was beyond her reach.
Besides, she didn't have one hundred percent confidence in her possibly getting a good part - she was a dime a dozen, maybe not in her exact talent or look, but she didn't always fit the bill. She'd had to get used to not being number one at Hollywood Arts, but she'd had to get even more used to it when it came to trying to find work outside. Despite her performing arts background and her killer talent, it was hard to get proper recognition and by that, it was hard to get a proper /job/.
That was the scariest part about wandering around in this industry - it was unpredictable and work was hard to find. She'd gotten used to the rejection and right now, as overzealous as she would have been to go and maybe get her "big break" - the bed and James' arms were much too appealing; her priorities may not have been properly aligned.
However, the mention of Broadway had sobered James up almost immediately and he raised his head, finally opening his eyes more than halfway. "Broadway?" His voice was laced with surprise, but it was an excited surprise. This sounded like a good opportunity and that wasn't just his tired mind speaking.
With his stare beating down on her face, she opened a single eye and glanced at his suddenly alert face. "Yes, Broadway. Some Edward Scissor-hands female rendition." The reason she'd planned on trying to audition for that was because not only did she have pipes, but she was more than stocked with the look. It just seemed like something that would suit her - it wasn't a job she was trying out for just for the sake of it [though that may have played a small piece as well].
"What're you waiting for?!" He admonished gently, pulling his arms from around her and sitting up on his elbows. "You set the alarm for a reason!" If he wanted to do Broadway [though he didn't - he was more invested in just music with the guys for now, though he had a feeling a solo career for him wasn't far off] as much as she did, because she'd certainly voiced the possibility many times. It was one of her dreams, alongside the writing/directing one, and this could possibly be her opportunity. Why would she NOT take it?!
One of Jade's trademark traits was her pessimistic attitude at all times - she wore confidence like a second skin, but certain people were allowed to see the insecurity or the occasional doubt she cast on herself. She was hard on herself - James knew that, so naturally it showed right now.
Her other eye finally joined the other and snapped open, blinking rapidly. "Because." She retorted shortly. "Why bother? You and I both know they won't choose me." There was always someone who fit better, had just a single octave above her range, had just that personable charm that everyone liked and they swiped the opportunity right out from under her.
Now she definitely had his full attention and he sat up fully now, turning his upper body towards her. He looked at her like she had just said one of the stupidest things he'd ever heard in his life. "Are you kidding me? Did you /just/ hear the play that you mentioned? Edward SCISSOR-hands! That /spells/ you!" Okay, so admittedly the movie was much less horrific than what the title displayed and the character was fairly misunderstood due to his "condition", but still! She /had/ the look! It shouldn't have been a problem. And after attending a handful of her performances in Hollywood Arts, he /knew/ she had the talent for Broadway.
"And not even just that, you're crazy talented!" Not like he had to remind her - she usually strut around proclaiming her talent. For a girl who picked fun at his fairly cocky attitude, she carried a very similar attitude herself.
As appreciative as she was about his little 'pep talk' - it was practically setting her up for disappointment. It was so much more than just talent and look - it was Vega and people like her. That's generally what was accepted. "You know this business just as well as me, if not better, James. You know how cutthroat it is; people like me get turned down all the time." She didn't LIKE it; she often wanted to murder anyone whom rejected her for main roles, but it was reality, at the end of the day and no homicidal rampage would change that.
"So what?!" He threw his arms up. "Do you think I wasn't defeated when Gustavo first told me when I auditioned that I didn't have the voice for it? Do you think I didn't want to give up? But I fought for it! I wanted to be musically famous /so/ bad, that I fought for it!"
Her eyes narrowed skeptically. "Are you sure that's how it went? Because I thought that you told me Kendall spoke up and then - "
"Am I telling the story or are you?!" He snapped suddenly, eyebrows furrowing.
She raised her hands in surrender, rolling her eyes discreetly. Him and his little spells.
"The moral of the story is FIGHTING for it! And you're a fighter, right?" He asked, even though her answer would be obvious. He just needed to ignite some of that passion that he'd always loved in her - because defeatist really didn't suit her! One of the things they shared was a confidence in what they did and seeing her dip down into the same hole she got into whenever Tori got the part over her just wasn't what he liked to see from her.
She knew she was talented; he knew she was talented; what else was there?! She needed to just keep trying until other people realized it, too!
"Obviously." She replied simply. "But that has nothing to do with it! I've auditioned for lots of things - it's not a lack of trying! Besides, what's me not going to this audition going to do, really? Frankly, I'll be saving myself the bitter disappointment." She scowled, certain that if some over-friendly, pretentious, less-than-talented, inferior girl got the part over her, she'd be cracking some skulls together, because she was quite frankly just tired of the same sight over and over again. To say it hadn't affected her charisma a bit would be a lie.
Right now, it was more than evident to the both of them that it had.
Well, clearly some physical reinforcement was necessary and he reached down, grasping her shoulders and shaking her vigorously. This startled her greatly, causing her to reach immediately for his arms to try and stop him, glaring absolute daggers at him. As if she hadn't been awake before - was the shaking really necessary?
"James, what the hell!" She barked, batting at his arms. "Do /not/ do that."
"Then stop being stupid!" He barked right back at her, scrunching his eyebrows together in annoyance.
"I'm not being stupid, I'm being real-"
"You /so/ are not! And don't you dare say realistic!" He deadpanned, exasperated with it. "Listen to me!" Once her jaw snapped shut and she appeared to be listening, he continued.
James exhaled. "Look, it isn't every day I get to call /you/ stupid - so I'm definitely going to take this chance!" The corners of his lips shot up cheekily for a minute, before reverting back to serious James. "But you're being totally stupid right now. All I hear is you whining and being stupid! Honestly, Jade - you and Tori are pitted against each other for parts at school and I know that gets you down, and I /know/ that getting turned down for parts outside of that is just as sucky, but not EVERYONE can get ALL the parts! Not even me!" He may have thought himself to be the best vocalist out there, but he knew that not everyone else thought so [no matter how much he found them deaf and absolutely wrong].
"You're graduating at the end of the year! You need to sustain something! You need to get your name out there!" He'd already offered to try and help her try, especially given they'd already gotten plenty of publicity over their relationship and James worked with Gustavo Rocque, one of the most acclaimed music producers in the entire world, but she'd been adamant on wanting to earn it herself. She was too prideful, which he guess he could understand - especially considering he liked to earn his opportunities just as much.
"And you're not gonna get anywhere if you do the whole defeatist thing, which FYI, doesn't suit you at all! I like arrogant Jade and "I know I'm great" Jade! Because that Jade knows she's totally worth more than what she gets! I mean come on, babe, you could reach for the stars and they'd want you! You're talented! You just have to keep looking for something like I have - you need to make your dream happen, too."
Through out his entire speech she'd been shoved into a stunned silence, because he wasn't much for passionate declarations. He wasn't a man of few words, he just wasn't quite as articulate with it as she could be and he was adamant on that often enough. So naturally when he chose to really let it out, it was shocking - shocking in the best way possible.
Her lips curled into one of the rare smiles she saved for him and him alone. He just made her happy so easily; it was almost terrifying. But that's how she knew she loved him just /that/ much.
She sat up, leaning back on her elbows and meeting his eyes. "Well, you've convinced me. However - only under one condition."
He quirked a single eyebrow at her. "And that is?"
Mirth danced in her eyes and he could almost instantly see that what she had to say wasn't a /hard/ condition to oblige to. "Cuddle with me for five minutes before I shower and leave."
Now it was turn for his lips to quirk up. "I think I can live with that."
[OoOoOoO]
Once she'd gotten there, she realized that the five minute cuddle turned fifteen minute make-out and cuddle may not have been the best idea, especially considering the line up extended quite a ways down - she'd be there for most of late morning and most of early afternoon easily. Ugh, this better be worth it. She was pretty sure she'd be reamed if she found James later in the afternoon, only to tell him that she'd bailed because the line was too long. She /could/ always leave that part out, but as good of an actress as she was - James had this annoying tendency to be able to see right through her. It was like her years old facade just evaporated around him.
As endearing as that thought was, it was /still/ very irritating. Damn boy. Occasionally she could get by, but only if she tried VERY hard.
Exhaling impatiently, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to James. Hopefully he could make this more endurable.
James, himself, had gotten ready for a relaxing beach day once Jade had finally left him. He'd undressed and made a beeline for the beach to get a good spot. He was hoping for a good round of beach volleyball or just a comfortable tanning spot. It wasn't often he got to spend his recording days off so nicely and he was definitely going to take advantage.
He was just smoothing out his beach towel when his phone vibrated once in his pocket, pulling it out to see a text message from "Doll Face" or Jade. It was her name in his phone and she oddly hadn't questioned and/or protested it. He was convinced she liked it.
He read her text: "I'm in line and it's long. Please tell me you intend to spend your day just as torturously as me, because you're the reason I'm here."
He laughed and decided to take a quick selfie, even flexing with his free arm just to tease her. He was shirtless and had the bright, taunting sun behind him; yeah, he was a glutton for punishment, but he couldn't /not/ torture her - not when she left it open like this!
Tapping her foot and surveying her competition, she was soon distracted by her own vibrating iPhone and she snatched it out of her pocket, only to be met with an image attachment from "My Pretty Boy" or James.
Her eyes widened at the /gorgeous/ picture she was rewarded with and she was quick to angle it away from any wandering eyes - this was /her/ sight to enjoy. Regardless of the appeal of the photo, it did stir some jealousy in her [regardless of the ocean behind him that she /didn't/ like] - and rather than texting her disdain to him, she called him up.
James had expected an angry barrage of texts rather than a call, but - he supposed the call could be just as angry. He swiped the call, grinning coyly, and answered: "Hello?"
"That's not funny or fair; I hate you." She retorted simply. He could just /hear/ the pout in her voice. It made him chortle with laughter, and he was almost one hundred percent certain that she didn't appreciate it any more than she had the photo.
"Just try and hurry up, and then you can come join me." He insisted flirtatiously.
Jade groaned wistfully into the phone, leaning to the side as she still eyed the sizable line. "I would if I could, believe me, but /someone/ just had to convince me to be here rather than there."
He straightened his shoulders and plopped his ass down on his towel. "Well, that /someone/ was right! The beach is always gonna be here; that opportunity will not be!"
Audibly, he could hear her huffing and then: "Since when, exactly, did you get so wise?"
He rubbed his knuckles on his chest, beyond impressed with himself. It wasn't often he got recognition for being smart from her - she was a harsh critic, not to mention the intelligent half of their relationship. "Well, I don't like to brag - "
"Yes, you do." Jade interrupted without missing a beat, now taking her opportunity to smirk.
The smugness practically melted off his face. "HEY! Be nice! Don't I deserve it after my sweet speech this morning?"
"Hm.. Maybe. Or maybe you deserve my attitude towards you /now/ because you're the one who made me be here." She reminded /once/ again.
"Well, if and when you come join me, and you're carrying one really big script book printed with 'Edward Scissor-hands' - you can thank me!" He told her matter-of-factly, having complete confidence in his claim. "And I accept thank you's in the form of make-out sessions." He added last minute, rather cheekily. What? A celebratory make-out session with his girl sounded damn good - maybe even topping their heated, make-up make-out sessions.
"Yeah, we'll see about that." Jade rolled her eyes, but secretly hoped that he was right. She'd rather not waste half of a day in line for nothing. However, she wanted the /main/ role - she wasn't an extra; she /hated/ being the minor roles. She deserved to shine front and center - and she seldom accepted anything but. "So, any plans for the day or are you just going to bum out in the sun and make me ridiculously jealous?"
James laughed. "If you /really/ want to know, it's the latter."
/Another/ exasperated groan echoed into the phone. "Ugh, I'm green as hell right now."
That caught James' attention and he leaned forward, eyebrows furrowing. "Green? Babe, are you okay?" Clearly, he wasn't understanding what she really meant. She had to admit, his occasional naivety to her metaphors and figurative statements was pretty cute.
"No, James, I mean green with /envy/. I'm perfectly fine. Well, actually, I'm still annoyed from this line." She shot the line another glare, not that that did anything to decrease the amount of people in it.
"Oh.. " He replied after a few seconds of silence, letting it sink in. He cringed in embarrassment, but didn't bother dwelling on it. The longer he did - the more chance she had to mock him! "You know, it's actually really hot out. I'm already sweating."
"You're the only one who could make sweat ever sound appealing and that's coming from someone who specifically avoids sweating at all costs." The twinge of bitter in her tone was mostly spurred on by the imagery. Jade /knew/ he was teasing on purpose. Bastard.
He withheld a snicker. "I /am/ pretty sweaty. I even had to tug down my trunks a little." If she wasn't getting an image before, she was /now/. It may have been fairly inaccurate considering he hadn't actually tugged them down, but she didn't need to know that.
"Stop that, or I'm going to hang up. I'm here because of you - you're not /allowed/ to torture me, too. That's girlfriend cruelty."
"If it makes you feel better, you being here would mean I'd probably have them down /all/ the way." With each passing flirt, his voice was getting just that much more husky and she was so done with his shit.
"I'm hanging up, James. See you later." And with that, she hung up abruptly and while still clutching her phone, released a very sexually frustrated sigh.
Fuck. He'd just made the day more difficult by tenfold.
[OoOoOoO]
Glancing at her PearPhone's lock screen clock for the fifteenth time, she was met with it still having been an hour and a half in the line since she'd arrived her. It was torture. There wasn't anyone interesting to talk to [because the line was either entirely wannabes or sweaty-palmed first-timers who were actually nervous regarding these things] and the line hadn't even shortened itself that much at all.
Yep, just as she thought - this wasn't going to work out and her patience had expired.
Making a move to get out of line, Jade collided with some woman who also hadn't been paying attention to those around her [even if really, it was more Jade's fault than her]. The woman looked fairly professional, but that didn't stop Jade from releasing her pent up frustration from the past hour and a half on her.
"Watch where you're going." The Goth barked impertinently, her patience having snapped with people /long/ before this.
The woman looked like she was about to retort angrily back, but instead, her eyes locked onto Jade's face, analyzing her. Rather obviously, she scoped her from head to toe, measuring her up, which Jade found /beyond/ annoying.
"Excuse me?" She waved a hand, trying to garner the woman's attention back to /her/ rather than her body. "Did you not hear me? Or are you too busy standing there and gawking?"
The woman's face lit up like a Christmas tree and she threw a look over her shoulder. "Terry!" She shouted, getting the attention of a male standing by the separate audition door, the one for some other Broadway play being held today as well. "Come here!" Her voice persisted, waving a hand manically.
Jade rolled her eyes. "Oh, I don't have time for this." And made a move to leave, but the woman stopped her fiercely with a splayed hand.
"Just wait a minute!" Now she was exhibiting some of the annoyance Jade was, but once the man finally joined her, she was all smiles.
"Does she not look like she could be Courtney Shayne?"
The Goth's eyes narrowed skeptically. "Excuse me?"
But neither of the two paid any attention to her as, like the woman had initially, the man, 'Terry', scoped her out in the same way. He pressed a hand to his chin, thinking as he stared her down.
"I don't know, Karen, I think she could be. Can she act?" He asked her, as if Jade wasn't standing right in front of him.
'Karen's' head swung in her direction, arching an eyebrow. "Can you?"
"Obviously." Her response only spurred them on further and they exchanged an excited glance.
"She even has the attitude!"
"But what if she's a gank to work with?"
"Ter, come on, with what we're paying - /no one's/ gonna be a gank."
Jade glanced between the two of them as they spoke in hushed, though still very audible whispers. "HELLO!" She spoke, waving her own manic hand to get their attention. "I'm /right/ here."
"Oh, we know you are." Karen said, turning back towards her. "And we'd like to offer you a job."
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, but not an unpleasant one. 'I'll be damned,' she thought, pressing her lips together. 'I am getting a job after all.'
[OoOoOoO]
After some questioning and a brief audition, Jade had been slapped with the role of Courtney Shayne, the main character in the Broadway rendition of "Jawbreaker". It was a mean girl role, so it was just up her alley - probably more than the female Edward Scissorhand's role would have been.
Not to mention they were paying generously and she hadn't even had to wait in line. It was all just fantastic. The only non-fantastic part was now trying to have to locate James amongst all of the beach goers once she'd finally left and driven back. She wasn't keen on calling him, because then he'd ask her how it went and she wanted to tell him in-person instead, because seeing his reaction would be better than just hearing it.
After fifteen minutes of wandering, she finally located him in the midst of an intense volleyball match. He'd landed himself in the front due to his height and not a single thing could break his attention.
He'd spend some time sunbathing, swimming, and even had paddled out with his surfboard for a while [regardless of the seemingly mellow waves]. Just a half an hour earlier he'd found himself asked to participate and he'd swept up the offer immediately: /this/ is what he'd been looking for.
A couple of times he'd thought of texting Jade and asking her how it was going, but he presumed that because he hadn't gotten any texts that she was still in-line and no doubt even more irritable than before. It was DEFINITELY better to leave her alone if that was the case!
Waiting rather impatiently, she took a look at the script book in her hand and hid it behind her back, doing her best not to look like a silly child. She'd managed to secure the hefty book with one hand rather than the two, so she figured that would do.
Within a few minutes the game finally dispersed, James' team of course being the victor. He exchanged some high five's and fist bump's, before walking off and being met with the face of his girlfriend. His first thought was that she'd gotten the part, but he couldn't tell with her stoic expression - today she was a little bit more difficult to figure out.
"Hey, babe!" He greeted in the sweetest voice he could muster, walking up to her. Seeing her lack of facial response, he tested the waters tentatively, biting his lip. "Well.. did you get the part?" He was hoping so - for /both/ their sakes.
Putting on her best acting face, she breathed out loudly. "Well, I didn't get a script book with 'Edward Scissor Hands' like you said I would." She laced her tone with a bitter undertone that would hopefully make it more believable.
His face dropped. "You didn't?" Oh no. He was /so/ screwed!
Jade shook her head and glanced down. "No, I didn't." Before not being able to contain it any longer and bringing the script book around to the front of her body, now grasping it proudly with both hands as her head shot up to greet him with a beaming face. "Instead I got /this/ one!"
Immediately James' countenance switched from sad, to beyond excited as he darted forward and swept her up into his arms, swinging her about. It wasn't often he saw her this excited, especially with her determination to keep up the tough girl facade all of the time, so he was going to absolutely milk this opportunity for all of its worth.
"That's AMAZING!" He proclaimed, his grin stretched from ear-to-ear. He wasn't sure who's smile was larger - hers or his, it didn't matter! This was the BEST news of the day!
Getting over the initial giddiness of him being as happier for her as she was for herself, she finally was set back down onto the sand, though still enveloped in his arms as she briefly explained. "It was all by chance, really. I'd just been about to leave when - "
"Wait, you almost left?" He asked, voice immediately laced with disappointment at the thought of her having almost given up.
"Are you telling the story or am I?" She echoed him as he had said to /her/ this morning. He sent her a rather unimpressed look at that, but urged her on nonetheless. She was so happy, regardless of how obsolete the details were, he just liked seeing her this way. Jade was just so beautiful when she smiled. He would also be milking /this/ pretty view of his girl.
"When this woman bumped into me and I snapped at her. So, turns out I had the look they were looking for, for this character named 'Courtney Shayne'. Apparently, auditions for a separate musical were being held at the same time as Edward Scissor-hands, and they'd just been about ready to go on a lunch break when they found me and said I fit the bill. So I had a quick audition, was assigned the role, had a contract drawn up in record time, and suddenly I was Broadway's Courtney Shayne!" She finished off with the charisma she never lacked when it came to talking about acting.
His grin didn't falter in the slightest. "Jade, seriously, that's /amazing/. See! I told you you'd get the part!"
"Well, you didn't say this exact part." She teased just to get a reaction.
James sent an unappreciative glare. "Hey! I still had one hundred percent faith in your abilities! That counts for something, right?" He asked hopefully, coming close to pouting at the lack of recognition he was receiving.
Jade stuffed the script book in her bag and wound her arms around his neck, bringing him close. "Yes, the supportive boyfriend card definitely counts for something." And it did. His words had really stuck with her and reinforced the confidence she had always had about her skills. Just knowing that she had James' unflinching support had been enough to power her thought an hour and a half of waiting - and that was at least quadruple how much she could usually stomach through.
She pressed her lips to his in a passionate, more-than-happy kiss, stroking her pale fingers along his slick skin. He returned the kiss with equal fervor, tightening his arms around her waist. If this was the beginning of some 'celebrating', he was /so/ in.
But Jade drew back not long after and pressed her forehead to his, meeting that iridescent hazel stare. Her own cerulean pair showed nothing but unbridled love and she was just beyond happy. "Thank you." She voiced in complete sincerity, her words probably a bit more emotional than she intended than to be.
He met the praise with a small smile, raising one of the hands that were rest at her waist to stroke along the side of your face. "Of course, babe. You /always/ have my support."
And after so many years without anything of the sort, she was so so glad she did.
[OoOoOoO]
AN: THIS is only part one of S is for Support and I already have the plans for the second part, not that that'll be the immediate chapter following this.
Hope you liked it!
Reviews are my life; don't kill me!
