Chapter Seven: Life and Times (Of your typical teenager)


"Katrina- hey, KAT! OVER HERE!"

Jade bellowed above the crowd, jumping up and down and waving at her friend. The other girl broke off her conversation with her on-again off-again love interest, and flashed her a smile. Pressed so close that they almost seemed to fuse together, the two bid one another good bye passionately. As Katrina began walking over to her friend, the shorter girl mimed a gagging motion and rolled her eyes.

Grinning good naturedly, Katrina used her superior height and mass to wrestle Jade into a headlock.

"What- Hey, leggo! Insufferable cow,"

Jade grumbled, fussily smoothing her hair back into a low ponytail. Snorting, Katrina navigated the crowd with ease as the two headed for the front gates, where her car was parked. Hitching her bag higher up on her shoulders, Jade shot her dark haired friend an uneasy glance.

She was distinctly confused and unnerved by the current situation. She was sure that she'd never met this 'Kuwabara' guy, yet every time she thought that, faint memories began to rise up within her mind, like bubbles in a glass of coke. And Katrina's reaction had been even more confusing. Jade knew that her family had often hosted exchange students from Japan; Katrina's brother visited there often, and usually brought a friend or two back with him.

Still... something about all of this set her teeth on edge, and she was forced to battle paranoia as she dropped herself into the passenger seat. Tugging at the seat belt, she lapsed back into her thoughts as Katrina sent the car screaming out of the school, more than a few idiots cheering her on.

All of this combined with her dreams made her feel as though she was poised on the edge of a gaping chasm, one she knew with terrible certainty would swallow her whole. She was jerked from her thoughts by strangely familiar surroundings, and she shot Katrina a dark scowl.

"HEY! I thought we were going to your house?"

"We are- after we go clothes shopping."

"But-but- I never agreed to this! And don't you have to help your mum with Hayden's Japanese friends, anyway?"

Jade added in an accusing tone of voice, grey eyes narrowed dangerously. Katrina gave a flippant wave of her hand and grinned, busy searching for a parking spot in the crowded bay.

"Their plane is arriving later this afternoon. Sides, you promised me this, and I'm calling it. So put up or shut up,"

She smugly informed the other teen. Jade huffed crankily, and flicked a long strand of pale brown hair back over her shoulder.

"I'm doing this under protest, I'll have you know,"

The teen told her friend haughtily, nose stuck up in the air. Rolling her eyes expressively, the dark haired teen swatted playfully at her friend.

"Whatever. C'mon, Jay Jays has a sale on."

"Oohh, maybe they have some of those cool smart arse shirts- like maybe one that says 'Does not play well with others'-"

"You seemed to 'play' well enough with Tyler last time I saw-"

"Yah! Kitty!"

Katrina snickered and smirked, knowing by her friends bright blush that she'd won this round. Looping her own arm through one of Jade's, she tugged the protesting girl off to her store of choice.

"And I'm warning you right now, no more stripes, or you'll get it..."

==/==

"...sure it's okay? No, we aren't going out just 'cause it's a Friday...Uh huh, she's going to drop me off,"

Jade emphasised with a growl and fierce glare. Busy sorting through several of her new tops, the taller girl snorted and pointedly ignored her friend.

"So I can pick my stuff up. Uh huh... yeah, I know... Mm. Okay, love you as well- yeah. See you in twenty minutes, okay? Bye Mum."

Snapping her phone shut, the teen tossed it back into her school bag, and threw herself at Katrina's bed. The dark haired teen gave a squawk of dismay as some paperwork went sliding off, and Jade snickered at her reaction."

"You little... Do you know how long it took me to organise that?"

"Probably as long as it took you to clean your room,"

Came the lazy reply, as grey eyes roved around the surprisingly clean bed room. Huffing, Katrina planted one hand on her ample hip and shot her friend an irritated look.

"So says the hypocrite. How long has it been since you cleaned your room?"

"Errr... lesse... not last month, I was feeling lazy... and the month before that I was busy, and I meant to do it, but..."

"Exactly. So put up or shut up. Hey, what top do you think I should wear?"

"Random subject change. What, for today?"

"No, for the weekend. Of course for today! Kuwabara is really nice, and I want to make a good impression on his friend."

Grey eyes sharpened, and Jade shot her friend a narrow and suspicious look as the other teen stuffed the new shirts into her cramped closet. Her lips curled into a smirk, and she reorganized herself more comfortably on the bed.

"So, is this friend who's coming over cute? 'Cause you've never bothered dressing up before, and-"

"Shut it! It isn't anything like that... Um. Actually..."

Jade blinked, her mind coming to a swift conclusion that had her stunned. She tilted her head to one side, watching as her friend batted uneasily at the empty shopping bags, then let out a sudden gleeful squeal.

"OH! You like Kuwabara-kun, don't you? Aaww, that's so cute- I mean I knew you liked older guys, but-"

"Jade! Not so loud! Oh gawd, you're gonna try an embarrass me, aren't you."

"Wha? Hey! I am a staunch and loyal companion, and one such as I would never besmirch my honour-"

"Cut the crap before I make you walk home."

"Eh heh... I was maybe thinking about it, but- eep!"

The bed rocked as Katrina thumped onto it with a mock scowl on her face, and poked her friend sharply in the arm. Jade drew back for a moment, hesitant, then let her face relax into a grin as she treated the older girl to an impromptu hug.

"Hey. Chill. I'm your friend for a reason, remember? I promise to be good."

Dark brows snapped together in a withering frown, and Jade ducked her face away from her friends scorching hazel glare. She poked both index fingers together, comically sheepish.

"Okay, I promise to try and be good. That okay?"

"Considering how much worse it could be... yeah, that'll do, you brat."

Katrina grumbled, before shooting her friend a quick, unsure smile. Jumping from the bed, the brunette began picking up her shopping bags, back pack slung hap hazardly over one shoulder.

"C'mon Kitty, you owe me a ride. Oh, hey, when are they getting here anyway?"

"Hmm? Hey, that's mine. Um, later this evening I think, I heard that their flight got delayed. You only love me for my car, don't you?"

She wailed melodramatically as the two tromped out to said car. Arching her brows, Jade shot her friend a cheeky grin and made a run for it, throwing her friend a two finger salute for good measure.

"Of course! What else are you good for?"

"Why you little- GET BACK HERE! I saw that!"