HOLY FUCK I'M SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS SHOOT ME) I am a horrible human being gosh, i started the next chapter,this chapter, like a month or two ago and then just fUCKING STOPPED WHY ME I AM HORRIBLE

this is why i do so bad in school shit, well i hope this chapter is decent (i worked on it instead of homework heheh) carnival thing is coming soon, then some holiday chapter(s) (not halloween sorry) and then around then this should reach some kind of rising action? yeh

CHAPTER TEN

Your name is Dave Strider and you are not exactly a happy camper.

Actually, you are pretty not happy, nor are you camping. Completely off topic, but you've never really been camping. Whateves.

Point is, you're not happy. Not even close. But youre not sad, nope. Striders dont get sad over things often. Nah, youre mostly just tired, soaking wet, and worried out of your fucking mind.

Which makes you more worried because you never get worried, especially over some silly girl youve know for...not that long. Hell, youve never even met her family or anything. Not that youre complaining, meeting parents is not particularly a walk in the park.

But still, what was Jade thinking, running off into the city like that? Hell, she doesn't know what the city's like. not really. She'll get lost or hurt or worse... and let's not forget about the abundance of slimebag perverts that would totes be all over your Jade.

Not cool.

You've been running around for so long now that no one else was on the street anymore, besides the occasional dude lurking under some shelter. You eventually stopped, chest heaving. Who knew running around a city could hurt so much?

Jade wasn't picking up her phone and you couldn't find her anywhere. Fear was clutching your mind with cold sharp hands. Fatigue was clutching your everywhere.

Then you saw her down the street. Your heart leapt like a joyous bird who just successfully stole someones fries, and then plummeted when you noticed the tall creep backing her into a wall. Rage boiled in your stomach and you began propelling yourself forward with all the power you're muscles had left.

But then something very unexpected happened.

Jade completely kicked his ass.

You stopped dead in your violent march and watched as she kicked him, punched him, kneed him in the face, and then twisted his wrist around so far it looked as if it might break. The screamed like it was indeed breaking.

Needless to say, when she looked up and noticed you were there she definitely saw your mouth hanging open like a fish. Jade grinned and gave the man one last kick for good measure, then proceed to skip on over without a care in the world.

The only words you could find were, "Holy shit."

"Thanks." She lightly punched your soaking arm, "Dave, you were running around looking for me this whole time. Weren't you?" She mock pouted, "You think I can't handle myself in the city, don't you? I'm not a poor damsel in distress."

"Shit Jade, you're karate kid. You're Jackie Chan. You're...wow."

Jade giggled and pushed some damp black hair out of her eyes. Her skin shone gently in the street lamps glow. It was late. Jade elbowed you affectionately, "Dave. You are so...you are such a sweetheart. You know that?" You scoffed and straightened your jacket, preparing to make a witty comeback to defend you're manliness. A comeback that didn't come. You scoff again.

"No really. I didn't expect you to be so worried...thanks." Holy damn, is she blushing?

Are you blushing? "No problem, gal. You should really pick up your phone when someone calls though."

"Oh, sorry about that. It died." She laughs and grabs your hand. "Let's go back to my place; it's getting cold out isn't it?" She shivered as an example. You just nod dumbly.

So before you knew it, you were going into Jade's apartment. Jade's living space. Jade's girl lair. Jade's home. It all felt very...happy? You don't know. You were both being pretty quiet, most likely from the awkward feeling of mutual affection breeding from the knowledge that you both ran around like idiots in the rain trying to find each other for hours. You chuckle.

"What?"

"Nothing." You look around as Jade closes the front door. It's a cute little apartment with quite a few plants growing near the windows. It's a single bedroom place. You gulp at the thought of sleeping in the same bed. Wait, why would that phase you? You've done much worse with girls before, why is sleeping near Jade such an issue?

Fuck. There is definitely something wrong with you. Maybe you caught it from you brother when you were visiting. caring-itis. Pssh.

"Want hot chocolate, Dave?" Jade calls over to you from the little kitchen across the room.

"Hells yea, hot cocoa's the shit." You pull off your wet jacket and Jade does the same. Jade laughs. "I'll go and try to find something you can wear. I'll be right back; cocoa's in the microwave." And she heads out of sight, into her room. Jade's room. In Jade's apartment.

"Jesus. Keep it together you shit head." You say to yourself and shake your shoulders around. Bouncing up and down to regain body heat. Maybe you'll die...nah. You've survived much worse in you're time of living with Bro.

Suddenly a pile of fabrics came launching at you and you luckily were able to react in time and smoothly catch them. Awesome. You adjust your shades and put on a cool face.

Jade has changed into a loose sweater and some pajama pants with little ivy patterns. Cute.

"Thanks." Jade smiles at me. Fuck, I said that out loud. I click my tongue and shoot her double pistols. She winks back.

"Okay, cool kid. You can go change back there, the bathroom is around the corner." You trot off and make quick work of putting on the dry, warm clothes. Jade's clothes. Damn son, you're doing pretty good with the lady aren't yeh? You chuckle to yourself. At least the clothes don't look too girly, though you'd prefer Jade to be wearing your stuff instead.

The sweatshirt and jeans are too big on you, they must be some kind of spare clothes she owns for some reason. You don't question.

She hands you a cut of hot chocolate when you come out and she jumps onto her living room couch, smiling contently at you. "Cute," she says.

You stick your tongue out at her and she pats the seat next to her. You sit. The tv in front of you is off and out the window to your left the sky is black. The air is silent except for the ticking of a clock and your breaths. You are staring at each other.

"Dave?"

"Jade."

She looks away and rubs a piece of her hair between her fingers. "Can I tell you something?"

"Sure thing." You can almost feel the mood in the air shift. It feels like one of those moments when you have a seriously deep conversation with someone that changes your relationship. You could feel anxiousness crawl into your chest and you inhale deeply.

"I've never loved anyone before." She looks you right in the eye with those striking green gems. You gulp.

"I...I don't think I have either." There is it. Holy fuck, you don't even know where that came from. Suddenly you realize just what the feeling of fear was for the past weeks. It was fear of loving another human being. Fear of falling in love with Jade.

You start to stand up but Jade stops you. She gently pulls off your shades, and you let her. Why are you letting her? She takes the hot cocoa and sets it aside. She is gazing into your crimson eyes and you are gazing into her emerald ones. It sounds really cheesy, but it felt like the world stopped around you.

"You look scared." Jade's voice is quiet and beautiful.

"Yea?"

"Yea."

Insert a few minutes of silently staring into each others eyes. Unconsciously you have moved closer to each other and you start to feel your heart beating louder.

"I'm kind of scared, too, Dave." Jade blinks and puts a soft hand on your neck. "Can we...can we try this."

"What?"

"Can we try to fall in love. Let's just see how this goes, can we?"

Can we...can you really give into something like that? It's something you've never delved into, actually loving someone. An aching in your chest told you that you were indeed scared. But you also wanted to, you wanted to try this.

"Fuck yea."

Then you kissed her, and it was awesome.

"Hey, Jay Bae."

"Yes, David?"

"There's a fair coming to town soon, well, just outside the city anyway. My friends wanted to meet you." It was morning again, the air was chilly and frost was on the grass outside. You were both sitting on the couch again, drinking coffee and ignoring the tv show that was on.

"That sounds fun! So..." She slyly grinned, "Second date?"

"Second date."

Jade leaned back and exhaled happily, "This is amazing."

"What is?"

"I've never met someone like you, Dave. And now I'm dating you. Me! It's incredible, you're incredible." She pressed a kiss onto my cold cheek.

"Yes that's right, feel lucky-y." You wiggled your fingers at her and she elbowed you. "Seriously though, it's me who's lucky."

"How so."

"Jade, you're fucking gorgeous. And super nice, and super funny, and super...wow. You're great."

"Gee thanks, Davey." She grinned widely and jumped up, doing a twirl that sent her hair splaying in all directions. "I feel so light. Is this what love is?"

"Don't ask me, I'm as clueless as you it seems." You stand up and set your cup in Jade's sink.

"We should do this all the time. We should hang out. I like being around you." Jade wrapped her arms around your shoulders and pressed herself against you. You look down at her, it was nice seeing her completely clearly. It was nice being able to feel comfortable with your eyes exposed.

"I agree."

"I'll be pretty busy for a few days though, so the next time I'll see you will be at the carnival thing."

"Oh."

"Don't sound so disappointed, ya goof." She flicked you playfully, "It won't be that long."

Jade was wrong though, it felt like forever. You found yourself almost looking forward to the carnival. Almost.