Born To Dance
Spencer's p. o .v
Born in Rome Italy to a professional ballerina Justine Davis she studied from the time she was a baby by professionals who taught her what it meant to work hard and dream big, she grew up rich with all the best life had to offer. She went to a priv ate boarding schools throughout Europe she got the top grades in every school she attended teachers loved her she traveled the world with her mom she was taught in Russian schools ,Ukrainian schools London, NYC, Pairs , she embraced life at the fullest. At 16 She was accepted into the American Ballet School in NYC.
She kept to herself the other students took calling Joss Jaded Ice she heard the name calling and saw the pointing but she didn't let it get to her . She threw herself into dance she quickly started to get noticed by the company she earned roles and spent every waking moment practicing making sure she stayed physically fit she watched what she ate she never weighed more then 90lbs she was in her own world while everyone thought she was a snob she was really battling her own demons, she was afraid she would never live up to her mom's name or legend she felt she had to constantly push herself prove herself she never felt pretty enough strong enough good enough.
She spent time walking through central park along rivers imagining what it would be like to be a prima ballerina. It's all she lived for and she was prepared to die for it.
Then she met Dehaven Jacquard a 15 year old from Jamaica Queens who was attending Laguardia High School for music at first she was turned off by him he had a street brash street talk and boldness but somehow she couldn't stop going to the club in queens where she met him she said she loved the free style of dance even though it was against ABC rules to take a class outside ABC walls she loved seeing different style's of dance and hearing all the musical styles. It seemed everywhere she went he was there always trying to get her to loosen up. Eventually she started to laugh at his jokes and get his style even like his touches. She started sneaking out to be with him go to clubs and dates he showed her
what it meant to be young to have her own fun and not what her mom deemed as fun. His friends lived every moment to the fullest for the moment.
Together they created their own routines him working on the music her on the moves they started to perform publicly and started getting recognized soon others wanted to join they performed everywhere they could subways parks street corners earning money which they used to save for their own place . They started dating but kept it a secret from ABC for over a year then she missed an exam when she came in late from a show the truth came out when a teacher spotted her preforming they made her chose ABC or him. Her mom was beyond angry when she chose him she screamed at her non-stop about how she was ruining her life and her career. She disowned her and threw her out.
Dehaven picked her up his parents let her move in with them so she could rebuild her life she auditioned for Laguardia and got in.
Now beside her and DeHaven there was Athena Williams 15 Love Phillips 17 Aaron Kelps 16 Harmony
Peace 18 they stepped up their routines taking it everywhere spreading a message about hopes dreams choices trying to reach kids and keep them off the streets.
DeHaven and Joss started having sex it didn't take long for him to admit he loved her but it took her a long time to let him in to trust him she struggled with keeping a relationship and a partner in business separate when they graduated they moved to Georgia so she could attend college at Emory University at ATL she took a job as a waitress in a roller shake rink.
This is where she met Mercedes and Meredith. They started talking about their boyfriends how obsessed they were DeHaven with school and Music , Meredith 's BF Michael with gangs and Mercedes 's Bf Leon with Football he was a quarterback for some college they bonded at night as they jammed over the music they liked.
Meredith thought it would be cool to rent studio space and see what they could do after a few hours they knew they had the makings of a great group and decided to keep going.
They got together to write songs and choreography routines they worked their butts off to get respect in a male dominated industry.
They swore to be down for each other through thick and thin they spent weeks and months making sure their lyrics didn't contain cursing or inappropriate things. They worked every kind of gig they could get birthday parties anniversary parties graduations till they booked a falcons Sunday night game.
It's that performance 20 year old Joss met 32 year old Jack West a stock bro from La on Holiday 3SL performed their first big show to a audience of 71,228they got a standing ovation for their song ATL Dance which became the falcons Theme Song that year. They performed a bunch more songs like Dem Boys and Changes Take Flight.
Endorsements poured in and deals started flying soon they singed with undercovered records which showered them with love and belief they spent hours recording writing they had nights at clubbing and pulling tricks on each other.
Joss and Dehaven decided to cool their relationship and remain friends he was wrapped up in college life and her in her new fame and lavish life. She was being courted by older men like Jack she was feeling wild and ambitious. She accepted Jack's offers she went on a few dates with him and had drinks with him but never gave in to him.
3LS released their first album and their 2and album within five months of each other both shot up to the top of the charts. 6 hits from each they got movie offers tv appearances they were sought after for talk shows, interviews.
Jack didn't like the music industry he thought it was a waste of time , Joss loved every second of it the work and the rewards she loved touring making music the bigger they got so did their problems mangers taking profits from them people using them exes trying to bring them down. Meredith struggled to keep her old life from crippling her new life drugs became a way to cope she drank constantly but kept it in check when it was time to work.
One night after a brutal fight with the girls she turned to Jack they drank for hours and talked and laughed made love despite their problems 3SL kept making music and the money kept rolling in. even though they were still broke which no one understood how you could be making millions and not have money well when you factor in studio time, agents, mangers, stylist makeup and wardrobe . PR endorsements lawyer fee's it all adds up.
Lil Droppa's Bf Michael started to make trouble even though she hated his game she loved him .
Joss discovered she was pregnant right as they were leaving for their 2and tour she performed every night and did every interview all while battling morning sickness.
Jack wanted her to quit but she refused she kept touring she gave birth on the road Jadelyn Rose
West was born in Salem Mass on July 26th 1994.
Jade grew up around the road a happy active child she idolized her mom and quickly learned how to dance becoming a crowd pleaser often being brought out to lead kids in a kids moment teaching them how to dance and add their own style to it.
She started playing piano guitar and drums singing and writing her own songs at every show 3SL gave her her own solo. She had no problems meeting people and making friends .
Which is why when she meet me she was so quick to pull me into her world . Jade was so easy to get along with we had so much fun making up her own dances playing dress up writing songs together we created our own world we loved to explore every place we rolled up into.
Her parents constantly fought her dad wanted her mom to quit and raise Jade normal back in La her mom refused saying she was getting the best education a child could get. Jack would get drunk to ease his frustrations which is when he would get mean and start hitting Joss. Jade would watch in horror as her dad would beat on her mom. Her eyes would go wide and she would tremble I saw the sparkle die from her eyes which filled with tears which she never let fall her mouth would close forming a tight line her fist would ball up her whole tiny body would tense as I would hold her while she shock and clung to me.
Her mom would fight back but he was taller stronger physically shoving her screaming at her calling her names. Telling her she was wasting her life and screwing up Jade's life.
I never let Jade rush in to save her mom she tried she screamed for him to stop hurting mommy but I was so afraid he'd hurt Jade or worse so I would pull her away and pull her into another room. I would make up a play or sing a song force her into it as loud as we could anything to block out her mom and dad. The sounds of his fist pounding her flesh yet no amount of pretend could ever make her forget I know I still see it in her eyes.. it's more hidden but it's there.
Everyone use to tell Jade she had her mom's spirit and talent but her dad's looks. The light skin and the brown hair she hated it more and more everyday . I remember her standing in front of the full length mirror naked just staring at her body wondering what she could do to change every feature she got from her dad.
As we grew so did our friendship we supported each other through auditions classes we were home schooled on the road. We were each others motivations for studying passing tests. We discovered secret places all over the world we liked to check out different theaters in every country. We each did really well in school work but Jade excelled at English and history.
While Math and Science were my specialty we encouraged each other and found ways to make each other motivated. Jade would read to me every night she would start the story and I would take over. She would encourage me to pronounce the words correctly.
We would make up our own songs to spelling words and our own stories.
In turn I would use Math in a dance form it became a science to us both.
When we started getting roles we would help each other study our lines Jade is amazing at accents and we would have so much fun pranking people on the phone. By the time we were 10 we had already done a 100 commercials theater and tv specials.
When we were 13 we landed our big break in NYC we got to move by ourselves in a apartment it was the best time ever. Jade was always so grownup even then she was like my mom protecting me and taking care of me . We spent 15 hours in rehearsal plus we had hours of school work . Her parents married but their fighting only got worse and it killed me to see Jade shut down to avoid feeling.
That year in NYC was the one time is aw Jade completely free she was 13 but she already had the world on her shoulders but when we were there she was free we would crawl up to the roof watch the stars and the traffic she would hold me so tight.
I can't pin point when I started to feel how I feel but I know NYC had a huge part of it every time she would hold me I would feel a rush and a spark of excitement course through my body. My face would flush and I felt tingly I noticed everything about her the way she flipped her hair when she was nervous the way her eyes closed into slits when she was watching someone she felt was a threat. The way she just lost herself in a good song. How itchy she got when it was spring and the grass started to grow how bee's scared her and made her scream.
How horror movies made her laugh and squeal with glee as they left me wetting myself having nightmares.
How kittens made her coo even though she was deathly allergic to them.
We grew up a lot that year we had to learn how to pay our own bills budget our money cook for ourselves . We had a woman who watched over us a member of the Broadway staff but we were basically on our own.
During that year my dad and Jade's dad opened a business together .
After 13 closed Jade's mom moved to La with 3SL to work on another album , to get the business in La started my dad moved Randy and I there as well.
I loved living in La the cali sun on my skin the open space the beach shopping the feel of it all , Jade missed NYC how it never slept how every night she could go to any corner and it would be alive.
Every night she escaped her home life to come to my place. Her dad's violence got worse he beat her mom down to the point where she would lay bleeding and begging for mercy. Jade would try to stop it and he would turn on her beat her and laugh in her face, she would run to my house full of bruises and cuts headaches so bad she would pass out cold in my arms. Blood would be pouring out, I would wipe away her tears and snot cuddling her I would do anything for her I just wanted to take her mind off of the evil in her house.
She would dream about the day she would escape to be on our own again for real.
I was lucky in a way I mean even though we struggled in the start my dad never gave up and my life was great my brother Randy was 14 and he was was the most popular boy in our private school every girl wanted him he was captain of the baseball and basketball teams he was on honor roll and debate club he was cute smart and funny and very protective no one messed with his little sisters which he included Jade.
Still a part of me was sad cause I knew our mom never loved us the way Jade's mom loved her. Dad always said we were the best presents god gave to him so why didn't mom feel the same? Was it something we said or did? If I had behaved better would she have stayed? I wondered why did god not think I deserved a mother? I got sad when Jade would go to hers for advice cuz I couldn't go to mine.
So I buried myself in music acting and church. Sometimes I did so much acting I forgot how to be Cat and I stayed in character who were always happy and never had to deal with sadness and pain.
I dreamed she was on tour like jade's mom and she was beautiful and smart and she was away helping people through her dance. My dad never lied to us he told us the truth but I was a kid and I loved fairy tales.
I got a rude awakening that year when she returned strolling into our lives begging dad to take her back saying she was ready to make a commitment be a wife and a mom. Reality didn't match my fantasy even though everyone told me I looked like her with our curly brown hair and same eye color. I never saw what people saw I mean she was down right rude to us and she was a snob thinking she was better then anyone else. She never showed me love or hugged me she told dad she wanted to build a relationship with me but when it came time to do it she ignored me teased me shoved me away telling me I was a airhead foolish ugly silly ..yet Randy was a angel she showered him with love and affection which left me to wonder all over again what was wrong with me? Why didn't I get that love and attention? Jade was my refuge during these times telling me I was beautiful talented and special.
Mom never stayed long enough to trust just to get money from dad and go to her next job. I never knew where she was I just saw my dad staring out the window sad trying to fight off his own tears and fears. It broke my heart and Randy's he would get so mad he would punch the walls and blame himself. I would hold him reassure him it wasn't his fault.
It went that way over and over she would come into our lives my dad would plead with her to stay and commit profess his love for her, she would make all these promises to him to us then she she'd be gone for weeks again.
My dad struggled to keep it all together while dealing with Jack who he found out was embezzling money from the company blowing off meetings and deals. He drank more and more so my dad called a secret meeting and had her dad thrown out one guy took it farther and reported it to the police he was charged and sentenced for five years.
Jade's dad blamed mine even though he was innocent he forbid Jade to see me but locked up he couldn't do anything to stop us from being friends.
Right about then when Jade needed me is when I failed her Randy had gone on a date with some girl he met through a friend. He disappeared it brought my mom back with my dad we were all worried about him not knowing where he was or what happened.
I vented to Jade who held me and comforted me she spent night after night helping us look. Then her world crumbled more 3SL were in the recording studio in La Jade was there while my family met with the police. Lil Droppa's past caught up to her in a big way a rival gang who saw her bf Michael hanging with them opened fire on them. Jade was 13 when she watched her mom throw herself over Lil Droppa to protect her from the bullets , Jade watched from inside as her moms bloody body dropped to the ground. The members screeching off cheering shouting " Bloods Live" Crips killa's '' the girls screaming and running while her mom gasped glass shattered.
Jade told me she stood frozen till she was shoved by someone running away and then her legs took off she fell as she tripped over someone's body but she crawled over the broken glass to get to her mom who lay gasping and bleeding. She told me she saw the fear in her mom's open eyes and the pain as she held her chest. She begged and cried for her momma to stay with her telling her over and over she loved her and needed her. Nothing worked though as hard as her mom tried as much as she wanted to live. She couldn't talk she could only sign ' I love you' 'be strong' she fought for hours but in the end she died holding Jade's hands.
I was there in the hospital with Jade when she passed I saw it in Jade's eyes something changed that day a damn broke and she switched out she never let herself cry she buried it inside somewhere. She became angry very angry punching and cursing walls cursing people out screaming but never crying.
Jade was switched from Foster home to Foster home each one worse then the other , she started dating older guys as away to escape they got her hooked to drugs she dressed provocatively she pierced her eyebrow, nose and nipple, navel. She was smoking every night hanging out late getting kicked out of one home after the next she was beating by several of the people who were suppose to take care of her. Police were called in but they never followed up on her she was arrested for shoplifting cigarettes but they never took the time to see what her home life was like, her breaking point started when one of the men who was suppose to be a foster parent he was a priest highly respected in the community..he...he..
Cat Calm down sweetie it's okay..
No daddy no it's not she was a kid she needed protection and that animal...
Cat what did the Priest do to Jade?
He..He raped her and he touched her in places he shouldn't of...
Jade lost it she started using crack and drinking unstoppable ..
I was so scared for her she stopped caring about herself she started having sex with these older men she didn't use protection and I would beg her crying for her to care but she was gone...something in her died when her mom died.
They say when it's meant to be you just know well that's how I felt about Jade. I mean we were always together we were always more then just best friends.
I guess I didn't know what to call it back then now I'm older and I know what I feel is more then just friendship Jade is my other half some may say my better half. I say my braver half she had to deal with so much and she did it while still being there for me, I failed her when she needed me I was so consumed with my brother's disappearance and my mom's show. I let Jade slip through the cracks.
Jade rebelled more and more dressing in all black she started cutting , I was scared to death she was arrested three more times once for possession of drug paraphernalia once for Promiscuity, the third for assaulting her foster parent after he touched her down below and made her touch him.
He told the police he caught drugs on her and was trying to discipline her no one believed her story she was locked up for three months.
After she was released I dragged her to a clinic to show her the dangers of what could happen if she didn't stop having sex and doing drugs. She told me she would stop and my dad even managed to get the courts to give him custody.
I was the one who found Randy and when I did I was hurt in the process Jade was there to help me through.
I was so caught up with what happened to me and Randy that I never saw what happened to her , Jade's dad was released and took her back we were 15 by then.
He was pissed and hardened from jail he put on a appearance at his new job fooled everyone even met a woman and got married had a son but he drank and when he got home he was tired of putting on a face and he took it out on Jade they would fight all the time she disgusted him with her clothes her makeup her attitude, she rebelled against him by what he hated most following her own dreams. We both auditioned for Hollywood Arts and we were accepted.
To celebrate and piss off her dad and my mom both we dyed our hair hers black and mine Red Velvet like my aunt Catrina who my mom hates.
Jade looks so much like her mom now that it drove her dad nuts it was like seeing a ghost, the beatings got worse.
Watching beck and Jade fall in love was like having my heart ripped out from inside of me slowly but repetitive every day they would kiss in public often and shamelessly the looks they gave each other were so cute and so sweet. I was the first to know when she started having sex with him she was so scared he would find out her history and hate her I was the one who had to reassure her she was beautiful and that beck would love her.
I buried myself in scripts and homework I took on every audition became every character I could..As close as Beck and her became though I find it comforting to know I was the one she turned to when her dad started touching her and raping her he said he was teaching her how to be a good wife to Beck he didn't know she had already been making love to him, he thought he was teaching her something every woman should know that's what he told her.
I saw her starting to unravel bit by bit her step mom started leaving her brother in her care so she could shop and hang with friends. I knew Jade was slipping but I didn't...
"Cat it's okay please calm down it's not your fault''
"But it is don't you flipping see I was her best friend I'm her girlfriend I should of seen it coming''
When Beck broke up with her she was devastated she drank to the point of passing out she got so sick that morning. I held her while she cried I told her she was beautiful it took a long time for her to believe in me to believe in herself again but I got her there...
We connected in a beautiful way when I sang her a song I had writing she finally understood how much I loved her and she told me she loved me to ..she was finally starting to heal...i just don't know where it fell apart..
Maybe my love just wasn't enough to save her..maybe my issues on top of hers were just too much for her to take...
I tried a different approach with Cat she was feisty and independent but she blamed herself and I hated to do it but if I could get her to keep it up I may get to the bottom of it.
What issues do you have Cat?
You mentioned being hurt does this have something to do with it?
She looked at her dad again who rubbed her back looking nervous himself as he kissed the top of her head.
Randy's kidnapper she...she drugged me and knocked me out..
Cat lowered her eyes unable to go on she stared out in space Monet went over and hugged her as I felt such sadness for this young girl...
Her Dad finished for her..my blood went cold..
The bastard little girl that kidnapped my son also shot my daughter up with LSD and it's given her hallucinations ever since...
Oh Chiz now I knew where I knew her from...
