I'm baaacckkk! haha and with another Cade story. I started thinking about this halfway through my other story, but wanted to finish that one first.
So yeah. This is an AU story where Jade does attend HA, and the rest of the gang does make appearances, but Cat isn't a part of their group. She becomes a part when she's taken in by the Wests and begins to attend HA with Jade, and starts hanging out with Jade's friends.
there will be mentions of Cat's past home life, which wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. i started out with an M rating, but i realized that that might limit the amount of people who will see it, so i'm changing it to T. it's not like there's smut or anything seriously mature in the story. but there will be language and a few sensitive themes, but nothing too overtly M.
I'm in love with this idea, so i hope you all like it as much as i do.
The first chapter is short because i'm kinda trying to set the tone, but the rest will be longer.
Enjoy :)
Jade always thought there was an unusual irony in her life. For a person who is so terrible with people, she finds herself surrounded by strangers on almost a daily basis. People walk in and out of her home constantly, for as long as she could remember. Sometimes, Jade thinks that she scares the people away, but inside she knows that even her demented insanity is nothing compared to the lives that some of these people have lived. Though Jade doesn't like admitting it, she's not the scariest thing in the world.
Some things are just horrifying.
Since even before Jade was born, her parents took in foster children. Jade grew up with brothers and sisters moving in and out of the five extra bedrooms in their comfortably large house.
Jade has always tried convincing herself that she is the opposite of her parents. Jade's parents are saints, for lack of a better word. Mother Theresa herself must have laid a golden hand on the hearts of the West's, but completely forgot about their only biological daughter.
Jade wasn't like her parents.
Her parents open up their homes and hearts to total strangers. Often, these are kids who have seen a world of hurt, and the Wests are just trying to make things better for them. They sacrifice money that could be used for a more extravagant lifestyle for a normal family of three by turning it into a family of eight that switches constantly. Children grow up and leave the system. Children are adopted and leave the system. They're taken in by other family members and Jade says goodbye to them forever.
Jade is very good at goodbyes.
It's the hellos that always get to her.
Jade isn't completely heartless. She's not against the things her parents do. She knows that they've helped out more people than Jade ever will in a lifetime, and they're far from done. But Jade isn't a fan of new people entering her bubble.
It's times like the past week that Jade loves the most. For the past week, it's just been her and her parents. No other kids. No un-related "brothers" and "sisters" clouding her life. She can sit on her bed, listening to music softly in the background as her eyes scan the leather-clad book on her lap.
But she knows that these moments of solitude don't last long in her house. Over the past 17 years, Jade has learned to cherish those moments, because at any moment, her space will be invaded.
And so, as the doorbell rang and Jade heard her mother's lilting call for her to come down the stairs, Jade shut her book with a huff and walked out into the hallway.
She stood at the top of the staircase with her arms crossed in front of her against her black sweater, eyes glued to the door as her parents basically skipped to the white, wooden archway and pulled the door open.
"Mr. and Mrs. West," Angela smiled. Angela's eyes were as warm as Jade remembered them being 17 years ago. She was the case worker who worked most closely with the Wests, usually being the one to bring over the kids.
"Angela," Jade's mother chirped. "It's so lovely to see you again. How have you been?"
"I've been wonderful," she said. "But I have someone for you to meet. Mr. and Mrs. West, I'd like for you to meet Catarina Valentine."
She stepped to the side and Jade found herself staring at the girl from her position at the top of the staircase.
Jade and her parents were told little about the girl, other than the fact that she was a girl taken from very complicated home life, and that she was close to Jade's age.
But this wasn't the type of kid who is usually brought to the West's house by social services.
The kids are usually dark, both in personality and dress. Ripped jeans, oversized sweatshirts, and a look on their face that says they don't want to be here. There's usually a hint of defiance in their eye, and perhaps some battle wounds on their bodies. But that's not what Jade saw in front of her.
The foster kids usually aren't wearing pale pink lace dresses that delicately dance down to their knee and a white cardigan covering naturally tanned arms. They usually don't wear white ballet flats, or sparkly bows in their bright red-from-a-bottle hair. Except, it's not red. It's like a sharp fuchsia that screams in your ear. The kids don't usually smile weakly as they clutch a pink stuffed giraffe close to their chests.
"Hello," Catarina said with a tiny wave. Her voice was like a beautiful song. Jade watched as the petite girl shared pleasantries with her parents, just watching the way the tiny girl moved.
One thing Jade learned from her many years being a part of the foster care system was how to read people. It's something she was good at. People, as much as she disliked them, made sense. And this girl was no different, but it was like the story Jade was reading was filled with plot twists. Her eyes read happiness making fears. Her clothes were dark depression trying to be hidden by a false pretense of innocent joy. The stuffed animal to her chest and the bow in her hair were a tortured childhood and a desperate need to never grow up. The girl was complicated and intriguing.
"Jadelyn," her mother called again. "Come meet Catarina."
After a pause, Jade stormed down the stairs and into the foyer. She watched the small girl's eyes open a little wider at the sight of Jade's intimidating presence, but soon regained her composure.
Acting, Jade decided. One thing that most of these kids have always been good at is acting like they're completely fine when in truth, they're scared of life.
"You can call me Cat," the girl said. The corners of her mouth lifted into what could barely be considered a smile.
Jade nodded once, being about as close to a proper hello as this girl was going to get from her.
Jade didn't particularly like hellos.
"Why don't you show Catarina to her room," her mother said. Jade internally smirked as she saw Cat's eyes trail over to her mother, noting how the woman still used her full name.
"Whatever," Jade grumbled. She walked over to the girl, noticing how the head of brightly colored hair only just barely reached to Jade's chin.
"Put your arm out," Jade commanded.
Cat frowned as she shakily extended her arm. It's a start. Jade thought. It was a sign that the girl wasn't incapable of trust. Jade grabbed the girl by the wrist, feeling the fabric under her fingers. It was soft, and undoubtedly expensive. Jade pulled slightly and the girl walked behind her, pulling on her pink and white polka-dot suitcase as they made their way up the stairs and down the hall to the bedroom opposite Jade's.
The extra five rooms are basically decorated to fit any child who might walk through their door. One for a teenage girl, a teenage boy, a little girl, a little boy, and the fifth being a unisex room with a crib for a baby.
Jade hated babies.
They walked into the teenage girl room and Jade released her grip on the girl's wrist.
For a moment, neither of them says anything. Cat's eyes scan the room, which is void of any personal objects, and Jade's eyes scan Cat.
"I can read you, you know," Jade says suddenly, and Cat's eyes move to meet hers. "Everything about you."
Cat furrowed her eyebrows, and Jade thought she almost looked cute with that pensive look on her face. "What do you see?" She asked.
Jade shrugged. "A girl trying to make a good impression. She's seen hurt and pain, and she doesn't say anything about it, but her eyes scream for attention. They say that this girl wants laughter and love, but she feels broken inside. On the outside, she's perfect. Perfect hair, perfect smile, perfect clothes. But inside, its scars and bruises."
Cat didn't say anything, and Jade continued. "You're not the first to walk in here, you know. I've seen dozens of people like you. I just wanted you to know that I see everything. Including the things you don't know that I see and the things you don't want me to see. All of those things that you're trying to keep secret won't stay secret for long."
After a moment, Cat finally answered. "Is this how you greet everyone, or am I special?"
Jade grinned, dark and sarcastic. "Little bright balls of sunshine don't usually walk into places like this, so yeah, little girl. I'm gonna say you're pretty damn special."
Cat's eyes didn't move from Jade's piercing green. "If you think that's going to scare me, you're going to have t to try harder," she said softly. "You're not as scary as you think you are."
It was a challenge wrapped up in such a polite wrapper that it almost made Jade smile.
Almost.
"You know what," Jade said, "that's what you think now. But you barely know me. Believe me. I'm more fucking scary than you think."
Jade saw the way Cat flinched at the expletive, and Jade's mother walked into the room.
"How do you like your room, Catarina?" she asked.
The smile returned to Cat's mouth as she looked around again. "It looks great," she said. "Thank you so much for letting me stay here."
"The pleasure is all mine," Mrs. West said. "Don't think of yourself as a guest in this home. This is your house now too. If you're hungry, open the fridge. All is yours."
Mrs. West turned to Jade before continuing. "And I know that my little Jadelyn is a bit… hard to get along with, but she'll take care of you, too," she said.
Jade hated how certain her mother seemed of her own words.
"Yeah," Jade said with no true sincerity behind her words. "I'll take care of you. Promise."
Ta Da! Chapter numero uno is complete. What do you think?
Reviews make me happy :)