Authors Note:

Once more, something more angsty than I usually write - I'm more known (haha like I'm actually known! But sometimes I like to lie to myself.) for my comedies/banter-y stories, but for some reason, one shots often come out angsty for me.

Very open ended; it's all in Jade's thoughts, so her visions of the future may not happen, of course! So if you choose too, you can write this whole thing off as Jade's commitment issues.

The one isn't set in the same world as any of my other stories, and is a complete one off. Title is from 'Say Something' by A Great Big World feat. Christina Aguilera.

I hope you enjoy!

Jade had no idealistic thoughts when it came to her and Beck. She knew that they wouldn't last forever and ever. They'd graduate from Hollywood Arts. He'd stay in Hollywood, forgoing university for auditions in movies. She'd go to New York, to Tisch School of Arts.

Jade wanted to set the ground rules of their relationship out at the start. To save herself heartache at the end. That was why she was so protective of their relationship. Because she wanted it to last as long as it realistically could. She didn't want to waste a minute. And every time she tried to bring up that certain conversation, about their future, he would side step it gracefully as if he had some internal radar that alerted him to it. He acted as if they had all the time in the world. They both knew they didn't.

The promises they made to each other when they were entangled together in his cramped bed, hands exploring curves and nerves neither knew they had until the other found them, were sweet and loving and romantic but worthless.

I'll never leave you

She'd utter in his ear.

We'll always be together

He'd murmur against the soft skin of her stomach before making her see heaven and hell all at once.

I'll love you forever

She'd whisper as they were stilled in the middle of euphoria, hands entwined, beads of sweat on his forehead and running down his backs, her eyes staring into his, both of their pupils blow so wide they're irises were almost black, her hair fanned out on the pillows under her.

But they were lies.

Because she would leave for University.

Because he would stay in LA.

And of course, they'd try the long-distance thing; exchange letters, phone calls, texts, video chats, emails. And she'd smile every time she got a call from him. And he'd chuckle every time she sent a text detailing what had pissed her off that day. And then they'd miss arranged times to call or FaceTime. And each time it would take them longer to get back in touch, to text an apology.

But Jade continued. She knew their passion would continue to burn until it finally ran out of fuel.

She always believed it was better to burn than to fade.

Every morning she prepared to let him go. And every night, when he was still there her heart broke a little. Because she wanted them to get out while the going was good. She wanted them to remember the good times, the times when he showed her that boyish smile she loved so much, when he'd take her hand and pull her into his lap, when he'd whisper words of love and loyalty in her ear. Not the bad times that were sure to come. Because Jade knew nothing good lasts forever, especially not when she's involved. Badness seeps in, corrupting once beautiful moments and memories, twisting them to fit its plans. His smile would become a cruel smirk. He wouldn't pull her into his lap, he'd push her away. His whispered words of love and loyalty in the dark of an RV, in the middle of the night would become acidic barbs and violent words.

I'll love you forever.

She will love him forever. And that's the problem.

OK so it's a little slow going with my next multi-chaptered story. My original plan was to do a rewrite of the show with a MAJOR change and have that up next, but it's a bigger project than I thought so it's a bit hard to tackle. So I'll probably post up another multi-chaptered story first, and then my rewrite story will be updated VERY sporadically, especially compared to my usual 'try to update once a week' style. I think the next multi-chapter will be one about other characters and their view on Jade and her touch avoidance.

Anyway! Please leave a review if you liked it, and if you didn't, leave a review letting me know how I could improve! I'm always open to constructive criticism but you're all so lovely I don't think I've ever gotten a bad word from you all!