Author's Note: Sorry the last chapter was so boring. I hope you like this one. Review please!
Disclaimer: I own the Reeves family, and that is all.
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WATERFALL
CHAPTER 1
Jade grimaced as she looked around the motel room. Metal springs stuck through the mattress on the rickety bed she had slept on, and the mattress sloped left. The room itself was tiny, only enough room for the bathroom and the bed. Jade tugged off her clothes from the night before, still covered in mulch, and dumped them into a plastic bag. Before she changed, Jade decided to hop in the shower for a minute. The sight of the bathroom, however, sent her skin crawling. The smaller than small shower was covered in green and yellow blotches of mold and bacteria. The shower curtain was almost the same, with a sickly green stain running down it. The whole bathroom smelled, the smell coming from the dirty, brown toilet. The sink was in the same shape as the shower, and the mirror was so smeared that Jade couldn't even decipher the disgusted look on her face when she looked into it.
Okay, so the shower was out. Jade slipped back into the bedroom, tugging on some light brown cargo pants that flared near her ankles, and a white tee shirt with flowers across the chest. After that, she slipped on some flip-flops. She put on a little make-up, and cleaned up the few things she had taken out. Finally, she grabbed the key and left the motel room in the same state it'd been left in – disgustingly horrible.
Soon, she was out on a somewhat crowded street of Minneapolis, strolling along, glancing at the stores and shops. Jade was a sucker for shopping, but didn't buy anything. She had brought all of the cash she'd been saving – up to $500 dollars, but even at a cheap motel the money would go quick every night. One thing, however, was for sure. She wasn't staying in that motel again.
Jade looked around for a fast food restaurant for some lunch, suddenly cursing the fact that she hadn't worn her sneakers. She could feel the skin between her toes blistering already. Finally, as she rounded another street, she saw the foreign sight of a Wendy's, perched just off a ways from a busy intersection.
When she walked in, it was the sight one would expect at a Wendy's. The floor was only slightly dirty, and just about everything else was in good shape. The workers bustled behind the counters as hungry customers scoured for a table. Apparently, the work rush was in. Jade slipped in right before a visiting family with two young kids, both bawling for all they were worth. The blonde hunkered down in front of them, letting the noise filter into her ears, sounding like a charming melody after the quiet she had been put through.
At the register, a tall, muscled, bulky man ran a hand through his short, buzz-cut brown hair. His hand extended to hand something to the worker. Jade froze, her heart thudding painfully in her chest as she strained to see what it was.
A picture…of her…
Jade's eyes widened, and she whirled around just as the man turned to cast an eye on the line. The only glance he got of Jade was her retreating mass of fairy-tale blond hair. Jade shoved past the people who stood shoulder-to-shoulder, the noise and crowdedness no longer comforting, but terrifying. Jade dashed to the restrooms. Just as an older lady limped out of the bathroom, Jade dashed in front of the next in line, a lady with an upturned nose and manners to match, and shut the door quickly, fumbling with the lock before actually locking it.
After calming herself down, Jade slowly exited the bathroom, stumbling an apology to the lady before quickly exiting the Wendy's, not looking over her shoulder in case she caught her father's eye.
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Jade sighed, settling down in the folding chair. She was sitting four rows before the apron, on the aisle seat. She had already tried to make it backstage to find her uncle, but the security was tight and demanding. Jade leaned backward, her feet stretched ahead of her as she thought of the life she'd left behind. She knew that she could file as an independent, but she needed to know more about it – and it no doubt included her foster parents' approval. The blonde wasn't stupid enough to think she could blow through it on her own, and that's why she was sitting there. And also because she was entertaining the idea that she'd dreamed of for a few years.
RAW had already started, but it was on a commercial break, and the roaring of the fans had died down for a few scarce, beautiful minutes. Jade took that time to think of a plan. She knew that she could never get past security, so her only hope was to catch his eye and hope that he recognized her. An odd feeling of dread started in her stomach. What if her uncle didn't recognize her? Jade shook her head at the thought, and leapt to attention as the music started up once more, egging on the roars. The blonde watched as Christian, and then Booker T made their ways to the ring. It was a terrific match, and Jade loved every second as she booed and cheered with the fans, delight lighting her features for the first time in quite awhile. She didn't, however, boo when Christian once again cheated Booker T out of the Championship by using the ropes for leverage. As Christian passed by, clutching his title to his chest as if someone may take it from him, Jade tried to push past the fans that created a tight band around the barrier. Jade shoved past two people so only one more row of people stood between them.
"Uncle Jay!" she cried, making his head turn. Jade leapt through the row, and her eyes locked with his. She desperately hoped that he recognized her.
"Jade!" he cried, a smile teasing his lips. The blonde stepped on the top of the barrier, and, before security could catch her, leapt into his open arms. As the two hugged, Christian muttered something to the security, making them back away uncertainly.
Jade let out a small sigh of relief as Christian hugged her tightly. A smile stayed firmly on her face as they both pulled away and Christian laced his fingers through hers.
He took a glance at the way she came, "Where's your parents?" he asked. She winced and pulled away, but didn't make a move to pull her hand away.
"I ran away," she admitted, her jade eyes settled on his face, and, for some reason unknown to Christian, were full of shame, "I just couldn't take it anymore."
"Take what?" he asked innocently. Jade stared at him for a second, wide-eyed in amazement and disbelief.
"Let's talk about it backstage," she said, her voice wavering as they traveled through the curtains. Once they ended up in his locker room, she told him the whole story.
It was a relief to have someone to talk to.
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Author's Note: I'm sorry this chapter took so long, and sorry it's kind of slow. It will pick up in the next chapter though, I promise you guys that. Please review!
