Portman and Jade quickly jogged the cross country path at Eden Hall, Portman wanted to run on the track but Jade liked the scenery of the other path.
Portman liked how full out Jade ran, he was a lot taller with a longer stride but she was a fast and steady runner. "So, your name suits you, you know that right?"
Jade gave him a sideways glance, "what the hell are you talking about Dean? My name suits me, what is that, a pick up line?" Portman chuckled, "No, it's not a pickup line. Hello, you have green eyes you air head. Jade green eyes, if I'm getting my terminology right." He saw a look of realization cross her face, "Oh, duh. Yeah, my name does match my eye color." she laughed, then tugged on Portman's shirt so his face was down at her level, she gave him a smirk, "tell you a secret." she said in her raspy low voice. He gulped then managed his usual cocky answer, "go ahead, I'm intrigued.", Jade chuckled, "It's not my first name." Portman was confused, "what are you talking about?" Jade laughed again, "Jade, it's my middle name, not my first name. I go by Jade though." Portman laughed, then leaned in closer, "so, Jade, mystery first name, what is your first name?" Jade laughed, then rested her forehead on Portman's, "I don't think so Dean, my first name is classified." then she pulled back and said, "race you to the common room!
The coach was right actually, Portman and Jade got to be really close friends. After a while, Portman found himself falling for the girl, something that all the ducks seemed to notice, but Jade seemed oblivious too.
Portman and Jade came jogging into the common room, they had just gotten back from their evening run, and found many of their team mates in the common room. Adam, Charlie, Connie, Guy, Julie, Fulton, and Ken were all lounging in the common room, watching T.V. Portman flopped down next to Fulton, but Jade stopped when she got into the room, and was stretching, touching her toes and looking at everyone through her legs when Julie said, "you got a letter today Jade." Jade straightened up, "a letter." she said interestedly, "funny, my Belgian sex slave slash pen pal isn't due to write me for another month." she walked over to Julie as everyone snorted with laughter. She took the letter out of Julie's hands and gestured with it while she said, "well maybe he miss…" she trailed off as she scanned the envelope. Everyone turned to look at her when she stopped talking, and were alarmed when they saw her face pale when she read who it was from.
The letter dropped from her shaking hand as she turned, muttering, "I'm… I'm going up to bed." Charlie reached an arm down from the couch and grabbed the envelope. He said, "what is it about Tom and Janet Hillsworth from Northridge CA that upsets Jade so much. Did you guys see her face, it was white, and with the tan that girl's got, well that's impressive."