Hidden In Plain Sight

Chapter Seven:

Jade's POV;

I walked into Hollywood Arts for my second day back. I don't think people have quite gotten used to me being back, but they had calmed down a bit. I stayed at Cat's last night, per the arrangement, but honestly, she is so annoying. I'm grateful she let me stay though, and of course her parents didn't mind.

After the whole confession last night at Vega's house, I'm trying to avoid everyone. It's sort of impossible to avoid Cat, but at least I know she won't pester me about what I'd said. She has the attention span of a fish.

Thankfully after what I'd told them, they didn't ask for more details. There was a lot I still didn't tell them, but I'd told them the main stuff so they let me and Cat leave.

Walking up to my locker with everyone's eyes on me made me anxious, but I held my head high and input the code when I got there. I had to be quick because Robbie's locker is next to mine and I didn't want to face his pitying look or Rex's snide comments about the Wicked Witch returning to Oz.

After swapping a few books and putting some others in the locker, I closed and locked it, ready to walk off. However, as I turned around, I came face to face with none other than Beck. I had the almost irresistable urge to scream. If I thought seeing Cat or Vega was bad, Beck was worse.

He gave me an awkward smile and I tried to return it as best as I could, but I'm sure it looked more like a grimace. His light chuckle confirmed my suspicions. I rolled my eyes and attempted to move around him and head to class, but he grabbed my wrist, stopping me from leaving.

I turned around and glared at him, pulling my wrist from his grasp. "What do you want?" I asked. A little harsher than intended, but who cares? "I wanted to know how you were doing," he stated, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. "I'm fine," I told him and turned to make a quick exit, but he grabbed my wrist again.

I pulled my wrist from him again, and turned around. "What?" I growled. If he keeps grabbing me, I'm going to hit him. "Are you really 'fine'?" He questioned. Obviously he saw through my façade, I scoffed to myself. "Yes. Now if that's all, I need to get to class," I stated. Just as I said that, the warning bell rang. It seems the Heaven's are favouring me today.

With a nod from him, I took my leave. Finally. Despite the fact that we're in the same class first period today, he watched me leave before coming in the same direction as me. He used to always do this when we'd had an argument. It's sad that we argued enough for it to become a routine.

oOoOoOo

Beck's POV;

After talking to Jade this morning, my thoughts from last night were confirmed. There was something else she wasn't telling us. The others may have believed that what she told us last night was all there was to it, but I know Jade more than any of them. And she was holding something back.

All it took was one short conversation with her and I already know there's something else. It'll take a bit of convincing and making up, but I hope to find out what she's still hiding. As much as I miss her and want to get back with her, her wellbeing comes first. I'll have to put my previous plans of getting back together on hold.

When I walked into Biology class, my eyes immediately drifted to Jade. She was sat in her old seat by the one way windows. Just like before she ran away, her eyes stayed glued looking out of the windows. She was actually very good at all kinds of science, but she couldn't care less about it which is why, every lesson, she chose to stare out of the windows rather than listen to the teacher.

I took my seat on the other side of the class room next to Robbie. It was only us in three in this class. Unfortunately Cat didn't get good enough grades to continue doing science, Tori joined too late, and André chose to do Chemistry instead of Biology.

In Hollywood Arts, it was mandatory to some kind of science and you got the choice on which you wanted to do. Unless you didn't get high enough grades (like Cat), or you joined late (Tori).

Robbie greeted me when I sat down and I awkwardly waved at him after Rex made some remark before I could say 'hi'.

As the teacher started the lesson after all the students had finally arrived, I felt my attention drifting. All I could think about was Jade. She was sat alone looking out of the window like she always did. She wasn't allowed to sit next to other students because the last time she was paired with someone else... Well, the student got taken off Biology. We weren't allowed to sit next to each other either because we would never pay attention.

I knew sitting alone didn't bother her (she preferred it, really), but I sometimes felt bad and wondered what she could be thinking about for an hour as she looked out of the window.

I was drawn from my thoughts when someone knocked on the classroom door and Lane entered a second later followed by two cops. I sat up straighter in my seat, along with Robbie and a few other students. Why was Lane there with cops?

"Hello, Mrs Smith. I was wondering if I could speak to Jade?" Lane requested. Robbie and I looked at each other then at Jade. What had she done? Maybe it was just because of when she ran away, I told myself. But the way Jade paled and eyed the cops... I didn't know what to think.

"Don't worry, she's not in trouble. I just need to speak to her," Lane reassured. As much as I wanted to worry, I trusted Lane so I calmed down. Our teacher nodded, agreeing that he could speak to Jade causing Jade herself to sigh heavily and grab her bag. She left with Lane and the cops, but the tension didn't. Everyone wanted to know why Lane had cops with him if he just wanted to talk to her.

Robbie turned to me, "what do you think he wanted to talk about?" He questioned, obviously hoping I would know the answer. I shook my head, "I'm not sure. It's likely about her running away, though," I assumed. That was the most logical answer, anyway, but I still can't find a reason why Lane would need cops.

As our teacher restarted the lesson, my attention was even more divided than it was earlier. I just couldn't stop thinking about Jade.

oOoOoOo

At lunch, I sat down with the others. We were all eating our lunch and talking. We were much happier than when Jade had been 'missing'. Speaking of Jade, she wasn't here. I hadn't seen her since Biology, in fact.

I looked around, hoping to see her getting lunch from the Grub Truck or walking over to us with a coffee in her hand, but I didn't see her.

I placed my pizza down and swallowed my food, "hey, has anyone seen Jade?" I asked, interrupting their conversation. Not that I cared, Jade was my main priority right now. After what happend in Biology, I had every right to be worried.

Most of them shook their heads except Cat, she nodded her head and said she'd seen her earlier. "Where was she?" I prompted.

"She left the school," she told me nonchalantly whilst eating a fry. "Why did she leave the school?" I asked with confusion.

"Well, I asked and she said she was going back to mine," she said. I sighed and rubbed a hand across my face. She'd obviously finished speaking to Lane and the cops by then, so why did she go back to Cat's?

"Why does it matter where Jade is? She used to leave school early all the time," André spoke up, obviously not sensing my distress. "Earlier, in Biology, Lane came to get Jade so he could speak to her. He was with cops, though," Robbie informed. I rested my arms on the table, suddenly finished with my food.

"Wait, he was with the cops?" Tori asked with shock. "What do you think they wanted to talk about?" She then questioned.

"Jadey was with the cops, too," Cat said before I could say anything. All eyes turned to her. Why hadn't she mentioned that before?! "Jade was with the cops earlier? Was she handcuffed?" I asked. Knowing Cat, Jade could have been taken by the SWAT team and she wouldn't think anything of it.

Cat gasped, "no, of course not!" She defended. I sighed for the second time in the past three minutes. So now we know that Jade had gone to talk to Lane and the cops and she left the school earlier with the cops, telling cat she was going to hers. My brain hurt, I don't know what to think anymore. I guess I'll just have to confide in Cat for once to see why Jade was with the cops. We can't all go to Cat's, bombarding her with questions.

I turned to the red head, "Cat. Can we trust you to talk to Jade after school and see why she was with the cops?" I asked in a voice that was almost like I was talking to a child. She quickly nodded her head, reassuring me and saying we could trust her.

"Maybe I should go with her?" Tori suggested. I turned to her. I know how much Jade hates Tori so I wasn't sure if it was a good idea. I'm not sure if Jade's feelings would have changed. "No, I can do it! Please trust me?" Cat persisted. With a moment of hesitation, I eventually nodded my head. I would have to trust Cat and hope she actually talks to Jade.

A/N: Andddd another chapter to this story, bringing it up to 17/18k words in only 7 chapters. Wow...