An: So I took down my first version of chapter 2 and uploaded this version for a few reasons. When I first uploaded this I just wanted to get it out because I had it finished for so long and just wanted to put something up. After re-reading it and trying to write chapter 3 I realized I need to go back into chapter 2 and change a few things and add more, because 1) This Chapter ended sort of awkwardly, 2) I needed to add things that would help set up thing for future chapters, 3) Welp I'm struggling with chapter 3 because of the way chapter 2 was written. Anyway for those of you who already read this The beginning is mostly the same Its really just the ending that's a little different but I recommend reading it So chapter 3 makes and future chapters make sense. I also have another AN at the bottom as well talking about some important stuff so yeah. Enjoy.
Warning: Contains mentions of abuse.
"Forgetting is like lighting a candle. The candle might disappear. But the wax will always be there."
Chapter 2
Jade P.O.V.
I remember the first time as if it happened yesterday. You can never forget something like that. Once it happens it becomes seared into your mind.
I just finished cooking dinner while Riley was setting the table. I placed the large bowl of Alfredo pasta in the middle of the table then took my seat. Riley knew better than to try and start up a conversation, especially then.
To say that I was mad was an understatement. I was absolutely livid when Riley walked in the house almost two hours later than he should have after school by himself.
I heard the front door open and shut. Riley glanced at me with a worried expression as the sound of heels clicking on our tile floor began to approach closer to the dining room.
With gritted teeth, I glared at the hallway entrance. Ashley walked into the dining room in her work outfit looking from me to to the table then to Riley.
"Oh Good. You made dinner." Is all she says before taking her place at the head of the table. I stop eating and stare at her till she finally notices. I scowl at her then give her a glare.
"Jade, don't start. Whatever you need to say can wait." She says dismissively.
This only causes my anger to flare. I grip fork harder causing my knuckles to become white and my glare at her only intenses. She stares at me then places her fork down giving me her full attention.
"What?" she says hardening her voice, raising her delicate eyebrow.
"Riley walked home today," I say through gritted teeth. She looks at me then turns to Riley.
"Didn't I give you money to ride the bus?" She asks him. He doesn't look up from his food and begins fidgeting.
"No" He mumbles still looking down at his food, picking at it.
"That's five fucking miles, by himself." I seethe still glaring at her. She sighs rubbing her temple slightly.
"Riley I'm sorry." She says .
"Sorry? That's it? How about 'sorry it won't happen again.' Oh Wait, You can't say that because that's the third time this month that its happen." I say sarcastically, my voice rising slightly. She turns her head from Riley to me.
"Jade Enough." She warns. I scoff.
"Enough? Really? No, it's not enough. That's the third time this fucking month. I don't like having to fucking worry about my little brother because our oh so great step mother can't fucking remember to give him two dollars to ride the bus." I say voice still raising. I stand up from my seat and face her.
"Jade." She warning me again.
"NO! IF YOU COULD ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT HIM ENOUGH TO PICK HIM UP AFTER SCHOOL WE WOULDNT HAVE TO BE ARGUING ABOUT THIS. BUT APPARENTLY, MY FATHER PICKS THE WORST WIVES EVER BECAUSE YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING. FOR ALL WE KNOW, THE REASON YOU ALWAYS STAY LATE IN THE OFFICE IS BECAUSE YOU'RE PROBABLY FUCKING YOUR BOSS." I shout knowing I probably crossed the line.
In one swift movement, she's in front of me with the angriest look I've ever seen on her. Before I have time to react I feel a sharp pain erupt from my right cheek. I hear a soft gasp come from across the table. I look up at Ashley with wide eyes only to meet dangerous blue eyes.
"Riley. Go. To. You're. Room" Ashley in a low voice.
I hear him scramble from his seat and run upstairs. I back up slightly suddenly becoming afraid of the deathly look she's giving me.
She stalks forward causing me to back up until my back roughly hits the wall behind me. I shrink a bit as she towers over me. Her hand fly's up into my hair and roughly grips it. She tugs up causing me to wince and stand on my toes to try and lessen the pain.
"I work way too damn hard and too much to have a smart ass, ungrateful little shit like you disrespect me under my own roof." She hisses. I look away from her when I notice movement on the stairs. She tugs my hair again causing me to whimper and look at her.
"Look at me when I am talking to you. Understood?" She growls out. When I don't respond she pulls my hair roughly. I feel tears begin to roll down my cheeks and I immediately nod.
"Yes, ma'am." I quiver.
"What I do at the office is my business. It does not concern you in any way. I'm the one in this house beside your father that pays the bills. So if you dare act like you do something or ever insinuate the things I do at the office again, I will put 5 feet under the ground. Do you understand me?" She growls out again.
I nod frighteningly in the hope that she will let go of my hair. Her eyes linger on me for a bit longer before she lets go. She backs up from me giving me some breathing space.
"Good. Now clean up this mess." She says dismissively, leaving me for once in my life regretting what I said. She turns on her heel and begins to stalk out of the dining room.
My hand comes up to my face causing me to wince when the pads of my fingers brush across the tender skin on my cheek. The sound of a door slamming jolts me back to reality. I hastily get up from the wall and rush over to the table and start grabbing the plates taking them into the kitchen.
I scrape the food off of them and place them into the sink. I speedily walk back into the dining room and grab the tray of Alfredo and bring it into the kitchen as well. I scrape the food into a container and stuff it into the fridge. I grab tray that held the Alfredo and place it into the sink along with the other plates the were already in there.
I sigh grabbing a sponge and begin cleaning the plates, placing the in the dishwasher when they are clean enough. My hands shake as my body finally begins to process the events of the night.
I grip the kitchen sink as I feel the start of the panic attack occur. My breathing becomes ragged and my body shakes harder. I grip the sink harder causing my knuckles whiten.
When I think I might pass out small arms wrap around my waist and a head rest on my lower back. I close my eyes forcing myself to take deep breaths. Taking one last shaky deep breath, I let go of the sink and turn myself around to hug the small body behind me.
"I'm okay Rye." I murmur softly running a hand through his hand.
"I'm not." He whispers back to me. My heart shatters when his fingers twist into my shirt and begin to shake. My shirt slowly becomes wet as Riley begins to cry softly.
"Shh, it's okay Rye. I won't let her hurt you." I say as I start stroking his hair. His soft cry becomes louder as sobs begin to shake his whole body.
"I thought I told you to go to your room." An Icy voice says from across the kitchen. I stiffen and raise my eyes to meet icy blue ones. Riley stiffens as well causing his sobbing to turn to soft sniffles.
"And I thought I told you to clean the dishes." She bites out turning her hard eyes to meet mine. My face throbs slightly at the reminder of her earlier actions. I force myself to relax under her glare.
"Riley said he couldn't sleep," I reply softly not wanting to provoke her again. She looks over both of us before turning on her heel. Before she can leave Riley finally decides to voice his opinion.
"This is your fault." He says quietly. I stiffen again hoping she didn't hear that and would continue to walk. Much to my dismay, she stops in her place stiffens her posture and whips around.
"Excuse me?" She spits out. Riley dis-tangles from me and faces her.
"Rye," I say putting my hand on his shoulder as a warning. He shrugs it off.
"No. It's your fault. You didn't have to hit Jade. She was rude, but you didn't don't need to hit her." Riley says ignoring my attempt to shut him up. I glance up to Ashley. Her posture is tense as she watches Riley rant.
"That's what I thought you said." She says eerily calmly before striding up to Riley and roughly grabbing his arm. The yelp that comes out of Riley makes me rush forward and slightly shove Ashley off of Riley.
"Get off of him." I spit at her while placing Riley behind me.
"How dare you." She hisses. Faster than my eyes can follow she's in front of me with a hand raised. My head flings sideways with the contact on my already tender cheek, causing me to fall over with a yelp.
Before I can move she's over my body with her fist cocked back. I groan as pain coursed throughout my body. I lay limply unable to move or protect myself from the blows across my body continue. As the beating continues my vision begins to blur.
"JADE." I hear a scream from afar. I close my eyes when the beating finally stops. I force my eyes open to see Ashley stalk over to Riley and grab him by his arm.
Through the dark spots and blurry vision I see Ashley's mouth move but no words come out. She points to me and begins shaking Riley.
"Riley," I mumble out trying to get my body to move towards Ashley to stop her.
"Riley," I mumble out again trying to get someone's attention. Ashley shakes Riley harder and brings her hand up in an open palm.
"RILEY!" I scream, jolting out of the bed crashing into strong arms. They grip around me hugging me tightly. I thrash around trying to shove the person off of me when I realize I'm not in my room.
"Jade, it's okay. You're okay. Riley's at his moms for spring break remember" Becks voice filters through my head. My body shakes at the memory of Ashley. Beck only continues to hold me rubbing circles on my back.
"I'm sorry," I mutter not wanting to face the world right now. He sighs and pulls away from me. I look at him while he runs a hand through his hair.
"Don't be. I can't say that I know what it's like. But it's not your fault so don't apologize." He says. I only nod not knowing what else to say. I look down at the floor feeling his eyes on me. Sighing I shake my head to get rid of my dream-like memory.
"What time is it?" I finally ask before the silence becomes too much to bare.
"Uhm 6:52" he hesitates to answer. My eyes nearly bug out at the realization that I have about 8 minutes to get ready.
"WHAT THE HELL WHY DIDNT YOU WAKE ME UP." I screech rushing around my bed grabbing my backpack before dumping its contents over the bed.
I quickly grab my make-up bag, a change of clothes and rush into the bathroom to quickly get ready.
"Sorry?" Beck calls out through the bathroom door.
Hastily I put on my dark blue striped t-shirt and wiggle into my dark skinny jeans ignoring the slight aches from my bruises. Out of my make-up bag, I grab Mascara and eyeliner quickly applying both before throwing it into a bag before rushing back into the bedroom almost to smack right into Beck.
"Whoa, there tiger. You still have 2 minutes." He says. I ignore his comment plop down onto the bed, slip my feet into my combat boots and begin to lace them up. When I finish I glance around the bed for my blue and red flannel to cover my arms.
"Looking for this?" Beck says with a playful grin holding my flannel in his hand. I grumble nonsense before getting up and snatching the flannel out of his hand. I put the flannel on slowly basking in the coolness it brings when in rest against my skin.
Beck walks out of the room and I trail behind him, thankful that he lets me keep my school bag in his car and that I do my homework while in school. We walk down the stairs in silence moving past the kitchen and out the front door.
"Later mom," Beck calls over his shoulder before closing the door and unlocking his car. I walk to the passenger side and quickly get in. He gets into the driver seat quietly and starts the engine.
I rest my head against the window and let myself drift off into my own thoughts as we make our way to school. Not realizing it I begin to doze off successfully avoiding any type of dreams.
"Jade." I hear next to me. I'm annoyed at the fact that this person won't let me sleep peacefully or at least offer me a wake up offering such as my coffee.
"Coffee," I mutter already feeling irritable without it.
"Jade." The male voice says again before shaking myself. I ignore the voice and continue to rest until I feel the car door open and I nearly fall out.
I shoot up fully awake, about to murder the person who opened the door only to be met with fire red hair. I glare down at Cat.
"Aw did Jadey not get her coffee?" Cat giggles. I only continue to glare but stop to take into account how bright it is.
"Fucking hell," I mutter realizing today is going to be a hot day.
I glare once more time at Cat before turning around and grabbing my Gear Of War bag from the back seat of the car. Not taking a second glance at Beck or Cat I stalk up the stairs to school.
Shoving open the entrance glaring anyone who dares to even glance at me making it painfully clear to everyone that I obviously did not have my morning coffee.
I walk over to my locker and swap out the necessary item for the day like my script writing book and my favorite pair of scissors hoping to find some kind of comfort in them.
"Good morning Jade." I hear someone say happily from behind me. A silence sweeps the hallways as everybody waits for my blow up of snide remarks and snide comments to put whoever behind me in my place. I place my scissors in my boot, my notebook in my bag and turn around holding back my snide remark.
"Vega," I say holding back the irritation in my voice. She gives me a weird look then glances to her right.
"She woke up late and didn't have her morning coffee," Beck says from beside me. I roll my eyes and push myself off my locker and begin walking down the hallways feeling my irritation begin to build again.
Cat and Tori talk animatedly to each other about something which I quickly block out. Beck walks quietly with his arm around Cat only saying things occasionally.
"So what about you Jade." I hear from my left snapping me out of my thoughts. I glance over to my left at Tori.
"What Vega?" I say looking back forward to avoid being hit by people walking in the hallway.
"Ryder is having a pool party tonight so we were wondering if you wanted to go." She says hopefully. I feel Becks eyes on me waiting to see what ill do.
"I don't like parties," I say as nonchalantly as possible.
"Why not?" I don't need to look at her to know she's frowning.
"Because I like being in a room full of other hormonal teenagers who think it's fun to get drunk just to puke it up because they don't know hold their liquor" I snort sarcastically. Before she can say anything else the morning bell rings. I nod at Beck causing him to nod back.
"Later Kitty Cat, Vega," I say turning on my heel to get to class.
"Bye bye Jadey." I hear Cat say while walking away.
"Wait, Jade," Tori says from behind me. I turn around her raising an eyebrow waiting for her to continue. She begins fidgeting while struggling for words to say. The second warning bell rings causing her to stop fidgeting and sigh.
"See you at lunch." She says dejectedly before turning around and heading to class. I stare at the spot that Tori was standing in wondering what she was thinking about.
Feeling slightly irritated that I can't come up with anything that she could have said, I march into class ignoring the teacher when he announces that I'm late.
'like no shit I'm late. Don't need to state the obvious.' I grumble slinging my back under my desk, halfheartedly listening to the teachers lecture.
I begin tuning him out when he starts talking about 'useful' things to remember while screenwriting. I stare out the window I'm next to only noticing now the heat waves that are outside.
My thoughts take a quick turn and my mind is soon overrun by all things Tori. Her fidgeting under my gaze, biting her lip under my gaze.
Soon my thoughts turn to me walking toward her pushing her into the locker and pinning her there. A smirk graces my face at her wide eyes, and my eyes travel down to her lips as I lick mine. I hear her suck in a breath as I inch myself forward a bit.
My thoughts are interrupted when the bell rings making me realize that I thought about Tori the entire class. I grab my backpack from under the desk and hurry to my next class.
I get through this class and the next class in the similar fashion of my first class and before I know it it's lunch. I walk to cats locker and wait for there.
"Hey, Jadey." Cat calls bouncing up to her locker. I nod towards her not saying anything and wait for her to put her stuff in her locker.
"Let's go," I say when she closes her locker. We walk together outside into the searing heat and I feel cat slightly deflate next to me.
"It's sooo hot." She whines a bit and pouts. I chuckle a bit and poke her side causing her to giggle a bit.
"Come on kitty, You being grumpy is only gonna make me more grumpy," I say poking her side again causing her to giggle louder this time. I ignore the glances we get as we head towards the grub truck.
"A grumpy Jadey isn't a fun Jadey." Cat says giggling. Finally getting to the front of the line I pay for a salad and Cat doesn't order anything. I raise an eyebrow at her when she pulls out a bottle of sunscreen.
"I was hoping if I eat the sunscreen my insides would stop burning." She says fiddling with the bottle. I stop walking and gape at her. She stops walking and looks at then pokes my face.
"Jadey you look like a fish." She giggles pulling me out of my stupor.
"Cat you know eating sunscreen can hurt you right?" I ask in disbelief. She looks down at the sun screen the shrugs.
We continue walking to our table. I notice it's just Beck, Tori, and Robbie around the table. I walk past Cat as she sits down and says something.
I sit in between Tori and Beck placing my salad down when I remember I forgot to get water. I look over at Robbie when I see his full bottle of water.
"Robbie, you done with that water?" I ask, nodding to the water bottle. He snatches it bring it close to his chest.
"No." He says frowning.
"Give it to me," I say slightly glaring at him, daring him to defy me.
"Alright." He says handing me the water bottle. I quickly take it a twist the cap open taking a very needed sip when I feel curious burning holes in the side of my face.
I glance over to Tori and notice she's squinting her eyes at me. She scoots forward and I begin to pull away.
"What?" I say slightly annoyed.
"You're not sweating." She says in disbelief.
"Yup," I say popping the p. She brings her hands up and begins feeling my forehead and my neck.
"Having fun there?" I say even more annoyed that she's touching my face. She frowns picks up my arm and checks my armpits for sweat stains. She finally releases my arm causing me to roll my eyes.
"How can you not be sweating?" She asks still in disbelief.
"I don't sweat," I state in a bored tone of voice as I begin rummaging through my bag pulling out some of my homework.
"Everyone sweats." She exclaims still not believing me. I ignore this and begin my math homework that's due tomorrow.
"Not Jade." I hear Beck say next to me and everybody, even the damn puppet agrees.
"What do you mean she doesn't sweat?" Tori asks. I look up from my homework before continuing
"Sweating is gross, so I don't do it," I say easily never losing focus from my homework.
"So what? You're just cold blooded?" She asks a bit hysterically. I ignore this comment as well still working through a particularity hard problem.
"Jade. Cold blooded? Hmm, what a surprise." I hear the stupid puppet say. Out of the corner of my eye I see Cat's sunscreen. I pick it up opening the cap and aim it at Rex. I squeeze the bottle getting a good amount on the puppets face before placing it down and continuing my homework now ignoring everybody around me.
I hear beck ask how long the heat wave is lasting for and Tori gives him an answer. Robbie then says something about Venice beach.
"Let's go to Venice," Tori says desperately next to me.
"You guys wanna?" Beck says. I finish the math homework before finally voicing my opinion.
"What? Blow off school?" I say warily, knowing Ashley will pop a cap if she found out I skipped school to go to the beach. Beck eyes my arm before turning his attention back to the group.
"No, I meant Saturday." He says placing a hand on my hands which I didn't know were fidgeting under the table. I scowl at him slightly before tugging my hands away.
"We have band Saturday. We need all the practice we can get." I say trying to cover up my moment of nervousness. I glance around the releasing a quiet sigh of relief when nobody noticed my slight nervousness.
"Maybe you guys could do a beach performance or something. Bet a good crowd maybe?" Tori pipes up quickly before Beck can say anything.
"You guys could do an acoustic set" Robbie suggests. I notice Beck quickly glancing down at my arm then he looks at me silently asking me if it's okay.
"And get sand in my Yamaha?" I snort knowing if I damage my acoustic I'd never be able to get a new one. I glance around the table noting everybody's slightly disappointed.
"Wait you remember Danny's cousin? Rachel I think. Anyway, she lives up in Venice and I remember him talking about her having a pool party which I think is this Saturday. He said something about her still looking for a DJ and becoming desperate, maybe we could give her live music instead." Beck says looking around the group before his eyes land on mine. I rub my arm the sigh.
"Fine okay, we can do a gig at the pool party but we will still have a normal practice on Sunday too. Let me text Danny and tell him to call her to ask." I say finally agreeing.
Tori and Cat cheer and begin talking happily about what they're going to do on Saturday. I pick up my pencil and finish my math homework.
From the corner of my eye I see Beck look at me worriedly. I ignore him hoping he would leave me alone. Eventually, Andre joins the table causing Beck finally look away from me and begin talking with him.
When the lunch bell rings, I hastily get up shoving all of my belongings into my bag. I'm about to begin walking to class when I small hand wraps around my forearm.
I hiss in response to the pain and spin around coming face to face with Tori. Confusion and worry flicker across her face which is quickly replaced with a smile.
"We have class together." She states. I nod dumbly wondering why she stopped me from leaving.
"Want to walk together?" She asks more quietly, a slight blush creeping onto her face.
"Sure Vega," I say smile as we walk silently to our next class together.
/
Renee's P.O.V
Humming to Jade's new song, I take the Swiffer sweepers cleaning the floors of the living rooms and picking up any trash cleaning the upstairs hallway. I walk into Becks room and groan softly seeing the mess.
"That boy," I mumble to myself mental reminding myself to tell him to clean up his room deciding only to take out his trash for him. I pick up the little bin taking out the bag when the contents inside it make me do a double take. I notice the bandages glancing at the blood stains, frowning when I realize they aren't that old. I try to think about who recently hurt themselves and frown, even more, when I remember when Jade hit her arm on the counter two days ago.
"She only said that It hurt not that she had a cut," I mutter closing the bag taking it downstairs.
I walk into the Kitchen then look at the counter trying to decide if Jade could have possibly hit it hard enough that it cut her. I shake my head at that notion because I know for a fact that I had the corners rounded so Beck wouldn't hurt himself when he was younger by accidentally walking into it.
I walk into the garage with the bag throwing it into the garbage bin turning to look around the garage. I look at the couch, then at the instruments trying to find something that Jade could have accidentally cut herself on. I shake my head again then walk back inside when not finding anything.
"So she came into the house with that cut..." I trail off wondering why she didn't ask for my help and how bad the cut actually is if she needs those bandages.
I walk back upstairs to my room deciding to take a nap slightly worrying about Jade and deciding to talk to her after dinner tonight.
AN: Anyone remember during school having a group project, and like when you first get the assignment you have all these ideas and know what you want to do but then you never actually do it till the last minute because you and your group is lazy? yeah, that's me. Anyway, I actually have a lot written for this story for multiple chapters, And honestly, I just have to add more to each of the chapters I already have stuff for but I'm sort of lazy (Sorry if none of that makes sense). I'm also thinking because of the time span I put on this, that it's going to be about 10 chapters long or so.
Okay sorry for that ramble and down to the important stuff. When I'm done with this and most of Long After You're Gone, I'm think of branching out to other fanfic and I know I already have stuff for The Hunger Games but what I'm thinking about right now is possibly Glee, Twilight, Pitch Perfect, and Once Upon a Time. So would you guy be interested in reading that stuff from me? Or should I stick with Victorious a little longer. And Do you guys have any fanfics categories you would want me to write in?
Anyway drop a review and let me know what you guys think. Hopefully, I'll have chapter 3 up sooner this week.