The pounding in his head told Drake that he was awake, however reluctant he might be to be in that state. He murmured a little as he stretched, desperate for a drink of water. A sigh from the blonde beside him reminded him that he wasn't home. Her back to him hid her face, which didn't help to jog his memory about the previous night. She stirred, waking up as well. She rolled over to him, placing her hand on his chest, and a smile on her lipstick-stained lips.

Her morning breath hit him square in the face, bringing a rise of nausea with it. He turned his head and coughed, his head killing him for making the effort. With a low moan, his head dropped back onto the pillow.

"You okay?" she asked, concerned.

"I'm fine."

"Good." She leaned down to kiss him, still stinking of beer and cigarettes. Drake rolled out of bed, mumbling some excuse about work. He fumbled with his clothes as he got dressed, the ever-aching pain in his head slowing him down. He wasn't looking forward to walking home in the loud city. Maybe if he could find his phone, he could call a cab. Where had he left his car?

"Where are you going?" she pouted. "You don't have to leave."

"I just told you, I had work." He repeated, shoving his feet into his shoes. He found his keys in the toe of his left boot, wedged all the way down in there.

"You're going to leave me with not but a memory? Not even your name?"

Was her voice that shrill last night? "Jefferson Steelflex." He muttered, opening her bedroom door to let himself out. "Bye."

X

The low growl jerked Beck out of his sleep faster than his alarm clock ever could. Music played from the radio by his bed- he recognized it instantly. Unfortunately, so did Jade. He watched as she smashed the radio with one of the weights that rested on the nightstand. Pieces flew everywhere as she unleashed her fury. 'Bitchcraft' played no more.

"I'll buy you a new one," she huffed, yanking the covers over her head to return to sleep. Her long, black hair still streamed out from underneath the blankets.

Beck tugged a loose curl gently. "You have to get up, before they find you."

She poked her head out, her features still gorgeous despite just waking up. "Can't we go for a ride, or something? I need to hide out here just a little bit longer, babe."

"I wish that were possible. It's not long until I graduate- then we can just get our own place, and you'll never have to see Drake again."

"I'll still have to hear him." She glared at the broken corpse of the radio. "Thanks to me, he's more famous than ever."

"Jade, if it makes you happy, I'll smash every radio so you never have to hear him again. Okay?"

A spark returned to her eyes as she nodded. "Okay."

X

Drake flipped the TV on as soon as he arrived back home, eager for background noise so he wouldn't have to be alone with his thoughts. He shoved a few ingredients together for a makeshift breakfast- one that consisted mainly of bananas, peanut butter, and chocolate chips on toast. He flung himself on the couch, resting his legs on the arm so he could lay on his back. He picked up the remote, scanning shows as he continually pressed the 'channel up' button.

An all-too-familiar face filled the screen, sharing deadly fangs and long, flowing black hair with the audience. She swam past, reaching up to drown a poor pirate who had no idea what he was in for. The words 'Siren Scents' flashed across the television. Drake nearly threw his sandwich at it.

"Stupid Jade and her stupid deadly mermaid commercial." He growled, picking another channel.

His breakfast swallowed, he threw himself into the shower. He enjoyed taking his time to stew and really work through what had happened. Jade was Carly's cousin. Cheating on Carly way back when was the reason Jade felt justified to put him through all sorts of hell. Carly had no idea her cousin was such a bitch. Carly was engaged to a guy named Eric.

That last part bothered him more than it should have. Drake shook his head, water splattering into the walls from his hair. He had no reason to be bothered by that.

An hour later, he found himself wandering through town with little to no aim, meandering through the shops. He had a gig later, a good show at a downtown venue, but he had time to kill before he had to show up to rehearsal. He stopped and bought a coffee, drank it, and bought another. He crossed the street, dodging a black Chevy Colorado coming fast the other way, one that looked just a little too much like Jade's. His glaring response made him catch sight of the license plate – Montana. Not Jade, but enough to freak him out a little.

Drake ran his hands through his hair, eager to get the little devil woman the hell out of his house. She had done enough to ruin his life.

He wanted to evict her. He had better money now, thanks to their song. He had half a mind to return home and pack up her things. Leaving them in a box on the doorstep sounded like a great plan. Drake knew he'd have to change the locks, too, or she would probably sneak back in and stab him in his sleep with those ever present scissors of hers. Frustrated, he kicked a garbage can as he passed it. A groan escaped his lips as his shoulders sagged. He didn't know he could feel so trapped.

X

The weekend passed, and faithful as a bad headache, Monday came around again. Jade kept to herself, most of the time. Boxes piled high in every corner of her space. She had most of them filled. She would be out by Thursday, and had already given him her last rent check.

Drake was eating dinner at home when she decided to start speaking to him again. She had already begun stacking her boxes near the door, preparing them for the move. It was an eye sore to anyone but him. In his opinion, it was the holy grail of peace in his life.

"I have a shoot this week for a new film, but I'll have these boxes out of your hair by Monday at the latest." She said, opening up the fridge in search of a cold drink. "Speaking of, you know, that purple hair I gave you looked much better than your brown-red thing you have going on. It's like your hair is bipolar."

Drake didn't bother to give her a response. He merely took another bite of ravioli, and flipped the page in the newspaper.

Jade took her drink and left him alone. The tension filled the house. It was a wonder they could manage to live in it themselves, let alone have people over-

Three knocks on the door caught Jade's ear. She opened it, welcoming Carly inside. Drake looked up. Their eyes met across the room. He gave her a partial smile and a sad little wave. She nodded back in return, politely, but not warmly. Drake's heart sank.

"This way," Jade motioned to her room. "Thanks for coming to help me pack."

"Anytime," Carly responded, following her cousin.

Drake could hear pieces of their conversation, sometimes peppered with laughter floating through the door. He couldn't make out any words, but neither could he get used to the sound of a genuine laugh from Jade. Now and then, one of the two would appear with another box, wordless and silent. Usually, Carly made the appearance. Drake watched her with quiet eyes, eager to talk to her, but unwilling to initiate the conversation. His ravioli was growing cold, but he ate as slowly as possible so he could make himself available- just in case.

The silence that came after a bit worried him. What were they talking about? Were they talking about him? Was Carly helping Jade with a final bit of revenge? Were they planning something terrible together? Drake thought he knew Carly better than that, but she was still Jade's cousin… maybe evil ran in the family.

All at once, Carly burst through the door, determination on her face. She yanked Drake's arm, pulling him across the house, and Drake became certain he was going to die. He fumbled for his phone, hoping he could get to 911 in time.

Before Carly could speak, the door opened of its own accord. Beck filled the doorway with his lanky presence, pocketing his key. Jade poked her head out of the doorway, surprised to see him. She crossed her arms over her chest as she made her way to him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked softly.

"Jade," Beck began. "I have loved you for a very, very long time. We've been to hell and back together, and you made me the man I am today. You light up my life, you keep me in check when I need it, and you are the safe harbor I can always sail back to." He took her hands in his, and bent down onto one knee. "Jade West, will you marry me?"

Drake's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Jade's jaw dropped slightly, but a smile caught the corners. Carly was practically glowing out of happiness for her.

"Won't you get kicked out of school?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter." Beck shook his head. "You're miserable. I want you to be happy, more than I want anything else."

Jade's eyes filled with compassion. She squeezed his hand, and kneeled to his level. "Beck," she began. It was a rare moment of softness between the two. Drake half expected her to bark at him and Carly to get out of there, but both seemed to have forgotten there was anyone else in the room. "I love you as much as I could ever love anyone. But, you're so close to finishing. I can't let you throw it all away for me."

Drake grabbed the rest of his ravioli, eating it like popcorn as he enjoyed playing spectator.

"It's okay." Beck continued. "We can go to the town hall or wherever and get married today. I know they don't want me to have any distractions, but they can't fight me if we're married."

Jade leaned forward, brushing her lips against his to leave the most tender, loving kiss. "Babe," she whispered. "I love you. I'm not going to let you do that."

"Are you saying no?" Beck worked to hide it, but Jade could hear the tiny tremor in his voice.

"Not to you." Jade promised. "Just to the timing. I'll be okay. I'm staying with Carly until I figure something else out." She caught his jawline in her hand, gently stroking his face with affectionate fingers. "I'm so lucky to have you in my life."

Beck kissed her lips, understanding. "Okay, I'll take it. Someday."

"Someday. I promise."

"So wait- are you engaged?" Carly asked, clearly desperate to know.

Beck gave Jade a sideways glance, and even she couldn't resist grinning in that moment. "Yes."

Carly sprang herself at them to hug them, while Drake quickly made an exit. Tucking himself away in his room, he considered what he just saw.

Proof Jade West wasn't totally evil.

She had put Beck ahead of herself. She had put someone else first. He never would have guessed, had he not seen it himself. It was almost as big a shock as finding out her family relations had been.

"HEY!" The loud, demanding bark came from the living room. Drake guessed Jade had found something else to yell about, until Carly barged into his bedroom.

"Hey." She said, a bit more quietly. He could almost see the memory of the last time she had seen him in a bedroom flash across her face. Always the tough one, she steeled her resolve, and gave him a command. "Follow me. Now."

He did.

She told him to take a seat on the couch. Jade landed next to him, as per Carly's request, yet remained as far away from him as she could get. Her arms folded tightly over her body as she stared forward, hatred seeping out of her.

"This is stupid." Carly looked at them both pointedly. "Jade, it's great if you want to live with me, and I am all in, as you know. But while Drake has made some really horrible mistakes in his life, he does not deserve the crap you put him through."

Drake sat back and relaxed. "Thank you, Carly."

"I'm not done." Her hand shot up to silence him, and he obliged. "You've been pretty shitty to Jade too. I only found out what she did to you today, and I'm sure there's a hell of a lot I don't know. I'm not going to make you two kiss and make up-"

"Not unless he wants another punch in the face," Beck muttered, shutting up when Carly glared at him for interrupting.

"But you need to at least leave on good terms, so that this doesn't haunt us for the rest of our lives. Understand?"

Jade cast a glance at Drake. Her revenge was over. She had justified every bit of it. But, if she stayed here, he might screw up again in the future, and she would have another chance to torture him. It was worth considering.

He turned to her, and his absolute disinterested expression showed he knew exactly what she was thinking. "I think enough damage has been done." he muttered, getting up. "Goodbye."