It's been a year and a half since Jade stormed out of my house, hurt and angry. Today, I am rushing to the airport, incredibly late. I'm greeted by Jade's knowing grin as I run through the sliding doors, struggling to catch my breath.
"I knew you'd forget," she says, still smiling.
"I didn't forget, I got stuck in traffic," I reply, taking her bag. "Totally not my fault."
"Well," she muses, appearing thoughtful. "I did get a text from you saying will likely be a little late because of who I am as a person."
I stare at her, confused, before rolling my eyes and checking my pockets. No phone. Of course. I probably left it on my kitchen table in a hurry and Caroline decided to be funny.
"My guess was either Caroline or you've officially run out of excuses," Jade continues.
I shrug. "Why not both?" I say, and Jade laughs a deep belly laugh at that, finally pulling me into a tight hug. I barely have time to squeak in surprise before dropping the bag on the floor and slowly raising my arms up, reciprocating.
"I missed you, you weirdo," she mumbles against the side of my head, and I feel her taking a discrete deep breath. Taking a shower before meeting her was definitely a good call. Totally worth being late for half an hour.
I squeeze her a little tighter, letting out a heavy sigh. She's finally here. After three months of filming in New Zealand for her upcoming movie, she's finally back.
"I missed you, too," I say quietly, burrowing deeper into her welcoming arms. But, after another second, she clears her throat and drops her hands to her sides, awkwardly taking a step back. I try not to shiver at the loss of her warmth.
"So, um, did you… Are you alone?" She widens her eyes immediately after the words are out of her mouth. "What I meant was, did you come here alone or with Emma." Nice save, Jade. I smirk and pick up the bag I dropped during our embrace, walking to the exit. She has no choice but to follow me.
"I'm alone. As in, I came here alone, and 'I'm currently single' alone." I don't turn around when I hear her choke on air. "Emma and I broke up." I stop after we exit, facing her. She's absolutely dumbfounded, just like I knew she would be. She also has a glint of hope in her eyes. Just like I hoped she would. But hope is quickly replaced with concern, and it makes my heart race for her.
"Are you okay?" Is the first question she asks. Am I? Well, for the first time in what seems like forever, I think I actually am… perfect. Although, no, not yet. Only one thing left to do, and then everything will be perfect.
"Yup," is what I voice out loud. "Never been better."
"You sure?" This is such a Jade thing to ask. I ponder her question for a moment, searching her eyes. Finding worry. Finding happiness she is so desperate to conceal. Finding hope. Hoping she finds love in mine.
"Yes," my voice is barely a whisper. "I'm sure."
And, as her gaze grows from concerned to intense, I know she realizes I'm not only talking about my break up and well-being.
Caroline speeds away as soon as she sees us getting out of the car. She makes a u-turn and gives Jade the finger as she does so. I gape.
Jade laughs.
"Care, you dramatic hoe!" She screams after my crazy best friend, still chuckling. "Man, I missed that psycho."
"She's getting her salary cut in half," I mutter, searching for keys. I know I put them in my bag, they have to… A-ha! Got'em.
"C'mon, Vega, chill," Jade smiles at me, following me to the door. "Care and I… We have our thing."
Oh, I know. After Caroline found out I have been sleeping with Jade, she practically imploded. I've never seen her so upset before. Also, she screamed at me for, like, the first time ever, and I really hate it when people scream at me. So, I might have screamed back. I also might have fired her for a week. I know, I know. I really want to punch myself when I think about it, too. In my defense, I crawled to her on my knees after those terrible seven days. For some reason, Caroline forgave my sorry ass, and we've been going strong ever since.
No, we're not dating. Ew. She's married to Klaus, and I'm against cheating in a relationship. Plus, she's so not my type.
My type is currently drinking my orange juice straight from the carton. The only thing that saved Jade from having keys thrown at her was her shirt. A shirt with a strategically unbuttoned collar. A collar that nicely shows off her collarbones and her milky white neck that constricts as she drinks.
I decided right then and there that I need to buy a dozen of those shirts for her and keep them in my house. For, well, reasons.
"Sorry," the object of my affection breathes out, placing the carton back in the fridge. "I know you hate it when I do that, but I'm really thirsty." You and me both, Jade… You and me both.
"It's okay, just don't do that again." Or, if you do, wear that shirt.
Jade follows my gaze and smirks. I have a decency to blush. Instead of giving her a chance to tease the crap out of me, I go upstairs, motioning for her to follow suit.
She sold her house, the one we lived in together, right before she left for New Zealand. I haven't really asked her why, but it's not like I needed to. We both knew that house carried much more bad memories than good ones. And, since she hasn't found another place because she didn't have time, I offered her to stay with me so she'd have time to figure it out. Like a good friend.
Oh, I haven't mentioned that, have I? We're friends now. Jade and I. Really close friends, too. The kind that has to back away from one another every five minutes because we're afraid we'll fall into bed if we don't. Also the kind that's deeply in love and has been working on mending their relationship for the last two years.
And none of that would've happened if it weren't for Jade.
"Earth to Tori," I'm torn out of my memories by her gentle voice. "Are you alright?" Concerned blue eyes stare into my own, practically reaching my soul. I nod. She hesitates.
"If you want me to leave…"
"Jade, don't be silly." I say quickly. "You staying here was my idea. What friends are for, right?"
"Right," she whispers, and it's only now that I realize how close she has gotten to me. If she leans in just a bit more, our lips would be touching. "Friends."
Apparently, Caroline is not the only dramatic hoe in town, I think as I close the distance, choosing this exact moment to capture Jade's lips with my own.