Sledgehammers are Terribly Handy to Have Around
The continuous blast of cold air did absolutely nothing to help Jade's oncoming headache. She massaged her temples with the tips of her middle and ring fingers. Jade cursed herself. Why didn't she think of bringing Advil or Tylenol? And why the hell was the room always this cold?
Jade pulled her tiny cashmere shrug over her shoulders tightly, trying to ignore the pointed looks that Winter was sending her way. When she finally couldn't take it anymore, she snapped her head to her right and raised her eyebrow at her best friend, managing to convey her massive annoyance in that one little gesture. The fact that Winter looked refreshingly pristine and cheerful did nothing to help lift Jade's angry mood.
"What's wrong" Winter mouthed to Jade, not knowing how wrong the simple question was.
If Jade had been able to speak during Mr. Delahaney's incredibly boring lecture on the Great Depression, it would've been to snap a short, brusque answer at Winter that she was fine, that nothing was wrong except for the fact that she couldn't even have her four seconds of peace without having people think she was sick and dying. Jade would've snapped all this and more at Winter Beaumont if she could've. However, since she was currently indisposed to do such a thing, Jade just angrily swiveled her head back onto the powerpoint.
Yeah, nothing was wrong, Jade thought bitterly in her mind. Except that she'd gotten blamed for the Chase thing and had stayed up all night, listening to her stupid father lecture on responsibility and family and all that bullshit. The absolute worst thing was that she didn't even do it. In fact, she didn't even know of anyone else who could possibly hate Chase so much.
Well, the world's full of surprises, Jade thought, momentarily cheered up by the fact that she had an un-named ally. And it would seem as if this ally was even more ruthless than Jade. After all, Jade Lewallen wouldn't have sunk so low for the first try. It almost made Jade respect this unknown person the slightest bit.
Jade frowned. That is, until Jade herself got the brunt of the blame. It didn't seem fair that she should have to be responsible while this person got away scot-free.
She scowled at that thought. While she did respect this unknown person, another side of her also didn't appreciate being upped by some unknown nonentity.
Jade acknowledged this competitive side with relish. After all, she certainly hadn't become the school's allegedly most prized student without stepping over some of the ignorant masses.
Because if there was one thing about Jade, it was that she hated losing.
Jade sighed. Despite the urgent need to throttle Chase by the tips of her red hair, she did feel the tiniest bit of remorse. Between Jade, Ryder, and this new person, Chase van Buren wouldn't even stand a chance.
"He's so hot," Jade heard the girl in to her left breathe wistfully. Jade looked over to see who was sitting next to her and scoffed. Of course it would be Donna Forego, the bimbo who thought every male specimen on the planet was hot.
"I know. Tell me about it," Donna's friend giggled and Jade frowned, slightly lifting her eyes to see who the second participant was. Now Piper Mesmer too? Well, well, well. Jade obviously had nothing better to do. She might as well find out what the two brainless idiots were obsessing about.
Allowing her predatory eyes to follow their direction, Jade found herself staring at none other than that infiltrating street rat Blake van Buren. She laughed to herself. There was no way Blake van Buren was hot. He was dirty, filthy scum, not fit to wipe dog shit off the bottom of her shoes. Even Donna Forego probably had better taste than that. Just to be sure, though, she nudged her neighbor in the shoulder.
"Who is so hot?" Jade asked, trying to keep neutral. In a moment, Donna would tell her that it was nobody other than Trey Cooper, Arielle's ridiculously hot ex-boyfriend. Jade had never really understood why Arielle had dumped him. Something about compromising her virtue or other ridiculous nonsense.
"Why, Blake van Buren, of course," Donna said in a shocked voice, as if she couldn't understand in that tiny of brain of hers why Jade even needed to ask.
Jade shook her head in disgust. Sometimes, she wished that she could be wrong. This was one of those times.
"And that air about him, it's just so fascinating." Piper piped up from her seat, obviously wishing to join the conversation. Jade snickered to herself. The only fascinating thing around here was that Piper's vocabulary actually extended further than five-letter words.
"That air about him makes me want to hurl." Jade said flatly, once she remembered who Piper and Donna were talking about. She briefly wondered what in the world had possessed the two. But then again, it wouldn't take much of anything to do that either. "He's nothing like the rest of us, and he never will be. I simply choose not to associate with that level of scum that they tolerate at this school."
"I think he's rather hot," Piper said under her breath, and Donna nodded slightly at her best friend as a sign that she agreed completely. Seeing that her friend was backing her up, Piper spoke up a little louder, "I mean, there's just this thing about him that screams 'dangerous and sexy'."
"No, there's this thing about him that screams fucking psycho." Jade hissed in fury. It was one thing to think Blake was cute, but downright contradicting her was simply intolerable. "Anybody who even thinks he's good looking screams desperate. And seeing as I refuse to be caught associating with desperate wannabes, the two of you would do well to shut up before I lose it."
Turning her head back to Mr. Delahaney, Jade zeroed in her attention to every single bullet point on the screen, trying not to think about anything else. Much as she tried, though, she couldn't help the nagging feeling inside of her. If she was truthful to herself, she would admit that the only flaw in her plan to break Chase van Buren was Blake van Buren, Chase's personal armor. And that flaw was the size of a gaping hole.
She hadn't been kidding when she'd said he was a psycho.
"Jade, what is Black Tuesday, when did it occur, and what was its impact on the American economy?" Jade snapped her head out of its reverie just in time to hear Mr. Delahaney fire a question at her as the powerpoint on the overhead flickered off.
She rolled her eyes in her mind. Delahaney always insisted on what he called "Power point pop quizzes". He always gave her the hardest one because he knew she'd be the only one to actually get it right. It was almost as much an honor as an annoyance. "Black Tuesday, which happened on October 29, 1929, was part of the Wall Street Crash that happened in the span of Thursday, Monday and Tuesday, with Black Tuesday as the most devastating day. On Black Tuesday, the stock market lost approximately 14 billion dollars, and the total amount lost cumulative was around 30 billion, a staggering amount that surpassed even the quantity that the United States had spent on World War One, leaving the United States stock market in serious jeopardy. Many people committed suicide during the Great Depression because they couldn't pay the mortgage and others who did not, became homeless or lived in Hoovervilles. Black Tuesday, though not completely responsible, added significantly to the fall of stock market in the Great Depression."
Mr. Delahaney nodded almost proudly at his prize student, and made a note in his gradebook. Someone whistled in a low, mocking tone.
Jade turned her head towards the source of the sound, only to see Blake propped back in his chair, legs spread open, and clapping slowly in mock admiration. "Wow. I think I finally know why you're so stiff. Being the class brown-noser must take up a lot of your energy," Blake called to her, not bothering to lower his voice.
Furious that Blake would try to imply something so sexually embarrassing about her, Jade called back, "Just because I refused your advances last night, doesn't make me stiff. Careful, Blake, if I didn't know better, I'd say that you're a little too interested in my personal life."
Blake barked out a laugh, "If I wanted you, I would have you screaming for me to stop until you couldn't take it anymore." Jade watched as he reverently rubbed his thumb over his knife blade and caught Blake's double meaning.
Jade bristled with anger, "I would rather not. You see, from where I come from, I don't believe in incest."
"Oh, don't worry your oversized head about it. I'm not interested. You deserve somebody who will enjoy memorizing the encyclopedia with you in their free time. On the other hand, I actually believe in having fun once in a while. I'm sure you've heard of that before, right? Or would you like me to give you the Merriam-Webster definition for it?" Blake said in that arrogant and flippant attitude of his, going as far as to actually pull a dictionary off the bookshelf.
"Mr. van Buren," Mr. Delahaney snapped out, saving Jade, "Since you obviously have so little regard for Ms. Lewallen's knowledge, let's see how well you stack up in comparison to her. Now tell me, who was the president of the United States during the Great Depresseion?"
Blake looked at Mr. Delahaney like he was crazy. Herbert Hoover, Jade's mind said triumphantly, knowing that there was no way Blake could get even an easy one like that. And she was right. "Shouldn't you be asking someone who cares?" Blake said simply, shaking his head slightly, like he was surprised by Mr. Delahaney's imperceptiveness.
Mr. Delahaney lowered his pen slowly to gaze into the staring eyes of Blake. "Mr. van Buren, it would do well to remember that your current grade is riding on this question."
"It would do well for you to remember that I don't really give a shit about my grade." Blake replied lazily, the very image of arrogance. Jade glared at him. She had no idea what her father had been thinking. If it'd been her, the only money she would've spent on him was to chuck him straight into Juvenile Hall.
Mr. Delahaney looked like he was having similar thoughts. "Mr. van Buren," Mr. Delahaney sighed in a regretful tone. He scribbled something onto a piece of paper, "please go to the principal's office." He ripped up the piece of paper from his pad and handed it to Blake.
Blake scanned what was written on it, and then scoffed contemptuously. "You're going to have to do better than that," Blake informed the teacher. The rest of the class watched in fascination as Blake took out his cigarette lighter and set the piece of paper on fire.
Donna gasped in admiration next to Jade. "I told you he was bad," she gushed to Piper. Jade crossed her arms. Blake had to be the sorriest excuse for a human being.
If only everybody would wake up and see that already.
Unfortunately, the only one in the room to share that sentiment was Mr. Delahaney, who looked like he was ready to scream in frustration. Never before in his entire eight years of teaching had he encountered this kind of a problem. "Blake, if I have to escort you to the Mrs. Cracow's office, you will be sorry. So, I suggest you leave my room. Now." Mr. Delahaney said, his attempt to reign in his temper painfully obvious.
Blake stared in shock for a minute, as if Mr. Delahaney had just handed him an early Christmas gift. Then, he snapped out of it and shrugged. "As you wish," Blake said derisively, before standing up and strolling leisurely out of the classroom empty-handed.
Out in the hallway, Arielle was bored to death. Ever since the lunch dump incident, Alana had gotten it inside her head that she was going to be the next addition to Jade's infamous group. Arielle simply didn't have the heart to tell her that she had just been duped in Jade's game of revenge.
"Anyways, I was shopping yesterday, and I found the cutest dress ever. I am totally going to wear it to your birthday bash." Alana breathed excitedly.
Arielle cringed. The annual Lewallen birthday bash was one of the most exclusive events of the year. It was weird hearing Alana talk about it like she'd already been invited.
"I swear, Jade and I are going to be the best of friends. I feel like I already know her." Alana continued, disregarding the fact that Jade obviously didn't see Alana in the same light.
Arielle nearly rolled her eyes. If only Alana could hear what Jade had to say about her, she wouldn't be so fast to become "best friends" with Arielle's twin.
When Arielle had confronted Jade after lunch that day about using Alana, Jade had just laughed, "Alana? Sure, I might've promised her, like, one lunch with us, but really, she's just another pawn. Nothing important."
When Jade had said that, Arielle had felt a wave of nausea. Because, essentially, wasn't that what she did? Follow Jade's orders? Did that make her as insignificant as the rest of the school? Arielle didn't think she wanted to know.
"Look, Alana," Arielle began, trying to let the girl down gently. "I don't think Jade is—"
"Oh, you can call me La-la from now on. It's what all my closest friends call me," Alana interrupted, patting a hand on Arielle's arm.
She groaned inside. How was she supposed to tell Alana that they weren't best friends? "Okay, La-la," Arielle swallowed. It just wasn't in her to be mean. This was Jade's domain. Her sister was the one who could resolve the entire situation with a sneer and three words, "Go to hell."
Arielle cast her eyes around desperately, and saw what must've been God's greatest gift to her in a long time. "Blake," she called down the hall, seeing her friend casually stroll around the corner and into sight.
"Hey," Blake said, coming up to the two of them. "What are you doing out of class?" he asked Arielle, blatantly ignoring Alana.
"Thought I'd ask you the same question," Arielle pointed out, knowing that he most definitely did not have a free period like she did. Jade had made a big point of making them all memorize Blake and Arielle's schedules, saying that it was a defense layout.
There's a word for that kind of thing. It's called stalking.
"Blake," Alana spoke up, suggestively pulling her shirt down and showing him the products of all her plastic surgery. "Hi, I'm Alana. Arielle's best friend."
She offered a crisp, manicured hand.
He eyed it disdainfully and looked Alana straight in the eye with disgust. "I wouldn't touch that hand if my life depended on it. You practically fucked up my sister's first day with that hand," Blake said coldly, looking at Alana's creamy skin like it was diseased.
Alana drew it back, her face coloring as she remembered that Blake was Chase's brother. "That wasn't me," she cried, looking for all the world that she was about to break down. Nobody had ever said something this mean to her, and it was obvious that to suffer her first time at the wrath of Blake van Buren was making her a little more dramatic and distressed than usual. "Jade made me! I couldn't say no!"
Blake stiffened for a moment as he took in this new information. Arielle bit her lip, feeling like she should defend her sister. Then she realized that anything she said would only tip Blake off about that fact that Arielle had already known this beforehand and had chosen not to tell Blake. Their new friendship had been going so well so far, that she didn't want to mess it up.
"Cut the excuses. I really couldn't care less," Blake growled with a sense of finality, then grabbed Arielle's arm. "Come on, Arielle, let's go."
Feeling relieved by the fact that he hadn't blamed her yet and happy to be out of Alana's overwhelming presence, Arielle turned to give Alana a seemingly apologetic smile before turning and allowing herself to be led by Blake down the empty halls.
"Did your sister really do that?" Blake asked quietly, once they had walked a great deal in silence. There was no way to even feign ignorance and pretend like Arielle didn't know what he was asking about.
Arielle felt a lurch in her stomach. This was it. The moment that could either make it or break it. "She did," Arielle said, just as quietly, not knowing quite sure how else to back out of the situation. "I didn't know it was her until afterwards, though."
Arielle felt momentarily guilty for saying that. It felt like she was selling Jade out. Because, if she'd admitted to herself, in a way, it had been Arielle's fault too, to step back and not say anything about it.
The classic turning a blind eye, Arielle mused in her head. Was she really any better than Jade? Arielle thought back to all the tears Jade had caused and shuddered slightly. She certainly hoped so.
Back in the classroom, Jade was eying the clock impatiently. In exactly fifteen seconds, she'd be out of the freezing classroom, free to meander down the little shops near her house and get a nice, warm latte while gossiping with Winter and Arielle. Things had been so hectic since yesterday that she hadn't even had five minutes to relax yet.
Stupid van Buren family, Jade thought bitterly as the bell rang and she scooped up her bag from the floor.
Jade nearly ran out of the classroom and burst out of it like it was on fire. Outside, she breathed deeply as if she were inhaling cinnamon scents instead of textbooks and erasers. Finally free.
Now, time to get out of here and hit some of those shops. They were calling her name.
Jade remembered the first time she'd went shopping here. It'd been after a car accident, and her father had—in a fit of both insanity and generosity—given Jade and Arielle free reign with his credit cards, to celebrate Jade's health. Even though he hadn't physically came with them, Jade now realized that maybe it was his way of telling Jade that he was happy to have his daughter in his life.
Or maybe Daddy dearest was doing what he does best: getting the kids out of his way. Jade gets clothes. Daddy dearest gets screwed. It's a win-win situation. Too bad Jade had only been ten back then.
Now, at sixteen, Jade glanced at Winter and Arielle, the two of them talking contentedly with each other. Sometimes, it was moments like these that made a sense of giddy well up in her throat. Moments in time, when everything seemed so untouchable that it was almost unreal.
Jade parked her car on the side, turned off the engine to took a moment to gently run her hands over the seats. She'd had it immediately cleaned by Vernon, after that van Buren filth touched it. Now, everything was back to normal sans Blake's annoying odor and cigarette ashes.
The three of them got out of the car, pretending not to notice all the coveting stares of random strangers. Jade knew they made a pretty picture. Three high school girls who looked like supermodels, strutting down the sidewalk like it was a runway. Their eyes were unblinking and they stopped for no one.
It was while Jade was perfecting her blank gaze that she felt the intensity of a particular stare. Allowing herself to break out of her model mode, Jade let her eyes travel to the ice-blue, almond-shaped eyes of a striking woman. She looked to be in her late thirties, and her stance was proud and unyielding. Something about her looked very familiar, like Jade had seen her before. Not only that, but the way that she was staring at Jade made it seem as if she knew every one of Jade's dirty little secrets.
Jade tossed her hair haughtily. Who did this woman think she was anyway? She leveled her own stare at the woman before allowing it slide back into its proper position. This day was too good to be ruined by some random stranger.
The three of them slipped inside Omega, the "O" in front of the store reflecting brilliantly against the sunlight. Jade perused through the store, tapping her nails gently against the glass cases. She'd always thought that watches looked so professional, especially paired with Jade's extensive closet supply of blazers; it wouldn't hurt to get another jewel-studded watch to add to her collection.
"I want to try that one," Jade told the woman who was hovering at her elbow. The woman nodded nervously, licking her lips before reaching inside and handing the diamond encrusted Omega watch to Jade.
Jade slipped it on, and admired herself with it in the mirror. She posed with it with her hand on her hip when she saw something that made her freeze. The woman who had been staring at her outside was doing it again. Except this time, she was in the shop.
Holy shit. What was the woman's problem? Did she not understand personal privacy?
"We're leaving," Jade snapped to Winter and Arielle, who both looked up with confusion spelled all over their faces. "Now."
Arielle shrugged to Winter. She was used to these random outbursts. Jade was never one to try to beat around the bush.
Jade stomped outside, not bothering to see if Arielle and Winter were following behind. She quickly ducked into a Louis Vuitton store. Then, waving away an over-zealous worker, she slid a pair of sunglasses off the rack and onto her face. "You two. Huddle and pretend like we're talking," Jade barked. She positioned herself so that she was sideways from the entrance.
"So," Arielle said, fumbling for something to talk about, looking at the awkward circle they had formed. "what are we all doing this weekend?"
"Your dad's wedding rehearsal dinner," Winter said absentmindedly, before remembering that maybe she shouldn't be talking about anything wedding related in front of Jade.
"Me too," Arielle said, feeling like this was the most awkward conversation in the world. The air suddenly seemed quieter, as Winter and Arielle both played with their hands, trying to come up with a new topic.
Jade herself was completely oblivious to whatever was happening between her two best friends. She kept her eyes trained at the entrance, the movement undetected through the protection of the dark frames.
And there she was again. The woman had donned a cap and a jacket, but there was no mistaking the blue eyes that were wandering through the Louis Vuitton store.
Okay. Three times was a little too much to be a coincidence. Jade slammed the sunglasses onto the counter. "The two of you go without me. I have something to settle first." Her eyes narrowed, as they stared the woman down until she finally noticed Jade's glare.
Jade's line of vision fazed out until all she could see was the brunette. Ignoring Arielle's confused questions, she stormed over, and stared at the woman relentlessly. "Is there anything I can do for you?" Jade gritted.
The woman's face broke out into a lovely, genuine smile. "Jade Lewallen. I've been looking forward to this for a long time," she said, her smile hiding the almost ominous tone behind her words.
Jade scoffed, "I wish I could say the same." She paused. "On second thought, I don't. I just want to know why you keep following me."
The woman inclined her head, "Naturally. I suggest a better place where we can sit and talk?"
"Don't try anything, or it will be the last thing you do," Jade threatened, keeping a hand on her phone. Her mind flashed back to yesterday. Maybe Chase had been too trusting with strangers, and that's why she ended up in some old residential home.
"Is the local Starbucks alright with you?" the woman sighed, taking the disgusting hat off of her head and smoothing her hair out with the palm of her hand.
Jade nodded suspiciously, allowing herself to follow the woman to the local Starbucks. She kept her distance, trailing behind, just in case the woman wanted to try something.
"So why don't you tell me what this is all about,' Jade snapped, once she was seated down at a tiny two-person table, requisite latte in hand.
"You sound just like your father, you know," the woman commented offhandedly, looking out the window at the busy street. "You look just like her, though."
"I have no idea who the hell you are talking about," Jade said, annoyed that she'd been dragged all the way down here just so the woman could stare at that annoying window like it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.
"Your mother. It's a shame she married that poor excuse of a man," the woman shook her head sadly. "Biggest mistake of her life."
"That's my father you're talking about," Jade said in a threatening voice. Often times without realizing it, she'd slip into what Arielle told her was the quiet tone. The one where it always felt like it was the calm before the storm. The one when Jade was at her scariest.
The woman didn't even flinch. "I see you've inherited his personality too." She noted, looking Jade over as if seeing her for the first time. "Pity. I had hoped more of her would've rubbed off on you."
"You have no right to talk about my father that way," Jade yelled, the child-like idolization of her father kicking in.
Then, she realized something odd.
Why am I defending anyway? He's the one that brought the van Buren hell on my life. Let him rot in hell.
The other side of her argued. Yeah, but he's Dad. The one who lets you have anything you want.
Doesn't matter. It certainly doesn't mean he hasn't ever cared about us, a third part jumped in, voice tinged with sadness.
"I've had enough," Jade said, slamming her hand down on the tiny table so that it rattled slightly. Anything to get the voices in her head to shut up. "This conversation is over."
"Haven't you ever wondered?" the woman called, taking a casual sip of her mocha. "Do you know why he never pays attention to you? Because I do."
"What would you know?" Jade snarled, her mind trying to convince the rest of her body to leave before she threw her pride away. Her body, however, tugged Jade back into her seat. The brutal curiosity was overwhelming. What did this stranger think she knew, anyway?
"I know that he doesn't ever look at you anymore. Because you look so much like her, every time he sees you, it must be like looking into the eyes of truth on judgment day. In fact, if I didn't hate him so much, I would almost be sorry for him." The woman laughed unkindly, as if she were reveling in Mark Lewallen's supposed pain.
"He doesn't need your sympathy," Jade automatically replied in defense, mostly because she couldn't think of anything else to say. The woman couldn't be serious. There was nothing that Mark was guilty of. Nothing.
The woman gave a very loud and obvious sigh when she heard that. "You know, it was never this hard talking to your sister," the woman said, showing the first signs of annoyance at Jade's constant snide remarks.
"You don't know my sister," Jade scoffed. If Arielle had seen this woman, she would've already warned Jade to stay far away from this delusional mental patient.
"Of course I know your sister. Her name's Arielle. She has blonde wavy hair, blue eyes. Loves classical movies and ballet. Always cries after watching The Notebook. Born two minutes after you." The woman reeled off, like she was reading all of this off a placard.
There was a brief moment of silence as Jade took in everything the woman had just said. Then, "What the fuck?" Jade scooted backwards, her chair bumping into the couple behind her. She didn't even turn around. "Who the hell are you?"
"Don't you know, Jade?" the woman stared back at Jade coolly, completely unfazed by Jade's outburst. "I'm your mother's sister. And this time, I'm back to take care of something I should've done six years ago."
"My mother is dead. She has no sister," Jade spat out, feeling tainted by the mere fact that this woman in front of her had the gall to even make up something as serious as family lineage.
"I bet that's what he told you, tricky bastard that he is." The woman muttered to herself, shaking her head in a disappointed manner. "Look, Jade. I'm not lying to you. I don't need to. I can even prove it."
The woman reached inside her handbag and pulled out her designer Gucci wallet. She quickly pulled out a photo and handed it over to Jade, who took it with reluctant fingers. She wasn't quite sure she wanted to know what was on it.
Jade studied the picture closely, and felt the base of her throat drop mercilessly. She squinted. Something about the picture felt familiar. Like she'd seen it before. Even more surprising than that was the woman in the picture.
She was completely identical to Jade in every way. This woman in the photo looked like she should've been Jade's twin, not Arielle. This was, without a shadow of doubt, Jade's mother. There was no way to even deny the woman posing in the picture. Besides, standing next to the woman in a handsome tuxedo was none other than Jade's father.
It was a younger version of Mark Lewallen. His hair was cropped short, and his face was bold and unlined with youth. There was a slightly bored expression on his face, the very same expression that Jade had watched and imitated for years before perfecting it and unleashing it to her classmates.
The two of them—Mark and her mother-- stood together, posing for what looked like prom pictures. Behind them, Jade could see other random people who were congregated and looking at Jade's parents enviously.
Unable to look at her mother's face, frozen in time, Jade flipped the picture down onto the table, only to see something written on the back of it. She picked it up again and brought it closer to her face.
To my baby sister Sienna. Because you wanted to come with me so badly and whined about it for hours. Hope you send me your own prom picture in the future. Love you lots, Astoria.
The note was written in a tidy, loopy cursive and there was a smiley face at the bottom. Jade turned the picture over again, looking at the happy expression that Jade knew she herself wouldn't ever be capable of. Astoria seemed so content in the moment, that Jade couldn't bear to look at it anymore. Wordlessly, she handed the picture back to Sienna.
"I'm sorry she's died from giving birth to me and my sister," Jade said in a detached voice, as if she were talking about a stranger and not her own mother. But then again, she had never known her mother, so this Astoria was basically a stranger to her. Still, it was quite possibly the first non-rude thing she had said to Sienna since they'd sat down.
On hearing Jade's words, Sienna's head snapped up, a look of confusion spilling over her face. Jade saw why Sienna's eyes had seemed so familiar. They were so similar to Arielle's own baby blues. Now, on Sienna, they were narrowed in puzzlement, "She didn't die of childbirth."
"Then, how did she die?" Jade said, her previous annoyance at the woman returning full force. She just had a very trying day at school, and was now talking to her long lost aunt. As of now, Jade just wanted to go home, forget about the picture, and go back to her life of torturing the less fortunate. Was that really too much to ask for?
Sienna looked at Jade for a moment longer, as if she were pondering something. Then, her face lit up with recognition. "You're being brainwashed," the woman declared abruptly. "Your asshole of a father has obviously been feeding you false memories to make up for the ones you lost during the car accident. I didn't think he'd take it this far though."
When she heard this, Jade felt the familiar ball of rage sweeping through her. "Liar!" Jade jumped up for the second time since she'd entered this coffee shop. She didn't even care about all the people gawking at her like she was some zoo monstrosity. All Jade wanted was to get out.
"I can promise you I'm not lying." The woman said quietly, her disturbingly blue eyes never even deviating away to fend off the stares of the other customers. She pulled out a piece of paper, and wrote something on it before giving it to Jade. "For when you're ready to hear the truth. This is my name, and the place I'm staying at. I would love to finish off this conversation in a more private place. If you would do me the honor of visiting me Thursday afternoon at four, I would be happy to clarify everything that I can."
Jade snatched the piece of paper so fast that she could've given the other woman a paper cut. She glanced down at it briefly and sneered, "Why would I want to visit you? I don't even trust you."
Sienna sighed like she was speaking to an extremely slow five-yearl-old. "As of now, your memories are wrong, so you obviously can't trust your father. You need me to tell you the truth. I'm the only one right now who can provide that for you." Sienna told Jade in that sure and still voice of hers.
"And what do you get out of this?" Jade said, refusing to believe that anyone would be doing this out of the goodness of their hearts.
"Justice." The woman said quietly, picking up her handbag and slinging it over her shoulder, her brown hair falling in front of her face in waves. "Think about it, won't you?"
Then, she walked out the door, disappeared into the crowd, and was gone.
Jade numbly picked up her own belongings, dumping the remains of her latte into the trash can. Her day was ruined. Not even latte could fix it now.
In the span of about an hour, she'd found out that her whole life had been one big lie, constructed and manipulated by her father, who didn't even love her anymore because of the resemblance that Jade bore towards his dead wife.
Jade opened her fist, which had been wound so tight that it had crumpled the tiny piece of paper that Sienna had given her. Did she even want to know the truth?
Then, as a gaggle of teenage girls brushed past Jade, Jade felt a surge of anger. For all her life, she'd let her father take control, had idolized him from afar, given him all her efforts and love in blind devotion, and put him on top of a pedestal when he didn't deserve to be there. And if he couldn't even tell her the truth, then maybe it was time to take him down.
And if the saying "Knowledge is power" was true, then she would be starting on Thursday afternoon with a certain piece of paper clutched in her hand.
A/N: Hey, I'm not sure if this chapter was confusing or not. I think maybe towards the end it started getting all weird and everything. The thing is, I already know the whole entire story, so it makes sense in my mind. I don't know if it actually transfers when it's being restricted and filtered, though. Basically, Jade lost her memory in a car accident six years ago, and Mark has been filling it with things that never happened. If anybody has a problem understanding or needs clarifying, send me a message or something, and I would be happy to answer any questions. If things kind of make sense for now, it'll make more sense in a couple of chapters.
Oh, also, I included a few pictures of who I would imagine to be the characters. Because these are sole products of boredom, I would be happy to take any other suggestions if you happen to know an actress or actor who would fit the bill. Just send me a message or something.
Okay, that's it for now. Enjoy, and as always, please read and review if you feel like it.
Arielle: .com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/draft_lens1472799module9238012photo_1208959382emma_
Jade: .
Or .com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/go108a_.jpg
Blake: . and
./2009/04/gaspard_