Jade was woken the next morning by a small tap on the door. Cat walked in with a tray in her hand and a smile on her face. She sat the tray down before turning to Jade.
"I made your favorites." She said, helping Jade sit up.
Jade looked over at the tray to see a large coffee in a mug, black with no sugar, waffles with golden syrup drizzled over it and a scoop of ice-cream to top it all off.
"Thank you…" Jade muttered, her eyes taking in the sight. Her stomach growled at the food before her. She put spoonful after spoonful into her mouth, not bothering to chew it properly. Jade licked the plate with embarrassment before wiping her mouth. Her eyes turned to the coffee on the bedside table. Despite being much too hot, she gulped it down, the contents burning down her throat.
Cat stood not far from her, watching the girl gorge herself. She felt a little guilty that her mother and herself hadn't thought of bringing her food sooner. Jade put the cup down and looked up at Cat.
Instead of telling her how she should use her manners, Cat used her high pitched, irritating laugh to lighten the mood of the room. She wasn't about to bring up the subject of her so called friends and the nasty things they had said or number of followers she had lost. Instead she stepped closer to Jade and helped her stand. "We're going to the park today. No if's, an's or but's."
Cat walked to the wardrobe and pulled out an outfit best suited to Jade. She handed Jade the clothes then blushed leaving the room to give her friend some privacy. Jade shook her head slightly confused and managed to change with a little difficulty.
Cat walked back in 5 minutes later, not wanting to walk in on her half naked. She helped Jade slip into her usual boots and brush her hair.
"Tell me again why we're going for a walk?" Jade asked, finishing brushing her hair.
"Because you've been in this house for weeks and you need to get out." She answered, playing with Jade's hair.
Cat took her hand and led her downstairs. They both waved to Mrs. V and walked out the door. Jade squinted her eyes, letting them get used to the bright sunlight of the outside world. She looked around at her surroundings. She didn't remember Cat's neighborhood being this beautiful. Sure, Jade had always lived in a rather grand and extravagant area, but Cat's was much different to hers. There were no fancy posh houses in sight, no cars costing around half a million a pop.
Everyone that passed them either smiled or waved. Some even knew Cat and stopped to have a conversation. Jade was rather quiet and reserved. The beating had taken a huge toll on her, but she wasn't sure what that toll was. Now, she was paranoid and suspicious of everyone that passed.
Cat kept her hand in Jade's as they arrived at their destination. Cat used to come to this park every weekend when she was little. It wasn't a huge park but it was beautiful, much like Cat's area.
The red head led Jade to an ice-cream van on the eastern side of the park.
"Good morning Alfredo" she giggled, ordering her usual. She glanced at Jade who stood a little back from the stranger in the van. Jade shook her head, having just eaten a massive breakfast.
Cat put the money on the counter, took her ice cream and said goodbye to Alfredo.
"He used to baby sit me and my brother." She smiled licking her frozen treat. Jade faced Cat at the mention of her brother.
"Where IS your brother? I haven't heard from him."
"That makes two of us. He kind of just disappeared…Mum's worried, but I know he can look after himself…most of the time." She explained, continuing to eat her ice cream.
The two friends walked to a park bench and sat down. After Cat had finished Jade decided to question Cat further about her odd behavior before she got 'sick'.
"Hey Cat…you remember that morning? You know, the morning of my beating?" Jade asked carefully, trying not to scare her off.
Cat froze, unsure of what to say. Jade was the last person she wanted to tell, but was also the person who had to know.
"Yes…" she confirmed in a small voice.
"Why did you run out the door like that?"
Cat played with the ends of her red hair, avoiding eye contact with Jade.
"I can't tell you…" she finally sighed, her heart beating fast.
"Cat…of course you can. You're my best friend…" Jade took her hand and sat it in her lap. Cat bit her lip, trying to keep the truth hidden. She was never any good at lying, especially to her best friend. She closed her eyes before answering.
"I like you Jade…so much. My heart almost jumps out of my chest every time I see you or hear your name. And when you touch me…" she trailed off, her cheeks a deep shade of red.
Jade sat in silence, accidentally letting go of Cat's hand out of reflex. She was shocked and surprised. Not just by this new information, but the fact that she never picked it up.
"Please…say something" Cat begged, staring at the silent girl.
Before Jade could reply, Cat began to run. She darted out of the park and around the corner. Jade attempted to chase her, but her weak state wouldn't allow her. She wasn't angry or upset with her; she just wasn't sure how she felt about it.
Jade sighed and began the slow walk back to Cat's. She felt lonely as ever, her walk finally ending as she arrived outside Cat's. She walked inside hoping to find Cat, but nothing. No sign of her was heard.
Jade walked towards Mrs. V's room, hoping to talk it through with her. Cat's mother was folding up the washing when Jade walked into the room.
"You guys are back early, that was a short walk." She said folding a sheet.
"Cat ran somewhere and I don't know where she went…" Jade sat on the edge of Mrs. Valentine's bed. She set the washing down and joined Jade on her bed.
"What happened?"
"Cat told me how she really felt…" Cat's mom nodded in understanding. Jade's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"You knew?" she questioned, a little hurt that it was kept from her.
"Cat's not really one to keep secrets…she needed to get it out. I'm sorry, she asked me to keep it a secret." She explained. Jade looked down at her hands.
"When I didn't say anything, she took off…"
"Oh Jade…" Mrs. V sighed. "Well I guess we better go find her…"
They both stood and headed towards the door. Cat's mom grabbed her car keys and shut the front door behind them. Jade stopped suddenly, watching as Cat approached them.
"Cat? Where have you been?"
"I needed to think…I'm sorry." The red head apologized.
Jade shook her head. "No, it's not your fault. I should be apologizing…I should of said something when you told me how you felt"
The two girls gazed at each other for a moment before both giving a small smile. They sat on opposite ends of the couch, an awkward feeling in the air.
"I'm not sure how I feel Cat…that's why I didn't say anything. But it's not your fault…you told me how you felt…"
"I didn't want to ruin our friendship…" Cat sighed, looking down at her tiny hands.
"You could never ruin that…no matter what happens, you'll always be my best friend."
Cat smiled, looking up from her hands. She hugged the dark haired girl tight, pleased at how things had turned out. They two friends went to Cat's room and spent the night watching Disney movies until the early hours of the morning.
AN:- First of all, I am so so so so so so sorry about the long wait. It is a longer chapter, but it's a little unexciting I'm afraid. I am close to finishing my Diploma in Business Administration and that's the reason for the long wait on this chapter. I do apologize for this. Thank you to those who have stuck with the story. It means a lot that people are continuing to support the story.