Author's Note: Hello dear readers. I know I'm really late with this update as I expected to start this after the New Year, but real life got in the way and it looks like I'll start regular updates (hopefully) after Easter. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this update.
ryankimberley6: Thank you. I finally had the time (and Muse) to get back to this. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Neuromute: Thank you. OC's are quite tricky to use and I'm glad they've added to the story instead of distracting from it. I particularly like how Ian has a positive impact on Jade.
mkpunk: This teaser served far longer as that than expected, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. Yes, Heather and Dusty broke up by this point. It might still be a while, but don't count them out just yet. I do have a few things up my sleeve for this story and I just hope people will enjoy those surprises.
babydoll92: I'm glad I could hook you on this series. It was an accident for me to start writing on this pairing in the first place. It's okay to be a Bade shipper, not agree with everything and read this. I've had Seddies read this too and enjoy it. Thanks for the support.
seddieloverfan12: I'm glad you're enjoying the concept of another story in this series.
Guest: Thanks for the correction. I can't believe I messed up on such an important point.
EnchantingNightmares: Yep, another story in the series.
Guest: Thanks.
darck ben: This Easter break, I will be working on iWould Have Pounded Him Silly. I will finish that story in hopefully an emotionally satisfying manner. I will not rush it just to get it done.
Jeremy Shane: Thanks and here is more.
Fanfic-Reader-88: Yes, it is quite strange that another Benson has such an appeal with the ladies. It has to be that Seattle is cursed. I do wonder if Jonathan went to Seattle, he'd have the same problem.
jafkdb: Thanks and I'll try.
Challenge King: Jon is an OC and he will be quite the important character for this story. OCs usually aren't supposed to be used like that, but oh well
Twilight Warrior 627: Care to share what particular elements I kept from the previous story that makes it great? Yes, Dusty and Heather broke up and you will eventually find out why and Ruby and Steven have finally started getting it right.
Special Guest Appearance by Jennifer Connelly as Ruby Lynn West
Special Guest Appearance by Joe Flannigan as Colonel Steven 'Loco' Shay, Ret.
Rating: T Language
Chapter 2
West Residence
Monday, September 30, 2013
The time was approaching ten o'clock in the evening as Shay got up from his seat on the couch and retrieved his old A2 brown flight jacket draped over the armrest of one of the cushioned chairs. He started to pull on the jacket over his shoulders and straightened his collar before he started on his intended destination towards the kitchen and the garage. Ruby took a step in front of him and began to straighten his collar and idly commented, "You know you don't have to go."
He rested his hands on her hips and smiled in return. "I know, but… I think we have to set a good example for Jadelyn."
The dark haired woman looked up to meet his eyes and raised an eyebrow.
"Last time I checked, they still had separate bedrooms even if they're engaged and her mother having a man staying overnight…"
"As if she has any problem with you staying? We have an extra bedroom if you want it and what I meant was that you could stay here as in stay here."
He warmly smiled at his long time friend. "That's very tempting."
She put on a brave face as she asked the question that had been troubling her for weeks, "But… you want to go back to Seattle?"
He glanced away and she could clearly see on his face that he was struggling with the answer. They had been avoiding the conversation over the last week since he had arrived in L.A. but apparently it was time to have it. He cracked an awkward smile. "Spencer's grown and doesn't need me and Carly's in Europe, my dad is still quite independent so I don't have to be that close to him, Barry and the rest are doing fine and… you're here, but…"
She slightly frowned and glanced down to his chest. "But… you're still lost aren't you? You really don't know what to do next?"
"My career gave me focus after… after Taylor… and I don't know how we move forward especially with how everything is up in the air even if I'm out. You and Jade could be caught in the middle, but I know just moving in with you… being a sponge on you is not that next step."
She reached up and cupped his cheek then emphatically whispered, "You would not be a sponge. You gave nearly twenty eight years to the service… don't you get a chance to rest your head? I don't care what could happen being with you and Jade doesn't care how it could affect her career and you'll find something to move on to after all this crap is settled…" Her face lit up with a smile and softly teased, "…like be President of the United States?"
The former flyer snorted out a breath and rolled his eyes. "Right, me as president. I don't have much faith in what that little tree topper said last year. Just trust me on this and please don't ask me how, but I have personal experience in knowing the unreliability of non-corporeal beings."
She gave a relenting nod understand that during the later years of his career he had to do some things he couldn't talk about, but did counter, "But she was right that we would finally get together… I'd be Mrs. Shay one day…"
He charmingly smiled. "Is that the next step you want? It would actually be the most logical step after forty years of knowing each other—what's the point of 'dating'? What more are we going to find out about each other? And if that's a marriage proposal then the answer is yes."
A light laugh escaped past her lips, "And deprived you of making it? What kind of friend would I be to do that?"
He chuckled then stole a kiss from her lips before taking a knee in front of her. He smiled up to her and asked, "Ruby Lynn, will you be my wife?"
She grinned and stroked his cheek and teased, "Ask me again when you have a ring flyboy."
He chuckled as he stood up then flippantly questioning, "Okay, next time with a ring… but would you want to be a politician's wife? If she's right about it."
She brushed his shoulders and teased, "I'd deal with it and I'd vote for you."
"This California; it wouldn't do much good since I wouldn't pick up this state in an election."
"Probably, but… I meant it. You could stay here. I don't want to do this long distance thing between us now that…"
"Now that I'm out?"
She embarrassingly smiled. "Silver lining?"
He nodded his head to the side and couldn't help from smiling.
After a few seconds of the lifelong friends looking at each other, Shay quietly spoke, "I'll be staying in L.A.—unless they want to call me back to Washington for another hearing or he can find some excuse to throw me in prison."
The pale dark beauty frowned and coldly remarked, "Maybe that's good motivation to look into running for president in twenty-sixteen? Even he couldn't spin locking up a future candidate."
All the usual warmth that she could always find in his eyes vanished and was replaced by that distant cold look that she occasionally saw in her father's eyes. It sent a slight chill through her.
"He's the king and his word is law now. Don't underestimate him simply ordering it to happen and it happening and everyone just sitting on their hands and letting him do it."
She deeply frowned and she felt a knot of dread form in her stomach. She glanced down to hide her worried expression.
He dipped his head down and quickly reassured her, "It'll be alright. I have an ace in the hole so he won't try anything, especially to Carly, Spencer, you and Jade or anyone else. He may be politically surviving everything else, but not this."
She looked up to him with a hopeful expression. "And what's that?"
"That's classified and revealing it—if I have to use it, it's treason, but…" He kissed her forehead then rested his forehead against hers as he whispered to her lips, "I love my country, but I love my family—all of my family—more."
She gently stroked his cheek and whispered, "Well let's hope he's as smart as he thinks he is."
"Yeah…" He cracked a smile then casually remarked with a happier tone than he felt, "Well I need to get going."
She regretfully replied, "Yeah. I have work tomorrow."
"And I need to… try to enjoy the time off."
He pulled away from her and headed to the kitchen, the couple holding hands as they went. He exited through the kitchen door to the garage and down the steps. He passed Ruby and Jade's respective cars then let his hand graze over the hood of the black Charger before reaching the end where he had parked his motorcycle he had since high school. Fortunately Ruby had kept it in storage for him instead of getting rid of it after Taylor's death.
She stopped at the threshold of the door and reached over to flick the switch to the automatic garage door.
He looked up and smiled. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight my flyboy."
He flashed her another smile then he pulled the helmet originally resting on the backseat over his head then cranked the ignition of the motorcycle.
She rested the side of her head on the doorframe as she watched him back up to the driveway, turn then turn the corner of the rounded driveway onto the street and into the night. She said a silent prayer to the redheaded angel that had involved herself into her daughter and Freddie's lives more than a year ago that she would watch over him.
102.7 KIIS FM Studios
Los Angeles, CA
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
The time was just after ten in the morning as Jade took a comfortable seat behind the hanging microphone and across from the radio host, Ryan Seacrest. She picked up the headphones and placed them around her head then adjusted the earpieces over her ears.
She patiently waited for Ryan to welcome back the audience from the commercial break and whatever other tidbit of news he had to give them. She had noticed about herself over the last year that she had grown more patient with people in general. She wasn't exactly sure why, she had only a few guesses, because most people still irritated her, especially the ones that wanted to get something out of her now that she was famous and considerably financially well-off.
Ryan turned his attention to her sitting across from him and happily announced, "…and this morning we have the beautiful and very talented Jadelyn 'Jade' West."
She beamed a bright smile to him and graciously answered, "Thank you Ryan. You're too kind and I'm happy to be here."
"We're very glad that you could take some time out of your busy schedule to talk to us."
She laughed as she slightly turned her head away, but maintained eye contact with the host, "You mean my vacation?"
The radio host laughed along, but softly questioned in a way to avoid embarrassment in getting his facts wrong, "I was told that you're back in school—UCLA? I guess that would be a vacation when you're coming off a big domestic and international tour after taking the music world by storm with your freshman album."
"Yes, I'm back at UCLA for the quarter and in comparison it feels like I'm on vacation—I get to sleep-in and I have just two classes and as much as loved touring and performing for all my fans and going to all the places I went, I'm quite happy to be back home in L.A. with my family and friends."
Ryan joked, "Let's hope your professors aren't listening or they might want to change that, make you actually go to work."
The pale musician returned with a bright smile, one that been appearing on her face publicly far more often over the course of the last year than it had in high school. "I wouldn't have any doubt I was getting my money's worth for the courses if they did."
The pair along with a few co-hosts shared in a quick laugh, before Ryan asked, "So, your tour was a smashing success… the rumored numbers show that it was bigger than your friend slash rival Tori Vega's tour she joined with Big Time Rush."
A tight smile formed on Jade's face at the slight dig towards Tori. At one time it was her place to make such comments about the girl-next-door performer, but times had changed between the girls during their senior year and since graduation. She replied with a sweet and diplomatic voice, "Ryan, that's not a fair comparison. Tori is a fantastic musician. I did a full tour from spring, through the summer and into the fall, including international shows while they decided to do a national summer tour this year for their own reasons. I know Tori wanted to finish out her spring quarter at UCLA and I think the guys were working on another album that prevented them from doing another international tour—but don't quote me on that last part."
One of Ryan's co-hosts, Ellen K. that specialized in celebrity gossip, remarked, "That's an awfully kind thing to say about your rival since high school and has been repeatedly seen out and about with your fiancé in the spring and late summer after her tour while you were still touring—they went together and looked quite cozy at the VMAs this year."
Ryan instantly appeared uncomfortable that his co-host would imply such a thing about their guest's fiancé and risk possibly alienating her from appearing again in the future and possibly doing the same for Tori Vega and their mutual friend that was rapidly gaining attention—Cat Valentine—for maybe five minutes of celebrity gossip. I could go without say, that being unable to book any of them or perhaps all three would not look good for him.
Jade turned her head and smiled to Ellen K., but it was a predatory smile as she sweetly answered, "They're best friends and we go to college together, of course they're going to be scene together—just like how we—me, Freddie, Tori, Beck, etc.—are going to be out this afternoon for an early dinner where the paparazzi will probably snap plenty of pictures. Maybe I should get them to hug for a picture you can post? About them going together and being 'cozy' as you put it, I had about another week left to my tour—that's why Freddie went with Tori instead of me and she went with him because Beck was up in Canada visiting some family. If Beck had been home and it had been Robbie that was off somewhere, Freddie would have gone with Cat and you'd be having this conversation with her. I do have to say that Tori really looked good in that Versace Couture dress and my man certainly cleans up well."
Ryan blew out a relieved breath at sensing that Jade wasn't particularly mad.
The blonde cocked an eyebrow and softly challenged, "She could have went with your label-mate André Harris and your man's best friend is another woman?"
Jade softly laughed a shrugged a shoulder, "And Freddie and Trina missing out going? No, and I don't share your insecurities about who your man hangs out with and it is none of my business."
Before Ellen could snap back with any remark, Ryan interrupted with a question, "So it's college for this quarter, but can you tell us about any future plans after that? Will you be surprising us with something for the winter or spring? More music? Perhaps some film roles?"
The dark brunette turned her attention back to Ryan and quickly answered, "I have been working on my second album while I was on tour and will continue to work on it this fall and early winter. I'm looking at as early as a spring release date but it's more likely for the summer, but I could be collaborating with other artists in the meantime."
Ryan hopefully asked, "So we could hear you sing with your friends Tori Vega and Cat Valentine?"
"Singing with either of them is a distinct possibility." She diplomatically laughed, "We could always do some karaoke in the meantime, but our old favorite place is for eighteen and under, so we'd probably have to sing at Nozu. It's a local Japanese restaurant that liked going to during our senior year at Hollywood Arts." She laughed again as she finished in a quieter tone, "That's a shout out to Mrs. Lee. They have the best soup."
"Can't that be a little complicated when you're on separate labels? You are rivals for a piece of the music industry."
Jade lazily remarked, "Not really. Any kind of disagreements or 'rivalries' are left between Mason and Quincy. We are friends, it is as simple as that. I specifically have a clause in my contract that says I can collaborate with anyone I chose whether we're on the same label or not. If something comes up where Tori or Cat want us to sing together, I'm going to go sing with them whether it is for a single or on an album and vice versa with them."
Ryan slightly verbally poked, "So there really isn't any kind of music rivalry going on between the three of you? You leave all that in the studio and on stage?"
Jade brightly smiled and slightly swiveled in her chair. "If there is, I think we're all happy with it because I think we push each other to be better songwriters, better performers."
"Was that the case when Cat sang before the VMAs? She took the carpet by storm before the show."
Jade blew out a breath, mildly irritated with herself before answering, "She certainly did and I hate missed her performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, but Cat's always had talent and I'm glad the world is getting to see it."
The radio host was quick to point out with a wag of his finger. "I think she's a shoe in for New Artist of the Year for the AMAs this year."
"And I will be cheering from the audience when she wins it."
Ellen softly poked, obviously not appreciating the remark about her relationship, "The award you lost last year?"
Jade turned her head to give the woman a look that displayed her feelings of thinking the woman was a complete moron for such a question, "Of course I lost, I didn't get my single out until about a month before the awards and she had completely dominated the summer with 'Call Me Maybe'. It was a great song, she's really talented and deserve the win."
Ryan butted in, "What about acting? You acted extensively at your high school and have several short films and it's no secret that you would love to have an acting and even writing career."
The pale musician looked back to the host and was grateful for the distraction because Ellen was starting to crawl under her skin. She happily answered, "I don't rule out anything. If the right project comes along, I'll be taking it. I have the time before my second album to relax, recharge and appear in any movies or television spots.
"Does that mean you could possibly guest star in your ex, Beck Oliver's show?"
"I could if they offered something, but I haven't been contacted with any offer to appear. If the right guest role came up, I'd be thrilled to act with Beck. I was able to visit the set when they were filming the pilot and again before I left for my tour and they are a wonderful cast that I would be thrilled to film with."
Ryan laughed as he glanced around his studio, "I would love to see you on the show in some capacity. Since we've talked about your music plans and you're open to acting roles, what about personal? How is Freddie doing? How does it feel to be back with 'your man'?"
Jade slightly nodded her head and answered, "Freddie's doing quite fine and we're quite happy at being able to see each other everyday. Video chats, texts and calls are nice, but they just aren't the same as being with each other."
"But now that you're back, are there any immediate wedding plans for you and Freddie Benson? Have you finally set a date? It has been a little more than a year since you said yes to him."
Jade subconsciously played with her engagement right on her left ring finger and let out a playful and quite diplomatic laugh, "If there are any, I'll make sure you get an invitation Ryan—friend of the bride."
Ellen teased, "Can we take that to mean that there haven't been any serious plans to tie the knot? Have one or both of you realized that neither one of you are even twenty and it might be a little soon for you to make that kind of commitment to one another?"
Jade coyly answered, "What? You're hoping that Freddie is seeing Tori behind mine and Beck's back so you can fill your gossip pages? I would be something interesting to read, but it's not happening. We know that we love each other, we're together and it doesn't matter if we get married in three years or right after Freddie's last class for the day, but it is happening."
The celebrity gossip reporter turned the conversation quickly in seeing she wasn't going to get the answers she wanted, "What about plans for you mother and her man?"
Jade was glad that this was a radio interview instead of a television interview so they wouldn't see her slight grimace. She calmly replied, "I'm not going to talk about my mother's private life. I'm a celebrity and that's obviously part of the business, but she's not, so her life isn't an open book to you or really to my fans. If she wants to discuss it then that is her choice."
Ellen countered, "What about the new rumored man in her life? Former Colonel Steven Shay? He's certainly a public figure now with his outspokenness against the president and his retirement from the Air Force."
Jade looked Ellen K. straight in the eyes with a cold stare that sent a slight shiver through the radio personality. She swallowed nervously and actually had to avert her eyes just as the blue and purple streaked hair girl was quick to respond before she could catch herself, "Forced retirement to punish him for telling the truth about Benghazi."
The musician took a few calming breaths before she continued in the same calming voice she used to addressed about her mother, "It's no secret that the Colonel and my mother are life long friends. They've known each other since they were seven years old—I'm actually his goddaughter and my mother is Spencer and Carly's godmother. What goes on between them is their private business. I didn't realize disagreeing with the president suddenly meant that your life became an open book for scrutiny."
Ellen responded, her irritation for Jade clearly showing in her voice, "It is when the man is obviously lying to further his own political future to be a future Tea Party candidate—"
Jade was quick to interrupt, "Candidate? He wanted to stay in the Air Force." She looked to Ryan and quickly continued, "Ryan, this is my first public statement on the matter and I can see Quincy's publicist screaming on the other side of the glass in not wanting me to speak, but here it goes anyway. This isn't about politics. This isn't about whether you like the president or not or support him or not. Four Americans died there and because the Colonel, an honorable and good man, told the truth about what he knows, it embarrassed the White House and they ended his career for it because his retirement was not of his choosing. Now because he's out and still won't stop talking about it when asked, they're trying to investigate him to find anything they can falsely accuse him of doing."
"So you and his daughter Carly agree?"
"Carly has been far more outspoken than I have and maybe I should have said something sooner in support, but the Colonel wanted me to stay out of it because we know how willing the President's lackeys are willing to publicly destroy people and worst." She snorted out a laugh with a shrugged shoulder, "Now that I've stepped in it, I just have to wait for the IRS to start auditing me in retaliation, but fortunately I have some very good lawyers."
The others in the radio studio nervously laughed and glanced to one another, knowing deep down she was correct—and some agreeing that it was perfectly alright for the IRS scrutinizing some people more than others.
Ryan quickly spoke up to prevent any dead air, "We need to take a commercial break, but can you stay for another segment to take a few phone calls?"
"Yes, I would love to stay to talk with some of my fans."
The red light indicating they were on the air dimmed and one of Jade's songs could be heard being played for the audience. The lovely female publicity in her mid-twenties provided by RPX records nearly dashed into the room to speak with Jade as the teenager took the headphones off of her head. The lovely African-American woman immediately started almost lecturing Jade, "You shouldn't have said anything about politic—"
Jade outright glared at the woman and hissed, "The last time I checked, I don't work for you and if Quincy has a problem with what I said get him on the phone and I'll tell him the same thing I just said on the air."
The woman frowned at seeing Jade dismiss her and her concerns. She turned to walk away and back to the other side of the observation screen.
The young musician took a few sips from her provided drink as she eyed the gossip reporter. She could tell she had really gotten under the woman's skin and the feeling was mutual. She had heard the gossip that there could be something going on between Tori and Freddie while she had been gone. She was a celebrity and she had learn real quick even before making it that jealous people would want to tear her down, but she didn't appreciate the found less accusations against Freddie especially since he wasn't in the public eye as an entertainer, just being her fiancé.
Her song was wrapping up, so she placed the headphones back over her head and over her ears.
Ryan eagerly announced as the red light came back on, "Okay, we are back the lovely Jade West is still in studio with us to answer a few of your questions." He flipped a switch and continued, "First caller, you're on air with Ryan Seacrest."
A young female voice nervously asked, "Hello?"
"Yes, hello, you are on the air. Do you have a question for Jade West?"
The caller stared shouting to the point of near hysteria. "Oh my god, oh my god, Jade I love you!"
Jade grinned at hearing the girl's excitement. After all this time, it was still odd to hear total strangers telling her that they loved her and most of them being genuine with that love even if they didn't fully understand what they were saying. "Thank you. I appreciate that from you and all my fans. Do you have a question for me?"
"Okay, okay, my question is, who is the little boy we see you and Freddie out with so much? Is he your son? I mean—oh God—I'm so nervous. I didn't know you had been together that long? Or is he yours and Beck's? I'm sorry for being noisy, but we just want to know."
Jade laughed with a slight tilt of her head back. "It's okay, but no, he's not our son—he's not my son. I don't have any children. Freddie and I don't plan to have children until after we're married. He is Ian, my brother who I have missed so much during my tour and glad I'm going to be able to spend time with him." Her cheerfulness dropped a bit as she remarked, "I even missed his sixth birthday."
"Thank you Jade! You make a cute family!"
Ellen interrupted and ignored the question before Ryan could take another call, "That's surprising that you feel that way about your stepbrother with how honest you are about your feelings with your father on your album."
Jade narrowed her eyes and answered in a sharp tone, "My complicated feelings and relationship in regards to my father are beside the point when it comes to Ian. He has absolutely nothing to do with my feelings about the choices a grown man made twelve years ago or the ones he made to get us to this point."
Ryan happily interrupted to prevent things from further escalating between his co-host and guest, "Our next caller…"
"Hello Jade?"
"Yes, this is Jade."
"You are my idle! I love you. I love your music and I love your short films. I can't wait to see you back on screen."
The dark haired celebrity smiled towards the microphone and answered, "Thank you. I'm flattered you say that, I really am. Do you have a question for me?"
"Yes, would you really appear with Beck on Twisted? Maybe as love interest?"
She raised her pierced eyebrow. "An on-screen romance with Beck?" She softly laughed then replied, "I might have to check with Tori on that. Even if it's just for a role, I might want to make sure it's okay to kiss my friend's boyfriend."
The girl quickly followed up, "But you were his girlfriend first, how is it okay for her to be dating him now if you're friends. Doesn't that violate 'Girl Code'? And do you know what's going to happen in the premiere? Is Danny going to get cleared? Is the truth going to come out?"
Jade licked her bottom lip then answered, "We ignored 'Girl Code' because we're friends. I can't tell Beck or Tori who they can and can't date and Beck couldn't tell me who I should date. Beck and I were free to date anyone we wanted after we broke up. I found Freddie and eventually Beck started Tori. I don't know what is going to happen in any upcoming episodes. Beck's pretty tight lip about spoilers on the show because Freddie loves teasing him about it. I think he's got hooked on the show."
"Thanks Jade! I love you!"
"Okay, our next caller. You're on air with Ryan Seacrest."
A young man on the other end of the laughed, "I love you Jade, but I'm totally against the idea of you playing a character that would get involved with Danny. Isn't the love triangle enough for him?"
Jade rolled her eyes at recognizing the voice even with the slight shift in pitch being over the phone, "So no on-screen fling with Beck… Freddie?"
Ryan's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets as he asked, "Freddie?"
"Hello Mister Seacrest."
"This is a pleasant surprise. I didn't know you were going to call into the show."
"I wasn't expecting to either, but I have a few minutes between classes and I thought I'd call in with my own questions for Jade."
Jade teased, "Oh? You have questions for me?"
"I kind of have you cornered to answer anything I want."
"Oh? You know I will get you back for this, right?"
Freddie teased, "I know."
"Okay, what's your question?
"What are you going to be for Halloween this year?
Jade stuck out the tip of her tongue out to lip her bottom lip as she grinned then playfully answered, "I already told you, it's a surprise and catching me on a national show isn't going to make me tell you."
They could hear him visibly sigh on the other end of the phone call. "How am I going to complement you?"
She chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm picking out your costume."
"Oh? It's going to be like that?"
The lovely singer teased, "Yeah, it's going to be like that."
"Okay, I just hope it's a good one.
"I think you'll like yours and mine."
He laughed then signed off, "Okay, I'm trusting you."
"Yeah, yeah, big mistake," she teased in return.
"Well, I got to go; class is in a few minutes. I'll see you in a few hours."
"I'll see you after class, usual spot. Love you."
"Love you too angel, bye."
Ryan noticed the clock and hurriedly followed up, "Well thank you for being with us today Jade. I know we're all looking forward to all of Jade's future projects. Thanks again for stopping by. Now we're going to close out with Jade's latest single: 'Fate is a Four Letter Word'."
Kerckhoff Coffee House
Kerckhoff Hall
308 Westwood Plaza
UCLA
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Jonathan strolled into the coffee house after making a quick walk from the Schoenberg Music Building with the intention of grabbing a quick coffee before heading home to start on some studying after a long day of classes. He was kind of beat, but he felt good about his classes even if it was only the fourth day. The material didn't seemed particularly challenging that he was going to face and he seemed to be getting along with a number of students that were seated around him. Some of the female variety was making him a little uneasy as they seemed pretty aggressive. He thought he had escaped that kind of attention after leaving Manhattan, but apparently he would not have that kind of luck.
The coffee house on the second floor of the building was moderately busy as a number of other students had the same idea of having a drink and/or snack to relax after a long day of classes.
As he made his way to the counter, the corner of his eye caught a familiar red velvet hair color. He slowed his walk and looked over to the table the owner of the hair was occupied to take a second take and saw to his surprise not only a familiar looking redhead, but Jade with a young child sitting in her lap and Tori sitting around one of the tables enjoying their respective drinks and chatting.
Ian happily sipped on his small cup of smoothie (something his future brother-in-law hooked him on much to Jade's annoyance) as he sat in his stepsister's lap and she continued her point in a slightly annoyed tone towards her redheaded friend after sitting her coffee cup down on the table (and pointedly ignoring a few of the fellow students with their phones out taking a few pictures of the three musicians, with two of them belonging to rival labels), "…can understand you wanting to go out with Robbie, but did you have to leave Ian alone with Sam?"
The redhead sat her cupcake down and was quick to speak up, "I didn't think she would just leave. I'd thought she'd take a nap or just eat—it's the two things she wants to do when babysitting."
Ian looked up to his sister and stated, "I had fun with Rex."
She slightly leaned her head down and whispered, "I know you did sweetie, but since Cat was going to go out for a while, Sam was supposed to stay with you."
Cat continued, "Sam's mad that you didn't leave the money."
Jade looked up and flippantly replied, "I don't care. I'm not going to pay her for not doing her job."
"But that's the only income she gets now that we've had to stop babysitting other children."
The former Hollywood Arts mean girl was quick to retort, "She could always go out and get a real job. It shouldn't be too hard for her with superpowers and all. Dusty supports…"
She trailed off as a weight suddenly fell in the atmosphere of the conversation. She cleared her throat and continued in a stern voice, "…supports himself just fine. Why doesn't she just screw with probability and win the lottery? She shouldn't be living off of you."
The redheaded singer was about to protest, but Jade was quicker to cut her off with a quick hands over Ian's ears, "Don't try to bullchizz me Cat. You give her plenty of spending money like you're her personal A-T-M machine. She's just living off you like she did Carly and Spencer for years—she's just taking advantage of another child of a Dorfman."
Cat frowned and looked to the table, signaling that Jade was correct.
The lighter haired brunette spoke up, "Jade's right."
The petite singer looked up to meet Tori's sympathetic, but clearly agreeing expression with Jade. Cat blew out a breath and reluctantly admitted, "Fine, I'll talk to Sam."
Jade dryly commented, not believing her own words, "Hopefully it will do some good or I'll talk to her."
Cat looked a little wide eyed; she was clearly worried that Jade would talk to her blonde roommate because after all this time, they were at best cordial with one another and didn't want their tempers to collide. They really might just kill each other.
As Cat contemplated what she would say to Sam, Jade glanced over and noticed Jonathan passing them on his way to the counter, but had slowed down when he recognized at least her and Tori or so she thought.
Jonathan fully stopped in his tracks when he saw Cat.
Tori teased her redheaded friend when she noticed Jonathan's expression, "You made someone speechless."
Cat giggled, flattered by the reaction.
Jonathan let out a nervous chuckle being in earshot and took a step closer to the table while looking at the petite teenager, "I'm sorry, you look just like my sister."
Jade let out a soft, mockingly laugh, "Interesting recovery Jon."
He casually laughed it off then looked to Cat. "No, my sister's been mistaken for you ever since your mini-summer tour and album release. She thought about washing her hair out and going back to her brunette color would stop people from bugging her for autographs."
Cat innocently asked, "Really?"
"Really." He quickly reached into one of his jean pockets and pulled out his Samsun phone and hastily pulled up a picture then turned it to show the three.
Cat's eyes widened as she saw an identical looking girl to herself standing next to him, only that her hair was slightly colored a darker color.
Tori softly laughed, "Another doppelganger?"
Jade joked with a wicked smile, "I have one, you have one, it's about time that Cat got one too."
Cat started playing with the end of her red velvet locks and countered, "But I already had one: Mrs. Shay."
The blue hair highlighted teenager shook her head. "That doesn't count; you were her first cousin once removed. You were related."
"Oh."
The handsome New Yorker raised and an eyebrow and cautiously asked, "I don't understand."
The pale singer looked back up to their fellow UCLA student and patiently explained, "Tori has one—Shelby Marx, the professional CFC fighter and I…" Jade's smile faded as she thought on the supermodel, her heart going out to her, and her voice dropped into a somber tone, "…I have one—the supermodel Heather Fox."
He eagerly added, nearly star struck, "The FaceALIVE and Elizabeth Taylor model whose face is practically everywhere?"
As to apparently prove his point, someone walked by the table while reading a magazine and on the back cover was a picture of Heather holding up a tube of FaceALIVE.
Jade chuckled with a hand motion to the passing student, "That's her."
He glanced back to the musician and laughed, "I always thought you two looked alike, but she's not really your sister?"
"No, we're not related." The pale singer nodded her head to the side and finished, "We never did any DNA testing, but we have separate mothers and fathers. We're quite sure of it."
Ian finally spoke up, surprisingly being patient in letting his sister and the other girls speak, "Who are you?"
Cat quickly followed up, curious as well since there hadn't been a proper introduction, but just jumping into talking about apparent twins, "Yeah, who are you?"
He gave a friendly smile and answered, "I'm Jonathan."
Tori smiled sweetly, throwing Jonathan off for a second on what he was going to say and answering, "Jonathan Benson."
The redhead laughed, "Benson?"
Jade quickly followed up to her brother and her friend, "This is Jonathan. He has a class before Tori and mines music class on Mondays and Wednesdays." She looked back up to the handsome New Yorker. "Jon, this is my brother Ian."
Jonathan raised a hand and gave a friendly wave and smile, having his curiosity satisfied about why she would have a child in her lap. "Hi."
The child nodded then turned back to his smoothie once satisfied with the answer.
Jon continued while glancing across the three lovely young ladies and jokingly stated, "So celebrities really hang out with the rest of us students?"
Jade smiled at his attempt at humor. "When one of them is waiting for her fiancé to finish something in one of the computer labs then you wait like any other student."
He snorted out a laugh and bowed his head, a little amused that celebrities have to deal with the little things in life just like everyone else.
Tori picked up, "So, you just swinging by to grab something or are you meeting with anyone?"
He thumbed over his shoulder. "I'm just grabbing a coffee then back to my place to study. I'm still getting to know people, so I'm being cautious of whom I socialize with."
The lighter brunette curled her brow and curiously questioned, "You got your own place?"
He rubbed the back of his neck then nervously admitted, "Yeah. My dad got me an apartment. He wanted to protect me a little from who he saw would be a bunch of losers that would try to drag me down if I lived in the dorms. He has… high expectations of me and he's suspicious of those that could drag me down."
The brunette let out an appreciative laugh, "You should appreciate it. I got a place of my own off campus—okay, my sister is my roommate, but I can absolutely trust who I'm sharing living space. I wouldn't want to trade it because there are plenty of people that would want to take advantage of me—try to take advantage of any of us."
Jonathan politely remained silent, ignoring that he could easily be one of those people.
Tori motioned towards the table. "I'm sorry, we're being rude. Would you like to join us?"
Cat was a little surprised with the invitation as Tori hadn't been joking about random people wiling to try to worm themselves into their lives to try to take advantage of them. She recalled a few that Sam had put in the hospital then her manager having to cut a check to make sure they wouldn't sue. There was a number of family members from among the girls that had came out of the woodwork to suddenly try to reestablished family and friendly connections with the intent of trying to get money out of them.
Jonathan was used to beautiful girls asking him to join them at sitting at cafeteria tables, some other school function or the usual teenage hangout places back in NYC and he was usually cool and polite about either accepting or declining, but being asked to join three very lovely and famous musicians/actresses left him cotton mouthed—except of course the one that looked identical to his sister. However, he recovered quickly, took the left over seat and dropped his bag on the floor next to him.
He nervously laughed and attempted to strike up a conversation and asked the girls, "So long day?"
Jade answered first, "No, I just have two classes; they're on Monday and Wednesday, the composition class after your music class and my advance screenwriting class."
Jon asked with mild surprise, being impressed with her being in such classes at her age, "You're a sophomore and you're already in composition?"
"Actually I'm still a freshman. I was too busy with promoting my album and doing a mini-tour during the fall quarter so I don't have enough hours yet to be a sophomore." Jade questioned in a moderately wondering tone, "What music class were you in?"
"Theory Four," he answered proudly.
Tori curiously asked in a teasing, easy going manner, "This is your first semester and you got into theory four?"
"I placed really well on my Music Theory Placement Examination."
Tori complimented, "Wow, you got some talent."
He glanced toward the table and tried to sound modest as he answered, "I think it was a little luck during the exam than anything else." He looked up with a mixture of charm and bashfulness. "If I may ask, which one did you get placed in?"
Jade smugly smiled as she answered, "Theory six."
Jon looked at her dumbfounded.
She glanced slightly over to Tori while she finished, "Hollywood Arts really does have a fantastic music program… and I have a little talent, but I think they were annoyed that I got to skip so many classes."
"Why? You're a platinum music artist. Wouldn't they be thrilled that you're going to their university?"
"Because I didn't take them, so they couldn't charge me for the classes."
He chuckled, "Oh." He thought for a moment about her taking classes in the first place and asked, "Why are you taking classes in the first place?"
Jade slightly frowned and answered with a detached voice, "That's kind of personal."
He shook his head and stated what he thought was the obvious, "I'm sorry, it's just… you've already made it, I don't understand why you would want to go through the trouble of college. You could work with anyone or get private tutors or classes to expand your craft, but you're here with the rest of us."
The dark brunette kept her even expression and took a sip of her coffee before answering, "If you make it big—and let's hope you do—you'll soon learn to really appreciate what you take for granted as normal."
He solemnly nodded.
Cat eagerly asked, "So you want to be a musician too? I mean, making it big as a career?"
He boyishly laughed, "Hoping to. As I told Jade…" He looked to Jade in mild curiosity. "Can I call you Jade?"
Jade softly chuckled, "Yes, Miss West might make me start feeling old or maybe feel like my mom."
Cat giggled, "Until she gets a new last name?"
The pale musician snapped her head to look at her friend with a sharp look, indicating the girl had been a little too truthful.
The redhead quickly covered her mouth with both of her hands and looked wide-eyed.
Jonathon cleared his throat and tried to hide his mild awkwardness of hearing something that Jade didn't want him to hear.
Jade looked back to the younger teenager with a forced calmness and politely continued, "Yes, you can call me Jade."
Tori thought for a second to tell him he could call her any time, but figured against some harmless flirtation as she didn't want him to get the wrong idea and have him expect that she would give him her number as that would be the logical next thing to do, "And you can call me Tori."
Jon boyish grinned to her in an eerily close way that Freddie did as he answered that caused her to slightly blush, "Thanks Tori. As I was saying, yes, I'm hoping to make it in the industry as a musician. If not, I'm hoping to be part of the music industry as a producer or even run my own record company some day. I know that's what my dad wants."
Jade slightly chuckled, remembering for so long how her 'father' disapproved with her choices in careers, "Yeah… what dads want. I hope you just remember that it's important what you want, not him."
"He's not against my idea or he wouldn't have offered to pay for schooling here. I could have done my schooling in New York and got a job at a New York based company if he really pushed it. He just lets his opinion be known and wants me to know I do have a backup plan."
The future Mrs. Benson or whatever she decided her last name would be after the wedding, pointed out, "We didn't have much of a backup plan since everything took off right out of high school, so you're ahead of the curve for most people our ages—not that I'm not saying you can't make it because I was real impressed with your playing and singing." Before she reconnected with Freddie before her senior year of high school, she probably wouldn't have cared if she implied what little chance he had to make it big in the entertainment industry, but she hoped she hadn't made that suggestion to him in her statement as she instantly realized she may have done such a thing.
"Thanks. I'm not blind to my chances of making it, but that's not going to stop me from trying. Look at you three."
Tori softly laughed, "Good for you. I never thought I'd be here. If my sister hadn't drunk some 'herbal tea', I would have never preformed and got into Hollywood Arts and new I had the talent to this."
He chuckled, "That sounds like an interesting and funny story."
The lovely half-Hispanic leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table before remarking, "It's not that long and it isn't funny for Trina, but it's kind of funn—"
Ian interrupted the conversation by looking up to his sister and stated, "I got to go to the bathroom."
Cat offered, the habit of being a babysitter kicking in, "I'll take you."
Ian hopped off Jade's lap and Cat got up to take his hand. A few of the surrounding students watched as the pair casually made their way towards the restrooms.
As the three's eyes naturally glanced to watch the pair go, Jon glanced around and noticed that a number of people were watching their table and taking interest in him. Some were focusing their phones towards him. He suddenly felt uncomfortable being part of the attention and quickly stood up while making the excuse, "Well I need to grab a drink and head back. I got to get unto some work. I'm sorry for intruding on your lovely ladies' time."
Jade was about to speak, but Tori waved and politely commented, "No, it was no intrusion at all. It was nice to see you again. See you around, maybe tomorrow? I can finish my story?"
He smiled to the lovely olive-skinned singer and answered, "I'd like that. I'll see you tomorrow before your class." He turned and started towards the counter.
Tori watched him with an odd expression, curious with the sudden nervousness until she saw a slight flash to her left. She glanced over to see that someone had used a flash to take a picture. She loved her fans, but she frowned towards the young man that had obviously been one of the reasons the teenager from New York suddenly got up and left. It was nice to talk to such a good looking young man that would smile to her in such a way…
The brunette singer brush that thought away and turned to look to Jade once he was out of earshot. Her onetime rival was curiously looking at her back. Another thought quickly filled the vacuum as it pricked at something she had been wondering for the last couple of weeks, especially since Jade return from her last tour. She idly commented loud enough for only Jade to hear her, "I've been wondering the same thing."
Jade looked away from her coffee cup and asked, "Wondering what?"
"What Jon said, about you being here. I realized after my spring quarter that this wasn't for me, I didn't need it other than maybe a class or two and really you don't need this either—working towards a full degree. Why come back to nearly a full time student after the tour? Why not really take a break?"
Jade mouth became a thin line.
Tori tilted her head to the side and looked to her sympathetically. "Jade?"
The pale singer slumped her shoulders and looked away to some passing students. She glanced back up and somberly admitted, "I just want some normalcy for a while… with Freddie. I just want to take a step back from the movies and music and just have a little bit of a normal life with Freddie and my mom and Ian and the rest of you. I need to be here for the people I love."
Tori knotted her brow in an instant and responded with some mild concern lacing her voice, "Need? I don't understand. Everything's fine, everyone's fine. We're all happy—except for you it seems."
Jade was quick to counter, "I am happy, but everything is only fine on the surface."
Tori knotted her brow in clear confusion.
"Cat is finally making it big—really big—like New Artist of the Year big—and you know there are a lot of people that want to take advantage of her and I don't mean just Sam. I need to be here for my mom and the Colonel."
Tori smirked and cocked an eyebrow. "Jade, there are plenty of people around to make sure no on takes advantage of Cat and your mom and Colonel Shay are adults. They know what they're doing."
"I know that, it's not that. I just want them to know that I'm one hundred percent behind them, especially since Carly's still in Europe and Spencer is in Seattle."
The brunette looked somewhat off guard. "I didn't think she or Spencer disapproved."
"She doesn't. She's happy for them. She's happy that her dad is happy, it's just… she's about six thousand miles away instead of here everyday or in Seattle. Spencer thought they should have gotten married years ago as in Carly and I should have been raised sisters before we even made it out of elementary school."
Tori nodded with a tight smile, accepting her logic for the time being then asked, "How is Carly?"
Jade rolled her eyes and grabbed her drink for a quick sip before answering, "Still pissed beyond belief."
The brunette shook her head and remarked before taking her own sip of her drink, "Oh… she's still that… 'sore'?"
Jade snorted out in disgust before she took a sip of her drink, "You call watching Carly dropped that many 'F-bombs' in one sentence to André when he tried to defend the president as 'sore'? She got as read in the face as Cat's hair. Her father—my future stepfather—just lost his career because of that man."
Tori sat her cup down and asked hoping to turn the conversation away from something so bitter as she could see in Jade's eyes that she was quickly being worked up, "So you're taking screenwriting and composition as a front?"
The lighter skin musician snorted out a breath at hearing Tori's quick turn, but just went along with it as she didn't want to get upset, not when Ian would be returning any minute and Freddie was on his way. "No, not really… I want to take the classes, especially the advance screenwriting workshop, but just being a college student with Freddie is what I want for right now. I can still work on my next album and write and do a TV spot or minor movie role if I get the itch for it."
"Have you told him that? The real reason why you're back in school?"
"No and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Why?"
"Because he might think it was me giving up my career for a little bit for him. He joked last night about dropping out and being with me on tours and he might just do that if he thinks being separated from him for my career is already getting to me. He has to stay in school if he's going to be a computer engineer one day."
"But isn't it if you're doing this?"
Jade took a quick breath and was about to retort, when Freddie walked up behind the brunette and gave a cheek kiss to her then side-stepped and traded a quick lip lock with Jade, not giving one care that a few had snapped pictures of both kisses.
"Hey," Freddie greeted the pair with his boyish grin they each had just seen on Jon.
Just as he was going to continue, Ian called out as he saw the brown eyed teenager when he and Cat returned from the restroom, "Freddie!"
The muscular former tech-producer laughed as he knelt down and easily picked up the child to rest on his left forearm and stood up. "Hey little guy."
He turned to Cat and wrapped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her into a half hug. "Hey Cat."
She giggled as she took her seat and Freddie took a seat in the free seat once occupied by another Benson and let Ian sit in his lap. He asked in an upbeat but still apologetic tone, "I hoped you haven't been waiting too long. It took us longer than we thought to track down the faulty line of code."
Tori answered, "No, only about fifteen minutes. We were just chatting and enjoying our drinks… and we met up with Jonathan."
Jade picked up, "The guy I was telling you about yesterday—"
Freddie looked to Jade and offhandedly started, "The Benson?"
"Yeah, he was just here."
Freddie raised a curious eyebrow and teased, "I just missed him huh?"
The one time mean girl glanced over her shoulder towards the counter to see that Jon had already gotten his drink and left. "Yeah and here's the funny thing, we found Cat's doppelganger."
"Really?"
Tori answered, "His sister."
Freddie glanced to his childlike friend who eagerly nodded in agreement. He laughed, "So there is a girl that looks like Cat whose name is Benson?"
The brunette musician softly teased, "This world just gets crazier and crazier."
Freddie let out a goodhearted chuckle, "As if that is the craziest thing that we've had to deal with in our lives?"
The group of friends shared a laugh as Jade rolled her eyes.
Freddie motioned over to the counter and asked as the laughter died down, "So are we ready to go?"
His fiancée asked, "Do you want to grab something first?"
"Nah, I'll be fine for another twenty minutes."
Tori pointed out with less than a confident voice, "Assuming traffic isn't bad."
Author's Note: The radio personalities are playing as themselves, but they of course are fictionalized versions. Beck does have a starring role in a certain ABC Family show. Yes, I injected a little bit of politics into it, but Shay was stationed in Italy at the time when things went down and in my version of the character, he is an honorable man. Jade keeping why she really wants to be in college from Freddie? Was that Tori flirting and disappointed when Jon left? Jon and Freddie miss meeting each other, but it is only a matter of time and yes, Amanda Benson is a doppelganger to Cat. I hope to have the next chapter up by Easter. Thanks for reading, OneHorseShay