A/N: What? You thought I forgot about you lovely readers? Never! Forgive me if it's a bit short, I'm trying to get back into the "swing of things".
Jade had to fight the urge to dance through the halls as she arrived at school, she settled for humming some song she couldn't remember the words to as she walked to her locker, a slightly vicious smile stretching her lips as she spotted Robbie leaning against his locker, eyes closed and coffee in hand.
She slowed her steps, and quieted her humming as she took in the peaceful look on the boys face as he relaxed somewhere far away from the moment.
She approached slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible, not wanting to end Robbie's peaceful meditation and more importantly not wanting to draw his attention.
She wouldn't admit it under pain of torture, but she was mesmerized by the sight of him. She'd seen him so many times and yet it was as if she'd never seen him before, the way his hair curled into loose ringlets just barely above his eyebrows, the way his lips pouted in concentration, even his muscles, never obvious to her before seemed to capture her completely with the way they writhed beneath his skin.
His eyes opened slowly as if he had somehow realized she was there, and his gaze, pinned her in place, held her with a force she couldn't explain. Left her breathless as every fleck of color seemed to dance within his irises, almost leaping out at her.
"You look...relaxed" Jade finished lamely as she tried to force her brain to work, what the hell was wrong with her, and why was she so suddenly interested in Shapiro?
"I'm going to die today, might as well enjoy the bit of life I have left" Robbie shrugged as he offered Jade her obligatory morning coffee. She took it gratefully and sipped at it.
" Oh come on, it isn't that bad" Jade chuckled, Robbie glared for a moment pulling down the neck of his shirt to show the dark purple 'J' curving across his neck.
"You branded me, Jade. It's that bad." Robbie groused as he pulled up his shirt trying valiantly to cover the series of hickeys that formed a large 'J' on his neck.
"I don't remember you asking me to stop, puppet-boy, in fact, I remember you moaning my name and begging me for more." Jade smirked as Robbie blushed.
"Still doesn't mean you had to write you initials on my neck." Robbie sighed, trying to ignore the surge of embarrassment that Jade's words had brought. He turned and began to spin the dial to his locker. It opened with a click, and he leaned in to grab his books.
" I like people to know what's mine" Jade said causally, stifling a laugh when Robbie turned so fast he banged his head against the locker door.
He stumbled backwards for a moment, a dazed look on his face that made Jade wonder if he'd noticed that he'd just slammed his head into his locker.
"What did you-"
"Robbie!" A shrill squeak sounded down the hall drawing Robbie's gaze.
Cat bounded forward and leapt into the air crashing into Robbie and knocking him to the ground. They landed rather painfully with Robbie acting as a human cushion for all of Cat's weight. As light as she was it didn't ease the momentum of having her run into him full speed.
"Hi Cat" Robbie muttered hugging back his over-enthusiastic friend as he tried to catch his breath and remove Cat's elbow from what felt like a dent she left in his stomach.
"Hi Ro- what happened to your neck?" Cat asked tracing a finger across the trail of hickies on Robbie's neck.
"That would be mistress Jade marking her property" Robbie sighed leaning into the contact with Cat's finger as it trailed small circles on his neck.
"Property?" Cat asked gently abandoning her neck drawing momentarily, then resuming at Robbie's piteous whine.
"Her words not mine, she wants everyone to know who I belong to, or something like that".
"He is my boyfriend, Cat" Jade spoke up, her tone was brisk and just short of hostile. She hadn't forgotten Cat's words to her earlier. Though she hoped it was simply one of Cat's mood swings.
"Your boyfriend, my Robbie, maybe I should make that J look more like a C..." Cat trailed off noting two pairs of eyes staring at her. Robbie in confusion and Jade in anger.
"I'm kidding jeez, lighten up you two" Cat smiled good naturedlly at Robbie, but Jade could see the tiny twinkle in Cat's eyes at the idea.
"Robbie, can I talk to Jade alone for a minute"? Cat asked sweetly massaging Robbie's slender neck with her hand. Robbie didn't answer, he simply turned back to look at Jade, missing Cat's disapproving glare.
"Go on Shapiro, I'll catch up" Jade said making shooing motions with her hand. With a shrug and a smile at both of them, Robbie disentangled himself from Cat and walked towards his first class, moving slowly so Jade could catch up.
Both girls watched him go, waiting for him to walk out of earshot before rounding on each other.
"Your property?" Cat hissed clenching her hands into fists at her side.
"Your Robbie?" Jade seethed
"Yes, my Robbie, remember he liked me first-"
"You shut him down every time, you even made up a guy so you wouldn't have to go to Vega's stupid Prome with him". Jade sneered.
"I didn't make him up!" Cat screeched, her face turning red with rage.
"It doesn't matter, you heard Robbie, he's mine, and I won't let anyone take what's mine, not even you." Jade spat the last few words with as much venom as she could.
"Jade, if Robbie wants you, then you have nothing to fear from me". Cat giggled, the sound oddly vicious in Jade's ears.
"Good, I'm glad we-"
"But, if I did happen to want Robbie, there isn't a thing you could do to stop me". Cat smiled innocently and without giving Jade a chance to reply strode off towards class a feral grin on her lips.
Jade stared after the crazy red-head wondering just what the hell was going on.
Robbie strode lethargically towards his class, idly wondering what Cat and Jade were talking about. Perhaps even more important than that, since when was he 'Cat's Robbie'.
Pondering that little incident so deeply he wasn't really watching where he was going and walked directly into someone. He rebounded off the soft body with a 'whoompf' as he fell to the floor.
"Watch where you're going lover-boy." Trina giggled as she leaned forward extending a hand to help Robbie to his feet, and exposing a generous amount of cleavage in the process.
"Ah, Trina!" Robbie squeaked, jumping to his feet he back pleaded quickly, clasping his hands around his neck quickly.
"Aw, you're not happy to see me"? Trina pouted, sticking her lower lip out in a way Robbie found somehow simultaneously cute and seductive.
"What? No, I mean yes! Of course, I'm happy to see you, where's Beck?" Robbie babbled quickly, eyes darting around searchingly for Canadian salvation.
"He's sick or something, not coming today, so I'm all yours" Trina smiled warmly and Robbie vaguely felt like he should be a tad offended.
"Trina,-" Robbie began
"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY BOYFRIEND"! A screech made Trina jump and Robbie began fervently praying as he searched for a way out of what he was sure was about to be a bad situation.
"I'm sorry little girl, did you say something" Trina sneered at Jade as the pale beauty moved beside Robbie, wrapping a possessive arm around him.
"I'm sorry, I forgot you're a little slow from all that time on your back, I said get the hell away from my boyfriend." Jade snarled enunciating every word.
"Ladies-" Robbie began, hoping to quell the estrogen storm that was brewing around him.
"Shut up Robbie" Jade and Trina growled, glaring at the cowed boy until they were sure he'd be quiet. Trina turned her deep brown eyes on Jade.
"Robbie didn't seem to mind being near me before you showed up, besides I don't see your name on him" Trina snorted watching Robbie wince and Jade smirk.
"Funny you should mention that-" Jade chuckled
"Jade please" Robbie pleaded
"Because he does kinda have my name on him" Jade finished as she jerked Robbie's hands away from his neck.
Trina stared at the trail of hickies on Robbie's neck, noting the nearly faded mark that made the tip of the "J" a mark she had made so many days ago.
"What the hell is that" ? Trina whispered, her voice a quiet fury that chilled Robbie's blood. Jade either heedless of or emboldened by Trina's anger smiled widely, showing far too much teeth in the gesture for it to be friendly.
"Wow Trina, I knew you were slow, but I thought you at least knew the alphabet. That's a 'J' as in my first initial, on my boyfriends neck." Jade emphasized her words by pulling Robbie closer.
"You want a war little girl?" Trina hissed moving her face inches away from Jade's.
"No, I won the war, now I just want you to keep away from my boyfriend." Jade smirked.
"You drove away Beck, you'll drive him away too" Trina snarled as she turned her back on Jade and stomped off towards her class.
"Well, you won, you can let go now". Robbie sighed feeling thoroughly disgusted with both girls at this point.
Jade simply released him and began walking to her class without a word. Robbie watched her go for a moment, wondering why she hadn't done her usual victory rant. He shrugged deciding at this moment that he really didn't care as he made his way to class.
Unaware of Jade West walking quickly through the halls,furiously wiping the tears from her eyes as she made her way to her class. Trying to smother the hurt that had rose in her heart at Trina's words. Hurt and fear, the hurt was over Beck, but the fear.
The feeling confused her, made her angry at herself for letting Trina get to her, and deep down in a part of herself that she couldn't accept. She was afraid Trina was right, not just about Beck, but about Robbie, as well. Some part of her deep down was afraid that she might chase away her fake boyfriend.
"Why the hell do I care" Jade muttered as she made her way to class.