Jaded

Chapter 5

Knock Knock Knock!

Jade awoke from the sound of someone rapping on her door. She then cracked an eye open, lifting head her head up and turning to discover Smoke sleeping beside her…naked.

Shit.

The Edenian crawled out of bed - being careful not to wake Tomas - and quickly slipped-on her silky emerald-green robe. She tip-toed down the stairs wondering who the hell it would be visiting so early in the morning. Another set of knocks prompted Jade to move quicker, as she crept-up behind the front door to peer through the peek hole.

Oh no…

It was Kung Lao, holding a bouquet of flowers and looking very excited, like a teenage boy ready to pick up his girlfriend on their first date.

"Oh shit. What am I going to do?" the Edenian whispered to herself, quickly ducking below the peek hole and resting her back against the door as if she were hiding. Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Jade? Jade are you there? It's me, Kung Lao…" the monk spoke from outside the front door.

Jade was trapped. If she didn't answer, Kung Lao would keep knocking loudly and would eventually wake Smoke up. But if she did open the door, Kung Lao was surely going to be in for quite the surprise. She had to dispatch him quickly.

The Edenian took a deep breath before summoning up the courage to face the music. She turned towards the door, taking in a another deep breath as she stared at it.

"Hello? Anybody home?" Kung Lao called out again, looking up towards the second floor window.

Damnit.

Jade quickly unlocked the door, cracking it open before sticking her head out to face the monk. Kung Lao beamed in delight as he saw that the Edenian had finally answered. She smiled back wearily.

"Jade! Hi!" the monk greeted, storming up and offering the bouquet of flowers to her. "Good morning. These are for you, beautiful…"

"Kung Lao, hi… Thank you, these are beautiful…" she replied, taking the flowers. "What are you doing here?" she asked nervously.

"I just thought I'd stop by to check-in on you after last night, and thought that maybe…you would like to go for some breakfast…?" he asked, stepping right up to the Edenian. She held on to the door and didn't offer him to come in, as she did not want him to see her wearing nothing but a robe, and on top of that, waking Smoke up.

"Oh gee, uhm… I'm sorry Kung Lao, but you've caught me at a really bad time… perhaps tomorrow?"

"Oh did I? Sorry about that. Yeah tomorrow sounds great. Around the same time?"

"Yes. Absolutely." Jade replied, nodding quickly as she tried to rush things and hoping that the monk would leave.

"Okay. Great. So I guess…I'll see you tomorrow…then…" Kung Lao said in a sad tone, slowly taking steps back, but hesitant to leave.

"Yes. Tomorrow. I'll see you then."

"Jade, is something wrong?" the monk asked in concern. "If there's anything I can do-"

"No I'm fine. Really! I'm alright, Kung La-" Jade shot quickly, before the door was swung open by Smoke, who had awoken and came down.

"Kung Lao! Greetings! What brings you here?" the Enenra asked, happy to see an old friend.