Just a reminder, I own nothing, but borrowed everything. I promise to return them when I'm done.
Italics are lyrics in Jades head.
:}
Friday came, bringing the Final showcase of the school year. The students were everywhere, either doing important jobs or watching so they can learn how to do those jobs. Jade was in the middle of it, guiding the student body of Hollywood Arts towards the three hours that would show off the talent of the seniors and the few juniors added to give the show some star power. Jade doubted Dale Squires really enjoyed his turn directing the showcase, but she had to admit it would look good when she was looking for funding to direct her own films. Hundreds of students flowed around the school, dozens of "impromptu" performances would add to the entertainment of those who were there early, or just help draw bragging rights. No one outside of the freshmen wanted to miss an opportunity to show of on this day. The school was alive with music, dancing, and every other performing art that the school fostered. It was a strange, magical time. Often over a dozen students would be together to own their five minutes in whatever spot they chose. Each act vying to prove that these students deserve to be stars.
Sinjin was working himself nearly into a frenzy, making sure the sets and props for the different performances were ready and that they could be quickly changed out between acts. He was used to working with whatever resources were available, but today he had an abundance of help. Robbie and Burf helped ride herd on the dozens of stage hands pitching in for the last minute preparations. The rarely used school auditorium was quickly being prepared for one of the few times the students were aloud to use it. Jade watched the whole process taking shape, a professional air dominating the school. After today, the families of the outgoing students would know just how special those seniors were. The graduating class would have the pride of their last performance at the school recorded and available for download. Jade had made sure that this would be one of those memories cherished by the families of everyone involved. As a surprise, she had even arranged for ALL the technical staff and back stage hands to be out there for the final bow. 'Today, everyone gets credit.' Jade smiled at the thought. She had to remember to thank Andre for writing up the programs and the credits for the yet to be recorded show, as well as his promise to edit it together. Sinjin had prepared three cameras, each positioned to give the best angles to capture all of each performance.
Being the good director she was, Jade was ready for the inevitable series of mishaps that plague any live performance. Some of her acts wanted more time, while others wanted to be shifted around because of family not being there or whatever reason they gave. Just yesterday had been the Senior Musical, and some of her performers had been in that as well. Jade handled each problem quickly and decisively. A great director was prepared. As the performance started, the MC was doing what he could to move things along, but his humor during rehearsals had neither entertained nor distracted from the set changes. Jade noticed that they had chosen someone less funny than Robbie to be the MC. 'A friend of the previous director?' Jade was sure of it, and didn't care. Her solution was to keep it simple and have her MC just announce each act without jokes. It required a quick re-write of everything the young man would say, but her staff did it on the fly. They just made the set changes part of the in-between acts, showing off how quickly and professionally they did their jobs.
Jade's act, the only Solo song from among her little group of friends, went off third. She rocked the house with an original song, then got off stage to take over running everything. Today was about the show. Jade's other, personal problems melted into the background. Sinjin was running double duty as the head of effects and the cinematographer recording the performances. His chosen camera operators recording everything from their assigned angle for later editing, Giving each act a professional look ensuring ensuring the best replay possible. Jade felt gratitude to the lanky youth, and his crew, for staying professional and expertly doing their jobs. Gratitude ruled her this day. She made a point to thank everyone as they finished whatever they did so that they knew she appreciated their help. The school noticed and soon people who could avoided jade out of fear of whatever she was planning. This was not the Jade they knew.
Beck had also noticed the gratitude Jade was sharing as well. As another director, he saw it as her wanting to work with these people again in the future. Burning bridges rarely helped in the long run. Still, stressed out as she had been over the last couple of weeks, not even counting the old and new hurts she was feeling, he could tell she was working to contain a meltdown. Beck almost backed down from his plan, but realized that the sooner he helped her, the sooner she could be strong on her own. The whole gang was there, helping out, and so she was never alone. He did notice that she probably felt she was alone on more than one occasion. He wished he could help her, but today she had to be in charge, so he would watch and step in if necessary, but let her be until then.
It took over six hours, start to finish, for everything relating to her job to be done. After a morning of preparations, it was over an hour before the show that the doors opened and people were allowed in. That hour was used backstage to deal with emergencies, activate contingencies, and in general hide from the audience that anything was out of the ordinary. Jade coordinated the random acts that entertained the early arrivals in the lobby ares (The Interior cafeteria, apparently they have one) and kept everyone on time. After the three hours of show, with two ten minute intermissions, it still took over an hour to clean up and store everything. The early evening performance was not completely stripped down and stored until after ten at night. Jade had to oversee everything.
The show part finished about eight thirty. As Jade was making sure the acts were available for the "Meet and greet" with parents, guests and alumni, she herself was invaded by a slew of well wishers. She had taken the time to say hello and exchange a few words with each of them as she continued to oversee everything. Sikowitz was one of the first. "Congratulations. The show was a success. I was just wondering if you had the time, I'm running a couple of actors workshops this summer. I could use a few students I know to help the others adjust to the intricacies of acting. I'll email you the deets."
Jade glared at him. 'He wants me to pay him to use me as a teaching assistant?' She hardly had a chance to be angry when Lenard came by to congratulate her.
"Jade. That was interesting. I loved your song, the dancing, the comedy, but I didn't get everything. Some of the acts were a little artsy. Still, nice show." Lenard tried.
Penny spoke up. "Oh my god, that shoeless guy looks just like the guy running the acting classes I'm taking. You know, the workshops I'm doing over the summer. Taught by that guy who came so highly recommended at the last audition, before they rejected me." she said to her boyfriend. "Oh, Hi Jade, nice show." She smiled. Jade knew she would avoid the acting workshops now.
Jades parents were there. Her father took the time to let her know she should be putting all this effort into her new job, so they would like her more. He did mention in passing that the show was excellent, and he did enjoy himself. Her mother, however, stayed quiet, barely commenting on anything. The only real question Jades mother asked was "So how are you and Beck?" Jade felt judged, and that she had somehow failed. While the rest of her colleagues from Caltech came by to let her know how they liked the show, she pushed past her breaking heart, thanked each person, and continued to oversee the strip down.
It felt like everyone had talked to her when Jade was approached by one of the few people who deliberately waited for an opening to talk with the director alone. Doctor Kripke was the first to approach. "Doctor West, I would like to congratulate you on such a stellar performance. Suck refined talent made this a truly memorable experience. The whole show was just wonderful, almost magical." He said as he brought her a small Bouquet of flowers.
"Thanks. Those for me?" She asked, showing a weary smile.
Doctor kripke looked around, making sure they were mostly alone. There were some people about, but unless someone started trouble, they would be ignored. "I Just wanted to be sure you were done, and that no one could be hurt if something funny happened. Your friend warned me that your retaliations are always out of proportion to any practical joke I could preform. I wouldn't want you angry at me for no reason." He smiled. Jade reached for the flowers and her gave the base a sudden squeeze sending a spray of liquid across her face.
"Wha..what is..wait. What is this stuff?" Jade said, her rage growing. Taking the risk of a quick taste. "Is this water?" Confusion mixed with her anger.
"Right, water. My revenge has been delivered, my wrath is in the water on your face. Listen, we could go back and forth, retaliation for retaliation, accomplishing nothing. I suspect your planning your revenge already, but really, we're colleagues, right? Right now I was the bigger person, doing enough to restore my honor, and no more. Your only wet, my honor is restored and now maybe we can drop this conflict and work together? Okay?" He made sense. She had to respect him for not only avoiding being a doormat, but also selecting a revenge that would not land him in the hospital.
"Work together?" Jade asked the obvious question.
"My research right now it at the point where I needs to run some simulations. I'm hoping to establish a productive peace. Will you help me run my simulations? Sheldon has been monopolizing your talents, and It's not fair. My research could use your help. Help me so I can Publish?" he sounded genuine. She understood. Too many enemies only interfered with the work.
"Send me the equations and I'll put them in the queue." Jade said, sounding defeated. "Just don't expect it to happen immediately. I've got a lot of work this summer."
"Thanks, Jade. And please, lets think of this as a partnership. I always appreciate my contributors, more than Sheldon ever did. Doctor Cooper is lame when it comes to acknowledging those who helped him. When I publish, I'll be sure to reference you in my acknowledgment." Somehow Jade was sure his word choice was deliberate, defying his speech impediment. It irked her to think that she could possibly like this guy as a friend. Still, she shook his hand and agreed to help. Doctor Barry Kripke had just done the impossible. By his actions, he admitted she was the more dangerous practical joker while still getting back at her. They could work together.
"Colleagues" Jade said. They shook hands and he took his leave.
"I look forward to our collaborations, and I'll see you later." Doctor Kripke said as he left.
"Bye." She waved quickly as she returned to her work.
It stayed quiet for a short while. Jade slowly finished everything she needed to get done, her crew striking the sets and storing everything. Her crews were on their way home and only a couple of the bigger guys from the dance department were left to escort anyone feeling vulnerable to their cars. Jade had insisted and the three boys who looked like linebackers, not dancers, were surprisingly eager to help. They were big, intimidating, and got along well despite, to her knowledge, two of them being ex's. She was glad they were there. No one should feel vulnerable on a night like this. The three were waiting just outside to escort her to her car (They insisted) when she saw the one person who had yet to talk to her standing near the door.
"Beck. I was wondering where you were." She opened.
"You did good tonight." His smile was intoxicating. Despite that, she was beginning to fee a chill.
"I had a lot of help." She smiled. 'what does he want?'
"Jade, Listen to me. I was waiting until you were done because, well, this needs your full attention, and while you were already stressed out I really didn't want to add any more to your life. It's just, well...God this isn't easy." he looked into her eyes and, for some reason a song started playing in the back of her mind. It was old, she couldn't quite remember the lyrics, but somehow she knew it was important. It started drawing part of her thoughts, distracting her. She still followed her boyfriends words, but the song would not go away.
"What? Look, the escorts are waiting. Two of them graduate tomorrow and I just want to let them get some rest before they party." Jade said, starting to walk towards the door.
"I can't do this any more." Beck blurted out. "I mean, this isn't working. We tried, but knowing what I know now, I see it's just not working." He was trying to hold it together. Beck was a good writer, but not elite. He just had a some good ideas and worked on them until the whole thing seemed to shine. Words were not his forte. Still, Jade would have liked it more if he hadn't lost whatever preparations he had made, since the words were coming out wrong.
"Beck, whats wrong? Tell me, maybe I can make it right.." She didn't get to finish, while her thoughts broke through the music in anticipation of what he was going to say. 'Please not yet. I was going to do this, just not yet. I'm not ready.'
"We're not working. Not anymore. It's not that I don't love you. I just realized that we could never work out. You and I, we're in this relationship for the wrong reasons." Beck continued but somehow Jade remembered the words. In her mind, competing for thoughts, they just started. The song played.
You and me, We used to be together. Every day together. Always.
"And I, I love you but you're no good for me. I need the struggle but it's so serious for you. It's always so painful for you. I just end up hurting you. We hurt each other." He continued.
I really feel, That I'm losing my best friend. I can't believe this could be the end.
"And you. You just seem to live to be hurt. I can't be with you knowing that sometimes you let me hurt you just to pretend that you love me."
It looks as though you're letting go. And if it's real well I don't want to know.
"Jade, please understand. It's not me, it's you. You just don't love me the way I love you. I hope you understand, I do love you. It's just I need to let you go now... I'll..." His words stopped as she started singing.
"Don't speak. I know just what your saying, so please stop explaining. Don't tell me cause it hurts. Don't speak. I know what your thinking. I don't need your reasons. Don't tell me cause it hurts." She would have continued, but Becks voice cut through the air.
"JADE!" he stood in front of her, and there was a finality that had never existed before between them. Every other time, she had knows that they would get back together. She felt the song in her head but pushed it down. "I need you to know I'm not leaving you for anyone. It's just for the best. You need to heal, to be strong so you can give your heart to someone you feel you can trust." His voice wavered at trust. Jade looked into his eyes and saw as much hurt as she felt. "I'm still your friend, I'll always be your friend. I'll be around until after your birthday, if you need me. As a friend. Then I'm going to Canada for part of August, but I'm just a phone call away any time. If you need to talk, that is. It's just, as a couple, we're over. We were already over. I think it's best that we should just be friends. Please, Jade, I need you to hear this. I still care about you, so whatever you do, just don't be alone for the next couple of days. Promise me, maybe you can stay with a friend. Cat, or Tori. Please do that for me. I'm gonna be with Andre and Robbie, maybe Sinjin. I won't be alone, just so you know. Please, Just have someone around. Someone you trust enough to talk to." Beck said as he escorted her out of the building. He spoke quietly to the three guys doing escort, and they nodded. Whatever happened next, Jade wasn't sure about, since tears were now clouding her vision, and the song had jumped to a different verse.
It's all ending we gotta stop pretending who we are... (Skipping the instrumental)
You and me, I can see us dying...Are we?
Jades pain was muted by the song, playing in her mind blocking out thoughts. Her tears took her vision, and she lost track of where she was. Vague images burned through the song and the memories of Beck. How he made her feel safe. Wanted. Loved. Now that was over, and she could not muster the energy to care where she was.