Thanks, guys! Here's the next update to Jackson Ryan Oliver. Remember, I don't own anything except Jackson. =)

Jade felt a fluttering feeling in her stomach with Andre back. She owed Andre the world right now and he was being so modest and sweet about it. He interacted with Jackson well, better than Beck did at times. Andre enjoyed the dinner and had nice conversation with Jade and Jackson. It brought Jade's mind back to when they were in high school, always hanging out. Here Jade was with her GED and working at a tattoo/piercing parlor. Andre was getting his associates degree at least. Jade felt like such a failure around him. At times, Jade didn't want to reminded of those high school memories. They made Jade think of a happier time. Not that Jade wasn't happy with her current life with Jackson. It was just that Jade knew she could do much better right now. Despite Jackson being a mistake, a child that wasn't expected, Jade loved that mistake. He was the best mistake she ever made.

As for Andre, Jade was happy to have him as a friend again. She liked Andre, she was pretty sure Andre liked her. It wasn't anything weird. Besides Beck, he was the only guy she was really close to in high school. It was like a good omen. Andre had just magically reunited with Jade and saved their son from some pervert at the library. As the young man sat at their table, played with her son and gobbled her food graciously, Jade couln't help but have the fluttering feeling in her stomach. She tried to push the anxiousness away but it wouldn't leave. It actually grew. At times Jade felt herself blushing. Luckily, she was able to push that away. Andre hadn't noticed...hopefully. After dinner, Jackson babbled and took Andre up to his room to see all his toys.

Washing the dirty dishes, Jade felt content. The first content she's felt in a while. She was shocked when she felt strong arms embrace her and guide her hands to soaping the plates. Jade smirked as she looked over her shoulder and saw Andre smiling at her. For a moment, they both laughed together and shared a wonderful moment. Andre then let go and started to help her wash and dry the dishes. The two were quiet as Jackson played upstairs. After about ten minutes, they were done and Andre broke the silence.

"You know, I'd like to thank you for having me over for dinner, Jade. You didn't have to feed me. Grandma would have fed me fine. Well, I mean, if she went near the stove." Jade chuckled and waved Andre's politeness away. Man, all night he had been so sweet.

"It's fine. Jackson and I have so much food around. Honestly, it's nice to have someone around. And if I have anyone around, I'm glad it's you." Andre blushed. Jade blushed as well and put the last few dishes away. Andre awkwardly made his way over to the table and got his coat, slipping it on.

"It's getting late...I better go. I have to work tomorrow. But seriously, thanks for having me. Tell Jackson I-" The little boy with tan hair stood at the end of the steps and stared. He ran up to Andre and wrapped his arms around the young man's waist.

"Andre! Are you leaving?" Jackson asked with worry. "I don't want you to go! I wanted to play video games with you!" Andre chuckled and tousled the little boy's hair.

"Aw, don't worry, little man! I have to work tomorrow morning so I have to get going but I promise. We'll be hanging out again soon." Jackson pouted but nodded slowly, whining an okay. Jade widened her eyes. She had no idea that Beck's incompetence had debilitated Jackson's sense of trust so much. It hurt Jade to see Jackson so weak and needy. Andre tousled Jackson's hair again as he zipped up his coat. "Seriously, lil man. I'll hang out with you. Besides, if you want, you can visit me between classes. I volunteer at your library." Jackson nodded, hugging Andre again and running upstairs. Jade looked wistfully at Andre and walked over.

"Andre, it's really nice of you to offer to have Jackson hang out with you in between classes in the library; but I know you volunteer. He would bug you." Andre smiled sweetly.

"No, he wouldn't." Andre insisted, getting closer to Jade. Jade stepped forward a bit. Both kids felt something that told them to kiss. But she just hugged him and escorted him out to the car. As Andre maneuvered himself awkardly, he wondered if he should've made the first move. After all, he was the guy. But someting inside of him told him that Jade didn't want to rush into anything. Not yet anyway. Andre smirked and walked out to his car. As he clambered in and turned on the ignition, he backed slowly and hurried away. Thoughts rushed through his mind. Images and "clips" of what had just happened played in his mind. He felt wonky and dizzy. He just wanted to get home to his grandmother's house before he got too wonky and got in a crash or something. He didn't know why he was feeling so wonky. He also didn't understand why Jade's face, great smile (when it came), her soft voice, her maternal care, and Jackson were popping up in his mind. Then a fantasy arrived in his head. As he was five minutes from home, Andre realized. He was in love with Jade West.

~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#

Jade stood by the tall tree as her son hopped on the school bus. She waved him a goodbye. Once the yellow vehicle rounded the corner, she walked back to the house. Cat was sitting there. Neither of them worked on Monday. Well, Cat didn't work anywhere. She had a part-time job at the music store but Jade knew that it was destined to go out of business sooner or later. As Jade sat on the couch and just thought about the other night, it was like a drunk person going over what they did. She didn't remember if she kissed Andre. She didn't think she did but she wasn't sure and Cat couldn't give her a straight answer. If Jade did, she was ready to kick herself. She shouldn't have led Andre on like that. She didn't think anyway. Jade wasn't ready to be in a relationship. She was just ready to be a devoted mother to her son. Guys were the least of her worry. Besides, she had Cat. She didn't need guys. That's when Cat spoke up and said something that shocked Jade.

"Jade, wanna go to Karaoke Dokie for lunch? I hear they have all-you-can eat buffalo wings for 10 dollars." Jade rose her eyebrows. Normally, during the week, she just sat at home on the computer, cleaned, paid bills and waited for the day to go by. That was Jade's life now. She had no "girl" friends anymore. Even though she was the most popular girl in high school, she only hung out with several people. All the girls she even wanted to speak to in high school was gone. Vega was out of the question, Trina was Vega's untalented sister, and Cat was already living with her. She talked to that kid...Spencer Shay a few times from Seattle but they never talked that much except over Facebook. Jade's only true close other friend was Sam Puckett from Seattle, a friend of Spencer's little sister. But she was in juvy so that was out of the question. They talked on the phone like every month or so but nothing close. So Jade's life sucked. She had no boyfriend/husband to stand by her, barely any money and no friends. She felt ready to sob into her shirt but she didn't. She sucked up her pride and nodded.

"Yeah. Yeah, we'll go to Karaoke Dokie."

~#~#~#~#~#~#~~#

"I'm telling you, Margaret. You have to go home. I don't even know why you came here." a young tan man with long dark hair said perfectly. An older woman with blonde hair clutched at his plaid shirt and cried a bit.

"But, James! You don't understand! I love you! I left Rick and my children...for you." she said, somewhat psychotically. 'James' pushed her away slightly.

"Margaret, I made a mistake. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have led you on like I did. Now, Jennifer's giving birth. I have to leave."

"James!" the woman shrieked. James turned on his ankle and put his face close to hers.

"I have to leave!" he bellowed. He walked away from her a bit and turned around. 'James' was simply a stage name. The man's real name was Beck Oliver. He was auditioning for a lead role in a Lifetime movie. The movie would be about a man who cheats on his young wife with an older woman. The older woman later becomes pregnant by the man. When the young wife gets pregnant, the man stops seeing the older woman but the older woman goes crazy and tries anything to win the man's undivided love. Beck thought it sounded good. The woman beside him, Tricia, smiled and wiped her brow a little bit of sweat. Across from the two, there was a table with three important looking people at it. The first guy has short wavy blonde hair and stubble. He was staring closely and somewhat smirking with approval.

"I liked it. I think you guys really did a good job." This man was David Stenner. He was the guy in charge of casting. Beck had heard from Sikowitz-his old acting teacher who hooked him up with the gig-that Stenner was a hard man to please. Beck knew he had done a good job. David leaned back in his seat and looked at the woman next to him in charge of casting. Beck had heard she was hard to please as well. Dana Fischer looked up from her papers and smiled, brushing some auburn hair out of her face.

"I agree 100% with David. You guys did tremendous." The third and final person had gray hair and a clean cut look. His stern eyes pierced both Beck's and Tricia's. He nodded slowly and looked at his papers. Gary Rusford was the director, the head hauncho, the one that really needed to be pleased.

"I enjoyed it as well. Both of your emotions were harnessed exactly as how I would imagine it. Tricia, I think you're perfect for the role of Margaret. You can go now. Dana will drop you an email when filming will start." Tricia jumped with excitement, thanked the three and left. Beck was left standing there awkwardly. Gary sighed and stared at Beck. "Beck, I think you're a great actor. Erwin was right. You have what it takes..but, we did some searching and we noticed what pops up on Google." Beck sighed and shook his head. Every. Single. Time. "We would love to have you play the role of James but we don't think it'd work out because of your image. If people search the movie, then search your name and see what comes up, I'm not sure if it would be good for publicity. I'm sorry, I'm going to have to say no." Beck brushed a hand through his hair and nodded slowly.

"Okay. Thank you for your time, guys." he said, going in to shake their hands. Then he turned on his boots and walked out of the room. When he got out there, his girlfriend Tori Vega stood up and looked expectantly. Grimly, he shook his head and she rushed over and hugged him. "I don't need your pity." he said bitterly. She pulled away for a moment and kissed him on the lips.

"It's not pity. I really am sorry for you. You keep getting rejected with the big stuff but nobody cares about the little stuff." Tori said. Beck nodded and led her out to the truck.

"I don't want to talk here. Wait till we're in the car." he ordered. Silently, they got on the road and then Beck turned back to Tori. "It's all because Jade had to put Andre's name on that birth certificate. If she didn't do that, I probably would've gotten that role." Tori nodded with agreement. She looked ahead and pointed.

"Hey! Karaoke Dokie has all-you-can-eat buffalo wings for ten dollars! Wanna go in and have lunch?" Beck muttered an 'I don't know'. "Oh, come on! It'll cheer you up! People will be singing. We could sing." she said. He still was unsure about it. "Come on! It's not like we have anything to do!" she insisted. Beck smirked.

"Fine." he smiled, pulling into the parking lot.