~Chapter Eighteen~

~Jade's POV~

Even though the weekend didn't start the way I had planned, it turned out to be a wonderful relaxing weekend. When we had gotten to where Cassie was practicing, I found Cassie and James in the back seat of his car, making out like teenagers. I wanted to throttle them both, but because it was a weekend for Allie, so I just let it go until we got home.

After I had put Gracie to bed, I went into Cassie's room. She was sitting on her bed Skpeing with James.

"You can call him back later, I need to talk to you."

"Give me five and I'll be down stairs."

"Fine." I turned and walked from the room.

I went down stair and into the kitchen. Kendall was sitting at the counter playing on his laptop. I walked over and sat next to him.

"Whatcha doing?"

"Surfing the net." He closed the lid and looked at me.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just a long day."

"You're not hiding anything are you?"

"No, why would you say that?"

"You shut your laptop pretty quickly when you realized I was here."

"Can't I have my secrets?"

"So you are hiding something from me."

"I didn't say that."

"Then show me what you were looking at."

"Nope."

Before I could say anything, Cassie came skipping into the kitchen. She stopped when she saw us.

"My office now." I stood up and pointed down the hall to my office.

Cassie didn't say anything as she stomped down the hall to my office. Kendall opened his mouth to say anything, I just shook my head and walked out of the kitchen.

When I got to my office Cassie was sitting on the couch texting on the phone. I grabbed her phone and walked around the other side of my desk.

"What the Hell is your problem?"

"You know why I'm so pissed. Or did you think I'd forget how I found you on Friday?"

"I don't get the big deal."

"Wow, do you really want to dump everything we've worked so hard for down the drain?"

"I'm 18, who cares?"

"How about your young fans? What kind of example are you setting for them if you had been caught by someone else?" I shook my head. "Did you think what kind of messaged that would be sending not only your fans, but James's as well?"

"Like you really care."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Everything I've done has been for you and Gracie."

"So what do you call taking of and going back to Michigan with your tail between your legs? What were you doing for me then?"

"I had thought about dragging you back with me, but I thought better of it. Maybe I should have done just that."

"Why are you being such a bitch? I don't have to deal with this shit."

"As long as you live under my roof you will listen to me."

"Fine, then I'll move out."

"Go ahead, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. Have fun trying to walk with your shit, because there is no way in hell I'm letting you take the car."

"You can't take my car away from me."

"Sure as hell can, seeing as it's in my name."

"God I hate you."

"I know you don't, but if you want to keep telling yourself that, then fine."

"Why are you being like this?"

"I'm just sick and tired of you thinking just because you're 18 now, you can come and go as you please and do what you want. If you want to fuck up everything you've built, then fine."

"I'm not doing anything wrong."

"Staying out all night, doing God knows what with James." I shook my head. "You may not see it in yourself, Cass, but you've changed and honestly I don't like it. It's like I don't even know you anymore."

"You walked away from me."

"No, I left to protect you."

"From what?"

"Myself. I was in no shape to manage your career. I didn't want to risk my break-up with Kendall back firing on you. So excuse me for caring."

"Whatever."

"You have no idea how close I was to self-destruction, do you?"

"You Ms. Calm and collected," She rolled her eyes. "I don't believe it."

"I became very good and hiding it."

"You've been sober for two years now, like you would ruin that."

"Which is why I had to leave, I was on the edge ready to fall over."

"So then why take Gracie?"

"Because I was being selfish and I knew if she was around I could hang on until I got my head on straight. You may not need me anymore, but Gracie still does. If I would have left her here, I would have drunk my way into my grave."

"Why?"

"Because I failed."

"What?"

"My marriage, it was over and all I could see was the pity in everyone's eyes. I couldn't take it. It was when everyone found out about Ted again." I sat down in my chair. "I'm not sure what was worse the self-pity or seeing the pity in everyone's eyes."

"I don't understand."

"I know, one day you will."

"If you live my life, maybe I will."

"Damnit Cassie, I have no problem with you and James going at it, but come on in the parking lot where anyone can see you? I thought you had more sense than that." I shook my head. "I know I raised you better than that."

"I guess we got carried away." I raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm sorry you caught us making out in the back of his car."

"What am I going to do with you?"

"Do I have to answer that?"

"Go away."

"I love you Jade."

"Love you to Kid."

"I hate when you call me that."

"I know, why do you think I still do." I smirked at her.

She laughed and shook her head.

"Leave before I deiced to punish you."

"Fine, I'm going. Does Kendall know?"

"Know what?"

"How close you came?"

"No, and he'll never find out."

"That's not something you should keep from him."

"Take your phone and leave."

"Fine, I'm going."

She grabbed her phone and walked out of my office, closing her door behind her.

She was right, I should tell him, but he doesn't even know I had a problem to begin with.

~Kendall's POV~

After I saw Cassie come back through the kitchen, I gave Jade a few minutes to cool down before I made my way back to her office. I had a feeling I would be dragging her to bed, yet again. But before I started walking down the hall, Jade came into the kitchen carrying her purse over her shoulder.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"Can I come?"

"No."

"Are you mad at me?"

"No."

"What's with the one word answers?"

"Nothing, can I go now?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"Not a damn thing, can I go now?"

"Fine, just walk away."

She didn't say anything, she just walked out into the garage slamming the door shut behind her.

I had no idea what was wrong with her, I had never seen this side of Jade before, and frankly it scared the shit out of me.

Knowing Jade was taking off I headed up stairs to talk to Cassie, maybe she knew what was going on. I knocked on the door a few times before she answered.

"What Kendall, I'm trying to get ready for bed."

"What's wrong with Jade?"

"Nothing why?"

"She took off."

"What do you mean she took off."

"She left and wouldn't tell me where she was going."

"She did what?"

"She left."

"I really have no idea Kendall, she was fine when I left her office."

"Well something must have happened, she would just leave without telling me where she was going."

"I have no idea." She sighed. "I'm sorry Kendall. I can try calling her."

"No, just leave her alone, she'll come home when she's ready to."

"She loves you Kendall, never doubt that."

"I don't. I'm just worried she's pulling away."

"She's not pulling away, per say, she's more like protecting her heart from being broken again."

"Oh."

"Jade is a very complicated person, she hides her emotions very well."

"Not from me." I shook my head. "Never from me, I've always been able to read her and what she was feeling."

"I don't know what to tell you, I just know how my sister acts when she's afraid to be hurt again."

"I thought we were past this?"

"I don't think it's you Kendall, I really don't. It's more like she's stuck in her own head again." She patted my shoulder. "Don't worry, she'll be fine."

"I just have never seen her like this before, I have to admit it scares me."

"She won't do anything stupid."

"Like what?"

She just shrugged.

"There's something you're not telling me."

"She never told you, did she?"

"What?"

"Why she has such a problem with alcohol?"

"Because of Todd, right?"

"Not that alone, she's fought her own battle with alcohol herself. She's been sober for two years."

I just stared at her stunned.

"Don't worry she'll be fine. She most likely went for a drive to clear her head. She'll be okay."

"Thanks Cass."

"Just don't tell the others, if she wanted them to know, she'd tell them."

"I won't."

"Thank you."

She went back into her room, closing the door softly.

I changed quickly before I headed back down stairs to wait for Jade to come home. I was worried. I pray Cassie was right and she wouldn't do anything stupid.

I have no idea how long I sat there and flipped through the channels with the TV on mute. I didn't want any sound in case Jade came home. I had picked up and dropped my phone onto the coffee table a few times. I was tempted to call Jade, but I knew that would just piss her off. But I really just wanted to know she was okay. It was getting later and later, and she still wasn't home yet.

My phone ringing made me jump. I picked it up and saw it was my Mom.

"Hey Mom."

"Hey Baby."

"What's wrong, why are you calling me so late."

"I just wanted you to know that Jade was here and she's okay."

"Thank God."

"What happened?"

"I have no idea. Her and Cassie talked and then after Cassie went upstairs Jade came out of her office and left. She didn't want to tell me where she was going."

"She didn't say anything to me, she just hugged me and then went up to your room and locked the door." She sighed. "She's not answering me."

"Just leave her alone, I'll come talk to her in the morning."

"Okay."

"Thank you Mom."

"It's nothing. I love Jade, she the daughter I never had."

"Make sure she doesn't leave."

"I won't. Get some sleep Kendall, you're gonna need it."

"I have a feeling I will." I ran my fingers through my hair. "I love you Mom."

"Love you too. Now off to bed."

"Alright I'm going."

"And try not to worry, Jade will be fine."

"She hasn't been drinking has she?"

"I don't think so, why?"

"Just wondering."

"Bed, now Kendall."

"Going Mom." I laughed. "Love you."

"Love you too." She hung up on me.

I locked my phone and headed upstairs. I knew I was going to have a hard time sleeping alone tonight. It was very tempting to go over to my house, but I knew it would be better if I stayed here. No matter how much I wanted to be with my wife right now.

God why do things have to be some complicated between us? Why can't we just have a normal relationship? Was that really too hard to ask for?

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