Chapter 13: Birthday Bash
The last week of November came around and it was Friday. The students at JC High were buzzing with excitement as Victor Stone and Richard Grayson were having their 15th birthday parties tonight.
Vic's birthday was Monday and Richard's was yesterday. They decided to have their sweet fifteens on the same day just because it's easier. The party would be held at Richard's mansion and everyone was invited.
Kori, Karen and the rest if the girls were currently standing in the hallway handing out invitations. They still had fifteen minutes before class started so they took advantage of that time.
"Hey Jade, where's Roy?" Asked Kori as she handed a blonde sophomore an invitation.
Jade shuffled through her invites and blew her bangs out if her face. "With his asshole friends."
Karen glanced at Kori in a worried expression. "When was the last time ya'll two hung out?"
Jenny and Rachel had now joined in to listen to the conversation. Jade sighed and handed two more invites to a couple of senior guys. Then she turned to the four girls and said, "Three weeks ago. I mean the only time I ever see him now is at school and he sometimes talks to me through the phone." She looked down at her feet. "It doesn't even feel like he loves me anymore."
Jenny put a hand on her shoulder and said, "He does Jade. Who wouldn't?"
"Yeah, Roy needs to remember why your with him again. He needs to go back to being the Roy Harper we know." Added Karen.
Jade smiled a half smile. "I wish he would..."
"He will," Kori looked at all the girls and smiled, "because we're gonna help you."
TT
Wayne manor was roaring with music, dancing, and drinking. Since Bruce was out if the city with Alfred for business, he had taken advantage of the mansion. Richard had promised himself by noon tomorrow, he would have the house back in tip top shape. With the help of the best cleaning crew business in the city.
The party had been going on for several hours and it was about eleven. They didn't do the whole 'cake and ice cream' getup. Instead, they preferred getting drunk and partying all night. It seemed to work well.
"Hey Jenny!" Wally called from across the kitchen. "Are you doing Jell-O shots with us!?"
Jenny turned around a winked at the redhead. She nodded and headed over to his spot. Both of them plus a bunch of other wasted teens lifted the shot cups to their mouths and downed them in two seconds.
"Woooooo!" Wally yelled after drinking his shot. He slung an arm around Jenny and kissed her. It didn't take much for Wally to get drunk.
Meanwhile, out on the dance floor were Vic, Karen, Richard, and Kori. Vic and Karen were hardcore dancing as was Kori and Richard. The song 'Cyclone' was playing and all of the sweaty drunken teens were moving their bodies to the beat.
Kori put her hands up in the air and smiled as she grinded against Richard. He gripped her hips and enjoyed the dancing.
"Get it Kor!" Karen yelled as she danced with Vic.
Kori an Karen laughed and continued to dance. Toni and Alain weren't too far away watching their friends.
"Wow. I didn't know they could dance like that." Toni said as he sipped her beer.
"Me either." Alain replied as he turned his head a certain angle. They both laughed.
"Hey lets go sit out front." Alain said to Toni over the loud music. Toni nodded and followed him out to the front porch.
They decided to take a walk around the large mansion and enjoy the cool air that was blowing and take in the gorgeous scenery around them.
"So how are ya liking Jump City mate?" Asked Toni, breaking the silence,
Alain shrugged and pursed his lips. "It's been...different. I mean I like it I'm just not used to it here yet."
Toni nodded and looked at him. Then she looked straight ahead. "Have you found anyone you like?"
Alain looked at Toni and smiled. He stuffed his hands in his pocket. "Yes."
"Ohh...cool...can I know who?" She asked.
"Ehhh...one day."
Toni smiled and left it at that.
TT
"Roy!" Jade yelled across the crowd in the game room. "Hey Roy!"
He didn't turn around. He was with his jock friends and a couple cheerleaders. He was playing pool and was currently winning. Great, more popularity.
Jade frowned as he failed to hear her. She found that trying to get her boyfriend's attention had become a lot harder the past weeks. She missed her Roy...
Jade walked over to him and pushed past the group that was huddled around him.
"Oooo Roy, you're sexy Asian girlfriend is comin your way." Said one of the jocks who had on a letterman jacket.
Jade rolled her eyes as she walked up to Roy. "Hey."
Roy looked surprised to see her. She noticed this and her heart cringed. Usually his eyes filled with happiness.
"Hey, Jade? Uhh what's up?"
"Roy, get your girl out of here so we can finish this game." A guy with sandy blonde hair said. The group laughed and Jade cowered.
"Well..can we talk?" She asked and crossed her arms.
Roy looked back at his 'friends' and turned back to her. "Well.."
"Hey, hand her over to me and I'll talk to her."
"Maybe we can show her a good time Harper!"
Everyone laughed and Jade was shocked. She started to get angry. "Roy?"
Roy sighed. "Man, cut it out."
"Ooooo touchy!" Yelled one of the cheerleaders. Laughter was sent around.
"Forget it. Obviously you don't care." Jade turned around and started to walk away. Roy was about to go after her until one of his friends spoke up. "Forget about her dude."
And he did.
TT
Richard and Kori stood out on the balcony of his bedroom. They were enjoying the cool night air since they were hot and sweaty from all the dancing. The stars painted the midnight sky and they could see Toni and Alain walking not too far away.
"Do you think they'll end up together?" Kori asked motioning to Toni who was currently being picked up by Alain. Alain threw her over his shoulder and started rubbing around. Toni laughed and yelped every now and then.
"Oh yeah. Definitely."
Kori laughed her adorable laugh. "That'd be cute...so how's the sweet fifteen going?"
"Awesome. It's everything I could've asked for. And, now I can finally drive!Somewhat..." Richard thought of the new black 2010 mustang Bruce had gotten him a few days ago. He also thought of his R-cycle he'd be riding by himself with a year.
"That's good."
The two sat in silence for a bit and a memory of the night with Robin flashed through her head. She though of the way he held her, kept her safe, kissed her...
She took a deep breath and Richard looked over at her. "Are you okay Kor?"
Kori stared at him, emerald eyes sparkling in the moonlight. She opened her mouth to say something but shut it before the words came out.
"Yeah," she looked away, "I'm fine."
Richard looked at her for a moment and then took her hand. "Lets go back to the party."
TT
"C'mon Rachel! You have to dance! It's a party!" Gar complained to Rachel who was in the not so crowded family room reading her book.
"No, I don't have to dance. I don't dance." She replied monotonously.
"Pleaasseeeeeee!" He whined.
She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "Alright...no."
Gar's shoulders slumped. It was no secret that Gar had feelings for Rachel. The only one who didn't know about it-or denied it if someone told her-was Rachel herself.
A slow song started playing ad Gar sat on the other end of the couch from Rachel, head leaning on his hand. She glanced over at him and shook her head. A few seconds later she glanced at his slumped form and let out a sigh.
She rolled her eyes, stood up, walked over to him, and held out a hand. "C'mon...uhh...lets go dance." She said in an unsure voice.
It didn't take long for Gar to pull her to the dance floor. She couldn't believe she was dancing with him. Out of all people. He annoyed her to no end, frustrated her, and sometimes, she just wanted to push him in a volcano. But right now, with his hands on her waist and her arms around his neck, dancing slowly to the song 'Crazier' by Taylor Swift, se couldn't help but smile.
TT
"Jade!" Roy ran through the crowd as Jade headed for the front door. "Jade wait!"
After the little fiasco in the game room, Jade had noticed Roy could care less about her. So she decided to leave and drown her sorrows in chocolate ice cream.
Tears were on her face and she kept pushing her way through the horde of people.
"Jade!...STOP!" He yelled. The music cut off and by now, everyone's attention was on the two freshmen couple.
Jade slowly turned around and clenched her jaw. She didn't bother to wipe away the tears. She wanted Roy to see how hurt she was.
"What do you want Roy." It was more of a demand and Roy flinched as she said his name with venom.
"What is wrong? You've been..off lately."
Jade stared at hi in disbelief and let out a loud laugh. Karen and Vic were in the stage with the DJ watching the argument that was rising and Wally and Jenny weren't to far away. Richard was with Kori, hand in hand, coming down the stairs but stopped at the scene. Rachel and Gar turned their bodies towards the couple that had interrupted their slow dance.
"I've been off? I'VE BEEN OFF LATELY?!" She laughed at first and then turned serious.
"Yes! You've been all down and depressed lately and you've been a lot more...more...needy!"
Now it was Jade's turn to flinch. She couldn't believe him! 'The nerve he has!' She thought.
"You. Are. An. IDIOT!" She screamed at him walking forward towards the ginger. "I can't believe you think I'm being NEEDY! Have you even noticed that you've change in the past couple of weeks? You don't hang out with us anymore. You hang out with those dickwads you call you're friends! By the way, thanks for standing up for me in there you ass!" She pointed towards the game room and recalled the pool game incident. "It's like you're not even Roy anymore! The last time I hung out with you was before Thanksgiving break!"
Everyone just stared at them. It was quiet and the only thing that was heard was Jade and her quiet sobs.
Roy stared at her wide eyes and realized he had been distant from them. "Jade, c'mon. You guys know you'll always be my friends! But is it so bad that I make new ones!?"
"No! It's not! But when you start ditching your old friends and your girlfriend and you act like a complete DICK! Then ya, it is!"
"Im sorry that I'm enjoying my freshmen year to the fullest! Geez Jade, what is WRONG!?"
"I WANT MY BOYFRIEND BACK!" She yelled and her crying was clear now. Roy's gaze softened on her and he stepped forward. He tried grabbing her hand but she pulled away. He stared at her in shock and his face was clearly upset.
"We're done." She finally said.
Roy almost fainted. He blinked a few times to make sure this was real. The crowd slightly gasped and the group was hoping they heard wrong too.
"Jade, no-
"No Roy! I don't like the new you...and I never will. I'm sorry, but we're...over." She turned around, the tears rolling down her face.
Roy grabbed her hand and came up behind her. "Please..don't go. I love you, angel."
Jade stood their listening to these words. The words he used to tell her. She'd hug and kiss him and say it back. But now, it was like dust in the wind to her. He had changed, he had pushed her away and she wasn't going to deal with that.
She yanked her hand away and walked to the door. With one last glance to Roy, she walked out.
Roy stood there. He was surprised, angry, depressed, but most of all heartbroken. He wanted to go after her. But he couldn't move. So he just stood there as the party slowly began to start again.
He moved to the family room, head in hands. Roy stayed like that the entire night. The group had tried talking to him, but he didn't answer anyone. He only thought about how he wouldn't ever have a girlfriend like Jade again.
"What have I done..."
