A/N: So you may have guessed how things are playing out here. Jade has her time with each of her friends and we get a glimpse into how they feel about her after all this time. Just goes to show that it isn't as black and white as Jade did something bad and we're mad at her. I really wanted to dive deeper and show that while her actions can seem irrational they are a ripple from an even deeper problem. And also that holding a grudge indefinitely may not be the healthiest thing.

If you want nothing to do with a person, then cut them out of your life. But if you think they're worth a damn and deserve another chance, confront your feelings. Either way, you need to stop holding this grudge, forgive and move on.

It's round 3 for Jade's first week back and its Robbie's turn.

Promise to not make you wait more than a week between updates. I'm dedicating my writing energy into finishing this story.

It's been a while but shout out to Invader Johnny for the idea that created this fic. Very pleased to see everybody responding to it.

Jade was ready when Rob knocked on the door.

"Come in," she said.

The curly-haired boy opened the front door and stood in the frame.

"Morning," Robbie sighed. "Need a hand?"

"Just get the door and we're good."

(Not used to Jade being this civil toward...anyone really. Especially in light of how we all last interacted. I'm still not forgetting what happened and how she hurt Cat. But I promised Beck and Tori that I would play nice.)

She hopped out the front door and Robbie closed it behind them.

"Thanks," Jade said.

(Seriously what is up?)

They got into the car. Rob was still put off by how quiet Jade was being. And when she did speak it was very polite. Normally "nice Jade" would be followed up by a terrible prank. But he wasn't getting that vibe from her.

"You know its funny," Jade said. "I half expected Rex to be riding shotgun."

"He's at home," Rob smirked.

"What is he still upset with me?" Jade lightly chortled.

Rob just sat in silence.

"Jesus, I was joking" Jade said. "Really?"

He shook his head.

"No, no. It's not like that. I just...I don't know...been less interested in taking him along."

Jade thought about that and she tried to remember the last time she saw Robbie holding Rex and she really had to struggle. He had been leaving the dummy behind lately.

"You know, you're right. I haven't seen his shellacked mug in a while. What gives?"

Rob shrugged.

"I dunno. Just been doing a lot of thinking. I haven't given up on performing. I still have my side hustle with kids birthday parties."

Jade tried hard not to laugh.

"I remember you and Rex doing a show at my cousin's birthday. Never thought I'd see you in a brawl."

"Hey, that clown started it!" protested Robbie. "Not my fault he was so bad that the only balloon thing he could make were swords."

She couldn't help herself and just started bursting out laughing.

"You remember that clown's costume?" Jade chuckled. "It was shit!"

"Yeah," he smiled. "It was like a little bit of face paint and a t-shirt."

"What was it that Rex said that pissed him off?" Jade asked.

"Oh, I remember! He said Wow, nice outfit. Where did they get you, "Barely A Clown Productions?""

Jade slapped the seat in front of her. Rob was keeping his focus on the road as his face got red from cracking up.

"That puppet could really be funny sometimes," she sighed. "Where'd you get him anyway?"

Rob gasped.

"Do NOT insult me! Like a true ventriloquist, I made him myself."

The goth was impressed.

"You did? When?"

"Well, I've been interested in ventriloquism ever since I was a kid. Would practice with socks or puppets I made out of a paper bag. But in middle school, that was a tough time."

Jade thought back to her own middle school days. Elementary was nice and high school had its moments. But 6-8 grade was a nightmare. The kids were the meanest they had ever been and meanwhile your body is outright rejecting you. Just a horrible, emotionally tumultuous period. By high school, you've matured physically and mentally enough for you to deal with things but that in-between where you went from kid to teen sucked.

Rob continued.

"Anyway, eight grade was especially rough for me. Bullies aplenty. Now I'm not the popular guy, the sporty guy, or the guy who can beat the crap out of anyone. So I tried being the guy that could make people laugh. That year I found myself in a shop class and for my exam I made Rex. Got an A."

"Cool," Jade nodded.

"Now the kids who used to take my lunch money or stuff me into a locker; we're suddenly friends now. Rex was like my wing-man in a way. Suddenly I was getting invited to parties, people acted like we were chums but I didn't even know their names. Those last few months of eight grade was exciting."

She was beginning to understand Robbie more now. That little wooden bastard was kind of his avatar for the minefield of school. There were still cliques in Hollywood Arts but not as severe as middle school. Yet Rob didn't feel the need to hang up the dummy until fairly recently.

"What do you think changed?" asked Jade.

Rob thought about it and shrugged as they pulled into the school parking lot.

"It feels...different now. Rex used to be my shield but lately he's been feeling more like an anchor. I mean am I supposed to take him with me to college? What about if I got married? Is he a part of the deal?"

"Guess that would make the honeymoon awkward as fuck."

Robbie huffed.

"Suppose it would be."

"Maybe its for the best," Jade suggested. "And I'm not just saying that because I repeatedly threatened to throw him into a wood chipper with some flowers and make him into potpourri."

He looked back at her through the rear view mirror.

"For what its worth, I think this Rob is cool. He's got good friends. Cat definitely likes him. I think the old you would be impressed by the new you."

Rob turned around to face Jade.

"You think so?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "I mean you're good. Don't stop performing. But you don't have to carry him everywhere like Linus and his blanket."

He thought about it and smiled.

"Hey Jade?"

"Yeah?"

"I am happy that you're okay."

Jade blushed a little.

"How's Cat doing anyway?"

"Oh, um...she's good. P-Pretty good."

The pale girl nodded.

"Can you give her something for me?" she asked.

"What?"

Jade reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope and handed it to Rob.

"It's been driving me crazy and I just can't wait until Friday. So, can you give it to her now?"

"Why don't you call?"

Jade swallowed hard, fighting back the temptation to cry.

"Because I know she hates me and probably won't let me get a word in. And I don't want to sit with her silently to and from school. At least here, I can say my peace and she can read it."

He stared at the white envelope.

"Well, uh..."

"Please give it to her Rob, okay?"

Rob just pocketed it and got out to open the door to let Jade out.

Jade didn't ask about the special delivery to Cat, much to Robbie's relief.

He took the envelope out and looked at it. He didn't bear to open it. That would be overstepping his bounds.

Instead, he decided to sleep on it and make up his mind by morning if he would go through with it and hand it over to Cat.

While being protective of Cat, he would like it if the two best friends made up.

"God, this is so convoluted."

Rob put the envelope on his desk and got ready for bed.

The curtain raised and bright shafts of light pointed down to Robbie.

He sat there on a stool, dressed up like he was going to a job interview or a bar-mitzvah. Only he had a bright red bow-tie as opposed to an understated necktie.

The applause from the audience only grew at the simultaneous reveal of his face and the face of his little friend.

Robbie turned to his right, expecting to see his dummy buddy, and was gobsmacked by who was actually sitting on his lap.

It was a perfect mini replica of Jade in her signature black top, stripped leggings and combat boots. She was a dead ringer for the real thing but made of wood and plastic. As shocking as this was, Robbie tensed up when the dummy turned its head toward him and blinked. His hand was up the puppet's back but he didn't feel the normal controls there. He was merely propping "Lil Jade" up but otherwise she was operating on her own like she was alive.

"Hi, Rob!"

(And Jade's little doppelganger can talk on its own too. Fun.)

"Um," he said, tugging at his collar.

"Sheesh!" blurted out Lil Jade. "I thought you were the one who was supposed to make ME talk!"

The crowd howled at the joke and their approval made the ventriloquist (if you can call him that in this situation) relax and join in.

Robbie smiled and turned to his friend.

"I was just surprised," he said. "I thought you liked working alone."

"You know I can't work alone!" Lil Jade protested.

"And why not?"

The puppet gestured toward the front row.

"Without you to hold me, I'd just fall off the damn stage."

Everyone laughed, including Robbie.

"Oh you think that's funny, fuzzy-head?" asked Lil Jade.

Robbie looked out into the audience.

"Sorry about that folks. She gets cranky without her coffee."

Lil Jade shook her body, making her wee dangling arm sway.

"You try and hold a cup with these little nubs!"

The pair continued their shtick for a few more minutes, Robbie playing the straight man to Lil Jade's wild card. And the audience was eating it all up; they couldn't get enough of the likable duo.

Unbeknownst to them, a figure was moving toward them from backstage.

Robbie noticed the movement in the corner of his eye and gasped when he saw Rex standing there, completely on his own, holding a zippo lighter.

"Rex!"

"Robert," he said.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I think your act is fire, Shapiro! Look!"

Then the dummy flicked the lighter and threw it at Lil Jade. The puppet burst into flame as if it was dipped in gasoline.

"JADE!"

Lil Jade fell to the floor, and just continued to burn like a roman candle.

Robbie panics and tries to put her out but Rex grabs a hold of his arm and will not let go. He couldn't believe how strong this damn puppet was. He needed to help Jade. She wasn't just another dummy. She was his friend.

It was that more disturbing that Lil Jade made no sound whatsoever, like she accepted her fate.

Rob finally broke free and despite how hot the body was, he picked her up with his blazer. He watched helplessly as the dummy fell apart in his hands.

Robbie sat up with a shot.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and looked across the room where Rex was sitting, inanimate, on a chair. The dummy was looking in his direction.

Suspicious of the little guy, Rob got out of bed, walked across the room and turned Rex to face the wall.

"Got my eye on you," he sleepily said before laying back down.

He raised his head up toward his desk and could make out Jade's envelope.

"Okay Jade, I'll give it to her."

A/N: The little bit with Jade and Rob remembering the bad birthday clown was based on a Patton Oswalt story.