I am just about catching up to myself on this story. And like I told the Swan Queen readers, I am approaching full-on burnout this takes the least mental acuity since I didn't have to write this chapter, and I wanted to post something here since I uploaded a complete story on my other fandom to have less on my plate. anyway THis chapter I am particularly proud of and thoroughly loved I hope you enjoy it. ~S.K.
Chapter 12: Bankrupt
Jade's yearly visit to her accountant was always a source of anxiety, an unwelcome reminder of the financial mess her parents had left behind. As she drove towards the office building, the sight of it alone triggered a knot in her stomach. The glass and steel structure loomed, and her breaths became shallow.
Walking through the building's automatic glass doors, Jade felt the familiar surge of panic. The cool, sterile air inside the office seemed to tighten around her, and her footsteps echoed, amplifying the anxiety with each step. The receptionist greeted her with a friendly smile, but Jade's mind was already racing.
Taking a seat in the waiting area, the leather chair felt cold and unforgiving beneath her. The glossy brochures on the coffee table seemed to mock her, filled with images of financial success and stability. Her eyes flitted nervously around the room, landing on the framed certificates on the wall — reminders of the expertise that awaited her inside.
The panic built steadily, crawling up from the pit of her stomach to her chest. The hum of the fluorescent lights seemed to intensify, and the ticking of the clock on the wall echoed in her ears. Each moment in that waiting room felt like an eternity.
As she sat there, the memories flooded back — the night when her parents left their house, drunk and careless. The Coogan account, meant to secure her future, lay emptied by the very people who were supposed to protect her. The betrayal cut deep, and the weight of that night pressed down on her.
Jade's mind flashed to the confrontation, the anger, and the ultimatum she had given them. The pain and betrayal etched in their faces as she kicked them out of her life. The panic attack intensified, and the edges of her vision blurred. The room seemed to spin as her consciousness teetered on the edge of darkness.
In that moment, the present and past intertwined, the accountant's office becoming a twisted stage for the haunting memories of financial deceit. The blackness claimed her, and the world dissolved into fragments of the past, leaving Jade suspended in the void between then and now.
The house stood as a testament to modern luxury, its clean lines and minimalist design exuding an air of youthful sophistication. The sleek, white walls and large windows allowed natural light to flood the open spaces, creating an ambiance that contrasted sharply with the exterior decay of the neighborhood. The once-pristine lawn was overgrown, but within the walls of her sanctuary, Jade had created an oasis of modernity.
Jade's personal space reflected her contemporary tastes. The study, adorned with state-of-the-art tech and bold splashes of color, spoke of a teenager navigating the complexities of the digital age. Her bedroom, with its smart gadgets and posters of edgy bands, echoed the rebellion she sought in her controlled world. Despite the turmoil outside, Jade confined herself to these carefully curated spaces, a modern cocoon shielding her from the decay beyond.
One evening, as Jade prepared to head out with Beck, she glanced at her bag and noticed the absence of her secret debit card. Suspicion seized her, and she approached her mother, who lounged in a haze of disconnection. The woman's laughter echoed through the contemporary but neglected halls as she dangled the missing card from her grasp, a careless display of insolence.
Jade's gasp was swallowed by the modern air as she snatched the card from her mother's careless grasp. The revelation of violation burned in her eyes as she confronted her disoriented mother. "Why do you have this?"
Her mother's laugh, detached and high, only fueled Jade's anger. "I was at the casino, just needed some cash."
"The casino?" Jade's voice rose, incredulous. "Why couldn't you use my other account? This one is private."
Her mother's response dripped with indifference, "Oh, that account is empty. You are over here hoarding that money."
"It's my money!" Jade screamed, the anger pulsating within her.
A slap, sharp and searing, cut through the air as her mother's hand connected with Jade's face. The world blurred as Jade, fueled by a rage accumulated through years of turmoil, lashed out. She descended upon her mother, striking her with a fury that echoed the years of frustration and betrayal.
Her father, a shadow in the doorway, interrupted the chaotic scene. "The fuck is going on here?" he bellowed, yanking Jade off her mother by the hair. "Get off her, you little bitch."
"I am so tired of you fucking with my life!" Jade screamed, her voice echoing through the modern halls. "I want you out of my house."
"This ain't your house. It sure ain't under your name," her father retorted with a sneer.
"I'm fucking surprised it isn't under someone else's name," Jade shot back, her hand reaching for the phone in her pocket. "Get OUT!"
Her parents stumbled out, leaving behind the modern oasis and a daughter who had finally severed the toxic ties that bound her. As they disappeared into the night, Jade's scream lingered in the air, a release of pent-up anguish as they left her sight, never to return. The house stood, witness to the shattered ties and a newfound liberation within its contemporary walls.
In the midst of the heated exchange, her parents, lost in a haze of substances, made a fateful decision to leave. Unbeknownst to Jade, their impaired judgment led them to their car, weaving through the night with a dangerous cocktail of drugs in their systems. The sleek vehicle, a symbol of the opulent life they had squandered, became a lethal weapon on the dimly lit streets.
As they careened through the night, the consequences of their choices caught up with them in a brutal collision. The crash reverberated through the quiet streets, echoing the chaos that had unfolded within Jade's personal spaces. The impact not only claimed the lives of her parents but also extinguished the light of an unsuspecting victim in the other car.
The news of the accident shattered the fragile stability Jade had tried to maintain within her modern sanctuary. The sleek exterior of the mansion stood unchanged, but the tragedy within its walls left an indelible mark. The once-modern cocoon became a haunting reminder of the choices that had spiraled out of control, leaving Jade orphaned and grappling with the weight of both grief and guilt.
The legal aftermath that followed cast a harsh spotlight on the consequences of addiction and recklessness. Jade, now thrust into a world of legalities and loss, faced not only the grief of her parents' demise but also the realization that their actions had caused irreparable harm to others.
"Breathe… Jade, breathe." The secretary's voice was a soothing echo in Jade's ears as she struggled to regain composure. Gasping for air, she felt someone holding her down, a comforting hand fanning her face. The secretary, with a cup of water in hand, offered solace by rubbing Jade's back gently.
"You should wait till you see the numbers before you panic," the secretary playfully teased a familiar refrain in these moments of financial reckoning. Jade managed a breathless "Thank you" as she slowly regained control over her senses.
"You should have brought your girlfriend," Lena remarked from the lobby, her presence adding an unexpected layer of tension to the already stressful situation. Jade sighed, her eyes narrowing at the unwelcome intrusion.
"Fuck," Jade muttered under her breath, sitting up and taking in Lena's presence.
"Does she know about this?" Lena probed further.
"No," Jade responded, her voice tinged with a hint of apprehension. "I don't want her affected by this."
"Don't you think that she would want to hold your hand through this?" Lena challenged. "I know I would."
"She's different," Jade replied, hugging herself defensively.
"Why, because she was a fan?" Lena scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I hate to break it to you, but you've been famous since you were in diapers. All of us were fans."
Jade offered a noncommittal shrug, caught in the delicate balance of shielding Tori from the harsh realities of her financial turmoil. The weight of years of financial instability loomed large, and Jade couldn't easily dismiss the fear that had become a constant companion.
As her name was called, Jade braced herself for the impending conversation with her accountant, a journey into the daunting realm of numbers and consequences. The anticipation of financial reckoning hung heavy in the air as she reluctantly headed toward her financial fate.
"Good news, your oldest work has been released to you. Now, I know that's not much, about two hundred dollars a month with those residuals, but that means if you have new work that you work through SagAftra, you have access to."
Jade couldn't help but laugh at the irony. "Sure… Now I gotta get them to hire me."
"Your IRS debt is down to a quarter million, and your lawsuit… well, they have about half a mil left."
Jade sighed. The burden of 750K was still significant, but it was a far cry from the overwhelming 5 million she had initially faced. Liquidating her house had only made a dent, with the proceeds going straight to her parents' debt to casinos. Selling off most items valued over 5,000 dollars had been a necessary but painful process. Now, one major movie with residuals and market share could potentially cover the rest. She needed that breakthrough role, the one that could earn her an Oscar and provide a steady paycheck. However, the ongoing writers' strike posed a significant obstacle to securing steady work.
"Well, I hope Sag doesn't go on strike…" Jade mumbled her concerns about the unpredictable nature of the industry evident.
"Here's hoping," he responded. "All in all, you are on the right path. Soon you won't have any more anxiety attacks like that again."
Jade smirked, realizing her accountant had overheard her recent episode in the waiting room. "You heard, huh?"
"I did… and I get it… Believe me, you're doing great."
Reassured by the encouraging words, Jade walked out of the office with a renewed sense of determination, contemplating the journey from the depths of financial crisis to the hopeful path ahead.
Jade had been completely trashed the week her parents died. Her well-meaning friends, concerned about her, took her out to distract her from the pain. Initially, she turned to alcohol, drowning herself in the numbing embrace of drinks. As the night progressed, she also indulged in smoking weed. However, the high from weed didn't sit well with her, leading her to take one of Beck's Adderall pills in an attempt to alter her state of mind further.
It became apparent to her friends that Jade was seeking oblivion. She abused substances relentlessly, neglecting basic needs like eating and sleeping. Attempts to intervene were met with resistance as Jade spiraled deeper into her self-destructive habits. Eventually, she disappeared, and her friends were left worried and searching for her.
Days later, she was found lying in the streets, disheveled and disoriented. The paparazzi, always on the lookout for sensational stories, didn't hesitate to capture her vulnerable state. The media, relentless and unsympathetic, plastered her distress across headlines.
To make matters worse, a sex tape emerged, showcasing Jade in a compromising state, clearly under the influence. The footage, exploitative in nature, further fueled public scrutiny. The fallout was swift and severe—her television show was canceled, and her career took a significant hit.
Jade's downward spiral and the subsequent public shaming marked a dark chapter in her life, highlighting the harsh realities of fame and the toll it can take on mental health.
As Jade approached Tori's hotel, she felt a sense of liberation, a determination to move beyond the shadows of her tumultuous past. Her connection with Tori, cultivated through shared moments and Tori's engaging live streams, had become a source of comfort and genuine companionship. Jade found solace in the community that had developed around Tori, eager to participate in the conversations and interactions.
Knocking on Tori's door, Jade was met with Tori's enthusiastic bounce, an outward display of the energy that seemed to constantly propel her. Tori darted toward boards adorned with video ideas and face shading, consumed by a creative fervor that had held her captive for days. Jade, observing the whirlwind of ideas, couldn't help but ponder if there was more at play, wondering if Tori's intense focus masked something like ADHD. In the midst of Tori's creative chaos, Jade sat, watching the Latina work herself into a frenzy, her thoughts meandering through the complexities of Tori's vibrant mind.
Tori's rapid-fire monologue continued, a torrent of ideas pouring forth at a pace that left Jade struggling to follow a single sentence. Jade, sensing a need for connection beyond the chatter, reached out and took Tori's hand. Surprisingly, Tori didn't pause, prompting Jade to gently pull her down into a soothing embrace. Tori, initially resistant, gradually succumbed to the calming presence, her frenetic energy giving way to a surprising calmness.
Silence enveloped the room as Tori continued to talk, the words now flowing at a gentler pace. Jade, holding Tori close, said nothing, providing a space for Tori to express herself without the need for words. As Tori's body relaxed further, she drifted into a deep sleep. Concern etched on Jade's face, she softly called Tori's name, receiving no response. Choosing not to disturb Tori's rest, Jade carefully laid her down on the bed.
With the early afternoon sun casting a warm glow, Jade decided to wait patiently, planning to share a leisurely dinner once Tori woke. Settling beside Tori, Jade embraced the quietude of the room, pondering the intricate layers of Tori's personality that revealed themselves in moments of vulnerability.