Jade sat on the maroon velvet chair in the corner of her room, lacing up her combat boots while glancing at Cat, who was curled up on the window seat, looking distracted. It was always somewhat funny seeing Cat in her room, she was just a pop of colour in the vampiric-like space. Jade kept considering a redecoration of the space, to make it a little more grown up and a little less in-your-face emo; especially with how often Cat was coming over now it was about time for a change. She really did need to ask her dad to bring in a painter for that.

But anyway, Jade could feel something was off with her girlfriend, and it was starting to get under her skin. Normally, Cat was the one who couldn't wait for their dates, buzzing with energy days in advance. But now, Cat sat there, avoiding eye contact, fiddling with the strings of her hoodie.

"You ready to go?" Jade asked, trying to sound casual, but the edge in her voice was hard to hide.

Cat didn't look up, her fingers still twisting the hoodie strings as if they were the most fascinating thing in the world. "I dunno… maybe we could just stay in? Watch a movie or something?"

Jade narrowed her eyes. "You're normally the one dragging me out the door for a date and now you want to stay in? What's going on?"

Cat sighed but didn't answer. Jade crossed her arms, growing more impatient. "Cat, seriously. We have reservations in an hour. What's the deal?"

There was a long pause before Cat finally looked up, her face full of reluctance. "I just… I don't have any money."

Jade blinked, surprised. "Money?"

"I've been spending a lot lately," Cat admitted, her voice small. "On our dates, and on Andre's birthday present. I spent the last of my Nonna's inheritance. Now I'm broke."

Jade tilted her head, trying to wrap her mind around it. "Why didn't you just say something? You know I can cover it. I've got more than enough."

Cat shook her head quickly, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I don't want you to have to pay for everything. That's not fair to you. I've been spending too much, and now I can't even afford to take you out."

Jade rolled her eyes. "Cat, it's not a big deal. I'm used to paying for things. Why don't you just ask your parents for money if it's that bad?"

Cat flinched at that, and Jade noticed immediately. The room grew tense.

"They're struggling," Cat said quietly, her fingers nervously tugging at her sleeves. "My dad's not bringing in enough to support all of us. It's not like your dad, Jade. I can't just ask them for money whenever I want. My parents… they're doing their best, but it's hard."

Jade's stomach twisted at Cat's words. She wasn't used to thinking about money that way. For her, it had always been there, courtesy of her dad's endless business trips and investments. But for Cat… things were different.

"Cat, I didn't know," Jade said softly. "I didn't mean to—"

"I know you didn't," Cat interrupted, her voice still shaky. "But that's just the way it is. And it makes me feel like I'm failing… like I can't keep up. Especially with you."

"Failing? You're not failing at anything," Jade replied, frustration bubbling under her calm tone. "Why does this matter so much? I don't care about the money. I just want to spend time with you."

Cat shook her head again. "But I care. It's not fair to you. I don't want you to feel like you have to take care of me."

"I don't have to take care of you," Jade argued. "I want to. It's not about you being able to afford a date. It's about us having fun together."

"I know that's how you see it, but I don't want to be a burden," Cat whispered, her voice strained. "I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of you. I've been blowing through the money my Nonna left me, and now I can't even pay for a simple night out. I feel like I'm letting you down."

Jade stared at her for a moment, her frustration giving way to concern. She took a step closer, her voice softening. "You're not letting me down. It's not about the money, Cat. I don't care who pays for what. You don't have to prove anything to me."

"I just… I don't want this to become a thing between us," Cat murmured, her eyes downcast. "I don't want you to feel like you're carrying all the weight. I should be able to do my part too."

Jade let out a deep breath, running a hand through her hair. "Okay, fine. You don't want me to pay for everything. I get it. But you don't have to cancel dates because of it. If you need to find a job again, go ahead. But that doesn't mean we have to stop having fun until you do."

Cat looked up at her, eyes filled with uncertainty. "You really don't mind?"

Jade shook her head. "No, I don't mind. I just want to spend time with you. We'll figure this out, okay?"

Cat bit her lip, wiping at her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just hate feeling like I'm not pulling my weight."

Jade stepped forward and pulled Cat into a hug, holding her tight. "You are. Trust me. We're good, okay? Don't worry so much."

Cat nodded against her shoulder, the tension in her body finally easing as she hugged Jade back. It wasn't the perfect resolution, but it was a start. They'd had their first real argument, and it hadn't torn them apart. Jade held Cat for a while longer, her grip firm but comforting, as if trying to absorb all of Cat's worry through the embrace. Slowly, Cat pulled away, her eyes a little red but her face calmer. She gave Jade a weak smile, but it was a genuine one, the tension between them easing.

"Thanks for understanding," Cat said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jade shrugged, trying to brush it off like it wasn't a big deal, even though she could still feel the weight of their conversation in the air. "We're good," she said, her tone softer than usual. "But next time, don't avoid telling me, okay? I'm not a mind reader."

Cat nodded, fiddling with the sleeve of her hoodie again. "Okay, I promise."

There was a long pause as they both settled into the quiet, the fight lingering only as a memory now. Jade finally broke the silence, offering a small smirk. "So, about that job…"

Cat groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically. "I'll find one. I promise. I mean, how hard can it be, right? I can be a barista or work at a pet shop—oh! Maybe I could be a dog walker!"

Jade raised an eyebrow, her signature sarcasm creeping back into her voice. "Yeah, because you're so great at keeping things organised."

"Hey!" Cat protested, crossing her arms. "I'm organised! I'm just… creatively organised. There's a difference."

"Uh-huh," Jade said, smirking again. "We'll see."

Cat poked her playfully in the side, and for the first time since the conversation started, Jade laughed a little. It was nice to hear that lightness in the air again.

"Anyway," Jade said, standing up straight and adjusting her jacket, "if we're not going for dinner tonight, what are we going to do instead?"

Cat tilted her head, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Well… I was thinking we could still do something fun. Maybe something that doesn't cost any money?"

Jade's eyebrow arched. "And what's that?"

"Let's just… I don't know," Cat said, bouncing a little as she got more excited. "Explore! Go somewhere we haven't been in a while. We could walk around, find some quiet spot to hang out."

Jade leaned against her desk, arms folded, considering the idea. "You mean like… go to the old park near your place? The one with the abandoned skate park?"

Cat's eyes lit up. "Yes! Exactly! That place is perfect. We can just hang out there, maybe take a few pictures or something."

Jade hesitated for a second, but the sparkle in Cat's eyes was hard to resist. "Alright, fine," she said, pushing off from her desk. "Let's do it."

Cat jumped up, clearly excited that Jade was on board. "Great! It'll be fun, I promise. And I'll start job hunting tomorrow. No more mooching off you."

Jade rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "You weren't mooching, Cat."

"I kind of was," Cat admitted, grabbing her jacket, "but I'll fix it. I'll make it up to you."

Jade shook her head, watching Cat's renewed energy with a faint smile. She didn't care about the money or who paid for what. All she cared about was being with Cat.

The old park near Cat's house had long been forgotten by most of the locals. It wasn't the kind of place people brought their kids anymore, the playground rusting over and the overgrown grass hiding what was once a well-kept space. Jade and Cat hadn't been there in ages, but as they wandered through the paths, the memories came flooding back.

"You know," Cat said, nudging Jade as they walked, "I used to come here with my Nonna all the time when I was little. She'd bring a blanket, and we'd sit under that big tree over there and just watch the world go by."

Jade looked over at the massive oak tree, its thick branches casting long shadows across the field. She could picture Cat as a kid, sitting there with her grandmother, talking about anything and everything. It made her smile, knowing how much Cat's Nonna had meant to her.

"You miss her, huh?" Jade asked, her voice quieter now.

"Yeah," Cat said, her tone more wistful. "But being here kind of makes me feel like she's still around, you know?"

Jade nodded, understanding that feeling all too well. They didn't say anything more as they walked, letting the stillness of the park and the weight of their memories fill the air. Eventually, they reached the abandoned skate park. It had been years since they last climbed that now graffiti-covered halfpipe. There was a slight chance that one of their feet would do through the wood if they stepped in the wrong place.

Cat ran ahead, turning to face Jade with that same playful grin. "C'mon!" She encouraged Jade to climb up with her, waving her hands frantically.

Jade smirked, following after her. "You're still such a kid sometimes."

"And you love it," Cat teased.

Jade couldn't help but smile as she watched Cat run up it and swing herself over the edge, sitting with her feet dangling over the edge. "Help me up then?" She rolled her eyes, reaching a hand up to Cat who pulled her up a little more gracefully than she had been, her boots scuffing against the worn surface. The rusted metal screeched under their weight, but it held steady, a relic of countless skate tricks and late-night hangouts.

The night was quiet, almost eerily so, with only the distant hum of the city far beyond the park's boundaries. The stars peeked through the scattered clouds, casting a faint glow over the forgotten space. From their vantage point, they could see the whole of the skate park—empty and lifeless, except for the occasional rustle of wind through the weeds below. Cat hugged her knees, resting her head on Jade's shoulder.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The quiet was almost comforting, like the world had paused just for them. The distant city felt miles away, leaving only the two of them and the dark, abandoned place that once thrived with energy.

"This place is kinda sad, isn't it?" Cat whispered after a while, her voice barely breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Jade murmured, exhaling smoke into the night air. "But it's peaceful too."

Cat nodded, letting the stillness wrap around them both. They didn't need much—just this quiet moment, the two of them, sitting at the edge of something long forgotten, feeling like they could stay suspended there forever.

It was moments like that which brought them back a little. They had once been kids who ran around here together, and now, here they were a few weeks away from 18 for Jade, and a few months for Cat. They'd be off to New York soon, they'd sent off their applications not long ago but there was very little doubt for if either would be accepted.

They really were growing up, and it was weird.