JADED

TOGETHER

Jade grunted as she made her way up the stairs. Clenching on tightly to her bleeding stomach, she tried to walk steadily over the stairs. However, with her spinning head and wobbly legs, she found it impossible to do so. And before she realized it, she fell from the fifth step.

Even though the fall wasn't much of a distance, it aggravated her condition. Her back and butt began aching as well and she felt glued to the floor. The cut on her stomach continued bleeding and she knew that if she didn't stand up to treat it, she'd probably die here. And if she didn't die, then she'd be rescued by the housekeeper, who'd tell her father immediately and she'd be shipped off to one stupid asylum where everything they do is to make her believe, she's insane.

She groaned as she tried to stand up again but no part of her body was moving. After a few more tries, she decided to accept her fate - the first option. She removed her hand from where it had been to quicken the process. Just then, she heard a gasp and then hurried footsteps as someone scooped her up in his arms.

She knew who it was but she still wanted to see it. As her blue eyes fluttered open, Shawn's face came into view. It was blurry but she could see his eyes clearly, it was filled with pity. The pity he had in his eyes after she told him the truth. The pity with which he had used to look at her for the past two days. The pity that she hated and tried to avoid, therefore getting herself into her current mess.

She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Her father didn't believe her. Her best friend does but he pities her which is way worse than not believing.

★. ★. ★. ★. ★.

Jade blinked slowly, trying to adjust her eyes to the brightness of the room. Her head was aching badly and her eyesight was foggy as she struggled to sit up. She placed her right fingers on her head and massaged her temple while trying to figure out where she was.

Then, as her headache reduced and her sight returned, she noticed she was in Shawn's room. That he was asleep by her side. And that she was on an IV drip that had finished and had begun to draw blood from her. She grunted as she removed the needle from her hand and stood up from the bed, causing a sharp pain in her stomach. She reached for the part where she had been stabbed but noticed a bandage on it and when she looked around, she noticed that the floor was wet and that there were a bunch of drugs lying on the nightstand.

Warmth filled her heart as she took a look at Shawn before tiptoeing across the room. As she held the doorknob, she heard Shawn groan.

“Jade.” He called out with sleepy eyes as he stared at the bed. “Jade? Jade!” He called out as his eyes cleared enough to let him see she was no longer there.

Jade bit back a groan as she turned on her feet and walked back to the bed. Frowning and pouting, she sat on the bed and folded her arms across her chest. She was about to say something to him when he rose and hugged her. Her face softened and she wrapped her arms around him and whispered a thank you into his ears.

“Please, you've got to stop scaring me like this. I almost died when I saw you covered in blood.” Shawn said in a tight voice as he released Jade from his embrace.

“I'm sorry.” Jade muttered, looking down at her fingers.

Shawn pursed his lips and crossed his arms as he stared at her for a brief moment. “Sorry? You think sorry can fix this? What if I wasn't here? What if your dad found you? What if no one found you? Do you think your life is a joke?”

Jade sighed as she looked up at him. “Isn't it? Aren't all our lives?”

“No, it isn't. Snap out of it.” Shawn said softly and placed his hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it off.

“No, you snap out of it. I don't need your pity.” Jade snapped, standing up from the bed. “I don't need you to protect me. I hate it when you look at me like a broken vase that was pieced together and is very likely to break again.”

“I'm sorry. I don't...” Shawn sighed apologetically before she cut him off.

“No, don't be. I get it that you're worried about me but I don't need you to. I also don't need you to blame yourself because of what happened to me.” Jade said softly.

“How can I not? If I'd gone with you and Marie that night, I could have done something.” Shawn croaked, tears flooding his eyes as he looked away.

Jade sighed as she reached his chin and turned his face toward her. “You couldn't have. It was seven against two. Even if you had been there, we'd still be no match.”

“Maybe I wouldn't have been able to fight off that monster but I swear, I would have protected you to my last breath. I would even die doing that if that's what it takes.” Shawn vowed, looking into her eyes.

“Good thing you weren't there. If the two most important people in my life had died on the same night, I couldn't bear to live anymore.” Jade confessed. “Look, Shawn, I don't blame anyone and I wish this hadn't happened to me but I can't turn back time or undo what has been done. All I can do is try to heal and seeing you, seeing that look on your face, tears me all up again.” She paused, breathing deeply before faking a smile and continuing. “So, do me a favor. Pretend that nothing is wrong. That I'm still your best friend. The girl that'd annoy you until you feel like killing her but will always stand up for her whenever someone else tried to.”

“Okay. I'll do just that.” Shawn stated, plastering a grin on his face as he wiped away the tears that had begun rolling down his cheeks. “For the record, you're still my best friend and will always be. Oh, and I'm the only one allowed to kill you so don't get yourself in trouble anymore.”

“I won't.” Jade said, amidst tearful chuckles, as she looked into his eyes. She wasn't certain where her life was headed but she was certain that with Shawn by her side, she would enjoy every minute of the ride.

★. ★. ★. ★. ★.

Jade sat cross-legged on the couch while Shawn sat up straight, both eating a bowl of popcorn and watching TV. The sports channel was on and they were watching a basketball game. They were supporting different teams and Jade's team was in the lead. They both had markers in their hands and for each goal scored by their teams, the other person's face would be drawn on. Shawn's face was almost full of different shapes while Jade's face was barely drawn on.

The tables turned and Shawn's team began to win and Shawn wrote a letter on her forehead for each win. At the end of the game, Shawn's team emerged as the winner. On his face were a mustache, a variety of shapes and a hippo while on Jade's face was written: JADE IS A LOSER!!!

The room was filled with laughter as they both laughed at their own and each other's faces. They were still laughing when they heard the telephone ring. The laughter immediately stopped and Jade stood up from the couch. She ran a hand through her tousled hair as she stared at the phone, wondering who could be calling. The call ended and after a few seconds, it began to ring again.

She dragged her feet as she walked to the phone, praying that the caller wasn't her dad. She hesitated for a moment before picking up the phone and whispering a hello into it.

“Hello?” She heard an almost hushed voice from the other end. “Jade, it's Rachel. I wanna ask if you've seen Shawn. He's been away for five days now and I'm really worried about him.”

“Shawn!!” Jade called out as she covered the receiver with her hand. “Come speak with your mom.” She said as Shawn looked at her and he ran to her immediately. She gave him the phone and went into the kitchen. From the counter where she sat, she could hear Shawn's sniffles as he spoke with his mother. And for a moment she wished she was him. That she was the one out there in the living room talking with her mother.

The doorbell rang, bringing her out of her thoughts. She jumped off the counter and made for the door, believing it was the delivery guy who was bringing their lunch. She reached into her pocket for her card as she unlocked the door.

The door sprung open and immediately a man walked in. Jade's mind went blank as she stared, shocked, at the man - Shawn's father. She stood, holding the door open in a daze while Sergio went to where Shawn was and smashed the telephone he was holding.

“What in the...” Shawn exclaimed as he stared at the broken phone. He turned around and as soon as he saw Sergio, he froze.

Sergio grabbed Shawn by the neck. “You think you can hide from me? After what you did?” Sergio growled as he pointed to the bandage on his head. “I got a suture, you know?”

“You de... You deserve it. That's... What you get for... For... For hurting my mom.” Shawn stuttered, trying to wriggle out of Sergio's grip.

“She is my wife and I can do whatever I please to her. The same way I can do whatever I please to you.” Sergio growled.

“Leave him alone.” Jade said as she ran to Sergio, throwing herself at him.

He pushed her away, his rage visible in his eyes. “Stay out of this, wench. This is a family matter.”

Jade threw herself at him again, this time, biting on his arm. He screamed as he let go of Shawn and pulled his arm away. Jade gave a light smirk and folded her arms across her chest. “No can do. This is abuse and you need to stop it.”

“You know what needs to stop?” Sergio began, rolling up his sleeves and moving menacingly toward Jade while she moved backward. “You butting into matters that are none of your business. You think screwing around with him for a few days gives you the right to talk back at me? You're just a sl*t. Now I understand why your parents named you Jade.”

Jade balled her palms into fists as she stopped moving backward. She started right at him as she spoke, selecting words she knew would fuel his rage. “Good for you. Because I don't understand why your parents didn't give you a name that fits your personality. But, then again, it's hard to think of just one name that describes you. Rogue, scoundrel, scallywag, wastrel, degenerate, rascal... Oh, I think I got it; devil. That's the name your parents should have given you.”

“Shut the f*** up.” He said as he slapped her. “You killed your mother and now you want to kill my son.” He grabbed her hair and began pulling her with it. Jade shrieked in pain and Shawn came to help her. Sergio pushed him away and he fell to the floor. Then, he proceeded to pull her out of the house. “I will do to you what your father should have done from the very beginning. A daughter like you is a disgrace to your ancestors.”

“Let her go.” Shawn growled as he stood up from the floor, clenching his fingers into fists.

“Or what, Shawn?” Sergio asked sarcastically as he tugged at Jade's hair.

“Or I'll shoot you. Leave the girl now.” A gruff voice came from behind Sergio, followed by the c*****g of a gun. “Put your hands on your head and move away from her.” The voice came again and as Sergio raised his hands up, Shawn ran to help Jade up.

They both moved away from Sergio with Shawn staring at the guy who had just saved them, trying to remember where he had met him. Then it occurred to him. He was the guy that had taken Jade's motorbike home - Jade's bodyguard.

Jade began, folding her arms and staring right at Sergio. “There are CCTV systems all around this house and they picked up all of your actions. I'm very sure the footage from them will be enough to put you in jail for at least ten years. If my dad watches them and sees you trying to harm his precious daughter, I'm pretty sure you'll stay much longer. However, I don't want any trouble and I can tell you've had a lot to drink so I'll just let you off. So, while Shawn stays in this house, stay away from him or I'll make sure that the next time you see him, it'll be through a glass. And I promise you, this isn't an empty threat.” She finished, stoically.

Sergio shrugged. “Whatever. You can't hide him forever. I'll leave now but this isn't over yet.” He pointed to the bandage on his head as he began to leave. “You must pay for this, Shawn.”