There are three things in this world I will never ever do. Not even if you tried to force me by dangling me off a cliff. One, mention my dad to my sister. Two, take my mom's things without permission. And lastly, three, betray or sell out Jade.
Not even at gunpoint, would I do any of these things. It's about respect. I respect my family enough to mind their boundaries and rules. As for Jade, well, it's Jade. She is my ride or die. I'd never sell her out. Ever. That's just best friend code 101.
"Is Jade cheating on me?" Archer asked.
Several things ran through my mind. One, why ask me and not Jade? Two, why would he even suspect something like that? Three, why lock me in a closet and be all creepy about it? He could have easily been casual. Theater people are so dramatic sometimes.
"What?" I said after my coughing fit.
"Don't lie to me Skylar, I know you know. She tells you everything."
"Wait, why would you even think Jade's cheating on you? She's not by the way, at least not to my knowledge."
"She's not?"
"Archer, what is going on?"
"Okay, hear me out. Before you go run and tell Jade."
I raise an eyebrow and cross my arms.
The tables have turned, he may have caught me off guard but I would do anything for Jade. Including protecting her from toxic jerk boyfriends. In fact, I would like nothing more than to break these two up. Nothing would bring me greater joy.
"She's been being all weird around me! Ever since we kissed. I tried to kiss her again but she just wasn't into it. This morning for example, when I tried to kiss her, she pushed me away and walked off."
She did?
Why?
"Why don't you just talk to her?" I ask.
"I think she's cheating on me," he sighed and sat down on what looked like a mushroom from Alice in Wonderland.
"Jade's not like that." I quickly defend her.
He frowned and stared at the ground.
"Okay, so I'm going to tell you this but you can't tell her I told you," I say.
He looks up in hope.
"Jade is crazy about you. Even before you two got together. She's had a huge crush on you forever. She's always going on and on about you. Does that sound like a girl who would cheat on you; when she's basically been madly in love with you for a year?"
"Really?" he said in surprise.
"Yes! It's so annoying. Archer is so perfect. Archer is so romantic. Archer this and Archer that. Archer, Archer, Archer! All she does is talk and think about you so why would she even cheat!? Why would you even think she's cheating?"
"Okay, you say all that but that's not how she acts around me," he stood up to defend himself. "Every time we are together she's airheaded and thinking about something or someone else. Every time I try and make a move on her she moves away or rejects it, or just ignores it. That's embarrassing! People are starting to look at me funny."
Archer is an actor type, he's always looking for the approval of others. It's why he's the class clown, he likes to make people laugh. He's a natural people pleaser. Always has been. So he cares a lot about what people think of him and how people look at him. He takes it personally.
"You like here right?" I ask.
"Well yeah, I want to try and make this work. She's hot. I'm kind of surprised she was ever even into me. I always thought Jade was sort of out of my league."
"Really?"
"What?"
"But didn't you have a crush on Darleen? Isn't she like way out of your league?"
He blushes. "I don't have a crush on her! That's different! Besides, she's gay so whatever."
"Look you want my advice? Just talk to her. Why is it so hard for you two to talk to each other? Ugh." I run a hand through my hair, which was still wet from my shower.
He sighs in defeat.
"She's not cheating on you," I say.
"Swear?" he asks.
"Seriously? Yes! Now open the door."
He opens the door and finally lets me out.
What a nightmare.
Little does he know it was my lips that Jade was kissing the other night. My skin her hands were touching. My ears that got to hear her breathy moans. If only it wasn't just for practice.
"Hey," Darleen walks over to me.
"Hey," I smile.
"Need a ride? I'm finished early."
"Sure. Let me just let Jade know."
"K," she pecks me on my cheek.
I walk over to Jade who has headphones in and has lost herself to painting the set pieces.
I tap her on the shoulder.
She turns and takes out an earbud.
"I'm going home with Darleen," I say.
"Okay." She quickly turns away.
I frown.
I turn to walk away and see Archer nervously walking over to Jade. I give him a reassuring thumbs-up before jogging over to Darleen.
"What was that about?" she asks.
"Trust me, you don't want to know. Those two are a nightmare." I sigh.
She laughs.
We drive home in silence and I can't help but feel guilty about what I did with Jade. Should I tell Darleen? Would she understand? Would she be mad? She and Jade don't exactly get along. I guess I should just keep it to myself, Jade would probably die of embarrassment if I told anyone.
"You okay?" she asks as we pull into my house.
"Yeah," I lie.
"You sure?"
"I'm fine," I get out of the car.
She follows me to my door.
"My mom's home so you can't come in," I say.
"I know," she pulls me closer to her.
"By this time next week, I'll be officially ungrounded," I say.
"Good, because I want you at my birthday party."
"Is your family going to be there?"
"Of course."
"No," I whine.
She laughs.
"I'll try not to make a fool out of myself again," I say.
"Even if you do, I don't mind." She pecks me on the nose.
I smile.
She examines my face, her thumb caressing my cheek as she slides her hand up my neck.
"What's up?" I ask.
"Nothing, just thinking about how pretty you are." She says.
That makes me blush.
"You're pretty too," I say.
She smiles at me before leaning down and kissing me softly, passionately. It takes my breath away. I can't help but close my eyes and get lost in the kiss. I just want this moment, this feeling to last forever.
Is it possible that I'm actually falling for Darleen?
Am I finally ready to move on?
She pulls back softly, her lips linger on mine.
"I love you." She says.
My eyes go wide and my face turns the darkest shade of red yet.
"I mean!" she quickly pulls back, her own face red. "I mean I like you. A lot, but not like a lot, a lot, just like a regular, normal amount." She backs away from me.
"Oh," I say.
"No! Not like, I don't like you at all. But like, I like you, like you, but not like the other word. The L-word. That would be weird. Hehe, I just like you a normal amount for a girlfriend. The amount of like a girlfriend should have for her girlfriend." She stumbles back and nearly falls down, but catches herself on her car.
"I uh... like you too," I say.
"Great, we like each other. Hehe, anyway see you tomorrow!" she quickly gets in her car.
I watch her facepalm serval times before she turns the car on and peels out of my driveway.
Cute.
I smile after her.