[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/bCxyMcJ.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/hugYlBf.gif[/img] [color=e65220][b]LOCATION[/B][/color] — Her Room [color=e62020][B]INTERACTIONS[/b][/color] — People on her phone [color=e64120][B]TIME[/B][/color] — 7:00-7:30am [img]http://i.imgur.com/3mfFKLL.png[/img][/center] As the craziness of last night came to an end, Jade for the first time in a long time, actually had woke up not feeling the need to bash in her cousin, Jackson’s head in. This was due to the fact that she did not hear his infuriating alarm. This, for the next moment, would bring Jade to a feeling of bliss. Her face wore a smile as she reached over to her nightstand, and was aimlessly trying to find her phone. After a few failing attempts, knocking over some items to the ground, she got her phone. She pulled it from the charger, and brought it to her face. JAde looked at the time. It was just a little past seven in the morning. She hadn’t recalled much from last night because she was still in a state of drowsiness, but she did remember her phone had died at some point last night. It might’ve been when she got to Denny’s with Jay and Sierra. Maybe sometime after, but it was definitely within that timeframe. That being said, Jade did put it on the charger just before she went to bed, so no doubt it was fully charged now. Turning on her phone, Jade gave it a moment to get to her homescreen. In the next five seconds, suddenly her notifications blew up like a bomb. Her text message notifications, her voicemail notifications, and even her Discord notifications — all of them blew up at the same time. It wasn’t until half of a minute later did they stop, and Jade looked at her phone, not blinking. Inside her mind, she was thinking [i]what the hell is up?[/i] That thought would linger for another thirty seconds as she wiped her eyes, and got up from her bed, clad in a flannel T-shirt and black sweatpants. Not even three steps in, Jade’s phone rang, the ringtone of [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg]Smells Like Teen Spirit[/url] playing. She looked at her phone. It was her Uncle Leo. “[color=e62020]Why is he calling? Isn’t he home?[/color]” Jade shrugged. She answered it regardless of how weird she thought it was. “Hello?” Jade said. “[color=e37526]Oh thank god you answered. Why haven’t you been answering your phone or responding to our text messages?![/color]” Leo's voice sounded urgent, desperate almost. “[color=e62020]Sorry Uncle Leo, my phone died last night. I just woke up like a few minutes ago. Why? What’s going on?[/color]” “[color=e37526]It’s about Jackson..[/color]” “[color=e62020]Oh good lord. Did he get arrested? I knew it. He couldn’t keep his hands off someone. After that fight, I bet—[/color]” “[color=e37526]Jade, no. It’s..serious..[/color]” Jade raised an eyebrow. Not like he could see it, but she did it. She listened to her uncle explain to her what happened. She had to take a seat. What Leo informed her about Jackson and how he got into a severe car accident last night. Jade heard the rising emotions in her uncle’s voice as he was telling her. He was saying that they don’t know much aside that has been unconscious ever since he was found by a passing driver around two-thirty in the morning. As soon as Jade heard that, something inside her jumped. Maybe it was her heartbeat? That was..no, could it? “[color=e62020]Jesus fuck![/color]” That’s all Jade had to say to that. That’s all Jade could mutter out, because if she said any more than that, she would reveal to her uncle that she was on the verge of crying. Why? Well, it was because while Jackson was getting picked up by the ambulance, being shipped off to the hospital to save his life. And where was Jade during all of this? Well, the blonde teen was stuffing her face at Denny’s with Jay and Sierra. She was out having fun while her idiotic cousin was on the hinges of life and death. In knowing that, Jade couldn’t help but feel that if she had known about it, maybe she, at the very least, would have been able to be there for her uncle and aunt. “[color=e62020]I’m so sorry. I’ll get there as soon as I can. How’s Aunt Riley? Oh, fuck what a stupid question. She’s obviously a wreck.[/color]” “[color=e37526]At the start, she was, but she was able to finally sleep for a bit. I don’t think it has hit her yet. We haven’t heard anything from the docs yet.[/color]” “[color=e62020]Which hospital are you guys at? Is anyone else there with you?[/color]" Jade asked. She shouldn’t be hounding him with questions, but she needed to know. “[color=e37526]Girisha is here with Erin, Jason, and Kareena. They got here about thirty minutes ago. The Cross’ are here too” Leo told Jade. And, we’re at Beverly Hills General. It’s—[/color]” “[color=e62020]Yeah, I know where it is. I’ll be there as soon as possible.[/color]” “[color=e37526]Do you need me to come get you?[/color]” “[color=e62020]]No. You need to be there for Aunt Riley. I’ll arrange a ride with a friend. Text or call me if the doctors update you about anything.[/color]” Jade said. “[color=e37526]Okay, see you then, I guess.[/color]” Jade hung up. She laid back-first on her bed. This was a lot to take in. It wasn’t just that. Jade was feeling fifty shades of guilty that she was having food, enjoying the company of friends while JB was fighting for his life. Sure, there wasn’t much she could do at the time because her phone had died not long after Jackson got into that car accident, but there was also this feeling of guilt that she couldn’t shake. It was like, if she would have known, maybe she could have done more. Instead, she had to find out hours later. After a few minutes of crying her eyes out at how horrible this all made her feel, JAde knew she had to get it together for her family’s sake. She quickly would get up, and jump in the shower. But, before she did that, Jade would call a friend of her’s for a ride. “[color=e62020]Hey. Can I get a ride to Beverly Hills General? Oh, don’t worry about why. I’ll tell you about it when you get here. You remember where I live right? Okay cool. I’m going to shower, so just let yourself in. the key is under the first flower pot on the left. See ya in a bit.[/color]” Jade said, hanging up. She tossed her phone on the bed, and ventured off to the bathroom so that she could get all squeaky clean. [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/bCxyMcJ.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/Q407U5Q.gif[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/JmGstRu.gif[/img] [color=e65220][b]LOCATION[/B][/color] — Her Kitchen [color=e62020][B]INTERACTIONS[/b][/color] — Surprise guest in her kitchen [color=e64120][B]TIME[/B][/color] — 7:30-8:00am [img]http://i.imgur.com/3mfFKLL.png[/img][/center] So Jade might have minimally fibbed when she told her friend that she was going to shower. She wasn’t feeling the quickness of a shower. She wanted time to think, but added to that, the blonde teen felt that she just wanted to soak all of her troubles. Not to mention, it had been forever since she took an actual bath. Maybe not the cleanest ways to bathe, but it most certainly was an enjoyable to spend forty-five minutes. Yup, that’s right! Jade spent almost an hour in her own filth. It’s not like Jade hadn’t done that before. When she got out, she began to dry herself. As she finished, Jade wrapped a towel around her bare form. She walked into her room, and took a turn to her dresser. She wanted to wear something that would be easy to slip into. She didn’t care if it mismatched or she looked stupid. She needed to get dressed fast, so Jade grabbed the first thing that she could find. As soon as she got [url=https://celebstylestalker.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/taylor_momsen.gif?w=500&h=545]dressed[/url], Jade rushed out of her room, purse and phone in hand, and she walked into the kitchen. She came to the view of the person she called. There they were...cleaning? “[color=e62020]Oh come now, you can’t possibly be cleaning [i]right now[/i]?[/color]” Jade gave her friend a deep, annoyed sigh. “Of course. What else do you expect me to do after fixing you a proper breakfast?” he said, gesturing his slender arm to the corn beef hash on the table. In fact, two plates were made. “[color=e62020]Wesley, why did you do this? We don’t have time to eat.[/color]” “[color=2695e3]Nonsense. It would be a shame to waste this delicious food. And I bet you’re famished, aren’t you?[/color]” Wesley didn’t know it, but he was right. Jade didn’t say anything. She hated it when he was right. She hated it even more when she was wrong. “Fine. Let’s see how good of a cook you are.” Jade, though she wouldn’t allow Wesley to see it, smiled. He always had ways to get to her. Too bad they never did work out. They would have been good for one another. [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/KNYHEbL.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/39BiEQO.gif[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/tGlwfd3.gif[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/MP7e8hq.gif[/img] [color=26e3d3][b]LOCATION[/B][/color] — The Open Road [color=2695e3][B]INTERACTIONS[/b][/color] — Jade [color=2637e3][B]TIME[/B][/color] — 8:30-9:05am [url=http://bestcelebritystyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ben-barnes-style-fashion-looks_9.jpg]Wesley’s Outfit[/url] [img]http://i.imgur.com/qx11n0v.png[/img] [/center] Jade and Wesley would spend the next ten or so minutes eating in mostly-silence. Wesley respected her wish to eat in peace, and Jade enjoyed the corn beef hash too much for her to let any of it fall out of her mouth because she would say something to the cook. So, they simply ate in silence. Of course, until they had finished, and they were well out of the door. As they trailed along the concrete path of the front yard, Jade’s eyes widened. “[color=e62020]Oh yeah, I had almost forgot you were filthy rich.[/color]” Jade commented with a laugh. Wesley would not comment. It would be beneath him to gloat about his family’s wealth. They had a lot of it, of course, but it did not affect the way Wesley would speak, especially not when it came to close friends like Jade Taylor. It was odd. She was one of those people that everyone who knew Wesley were aghast that he was friends with. Some of the people that Wesley Cross linked himself with, be it kids from school or his family’s associates, they knew of Jade Taylor. Everyone knew of her. More to the point, everyone knew of her [i]father[/i]. Yes, her father, someone who had some close dealings with the shadiest people on the south side of Los Angeles, was the scum of the scum. There are more flattering words for him, but those would were beneath of a man such as Wesley to even think about. But, regardless, the point being was that everyone knew about her father, and they always gave Jade pity acceptance. Perhaps this is why Wesley befriended her. Simply because she had no one at the start, Wesley extended the olive branch towards her. She gladly accepted. There might’ve even been a time when he was romantically interested in her, but that time has passed. He respected her too much for that. As soon as Jade and Wesley got into his Jaguar, he revved the engine up, and it peeled off in a trail of smoke, quickly getting out of the neighborhood that the Drake Residence was in. It wasn’t long until they were on the freeway. Thankfully for them, they had just missed the morning rush hour as the clock was nearly at 9am. Wesley smiled at the fact. It brought a jovial smile to his face to know that he wouldn’t have to stall Jade’s arrival to wherever she needed to go. “[color=2695e3]So, where are we going? I am to understand that your cousin isn’t in the best of situations.[/color]” Wesley said. “[color=e62020]How did you..?[/color]” “[color=2695e3]You forget, Jade. My father is good friends with your Aunt Riley. I mean, you do remember right? My father was the one who arranged for Riley’s first modeling gig, and even setup her representation with Victoria’s Secret until she retired after giving birth to Jackson. Plus, my parents are at the waiting room with your aunts and uncles and cousins.[/color]” “[color=e62020]I..didn’t know that.[/color]” Jade said. She had almost forgotten what her uncle had said to her prior to getting picked up by Wesley. Her voice was low, and her eyes went to the floorboard of the car. Wesley’s hand left the stick shift. He placed it gently on her right leg. “[color=2695e3]Hey, it’s okay. Jackson will be okay.[/color]” Wesley guaranteed her. “[color=2695e3]You want to know something humorous?[/color]” “[color=e62020]What?[/color]” “[color=2695e3]I ran into him last night at the party.[/color]” “[color=e62020]You were—I mean, you did?![/color]” Jade asked, eyes lighting up suddenly. “[color=2695e3]Yes I did. He didn’t recognize me, of course. I think it was that fight with Ryan?[/color]” “[color=e62020]Rhett.[/color]” “[color=2695e3]Oh right. I apologize.[/color]” Wesley said, “[color=2695e3]anyways, he didn’t remember who I was. I think the blows to his head got to him, or maybe he was [i]that[/i] intoxicated.[/color]” “[color=e62020]And what happened?[/color]” “[color=2695e3]He wanted me to help him up. Even when I looked directly at him, he didn’t recognize me. That would be like Jackson Drake, would it not?[/color]” he asked. It was a stupid story, but Jade laughed. The fact that she was able to laugh and Wesley was able to get her to do it made her laugh even more. “[color=e62020]Thank you..[/color]” Jade’s hand rested on his for a moment until he had to shift gears. Even if he didn’t intend, Wesley might have just done something that Jade hadn’t been able to do in a long time. Smile genuinely. In light of current events, it sure did seem out of place, but he always knew how to do it. “[color=e62020]Wesley.[/color]” “[color=2695e3]Yes?[/color]” “[color=e62020]I love you.[/color]” “[color=2695e3]I know Jade. And I love you just as much.[/color]” They had both been in each other’s lives for such a short amount of time — four years, the same amount of time that Jade had been living with the Drakes. Wesley and Jade clicked instantly. It might’ve been something sexually-related, but Wesley would not stoop to the levels of the men that had taken advantage of Jade at her young age(at the time). He would not be another guy that she would pass off as someone who used her for her body. He knew she was much more than that. More to the point, he knew, deep down, there was someone special and deserving of [i]real[/i] love. It might be true that he did not feel for her in the ways that she might want, but that does not mean he isn’t without love for her. His love for Jade Taylor is as strong as it can get in a romantic way while still remaining platonic. On some level, he knows she knows he loves her more than he has loved anyone, but he just could not bring himself to hurt her. He couldn't bring himself to love her in [i]that[/i] way because he could not handle losing someone else. [color=2695e3][i]Retain control, Wesley.[/i] [/color] For a moment there, Wesley blacked out. It was only a second, but he was transported back to [i]that[/i] night. Never again. He won’t let himself get dragged into that again. He has come too far to allow himself to lose all of his progress, not with his parents relying on him to stay strong. If he showed weakness, it would not only be deadly for him, but it would show Wesley that he wasn’t fine, and it would only make his parents worry. He couldn’t have that on his conscious, not when they have plenty to worry about. In that moment of weakness, Wesley nearly missed the exit. He was thankful for the GPS stating where to turn. He took it, and after a few more turns, they had arrived at Beverly Hills General Hospital. It was gigantic, of course. It spanned several yards of just staff alone, but the building - well, that was something spectacular, now wasn’t it? Over fifty floors of modern architectural achievement. The innovations made with the constructions alone would be enough to spark conversations of praise. When you add the breakthroughs they have made through studies into cancer research and how many lives have been saved on a daily basis, well that would be a whole different conversation of a long list of praises. Most of this due to the brilliant leadership of Dr. Veronica Donovan. She is the best of the best. And word is that she’s the doctor leading Jackson’s case. “[color=2695e3]Okay, you can get off here. I’ll find a parking spot, and join you shortly.[/color]” Wesley said, pulling up to the front entrance. It wasn’t allowed, but Wesley wasn’t going to be long. Jade, without speaking, gave Wesley a substantial hug with both arms wrapped around his frame. It surprised him, but he returned her embrace; however, she did whisper something to him. “[color=2695e3]I know.[/color]” he said, confirming whatever it was she had whispered into his ear. “[color=2695e3]Now, go be with your family.[/color]” He said, giving Jade a kiss. It wasn’t long nor was it short. When Jade left his car, Wesley made sure he saw her enter the hospital before he would drive to find a parking spot so that he could join her...