Homeless

4.

On one of the many mornings where the two had woken up together, Coden got up to shower while Jade still slept on their bed. He had felt guilty for always having her sleepover on his pathetic mattress. Especially after seeing her room that one night when they had dinner with her parents. But he couldn't go to her house, not when too much happened at night for him to miss it.

When he dressed and walked back into the room, he saw her already changed and drawing something on the wall. "You know we just got those painted?" he joked. She smiled while still drawing. So he went over and leaned down to see.

"Is that us?" he asked, looking down at it. She hummed. Everyone was there. Julia, Cassie, even the ones who came and went. Of course Jade hadn't taken art in a long time, so the cartoon drawings weren't the best, but they were distinctive.

He saw herself with a nicely drawn smile, and him next to her. She had written right above, 'The picture doesn't do it justice, but Coden Azer is incredibly cute.' with a little heart.

He blushed, looking at her to see her waiting for his approval. "I love it." he rubbed her head, kissing it after.

Their project had been going great. Every week they completed a little bit more, getting them closer to being done. Jade maybe even loved the topic more than Coden did at times. He watched her as she went on a rant about the homeless problem for minutes at a time until she finally realized she was talking to herself.

She was so cute.

She spent all her time at the homeless house, loving everyone. She'd bond with Ty, help Cassie with school, and even teach Julia how to juggle.

The lightened load felt so good to him, he had finally been able to enjoy the smaller things. Like her.

One day they even decided to rent three vans and drive down to the beach. Barely anyone had gone, but they were all so excited. Cassie went bathing suit shopping with Jade and Coden, and Jade had laughed at his reaction every time she picked out a revealing one. "No. No one needs to be looking at you." he would tell her. Jade rolled her eyes.

"You're so protective, let the girl buy her first bathing suit." she would say back.

The drive was long and stressful, Coden, Jade, and even mama CJ drove.

When they got there, everyone was in the water within seconds.

They played games, made sandcastles, messed with the little crabs that came up from the mud. With Coden still in charge, he checked in on everyone every ten minutes, she could see he wasn't having fun himself. So Jade took it upon herself to lead him to the water, only to shove him in.

He gasped with the cold wave hitting him, and quickly laughed at himself. "Okay, I'm calm now," he told her, reading his mind. "But I'm getting you back."

He looked evil at her, making her gulp. "Coden, I don't wanna get wet... Coden... Coden, I'm serious... CODEN!" She shrieked as he picked her up and practically tossed her into the ocean.

It was almost impossible for everyone to stay still long enough for a group photo to be taken, but when they did take it, Jade swore that'd shed save it forever and ever.

After a few hours, she had retreated back to her towel to tan, watching all of them play a game of Frisbee and volleyball at the same time.

He'd look over every once in a while, and wave back at her.

When the sun had slightly gone down, he walked over to meet her. "HI, baby." she sat up, smiling at him.

"Don't you wanna play with us?"