loping along through the cosmos

9: REVERIE MEETS THEODORE LOCKHART V

JADE

Jade's bruise already faded the day Monday came, with only a speck of purple on the apple of her cheek.

Thankful that she doesn't have to apply more makeup than she usually does, Jade went out of her room with a smile.

Evelyn Burroughs, Reverie's mother, noticed the unusual morning greeting. She couldn't help but smile at the daughter of her best friend. "You had a good dream?"

Jade smiled at her. "You could say that," she replied, although the only dream she remembered she had last night was about her drinking lots of coffee without palpitating, she finished the series she wasn't done reading yet. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs," she went to the dining table to eat with them.

It was this kind of day that she's not even bothered by how uncomfortable it was for her feeling like she's interfering every family meal the Burroughs have ever since she started living with them. When she shared it with Reverie, her friend only waved a hand and said, "You've already lived with us before, it's no biggie," even when Jade herself couldn't remember any of her memories from those days.

On their way to Sinclair Academy, Reverie asked her what her dream was for her to suddenly be all smiley first thing in the morning.

"Coffee," Jade simply said, which Reverie accepted, knowing that it was Jade's favorite.

"You should start having coffee dreams then," Reverie joked.

"It's the makeup," the other girl finally admitted since it was only the family driver who could hear them. Besides, her answer would sound vague to the driver but not to Reverie.

Reverie looked at her meaningfully. "Really?" Jade nodded. "That's great! I know how much you hate applying too much makeup on your face, it must have been so frustrating."

"Yeah, it kinda was," she pouted. "You know why, right?" Reverie pretended to roll her eyes at her, knowing what would come after that question. "I'm already too pretty even with a bare face." Jade giggled.

"I'm just glad you're in a good mood today. It's a great scene to be in as we start the week."

Jade appreciated her friend's kind words but she couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Does that mean she looked dissatisfied with their whole arrangement since she stayed with them?

"I'll start smiling more often," she said with finality. "And I won't make you worry again."

"Are you promising that you won't run away now?"

She shrugged. A few seconds after, she shook her head. "Not really." Reverie sighed. "But I'll tell you where I'll go next time so you'll know where to find me."

Reverie smiled. "Thank you."

The tall blonde never asked Jade to join her when she felt like going to places. She never pressured her into sharing the information she didn't want to share but should actually be shared since she's her best friend.

That was what Jade loved about Reverie.

She felt like her privacy was being considered, and that she trusted her with every decision she makes, except for when she got the bruise.

Reverie was mad at her when she called her to pick her up in Lockhart's apartment, telling her that she was really worried when she couldn't reach her phone. Jade found it odd, that Reverie couldn't call her that time when she was in Lockhart's apartment before she woke up.

Her phone notifications stated that all missed calls and texts came at the same time when she didn't even turn her phone off that day.

Running away from the Burroughs' house was not a new scenario for them. The first time she did it, Reverie's parents scolded her. The second time, they didn't bother anymore since Killian and the other bodyguards always found a way to know her whereabouts. It was her Find my iPhone app, she thought. Jade couldn't care less though, since every time the bodyguards find her hanging around by herself, they would give her time until she approached them and get in the car willingly.