Blandview High Musical

78. Something To Die For

The lights were brighter than ever. It had been a couple of weeks that Jade had been working for the Rainbow Unicorn. She was making killer bank. She didn't really need daddy's money anymore.

"Everything alright?" Mariposa asked as she walked up. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just really exhausted right now." Jade said. "Last dance of the night is on you, Tondre." April said, popping her head into the room. "I'll be out there in a second." Jade said. She pinched her cheeks just a bit. "Alright, I'm going out there. Don't wait up." She said, patting her hand against Mari's shoulder. The energy just wasn't there tonight. Jade felt like she was just a ghost and no one was really seeing her for who she was. "You okay?" Mark asked as she was sitting at the bar. She was waiting for him. "Yeah, I've just got a lot on my mind." "Teenager issues, huh?" He teased. She rolled her eyes. "If only." He chuckled softly. "No...I just have been doing some lifestyle assessments lately." "And what have been the results?" He asked. "That some people don't know who I really am." She said.

He raised a brow, leaning against the bar top. "And who might that be?" He asked. "It's kinda difficult to explain." She said. "I'm sure you can manage." He said. She just shook her head, not wanting to divulge in it. "Maybe some other time." She said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She had been detached from their small friend group for these past couple of weeks. It seemed like everyone was doing their own thing. Caylie was getting better with the drinking thing and she was even coming around to going out again. Gill was focusing on school rather than on boys and Tommy...well, Tommy had been just as detached as she had. She stepped out into the night air. Her car was in the shop. She had been relegated to taking a taxi. As she was walking up the street, she wasn't paying attention and bumped into someone. "Oh shit!" She hissed softly. "Jade?" The voice said. She looked up to see Tommy standing there. "Tommy..." She said softly. "Where have you been, Princess?" He asked.

She smiled. "Just...doing my own thing, I guess." "Me too." The was an uncomfortable pause. "Do you wanna get a drink?" Tommy asked. "Yes, definitely." She answered.

The two of them ventured into the bar on the opposing side of the street. They ordered a couple of drinks and the night started to loosen up a bit. "What about you and Joe?" Jade asked. "Yeah...I'd rather not talk about that." Tommy said. "Did something happen?" Jade pressed. Tommy took another shot of whiskey. "Yes, he told his parents that he's bisexual and...they gave him an ultimatum. He could move out and be bisexual somewhere else, or he could pretend to be normal for the remainder of the year." Tommy said, sighing defeatedly. "I'm really sorry, Tommy." "Don't be. I guess it's not meant to be." There was another pause. "You look good though." Tommy said. "Dancing keeps me in shape." Jade said. "Have you heard from Gill?" Tommy asked. "Not in a while. I feel so fucking detached from everyone and I hate it." She said, softly. Tommy scooted closer to her. "I've been feeling the same way too. Ever since what happened with Joe, I've just needed to step away but its made the loneliness even worse." "I know what you mean." Jade said.

"You know, I'm surprised that Donnie would be approving of your job." Tommy said. Jade took another drink. "Yeah, right..." "Are things not cool between you guys?" Tommy asked. "He actually came to my job and caused a scene. Completely embarrassing." Jade said. "I bet they threw him out huh?" Tommy asked. "Oh yeah, him and all his jock friends." Jade said.

As the night progressed, the bottle of whiskey seemed to empty down to the bottom. "You know what I think about often?" Tommy asked. He was about half coherent as the two of them stepped out into the night air from inside the bar. Jade was pretty tolerant of drinking. "What do you think about?" She asked. "That kiss...the one we had in your kitchen...while your boyfriend was upstairs..." He said softly. "Ex-boyfriend." Jade corrected. "Well, whatever. I think about that kiss so fucking often." "I think you've had too much to drink." Jade said, laughing softly. "Where did you park?" She asked, tightening her grip around his arm. "I uh—I don't remember..." Tommy muttered. Jade sighed. "Alright, well...give me your keys." She said. "You get them." He grunted. Jade sighed with annoyance, reaching into his jacket pockets and his jean pockets, searching for the keys. She found them in his front right jean pocket. "That feels kinda good." He said. "Calm down, I'm just getting the keys." She said, jingling them and pressing the alarm button on the FOB.