thirteen → jade west

Chapter 23

The early morning light streamed through the luxurious curtains of the mansion, bathing Jade's room in a soft, golden glow. In the midst of this serene setting, Jade was anything but calm. She darted around her room, trying to pull herself together for one of the most important days of her life. Her outfit, carefully chosen despite its simplicity—a top paired with jeans—was laid out on the bed, ready to be worn.

As she slipped into her clothes, Ellen's voice echoed from the hallway, piercing the bubble of concentration Jade had enveloped herself in. "Jade, dear, are you sure about wearing that today?" Ellen's tone was laced with a mix of disbelief and disapproval, her obsession with appearances rearing its head even in the most mundane moments.

Jade glanced at herself in the mirror, assessing her outfit choice once more. "Mom, I can't talk. I'm meeting Alyssa. We have... a thing," Jade replied, her words rushed and tinged with impatience. She didn't have the time or the desire to delve into a lengthy explanation or defense of her attire.

Ellen stepped into the threshold, her eyes scanning Jade's outfit critically. "You're going out in jeans? For a Vaughan gathering? At least consider something more... appropriate," she insisted, her voice a mix of command and concern.

Jade felt the frustration bubbling inside her. Couldn't her mother see she was in a hurry? Didn't she understand that today wasn't about social pretenses or fitting into some outdated mold of propriety?

"Mom, really, it's fine. I'm already late," Jade pressed on, her tone firm, hoping to end the conversation as she grabbed her bag and made for the door.

Ellen's frown deepened, her displeasure evident. "Jade, you know how important it is to present yourself well, especially in front of the Vaughans," she called after her daughter, the insistence in her voice bordering on desperation.

Jade paused at the door, turning to face her mother with a look of exasperation. "It's just Alyssa, Mom. We're not meeting the queen. I have to go," she said, pushing past the invisible barriers of expectation and tradition that her mother so diligently upheld.

As she hurried out of the mansion, Jade couldn't help but think about the absurdity of it all. Her mother, obsessed with appearances to the point of ignoring her own daughter's needs and ambitions. Today was supposed to be about her future, about proving herself at the Hollywood Arts auditions, not about catering to the superficial whims of high society.

With a determined stride, Jade made her way to the subway, the weight of her dreams and the anxiety of the day pressing heavily on her shoulders. Today was about her, about taking the first real step towards the life she wanted—a life defined by her talent, not by her wardrobe or her family's social standing.

*

The streets of Los Angeles were alive with the usual morning chaos, the city waking up to another day of hustle and bustle. Jade navigated the crowded sidewalks with an urgency that was hard to miss. Her eyes darted to her watch every few seconds, a silent testament to the ticking clock in her head.

"Come on, come on," she muttered under her breath, her frustration growing with each obstacle that slowed her down. The pedestrians around her, engrossed in their own routines, occasionally shot her annoyed glances, dismissing her as just another impatient teenager causing unnecessary disturbance.

As the subway station came into view, Jade pushed herself harder, her bag swinging wildly at her side. The digital clock above the entrance seemed to mock her with its steady countdown, and for a moment, she feared she wouldn't make it.

Descending the stairs two at a time, Jade arrived at the platform just as the subway train rumbled into the station. The doors opened, releasing a flood of people, and she squeezed herself through the exiting crowd, barely slipping inside before the doors closed with a decisive beep.