Harmony amidst Chaos | A Jori story

iSpot Trouble

-JADE'S POV-

Coming here was a mistake.

I realize it the second I get to the park and see everybody sitting on a checkered blanket, laughing, chatting, passing snacks around like we're on some cheesy sitcom picnic.

Beck tried to talk me into coming along, but we haven't exactly been on the best terms since that night of the business dinner with my parents, constantly bickering about everything and anything. Vega had begged me to come too, and somehow, I'd caved. Don't ask me how—I still haven't figured that part out.

Vega lights up the moment she sees me, like I made her day by just showing up. I drop onto the blanket next to her, keeping my distance from Beck. If he thinks I'm here because of him, he couldn't be more wrong.

Vega launches right into some story about her and Cat and an "accidental" smoothie explosion at Nozu, her eyes bright and alive as she laughs. She's like that—sunny, bright-eyed, a total contrast to the cloud I bring everywhere.

I glance around. André is softly strumming his guitar, while Cat is trying to feed a squirrel with bits of her sandwich. Robbie is off to the side, talking to that creepy puppet of his about some new movie, and it's exactly as cringe as it sounds. When will he finally realize that he needs to get rid of his childhood toy and grow some balls?

Beck's eyes find mine, he has this pleading look on his face like he's trying to tell me something he can't say out loud. There's a flicker of something—regret, maybe? An apology? I can't tell. But whatever it is, it disappears as quickly as it came. He turns back to the group, letting out a forced laugh at something André says, shutting me out again.

I force myself to look away, hoping nobody noticed that silent exchange.

André is practically bouncing. "I'm serious, dude! THE Kenan Thompson." he repeats, vibrating with excitement. I blink, realizing I've been completely zoned out. André's guitar is lying next to him, forgotten about the melody he was just playing.

Cat's eyes widen. "I love Kenan Thompson!"

"So he bought a house your uncle was selling?" Robbie asks him.

"Yeah, the real estate agent, not the creepy one." André clarifies.

"I know a guy whose dad bought a house. They found a dead woman in one of the closets." I state. "She was blonde."

They all turn to stare at me, wide-eyed, their horrified expressions fueling the smirk tugging at my lips. Beck looks me dead in the eye and shakes his head. I feel Vega shudder next to me, pulling her knees up as if she can't shake off the mental image I just planted.

"Jade, why?" she mutters, half laughing, half disturbed.

"What?" I say, keeping my expression flat. "Just keeping it interesting."

André waves a hand, clearly trying to shake off the creepy vibe. "Anyway, it gets better—I actually met Kenan!"

Robbie's jaw drops. "No way! You mean, like... face-to-face? Actually talked to him?"

André nods, absolutely beaming. "Yeah, I went with my uncle to the house, you know, when Kenan was buying it, and I hung out with him for like two hours."

"Oh my god, shut up!" Tori practically squeals, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"So I tell him, 'Man, your house is insane. You could throw a sick party here,'" André continues, grinning as he builds up the story. "And then Kenan just looks at me and says, 'So why don't you have one?'"

"What? A party? At his house?" Cat squeaks, her face lighting up as she clasps her hands together.

"Yeah, he's not moving in 'till next month because he's filming in New York," André explains, barely containing his excitement. "So he told me I can throw a little party there next Saturday night."