Just Jade

Chapter 21, The Things We Do For Love

Jade~

School used to be so dreadful before, but now, now I rush to be there. I guess relationships do that to you. Well, maybe for me only. I run because I want to get the hell away from my phone, away from Felicia. My phone chimed in my pocket. Shit, how did I bring the one thing that I'm running from? I repeatedly asked myself while banging my head on the school desk.

Hey, Jade. we should go clubbing
-Felicia

You know I don't "go clubbing"
-Jade

Really but that's how we met
-Felicia

That was because of Dean
-Jade

So you'd go with Dean but not with me
-Felicia

Well, he dragged me. I didn't want to be there -Jade

Fine -Felicia

Fine, now go concentrate on school.
-Jade

I will, okay how bout we go to the movies later on
-Felicia

Can't I promised to go with Dean to the cemetery -Jade

Mrs. Williams called out names from the list to check who was present, "Jade Donovan, " Mrs. Williams called. So far, Brad, Robyn, and Dean were absent.

"Present."

"present and early, hm, " Mrs. Williams smirked, "okay, class, I have an announcement. Monica Martinez passed away during the summer holidays."

" I heard that it wasn't a hit and run, but a murder, is that true? " one of the girls sitting in front of me, Kieran Parlanchín said as she sat upright.

"yes, it's true." Mrs. Williams admitted.

"did they catch the murderer," Leo questioned curiously.

"No, but we'll have another murder right in this class if I hear another question about Monica, "Mrs. Williams heavily sighed.

I don't know how to feel about her death. She was my friend. We had good times, but I really didn't know her. Yet it affects me because both my best friends are torn apart because of her. The rest of the day dragged by, school without friends is like going to hell without the devil, which is unfair.

After the bell rang, I rushed to my car and drove to pick Dean up. I wonder if I should pick Robyn up as well. I guess they still need time and space to heal. Dean waits at the porch with a bouquet of sunflowers. He jumped right in, "sunflowers?" I asked as I had a nostalgic moment. Monica used to bring sunflowers for Dean when he was in the hospital.

"she loved sunflowers," Dean muttered.

After a couple of minutes, we reached the cemetery. The first thing that caught my attention was the tombstones and graves. Some graves had flowers on them with trees that scattered throughout the land. The wind passed through tombstones making a hissing sound. I found it peaceful in this confined area.

I stare at her tombstone. The name in bold was Monica Martinez. "Can't believe it's been a month,"  startling us in the process, Robyn said. She placed a sunflower in a pot plant next to Monica's grave.

"am I the only one who didn't know that she loved sunflowers?" I teased.

"Jade, Robyn, can I have a moment alone," Dean asked as he rubbed the top of her tombstone.

"take all the time you need," Robyn advised, dragging me to the car.

"Wait! I just got here."

"bad doggy, let's go doggy."

Robyn and I wait in the car for Dean as she figured it would be best to give him all the space he needed. "So you and Alex are together again?"

" yeah, I guess, " Robyn admits, "are you jealous?"

"Nope, I'm just concerned," I muttered. I'll never understand people going back to an ex.

"why?"

"going back to your ex is like watching a movie twice and expecting a different ending," I quote.

Robyn looked outside the window, "so hows things with Felicia?" she questioned, changing the topic.

I let out a heavy sigh, "it's alright, guess what, she wants me to go clubbing. "

Robyn snorts, " does she not know that you hate clubbing?"

"I guess not," I muttered.

"it's been a month, and still no one knows who killed Monica." Robyn thought out loud.

"Dean said it's Brad."

"Monica's ex?"

"Yeah, according to Dean, Brad came to get Monica back," I explained, "but she didn't because she loved Dean now."

" so Dean thinks it's like those movies where the guy gets obsessed and says if I can't have her, no one can and bam gone with the girl." I joked.

Robyn giggles, "it's a serious matter, and you taking it as a joke."

"but would that be possible? "

"It could be a possibility most murders are out of passion," Robyn explained.

"I'm not following..."

"my dad's a cop, so I know most crimes are out of passion, meaning people who once loved each other now kill out of jealousy and hatred, " she further explained.

"Love. Love is dangerous," I laughed.

"You laughing, Alex is somehow jealous of you. He might just kill you, " Robyn teased.

"I'm not scared," I rolled my eyes.

"I'm serious. He even said I should stay away from you."

"he did? I see you very far away from me," I laughed.

" Bros before hoes."

******

Dean stared at her grave, hoping she'd somehow talk to him, wondering if she could hear him, "A month has passed since you were taken away from me. God must have loved you that much. I mean, who wouldn't. You were so damn perfect. You cared where you shouldn't, and you had a heart of gold. I just wish I had a little more time with you. I would treat you like royalty. I hope you don't stress about me in heaven, I'm coping. Don't stress about my drinking, I've completely stopped just for you. I promised you to be a better man. I'll never forget you, " he said, hoping she heard, " I swear I'll get those bastards that did this to you. I'm even more determined to become a cop now. I swear I'll get them for what they did. Justice will be served to you, Monica."

A teardrop splashed to the ground while the other dribbles down his cheek.  He quickly wiped the tears and began walking to Jade's car. Moments later, he realise that he forgot something, "wait I forgot to say goodbye, " he turned around catching Brad by her grave with a sunflower in his hand. Dean hid behind a tree.

Brad dropped to his knees and broke down crying. He must have loved her too. As Dean said, she had a heart of gold, who wouldn't love her. A slight smile tugged his face. "You were something special, Monica."