Two weeks had passed and going-ons at the Clarkeson residence had only grown stranger and quieter. Flora hardly ever came out of her room, and when she did she was uncomfortably silent, staring at her full dinner plate while pulling it apart with her fork. Aunt Joy seemed to do anything and everything to divert from the fact that her daughter was suffering, mostly talking about the upcoming renovations she and Uncle Cosmo would make to the yard in spring.
Nights weren't any better. Jade would lay awake, unable to fall asleep in the stark, bleak silence. It was chilling, especially when it wasn't silent and she she could just make out the violent whispers of Aunt Joy's arguing with Flora in the next room. She was too scared to get up and try to eavesdrop, terrified at what she might hear. The late-night arguments would keep her awake till all hours, even after they stopped because the angry whispers echoed in her head. It was like the pendulum in a grandfather clock going back and forth without end.
The ground was covered in snow, not as thick as it was in Newcastle, but it was still cold nonetheless. Things had quickly gone back to normal, with her classes starting up again, her band practice continuing on, and Sasha gabbing on to her about her new change in career direction.
"Film director?" Jade mused with surprise, "You realize that takes a lot... patience and organization, right?"
"Oh, I know," Sasha replied. The girls walked side-by-side through the aisles of the school library, trying to find resources for their upcoming history essay, "But my dad was showing me 'ow to use the fancy video camera 'e got fer Christmas and I guess took a liking to it,"
"Well, that's good I guess," Jade said, "Better than your original career plan which would have been...?"
"Was weighing it out between forensic scientist--"
"Except you hate the sight of blood,"
"And pro-race car driver,"
"But you can't drive,"
"Yet," Sasha poked her shoulder with a bony finger, "Don' think I'd qualify anyways; apparentleh those drivers start training when they're three-years-old,"
Jade stopped in front of the civil-war section, raising her fist to her lips as she let out a heavy yawn, "Tha' 'eens' 'ineical,"
Sasha quirked a curious eyebrow at her, "Yeh okay, Jade?" she asked her.
"Yeah," Jade shook her head as her yawn subsided, "I said that seems unethical. Letting a three-year-old drive a car," she grabbed a book with a sky-blue cover and peered inside the jacket.
"Well, they train 'em on little go-go cars, babe," Sasha said, "Tha's not wha' I meant, though. Yeh're tired,"
Jade scoffed, "It's winter, it's cold, it's dark outside, and we're forced to wear skirts. Tell me something I don't know," she replied.
"Most lipsticks contain fish scales," Sasha suddenly said. Jade's face screwed into disgust as she snapped the book shut.
"What?"
"Yeh said to --"
"No, I know. I was being sarcastic," Jade slammed the book back into the shelf, "And I'll never use lipstick again,"
Sasha unbothered, leaned against the opposing book case and folded her arms over her chest, "Fish scales actually have a multitude of health uses," she said, "Back to the point; why yeh so tired all the time? Everything okay with the Addams Family?" she was referring to her Aunt and Uncle.
Jade shrugged as she ran her fingers over the cold, smooth book spines, "Oh, sure," she replied.
"Everything okay wif yehr folks at 'ome?" Sasha asked.
YOU ARE READING
Suck It And See | A. Turner
Fanfiction(Arctic Monkeys AU) Her parents were separated, her mum was sick, her brother was in juvie, and her dad had just shacked up with his new girlfriend. Jade had to get away from it all before she found herself circling the drain. So, when she was give...
