Crossed Worlds

Chapter 12: The Same Page

Jade watched her parents dancing in the kitchen. They were laughing and twirling and capturing love so well that it made her heart burst. All her life, Jade knew that the kind of love she wanted was the one her parents had. Long lasting but never rusting. Always golden.

She wondered how two loving people such as them could think what they did, force their daughter into Wild One Awareness meetings and cheer on the Head Being whilst he spouted propaganda. It didn't make sense. She supposed she didn't blame them – they'd been fed these lies all their life – but it still was a confusing ache that she couldn't talk to them about her true feelings.

"I'm going to see Gran," Jade announced, and they halted their lover's waltz.

"Oh, okay sweetheart. How come?" Chris asked.

The real reason was because Luke and her other recently converted friends wanted to gain a greater understanding of why they had a change of heart. Jo must have more stories and pictures and wisdom to share, and Jade wanted to know if she'd be willing to share it with a wider audience than just her grandchild.

"I just wanted to catch up, I haven't seen her in a while," she only half lied.

Her parents nodded and told her to send their love, before she made her way out of the door and walked to Rose Close as quickly as she could.

Grandma Jo opened the door with a surprised smile on her face.

"Jade!" She beamed and pulled her into a warm hug. "I'll get the tea!"

Jade went and sat in the gorgeously decorated living room. The last time she'd been there, Jo had told her information that had sparked her rebelling mind even further. It made her excited to be sat there again.

"I heard about those injections last week," Jo shook her head as she set down the drinks. "And you being forced into those meetings, bless you. I'm so sorry Jade. You know I'm always here. I don't imagine you have anyone else to talk to about these things."

"Thanks, Gran. It's not your fault. Well, it felt pretty lonely. But some of my friends, they're changing their minds. That's what I'm actually here to talk to you about."

Grandma Jo looked extremely surprised, and there was a hint of nervousness to her smile. She nodded, beckoning her granddaughter to continue.

"Well, most of my group have started thinking like me. They don't understand why we must hate Wild Ones and view them as an enemy. They're on side, I think, but they want to know more. They want to gain further understanding on why they feel this way, and I think you could help them," Jade clasped her hands around her mug anxiously.

Jo's eyes were filled with fear. She adjusted her bandana and bit her lip, taking a sip of her tea before placing it on a multi-coloured coaster.

"Jade, I love your thinking. I can't tell you how happy it makes me that your generation are seeing through the lies and nonsensical hatred. I just...this is very sensitive. I told you that you're the only one who knows I was friends with Wild Ones," Grandma Jo's voice was shaky. Jade wanted to apologise and take it back and tell her to forget the whole thing. However, Jo continued. "I do want to help, though. Maybe if I show them the photo album I showed you and share some fond memories I have of Wild Ones, they'll hear a realistic description of their kind for the first time in their lives."

Jade lunged across the sofa and hugged her Gran, kissing her softly on the cheek. Jo looked less worried now, and was back to her usual bright, bubbly, lovely self.

"Gran, that means so much to me! I've got to talk to them about it, but I'll let you know when we will come to see you. They're all so great, I promise. They won't tell anyone, it's a risk for them, too," Jade was speaking so quickly, and Jo began to laugh.