HOME | DD

Description
  Jade's home was huge. And fancy. I felt way to underdressed and felt like I was being rude for dressing the way I had. Then I realized that this was Jade's house and I didn't care what her parents thought of me. Because if they thought I was a bad kid, I might never be allowed back there. That was the only hope I had.
  "Oh by the way," Jade began, "my parents aren't here."
  My hopes were dashed. "What?"
  "I said my parents aren't here. They went on some kind of trip for work. They left me with a nanny, but she's out right now."
  "Shouldn't you NOT have people over when your parents aren't home?"
  Jade gave me a funny look. "Are you a rebel or aren't you?"
  "Don't turn this around on me! You're the one who will get grounded!"
  "They won't ground me. I have friends over all the time." Jade paused on her way up the staircase. "Well, this is different from the other times. You're my 'special' friend after all." She turned and looked at me. "Now come on, my room is upstairs. Hurry or you'll be punished."
  I made my way quickly up the stairs, not wanting to find out what she'd do if I didn't. We walked up the stairs to a long hallway, lined with fake candles on the walls and paintings. It seemed that the paintings were of old family members. And their eyes seemed to follow me with every step. It freaked me the hell out.
  "My room is the last door on the left wall. You just wait in there and I'll be back with some drinks and snacks." Jade left me alone, running back down the stairs.
  I followed her directions and saw a door with a sign that read 'Jade's Room'. I was pretty sure it was her room. I opened the door and was almost blinded by all the bright neon colors. All the pink. I had never been more scared in my life.
  I decided to take a look around the bright room, since I would be waiting and she never said I couldn't. I started at her desk. It was white, had pretty flower patterns on it, and had framed photos of her and her cheerleader friends. I refrained from gaging myself. On the walls surrounding me hung posters of pop stars. I could only describe the sites I had seen at that point as a nightmare.
  Jade's bed was rather large, at least a queen size. Her sheets were pink with multicolored neon spots. And a set of fuzzy pillows added to the dizzy mess. Along with some stuffed animals. All I could think was 'I'm in hell'.
  Her dresser had a large mirror surrounded by lights. Her large make-up collection was scattered about. It seemed like she was in a hurry to get ready for something, but I didn't bother to figure out why she hurried. I was too busy making fun of all the pictures that were stuck on the mirror. Pictures of her and her friends, and a cut out of her squad in the news paper. She seemed to have a great life.
  'So why the fucking hell does she want me in it?' I thought.
  Jade at last came into the room with a tray of snacks. "I hope you like iced tea!"
  "Actually, I love iced tea," I replied, grabbing one of the glasses.
  "Me too! But I don't like it really bitter or with a lot of lemon," Jade said as she took a sip from her own glass.
  I nodded. "Same here. I'd rather have my tea sweet."
  Jade looked at me. "Well someone seems to be in a better mood."
  "Don't count on it to last," I muttered, taking a sip of my tea. "Not bad."
  "Thanks," Jade replied. "I just mixed the packet downstairs."
  I rolled my eyes. "So now what?"
  Jade handed me a cookie and got up off her bed. "You eat that while I pick out something for you to put on."
  "I was hoping you'd forget all about that." I took a bite out of the cookie and wanted to spit it out. "Jade? Where did these cookies come from?"
  "I made them myself. Are they any good? I didn't try any of them because I made them for you. It's my first time baking too."
  I didn't know if I should tell her the truth on how her cookie tasted. It was way to salty and just a little burnt. And when I took my first bite, I thought she was trying to kill me. But it seemed that she is just a bad cook. A really bad one.
  In the end I decided to lie. "They aren't all that bad. You'll get better." I took another bite out pity and tried my best to act like the cookie was yummy.
  "Wow, thanks," Jade stuttered, her face holding a light pink tone. "You can take all of them home. I'll wrap them up for you later."
  "Thanks," I said, trying to wash down the last two bites with iced tea. I ended up giving myself a small case of brain freeze. Jade was too busy putting an outfit together to notice.
  "Here you go!" Jade dropped a small pile of shirts and skirts next to me on the bed. "You can go try them on in the bathroom over there."
  "I can't believe you have a bathroom in your bedroom."
  "It's not uncommon."
  I smirked. "My parents don't even have a bathroom in their room."
  "So maybe I'm a tad bit spoiled."
  I rolled my eyes and picked up the crap she was making me put on. "Anything you'd like me to put on first?"
  Jade shook her head. "You decide."
  I walked into her restroom and locked the door behind me. I began to put on the first outfit in horror. A pink skirt, a light pink tank top, and a pink and lime green stripe head band.As soon as I was done, I walked out of the restroom. Then I was blinded by a flash.
  "What the hell?!" I yelled as I protected my eyes.
  "I'm taking pictures."
  "Yeah, no shit! Got any damn reason as to why?!"
  Jade smirked. "Part of it is because I want to remember this forever. Another is some extra black mail. Just in case one picture wasn't enough."
  "You have got to be fucking kidding me."
  "You know what, something about you is really bothering me."
  "Really? What the hell am I doing that is bothering you?"
  "You swear way too much. Try to cut it out, okay?"
  I shook my head. "You can put me in to ugly ass outfits, but you can never mute me. Never."
  "That sounds like a line from a really bad song."
  "Thank you. Now I have an idea for a new one!"
  "You write songs?"
  "Yeah, and I'm in a band too."
  "Really?"
  "No, but I will be once our drummer gets back from out of state." I walked back into the bathroom and began to change again.
  "What's your band called?" She yelled from the other side of the door.
  "We were thinking 'Night Shift'. I think it's really lame, but everyone else likes it. Hell, we haven't even worked on a single song yet. Even though I've written about seven." I yelled to her as I put on jeans and a purple frilly top. "You sure do have some girly shirts."
  "Thank you," Jade giggled.
  I made sure my eyes were closed when I walked out that time. All I could hear was the click of her camera.
  "Well, how do I look? Like a prep?" I asked, putting my hand on my hip and acting like I was a model. This cracked Jade up. Causing me to laugh along with her.
  "Purple is your color," Jade stuttered, still to busy laughing. "But your make-up doesn't match that outfit at all. You look like a raccoon."
  "When do I not look like a raccoon?"
  "True."
  As I changed back into the clothes I came in, I realized how relaxed I had become. I wasn't stressed out. I wasn't even angry at Jade. I was happy. And I couldn't figure out why.
  I walked out of her bathroom with her preppy clothes in my arms. "And here is your crap." I dropped them on her lap while laughing.
  Jade laughed too. "Not your style?"
  "Not even a little bit. But the jeans are pretty cool." I sat next to her. "I'm guessing those pictures are going to hide somewhere?"
  Jade nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I would hang them up or something, but my friends don't really like you. You know?"
  I nodded. "I understand. You wouldn't like those skinny ass bitches all pissed at you."
  "Now don't be mad! I'm sure Amy doesn't like me either, right?"
  "She might not like you, but she'd give you a chance if you'd just be nice while talking to her. Amy's a really nice person. She's like the sister I've always wanted but never got. If you showed her this side of you, she'd like you."
  "What side of me?"
  I poked her arm. "The nice side of you. I never thought I'd say this, but you're pretty cool. But only when you're not calling me a freak or just plain being a bitch." I smiled. "You should be like this all the time." I joke punched her arm.
  Jade brushed her arm off. "So, you don't think I'm all that bad?"
  I shrugged. "Maybe. I mean, it's going to take some time to earn my trust, but if you stay like this it'll be easy."
  She smiled. "I'll work on it."
  "So, since you have this camera, why not get a picture of the two of us? You might as well."
  Jade nodded. "That's fine. You want a copy of it?"
  "Oh hell yeah."
  We went cheek to cheek and then Jade took the picture. For a moment the both of us went blind. When we were finally able to see the picture I realized just how dumb I looked. I didn't say anything though. Jade seemed to really like the picture.
  "Thanks for all of this Polly."
  I gave her a funny look. "What the hell did I do?"
  "I was really lonely, and you came over and made my day so much better."
  "You made me come over you idiot."
  Jade chuckled. "Well, you still came over!"
  I shook my head. "Whatever. Let's just do something else." I got off her bed and made my way to my cell phone.
  Jade paused for a moment then said, "When you and your band finish up a song, can I hear it?"
  I nodded. "Yeah."
  Jade smiled. "Alright."
  Just then Jade's phone rang.
  "Put it on speaker!" I begged.
  Jade nodded and answered her phone. "Hello?"
  "Jade! What's up girl?" It was one of Jade's cheerleading friends. I fake puked and Jade glared at me.
  "Hey Sandy. Not much is going on right now. Just chilling in my room alone." I had almost forgot that Jade wasn't going to talk about me to anyone.
  "That's what I was hoping! Guess who's right outside your house? Me!"
  All the color drained from Jade's face. "Oh, that's great! I'll go let you in!"
  "Okay, meet you at your door!" Sandy hung up.
  "Why didn't she warn me sooner?!" Jade freaked out.
  I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's okay Jade. I'll just hide in your closet. I mean, it is large enough."
  She nodded. "Alright. But if you make a single sound, Polly. There will be a punishment."
  "Chill. Your friend's waiting. And when you get back, I'll be hidden. And my phone will be off. Done and done." I started to go into the closet.
  "Polly." I turned to look at her and got a kiss on my cheek. "If I say anything mean about you, I don't mean it."
  I nodded. "Just go before your friend thinks something's going on."
  Jade ran down the stairs. I could hear muffled talking. I might have been able to understand some of what was being said if my heart wasn't beating so loud. The voices got louder and clearer as they made their way up the stairs. I muted my phone and did my best to relax.
  "... Greg and Kelly did that. I mean, can you believe that they did that? It's so nasty! Kelly is such a slut!" Sandy's voice was loud and irritating.
  "That really is sick. Is that all you came over to talk about?" I could see them from the slats in Jade's closet door. Jade was cleaning up some of the mess we made.
  Sandy shook her head. "No, I wanted to gossip with you! You have got to tell be what happened in the bathroom yesterday at lunch."
  Jade froze in place. "At lunch? Nothing."
  "Oh come on, I saw how happy you looked when you left. It looked like you had done something really good for yourself or said something really mean to Polly. And Polly looked mad as hell. I know something went down."
  Jade looked at the closet door, her eyes empty. "I called her a slut. And a loser freak. And said if she ever looked my way like that again, I'd beat her ass."
  Sandy started laughing. "Oh man! That's awesome!" Sandy picked up one of Jade's cookies. "Way to put a freak like her in line. I mean, it's people like her that make our school look bad."
  Jade nodded. "She really is a freak."
  Sandy nodded with her. "We'll put all those freaks into their place. They should all just stay home." Sandy took a bite out of the cookie then spat it out. I smirked.
  "What's wrong?" Jade asked.
  "These cookies taste like shit! Who the hell made these?!"
  "I did." Jade replied shyly. It made me feel kinda bad about telling her her cookies tasted fine. But Sandy's face was worth the guilt.
  "Never cook again." Sandy ordered. "And why the hell do you have two drinks out when there's only one of you?"
  My heart skipped a beat. I worried that she would find me.
  "Oh that," Jade chuckled. "I forgot I made one. You know what a ditz I am!"
  Sandy nodded. "You're an idiot."
  I wanted to punch Sandy in the face. 'No wonder Jade wants me around!' I thought. 'All her friends must be like this Sandy bitch! They all must suck! Jade doesn't need to take all this bull shit! She needs so much better!'
  It took all my will power not to jump out of hiding and punch Sandy in the face.
  It was at that very moment that I decided I'd would do my best to be nice to Jade. To be her friend. Because she sure as hell needed one.
  Jade opened her bedroom door back up. "Hey, Sandy. Do you mind going home? I'm kinda not really in the mood for people right now."
  Sandy looked at Jade in shock. "Are you sick?"
  Jade coughed. "Just a little."
  Sandy literally jumped off Jade's bed. "Then I'll be on my way. I wouldn't want my boyfriend, a member of the football team, to get sick."
  Jade nodded.
  Sandy looked Jade in the eyes. "Why don't you go out with Zack? He's the quarterback, and he likes you."
  Jade shook her head. "I don't like him. He's not my type."
  Sandy shrugged. "To each their own. Later."
  Jade looked out her window and watched as Sandy left. When the car was gone, Jade opened the closet door.
  "I'm sorry about all of that!" Jade yelled, pulling me into a hug.
  I patted her back. "It's okay. Though I really want to punch that chick in the fucking face."
  "Why?"
  "Because she pisses me off. No other reason." I checked my phone and saw it was late. "I should have my mom pick me up. It's really getting late."
  Jade nodded. "I guess you're right."

  My mom was soon in front of the house, waiting.
  "Well, I'm going now."
  Jade kissed my cheek again. "You don't have to take the cookies. Just go."
  I nodded. "If that's what you want. Later."
  When I got into the car, Jade ran after me. "Wait! You forgot something!"
  "Is that your friend?" My mom asked.
  I nodded.
  "She's pretty."
  I opened my window and Jade handed me a picture. "It's that one of us," she explained.
  I smiled. "Thanks."
  "Well, good-bye! And thanks for letting her come over!" She said that last part to my mom.
  "Bye!" I yelled out the window.
  My mom pulled away and was on the road home.
  "She seems nice. You should hang out with her more."
  I sighed. "I'm pretty sure I will."

Description
  Jade's home was huge. And fancy. I felt way to underdressed and felt like I was being rude for dressing the way I had. Then I realized that this was Jade's house and I didn't care what her parents thought of me. Because if they thought I was a bad kid, I might never be allowed back there. That was the only hope I had.
  "Oh by the way," Jade began, "my parents aren't here."
  My hopes were dashed. "What?"
  "I said my parents aren't here. They went on some kind of trip for work. They left me with a nanny, but she's out right now."
  "Shouldn't you NOT have people over when your parents aren't home?"
  Jade gave me a funny look. "Are you a rebel or aren't you?"
  "Don't turn this around on me! You're the one who will get grounded!"
  "They won't ground me. I have friends over all the time." Jade paused on her way up the staircase. "Well, this is different from the other times. You're my 'special' friend after all." She turned and looked at me. "Now come on, my room is upstairs. Hurry or you'll be punished."
  I made my way quickly up the stairs, not wanting to find out what she'd do if I didn't. We walked up the stairs to a long hallway, lined with fake candles on the walls and paintings. It seemed that the paintings were of old family members. And their eyes seemed to follow me with every step. It freaked me the hell out.
  "My room is the last door on the left wall. You just wait in there and I'll be back with some drinks and snacks." Jade left me alone, running back down the stairs.
  I followed her directions and saw a door with a sign that read 'Jade's Room'. I was pretty sure it was her room. I opened the door and was almost blinded by all the bright neon colors. All the pink. I had never been more scared in my life.
  I decided to take a look around the bright room, since I would be waiting and she never said I couldn't. I started at her desk. It was white, had pretty flower patterns on it, and had framed photos of her and her cheerleader friends. I refrained from gaging myself. On the walls surrounding me hung posters of pop stars. I could only describe the sites I had seen at that point as a nightmare.
  Jade's bed was rather large, at least a queen size. Her sheets were pink with multicolored neon spots. And a set of fuzzy pillows added to the dizzy mess. Along with some stuffed animals. All I could think was 'I'm in hell'.
  Her dresser had a large mirror surrounded by lights. Her large make-up collection was scattered about. It seemed like she was in a hurry to get ready for something, but I didn't bother to figure out why she hurried. I was too busy making fun of all the pictures that were stuck on the mirror. Pictures of her and her friends, and a cut out of her squad in the news paper. She seemed to have a great life.
  'So why the fucking hell does she want me in it?' I thought.
  Jade at last came into the room with a tray of snacks. "I hope you like iced tea!"
  "Actually, I love iced tea," I replied, grabbing one of the glasses.
  "Me too! But I don't like it really bitter or with a lot of lemon," Jade said as she took a sip from her own glass.
  I nodded. "Same here. I'd rather have my tea sweet."
  Jade looked at me. "Well someone seems to be in a better mood."
  "Don't count on it to last," I muttered, taking a sip of my tea. "Not bad."
  "Thanks," Jade replied. "I just mixed the packet downstairs."
  I rolled my eyes. "So now what?"
  Jade handed me a cookie and got up off her bed. "You eat that while I pick out something for you to put on."
  "I was hoping you'd forget all about that." I took a bite out of the cookie and wanted to spit it out. "Jade? Where did these cookies come from?"
  "I made them myself. Are they any good? I didn't try any of them because I made them for you. It's my first time baking too."
  I didn't know if I should tell her the truth on how her cookie tasted. It was way to salty and just a little burnt. And when I took my first bite, I thought she was trying to kill me. But it seemed that she is just a bad cook. A really bad one.
  In the end I decided to lie. "They aren't all that bad. You'll get better." I took another bite out pity and tried my best to act like the cookie was yummy.
  "Wow, thanks," Jade stuttered, her face holding a light pink tone. "You can take all of them home. I'll wrap them up for you later."
  "Thanks," I said, trying to wash down the last two bites with iced tea. I ended up giving myself a small case of brain freeze. Jade was too busy putting an outfit together to notice.
  "Here you go!" Jade dropped a small pile of shirts and skirts next to me on the bed. "You can go try them on in the bathroom over there."
  "I can't believe you have a bathroom in your bedroom."
  "It's not uncommon."
  I smirked. "My parents don't even have a bathroom in their room."
  "So maybe I'm a tad bit spoiled."
  I rolled my eyes and picked up the crap she was making me put on. "Anything you'd like me to put on first?"
  Jade shook her head. "You decide."
  I walked into her restroom and locked the door behind me. I began to put on the first outfit in horror. A pink skirt, a light pink tank top, and a pink and lime green stripe head band.As soon as I was done, I walked out of the restroom. Then I was blinded by a flash.
  "What the hell?!" I yelled as I protected my eyes.
  "I'm taking pictures."
  "Yeah, no shit! Got any damn reason as to why?!"
  Jade smirked. "Part of it is because I want to remember this forever. Another is some extra black mail. Just in case one picture wasn't enough."
  "You have got to be fucking kidding me."
  "You know what, something about you is really bothering me."
  "Really? What the hell am I doing that is bothering you?"
  "You swear way too much. Try to cut it out, okay?"
  I shook my head. "You can put me in to ugly ass outfits, but you can never mute me. Never."
  "That sounds like a line from a really bad song."
  "Thank you. Now I have an idea for a new one!"
  "You write songs?"
  "Yeah, and I'm in a band too."
  "Really?"
  "No, but I will be once our drummer gets back from out of state." I walked back into the bathroom and began to change again.
  "What's your band called?" She yelled from the other side of the door.
  "We were thinking 'Night Shift'. I think it's really lame, but everyone else likes it. Hell, we haven't even worked on a single song yet. Even though I've written about seven." I yelled to her as I put on jeans and a purple frilly top. "You sure do have some girly shirts."
  "Thank you," Jade giggled.
  I made sure my eyes were closed when I walked out that time. All I could hear was the click of her camera.
  "Well, how do I look? Like a prep?" I asked, putting my hand on my hip and acting like I was a model. This cracked Jade up. Causing me to laugh along with her.
  "Purple is your color," Jade stuttered, still to busy laughing. "But your make-up doesn't match that outfit at all. You look like a raccoon."
  "When do I not look like a raccoon?"
  "True."
  As I changed back into the clothes I came in, I realized how relaxed I had become. I wasn't stressed out. I wasn't even angry at Jade. I was happy. And I couldn't figure out why.
  I walked out of her bathroom with her preppy clothes in my arms. "And here is your crap." I dropped them on her lap while laughing.
  Jade laughed too. "Not your style?"
  "Not even a little bit. But the jeans are pretty cool." I sat next to her. "I'm guessing those pictures are going to hide somewhere?"
  Jade nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I would hang them up or something, but my friends don't really like you. You know?"
  I nodded. "I understand. You wouldn't like those skinny ass bitches all pissed at you."
  "Now don't be mad! I'm sure Amy doesn't like me either, right?"
  "She might not like you, but she'd give you a chance if you'd just be nice while talking to her. Amy's a really nice person. She's like the sister I've always wanted but never got. If you showed her this side of you, she'd like you."
  "What side of me?"
  I poked her arm. "The nice side of you. I never thought I'd say this, but you're pretty cool. But only when you're not calling me a freak or just plain being a bitch." I smiled. "You should be like this all the time." I joke punched her arm.
  Jade brushed her arm off. "So, you don't think I'm all that bad?"
  I shrugged. "Maybe. I mean, it's going to take some time to earn my trust, but if you stay like this it'll be easy."
  She smiled. "I'll work on it."
  "So, since you have this camera, why not get a picture of the two of us? You might as well."
  Jade nodded. "That's fine. You want a copy of it?"
  "Oh hell yeah."
  We went cheek to cheek and then Jade took the picture. For a moment the both of us went blind. When we were finally able to see the picture I realized just how dumb I looked. I didn't say anything though. Jade seemed to really like the picture.
  "Thanks for all of this Polly."
  I gave her a funny look. "What the hell did I do?"
  "I was really lonely, and you came over and made my day so much better."
  "You made me come over you idiot."
  Jade chuckled. "Well, you still came over!"
  I shook my head. "Whatever. Let's just do something else." I got off her bed and made my way to my cell phone.
  Jade paused for a moment then said, "When you and your band finish up a song, can I hear it?"
  I nodded. "Yeah."
  Jade smiled. "Alright."
  Just then Jade's phone rang.
  "Put it on speaker!" I begged.
  Jade nodded and answered her phone. "Hello?"
  "Jade! What's up girl?" It was one of Jade's cheerleading friends. I fake puked and Jade glared at me.
  "Hey Sandy. Not much is going on right now. Just chilling in my room alone." I had almost forgot that Jade wasn't going to talk about me to anyone.
  "That's what I was hoping! Guess who's right outside your house? Me!"
  All the color drained from Jade's face. "Oh, that's great! I'll go let you in!"
  "Okay, meet you at your door!" Sandy hung up.
  "Why didn't she warn me sooner?!" Jade freaked out.
  I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's okay Jade. I'll just hide in your closet. I mean, it is large enough."
  She nodded. "Alright. But if you make a single sound, Polly. There will be a punishment."
  "Chill. Your friend's waiting. And when you get back, I'll be hidden. And my phone will be off. Done and done." I started to go into the closet.
  "Polly." I turned to look at her and got a kiss on my cheek. "If I say anything mean about you, I don't mean it."
  I nodded. "Just go before your friend thinks something's going on."
  Jade ran down the stairs. I could hear muffled talking. I might have been able to understand some of what was being said if my heart wasn't beating so loud. The voices got louder and clearer as they made their way up the stairs. I muted my phone and did my best to relax.
  "... Greg and Kelly did that. I mean, can you believe that they did that? It's so nasty! Kelly is such a slut!" Sandy's voice was loud and irritating.
  "That really is sick. Is that all you came over to talk about?" I could see them from the slats in Jade's closet door. Jade was cleaning up some of the mess we made.
  Sandy shook her head. "No, I wanted to gossip with you! You have got to tell be what happened in the bathroom yesterday at lunch."
  Jade froze in place. "At lunch? Nothing."
  "Oh come on, I saw how happy you looked when you left. It looked like you had done something really good for yourself or said something really mean to Polly. And Polly looked mad as hell. I know something went down."
  Jade looked at the closet door, her eyes empty. "I called her a slut. And a loser freak. And said if she ever looked my way like that again, I'd beat her ass."
  Sandy started laughing. "Oh man! That's awesome!" Sandy picked up one of Jade's cookies. "Way to put a freak like her in line. I mean, it's people like her that make our school look bad."
  Jade nodded. "She really is a freak."
  Sandy nodded with her. "We'll put all those freaks into their place. They should all just stay home." Sandy took a bite out of the cookie then spat it out. I smirked.
  "What's wrong?" Jade asked.
  "These cookies taste like shit! Who the hell made these?!"
  "I did." Jade replied shyly. It made me feel kinda bad about telling her her cookies tasted fine. But Sandy's face was worth the guilt.
  "Never cook again." Sandy ordered. "And why the hell do you have two drinks out when there's only one of you?"
  My heart skipped a beat. I worried that she would find me.
  "Oh that," Jade chuckled. "I forgot I made one. You know what a ditz I am!"
  Sandy nodded. "You're an idiot."
  I wanted to punch Sandy in the face. 'No wonder Jade wants me around!' I thought. 'All her friends must be like this Sandy bitch! They all must suck! Jade doesn't need to take all this bull shit! She needs so much better!'
  It took all my will power not to jump out of hiding and punch Sandy in the face.
  It was at that very moment that I decided I'd would do my best to be nice to Jade. To be her friend. Because she sure as hell needed one.
  Jade opened her bedroom door back up. "Hey, Sandy. Do you mind going home? I'm kinda not really in the mood for people right now."
  Sandy looked at Jade in shock. "Are you sick?"
  Jade coughed. "Just a little."
  Sandy literally jumped off Jade's bed. "Then I'll be on my way. I wouldn't want my boyfriend, a member of the football team, to get sick."
  Jade nodded.
  Sandy looked Jade in the eyes. "Why don't you go out with Zack? He's the quarterback, and he likes you."
  Jade shook her head. "I don't like him. He's not my type."
  Sandy shrugged. "To each their own. Later."
  Jade looked out her window and watched as Sandy left. When the car was gone, Jade opened the closet door.
  "I'm sorry about all of that!" Jade yelled, pulling me into a hug.
  I patted her back. "It's okay. Though I really want to punch that chick in the fucking face."
  "Why?"
  "Because she pisses me off. No other reason." I checked my phone and saw it was late. "I should have my mom pick me up. It's really getting late."
  Jade nodded. "I guess you're right."

  My mom was soon in front of the house, waiting.
  "Well, I'm going now."
  Jade kissed my cheek again. "You don't have to take the cookies. Just go."
  I nodded. "If that's what you want. Later."
  When I got into the car, Jade ran after me. "Wait! You forgot something!"
  "Is that your friend?" My mom asked.
  I nodded.
  "She's pretty."
  I opened my window and Jade handed me a picture. "It's that one of us," she explained.
  I smiled. "Thanks."
  "Well, good-bye! And thanks for letting her come over!" She said that last part to my mom.
  "Bye!" I yelled out the window.
  My mom pulled away and was on the road home.
  "She seems nice. You should hang out with her more."
  I sighed. "I'm pretty sure I will."