This Can't End Well: Part 1 - The Intro

Jade tries to cover up her red teary eyes with her almost empty bottle of concealer. ‘I’m such an idiot,’ she thought to herself. On an overcrowded bus she sits, feeling so alone. She was on her way home from her boyfriend’s house; now an ex boyfriend. His name was Eric and he was the most popular guy at her school, and sadly she found out he’s a jerk the hard way. There was no time to cry about that now though; she was nearing her stop.

As soon as she got into her room she picked up the phone, she absolutely had to talk to her 2 best friends. As the phone rang, her tears started to fall. Sandra answered after three rings.

"Jade, are you okay? Wait, I’m going to conference call Adam." It was 11 at night and she knew what it meant when Jade called this late.

"Hey." Adam also knew the routine.

"I feel so stupid," Jade could barely squeak out the words over the ball in her throat.

"You want us to come over?" It was a rhetorical question and both Adam and Sandra were already packing their bags.

Within a half an hour there was a tap on Jade’s window, a familiar sound. In came the bags and then the friends: her only friends.

"Good thing you’re on the first floor," Adam tried to lighten the mood.

Sandra disregarded his attempt at changing the subject.

"Jade, I know this probably isn’t something you want to hear right now, or ever, but I think you need to hear it…" Sandra started as she hugged her hurt friend, "I think it would do you well to see someone about this, you know to talk."

"That’s why I have you guys isn’t it? Besides I can’t, you know I can’t. If I did things would be just like they were a little over a year ago. I can’t go through that again." Jade’s words came in short increments between sobs. Now it was Adam’s turn to hold her. Rubbing her back, he thought of what the latest boy did with her only a few short hours before and caught himself feeling angry. ‘How could a guy just use her like that? How could they not see how special and fragile she was?’ he thought to himself in confusion.

"I’m so glad I at least have you guys to talk to."

"Speaking of talking," she gave a small giggle that did not suit the mood of the room, "what exactly happened tonight?"

"Well let’s just say I gave him what he wanted." Jade sniffed.

"Are we going to school tomorrow?" Adam asked to once again change the subject. He could tell Jade didn’t really want to talk about it.

"Well I’ve got to, I have a test and a quiz today. But it’s ok, you two sleep in and I’ll just set my phone alarm and leave really early to get to the school library before class. Kay?"

"Umm, sure…" Jade was used to her best friend putting everything first before her. She was thankful Adam was more loyal though.

"Don’t worry, I’ll stay with you." Adam quickly assured.

"Thanks," Jade smiled, for the first time in a very long while, she felt as if someone actually cared about her. Jade flopped onto her queen bed first, followed by her friends who tucked themselves in on either side of her. "Night guys," were the last words uttered.

Jade and Adam awoke with a start, it was 6 am and Sandra was gone an hour before. Jade’s sister Jennifer had just come home and their father, who was on another drunken tyrade, had caught her.

"Quick, in the closet!" Jade whispered to Adam in fear. Just in time the closet door shuts and Jade lies in bed quivering at what she knew was coming. In crashes her intoxicated father to-do with her what he will as she cries. Adam watches the horrendous acts from the closet and muffles a sob, feeling as helpless as he’s sure she does.

After the drunken father was finished violating his feeble daughter, he cursed like a sailor and left the room. When Adam was sure that he wasn’t coming back he opened the closet door, and whispered tearfully to his broken friend, "Are you okay…?" But he knew she wasn’t. He slowly climbed back into the bed they shared only a half an hour ago, although it felt like it had been hours that Adam had been in that closet. He held her in his arms and let their tears soak his shirt.

Jade felt dirty, just as she always did after her father used her, and just as she did when a boy from school did the same.

Jade slipped on her clothes, uncaring that Adam was in the room. She figured, everyone I don’t care about has seen everything, why not my best friend?

Adam studied the beautiful curves of his best friend, and imagined himself with her, touching her like those unworthy men did. But it would be different if she were with him, because he knew that he could treat her right. He knew though, that that’s not what she needed, or maybe even wanted.

"I’ll quickly go get us something to eat and then we’ll leave okay?" She said once her hair was in place.

"Sure," Adam was pulled from his dream world.

Jade tiptoed to the kitchen and got the only edible looking thing in the fridge.
"Here, leftover cheese pizza."

"Thanks." They ate silently for a moment, very aware of the events of last night. It was as if there was an elephant in the room that they were not talking about.

Once they finished, out the window they went. It was the only way to be sure they wouldn't run into her father. Even though she knew he’d be sleeping for the next while, she couldn’t take the chance.

On the bus Adam couldn’t help sneaking looks at Jade. Especially after last night, he was amazed with her in so many ways. For one thing, she was so strong; she was able to put on a façade to the world, masking all of the evils that torture her. And on a more practical level, everything about her was beautiful: long, dark brown curly hair, and bright blue eyes that had a certain sense of sadness to them.

"What?" Jade asked with a smirk, "Do I have something on my face?"

"No, your face is just fine."

"Then is my hair messy?" She seemed concerned about her appearances; it was the only thing keeping her real self from being exposed to the world.

"No, your hair is great."

"Then what is it?"

"It’s nothing,"

"Oh," for a brief moment it was silent, then Adam hugged her. He just wanted to save her from everything.

"What was that for?" He loved her smile.

"Just, nothing" He smiled too.

Another moment of peaceful silence ensued. Jade suddenly realized that four seats in front of them were Eric and three of his friends. She tensed up and fervently wished to become part of the dirty, old bus seats.

"What’s wrong?" Adam became aware of her nervousness.

"HE is on the bus," Jade whispered, almost too quietly to hear.

"You wanna get off?" He knew that being this close to them was not a good thing.

"Yeah, but that means we have to pass them."

"Here stick close to me." He wrapped his arms around her, as if to try to shield her from their torment.

"Hey Eric! Look who it is!!" One of the guys said when he noticed her.

"Hey here’s for last night!" Eric threw a loonie at her.

"Ha ha! Slut!" Another boy said as she grabbed her ass. Adam saw that and turned and punched that boy in the face, making his nose bleed. Together they ran off the bus.

Jade was in tears, Adam just held her until she stopped. Then they walked with his arm around her to their favorite breakfast diner.