It should be a no brainer by now that I am not that good at keeping secrets, hence why no one ever trusts me with them. With one exception, of course, Jade. Jade trust me with all her secrets and I would do anything for her, including protecting those secrets with my life. Here is an example if you think I am being dramatic.

In 8th grade, we got invited to Darleen’s annual birthday bash. Sounds like a regular birthday party right? Wrong, we are talking about the Grayson’s after all. Darleen had live entertainment, professional catering, and a DJ. It’s a big thing every year when her birthday rolls around everyone sucks up to Darleen even more in hopes of being invited. Last year for her sweet 16 she had famous people there. It was crazy. Of course, ever since middle school, Jade and I always get invited.

Anyways! During the 8th-grade birthday bash, Jade accidentally peed her pants. How did this happen? Well, she wanted to watch the live concert and thought she could hold it. She ended up getting pushed on the floor as everyone crowded around the stage. Then someone stepped on her, thus the added pressure made her pee herself. She was mortified, luckily no one noticed. She dragged me away from the concert and broke down in the restroom, she didn’t want anyone seeing her like that. So me being me, I had to protect Jade’s honor, even at the expense of my own. I switched pants with her. She made me swear never to tell anyone about it. I agreed.

To play off what had happened, I pretended to fall into the swimming pool on accident. Therefore my whole body was wet now, not just my pants. Everyone laughed at me, everyone but Jade who knew the truth. With her help, she led me away from onlookers and thanked me for like five minutes straight.

Another example, in case you are still not convinced that I would die for Jade. During freshmen year at Lincolns annual lock-in, which is coming up again. Lincoln’s school for the gifted has a lock-in the day every year to help bring awareness to bullying and promote friendship and new connections. As well as the community, their big staple. During the lock-in, Jade snuck off to make out with her then arm candy, who only lasted four days to be exact. When the teachers came to check and make sure all the students were accounted for, they noticed Jade was still missing. So before they could count me present too, I snuck off in search for Jade.

What did I find? That guy trying to get at second base, Jade was pushing him off and slapped him. He was just trying to get in her pants. I told them that the teachers were looking for them. He told everyone that Jade let him do her. The rumor spread so much that they brought Jade in for questioning, being as messing around during the lock-in is against school rules. Jade said that she wasn’t even with him, that she was with me. That we were together talking and we lost track of time. So then they brought me in for questioning, I confirmed it and added on that I was scared to be away from home or something like that and then busted out into tears to help the alibi.

They believed me.

The guy was then suspended and sent home for spreading fake rumors and bullying on no bully day. Of course, I know the truth that Jade was in fact with that guy and they were, in fact, getting frisky, but I would do anything for Jade.

So can I keep a secret? Sure if it’s for Jade. Other than that, not really. I am bringing this to your attention because I have been tasked with a new Jade secret. On top of the kittens of course. But this new secret is that Jade wants to see her mother without anyone noticing. She doesn’t want her aunt to know or get involved. Before I tell you what happened let me rewind and tell you how I ended up stranded at a bar.

After Jade gave me the task of keeping our new babies a secret, I thought it was going to be a piece of cake. My mom went to bed none the wiser that we had six new additions to our family. Easy peasy, right? wrong! At around 2 in the morning, those freaking demons woke up and started crying again! I gave them food and water and cleaned up the poop. Being as they still had no clue what the litter box was for.

I thought that was all I needed to do, but no! They kept on crying and crying! It went on for hours. In the end, I moved them all on the bed with me and I guess they were missing their mom or something because once they snuggled up into me they were out like a light. Too bad it was 5 in the morning by then. I only got one more hour of sleep. It was then as my alarm was going off for school, that I rethought all of my life decisions. I seriously considered throwing the cats back outside. But then Jade came into my room and one look at her face as she saw the kittens laying all over me and I knew my suffering was worth it.

She played with them while I got dressed for school. Then after we fed them and made sure they were all good to go we left for school. Jade said we would come check on them again for lunch.

At school, Darleen came up to me and began apologizing profusely. Asking for another chance. I eyed Jade and she rolled her eyes before running off towards Archer. Then I looked back at Darleen.

“Maybe I overreacted but I was just so humiliated,” I admitted.

“It’s all my fault I should have told you. I shouldn’t have sprung that on you last second.” She grabbed my hands in her own.

“Your family probably thinks I’m a joke.” I looked to the floor.

“No! actually, they were glad you came. That’s the most entertaining family lunch we’ve had in years.” She smiles.

“Really?” I look up at her.

“Really. And I made my aunt delete the picture. Honest.” She squeezed my hands.

I smiled at her. Then she pulled me into a hug.

“Please take me back. I am so sorry.” She said into my shoulder.

When she pulled back I kissed her on the cheek. She went red in the face.

“How’s about a redo?” she asked.

“I can’t today, Jade and I have to go check on something at my house.”

“So I am guessing you two made up?” She frowned.

“She says she didn’t start the rumors. We will have to talk about this when we are alone. But Jade isn’t the girl you think she is. I promise.”

She sighed and shook her head at me.

“How about tomorrow?” I ask.

“I guess I can wait for you.” She teased kissing me.

I kissed her back.

“No PDA girls.” Principal Shoppe eyed us.

I blushed and Darleen dragged me into the cafeteria.

At lunch, Jade and I drove to my house to check on the kittens, which is when she sprung the news to me.

“I wanna see her,” Jade said quietly as she pets Countess Poofy, or poof-poof as Jade said her nickname was.

“See who?” I asked.

“My mom.”

I looked up at her then and she turned her head to avoid my gaze. So I got up and sat next to her.

“Okay,” I placed my hand on her thigh.

“But I don’t want my aunt to find out, she will totally freak. So I need you to come with me to be my alibi. Can you do that?” she met my eyes.

I nodded.

“I pieced the letter together last night and read it. It had her number on it so I texted her. She said she wants to meet tonight at a diner in the city. I told her I was bringing you along with me. I didn’t know who else I could tell. You are the only one I can fully trust.” She says as her eyes water.

“You can always count on me, Jade. No matter what.” I grabbed her hand in my own.

She smiled at me.

Then I hugged her because I could tell she really needed a reassuring hug. It’s no secret that no one likes Jade’s mom. Including me. She is a drug addict who can’t seem to get her life together. When Jade was younger her mom left her alone at the house for a whole week with no food or water to go on a drug binge. The neighbor called the police and Jade got taken away by C.P.S., She was only 6.

Her mother cannot be trusted. The only time her mother tries to come around as we have learned from aunty who is very adamant about keeping Jade away from her is when she needs money for drugs. Aunty holds nothing back when she tells Jade the cold hard truth about her mother. Jade’s dad, aka auntie’s brother, is actually a very decent man. He always sends Jade Letters updating her about what he is doing and how much he wishes he could be with her. He came to visit her a couple of years ago and gave her his old military jacket. She still has it and when she is feeling lonely, she wears it. On those days I am always sure to pay Jade extra attention and cheer her up.

After school Jade and I told everyone we were going to the movies. I tasked Oli with keeping the kittens a secret while we were gone. Then Jade drove an hour through traffic to a rundown diner and we waited.

And we waited.

And we waited.

“She’s not coming.” Jade’s eyes watered.

“Jade it’s okay. I’m sure something just came up.” I rubbed her back.

“Who you waiting for sugar?” The waitress asked us.

“Maria Tate?” Jade looked at her.

“Oh yeah, she’s a reg here. Also a reg over there across the street. Might want to check there.” the waitress winked.

We looked out the shop window to the bar across the street.

“Forget it, let’s just go.” Jade wiped her tears and got up.

I quickly followed her.

“Let go of me!” a woman screamed.

We looked.

In the ally between the Bar and an apartment complex was a woman. She has the same dark tan skin as Jade. The same jet black hair and she looked to be in trouble. Two men were dragging her to a car. She wore a skimpy pair of shorts on her extremely thin legs and a ratty tank top. I just knew that was Jade’s mom, the similarities were uncanny.

“Shut up bitch, you will work off your debt or else.” The man hissed.

“That’s my mom,” Jade said.

“Jade don’t.” I had a bad feeling.

But of course, Jade being Jade ran over to help. I ran after her.

“Hey! Leave her alone!” Jade shouted.

“Jade?” Her mother looked confused.

“Oh, so you know this girl.” The man said.

“Then she’s coming too.” The second man said.

I stepped in front of Jade to protect her.

“Move it.” The man ordered me.

“Just let her go and we won’t call the cops,” I said.

They laughed at me.

“Just get out of here!” Jade’s mom cried.

“Skylar come on,” Jade whispered, I could tell she was scared now.

So I slowly backed away. Except a third guy came up from behind us and snatched Jade right up as if she weighed nothing.

She screamed.

“Skylar!”

“Jade! Let her go!” I pushed the really big buff man.

He laughed at my attempt. Then he dragged her to the car.

“Stop it! Let her go!” I cried.

I ran up to the car as they shoved both Jade and her mom inside. One of the guys pushed me so hard I fell on my butt. Then they all got in the car and zoomed off. I stared at the spot in disbelief.

Did that really just happen?

“Are you okay?” The diner lady came over to me.

“They took my friend!” I looked at her in a panic.

“I’ll call the cops, also your friend left these behind.” She handed me the car keys.

I looked at her and she looked at me. Next thing I know I am in Jade’s car zooming after them. I would like to add now that I have no clue how to drive. I could see their old beat up car way ahead of me, it wasn’t hard to spot being as it literally looked like a car from the 80’s. I tailed them and nearly wrecked a few times, but out of pure desperation, I learned to drive in five minutes flat.

I had no idea how to turn the headlights on so I was driving blind.

I followed them to a rundown neighborhood. And I parked three houses down from the house they parked at. Then I snuck out of the car and tiptoed over to them.

“Wait here, bitch.” The man snapped as he and his buddies went inside. Classic idiot move.

I ran to the car.

“Come on!” I hissed opening the door.

“Skylar?” Jade looked at me in confusion.

I didn’t even respond I just yanked her out of the car with one arm, then her mother too. Then we booked it to the car. Jade jumped in the driver's seat and we sped away before they even noticed we were gone.

We had to pull over because Jade was hysterical.

“Oh my fucking god I love you.” Jade cried holding me.

“Are you okay!? I was scared half to death.” I pulled back to look her over and make sure she was okay.

“Thanks to you.” She laughed.

“No way is anyone going to steal you away from me.” I smiled trying to lighten the mood.

“Oh Skylar, I thought I was never going to see you again.” She hugged me.

I held her tighter.

“I’d never let that happen,” I assured her.

“I’m so happy I could just kiss you.” She laughed.

So I pulled back and kissed her. It was an in the moment move, but I thought I almost lost her forever. Secret crushed be damned. She kissed me back. A real kiss. Her lips pressed firmly to mine. My insides melted.

“Don’t scare me like that again,” I said when I pulled away.

She nodded, her face red. She was breathless.

“Not to break up the love fest, but we should go before they track us down.” Her mom said.

“This is all your fault!” Jade turned on her.

“Jade! Escaping now, yelling later.” I calmed her down.

She took a deep breath and nodded. Then we got back in the car and drove to a police station where we proceeded to file a report, gave them the address, license plate, which was burned in my memory as I followed the car. A description of everything including the car, the guys, and the house. And we gave them witness information from the lady at the diner, then we left.

“What are we going to do with her?” I asked Jade, indicating to her mom.

“I’m right here you know.” Her mom complained.

“My aunt will kill me if she finds out what happened.” Jade shuddered as we drove home.

“What do we do? My mom and your aunt have been blowing up my phone, we should have been home hours ago.” I said.

“I know.”

“Where do you live?” I turned to her mom.

“Nowhere.” She shrugged.

Jade eyed her through the rearview mirror.

“I’m homeless, I’ve been staying at a woman’s shelter.” She supplied.

“So all that bullshit in your letter?” Jade asked.

“No it’s true, I’ve got a job now. I am clean. I just owe some bad people a lot of money. I have the money, but I am going to use it to move into my own place. They found out and thus tonight happened.” She explained.

“So what then, do you want us to drop you off at the shelter?”

“No I can’t go back there, they will just find me again. They know where I work, where I go. I have to run as far away from them as possible until the police catch them.”

“We might just have to bring her with us,” I said to Jade.

“Are you kidding me, my aunt will have a cow, hell she’ll have the whole fucking farm. I am so dead!”

“Jade you almost got kidnapped tonight. I think we might have to come clean on this one.” I say.

She looks at me then she sighs.

So we drove to her house where my mom was talking to her aunt asking about where we might be. We just walked in all three of us.

“Maria?” Aunty said in confusion.

“Surprise.” Jade forced a laugh.

“Where the hell have you two been?” Mom asked me.

I just ran into her arms and hugged her. She was shocked.

Jade broke down and started crying, running into her aunt's arms.

“I guess I should explain,” Maria said.

“Someone better explain,” Her uncle said looking around in disbelief.

The things Jade gets me into.