Do you know how I can tell when Jade is mad at me? She gives me the silent treatment. In the few years I've known her, this has only happened a handful of times, I am talking I could count on my fingers. This is mostly because Jade can't shut up to save her life, but also because we hardly ever have serious fights that warrant the silent treatment.
I was so confused the first time it happened. We had only been friends for a few months. I hadn't really known what to expect when one upsets Jade Tate. I didn't get it at first. I was just thought she ran out of things to say. Silly naïve young Skylar, Jade never runs out of things to say.
It was field day, middle school. The day had been going smooth just me and Jade having fun then it was time for the relay, my time to shine. We had to pick a partner to run it with. Only when both runners are across the line do you win. The prize, getting to be the first to go on the waterslide. I wanted to win. I was a kid, who wouldn't want to be first down the water slide?
Jade isn't exactly a fast runner. With that in mind, I picked Darleen as my partner. We hardly knew each other back then. The only thing I knew about her was that she was a fast runner.
Darleen was too nice to say no to me. We had to hold hands during the race. It was a little awkward because I didn't know Darleen then, I actually think that was my first real interaction with Darleen. Jade got put with some girl named Angelica, she moved away before high school. Angelica had breathing problems.
We left Jade in the dust.
Thus, the first time I got the silent treatment.
Jade would still go everywhere with me and hang out with me; she just wouldn't say anything. It took me two whole days to figure out there was a problem. One whole day after that to figure out what the problem was. So how did I fix it? I gave her a hug and then we went to a wave pool together, with my mom and sister. To which I told her it was way better than that lame water slide. After that, she resumed being my friend like nothing ever happened.
I wonder if that's when Jade started hating Darleen...
Why am I bringing this up? Well, this morning on our way to school Jade didn't say a single peep to me. The silent treatment. Which could only mean one thing. She's mad at me. To be honest, I don't even know what the issue is.
"Are you mad at me?" I ask as we pull into the school lot.
She avoids my gaze and turns the car off, getting out without a word.
"Jade," I pout walking over to her as I got out of the car.
"Hey, Jade!" Archer calls her over.
Her face lights up in a smile and she runs over to him, jumping into his arms. Once again, completely ignoring me. I feel like the green hands of jealousy have wrapped around my heart and gave it a tight squeeze.
What did I do? I know it has to be about our argument from the day before. What else would it be about? Ugh! Stupid Jade and the stupid silent treatment. I hate the silent treatment. There is nothing worse than a silent Jade. Especially when she is only silent towards me.
"Well if it isn't the most adorable girl in the whole school," Darleen comes up behind me and wraps her arms around me.
"Hey," I force a smile.
"What's wrong?"
I let my eyes drift back over to Jade who is laughing at something Archer said. Archer is a nice guy, and technically he's never done anything for me to hate him. But I do, I hate him. just looking at him makes me angry. What does he have that I don't?
Everything probably.
He's funny.
He's charming.
He's soooo romantic.
He's outgoing.
He's everything Jade wants.
He's not me.
"Forget her, you have me now," Darleen kisses me on the neck.
"She's mad at me," I find myself saying.
"Why?"
"I don't know, every time she's mad at me I get the silent treatment. She makes me figure it out on my own. Jade's way of torturing me."
"She'll get over herself. Don't let her bring you down, come on. Let's go get something to eat before class."
Darleen grabs my hand and interlocks our fingers, pulling me along with her as we walk into school.
At the table, Archer and Jade join us along with Demarcus and Winifred. Archer gets up to go and get Jade something to eat. Jade is sitting across from me. Avoiding my gaze.
"I'm sorry," I find myself saying to her, even though I have no clue what I am sorry for.
"For what?" Jade finally turns to me.
"For whatever you are mad about."
She narrows her eyes and turns away again. Wrong answer. She wanted me to own up to something. But what did I do!? Just tell me!
"Don't apologize. I am sure you did nothing wrong," Darleen assures me.
Jade glares at her.
"What's going on?" Demarcus asks.
"Jade's pride is hurt, what else is new?" Darleen rolls her eyes.
I've never seen this part of Darleen before, she is always so nice around me, but that was mean.
"Don't say that. I'm sure whatever it is, it's my fault," I defend Jade.
"No, it's not. Don't let her manipulate you like that. She just uses you to feel better about herself," Darleen says.
"You are one to talk," Jade shot back at Darleen.
"Yikes," Wini commented.
"Get over yourself, Jade." Darleen narrows her eyes.
"You first."
"Alright, guys come on. Let's make nice," Demarcus butted in.
They both stare defiantly at each other. Why do they hate each other so much? I really have no clue. Even before I got with Darleen the two never talked to each other. You would never catch Jade Tate and Darleen Grayson alone in the same room. If they aren't around our common friends, they aren't around each other. Jade is always making snarky comments about Darleen, about how rich she is, how stuck up, how entitled. It goes on. Making comments about Darleen is like one of her favorite things to do. I guess I should have seen this coming.
But I don't get it. Darleen is a nice person. She's never acts stuck up. Maybe she can be a little entitled, but not overbearingly. I just don't understand what her problem with Darleen is.
"I got food," Archer came back with two trays of food, one for him and one for Jade.
"Awkward," Wini comments as we all sit in silence.
"What did I miss?" Archer asks in confusion.
"Come on Skylar, we don't have to sit here and take her crap," Darleen got up and pulled me up with her.
I look to Jade who glares at me as if I have betrayed her. I stare at her in concern and confusion, but she quickly looks away from my pleading eyes. A pang of pain dings around inside of me, like one of those little balls inside an arcade machine.
I sigh and let Darleen drag me away.
"What's going on, why do you two hate each other so much?" I ask Darleen as she drags me under the stairs.
"I know why I dislike her, but I have no clue what her deal is with me. I don't like her because she is two-faced. She is so manipulative. Having to watch her string you along drives me crazy. She always talks about me behind my back but pretends she's so innocent. She only does it to make herself look better. She can't stand that someone might outshine her. Honestly, how can you even like someone like that?" She crosses her arms.
"She's not like that around me."
"Well no duh, she is using you. She thinks you make her look better. Haven't you noticed that Jade surrounds herself with the stars of the school? And when they don't want anything to do with her, she bad talks them. I hate people like her."
"You're wrong, Jade's not like that," I defend her.
She sighs in defeat and shakes her head at me.
"I'll talk to her, get to the bottom of this. I am sure it's stupid. Jade's just being Jade. You shouldn't talk bad about her; it only makes you the thing you hate," I say.
She sighs and pulls me closer to her.
"I love how loyal you are. If only your loyalties laid with me."
Before I could think on that comment her lips meet my own and she softly kisses me. I pull away, but she quickly pulls me in again.
To Be Continued...
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