Chapter Text
JB, Jade to those closest to her, was good at lying, at masking her thoughts, and keeping up appearances. It was something she had in common with Shiloh and why she didn’t take him seriously. While his mask was to get everyone to underestimate him, hers was to protect herself. If everyone believed she was a narcissist and boy crazy, they wouldn't try to look past it, and they wouldn't see how broken she was. It started as a way to cope with being compared to her sisters. She wasn’t as smart as Ruby, or as athletic as Opal. So, she became what she could to stand out and not feel overshadowed. It was this very mask that got her sent to SSB. She’d had her mask for 5 years, and it seems enough was enough for her parents. They were tired of her getting into trouble, and getting her sisters in trouble. She still remembers the day her parents told her about their decision to send her away.
When she first learned about being sent away, she felt her practiced smile fall slightly when she heard her parents tell her and her sisters the news. Shaking off the bitterness she laughed, making a comment about going to pack her bags right away. Her father sighed and her her mother shook her head. JB made a joke about how she felt bad for her sisters having to stay in their crummy school while she got to see the world. That night, her sisters snuck into her room and held her while they all cried. They were the only ones who knew about her mask and could see through it. She promised to call them and send letters as often as she could. They promised to visit during the holidays.
“We love you JB, we’ll come running if you need anything, just give us a call!” Opal promised.
“Yeah, and maybe you’ll be able to meet people who understand you like we do.” Ruby added.
“You’re the best little sisters a girl could ask for.” JB teased, “I’m glad I have you.” The three fell asleep squished in her bed. A week later she arrived at her new school/home.
She met a lot of interesting people and got along well enough with the cliques to not worry about being pulled out of school. Though, there was one person she didn’t like being around: Lucas. He gave her weird vibes and when Everett warned her about him she knew she needed to avoid him like the plague. Otherwise, things were good, she missed her family but she was doing better here than at her old school.
JB shook the thoughts away. It was time for another meeting and she didn’t want to miss it. She loved the meetings even if the others didn’t. This was the last meeting before the winter break, so she actually managed to arrive on time. It was also a birthday meeting and she wanted to wish the birthday boy a happy birthday. Of course, Pran had other plans, but she forced herself to stay optimistic. When he finally arrived, he was smirking and enjoying Nate’s disgruntled attitude. JB couldn’t help the swell of joy she felt when Jeremy mentioned she was someone Pran wouldn’t hate talking to if he had to. It wasn’t much, but it meant she at least wasn’t an annoyance. Though on the outside she just smirked and made a comment about his abs.
After she told him happy birthday she left the room, saying goodbye to everyone. She went straight to her room and texted her sisters. Her family was planning on visiting for a few days during the winter vacation. She wanted to introduce them to her group, but she knew the guys wouldn’t be up for it.
JB pulled up the map of the area on her phone and began planning what to show her sisters. There were still a few days of classes left, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t focus on other things. She had learned about a botanical garden and an amusement park. She had a gift for Opal, but she didn’t know what to get Ruby. Her bookworm sister was much harder to shop for, luckily she knew a bookworm who could help her. Taking a breath she slipped back into her mask and texted Jeremy.
JB: Hey, I’m going shopping this weekend.
Jeremy: Why are you telling me?
JB: Cause you’re coming with me duh!
Jeremy: -_- no
JB: Yes! =D
Jeremy: Sigh
Jeremy: Fine
JB: Yay! I don’t know why you even try to fight! XD See you Sunday at the normal time!
Jeremy: Whatever
She couldn’t help laughing a bit, she really liked texting Jeremy. He might say it was a pain but he always responds when he sees a message. He often complained when they went out on ‘dates’ but she learned to see past the nihilism. If he really didn’t want to do something, he wouldn’t fold like he did now. She marked the shopping trip on her calendar and spent the rest of the night studying. She didn’t want Nate to yell at her if she failed a test.
Sunday as she finished getting ready she threw on a light jacket and made her way to town. She was a few minutes late and could see a bored Jeremy waiting by the plaza. She smiled big seeing him waiting for her.
“Hey Jeremy! Miss me?” She teased, giving him a flirtatious wink.
“You’re late.” He sighed, his eyes drifting to meet hers lazily. “Why are we here anyway? I’m not holding your bags while you go shopping.” He grumbled looking at all the shops around them.
“I needed help picking out a present!” She explained, hands on her hips. JB snickered at his confused expression as he looked at her again.
“Why would you ask me to help with that? Anyone would have been a better choice.” If his frown could get any deeper she was sure it would in this moment.
“No one else would work, the one I need is you.” She winked again and made a heart with her hands. At his unimpressed expression, she continued. “My sister is a bookworm, and I need help picking something out for her. I knew you’d be the best person to help me.”
“Fine…” He grumbled out, blushing a bit. He followed her into the bookstore and gave recommendations on different books. She had to wait a few times when a book caught his attention but she didn’t mind.
JB was happy to finally have a gift for Ruby, and she even bought a book she’d noticed Jeremy looking at the most. After she made her purchase she walked with him back to the school, she asked about his holiday plans and laughed when all he replied with was sleep. When they got to the dorms she stopped him. JB took the book she bought him out of the bag and gave it to him. Jeremy was shocked, taking it carefully.
“Thank you for helping me today, I know my presence is gift enough, but I’m in a giving mood.” She joked a bit, happy to see he did like the book. “Bye Jeremy, see you in my dreams!” JB turned to her Dorm building, laughing as Jeremy scoffed and muttered something under his breath she couldn’t hear.
She was in her room planning more to do with her sisters when she got a phone call from her mother.
“Hey sweetie, we’re so sorry but something came up and we can’t make the trip right now. I know your sisters and you had plans, but you’ll have to cancel them for now.” Her mom spoke before JB could even say hello. “We’ll send you a present in the mail, it should be there for the holidays. Hopefully, we can visit during spring break. Love you, it’s very busy at the restaurant so I have to get going now!”
“Love you too.” She mumbled after her mom hung up. JB looked at the plans she’d pinned on her corkboard. In a fit of rage, she ripped it off, sending the tacks flying as she crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it away. As the anger faded, all she felt was sorrow. “Of course you bailed… Everything is more important than me.” She cried quietly, wrapping herself into a ball. When she calmed down she wiped her eyes and decided to send her sisters their gifts in a package.
She wrapped the gifts carefully and added a card for her parents. She mailed them out that day in hopes they would arrive on time. JB walked around campus, flirting with guys and acting like the self-centered bitch she pretended to be. After dinner, she went to her dorm room and locked herself inside. She didn’t have school for two weeks, and most students went home during this time. The dining room had been pretty empty, it didn’t help her mood. She was alone. There was no reason to talk to anyone, they all had their own plans. So she stayed in her room.
On Wednesday she got a call from her sisters. They got the package and thanked her for the gifts. They apologized for not being with her during the holidays for the first time in their life. The three spent hours talking that night, crying on and off. It was the first time JB felt so homesick. They filled her in on what had happened, apparently, the restaurant had double-booked catering events so their mother had to stay and their father needed to help out. JB knew it couldn’t be helped, but that didn’t mean she was any less sad to be the only one not with her family. At some point, they all fell asleep while talking.
JB made an effort to be seen as happy around campus, not wanting anyone to worry about her or look into her too much. She went to town a few times by herself until she had an unpleasant interaction with Lucas.
JB was browsing the accessory store when she heard someone approach. She turned expecting Adrian but was shocked to see Lucas. He threw his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close to him.
“Hey beautiful, I’ve been missing you, I tried to call but it wouldn’t go through. I’m sure it’s just a technical issue that’ll be fixed soon.” She nodded, understanding the veiled comment. She tried to move away but he wouldn’t let her budge. “Now don’t be like that, it’s been so long since we last hung out, we should go on a date.”
“I already have plans today, I can’t cancel them last minute.” JB forced her words to sound apologetic. “We can plan a date another time.” She felt his arm relax and used that as a chance to slip out of his grasp.
“That sounds good, I’ll call you later. Can’t wait to hear your voice.” He gave her a wolfish smile before leaving the store. She felt her whole body relax when he was out of sight. JB waited another 20 minutes before leaving, keeping a lookout for Lucas as she went back to the school. That was the last time she left the school alone.
When the package from her family arrived she took it to her room and stared at it. Taking a breath, she opened the package and found a picture frame with a picture of her parents and her sisters. Her parents also sent a letter and her sisters had sent gifts as well. Her family looked so happy even without her. They fit so nicely into the frame with just the four of them. She opened the gifts from her sisters, a rose hair clip and a new ribbon to tie around her neck. She looked at the ribbon, then the photo and noticed her sister were both wearing matching ribbons to the one they sent her. She clutched the gifts to her chest crying happily. While her parents didn’t always keep her included, her sisters made sure she still felt like part of the family. She could wait a bit longer to see them, everything was fine.