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01.
She skipped straight into Jade’s arms.
Ah. Today. A perfect day!They could go to the amusement park. Jade could buy coffee. They could share cotton candy, pink and melting between their fingers. Cat could lean in and kiss the corner of Jade’s mouth—Jade wouldn’t get mad. She knew that.Probably.
—Oh! Maybe Ice cream would be nice too?But what if it’s too sweet? She loved sweet things. Once, she and her brother had nearly choked on candy, laughing too hard to breathe. It had been awful. Still, it had been a good memory.
But would Jade like it?
They could dance together. Spin until the world blurred. Do a thousand small, ordinary things that felt enormous...If—
"—Cat?"
The bubble snapped.
It was Beck. His arm around Jade’s waist.
For a heartbeat , Cat’s thoughts emptied.
My Jade.
No,No. Cat-you can't think like that.She doesn’t belong to you.She doesn’t belong to anyone.
"Hiiiiiiii!" Cat chirped , bright as morning. She stretched a smile across her face. She’d been doing that for a long time.It came naturally now.
"Are you okay?" Beck asked.
Cat didn’t answer right away.She glanced at Jade.
Jade was frowning.
So Cat smiled wider."Of course."
02.
Jade and Beck broke up.
The whole school was stunned. Hollywood Arts’ most stable couple—together for a whole year—had ended it overnight.
But their friends weren’t surprised. Cat wasn’t. She had seen the cracks,heard the fights,Felt the distance.
"You broke up?" Cat asked, like she was just checking the weather.
"Yeah," Jade said flatly. "He brought it up."
"Okay....but why?"
"He said he couldn’t stand me anymore. Cancelled our dates,started acting like I was optional....stuff like that."
"Oh."
"He’s a jerk. I bet he’s been dying to hook up with that cheer captain—or Vega. He fucking kissed her in front of me last time.I mean,Who the hell does that?"
"...Jade."
"Seriously!I’m so fucking done. Did he even think about—"
"-Jadey."
"What!" Jade snapped.
Cat didn’t flinch.Not this time.
"Oh—Cat. I’m sorry. I forgot you don’t like me swearing. Damn it. You know I get worked up when I’m emotional. I promise next time I won’t—"
Jade’s anger faded. Something softer replaced it."Beck was a good boyfriend. I didn’t mean to—"
Cat stepped closer.
One step. Two.
She lifted her finger and hovered it near Jade’s lips.
"Shh."
Jade went still.
"It’s okay. Jade.Really."Cat said.
Cat slipped her arms around Jade’s waist and rested her head against her chest.
Thump. Thump.
Jade’s heart was loud. Cat could feel it.
Jade stiffened. Hugging wasn’t really her thing.But slowly, almost carefully, she let her hands settle on Cat’s back. Like she was testing something fragile.She stroked her red hair.
The hallway noise faded.Everything else dissolved.What she felt,What she had.
Only Cat.
She never truly told Cat no.
03.
"They’ve already broken up. So when are you going to tell her?"
"Um... I don’t know."
Cat fiddled with her fingers, gaze drifting.
"She said love and forever, Tori. She said it."
She closed her eyes.
Memories were always sweet.
04.
"Tori,Tori! Robbie wants to take me to the CowWow dance ball. How do I say no without hurting his feelings?"
"Isn’t Jade right there?" Tori sighed,pointing with her pen toward the lockers.
Cat didn’t hesitate. She ran.
Everything felt slightly unreal. Like a dream you’re afraid to blink out of.
"Jade,Jade! Robbie wants to go cowwow with me!"
Jade looked irritated. Or maybe that was Cat’s imagination filling in blanks.
"well,uh....Isn’t Tori over there?"
"She told me to ask you!"
Jade shot Tori a glare.Cat didn’t dare turn around to see Tori's reaction.She was already drifting somewhere else.
"Do you wanna go with him?" Jade asked,turning fully toward her.
I want you.I wanna dance with you.I wanna stand in the middle of the floor and have everyone see that I’m with you.Forget Robbie.
I love you.
"No! I mean—I don’t really..."Cat got a little bit panicked. She realized she’d almost let it slip.
She almost said it out.
Almost.
Jade rolled her eyes. "Go with me."
-Wait,what?
Go with me.
"Oh."Cat's brain stalled. Could she run away right now? What had she just said? Was Jade…inviting her? Was she dreaming again? Is this real?Is she awake? If she says yes, will it all disappear?
"Of course!oh no ...I mean— I’d love to."
Too quick.Too obvious.She tried not to look too eager, but she couldn’t stop her smile from creeping up. Her cheeks felt warm.
"You owe me, baby girl," Jade smirked a little."See you tomorrow."
Oh my god.This can’t be a dream.
Cat didn’t dare blink,she shook her head hard.
05.
Jade's pulse jumped against her ribs.She hadn’t expected Cat to actually say yes.
What is this?
She remembered telling Cat she loved her once,Years ago. Stupid,Reckless,It didn’t count.
Jade liked boys.Jade had liked boys.She had a boyfriend.
She remembered telling Cat how good red hair looked on her.She remembered the hair against her pillow,Cat refusing horror movies, so they insisting on The Little Mermaid instead.She remembered how Cat’s smile in the sunlight made her heart race.
Jade hated sunlight.
Screw it.That was Cat.
06.
-The past.
"God, I love Mr. Purple. He talks to me every single day,like,a lot..."Cat hugged the stuffed animal tightly like it was alive,chattering excitedly in a sing-song voice.
"Oh, Cat." Jade flopped onto the couch and stretched, complaining about her math homework before speaking casually."I don’t know what love is. Can you teach me?"
"-What?...oh okay."Cat blinked. Thinking carefully.“well...My brother used to say—before he got.....different—that love is wanting to stay near someone. You want to give them everything you have. It doesn’t matter what it is. Your heart just fills up with them. And when they love you back, it feels....safe and happy. Really happy.Like a fairy tale."
Cat smiled. Soft. Hopeful."Like a prince and princess."
Jade watched her for a long time.
"Then I love you," Jade looked serious—at least she did.she said quietly. "Even when you can be really annoying sometimes."
"Really?"Cat asked.Stars are in her eyes.
"Really. Our secret."Jade raised the corners of her lips.
"Forever?"
Jade didn’t hesitate.
"Forever."
07.
"Jade-y?"
Her name sounded different tonight.Jade felt her face heat up. Okay. Calm down.
It’s just Cat.
“Come on. Dance.” She grabbed Cat’s hand and pulled her into the center of the dance floor. Jade’s hands were cold, but Cat warmed them instantly.
Oh,God.
Jade pulled Cat closer by the waist, swaying slowly to the music. Their fingers were intertwined.
Damn.Too close.
She didn’t say it. She remembered Cat didn’t like swearing.
Yeah.Right.Just Cat.
Damn it—her face felt like it was burning all the way to her ears, the same color as Cat’s hair. If Tori saw her, she’d never hear the end of it. Ugh! Cat,Cat!get out of my head.
The music cut.Silence dropped over them.
Cat stared at Jade, like she was waiting for her to do something.
Say something! Jade screamed internally.
"Jade…?" Cat whispered. Jade could feel Cat’s breath brushed her collarbone.
"Uh…me?" Calm down, West. Calm down.
Everything spun out of control in an instant.
Cat rose onto her toes,still holding Jade’s hand, and leaned in.
Jade didn’t step back.
That was all the permission Cat needed.
Their lips met.Soft.
To hell with calm.
Cat loves me.
08.
"Oh my god, I—I—you—we… I’m sorry, Jadey—Jade, I didn’t mean to. It was an accident, I—I don’t know why it happened, I just… I know you don’t like girls, Jade. If you don’t want to be my friend anymore, I understand, but really, I love you. Jade, I love—"Cat pulled away from Jade’s grip, shaking her head as she stepped backward. She clutched her hands to her chest, not daring to look at her. She prayed Jade wouldn’t be too angry.
Jade was still lost in the kiss.
Strawberry-flavored lip gloss.
It felt good—because it was Cat. Because Cat kissed her.
Jade snapped back to reality and grabbed Cat's shoulders before she could disappear.
"Cat!"She called out.Cat went quiet immediately, staring blankly.
"Cat,It’s okay."Jade continued, looking into Cat’s innocent brown eyes.But saying you can kiss me whenever you want felt too cliché. How should she—?
"But—"Cat trying to get out.
"Don’t talk."
Jade paused. She couldn’t look into Cat’s eyes anymore. She could only hold her hand.Her voice wasn’t steady.
"Listen.If you tell anyone—one word—I’m throwing you in a trash can.But!"
A breath."....you can annoy me every day."
"Then let’s dance."Cat finally smiled. Facing a dreamlike scene, she seemed oddly calm—maybe too scared to process it, or maybe unwilling to believe it was real.That was enough.
09.
"Jade! You dance so well! If it were Robbie, I’d probably need foot surgery."
"You’ve danced with Robbie?"
"No. Only with you."Cat looked shy saying it."And I’ve seen him dance,okay? It’s tragic!"
"I’ll reserve judgment."
"Well,once my brother—"
"Shut up, Valentine."Jade pulled her closer. Hand firm at her waist.
10.
"Of course."few months after that day,Cat suddenly said that.
"What?"Jade asked , confused—though she was used to Cat’s randomness by now.
"I was thinking about when you confessed to me."
"Oh please," Jade rolled her eyes."Pretty sure you were the one who said ‘I love you’ first."
"Oh...right!"Cat pouted,reluctantly admitting it."But it’s true! I thought I was dreaming back then!I was scared that if I said ‘Oh my god yesyesyes a thousand times yes!’ I’d wake up! And the internet says if you get too excited you’ll—um—wake up from dreams.so if I said yes too loudly, I’d lose you."
"You didn’t want to wake up?"
"No.why would I?You were there."
Cat pulled Jade up from the couch,she lifted Jade’s hands into a waltz hold.
"Will you dance with me forever?"she asked.
"Even as ashes."Jade answered after a pause.“I’d still dance with you."
"Forever?"
"Nah."Jade moved first and said.“Longer than forever.”
-the end-