Who: Jade James and Bryan Bell. What: Jade is at a party and Bryan shows up unexpectedly. When: New Years Eve. Where: A friend of Jade's home. Rating: Pft. TBD? Can't really be high. Status: Closed. Incomplete. Thread.
2007 had been one hell of a year for Jade. She met her father for the first time since she was five years old, she officially pushed her mother over the edge, and she'd nearly witness her best friend die. It had been quite eventful and definitely something to look back on and learn from. When Bryan left for Africa, she really didn't know what she'd do. That fact was sort of a wake up call for her. She needed to learn how to function perfectly fine without him around. After all, he wouldn't always be around, would he? She wasn't doing that great of a job, but after a month she realized she wasn't trying hard enough, because she didn't want to make the hole he left any smaller. She still wanted to love him just as much.. even if that meant that she'd hurt worse. He was still her best friend, in Africa, or in America.
Jade did have to work on New Year's Eve, from ten in the morning, until about six that evening. The moment it started getting dark, people started shooting fireworks. How annoying. She'd have to hear that shit all night long. Her normal New Years Eve consisted of playing games, possible parties, drinking, probably kissing SOMEONE at midnight.. and the like, of course. Those other years, Bryan was always there and she felt better about herself. It had taken a while to bring herself to the conclusion that she was going to go to the party. In a desperate attempt to get away from her depressing apartment, she let a friend convince her that going to a friend's party would make her feel tons better. It couldn't be too horrible. After all, she wasn't sitting alone at home eating Ramen and watching the television. Oh, the Ball Drop.. the couple's getting engaged and making out with each other. Almost sickening...
She spent two hours getting ready through a slow process. It started with a shower, then a bit of trying to talk herself out of going anywhere, but by the time she had finished and it was time to get picked up, she had made the decision that she was going to drink and dance and flirt and she was going to enjoy herself and kiss 2007 goodbye.
A black mustang pulled up outside her apartment and Jade's phone started ringing. She had been picking which shoes to wear and her phone was on her dresser, she was in the closet. Jumping to answer, she grinned as she heard her friend Michael's voice telling her he was outside and coming to the door to get her. The warning was appreciated. As she hung up, she snatched her silver, wedge heels and headed for the living-room, flipping the light off as she exited her bedroom. She turned off the TV, then sat on the arm of the couch to put her boots on. Michael knocked on the door and Jade called out in response, "It's open!" As Michael wandered in, Jade put her second shoe on and stood up. "You look great." Michael said, grinning from ear to ear. Of course he was grinning so big, he'd asked Jade out many times before now, always getting a 'no'. This was his chance. Michael wasn't bad looking or annoying really, but he was simply not Bryan. He'd just caught her on a charitable day. She was giving him a chance.
Jade wore a purple dress that she'd gotten only a couple days earlier. Her hair was short since she'd gotten it cut and she wore it in soft waves, her makeup went perfectly with her outfit and was sure to make her blue eyes stand out.
"Thanks.." She said with a tiny laugh as she walked to the comfy chair and and grabbed her clutch and put her phone in it. "You look nice too.." She bit her bottom lip, walking over to the door and rocking slightly on her heels as she opened the door and locked the knob. "Shall we?" She looked up at him with a smile.
It took about ten minutes of awkward conversation before they reached the party. She started to suspect he drove so slowly on purpose and it wasn't a normal thing. He wasn't that bad, but she was starting to feel her automatic wall building itself up again. She didn't like the awkward conversation and if Bryan were there she wouldn't have to go through it.
Taking a deep breath, Jade climbed out of the car, Michael having opened the door for her. She could hear music playing from the street and only about a minute passed, once she was inside, before she had a "2008" crown on her head and a red, Dixie cup in her hand. A song she liked came on and Michael drug her to the crowd of dancing people, where she finally surrendered and danced with him. Making sure to down her drink pretty fast, she got some random person to throw the cup away and she resumed dancing and laughing. She finally started to relax and enjoy herself. Maybe the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 could both be good.