The After Math
My eyes flutter open, sun light softly shining through the open curtains. Yawning, I rub my eyes and roll over, expecting to feel Kai next to me. but there's nothing but empty sheets and cold blankets. I sit up, leaning on my arm as I look around. taking in the room I have the sudden realization I'm at my parents house. I would've thought it was all just a cruel dream if it weren't for the necklace I can still feel around my neck, the charm dangling on my chest. I get up, rather slowly, my feet landing on the soft carpet. As I stand there, working up the courage to go downstairs and face my mother after running off I realize I can hear soft muffled laughter and voices. One in particular suddenly pulls me from my grogginess. I open the door, flinging myself down the stairs, nearly tripping in the process. As I round the corner, I make eye contact with my mother.
"well, look who decided to join us! Good morning Darling. There's breakfast in the kitchen." she sips her tea, and goes back to looking at her phone, "Just saying, I would've liked a heads up that your friend was coming around last night." my blood runs cold as I numbly walk into the kitchen. My dad, Rache, and Kai sit at the island. Laughing as dad and Rachel undoubtedly share some embarrassing story.
"Hey kiddo! good morning!" My dad smiles at me, Kai turns around and I can feel every fear leave my body as they wipe away a tear, smiling so widely I'm almost concerned.
"Whatcha talking about?" walking over, I grabbed a piece of toast, making myself a cup of tea.
"Your end of year dance." Rachel smiles all smugly as she stares at me.
"I didn't know you were such a girly girl Jade." Kai laughs to themselves.
"Oh ha ha. very funny. God those pictures are so embarrassing. Why would you show her those dad?" I drag my hand over my face as I groan. This is not how I thought this morning would go.
"Oh, c'mon honey. You look so cute in these! Besides, Kai here wanted to know the story."
"Oh really??" taking through gritted teeth I look at them, they're hiding their smile behind their hand. I sit next to them, grabbing their hand beneath the counter.
Dad continues talking, sharing story after story of Rachel and I growing up. My first bike ride without training wheels, My first day of school. And my first (and last) boyfriend.
"Yeah, then she had this little 'phase'-"
"we shouldn't talk about my emo phase dad." Kai's eyes go wide, gasping they cover their mouth.
"You had and emo phase?? Oh I GOTTA see this!"
"No, no you don't." I smile as I bump them with my elbow.
"Here ya go, this is 15 year old Jaden King." my dad slides his phone over, showing a picture of me with my hair dyed a blotchy black colour, and enough eye shadow on my face it looks like I'm covered in soot.
"Nooo, my dignity!" I whine as I lay my head on the cold counter. giggling profusely as I do so.
"Aww you look so cute! But that is the worst hair cut I've ever seen."
"She cut it herself, in the middle of the night." My dad laughs.
"And I helped her dye it, at the age of 12. our hands were stained for days after!" Rachel chimed in, oddly proud.
"Jaden, come here please!" my mom called from the living room.
"Uh oh, what'd you do now?" Rachel crossed her arms jokingly.
I stood up, putting my cup in the sink before walking into the living room. What did I do? Did I do something?
"Uh, yes mom?" Leaning against the doorway, trying to think over anything I could have possibly done.
"Are... Is.. Are you dating Kai?" she looks up at me. And I can feel the blood drain from my face.
"I... What?" I laugh, every nerve in my body is shaking.
"Are you and Kai dating, Jaden." she looks so calm, but I can see in her eyes shes hiding something.
"I, no. we aren't dating. We're just, friends Mom." I can see the relief wash over her.
"Oh thank goodness." she clutches her chest and breathes a sigh of relief.
"Hey Jade, I gotta get going. I need to go drop Nick and Charlie off at home. Is everything okay?" Kai walks in, looking at their phone keys in hand.
"Yeah, everything's fine."
They look at me, then at my mom.
"what's going on?"
"Nothing Kai, I was just confirming you and my daughter aren't an.. Item is all." They frown. but say nothing.
"I mean, I can't have my daughter be a lesbian, its bad for business." she chuckled and took a sip of her tea.
"How's that 'bad for business'?" Kai, please don't.
"Well, could you imagine the rumors? Or how many customers we'd lose?" My mom doesn't even look up from whatever is so fucking important on her phone.
"Ah, I see. I guess as a lesbian I should leave. don't want any rumors to spread about me ruining your daughters. right?" That got her attention. I gripped my sleeves, clenching my jaw shut.
"I'm not dating your daughter. Just a good friend. Don't worry, Mrs. King." They turn around, and just leave.
"Well, isn't she just a bundle of joy? I don't think I want you hanging around that girl anymore Jade, I don't like her attitude." lips pursed she looks up at me.
"... I don't care, I'm an adult, mom. Kai is a good friend, and I care about her and her kid." my hands are clenched, nails digging into skin.
"Well, I-"
"I don't care. I don't care what you think. hah!" tears sting my eyes, I grip my hair.
"haha, I don't care. I love them, I love them. Kai and I ARE dating. and I don't care what you have to say about that. I'm leaving. I'm going home."
"Jade, you are home. We are your family" She runs over, grabbing my wrist. "We can fix this! you'll be okay!"
"She is okay, Lindsay," My dad looks horrified. "I've put up with your behavior for long enough, Jaden and Rachel are perfectly normal whether they date girls, or boys or whatever. How can you be so cruel? How did I never notice? Jaden just told you shes found someone she loves and your telling her we can 'Fix' it?" Dad steps between us, pulling her hand off me.
"I've supported you, I've backed you up, Hell! I pushed away my own daughters because you've somehow convinced me! But I'm done. Get out of my house." Mom started screaming, the water works flowed like they'd help. Even throwing things. Dads finally done with this crazy witch. I make eye contact with Rachel, who looks frozen with fear.
"C'mon, lets go." I grab her hand and drag her outside.
"Where are we going?" she rubs her face, trying to stop the tears.
"We're going to Kai's place. You'll adore Liz, trust me."
The car ride was quiet, Rachel just stared out the window. It wasn't a long drive, 15 minutes at most. But it felt long. It was barely noon when I pulled into the gravel driveway. The world finally felt at ease when I saw that old run down house. Getting out of the car I tripped on my seat belt, my hands landing roughly on the sharp gravel. Scrambling to get up running over to the door, I knock once then open it with haste.
"Hey, this isn't your house! you can't just open the door- Do you have a key?" Rachel stands in the doorway as I set my things down.
"Yeah, I do. Kai gave it to me a few weeks ago. They said it was 'just for emergencies.' But we both knew it was just, my key to the house. I use it just about every time I come over."
I walk around, the remnants of a sleep over laid out in the living room, the dishwasher running, cold coffee in the coffee pot.
"I guess we missed them. They'll be back after dropping the boys off. I don't know if Lizzy's home, but we can just hang out for a bit." Rachel sits down on the couch as I clean up a bit.
"So, let me get this straight. You and Kai have basically been living together, you sleep in the same bed, you have basically been raising Liz together. And you were surprised that they love you?"
I laugh to myself a bit, Putting dishes in the sink to be washed later.
"Yeah, we never made it official that we were dating until last night. We were just, living together."
"What... What are you going to do when they go back to the states? Long distance?" She asked quietly, like it's a forbidden topic. But I froze, the lid to the trash can stuck open as I was throwing an empty bag of crisps away.
"I, don't actually know." I cross my arms, leaning against the counter.
"Jade, you're just setting yourself up for pain. Kai and Liz are gonna leave eventually. You know that right?" I didn't notice when she got up and stood next to me. But she held my arm, looking at me with such concern.
"I know. And, I don't care. They can leave me, leave my world and I'll wait for them to return. I love them."
"Jade? Rachel? what are Y'all doing here?" We turn around, and see Kai in the doorway, setting their things down. Lizzy behind them.
"Oh, uh. My mom and dad are. Having a talk so to speak. I think they're finally getting a divorce. I brought Rachel here to get her out of the cross fire. Sorry Love, I should've asked."
She smiles, making their way over to me. Planting a firm kiss on my cheek before taking my hand.
"Jaden, you and Rachel are always welcome here. Did you clean up?" they look around, stroking the back of my hand with their thumb. "Anyway, Y'all can stay as long as you need, I can set up the spare room for Rachel. There's plenty of blankets. I might have to take some from the fort Liz made in her room though." They spoke aimlessly, thinking aloud to themselves. Holding my hand all the while. And suddenly, I'm home. Really, truly home.