Unfinished Chords

Jade woke up to the soft hum of her alarm, blinking into the gray morning light filtering through the curtains. The familiar warmth of her small apartment enveloped her, but her mind was elsewhere. Her body felt heavy, weighed down not by sleep but by a million thoughts that wouldn't leave her alone.

She pushed the covers off and swung her legs over the side of the bed, running a hand through her tangled hair. The apartment felt quiet. It was early, and the world outside was still at rest. But inside her head, things were anything but still.

Why did she have to come back?

Jade cursed under her breath, scrubbing a hand over her face. She had tried to shake her from her mind last night. After the performance, after Kit had left the stage with that triumphant smile on her face, Jade had stayed at the counter, focused on the mugs and the tasks that kept her grounded.

But there was something about Kit’s presence—something familiar and jarring. The way she’d looked in that leather jacket, her voice raw and vulnerable, the way her fingers gripped the guitar like they had so many years ago. It hurt how good she sounded. How good she looked.

Her thoughts drifted back to their childhood, to the sleepover they’d had in Kit’s room one summer night. They had stayed up late, whispering in the dark, dreaming about their band. "Kit and the Jade Stones," they had joked, giggling under the glow of the fairy lights strung across the walls. Back then, everything had felt so simple, like the music would never stop, like they would never stop being best friends.

"We’ll always be together," Kit had said, and Jade had believed it, even though it felt naive now.

Jade squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head.

Kit wasn’t a child anymore, and neither was she. Things had changed. She had changed. And as much as she hated to admit it, the music that used to be a part of her soul was now just a distant echo.

Jade glanced over at her guitar, collecting dust in the corner of her room. She had played it less and less over the years, pushing it aside with every small betrayal of herself, every tiny piece of the dream she’d let die. She couldn't let Kit back in. Not after everything.

With a deep breath, Jade stood up and forced herself to move, determined to get on with her day. She had to.

But as she made her way to the bathroom, her phone buzzed from the nightstand.

Elora: So, what’s the deal with you and Kit?

Jade sighed, clicking on the message. Elora had been texting her non-stop since last night, practically begging for any morsel of information.

Elora:u guys used to be close right?”

Elora: did u ever date?”

Jade groaned and turned the phone face down. Elora was her friend, but sometimes, her curiosity was too much to handle.

No. Jade didn’t need to deal with that right now. She needed to focus. The shop. Work. Anything but Kit.

But as her eyes lingered on the guitar again, she felt a familiar pang—a bitter, confusing ache.

Shaking it off, she grabbed her coat, pulled on her boots, and headed out the door. The coffee shop awaited.

——

Kit hated her internship.

It was everything her mom wanted for her—business, professionalism, spreadsheets—but none of it felt like her. The hours dragged, her mind was constantly drifting, and all she could think about was the night before: the thrill of being on stage, the weight of the guitar in her hands, the rush of the crowd.

She missed it.

She missed the music.

"Hello?" A voice cut through her daydreaming.

Kit blinked and looked up, irritated. Her coworker, Graydon, was standing in front of her with his usual uneasy expression. He was decent-looking, medium height, with a mop of brown hair that always seemed like it was a little too perfect. A little too polished.

She forced a smile. “Yeah?”

"Sorry— I just need you to hand me that paper work…" He said, pointing at the pieces of paper that Kit had been folding into a paper plane.

She handed the crumbled paper to him, slightly embarrassed.

"Um…thanks." he said, fidgeting with the pen in his hand.

Kit finally sighed, loud enough for him to hear. “How did I end up here?” she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

“I’m guessing you didn’t choose to be here?” He asked, attempting light humour.

Kit rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah, well, my mom’s big on ‘character-building experiences.’ Too bad I’m not feeling particularly ‘built’ right now."

Graydon, who’d been trying not to look over too often, finally looked up from his computer. “Oh, uh… yeah, it’s definitely not exciting work. But, I guess it’s something. ” His voice trailed off awkwardly, as if trying to convince both of them.

Kit shot him a look. "If you think it’s not exciting then why are you here?"

After a beat, he looked back up, almost sheepishly. “My parents kind of… shoved me into this, too. They thought I should get, like, ‘real-world experience,’ or whatever. Plus, I think they hoped I’d… uh, make connections. You know, network.”

Kit raised an eyebrow. “Network? What, like, business connections?”

"Yeah, exactly. You know, so I can be the right kind of man in the future. Whatever that means." Graydon chuckled, but it was more self-deprecating than anything else. He glanced at her, then quickly added, “Uh, not that you’d know what I mean. I’m sure your mom has other plans for you. Though she sounds kind of… intense.”

Kit frowned, crossing her arms. “You have no idea.” Her voice softened a little, more out of frustration than anything else. “She’s making me do this because she thinks it’ll help me figure out what I want to do with my life.”

Graydon nodded sympathetically, sensing her irritation. "Yeah, that sounds… pretty rough." He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, clearly wanting to be helpful but unsure how to approach it. “I mean, I guess it’s not all bad, right? At least you’re here with someone you know?”

Kit raised her eyebrows, suddenly looking at him with mild surprise. “Wait—what are you saying? That you’re… someone I know?”

Graydon flushed slightly. “Well, I mean, not know know, but our parents know each other, right? So… we know each other a little?” He shrugged, his voice trailing off in that awkward way he always did when he wasn’t quite sure how to finish a sentence.

"Wait… now that you mention it, I do remember you."

Kit began to wonder what kind of evil forces worked against her to be reuniting with not one but two of the ghosts of her past. Memories of awkward small talk and forced play dates slowly flooded back. "And wait—don't you have an older brother?"

"He died." Graydon said bluntly, to the point where even Kit started to feel uncomfortable.

"But… it’s cool now, I came here a couple years ago for a new environment, or whatever. And being here’s better than being stuck at home with my mom trying to set me up with some... 'nice girl.'”

Kit blinked, surprised. "What, like… a date?"

"Yeah, something like that. You know, ‘Graydon, meet this lovely young lady. Maybe she’s just what you need.’” He mimicked his mother’s voice, making a face. “Every year, same drill.”

Kit’s lips quirked into a half-smile. "That sounds… miserable." And strangely familiar.

"Oh, it was…" he said with a shrug, "Especially when they tried to set me up with you."

Kit's brow furrowed. "What?"

He let out a nervous laugh, his hands going a little clammy. “I mean, no offense. Not that you weren’t lovely when we were kids! I just… uh—"

Kit raised an eyebrow, feeling a little smug at how flustered he was. “None taken. It’s just—how come I had no idea about this and who’s terrible idea was that?"

"Yeah, your mom and mine had this whole thing planned—me, you, a candlelit dinner, the works.” 

Kit stared at him, her mind working to process the odd, uncomfortable image of her parents scheming in the background of her life. After a beat, she shrugged. "Well, I’m definitely not interested."

Graydon laughed nervously, but then stopped himself, realising how awkward that had sounded. "Don’t worry, me neither."

She gave him a tight smile, trying to mask her frustration. He seemed nice enough, but Kit was feeling irritable. Everything felt like it was pressing down on her.

Graydon seemed to notice the look on Kit’s face, "Um hey…at least you’re not doing this alone. Could be worse, right?"

Kit gave him a side glance, then muttered, “Yeah, I could be stuck with someone who thinks a candlelit dinner’s a good idea."

"Now that would be really miserable." Graydon grinned, seeming finally at ease. “Look, you seem a little… out of it and I know what it’s like to be the new kid around here. Why don’t you come out with me and some friends tonight? ”

Kit hesitated, her fingers tapping the edge of the desk absentmindedly. She didn’t know Graydon well enough to say yes, but he was from a connected family and she had nothing better to do. Plus, maybe meeting some new people would help her get her mind off things.

“Sure,” she said finally, giving him a shrug. “Why not?”

Graydon’s face lit up slightly, “Awesome. We’ll be at this club downtown,” 

“Do you usually invite strangers you just met?” Kit asked.

"My girlfriend likes to say strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet," He smiled endearingly, "and I know how it feels to be the new kid around…uh not to say that you need my help—"

"Thanks," Kit smiled and this time it was genuine.

There was a long pause, and for the first time in what felt like hours, they both actually relaxed a little. Kit picked up another paper, but this time, it wasn’t as suffocating. She glanced at Graydon, a bit more at ease now.

“So,” she said, breaking the silence. “I’m gay.”

Graydon blinked, completely unprepared for the confession, but his expression immediately softened. “Oh, well… I mean, that’s cool! Really, that’s great. You’re just, you know… being you. That’s—uh, good.”

Kit smirked at his awkwardness, realising for the first time that it wasn’t so bad being stuck in this weird office with someone who was equally out of his element.

——

Kit had arrived at the club feeling like a stranger in her own skin. The place was packed, the air thick with the sound of bass-heavy music and the energy of people letting loose. She hadn’t been to a club like this in years—certainly not since her high school days, and that had felt like another lifetime.

It was almost too loud, too crowded. But the neon lights and the pulsing beat were... intoxicating. She scanned the room for Graydon, who had promised to introduce her to his friends.

It wasn’t long before she spotted him waving her over near the bar. As she walked through the crowd, trying to ignore the wave of discomfort in her stomach, her eyes scanned the faces around her.

And then—there—her heart skipped a beat.

Jade was sitting at a table near the back, laughing with Elora and a couple of other people. Her hair was loose, and she looked so different, so... alive. Not the shy, awkward girl Kit had left behind, but someone who had found herself, built something for herself without Kit by her side. Jade didn’t even look up when Kit entered the space, lost in conversation with Elora.

But Kit couldn’t stop staring.

She hadn’t seen Jade like this before. She was laughing, her head thrown back, and her movements were confident. Jade was wearing a waistcoat and simple black trousers that clung to her body in all the right ways, and her hair was loose, falling over her shoulders in waves. She looked... untouchable. She looked happy.

Kit’s heart twisted, and she forced herself to move forward, pushing past the crowd to reach the bar where Graydon had waved her over. He had already grabbed drinks for both of them, and she noticed he was smiling at her in a way that felt a little too friendly for her liking.

As she approached, she glanced back over her shoulder at Jade, who was still in the same spot, oblivious to her presence. But before she could process everything, Graydon’s voice snapped her back into the moment.

“Hey, you made it!” Graydon grinned at her, handing her a drink. “I hope you’re ready to have some fun!”

Kit plastered on a smile. “I guess so.”

She took the drink, but her gaze never fully left Jade’s table. Jade was laughing at something Elora had said. They seemed... close. Too close. Kit felt a pang of jealousy. It wasn’t just the way Jade was looking at Elora—it was the way Jade was leaning on her, her smile lighting up the whole room. Kit’s fingers tightened around her drink as she followed behind Graydon.

Then Elora spotted her.

“Oh my god, Kit!” Elora squealed, practically launching herself out of her seat to wrap Kit in an enthusiastic hug. "Graydon, why didn’t you mention that your new work friend was Kit?"

"So do you just know everyone?" Graydon laughed.

"Kit’s the awesome new musician I was telling you about—what a coincidence!" 

Kit stiffened, not quite sure how to react. Elora’s excitement was almost overwhelming, and it irritated Kit in a way she wasn’t prepared for. “Uh, hey, Elora,” she said, trying to mask the discomfort that was creeping in. This is the last thing I need right now.

“You look amazing!” Elora beamed, holding her at arm’s length as she scanned her outfit. “You gotta come join us!" And Elora was oddly strong, as she managed to pull Kit all the way over to the table her and Jade and been sitting at.

"You have got to be kidding me." Jade huffed, as Kit approached the table. "What exactly is she doing here?"

"You’re telling me you know her too?" Graydon said, surprised. 

Kit forced a smile but couldn’t suppress the bitterness creeping in. “Look, I’m not here to ruin anyone’s night. I’ll stay out of your way.”

Elora raised an eyebrow, puzzled, but didn't push. “Okay, well, it’s good to see you.” She smiled.

Kit could feel Jade’s eyes on her now, just for a moment. Jade’s expression was unreadable, but the coldness in her eyes made Kit’s chest tighten. Then Jade looked away, clearly uninterested.

The knot in Kit's stomach felt heavier, and she found herself getting more irritated with every beat of the music, every smile Elora flashed, every laugh that seemed to come more naturally from Jade.

I can’t do this. She decided, whilst pushing her way back through the crowd and drowning out Elora’s, "Kit, where are you going?"

Kit sat alone, drinking her emotions away, taking swigs of her cocktail faster than she should. Graydon had been keeping an eye on her and noticed her mood shift.

“Hey, Kit,” he said, his tone more gentle than before. “You doing alright? You look a little... off.”

Kit blinked, surprised by his sudden concern. She should’ve been more grateful. He was being nice. But the irritation bubbling inside of her was too strong. She snapped, almost too quickly. “I’m fine. Just not exactly thrilled to be here, alright?”

Graydon’s smile faltered and he nodded, looking at her with an expression of quiet understanding. “Alright, no worries. If you wanna hang out, we can just chill over here. You don’t have to deal with all of that if you don’t want to.”

Kit blinked at him, her expression confused and slightly defensive. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

Graydon’s smile was weak, almost a reflex. “Think of it as me doing a favor for an old friend.”

Kit’s laugh was sharp and bitter. "We are not friends." Her words hit harder than she intended, and she saw the way Graydon’s face tightened, his brows furrowing in hurt. But she didn’t care—not now. Not after everything. "Jade was my best friend. And now… it’s like I’m nothing to her."

For a moment, Graydon said nothing. Then, in a quieter voice, almost hesitant, he spoke. "Maybe you could... talk to her, apologise? I know Jade. She wouldn’t—"

Kit’s anger flared up like a spark catching fire. “What, you know her better than me now? You think I don’t know what’s going on?” Her voice was louder now, rough with emotion. “Does over ten years of friendship mean nothing to you people?”

Graydon shuffled back, trying to steady the conversation, but his voice was gentle, like he was trying to de-escalate a fight without making it worse. “Kit, that’s not what I’m saying—”

But Kit was already too wound up. She didn’t care about calming down. "Oh, really?" she shot back, her voice thick with frustration. "What are you saying, then? That I should just roll over and apologise for something I didn’t even do? That I’m the one who messed everything up?"

Graydon took a breath, his expression softening. He didn’t raise his voice, just looked at her with quiet understanding, but his eyes were pleading. “That’s not it. I’m not saying it’s your fault. But just because you don’t think you did anything wrong doesn’t mean Jade has any reason to forgive you.”

Kit’s anger sputtered, but she wasn’t ready to back down. Her heart was still beating too fast, her mind racing with the hurt of everything that had been said and unsaid between her and Jade. “I don’t know what to say to her anymore. She won’t even look at me. And now you’re telling me I might not even be able to fix it?”

"All I know is—"

"Just leave me the fuck alone, okay?" Kit wasn’t sure why she’d snapped, but the truth was, everything felt wrong.

Graydon nodded, clearly dejected and trailed back into the crowd.

Everything about this night, about seeing Jade again, made her feel small and foolish. All of those old feelings—feelings she’d buried deep in her chest—were suddenly resurfacing.

She glanced over at Jade again. She was dancing now, her arms raised above her head, completely lost in the music. And Elora’s right there. Laughing, touching, looking at Jade like... like she’s hers.

Kit couldn’t take it anymore.

She stood up suddenly, the world spinning around her as the alcohol took hold. “I’m out,” she muttered to herself." 

Kit stumbled towards the exit, bumping into a few not so happy drunks along the way.

Kit’s feet moved before she could stop herself, but she wasn’t sure where she was going. She didn’t want to go home yet, but she couldn’t stay and watch Jade keep dancing with Elora, either.

—-

Jade had been pretending not to care, but when she saw Kit’s silhouette leaving the crowd, something inside her stirred. She couldn’t help it. Despite everything—the years, the distance, the resentment—she felt a pull.

She’s leaving already?

She hadn’t realized how much she was watching Kit, but as soon as the thought entered her mind, she followed. Her legs moved before her brain had time to register the decision. She couldn’t let her just slip away again. Not like this.

Kit had already pushed her way through the door when Jade caught up to her.

“Kit,” Jade called, voice barely above the noise of the club. “Kit, wait!”

Kit turned, her expression a little glazed, a little too sharp. Kit swayed slightly on her feet. Her expression was hazy, her eyes glassy. She looked… lost.

Kit’s lips parted, and she looked almost confused, as if she hadn’t expected Jade to follow. “What... what do you want, Jade?” she slurred.

Jade hesitated. She didn’t know what she wanted either. She hadn’t meant to follow Kit, but seeing her like this—disheveled, vulnerable, lost—was more than she could ignore. Her heart twisted in a way that made her want to do more than just stand there. It wasn’t just about fixing things; it was about seeing Kit like this.

“I was just... I was just going to say...” Jade started, but Kit interrupted her with a deep breath, followed by a sudden sob that startled her.

“I’m sorry,” Kit blurted out like a dam that burst, her eyes welling with tears. “I shouldn’t have come. I’m... I’m sorry, okay?”

Jade's breath caught in her throat, the weight of those words hitting her like a punch. She didn’t know what to say, but her instincts kicked in.

“You’re drunk,” Jade said softly, as she stepped forward, instinctively guiding Kit toward the exit. 

Kit looked at her, her face crumpling. “I just wanted to fix it... all of it.”

Jade looked at Kit’s tear-streaked face—really looked at her. She saw the girl she used to know—vulnerable, full of regret, but still hers in a way. She let out a soft sigh.

“I can’t leave you like this." Jade whispered.

"What?" The brunette sniffled.

"Where are you staying? I’ll take you home,” Jade said quietly, the words carrying an undertone of something Jade couldn’t quite name. Something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in years.

It made her feel like she was crossing an invisible line—one she wasn’t sure she was ready to cross.

—-

The drive back to Kit’s apartment was quiet at first, the tension palpable. Kit had quieted, the buzz of alcohol still evident, but her mind was starting to clear. Jade kept her eyes on the road, hands tight on the steering wheel.

“You know I never imagined a life without you,” Kit mumbled, eyes blurry as she looked out the window at the familiar streets they used to walk together. “I thought nothing would ever change.”

Jade’s heart ached hearing it, but she kept her eyes on the road. “Things change." She said, her voice neutral. 

Kit sniffed, looking at Jade with wide, pleading eyes. “They don’t have to.” Her voice wavered, and the words hit Jade harder than she anticipated. “I missed you. I really did.”

Jade’s heart twisted. There was so much pain in those words. She tried not to let it show. “Clearly didn’t miss me enough to call,” Jade spat before she could stop herself. It wasn’t fair, but it slipped out.

Kit’s face fell, tears welling up again. She looked at Jade with confusion and hurt. "How was I supposed to know you wanted me to?”

“Kit, of course I wanted you to!” Jade’s voice cracked, and she quickly looked away, the emotion threatening to overwhelm her. “You were my best friend. And Ballantine had just…” She trailed off, the memory too painful to finish.

Kit’s voice softened, guilt flooding her. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you, Jade. But I didn’t choose to move away, you can’t blame me for—”

“But you did choose to treat me like shit!” Jade’s voice broke, the words bursting out before she could contain them. “You sprang the fact that you were leaving on me, tried to get me to run away with you, and then got mad when I said no. And I spent years trying to figure out why my best friend would leave me—maybe it was something I did, maybe I could’ve stopped you. But you didn’t even say goodbye…”

Kit was quiet, her expression falling. The words stung, but Jade could see the regret in her eyes, the pain. Kit’s voice trembled when she spoke again. “I wasn’t—I just needed you, Jade. I was scared. I didn’t know what else to do.”

Jade’s gaze snapped to her, fury mixing with a deep sadness. “You needed me, sure. But what about the one time I needed you, huh? I always dropped everything for you. Did anything to protect you. God, Kit, everything was always about you."

Kit had never seen Jade like this before. Well, she’d seen Jade angry, but never been on the receiving end—and it was terrifying to say the last.

"Even when you left…" Jade continued, recollecting herself, "and I never heard from you again. Everyone asked me about you. I couldn’t even look at my guitar because it reminded me of you. I was still thinking about you. Always thinking about you.”

Kit felt a strange mix of relief and guilt knotting in her chest. But the thought of all the time lost, the things she never got to say, made her stomach turn.

“You thought about me?” Kit’s voice cracked as she whispered the question, almost too afraid to hear the answer.

Jade’s eyes flashed, something dark and hurt flickering beneath the surface. “That’s not the fucking point,” she said, her tone almost bitter. “You think you can just come back and pretend none of it happened? That everything’s fine? I wrote you letters, I waited for you to come back and now you appear suddenly just when everything’s okay again—”

Kit’s shoulders slumped, and she let out a soft breath, closing her eyes as she tried to hold back more tears. “Jade…" she whispered, "I know you’re better off without me—"

Jade’s voice softened despite herself. “That’s not what I was saying.” She shook her head slowly, her words quiet. “I’m just… I don’t know, Kit. I don’t know what to feel anymore.”

Kit’s heart twisted at the vulnerability in Jade’s voice. It wasn’t the cold, indifferent tone she had expected. It wasn’t the angry rejection she feared. But the weight of their history hung between them, still too thick to cut through.

“I wish I could take it all back, Jade,” Kit said quietly, her eyes searching Jade’s face. “I really do. And I’m sorry for barging back into your life like this— but I just… I hope you don’t hate me.”

Jade’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, her jaw clenching. “I never hated you,” she admitted softly, the words lingering in the quiet car. "I know you were going through things too."

Kit’s face lit up with something like hope, but it quickly dimmed as she took a shaky breath. “Then… do you think we could try again?” Her voice cracked, and she placed a hand gently on Jade’s thigh. “Being friends, I mean. You’re all I have here.” She looked at Jade with wide, desperate eyes. “I’ve changed. I swear. If you’d just let me prove it to you—"

The touch was too much.

Jade’s entire body tensed, her breath hitching. The familiar feeling of Kit’s touch, the intimacy that once felt so natural, suddenly felt like a weight pressing down on her. The past was too much to ignore, too much to just move past like this.

Her heart raced in her chest, and she pulled away from the touch as if it had burned her. Her voice came out sharp, unsteady. “Don’t,” she whispered, looking away, her pulse pounding in her ears.

Kit froze, her hand still suspended in the air. She pulled it back, the hurt flashing across her face before she quickly masked it with a forced smile. “Sorry,” she muttered, looking out the window.

The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating, as Jade fought to regain control of her emotions. She didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know if she could do this—if she could let Kit back in.

Kit’s voice was quiet but hopeful. “Jade… please. I just want a chance to make it right.”

Jade’s grip on the wheel tightened again, her knuckles white. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She couldn’t speak over the knot in her throat, couldn’t find the right words to bridge the gap between them.

Finally, they reached Kit’s apartment, the car coming to a stop with a quiet sigh. Kit opened the door but hesitated, glancing back at Jade one last time.

"Thank you," Kit said softly, the weight of her emotions clear in her voice. She hesitated again, perhaps it was the alcohol, almost pleading, “Stay with me. Please.”

Jade didn’t move. Her heart wrenched, but she shook her head, voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t, Kit.” Her eyes were closed for a moment, and when she opened them again, there was a hardness to her gaze that hadn’t been there before. “I can be okay with the fact thatKit began to wonder what kind of evil forces worked against her to be reuniting with not one but two of the ghosts of her past. you’re back. But I’ve got a good thing going on here now. Maybe it’s best if we just live our own lives—separately.”

Kit’s heart dropped, and the door closed quietly behind her. Jade stayed in the car for a moment, staring ahead, fighting the urge to get out and follow her. But she knew she couldn’t.

And so, she drove away, leaving Kit alone in her empty apartment. The silence in the car was deafening, and the weight of their unspoken history hung in the air, heavier than anything Jade had ever felt.