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"Why couldn't the bicycle stand up by itself?"

Tracy scrunches her brows together in intense philosophical thought while Blaze places his finger on his chin as he looks off to the side and tries to have an answer magical appear.

"'Cause, it was two tired."

Their eyes slowly widen at the same time as the answer settles into the minds. Mr. Scott doesn't notice this as he becomes too busy with laughing at his own joke. Mrs. Scott lets out a conservative laugh, shaking her head at her husband.

The laughter of the entire family soon dies down after Mr. Scott's 30th dad joke of the night lands. The joke was just as bad as the many others that took center stage within the past 20 minutes. The younger children on the other side of the table seemed to genuinely fall for each and every joke, finding them each as fascinating every time while Jade uneasily smiled through each one.

Despite them being excruciatingly horrible, she finds it cute how much the father works so hard to make his kids laugh, of course subtracting Kinsey from that equation since she just sat there with her arms crossed and a blank expression on her face the entire time, finding no amusement in any of it.

Jade glances over at Kinsey. The blonde gives her a playful but intense eye roll to show her disgust. Jade chuckles, finding herself blushing just by looking at her. She is really attractive. The dirty blonde just gives off an air of attractiveness that makes Jade want to inch closer and closer to her.

Their chairs are a few inches apart but Jade finds her body somehow naturally shifting closer and closer to Kinsey every minute that passes.

All of a sudden, there is a faint vibration in the back pocket of Jade's jeans. She pulls out her phone and politely checks the text under the table while Mr. Scott is too occupied with setting up his next joke.

Mel
Hey babes, do you think you could catch a ride, tonight? Something for school just came up.

Jade bites the inside of her cheek while reading. She is confused as to what her sister has to do for school this late at night, but she shrugs off her confusion with a building annoyance due to the sudden inconvenience.

Shit, now I have to call a fucking Uber.

Kinsey squints down at Jade, catching a peek of her phone. Her eyes scatter and shift across the brightly lit screen as she secretively reads the text before Jade can notice. Once done, her eyes dart back up as Jade lifts her head up at the same time, as if on cue.

She silently observes the way the brunette frustratedly puffs out her cheeks and her shoulders slump when she sits back up in her seat before stuffing the phone back into her pocket.

Kinsey's eyes following her every movement.

"Okay, who would like to help mommy and daddy clean up tonight?" Mrs. Scott announces as she clasps her hands together before rising up from the table. Her eyes dart back and forth between Tracy and Blaze almost expectantly. The two children purposefully look in opposite directions away from their mother's gaze.

Mr. Scott then rises and starts picking up the empty plates around the table. This action causes Tracy and Blaze to give in and stop playing dumb as they huff. Their small hands start assembling together the utensils rapidly.

As the family starts working together cohesively to clean up the aftermath of the fulfilling meal, Kinsey starts to get up from her chair and taps Jade's back with her knuckle. Jade looks up at the blonde in immediate curiosity.

"Get your stuff, I'll take you home," Kinsey commands in a composed manner, nodding her head in the direction of the stairs leading to her bedroom.

"I'm taking an Uber, it's fine," Jade assures in a relaxed tone as she heads for her phone in her back pocket to find an Uber in this area. She hopes that her card information is still connected to the app since she hasn't had to use Uber in a while. She decided that walking where she needed to go was more efficient nowadays. At least, that's what she tricked herself into believing.

In reality, she rather do that than bother asking her parents for a ride.

"Not on my fucking watch. Just go get your shit, I'll be in the car," Kinsey replies blatantly, rolling her eyes and heading to the front door.

Kinsey's father watches the interaction in silence like a bystander that doesn't want to get involved. Jade makes eye contact with the man, his shoulders shrug and his lips jut out, silently telling Jade that he doesn't know what the fuck just happened.

Mrs. Scott knowingly smiles at Jade before shaking her head. "Kinsey, stop being rude!" The woman announces loudly from the kitchen so that Kinsey can hear her at the front door.

The front door slams shut in response, leading Mrs. and Mr. Scott to smirk in silence at one another as if knowing something that Jade doesn't know. As if there is some inside joke that she isn't in on.

The brunette breathes out helplessly. She takes herself to the staircase and trudges up the seemingly endless carpeted steps until reaching Kinsey's room. Once she steps into the room, it feels different. The weight she feels when stepping into this room with Kinsey along her side is gone. It feels empty but it's like she's able to truly focus on the contents of the room when all she's been focused on was Kinsey whenever they were in here.

The wilting, brown teddy bear hanging slightly out of the dresser drawer captures Jade's attention again. She planned to ask Kinsey what that was all about, but she forgot to once they started working.

And by asking, she means teasing the fuck out of her about it. Is Kinsey secretly a soft soul that hides behind her hardcore image?

Nah, her arrogance is too authentic.

Jade realizes that she's taking too long and lunges forward grabbing her notebook to stuff it into her backpack. She takes another look around trying to make sure she didn't miss anything. Everything is on her.

The brunette makes her way back into the kitchen where the family is busy working their respective tasks: Mr. Scott washing the dishes, Mrs. Scott wiping the plates dry with a red and white checkered cloth, Blaze grabbing the plates from his mother and placing them into the dishwasher while Tracy mercilessly ridicules him for placing them in the wrong place.

Jade hesitatingly draws attention to herself, "Uh...," she croaks out, "Thank you for the dinner tonight. It was amazing."

"Aw," Mrs. Scott squeaks as her eyes gleam, and her mouth curves into a smile, "We enjoyed every second of having you over, sweetie. You should join us more often. It seems Kinsey's grown fond of you. It was nice to see her actually crack a smile during dinner," Mrs. Scott says, smiling wholeheartedly at the girl before her.

Jade simply nods, unsure of how to take all that in.

She goes down the dark hallway leading to the front door. Once she's there, she pulls the front door back to open it. The cool fall night sends a whiff of crisp air her way. The forestry scent immediately contrasting the scent of the home, making Jade hesitant to leave. The house feeling more like a home to her than her actual home.

The brunette finally brings herself to step out into the darkness and trek down the walkway that leads to the fiery red car. The flowers surrounding the walkway are still there, but not as illuminated as before.

Jade can barely see through the tinted windows. A slight reminder of the mistake she made earlier today and a sight that is reminiscent of the first time she stepped foot into the car and met the girl that's got her completely fucked up.

She makes her way around the front of the car to the passenger side. She yanks open the door and is hit with the smell of some sort of fresh linen Febreze shit. The scent is, of course, pleasant but different from what she was used to in the car. Where's the sweaty jersey smell with the additional hint of dirt and grass? She slides into the car that no longer reeks of feet sweat.

"Glad you made some improvements," She vocalizes once settling in.

"Only for you, babe" Kinsey sarcastically states, turning her head impassively towards the brunette with a tight-lipped smile.

"Shut up," Jade snaps, despite her insides warming at the word babe.

Doesn't feel too bad being called that.

Kinsey lazily smiles as she turns her head back towards the steering wheel, leaning her back against the leather headrest as she revs up the engine.

Jade watches her fondly. "What was that little show about? 'Not on my fucking watch'," Jade mocks in a higher-pitched tone as she lightly laughs in Kinsey's direction, watching the way the blonde remains relaxed in her seat that is reclined a good amount.

Kinsey doesn't bother to turn her head, shutting her eyes peacefully and allowing her head to be supported by the headrest, "Now it's my turn to say shut the fuck up."

"Kinsey couldn't let me take an Uber. How cute," Jade says, pouting.

Kinsey rolls her eyes in response as she lifts herself from the reclined seat to pull on the gear. Once she puts it into 'R', she increases the volume of the radio system, allowing the music to become somewhat audible.

The mood created by the night and the car generates an undeniable tension between the two. The air becomes awkward again.

Kinsey starts to back out of the driveway, placing her elbow on the middle armrest as she lifts her body up to look back and forth between the rearview mirror and the back window. As she does so, her body finds itself closer and closer to Jade. Her boobs basically right by Jade's face.

The brunette sits silently, trying her best to keep her eyes forward as the girl's boobs are in her peripheral. You can say that it is a sight to see, only Jade isn't supposed to be seeing anything.

The blonde successfully backs out and slips back into her seat, oblivious to the brunette's inner battle. Jade lets out a shuttering breath, glad she didn't manage to fuck anything up by looking at them.

They continue on in silence as they start cruising along the streets of the suburbs. Kinsey soon decides to increase the volume of the radio as she hums along to the song.

"You've got everything, you've got what I need
Touch me, you're electric, babe
Move me, take me from this place
Movin' to the tempo, show me what it takes
Speedin' up my heartbeat, playin' in the flames
Kiss me, we're on fire, babe" (Electric by Alina Baraz ft. Khalid)

The lyrics cause Jade to squirm. This isn't helping.

"So, um... you're family's nice." Great job on making this less awkward.

"Yeah," Kinsey chuckles in confusion, "I guess they're cool."

Jade nods, "You really surprised me, though."

"How?" Kinsey sends Jade a side glance, quirking her brow up.

"Don't do that to me," Jade warns, rolling her eyes away, "I-I don't know... I don't know you that well, but like when you're around them, you're less of an ass I guess."

"Fair enough." Kinsey agrees with a tilt of her head.

"Why is it? I mean... why is it that you're different at school? You just seem so fucking mean."

"I'm not mean," Kinsey immediately defends.

"Yeah, says the girl who almost beat my ass on my first day of school for bumping into her."

Jade notices a flash of guilt pass over Kinsey's face before she composes herself, "We're even now. Don't forget you're the one who tripped me in the cafeteria."

"Okay, but that was an accident."

"Was it really?"

"Yes," Jade's voice becomes higher, "you could even ask Lucia. I didn't mean to-"

"Chill out." Kinsey puts one hand up, "It's fine. I've gotten over it. Worst things have happened to me on the field, anyways."

Jade nods, content that the girl has accepted her apology, or so it seems.

"Why football?" Jade blurts out before silence can consume them again.

"That's cute, you're trying to get to know me. Not happening," Kinsey cuts as she makes a turn, turning the steering wheel with the back of her palm, almost skillfully.

Jade feels slighted. She finally feels like she is getting somewhere with the blonde and gets shut down almost abruptly. I shouldn't be asking too much.

Kinsey realizes Jade's energy dying down as the brunette gazes out the window with her elbow sitting on the small space by the window with her hand holding her cheek, given up on keeping up the conversation.

"Why reading?" Kinsey starts, not taking her eyes off the dark road ahead of her. The bright headlights lighting up a large portion of the concrete ahead of them.

Jade turns out of her position, caught off guard, "You curious about me now?"

"You seem to be more interesting than you let on, so why not?"

"Trust me, what you see is what it is. There's nothing remotely interesting about me," Jade scoffs, going back to staring out the window as the trees pass by briskly as if they are the ones moving instead of the actual car.

"Don't do that to yourself."

"Do what?"

"You don't give yourself enough fucking credit. I should know, as a person that prides herself on loving themselves so fucking much."

Jade sends the girl a judgmental look.

Kinsey catches the look and laughs, "What? It's not always considered arrogance. There's a little thing known as confidence, you should try it some time," she pauses, "Seriously though, what's up with you and reading? It's not a bad thing, I'm just curious." She assures, desperate for the brunette to open up.

Jade hesitantly looks at the blonde to make sure that she is being serious. She then looks back at the window before hesitantly parting her naturally pink lips. "I like the stories and all, but I feel like the words really explain what I don't say. It's like these books get me, in a weird, lonely type of way. They say all the words that I don't," she says, reluctant to look at Kinsey.

She's totally judging me.

"I get that," Kinsey agrees, nodding her head. "I mean... I'm not one to read or do anything school-related unless I'm forced to. I usually say most of what's on my mind, but I can see why you do. You didn't speak much when I saved your sorry ass on the side of the road that one time."

Jade laughs lightly, "Ah, so you think you saved me?" Jade looks over at Kinsey suspiciously, "You want a medallion or something for being my hero or some shit."

"Hmm," Kinsey hums, squinting in thought, "Doesn't sound too bad. Kind of has a nice ring to it. Kinsey Scott, Jade's hero and protector. And yes, a medallion would be just enough, but it better have my name engraved in it. I don't want any generic shit."

Jade looks over at the girl in disbelief before shaking her head, "Really, you had to add protector? You're  so fucking corny."

"It gets you smiling though," Kinsey replies smoothly along with a slight head tilt.

Jade smiles with her mouth slightly open, astonished by this girl's ability to leave her speechless.

After a while, Kinsey arrives at the brunette's home. She parks her car on the side of the road instead of pulling into the driveway since it is already filled with two other vehicles she hasn't seen before. The sight of the two sleek luxury sedans confirms Kinsey's initial belief that Jade's family is stinking rich, or at least beyond well-off.

The comfortable silence erupts once Jade shuffles around to gather her belongings. The brunette gathers her stuff and looks back towards Kinsey with a tight-lipped smile, "um..." she looks down nervously before looking back up, "thanks, for the ride."

Kinsey just stares blankly at the girl before her, finding her just stunning in this very moment with how imperfectly perfect she looks with her hair slightly messy but her tan skin glowing the same way it did the first time Kinsey dropped her home. The yellow light coming from the street lights bouncing off her skin.

She's fucking beautiful, Kinsey finally admits, feeling her heart suddenly drop as she continues to stare silently at the girl's face. Taking in even the faintest of features one by one. The soft lines under the girl's eyes that show her lack of sleep and the natural heart shape of her rose-pink lips.

"Don't," Jade whispers lowly, noticing where Kinsey's eyes are.

Kinsey snaps out of it immediately, "What? I'm a gentlewoman. I know how to restrain myself," she tries, smiling weakly as her wrist casually rests on the steering wheel with her body turned to face the brunette in the most casual position ever. Her knee being propped up on the leather armrest.

Jade can't resist the way her cheeks flush as she feels Kinsey's attention all on her.

She wants to kiss me that bad, huh? Thank God she doesn't know how much I want her to...

"Oh, really?" Jade replies, not believing that shit for one second, especially from experience.

"Yes, actually, "Kinsey remarks with a cocky tone as she refuses to take her eyes off of Jade.

There is a comfortable silence that keeps Jade settled in her seat as she stares at Kinsey back. She knows that she can leave at any moment but she doesn't want to. She likes the feeling she gets when she's near her, especially after having not been around her for almost a week and a half. Even though it sounds stupid, this stranger makes her feel safe.

Jade can feel the same addicting flush of dopamine rushing through her. The same hormones rushing through her whenever feeling Kinsey's energy. It almost makes her feel alive after walking around like a soulless corpse for so long. She wants to feel like a human. She wants to feel alive.

"Let's grab something to eat next weekend," Kinsey says out of nowhere. The words simply rolling off her tongue once the idea blooms in her mind. The blonde staying true to her characteristically out-spoken nature.

Jade darts her eyes to the girl sitting nonchalantly in the driver's seat in the most big dick energy position she has ever seen.

"Relax. It's not a date or anything so you don't have to worry about me making any moves." She pauses, "At least not yet," Kinsey silently adds.

The last remark isn't only audible to her as the brunette is able to decipher the breathy mumble. Jade decides to let it pass as the idea of Kinsey wanting her that badly makes her heart flutter a little.

Jade looks down before her at the skull painted backpack in her lap. The image of the skull representing someone that she wants to be. A person that takes risks and does what she wants. The exact person she thought of when she first drew the image. The exact person she yearns to be.

"Okay," Jade agrees silently with a brief pause before lunging her body forward and quickly pecking a kiss smack in the middle of Kinsey's cheek. The soft but rapid kiss sends chills down Jade's own spine as the quiet smack sounds in the silence of the car.

Kinsey's mouth widens slowly as the tender lips leave a buzzing feeling on her cheek. The buzzing setting off a ripple of heat to travel throughout the rest of her body.

Jade smiles mischievously as she immediately clutches her bag in her hand while placing the other on the door handle. Before she can even pull, a clicking sound emits throughout the car. Confusion spreads across Jade's face as she pulls the door handle and it doesn't budge one bit. Since there is no visible lock on the handle, she nervously taps on the three small buttons beside the handle, hoping that one of them should unlock the door.

But, none of them work. She tries to pull again after pressing the last button and it doesn't open. Did this bitch really put me on child lock?

"You didn't think you could get away with that so easily, did you?" Kinsey teases with a smirk as she questioningly stares at the blonde. Her tongue naturally grazing over her bottom lip.

This would be creepy as hell if she wasn't so damn hot, Jade thinks as she stiffens and feels her heart rate increase.

As Jade eyes the gesture intently, she feels compelled to mirror the action. Her tongue grazes over her lips, realizing how dry they are.

Kinsey detaches her seatbelt and slowly moves forward towards the brunette's face. Her eyes never leaving Jade's. The blue saucers stare into Jade's eyes intensely as if they're zoned in on their prey.

Kinsey isn't completely out of her seat as she is tall enough to just lean over the armrest and reach Jade. Kinsey's face is now only a mere three inches away from Jade's, enough so that she can feel Jade's labored breathes graze her own slightly parted cupid -shaped lips, in yearning. Jade wants to feel those lips on hers so bad.

I want her.

Jade's eyes shut as she prepares herself for what she believes is inevitable.

After a while of Kinsey's consistent breaths teasing her, Jade uneasily lifts opens one of her eyelids, hesitantly, to see Kinsey still an inch away from her but with a huge grin on her face.

Kinsey brings her right hand under Jade's jaw, with her fingers holding the brunette's face in place. The slender fingers lightly grip into Jade's jawline as her face is directed upwards. "Now, it's my turn to be a tease," Kinsey whispers as she brings her mouth closer to Jade's earlobe, "babe." Each warm breath warping around Jade's ear and sending tingles down her spine.

Kinsey loosens her grip and skillfully falls back into her seat while Jade's back remains glued to the seat in a breathless mess. Her chest heaves up and down as her grip on the door handle slowly loosens with her hand trembling.

"You good?" Kinsey chuckles, intently observing the girl's reaction, thriving in how hot Jade looks when she reacts to her touch.

"S-Shut up," Jade snaps as she attempts to compose herself.

"I missed this shit," Kinsey sighs, almost reminiscing as she falls back into the seat relaxed.

Jade turns her head over to the girl, "Missed what?"

"Teasing the fuck out of you."

"I'm glad I could do that for you, asshole," Jade says slightly annoyed.

"Aw, don't be mad," Kinsey mocks, jutting her bottom lip out. "You can't stay mad at your hero."

"We don't speak of this again," Jade warns, glowering at Kinsey with her hand pulling at the door handle.

"You know I can't promise that. Now, get the fuck out of my car."

A click sounds.

Jade pulls the handle and is relieved to see that it finally works. She pushes the door out but not before granting Kinsey another deathly stare and the lovely finger, before lunging out of the low seat of the car to stand up on her driveway.

Jade seems to be more pissed about being lead on than almost having fucked up and kissed this girl again.

She shuts the door behind her without looking back as she stalks up the long driveway in a strut, giving Kinsey the best view of her ass in motion.

Like a creep, Kinsey watches the girl until she gets into her home safely. She lets out a hefty breathe once Jade shuts the front door behind her. The blonde bangs the steering wheel with her fist, making sure to avoid the horn.

"Why do I like her so fucking much?" The blonde says frustratedly before gently resting her forehead on the wheel.

_________

Jade steps into the home after unlocking the door with her key. A faint creaking sound from the rubber under the door creates a deafening echo.

The atmosphere feels heavier than usual to Jade. A deep voice soon bellows throughout the normally silent home indicating Jade's father is in the kitchen.

"I will need you to keep me updated on the suspect's behavior throughout the night. He seems mentally distressed so let us see if he'll admit to something," he instructs, sounding like he's on the phone, as usual.

Jade noticed his car outside so she wasn't surprised, but she is just more annoyed at his presence. His presence seeming to hurt her more than his absence, making her feel as though he's gotten tired of work enough to actually come home and see his family.

Jade feels a sudden wave of fatigue overtake her, masking the giddy, jovial feeling she just had after being with Kinsey. A part of her wishes she could just turn around and go back to Kinsey, finding that being around her gives Jade some sort of relief from this lonely life she has to face every day when she comes home.

As Jade walks into the kitchen space, she immediately smells the familiar scent of Italian takeout. She silently observes her father sitting on a barstool in front of the bar with his suit jacket hanging lazily open and his tie loosened around his neck as he stuffs a forkful of angel pasta covered in Alfredo sauce into his mouth. Of course, he does this with his phone in hand typing away and swiping. All of this goes on in silence as Jade's mother mutedly sits on the couch across the living room focused on her laptop. The screen's light reflects against the woman's face as she pays no mind to her husband and vice versa.

Jade takes another step, her sneakers making a shuffling noise against the hardwood floor.

Despite the noise, neither parent looks away from their devices. It's sadly funny to Jade that they should be the ones to ridicule her for doing such a thing. "Hello, mother. Hey, dad," she croaks amidst the suffocating silence of the room.

Mrs. Hill slowly cranes her neck up and looks over her shoulder to eye her daughter. Her eyes fall to Jade's feet. "What have I been saying about wearing sneakers on my hardwood floor, Jade. You're not the one that I'd expect such disrespect from," she voices monotone as if she has no clue as to how a loving mother should communicate with their daughter.

Oddly, Jade finds contentment with her mom finally scolding her. At least, she's not completely invisible.

Jade's eyes falter to her feet, the empty eyes from her mother minimizing her to nothing, making her feel like the little Jade that's always been pining for her mother's approval since she was old enough to even care about what other people thought of her.

"I'm sorry, mother. I won't let it happen again," Jade apologizes with her head hanging low in shame.

"At least look me in the eyes when you say it," Mrs. Hill snides before turning back to her laptop.

"Jacky, that's enough. Just leave the girl alone," Mr. Hill intervenes while his eyes are still glued to his phone.

Jade side-eyes her father.

"How was your day, babygirl?" He adds, eyes not even sparing Jade a glance.

"I made a new friend," Jade says, knowing damn well he isn't paying attention so it doesn't matter what crazy shit she says.

"That's good, that's good. I'm happy for you...," he says as his eyes squint at something on his phone.

"Yeah..." Jade defeatedly replies before walking across the room to head to her bedroom on the other side of the home. Her sneakers can be heard clapping against the floor with each depressing step see takes towards her safe haven.

Once she steps through the door, the brunette expels a breath as she tosses her bag into the quaint corner by her bed. She shuts the door behind her and turns the lock.

Jade heads over the plain dresser that holds nothing atop it, besides a huge mirror attached to it that allows Jade to see herself clearly. It allows her to see the involuntary tears pooling on the inside of her eyelids as the subconscious thoughts of her parents not giving a fuck about her plague her thoughts and take control of her emotions. She blinks rapidly at herself in the mirror. She can see the faint eyeliner highlighting her tear-filled eyes.

She hurriedly pulls at the hem of her shirt and pulls it over her head, then pulls out a drawer to find a considerably oversized t-shirt and cloaks her body in the cheap, black cotton fabric that extends to her knees. She slips her shoes off and the jeans that she has on are stripped as well. She feels empty but comfortable.

Just how I like it.

Jade continues with her nightly routine by grabbing a makeup wipe from a packet inside one of the six rectangular drawers that make up the large dresser.

As the wipe harshly grazes under her eyes to rid herself of the only form of makeup that she usually wears, she can feel... nothing. Absolutely nothing when the makeup comes off to reveal the natural insignificance that is Jade Hill.

The brunette throws the wipe away into the miniature trash can by her smaller bedside dresser. She pulls open to the relatively empty drawer by her bed to eye the brown leather journal and the Kindle reading device. Her hand grabs at the tablet and turns it on as she sits onto her bed and slides under the large duvet and blanket that were already neatly splayed across the large bed. She pulls her knees under the blankets as she rests the kindle tablet against her thighs.

Her form of solace for all these years being found in reading. Her only escape from reality that she owes a lot to, especially since it seemed to be the only thing that was able to save her mentally up to this point.

_________<~>_________

Hey, babes! Back with a new chapter. I kind of like writing these longer chapters.

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How do you feel about Kinsey and Jade at this point? What are your thoughts, looking back, on how they got here?

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Also, how do you feel about what happened when Jade got home? What are your thoughts?

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Okay, this is it but I can't wait to see you guys in the next chapter! I love writing this story and I especially love to see your reactions to it, so keep showing it some love by voting and commenting! ❤️ Also, don't forget to give me a follow to stay updated.