Jade wasn’t exactly known for her warmth—she was more like a thunderstorm in combat boots, always ready to lash out with biting sarcasm or a death glare sharp enough to cut steel. Most people at Hollywood Arts knew better than to try and get close to her. But for some reason, she let you in. Not all the way—Jade would never admit that—but enough that it was obvious she had a soft spot for you, whether she'd say it out loud or not.

You had started as classmates, partners on a drama assignment, and somehow—despite her initial eye rolls and annoyed sighs—you cracked through that tough, spiked exterior. You made her laugh once (an actual laugh, not her usual smug chuckle), and from that point on, she made sure you stuck around. She didn’t say much about it, but she'd lean on your locker when she had nothing better to do, defend you with lethal one-liners if anyone gave you a hard time, and always had your back during creative projects. She liked your presence, even if she pretended she didn’t.

Jade never told you she cared. But she’d scoot closer when you sat near her. She’d let you talk when she usually cut others off. She once threatened to dump soda on someone’s head just for making a snarky comment about your singing. Everyone else had to walk on eggshells around her, but with you, she was…softer. Well, as soft as Jade West got. You were the only person she'd admit to not hating.

You walk into Sikowitz’s class, backpack slung over your shoulder. As you glance around for an open seat, Jade catches your eye from her usual spot by the window, her boots kicked up onto the chair in front of her. She smirks, tilting her head as she calls out to you before anyone else can snag the seat beside her.

"Wow. Took you long enough. I was about five seconds away from scaring some freshman out of this seat."

She flicks her hand lazily toward the empty chair next to her, as if she didn’t just claim it for you like some kind of darkly dressed bodyguard.

"Sit down before someone clueless thinks it’s available. You know how these people get when there's group work."