it was always like this with your girlfriend jade west. chaos followed her like a storm cloud, and yet, somehow, you were the calm that could cut through it.

the two of you were polar opposites — she was sharp and shadowed, all biting sarcasm and piercing eyes, while you were bright and warm, a walking sunbeam with a laugh that made people smile without knowing why. she’d scoff and roll her eyes when people said “opposites attract,” but even she couldn’t deny it — somehow, you worked.

it was lunch, and jade was getting pressed again— someone had looked at her wrong, or said the wrong thing, or maybe existed too loudly. she was on edge, practically vibrating with annoyance, jaw clenched and eyes narrowed like she was ready to bite.

you told her to calm down. and just like that, she did.

no one else could’ve gotten away with it. if beck said it, she would’ve thrown a tray. if tori said it, she would’ve spit fire. but when you said it, her shoulders relaxed, and the rage simmered into a quiet burn. she didn’t say thank you — she never would or ever did — but she nudged your foot under the table, her version of gratitude.

the next day, you heard her before you saw her.

“CAT!” jade’s voice echoed down the hall of hollywood arts like a warning siren.

you, beck, andre, tori, and robbie turned just in time to see her storming down the corridor, wild-eyed and furious, hair a little messier than usual — like she’d been pacing all morning, building this firestorm inside her.

beck blinked. “whoa, whoa, whoa…”

“what happened to your—” andre started.

“MY EYEBROWS!” jade screeched, eyes wide with fury.

cat whimpered behind beck and andre, who instinctively stepped in front of her like bodyguards. “what happened?” robbie asked, eyes darting between them like he was trying to piece it all together.

jade stabbed a finger in cat’s direction. “i asked cat to do my eyebrows and THEY’RE GONE!”

“i told you they’re not gone!” cat squeaked. “they’re right here!” she held up two wax strips, like evidence in a courtroom, jades actual eyebrow hair stuck to both.

jade lunged, a blur of black combat boots and fury, but beck and andre held her back just long enough for cat to bolt down the hallway in terror.

you stepped forward before jade could chase after her. without a word, you wrapped your arms around her tightly, pulling her into you even as she fought against it.

“shhh… settle. settle,” you said gently, rubbing her back, fingers curling into her hair. “let go!” she growled, squirming, still burning with rage.

but you didn’t. and slowly, she stopped resisting. her fists went limp against your chest. her breathing slowed. her forehead dropped to your shoulder as her body finally relaxed.

and for a second, everything was quiet. even with half the hallway staring, even with her eyebrows mysteriously destroyed and her pride wounded, jade just stood still in your arms.

you smiled. she didn’t see it. she didn’t need to. she already knew. sun and moon. golden retriever and black cat. somehow, it worked.