A Party of Surprises (Open: Tag Any... Jere.)

[Jade Edwards RCO]

The music had begun about ten minutes ago, Jade was pleased by the turn out, the auction would begin in an hour or so, their cousins were mingling last time he saw them. He was dressed in a black suit, black shirt and tied, Jade's main surprise was that his parents and sister had returned. He had actually wanted to punch his fathers lights out, he was particularly sick of having these tests thrown at him to see how he would cope. Any body who knew him well could tell that he was internally seething at the turn of events.

It was days like this that he wished he would have the sense to move out of the house and get a place of his own across town, that way he wouldn't get played the way he had been. But he was well aware that this would happen even if he didn't live in the house itself.

"Jade, where is this handsome young man you have been dating." his grandmother asked as she came over to him, another surprise for him and Alex... most of their family with the exclusion of Mac and Bailey's parents were here.

"His floating around here somewhere grandma." Jade said to her she smiled as she hugged him.

"Your mother and father wanted to surprise you, this is a very good coming out party for you Jade." she said to him he looked at her. "You would have had to learn to do this the hard way eventually. Look around you, all of your friends and piers are here. I saw the future Lord Franklin here with his wife." she said to him. "That alone will bring your party to a new level." she added.

"Your grandmother and I have guaranteed that what ever you bring home tonight in auction sales we will double." his grandfather said as he came over.

"I'm sure the school will be very pleased with that grandpapa." Jade said to him the man smiled at him for this. "I need a holiday." Jade groaned as he rolled his neck they laughed.

"Well we can't do much about that, school is still in session... when summer comes you should bring this Jeremy with you to Ireland, so he can meet all of the family properly. It is time that you take a more active role in the family and its businesses, you are the eldest child of the eldest son." his grandfather said to him. "You will not be able to hide behind your schooling forever." he added. "Is this relationship with Jeremy deep?" the man asked his grandson.

"If by that your asking whether I love him, then yes grandpa." Jade said to him.

"He is not like this Mike your father told me about?" his grandmother asked.

"Is my love life really that much of a talking point in the family?" Jade asked her she smiled.

"Your dating guys in a catholic family, I would say that its a major talking point." his grandfather said to him.

"My private life is just that, any one in the family that have an issue with that can kiss my..." Jade started his grandmother slapped the back of his head. "Okay fine but its not going to change grandpa, I want to marry Jeremy." Jade said to him. "Not right now of course but some time in the near future." Jade said to him.

"And after school?" his grandfather asked.

"I haven't got that far yet." Jade said to him.

"You must have some idea of what you want to study in college." his grandmother asked.

"Grandma thats a year away yet." Jade said to her she made a face. "Not all of us know what we want to do in our lives at my age." Jade said to him.

"Are Jeremy's family here?" his grandfather asked.

"Yes his mom and dad arrived a little while ago, his sister should be here somewhere to.... not sure you want to speak to her though grandpa, she is not my biggest fan." Jade said to him the man looked at him.

"What did you do to annoy your boyfriends sister?" he asked.

"I kissed Mike, we weren't technically deeply involved at that stage." Jade said to him. "Father gave me an ultimatum." Jade said to him.

"Stay away from the bad boy huh." his grandmother asked Jade nodded the woman chuckled. "No regrets?" she asked.

"None at all, when you meet Jeremy your understand why." Jade said to her.

"What do his parents do?" his grandfather asked.

"His mom is an artist I think... his dad works in television." Jade said to him the man made a face. "If you make trouble for me with them, grandfather or not I'll rip you to shreds." Jade said to him knowing that the man could be a snob when it came to people who did something so common and pathetic in the mans eyes.

"I see you have your mothers temper." the man said Jade glared at him. "I shall not create trouble for you with these people, but I do hope that boyfriend has at least manors." the man added Jade growled at him.

"See this is why I do not come home more." Jade growled at his grandmother. "I am so tired of being held to an impossible standard by my family." Jade snapped at her.

"You are the heir to the Edwards legacy, the standard is higher for you than the others." his grandfather said to him angrily.

"Then maybe you should find someone else who meets you standards." Jade snapped at the man.

"Jade it isn't like that." his mother said making her presence known.

"Seriously after the week you've just put me through, you have the gall to stand here and tell me that I dont get stuck on a pedastal by you people. You left me to deal with this mess on my own as a test to see whether I could handle it." Jade snarled at her. "I'm sick of being tested, either you trust me or you don't but tomorrow I start looking for a place of my own in town." Jade said to them.

"Jade be sensible you don't even know how to cook." his father said.

"I've been able to cook since I was fourteen, since you guys decided to leave us on our own for extended periods of time with out the kitchen staff." Jade said to him. "Nothing I do is good enough for you people... my choices are barely tolerated by my own family, hell Mac's family wanted to disown him because of what he is... your all a bunch of hypocrits." Jade snarled at the man. "I want out of this house and away from you people... injured shoulder or not I will be out of here before the end of the week." Jade snapped walking away from them out onto the patio and away from the party.

He soon found himself at the boundary of the grounds, the view would have been incredible if he hadn't have been in such a foul mood.

"Jade." his father said to him eventually tapping him on his shoulder Jade turned. "Maybe I have been putting you under to much pressure." he said.

"I was shot less than a month ago, do you even care about my well being." Jade asked him.

"Of course I do... how can you ask me that?" the man snarled.

"I've been running on empty for weeks... I take painkillers to rid myself of the pain I am almost constantly in... you couldn't even tell that I am exhausted from running in the circles you have me going in just to prove myself worthy." Jade snarled at him.

"I had no idea." the man said.

"You just didn't care." Jade said to him.

"That's not true." the man said.

"Your barely home most of the year round, how the hell would you know what either of us are up to." Jade said to him. "This has been coming for a long time, if you couldn't see that your not my father." Jade said to him.

"Jade." he started.

"Nothing you can say will change my mind." Jade said to him. "If you want to help me, you can help me find a place and help me move in." Jade said to him.

"Is this how Alex feels to?" his father asked.

"You've never put him under the kind of pressue that you have me." Jade said to him. "Whenever something needs to be done, I'm always asked, Alex is never asked to step up to the plate." Jade said to him. "He has a custy life why the hell would he want that to change." Jade asked the man.

His father stood watching him for a while, unable to take in the fact that his oldest child had been pushed to this point.

"This is what you want." his father said.

"You've been pushing me to this for a long time, I'm ready to take the next step in my life." Jade said to him. "Either you trust me to be more involved and for that matter more independant or you don't. Either way I moved out of the family home a long time ago, I've been running this house for the last year and a half single handedly." Jade said to him.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to have my baby boy move out." the man said.

"You've always tried to compensate for my disabilities... I don't need that any more." Jade said to him the man chuckled. "I never really did... but if you want to give me something, give me and Jeremy your blessing... I love him thats not going to change. He isn't Mike." Jade said to him.

"Your right you never needed to be mothered where your disability was concerned... if Jeremy makes you happy then none of us will stand in your way... if he is who you want to be with I can deal with not having grandchildren from you." the man said to him Jade laughed.

"Just because I want to commit to a guy... doesn't mean I won't give you grandchildren dad." Jade said to him the man smiled at him. "It just means that its more difficult for me to give you them, I want children always have." Jade said to him.

"Your grandfather is stuck in his ways, your mother and grandmother are gutting him as we speak... I wouldn't expect an apology if I were you but he won't cause you any more problems tonight." the man said to him Jade nodded. "I'll have your access to the family accounts increased, I'll speak to your accounts manager. I don't think you should be moving out however." the man said to him.

"I have to do this for me... I can still help run things but this is the right thing for me to do." Jade said to him. "I need space." Jade said to him.

"You can get that at home." the man said.

"Maybe I can, but that doesn't change the fact that I've had enough of doing this completely your way." Jade said to him the man chuckled.

"Apartment, penthouse or house?" his father asked.

"Do I look like I have enough of me for a huge house?" Jade asked.

"No you don't good point." his father said. "Large apartment it is, close to school it will have to be, and your mother will expect it to be close to the house." the man said Jade nodded. "I'm sorry that you have been put under so much pressure by us Jade, that was never our intention." the man said. "The way you act and hold yourself in the office and in public as well as the parties we throw, its not the actions of a seventeen year old boy." his father said.

"Its been a long time since I was kid dad." Jade said to him the man chuckled. "I need my own space, I have some great ideas for the business, but to develope them I can't be picking up on your little projects every two minutes." Jade said to him. "You want to do something useful for Alex and me stop going away so much." Jade said to him. "Do you even know he has a girlfriend or that they are kind of serious?" Jade asked.

"Of course I do." the man said.

"You don't show any interest in what we do, you never have... you celebrate when we achieve something, but I can't remember the last time you were at a meet of the swim team or the wrestling team for us. It feels like sometimes you forget you have twin sons and not just your baby girl." Jade said to him.

"More time at home we can do that." the man said.

"You don't need to accept every invite to go abroad and visit our offices, and when you do theirs no need to spend a month at these places." Jade said to him. "And for god sake send SJ to silver, my sister is bored as hell being dragged to one boring city after another and being confined to hotel rooms or the pool while you guys deal with business." Jade said to him before heading back to the house.

"I promise to try to be here more." his father said but Jade seriously doubted he would actually pull threw on this... to often had he heard those words from his father.

He soon found himself with a plate of food looking for either a family member or a friend or friends to mingle with... Jeremy wouldn't have gone a miss either... but he would take who ever he could.

Tag anyone...

[Sarah Hayes]

The place was nice. Skye donated a vintage guitar signed by her fathers band, as well as a CD signed by Aerosmith.
She figured that would make a good contribution. She always had more things to donate. All she had to do was call her dad. The auction was nice. jade had done a great job. She was excited. Sarah would bid on something. The money was going to a good cause.

She walked around mingling for a bit. Her little sister seemed to be glued to her side for a while before finally wandering off. Not that Sarah did not love her little sister, but there was only so much someone could take of being told whats hot and whats not. Sarah liked her outfit, yet her sister insisted on saying that she needed to think before she dressed. She said the outfit was not appropriate for this event.

It was the most normal thing she owned. Well one of the most normal things. So when Sarah's sister said she would be right back, she hoped she did not mean it. Sure that was mean, but seriously. Sarah was not wanting to hear about fashion the entire day. So when Sarah spotted Jade walking away from what looked like a heated conversation with his father, at least she assumed it was his dad. She did not hesitate to go right over.

"Well hello there. Please save me from my sister. I beg of you." She smiled at Jade and then gave him a small hug. "How are you? Long time no talk." She gave him a sweet smile, "This event is awesome. You did a good job."

(OOC: Sarah's outfit.. its the most normal outfit she owns, lol )

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade smiled, "Your looking good tonight." Jade said before kissing her cheek. "Thanks, this has been one big long headache, I'll be glad when tonight is over if I'm completely honest." Jade told her with a shake of her head. "I've had better days." Jade admitted. "My parents told me they'd be out of the country for a month, it turns out they were in Ireland, apparently my grandfather decided I needed to be tested again." Jade snarled in frustration. "Did you know that when I was fourteen I turned my first profit for my family's company, that I am in my own right a multi millionair without my trust fund or access to the family accounts." Jade explained to her. "But it gets better than that, you see I'm not just the heir to my parents fortune I am the second heir to my grandfather... my father is his eldest son and I am my father's eldest child. My grandfather is intent on testing me at every turn and I can't completely pass those tests most of the time because he is not here to witness it. The only way I can prove myself is to be in Ireland when he sets these insane challenges." Jade told her.

"My grandfather doesn't agree with my boyfriend and I hope soon to be Fiance's parents choice of careers, and I'm sure if I introduced him he would find some way to either embarrass me or insult them enough to have them break us apart. My sexuality to him is a source of embarrassment." Jade said he was clearly still seething and Sarah was the first person to ask him how he was. "My father won't stand up for me to my grandfather so he allows these challenges to happen, and I am so tired of it all. It would be so much easier if it was Alex in this position or if I could lean on him without my grandfather thinking I'm weak. I've had to lean on Alex all week, you can bet the house on the fact that when he learns I had to ask for help he'll see that as a weakness and an inability to cope with a problem. It doesn't matter to him that I was not the person who is the brainchild behind this auction... I'm supposed to be able to handle anything and everything he throws at me at seventeen while attending high school." Jade said to her.

"Oh and its got so bad that I'm actually moving out of the family home by the end of the week. The weekend I spent with Jeremy was meant for me to relax and to catch up on some much needed rest. I've been running on empty for weeks, and to function in the day I have to take regular doses of painkillers otherwise the pain is unbearable." Jade said to her. "I'm so tired of being the person that every one goes to when they need something. I just want to be a normal kid able to do normal things, but thats something that I can never have fully." Jade said.

"So yeah I'm not having the best of days." he said.

"How about you?" he asked.

[Sarah Hayes]

"Okay first, you need a drink. Since there is no alcohol allowed, we can get you something and you can pretend it has some inside. Just make a bitter face at the end. It might help. If anything you will just look ridiculous and it should make you laugh." Sarah gave Jade a smile followed by a laugh. "Moving out...what is Alex going to do without you around." Sarah placed a hand on Jade's good shoulder and gave him a reassuring squeeze.

"Listen you are doing a good job. If your grandfather cannot see that, then it is his loss, because this event is fantastic and just from what you said, I would say you are a head of where you need to be." She felt bad for Jade. He was a good guy and Jeremy was good, so why could his grandfather not see it. "Whether your grandfather likes Jeremy or not, he is a good guy and you deserve him."

Sarah smiled at Jade. "Now as for the painkillers. Do not make me take then from you? Taking regular doses everyday is not a good thing." She said this with concern. "I just want you to be okay." She told him. Jade meant a lot to Alex and Sarah liked Jade a lot too. "My dad had been decent. Besides my sister talking my ear off, but you know what makes my day better after a horrible night..."

Sarah gave Jade a wide smile, "Doing something silly. I know it sounds childish, but sometimes when laughing is honestly a good way to let go of a bad day. Either that or crying, and I figured laughing was a better choice. I am not sure what to laugh at, maybe how horrible some people are dressed or something." Sarah said to Jade.

[Jere Warner]

Jeremy had gotten over to Jade's a bit before 4:30 which gave him enough time to change and gel his hair just slightly. He was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and black tie that had a light stripes going diagonally through it.

The meeting of the cousins was something. Mac seemed to be the more level headed of the two, also the more flamboyant. Jeremy liked him, but only as a friend. The relationship with Jade was too great to sacrifice.

He made rounds through the crowd at the party making small talk with people and pointing out the auction items. He was glad to see a good turn out for the event.

He saw Jade talking to an older gentleman, which didn't seem to be going so well. There was that part of him that wanted to go and defend Jade and his decisions but his other half said to not jump in until needed.

He weaved his way through the crowd making his way to Jade. He found Sara talking to him, the guys seemed like needed to vent. "Hey Sara." Jeremy said to her, giving her a hug. "Keeping my man in line?" He grinned before sitting down next to Jade.

"I saw you talking to who I'm assuming is your grandfather. Are you okay?"

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade smiled, "I will try harder on taking less painkillers." Jade said to her. "Its not really because I like them anyway its because of the pain my shoulder is putting me through." Jade said to her with a smile. "I could murder a bourbon straight up with some ice." he said to her with a smile. "If their wasn't any one here right now that is exactly what I would be having." Jade added with a smile. "Now I'll have a coke or something." Jade told her.

"I guess your ight, I just don't want to be forced to choose between Jeremy and my own family... honestly I'm not sure I could make a choice like that if I was forced to anyway. It won't come to that... I have a feeling that my father will put him in his place or my grandmother or a combination of the two." Jade explained. "Its just exhausting playing these games with him." Jade added.

He was pleased to see Jeremy approach them and kissed him when he was close enough, the need to kiss him over riding anything else he felt right at that moment. His big night was quickly becoming his idea of a nightmare, his grandfathers antics and just the fact that he had enough of his life.

"If you see my grandfather heading your parents way on his own, you need to tell me... that man is a menace and I'm pretty sure he is trying to cause me as many problems as he can tonight. If that means embarrassing me by insulting your parents you had better believe he will do just that." Jade said to him. "My parents being here tonight brought some events to pass which I didn't expect to happen so soon." Jade said to him as he pushed his head to Jeremy's. "I'm going to need your help later in the week, I have got to get out of this house. So I'm moving out, my father has consented to letting me move into a place of my own. I think his finally seeing that I can be trusted... but I can't live under these fules any more. Its driving me round the damn bend." Jade said to him. "So between the two of you I need you to distract me, so I don't turn this party into an Edwards' airing of some dirty laundry." Jade added. "But most of all I just need you." Jade said softly.

[Jere Warner]

Jeremy held Jade a bit longer than what most guys would even consider. Even the kiss would have This is what you do though when you're in love with someone.

"Don't worry about my folks," Jeremy tried to assure Jade. "If your grandfather is like most Irish men, a few notes of 'Danny Boy' and he'll be like putty in her hands." He thought for a moment. "My dad might be another story though. We all should keep our eyes open."

He wrapped a tender arm around Jade's shoulders, letting him get comfortable. "I'll help you anyway I can, you don't have to ask me twice." He didn't expect the news he had heard though.

"You wait, what? Moving out?" He knew things had been tense with Jade and the family but not that tense. "You could always stay with my family, sure you saw how we live. Its not glamorous or anything but it beats living alone." Jeremy realized after he said that it sounded bad, almost as if he was begging to move in with Jade. "If it comes to it, I know I can keep you distracted."

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade smiled at him, "I love you and your parents dearly, however putting me in the same house as your sister for more than a night could be detrimental to all of our healths. I like your sister but lets face it she hates the sight of me, for the incident involving Mike months ago." Jade said to him. "I need a place of my own love, staying with your family would be okay for a few days, but not in the long term. Its not who I am. Besides if I have a place of my own, you can be my guinea pig as I learn to cook properly." Jade said mischivously smiling.

"Actually I'm a pretty decent cook, I kind of had to be, usually they let the cooks have the time of when they are away on business. Alex is quite happy to live on junk food... I swear he keeps Greg's father in business single handedly when their away. Me I like to have home cooked food, it just tastes better than the junk." Jade said to them.

"Maybe all I need is some space and time away from this place, my cousins and brother will be here and I'll probably not be far from home... hopefully somewhere in the middle of home and Jeremy's place." Jade said to them. "Alex will probably attempt to move in with me when he gets wind of my plans and I'll probably let him... his my twin after all. I need to be close by for my cousins and little sister... can't let them starve when the idiots do a disappearing act." Jade said to Jeremy.

"Have I told you how much I love you today?" Jade asked him. "Of course your welcome to visit any time, I'll make sure theres a love seat or something." Jade said. "No parents to rule the roost, some much needed freedom." Jade said to him. "Theirs still some stuff I need to discuss with my father and grandfather, but I know that I have time to do both." Jade said to him.

"How about the three of us go find Alex and get some food, the auction is starting soon." Jade said to them. "I still have a show to run here... no we have a show to run actually, this is my evening remember... and you Jere are my... well I guess your my co host for the evening... so what do you say to helping me show my family that I really do know what I'm doing." Jade said to them.

[Jere Warner]

"I understand. I could always pull rank on her and have her stay in our garage, I just need to make it sound like a dream come true for her." Jeremy grinned. Jere knew with his luck he'd be the one in the garage. "Me, a guinea pig? That scares me a little." He laughed.

"I can whip up a couple of dishes that would last you a couple of days, nothing fancy mind you. Maybe I should teach you the secret to Grandma Warner's Lasgana."

"It's confession time. I figured you needed time away, thats why I kidnapped you over the weekend. You looked stressed beyond belief and I can't have my future husband old and gray before his time."

"I'm happy to sit on the floor on a blanket, it makes it like a picnic." A content sigh escaped Jeremy's lips. "Just so I'm with you." He paused to absorb this moment. "Hmm maybe not the best thing to be saying, who knows if the wrong ears hear it and think 'Party at Jade's!' You might wind up right back home!"

Jeremy stood, looking good in his suit. "All that sounds good to me." He also wanted to see if his folks were able to stand on their own among the crowd.

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade nodded, "Things would have been fine if my parents and family hadn't shown up today, play me the way they have been the last year or so and your going to get what they got tonight." Jade said to him as an explanation. "This was nothing more than my grandfather testing me and once again my father allowing it to happen. I can't blame my mother for this, it has my grandfather and father written all over it. I needed this weekend and it would have worked fine, then my parents come home like I should be delighted... and I am happy their home... I'm just not happy about being taken for a ride." Jade said to him with a smile.

A guy in a penguin suit came over whispered something in Jade's ear, "Thank you Kent." he said.

"EXCUSE ME EVERYBODY, CAN I GET YOUR ATTENTION FOR A MOMENT." Jade yelled as the music died down. "Thank you, well the auction is about to begin out back apparently so please make your way out there who wants to buy something. The party will continue in here, food is being brought in, I hope you enjoy yourselves." Jade said to the room at large.

"Okay now that, my main job is over for the minute, lets get some food then we can go outside." Jade said to them with a smile on his face.