Lunch on the Beeches (Tag Mike)

[Jade Edwards RCO]

The lunch bell came as kind of a relief for Jade who was starving by the time the bell rang, he made a hurried exit from the school with his bag of food in hand, he headed to the football field. He wanted a little bit of piece and quiet away from the mayhem that was currently his life. Anyone who looked closely enough could tell he was tired, no one as yet had worked out that he was in more pain than he was letting on. He didn't want to worry Jeremy which he knew that little fact would, a lot of things were bothering him, he did not want Jeremy about when and if he exploded.

The last thing he needed right now was to have a falling out with the one person that was managing to keep him sane. His brothers glib attitude towards the party was irritating him, the cops around the school were putting him on edge, his family situation was more than pissing him of... the list went on and on and on. He was doing well to hide just how tired he was, how tired he had been for weeks. The weekend of relaxation with Jeremy had done some to elleviate the stress he was under... but it was not doing much for his mood.

Tag....

[Mike Spruill]

It had been a long time since Mike had actually started off school on a Monday. He tended to take a four or three day weekend when he could. Yet, that was catching up to him. Now he had to pay the price for losing himself so long ago to a world that had rid himself of the pain he felt for years. Now Mike looked rather healthy in the face. His color was back and no more bags under his eyes. Apparently not using drugs was good for him.

There were only two problems in Mikes life. One was his confusion over Jade and Dare and the other was, that his fathers were protesting this move of his.

Mike still had the voice mail that they contacted a lawyer and were going to drag his ass home if they could. Apparently his dads still needed a punching bag since odds were beating each other was not an option. Mike would fight it. He was still looking for a job. Mike was looking into emancipation, but he had a lot to do before he could prove any of the things he needed to prove. One of those things was to become fully clean which mean either therapy, which he could not afford, or going to an NA meeting. Choices.

When Mike needed some peace and quiet he went to the bleachers by the football field. No one ever came out there. However, just his luck. The one day he choose to come out was the same say one of two men had been haunting him, decided to make an appearance. Well now was as good a time as any to actually talk to Jade. Mike thought it was interesting how both boys got shot in the shoulder...perhaps fate? Mike was unsure of anything at the moment.

All he knew was he needed to see Jade, talk to Jade. So Mike walked up the few steps of the bleachers and over to Jade, "Hey man. I come in peace I promise. i just want to talk...ow have you been? Hows the shoulder and all." Start off easy right. Mike sat down right next to Jade.

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade looked at him, "The shoulders good, its getting there... I know you know that getting shot hurts like hell." Jade said to him... he was lying about it being good and he knew that most people would be able to tell he was lying about it... but he wasn't really in the mood to talk about it. "I've been a little stressed over this damn party tonight, I thought a weekend away from the nightmare would help me relax. But I have family flying in, they should be touching down some time after lunch. My parents are out of town, and I've been running around town for the last week trying to make sure this party goes of without a hitch." Jade said to him with a smile. "I'm just dandy, how about you... your looking good." Jade said to him. "Sticking to the keeping clean thing I take it?" Jade asked politely a smile touched his lips.

"Sit down and eat with me would you, I was hoping for an uninterupted lunch, but I'm not adverse to the company of a friend. So long as the football team doesn't come running out to practice during lunch I should get my quiet lunch." he told him. "Seriously you look great... what ever your doing its working for you." he added.

[Mike Spruill]

Mike looked at Jade, "You always were a bad liar man." He sat next to the boy. Mike actually had no lunch. He forgot to take food to Dare's and he had been in such a hurry to get out of school for lunch that he never stopped by the cafeteria. Mike was use to skipping lunch. He had money for later for the vending machines though. "If your shoulder is good, then we must not have both been shot there cause mine hurts like hell sometimes. Lucky me I don't get pain killers." Mike's tone was sarcastic. "Of course there is a reason for that." he added softly. It was due to his drug habit. Mike had told the doctor, so no pain killers for Mike.

Mike shrugged with his good shoulder, "Thanks. Moving out helped a lot." He told Jade. It was the truth. "Kian is letting me stay on his boat for now. I am looking for a job too so i can live on my own and stuff. I can't do all that if I spend my days in a haze." He admitted. Mike knew he had a problem. Yet he never said it out loud actually.

"Thanks for letting me sit with you, i know I don't deserve it, but its good you still consider me a friend." Mike was grateful maybe this was a good thing. Now perhaps he could talk to Jade and not become a coward. "Whats working for me is hanging with the right people, not to mention I made a promise..." he made one to Julia and himself, and Mike would hate to see that beautiful girls face look disappointed. "But more then that I guess I needed a wake up call."

Mike let out a sigh. "When I was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital I told them that I took drugs and so they did not give me anything too hard. Since you can't take drugs in the hospital I went through withdrawal like hell man. I never wanna do that again, so...I guess what I am trying to say finally is I have a problem with drugs and I...I am trying to get help..." Mike was not looking at Jade when he said this.

"I need to say that out loud to you cause I was using when we were dating and i know I treated you badly and all, and I guess I just wanted to tell you this. I have a problem you know, they say thats the first step is admitting it. I got people supporting me, but I was hoping I could add you to that list...." Mike lightly picked up Jade's hand gave it a light squeeze. it was nothing sexual, simply a sign of friendship and need "As a friend at least....I know I treated you badly, but I could use your support you know..." He was hoping Jade would at least give him that much even if he did not deserve it.

" I am goin to an NA meeting tomorrow after school, so......." Mike could not look at Jade as he said this. He could not bare to see the guys face. At least he finally admitted he has a problem.

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade smiled at him, "I never stopped being your friend Mike, but I had to walk away from you... my being around wasn't helping your situation and it wasn't doing much for me either for that matter... but just because I'm not dating you doesn't mean I don't still care about what happens to you as a friend. Most people know I would move heaven and earth to help my friends if I can." Jade said to him.

"My parents would of course prefer if I had no contact with you, if I'm honest at the moment I really couldn't give a toss about what they want. So if you need me and I'll tell Jeremy I've said this so your not get any problems from him... you have my number you can call me and if I can I'll come or at least I'll talk to you as long as you need it." Jade said to him.

"I'm very proud that you managed to start seeking help for the drugs." he added. "I'm also sorry you have to go through that much pain after getting shot, coming from someone who knows just how painful it is and how hard it is to stay functional when not on the painkiller... I feel for you, but to heal without them that takes some pretty big will power." Jade said to him.

Jade listened to him speak about DA and wondered what he was trying to ask him or whether he was just telling him what he was doing. Jade used his hand to turn Mike's face so he could look him in the eye. "Is DA something I can help with? " Jade asked trying to figure it all out.

[Mike Spruill]

"Things are that bad at home? I mean when we dated I knew you had your issues with parents and all, but its that bad you have to move out?" Mike asked Jade. He was worried about the guy. "I can't blame them for saying that...for you to stay away, i never gave them much of a reason to trust me....when we were dating I was already into the drugs and...it had nothing to do with you. You were probably the best part of my life at that time."

Mike nodded, "It helps when you got people breathing down your next about it, other checking up on you...not to mention the whole moving out deal..." Mike said as he took a breath, "I won't lie, the temptation is so great sometimes for drugs...Its like i know I can get them, but...and I want them....but I am really trying...like you said its working cause I have not used anything beyond Advil. I won't completely lie maybe a few painkillers but not any since last week."

Mike nodded when he asked if DA was something he could help with. "Its meeting for people who have problems with drugs, and I also might go speak to the school counselor...I am not sure about that yet. I don't know if I am ready to tell the world just why I decided drugs were easier then dealing with the pain..." He was referring to both mental and physical.

"Just be careful man...with taking the pain killers...its easy...its easy to get hook, and its even easier not to realize just how hooked you are." Mike said still holding on to Jade's hand. "Look I um....I know you are with Jeremy and I know you care about him, but um...I still have feelings fro you man, and I....I guess I had to tell you...i still care about you a lot...I miss you...." Mike admitted. "And I am sorry I kept things from you and for how I treated you."

Mike looked at Jade. he raised his hand to touch the side of Jade's face, "I don't want to complicate your life anymore then I have, but I miss you...and I would be lying if I did not tell you this...cause I don't want to lose your friendship, but I still have feelings for you a lot...and I wish there was a way to make you feel about me what you once felt....I am jealous...jealous that you can move on and I am not sure I can."

Sure Mike had Dare and he had feelings for Dare, but he still had feelings for Jade, so it was confusing.

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade nodded, "Bad no, I'm just tired of being pushed into doing what my grandparents want all the time, to see whether or not I am worthy to run the family business when they pass on and when my parents pass on at least 20 years away. I've been running around in circles all week, I accept that I have to do some of this stuff to prove I can, but I have to be able to concentrate on school or the work will be for nothing." Jade told him with a smile. "No where near the scale of what you have gone through with the drugs and what ever else I know, but it just goes to prove that even those who show themselves to be perfect are anything but." Jade added.

Jade listened to Mike choosing not to speak until his friend had finished what he had to say, it would be easier he thought if he didn't interrupt Mike. When Mike was finished or seemed like he had finished he was ready to speak again.

"Jeremy just kind of fell into my lap so to speak, I got lucky, I found these two amazing guys... one didn't work out and I got what I hope is a friend for life, the other is the person I know I want to spend the rest of my life with. To say that it was easy for me to move on from you Mike, no it wasn't I still care about you, I sometimes wonder about what could have been. All I know is that we're all in a better place now than we were five months ago. Your of the drugs, I'm learning to stop being the go to boy in my family when they need a problem solved... god only knows what Jeremy has got out of this besides me... he seemed to have a pretty good life before I entered it." Jade said to him with a smile. "I'm not over you by any stretch of the imagination, I'll be doing something stupid or something we used to do together and you just pop into my head." Jade said to him.

Jade put his hand on Mike's free one and smiled while squeezing, "The next time something happens, and you need help give me a call. Seriously I'll be more comfortable knowing your safe, its what friends do, and I'm in the unique position of being able to help my friends out most of the time. I can't buy out the law but that doesn't mean I can't do other stuff... I can't drive at the moment either, so you can cross able to give a ride to you of your list for at least a couple of more weeks." Jade said to him. "I want to be a better friend than I have been of late, I've been so busy that I've neglected the important things in my life, my friends actually just having a life outside of school would be helpful right now." Jade said to him.

[Mike Spruill]

Mike nodded. He could not agree more. "I know exactly what you mean. How that perfect family image can really be a whole bunch of shit. Just something to fool people with." His fathers were like that. Perfect around the neighbors and at work, but the moment they walked through the door it was like all hell broke loose an Mike was the target for all the pain, and aggression of the day.

Mike smiled at that as Jade spoke. "You are always in my head. I can't get you out of it. We are in a better place, but I would kick my self if I did not ask is there any way I can have a second chance?" Mike had to ask. He would regret if he did not hear Jade say the word No. which is what Mike was expecting. Mike pulled Jade closer to himself. "I don't want to cause problems fro you and Jeremy. If he makes you happy, then keep him around, but I am not sure I can move on, until I know there is no hope for us..." Mike said those words slowly.

Mike looked Jade in the eyed as he said he would do anything for his friends. He moved their bodies even more closer. "I will call if I need anything, but right now I am good." He had Dare to give him a ride, although after this he might not. "I just need to know we don't have a possible future. That Jeremy is is for you at this moment." Mike had to know he needed to move on. Or else he might hold onto Jade for a long time. Cause Jade hat this hold over Mike's heart and Mike could not explain it.

Mike knew his next move would be stupid. Yet he could not help it. He softly brought his lips to Jade, for a farewell kiss of sorts. A passionate farewell kiss. Mike finally pulled away from jade. He would take what ever bad words or punches Jade threw for what he did, but Mike had to, "I know that may screw things up, but I had to do it....I had to see....is there something there...and if not...then I promise we are just friends...but I had to try or else I would have regretted it...cause I already regret losing you."

[Jade Edwards RCO]

The kiss was the last thing he had expected when Mike had sat down, his instincts cut in when they broke apart and the flat of his hand slammed into the boys cheek the slap the only thing he could think to do to show his anger towards what had just happened.

"Do you even realize what you just did was wrong, how bad it looks for both of us?" he demanded of Mike. "I love you, you complete idiot always have but you had your chance to keep that, I can't go back there. I'm already in a place I would rather not be with my family, please do not try to make the one good thing I have in my life a nightmare. I love Jeremy do you get that, what ever feelings I have for you I have to bury. Because I cannot lose Jeremy from my life, most days he is what keeps me sane. No matter how much you care about me, no matter how many times you say I love you... or how many times you kiss me... its not going to bring back a relationship that didn't work." Jade said to him.

"I'm sorry I should not have hit you like that... but all we can be is friends... don't spoil that for us please... this doesn't have to go any further than us. I don't want Jeremy coming here and doing a number on you, kissing me puts us in both in a bad position." Jade said to him. "Is their something there, definitely, but I choose not to act on it and so sshould you... I can't help you if you keep kissing me. Eventually we'd get caught and that isn't worth it for either of us." Jade told him. "I miss having you but its not worth the heartache it would cause, Jeremy is sorted, their aren't any issues with him." he said to him. "But you and me, our problem is we have far to many issues." Jade said. "I don't know you half as well as I should do Mike, I don't know your issues beyond the drugs and you can't tell me that you don't have them. I don't need a phsycology degree to work out that you have issues. Just like you don't need to be a genius to work out what my problems are... well one word family." he said to her.

"We have screwed up lives you and me, hell we'd make a good episode of Springer I think... an actual real episode not the stuff that they make up as they go along." Jade said with a smile. "You were the first person I ever cared about, the first person who didn't look at my house my car, my family and see their ticket to fame. That makes you special and someone out there needs to find you." Jade said to him. "There are four people in the world that I trust with my secrets, your one of them... you never got how much work that took to make happen." Jade said to him.

"Thanks for showing me that theirs live outside of the mansion and liftstyle lead. I just can't do with the lying any more or the secrets between us. And I'm sorry about that I really am." Jade said to him.

[Mike Spruill]

Mike felt the slap. Luckily Jade did not hit as hard as his fathers did, so it was not that bad. But he had a feeling it was coming. At least now Mike had his answer. Now he knew he needed to try and move on from Jade. Jade made a good point, "I know...I am sorry...you are right...I don't want to screw anything up." If Mike was really changing then he needed to start by wanting Jade to be happy, even if that was with Jeremy.

Mike would admit he was depressed about it, but it was the truth. "No need to say sorry. I over stepped." At least he deserved to be hit for that, "I have been hit harder." Mike never meant to actually say those words, but they did come out. "I hope you are happy. Cause thats all i want for you Jade." Mike was dead serious. he heard everything Jade said, and he honestly agreed with the boy.

"One word for me...family." He nodded. "I know what its like to need to escape. Thats why I moved out, and I am glad you are moving out." Mike told Jade. He eyed the boy. "Jerry Springer would make a killing off us." He said with a laugh. "Your welcome for showing you there is another world out there." Mike told Jade. he sighed for a moment.

"If you want no more secrets and you want to be friends, and trust each other, ad share secrets then I guess we should start working on that...rebuilding our friendship so to speak." Mike told Jade. "I do have my issues. I know I do. There are things I have never said out loud before except to one person." Mike ran a hand through his hair. "I used the drugs to replace the pain I felt. But now that I moved out I am hoping it will get better."