Return to School (Jade: Tag Jere, Anyone)

[Jade Edwards RCO]

The heat of the morning sun was causing him to be more uncomfortable than normal, he had been of school since the attack and in the hospital longer than he liked, he would be relying on his brother for transport for a few more weeks, as he wasn't cleared to drive just yet. Jade had chosen a light t-shirt and was already dressed when he walked into the dinning room, Alex and his sister were already seated at the table.

"Hey." Alex said as he sat down a plate placed at his place filled with food by one of the staff.

"Don't we usually do that ourselves?" Jade asked his brother who snickered as Jade tucked into his food with one hand.

"Your wearing your hearing aid." SJ said Jade looked up at her and nodded, it was with some luck that he had been able to get hold of one quickly it was a little bulky and you could see it because his hair was always short.

"Mom would kill me if I didn't." Jade said she giggled.

"You would be correct in your assumption young man." their mother said as she sat down at one end of the table. "Not quite as unseemly as you thought it would be." she said to him Jade shook his head.

"It takes a little getting used to." Jade said. "As does eating with one hand." Jade said as he poked at a sausage on his plate.

"No peas just yet." Alex said.

"Not unless you want to die." Jade said to him his brother laughed.

"We should get going, I want to meet up with Sah." Alex said twenty minutes later.

"I keep expecting the announcement of your engagement." Jade teased his brother who growled as they headed for the door. "I need to get a pair of sunglasses." Jade said before rushing up to his room, by the time he arrived at the garage Alex had the car running and ready to go. "I get the feeling that I am going to be needing them today." Jade said as he slipped into the passenger seat.

The drive to school was punctuated by a stop at the coffee shop, Jade insisted on coffee every morning before the start of school. Alex never really got why but as they got out of the car though he knew why, the coffee from the shop they had been to was to die for.

"I'll catch up with you later." Alex said to Jade who grinned.

"I'll be fine, not like I have any real wish to be in the school today." Jade said with a wink as he walked towards the doors to the school.

By the time he got to his locker he was glad that he had dressed lightly today, the air conditioning did little to stifle the heat that was building up outside. Jade opened his locker to retrieve more deoderant and aftershave... being vain was something that was possible, but it was better than stinking he thought.

[Mike Spruill]

To say Mike had been through hell this past week would be a huge understatment. He had been through hell and back. First he almost died with being shot. Now he was off the football team. Also, he admitted to some one he got beat and now he was avoiding that someone because she wanted him to tell someone. You would also think the beatings stoped, but no. They kept coming. Mike had spent a few days in the hospital. He had actually almost died. It really did give you a new out look on life and all Mike could think about was Jeremy, Jade and Julia. Three J's that might haunt him for the rest of his life.

To say Mike had changed would be wrong, but.....he was trying to. Mike had spent an extra few days in the hospital because when he was going to be released the nurses noticed him get sick...again. Withdrawal after being shot....that was like death. Sure you would think he would have been on morphine, but for some odd reason, while Mike was dying from loss of blood he told the paramedics he was a drug addict and therefore. No morphine. Of course just because he did withdraw and the drugs were out of his system did not do much. He still had craving. Which also meant he was avoiding Kiki and Tony. Kyle had died and that had also hit Mike hard.

Mike had wanted to die so many times and now. He was not so sure. All Mike knew was right now he had a moment of clarity, which might not last long. What Mike needed to do was apologize to Jade and Jeremy and find out if Julia did in fact tell Jeremy about Mike's home life. And if she did Mike needed to make sure Jeremy never, ever told Jade. Jade could never know Mike was being beaten. And Mike needed to do all this now, because the cravings were big and he knew he would probably slip. So he needed to do this now before that happened.

So Mike headed over to Jade's locker. His shoulder/upperchest bandanged. Mike approached not so silenty because of Jade's hearing issue, although Mike had not idea about the hearing aid. When Mike did stop it was a few feet away. He leaned againt the locker and sighed. He was on Jade's good side, the side without the hearing aid, "Look um....can we talk....I promise nothing shady will happen....I just want to talk." Mike was prepared for what ever attitude Jade would throw him because Mike deserved it.

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade felt his spirits hit the floor when he heard Mike speak, he didn't let it show when he turned to look at him, he looked like he was in two minds as to whether or not he should tell the boy where to go. Jade had come a long way during his time away from the school and Mike, he knew that the boy had almost died during the attack on the school, but it had done nothing to soften his resolve.

"What do you want Mike?" he asked politely.

"I'm glad to see that your healing at least, I heard that you were hurt last week." Jade said to him, he had been asked if he had wanted to visit the boy in question by any number of people who knew that they had dated, but he simply had not been interested in seeing him.

He wanted to be straight to the point as he sorted his books out for the first lesson of the day.

He wondered where his boy wonder was when he needed him to bail him out of an awkward conversation, but knew that it wasn't necessarily a good thing to depend on his boyfriend when the going got tough.

[Mike Spruill]

Mike sighed. This was no easy task. He knew he had hurt Jade in the past. Mike had to say sorry now. He really meant it and this was literally one of the emotionally hardest things to do. Mike cared deeply for Jade and he knew he always would. Jade had been the best thing in his life and he screwed it up in typical Mike fashion. Either way this must be done. Whether Jade believed him or not, or whether he yelled or not....Mike must not back down.

So, Mike took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, "You too. I heard you were shot. Glad to see you are up and around." Mike pushed up the sleeves on his sweat shirt. Yes he was aware of the degrees outside, but his sweatshirt hide things he needed to hide. However, it was a very light sweatshirt at least. More like an overall shirt with long sleeves. His arm should be in a sling, but Mike was stubborn and instead agreed not to move it very much.

"I just wanted to say.....I....I'm sorry. I treated you badly and....it was not right. I won't lie and say I am over you...I'm not, but I respect that you are with someone else." Mike said. "I just wanted to apologize for being an ass and a jerk to you." He told Jade. "I was wrong and I am just sorry I never said it sooner. I hope one day you can forgive me." There. It was said. What else could he say.....nothing really. Well maybe if he thought about it, but right now just saying sorry was the most important. Especially since Mike had no idea how long he would actually stay clean and sober for. Right now he was clean, but he might not be for long.

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade almost did a double take when the boy apologised, it didn't take much to see that in some way he meant it, Jade was also keenly aware that the boy had said sorry enough times to know it could just be a ploy. It was whether or not Jade was going to give him the benfit of the doubt and buy that this time he actually meant what he was saying.

Jade rubbed at the back of his neck as if trying to figure out what would be best to do in this situation, his nature told him that the boy was being sincere but the other part of him was screaming that Mike could not be trusted.

"I've heard you use that word way to much Mike." Jade said to him. "I don't want to hear it from you, because you use it like its something to be thrown around on a whim, you want to impress me and proove your willing to change you need to show it." Jade said to him. "I know you wanted to hear something else, but how about we try to be friends, and just see how things go... no presure to do anything, just trying to be what we started out as... What ever concerns that Jeremy might have, I'll put them at ease... but thats upto you." Jade said to him.

[Mike Spruill]

Anyone who said apologizing was easy had obviously never done it, but Jade was right. Mike had said it so much in the past, that the word sorry had no meaning. The feelings behind the word, were very real, but Jade had every right to be suspicious. As he was saying sorry Mike was thinking of his next score. The first one after going through withdrawal. Also, when you had friends like Tony and Kiki who were using drugs even more since Kyle's death, well you could only resist for so long. Add in being beaten and well it was only a matter of time before Mike went back. He needed serious help and was not willing to get it. Mike was on the verge of addiction. There had been times he could go days without drugs, but Mike choose not to. Which could still be considered addiction.

"Look I know okay, but.....I mean it...." Mike ran a hand though his spiky hair, "Friends huh.....Look I can't promise anything. Proving something.....its not easy man. Even as I stand here all I want to do it go drink or get high.....what else can I say...that's my life...it helps me deal with shit....shit no one can help me with." Except Julia who had been checking up on him. Annoying yes, but it kept Mike stright for now, but when she was gone and his friends were around....it was hard. "I will try okay...no drugs...no drinking...I am already avoiding Kiki and them, but its not easy...." Mike looked at Jade. This was one of those moments. Yes Mike had been avoiding his friends, but there was only a matter of time before he went back, "What do I need to do to prove I mean it....if friends is all I can get then fine....I hate that I hurt you. I want you back in my life." Sure he did not want it as friends, but if that's all he could get then....beggers can't be choosers. Friends it was.

[Jere Warner]

Julia had spilled everything about Mike. His upbringing, the abuse, Jeremy had no idea any of it was going on and worst of all, he had to promise not to tell Jade.

Jere didn't want to be in the middle of this!

He went to his locker and gathered his books for the first couple classes, trying to piece together the news that had been flung at him. He sighed as he closed his locker and leaned against it for a moment before heading to Jade's locker.

He stopped in his tracks when he saw Mike talking to Jade. This had to be bad after the last time! Promise or not, he wanted Mike away from Jade!

He pushed his way through the halls flowing with kids till he was between Mike and Jade. "Excuse me," he replied curtly. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important!" His eyes darted between the two but remained more on Jade and his reaction to everything.

He'd keep his peace until one of the two spoke up then he'd let both of them have it. Mike being part octopus sometimes and Jade with his remarks there was just so much someone could take!

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade looked at Mike, "The apology was a good start, you seem to mean it, but only time will tell as to whether or not your sincere." Jade said to him. "You got your chance, don't screw it up okay." Jade said to him and gave him a reassuring smile.

Jade watched the boy before nodding to himself, the boy seemed to be sincere, but like he had said himself time would tell whether or not the boy meant his words or not. The time for them as a couple was over as far as he was concerned, in Jeremy he had everything he wanted... Mike was whether he would admit it to Jade or not damaged goods, that was something that Jade couldn't handle any more.

"Hey." Jade said to him. "Mike sort me out to... he sort me out to apologise for a few things." Jade said to Jeremy when he saw the boy. "You weren't interrupting anything that any of us would have issue with." Jade said to him attempting to placate his boyfriend. "How are you?" he asked as he wiped his brow. "Did I mention that I hate the heat." Jade said with a growl. "At least when its this hot, I could fry an egg on the bonnet of my car." Jade said to him.

[Mike Spruill]

Mike hung his head as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I am still dealing with staying off the drugs and drinking, but I mean it...i do. I am sincere this time. I will prove it...or try to." To say he would absolutely stay away from drugs and drinking was not a promise Mike could make. Perhaps he could. As long as he stayed away from Kiki and Tony, who at that moment decided to pass the three of them in the hall. Thank god they kept walking. Friends had a big thing to do with doing drugs and stuff. Of course Mike could use counseling, but he refused. He did not need someone digging into his past and discovering how he coped with pain, which was the reason Mike doubted he would really be able to give it up. He needed to numb the pain some how.

Mike scooted back a little and look at Jeremy, "I was just telling Jade I am sorry for how I have been in the past. I know I screwed up and it was not right. I figured since I have a moment of clarity I should apologize for being a jack ass." Mike knew he had done wrong. He knew he needed to do this or risk eternal damnation. If he had any chance of getting back in Jeremy or Jade's good graces then an apology is what he needed. Besides with Julia bugging him to get better and talk Mike needed to do this. It was a step no matter how small.

How long it would last was another thing. "I um...I'll let you two go. I am sorry to you too for what I did." He told Jeremy. He had no idea if Jeremy knew the truth, but he also was not about to stick around to find out. "See you both. I have some teachers to see and some work to make up." He told them both.

[Jere Warner]

Jeremy had heard that before. It would just be a matter of time before Mike was back drinking and taking drugs again. He couldn't help but to feel sorry for him, from what Julia said it sounded like a horrible home life with the beatings and all. It was no wonder he turned to booze and alcohol to hide his problems.

It was hard to stay mad though when he apologized. It sounded sincere enough but then if someone lied enough anything could sound sincere.

This was a lot to absorb with everything that had happened within the week. To be held in silence was making things more stressful. He instinctively reached over for Jade's hand, it seemed like a comfort at the time.

"Yeah, I hope things work out for you with the others." Jeremy said with some reluctance in his voice. At least that part was settled but the big part was going to come soon.

He gently squeezed Jade's hand. "We don't have a lot of time right now but I need to talk to you about something very important." He had fallen hard for Jade but was unsure how Jade truly felt about him.