Dinner date (Jeremy/Julia cut to Jade)

[Jere Warner]

"It'll be fine Jules, just give us the time, 'k?" Jeremy told his sister with a smile on his face despite the feeling of dark doom was ready to rear it's ugly head after all no good ever came from the four dreaded words, 'We need to talk.'

Truthfully Jeremy had no idea what Jade had to say. Maybe he had made a plan to get them out of the house but then that would have left Julia behind and he seemed like too much of a gentleman to do that, or so he thought.

His mouth dropped with disbelief when Jade talked about his ex and who the ex was.

"So what, you're dumping me for someone that hurt you before and other people don't trust?" He was holding his anger back. "Let me tell you something, Mike is the reason I stayed in the closet for so long! He scared me to stay there!" His rubbed his forehead trying to piece what was constructed as logic. He didn't want to remember that time but Jade deserved to know the truth. "We were at a party together, we started talking and seemed to hit it off right away. I liked him, that was it LIKED him but he seemed to want more. A small kiss here that lead to wandering hands and no wasn't meaning no in his mind. I was able to get away from him and I hoped he would never come back but seems like he went and sunk his claws into you!"

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade blushed deeply at the accusation's, "I told you I had an ex boyfriend, though I had no idea and neither does he for that matter that you two were connected, or at least not that he would admit to me." Jade said to Jeremy. "It was a kiss that I would rather hadn't happened, and yes it was a kiss and nothing more than a kiss, but he has a way of getting to you and if you know him even remotely you know what I mean." Jade said to him.

"I refuse to lie to people about my own short fallings, thats the reason my parents are pissed at me, they know Mike they know what he was like to me while we were together, I'm not going to lie to you, I still have feelings for him, my parents wish I didn't but I do, I care about you, if I didn't we could have made it all the way through dinner and the next few weeks with me lying to you about what happened, to protect you and probably protect myself from getting the beating I would deserve for it." Jade said to him. "If you want to leave and take your sister with you, I completely understand, I have no right to ask anything of you at the moment, and have no intention of trying to make sense of what happened at lunch." Jade said to him.

"I think you can figure out why my family is angry at what happened, but so you know I don't expect anything especially not forgiveness from you, I would like a chance to make things right, but you need to know also that having Mike around is incredibly confusing for me." Jade said to him. "My sexuality was never that hard to work out, some people struggle with it, I never did, but I struggle every day for acceptance, I make a show of being a guy who is care free, someone who throws money at the problem, or just plain buy my way out of what ever trouble I am in." Jade admitted he took Jeremy's hand. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, I was hopeful for more than one date, but I dont know what is happening." Jade said to him.

[Jere Warner]

Jeremy was still in disbelief about everything that had just transpired. "I understand perfectly, the way a con artist can get your money." The analogy was perfect.

"The more I'm hearing the more I'm siding with your folks, they know what they're talking about. I'm not going to idly by and let him hurt you again." Jeremy couldn't have said truer words, if it meant fighting for Jade then he'd fight to have him back.

He worked at holding back his tears. "You are the first guy I ever had feelings for," he could hear his voice crack slightly. "Nothing and no one will ever change that." He gently stroked Jade's arm, looking into his eyes. Without thinking twice he moved in and kissed Jade. Not just a sweet peck but one of those that would knock the socks off anyone.

This was going to be the best way to remember Jade. He wanted Jade to feel the same way or at least hoping he'd forget about Mike. "If this doesn't tell you how much I care then I don't know what will."

"I don't want to leave, I came to meet the folks so thats what we'll do."

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade stared at him, yeah this was a mess, and the fireworks would start tomorrow if he knew Mike even remotely as well as he suspected he did, "Your sister is going to worry if we don't get back in there, you can use my bathroom to clean up I'm just down the hall." Jade said to him. "His not going to make it easy for me, and by default you, but when my parents basically give me an ultimatum I follow it... and I do care about you." Jade said returning the kiss.

"People get to see the house after a first date, but I can count on one hand the number of times someone sees my bedroom on a second date." Jade said to him as he walked down the hall a couple of doors the one he stopped at was one that had his name written in gold highlights. "Don't ask, but Al and I have them on our doors, our sister is among those who can't tell us apart so she found out who slept in which room and did this." Jade said. "I think I've taken it down four or five times in the past my sister just keeps putting it up there." Jade said shaking his head. "You go clean up and I will bring Julia down here, anything with a couple of exceptions we can do in the den we can do in here, including watching the TV and I have some really cool bean bag seats which I brought just after I came back from the camp out." Jade said to him. "This is why I am gay." he added pointing to the door. "Bathroom is through there." Jade added as he turned to go get Julia.