Chapter Two ~ Musings

"Jadey's strong anyway, you don't have to pretend that you're tough for anyone to know that."

Jade West still didn't know what possessed her to stay the night but as she stared down into the redhead's face she couldn't help but feel her throat clog up with words that she wished she had said earlier. Cat almost purred in her sleep, her chest heaved with every breath she took and her lips were upturned into a gentle little smile as though she was seemingly content, occasionally her eyelashes would flutter slightly as though her eyes were about to snap open and she was about to wake up but instead she would continue sleeping blissfully, curled up on her side with her arms hugging herself gently.

"You know, even when you're glaring like that, you're very pretty."

She shook her head and bit her lip slightly, she tried to glare at Cat for making her over think so much but found it impossible. She knew that it was simply girly talk, that they were just really good friends and that Cat was just trying to cheer her up but she couldn't help but silently hope it could have meant more. After all, Cat had kissed her right? Although it was just on the cheek…She paused again and choked on those words again before casting an uneasy glance at the sleeping bag that had been strewn on the floor where she was meant to be sleeping before perching on the bed next to the dozing girl. It was late, obscenely late, she didn't want to wake her but Jade found herself long helplessly to be closer to the little frame that was Cat Valentine.

"Blushing only makes you prettier, Jadey!"

Perhaps she should still be sad about Beck, perhaps she should be holed up in her own bedroom crying pathetically over him, listening to really crappy love ballads and letting out another string of wails whenever a particular line or limerick reminded her of him. She had really loved him, they had been together for a long time and it was natural for her to want to mope although she would still never admit this to anyone. She knew that she should probably still be pining over him but instead she found herself suddenly infatuated with the crimson haired sweetheart lying peacefully sleeping.

She sunk further down so that they lay vertically next to each other, Cat's brow puckered slightly but she was soon at ease again as her breath evened out and she carried on purring, completely lulled over by whatever dream she was having. Jade let out a relieved sigh and looked up at the ceiling, still not seeing what was so interesting about it, her hands were clasped on her stomach and her lips were downturned into a little confused frown.

"I don't like this," she whispered, "It's really stupid, I shouldn't be thinking like this."

A head full of dark hair shook as she started to laugh at herself and glanced over to her sleeping companion, "S'your fault," she whispered accusingly. The girl carried on sleeping, blissfully aware that she was getting the blame for her friend's current confusion. Jade bustled further down so that her head was level with Cat's and turned so that she was facing that angelic sleeping face. She rolled her eyes for a second before chastely pressing her lips to the other girls. It was an innocent notion, she just wanted to have it over and done with whilst the other slept and then she could tell herself that she wasn't a coward and that she did it nevertheless. However, before she got the chance to pull away she felt the fluttering of long eyelashes on her cheek and Cat Valentine was suddenly wide awake.

Jade pulled back quickly, leaving Cat there with her lips still puckered, her expression reminiscent of that of a goldfishes. Her brain started to work at hyper-speed, searching for an excuse that was plausible and kicking herself when the only one she could think of was 'I slipped.' She opened her mouth to say something to break the tension between them but was quickly cut off by the smaller girl's tinkling laugh,

"I've already said, Jadey. Blushing only makes you prettier."

And their lips were touching again, this time initiated by the sweet girl who had now perched herself up on her elbows to reach the taller's face without having to strain her neck. Jade almost smiled as she took in everything about Cat, her scent, the gentle way her eyelashes stroked her cheek as she closed her eyes, everything.

"Now I don't mean to sound brash, Jadey… But it's very late," she let out a yawn, "And I'm very sleepy, so if you wouldn't mind…?"

"Oh," Jade coughed and went to stand but was quickly stopped by the smaller cheekily smiling up at her before nestling back down into her blanket and resting her head on her pillow.

"I didn't say you had to leave, silly, just get that sleeping bag. I steal the blankets…Or at least, I think I do, I'm not sure, I just wake up in a big ball and…"

"Cat, please shut up."