Jade (Ch. 3)

  On her way home, Jade thought and thought about what just happend inside her head. Her mother had visted her and told her everything she wanted and needed to hear. Jade was a little bit relieved, but she was still a little angry.

 Finally seeing the cellar door, Jade pushed her way though it. Gabrielle ran to the stairs to her sister.

 "Jade! You're back!" Gabby cried.

 "Yeah. I am." Jade hugged her baby sister.

 Gabby hugged her sister back, holding onto her tightly. Jade buried her face in Gabrielle's hair, taking in the scent of it: Watermelon.

 "Gabrielle, your hair smells really good." Jade whispered.

 "Thank you." The little girl smiled at her older sister.

 "I have something to tell you." Jade looked down.

 "Yes?"

 "Go get Daddy."

 Gabrielle went and got Maxwell and brought him to the stairs.

 "Jade, baby. You're back." Max went up and hugged his oldest daughter.

 "Yes. Daddy, I have something to tell you and Gabby." Jade looked at her father.

 "What is it, baby?" He asked.

 "I can hear Mom sometimes. I heard her when I was out walking." Jade said softly.

 Max and Gabby just looked at Jade like she had two heads.

 "Stop looking at me like that! I'm being serious. She told me to tell you guys she loves you. She listened to me." Jade walked away.

 "Jade...." Max started.

 "Don't talk to me. I just want to find a new home so I can be alone. I'm sick of staying down here in this stupid cellar." Jade said, on the verge of tears again.

 "Sissy." Gabrielle went over to her sister.

 "Please, just leave me alone. You guys never believe me!" Jade sat in a corner and covered herself up with a blanket.

 Jade pulled out the box she had been hiding under the blanket, opened it and pulled out her iPod. She put her earphones in, turned on the iPod, and searched for "When You're Gone" by Avril Lavigne.

 She listened to this song on repeat until she fell asleep, crying.

                                                    ~THE NEXT DAY~

 Jade woke up, her iPod on low, still playing the song. She yawned, turned off her iPod, and threw the blanket off, thinking it was all a bad dream. When she realized that she was in the storm cellar, she knew it was real.

 "Jade, you're up." Max breathed.

 She nodded, standing up and hugged her father.

 He hugged her back, not wanting to let her go.

 "I'm sorry, Daddy. I didn't mean to be so rude yesterday. I just wish you'd listen better. Mommy always said that you weren't a very good listener." Jade sighed.

 "I know and I'm sorry. I'll try to get better." Max squeezed Jade.

 Jade didn't let go of her dad, she just held on.

 "Daddy, I don't ever want to lose you. I miss Momma. I don't want to go through the heartache and pain again if you go, too." Jade's voice cracked.

 "I'm not going anywhere, baby girl. I promise." Max rubbed her back.

 Jade buried her face in Max's shoulder and cried.

 "Jade, I've never seen you cry so much. Are you alright?" Max asked.

 "I'm fine. I've just had things bottled up so much that they're finally breaking the glass...." Jade kept crying.

 Max just held her until she calmed down.

 Jade finally sniffled, lifted her head, and looked at her dad.

 "You okay, now?" He asked softly.

 She nodded and he kissed her cheek.

 "C'mon. Let's wake up Gabby so we can clean up the remains of the house so we can find somewhere to build a new house, okay?" Max asked.

 Jade nodded again.

 Max let Jade go and Jade went over and tapped Gabrielle on the forehead.

 "Hey, sissy. Gotta get up to help Daddy. C'mon." Jade said.

 Gabrielle's eyes fluttered open, she blinked a few times, then looked up at Jade.

 "Fine." She groaned.

 "C'mon sissy. Let's go." Jade pulled her sister to her feet.

 Gabrielle stretched, then put her shoes on.

 Jade picked up her little sister and carried her up the cellar stairs, setting her on the ground when she got to the top.

Max looked at his girls, then turned to the mess in front of him.

"Well, girls, it looks like we have a lot of cleanin' to do. Let's get started." Max said.

"Okay. Do you want me to go find someone to help us because I think there were only a few of us that actually got hit." Jade said.

"If you can get Mr. Anderson to help, that would be great." He smiled.

"Sure. I'll be back in about five to ten minutes. Gabby, you help Daddy with the small stuff, okay?" Jade looked at her sister.

Gabby nodded then Jade went to find Mr. Anderson.