Two Months Later

"Vega." I groaned and rolled over, burying my face in the pillows, "Vega get up." I did not want to get up, nothing on earth could make me get up. I was not getting up, not even for Jade.

"You can't make me." I challenged, pressing my face deeper into the soft pillow, pulling the comforter tighter around my shoulders.

"I can so." Jade affirmed, her voice vaguely threatening. I was vaguely alarmed but not enough to move.

"Nu-uh." her fingers found my sides seconds later, causing me to shriek and twist away from her, arms and legs thrashing wildly as I rolled to get away, "no tickling!" but she wasn't stopping, coming after me with a wide grin across her face, "I give!" I screamed as she wildly went after me, straddling my hips to keep me in place on her bed. It finally got her to stop, much to my relief.

I was having to pant to try and catch my breath, "Come on, we promised to go clean up the Black Box." Jade said, her voice edging on whining.

"Promised? Jade, you're being forced to because you almost started another food fight last week. Why am I going?" I sighed, flopping against the bed.

"Because you love me?" Jade grinned.

"I do." I replied lazily, "but going to school to clean with you? I don't know however I'd survive." I sighed dramatically.

"I can think of a few ways to convince you." Jade whispers, leaning down and kissing my shoulder, making me suddenly aware of the lack of clothing. I vaguely remembered stumbling up here last night around 3 am after binge watching TV shows with Jade, stripping down to my underwear and crawling into Jade's bed, but it was only now that I realized how practically naked I was, my cheeks started to burn.

"Fine fine." I caved in, unconsciously tipping my head back as her soft lips trailed up my neck, my eyelids fluttering between open and closed, "Jade..." she sighed and pulled back.

"I was hoping of distracting you so I didn't have to go."

"Nice try." I rolled my eyes, giving her shoulder a gently nudge so she rolled off of me. I wiggled out of her bed and walked to her dresser, finding a pair of my jeans in the bottom drawer and a tank top in the top, "come on, the faster we get this over with the sooner summer starts."

"Come on Jade, all we have to do is put this shit away." I pushed the mop and bucket in front of me, the yellow monstrosity sloshing everywhere as I pushed it outside, tipping it over so it's contents spilled on the ground. Jade followed behind me with two now empty buckets filled with rags and sponges and we headed for the closet.

I pushed the mop in first and Jade flung her buckets inside, causing a total collapse of the stacks of buckets and other cleaning supplies which toppled out the door, "damn it, Jade."

"Sorry, sorry, I'll clean it up." she sighed, stepping inside to re-stack all of the buckets while I waited outside, not willing to chance getting locked inside again. When she was done she picked up her bag and we made our way to the doors. Jade took my hand in hers as we walked out, heading for her car.

"So what are you doing this Friday?" she asked, swinging our linked hands.

"Nothing much, I've got an outstanding date with the most beautiful girl I know, we're supposed to go watch a movie and play mini golf."

"Sounds like a lot of fun."

"Loads of fun. She makes everything fun." I grinned at her and she burst into a fit of giggles. I stopped walking and tugged her to me so we were standing a few inches apart. I couldn't help but enjoy the shocked look on her face, but only for a second, before I leaned in and kissed her softly, feeling more happy than I've felt in years.

"I love you." Jade whispered as she pulled away.

"I love you, too." I leaned in and kissed her again, reaching down and dipping my hand into her pocket to snag her keys, "but I get to drive now." and I raced to her car. She chased after me, cursing and yelling but I managed to get into the drivers seat and lock the doors before she could get the keys. Triumphantly I stuck my tongue out at her and started the car, not unlocking the doors until she'd walked around the passenger side.

We were just supposed to be friends, but this was so much better.

And we've reached the end of this story, it took me almost two years to continue and finish.