A/N: Well, this is where I list my excuses for not updating. But really, school has been so hectic and I'm currently in the middle of midterms week(s), so you're welcome for an update. Honestly though, I'm glad to be writing instead of studying! :) As promised, here's some Bade.

Some days, Jadelyn West wishes she could just dig a hole in her backyard and bury herself alive.

Mainly because she's convinced that suffocating and swallowing dirt would be a better alternative than the life she's living above ground.

She feels as if she's always raging or angry about something and that every little, stupid thing that happens to her is only for the worst.

And it all started when she was younger; when her dad vanished out of the clear blue. Poof – gone. It wasn't until two months later that he called to actually talk to her and explain his actions.

Jade had been eight years old when her life turned upside down. She watched her mother fade into a lifeless, emotionless zombie, no longer being the nurturing and supportive woman she had once been.

Then there was James.

James West was six months old when his big sister began taking care of him. She had to, especially when their mother didn't come home at night. Jade would go to school and come home and do her homework, then her mother walked out the door as if she knew she wasn't responsible anymore.

At eight years old, Jade became her baby brother's caretaker. And for seven years she did everything in her power to be there for him. She even fought against being forced to move to London to live with their father when their mother was hospitalized for prescription drug abuse. (James was excited to go, only because he didn't know anything about George West. The only association he had with his children after leaving was sending a birthday card full of cash and what he thought were nice and encouraging words.)

Now it's been three years of living through hell, and Jade West feels like she just can't take it anymore. So when she gets a phone call from her mother saying that she's clean and healthy again, the teenager begins to secretly plan her escape.

One day, when she's looking up flight times, there's a pounding on her door.

"Come in," she says automatically, not looking up from her laptop.

The door opens slowly and a chubby boy enters the room, holding a piece of paper and a pencil in his hands. "Jade?"

"What's up?"

"I need help with my math."

Jade finally looks up from the screen to see her little brother standing in her door way. She motions for him to shut the door and join her on the bed.

James West complies and takes a seat next to his big sister. As he hands her his homework sheet, he admits, "It's actually last night's homework, but I didn't do good, so my teacher is making me redo it…"

Jade glares at her little brother and snaps, "Why didn't you come to me last night, hm?"

"I don't know," James says between giggles. Jade can't help but notice the gap in his teeth and she inwardly swears at her selfish father for not getting him braces. (Thank goodness she has naturally straight teeth.)

He continues, "I wanted to try it by myself for once, and I messed up a lot."

"Well, now you know that you do better when you have it taught to you twice, yeah?"

"Yeah…"

As Jade finishes reading through his mistakes, James – being the curious ten year old he is – sneaks a peek at her laptop screen. When he notices that they are plane flights, he asks, "Where're you going?"

Jade stiffens besides him; she hadn't even thought of telling James that she might leave London. Hell, she hadn't even thought about bringing James with her. She hesitates, contemplating his several different reactions. That is one West family attribute: you never know how they'll take any kind of news.

"I was thinking about going back to California," Jade answers truthfully. Might as well lay it all out there on the table.

Surprisingly, James remains calm and asks, "California? Why?"

"Because Mom is much better and said that I – we – could come back if we wanted."

When James doesn't answer immediately, she begins to realize that going back to the states may not be ideal for her little brother. He only ever knew their mother as the neglecting alcoholic who came and went as she pleased. He had no positive memories of Carolyn West. So why would he want to go back to a woman who never showed any kind of affection to him or his sister?

Finally, James speaks up and says, "Would you ever come back to see me?"

Jade's heart sinks. Is she selfish for wanting to leave to make her own life better? Making the move to Cali would be a dream come true for her, but that means leaving the only person she loves. And taking him with her when he doesn't want to go would also be selfish.

She sighs heavily, weighing her options. "James," she pauses to look at his freckled face and deep blue eyes. "I want you to answer truthfully, okay? If I moved back with Mom, would you want to go with me or stay here?"

"Stay here," he answers automatically. "I like it here. I like my school and my friends…"

Jade smiles tenderly. "Then I won't make you go, but you have to promise me that you're okay with me going. I'd never forgive myself if I left and you wanted me to stay."

"No," James says quietly. "I mean, I don't want you to go, but if you're not happy here, then you should leave. You make me happy, but a lot of stuff makes me happy here. I can tell that nothing makes you happy."

The sadness in his words makes her feel guilty. "You make me happy, James. Never forget that."

"But me being the only thing that makes you happy isn't enough. You need to go to a place where you can meet someone and be happy, Jade. You're really pretty, Sis, and I bet you could find a guy easily if you weren't so bitter about everything."

Jade snorts out loud at her brother's comment. "I'm not bitter, you twerp!"

James laughs, showing his crooked teeth again. "Yeah-huh! You're mad about everything that happens to you! The other day, you dropped your sandwich on the floor and then kicked a hold in the pantry door."

"Yes, but the look on Dad's face was worth it."

"Better than the faces he pulled when you came home with the face jewelry?"

Jade smiles and raises her eyebrows. "Nothing can top that…"

And when it was decided that Jade would go to California and James would stay in London, they also agreed to call each other often and visit when possible. Then she helped him with his math assignment and sent him off to go to bed. Jade went to bed earlier than usual that night, planning the days to come. Because in just one week, she would be back in the States, away from all the bullshit the past three years have brought.

And away from the one person who loves her back.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

The question pulls Jade out her memories and she looks to Beck. "Huh?"

He smiles crookedly and asks again, "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Do you think I'm bitter?"

Beck laughs lightly and gives Jade a disbelieving glance. "I feel like this is a trick question!"

"Just answer it," she says as she rolls her eyes in annoyance.

"Well, sometimes you can be, I guess. But otherwise, you're pretty chill. Why?" Beck wraps his arm around her shoulders casually and she responds by placing her head on his shoulder.

"My brother once told me that I'd be happy if I found a guy, but that I'm too bitter for any guy to handle."

Jade runs her toes through the sand as they watch the sun set over the water. With the others gone to find a signal for the transceiver, she and Beck got some work done, but most of their time was spent relaxing and appreciating each other's lips.

Beck rests his head atop hers. "You do seem to be less angry when we're alone and more agitated when the others are around."

"I just lose my patience. I had to grow up faster than kids my age and I guess I've always been a little bit hostile towards others who have a normal life, you know? Being unpleasant was a good retaliation for my parents' behavior. And now it's just my personality, I guess."

Beck smiles knowingly at his girlfriend (yes, girlfriend – though they haven't made anything official…like tell the others). Though he had a happy childhood, he can see why she doesn't always want to deal with people's petty problems. Raising her own brother and being mistreated by her parents gave her the right to sometimes be a little irritated.

"I'm never going to see my brother again."

This comment leaves Beck speechless.

"I promised him that I would call and visit, and I can't even do that because I never made it to California. How the hell is he going to know that I'm here? He's going to think I found a better life in Cali and forgot all about him, but really I'm on this fucking island, thinking about him every day and-and…" She chokes back a sob that Beck knows is only allowed for him to see.

"He's the only person who ever loved me, Beck," Jade whispers as she rubs her black sleeve against her nose to keep it from running.

Beck lifts his head and presses his lips into her hair. "He's not the only one."

And because Jade isn't normal, she laughs then shakes her head, and with a small smile she says, "You're an idiot."

She still lifts her head up to allow their lips to meet in a soft, yet loving kiss, which is followed by many similar kisses. And before they can get too involved in their heated moment, they're broken apart by the others appearing from the jungle. When they notice their panic-stricken faces, Beck and Jade know something's off.

But no one's in their right mind to tell them.

A/N: And chapter 14 is complete! The little bit at the end is from a Tumblr post I saw. It says, "She doesn't say 'I love you' like a normal person. Instead, she'll laugh, shake her head, give you a little smile, and say, 'You're an idiot.' If she tells you you're an idiot, you're a lucky man." AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS MOST PERFECT STATEMENT FOR BADE, so I used it. (So disclaimer there: that's not mine!)

And please don't think Jade is incredibly OOC here; I write her in this way because this is how I think she is when she's alone with Beck. I think he keeps her level-headed when everyone else just gets her worked up.

Only 8 reviews last chapter, but that's okay! But please review for the Bade in this chapter! :) They'll get more chapters and cute moments as the story progresses, but I have to include the other stuff too! And I'll try to update much faster this time – but no promises!

Thanks so much!

XxLadyStrengthxX