#Jayde being like 'yeah ill only stay around here for like 2 weeks' *ends up staying for like two months* | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

werewolfdays · 4 years

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snippet - Moving On

in which Jayde tries to move on after Nadya saves her life. Key word is “tries” -

There wasn’t much in the way of weapons in Nadya’s apartment. She had a couple of self defense keychains, but I would feel better if they were in her possession and not mine. So I settled for one of her kitchen knives to take with me until I meet up with Skye. I threw that into the old backpack Nadya let me have and went back into her bathroom to gather some basic first aid supplies.

I was beginning to wonder if I should worry that she wasn’t back yet when I heard the front door open. It didn’t even cross my mind to hold back a relieved sigh until it escaped from my lungs. The realization allowed me to stop myself from immediately rushing out of the room to check if she was okay.

“Jayde?” Nadya called.

“In here.” I tried to ignore the slight flutter in my gut when her footsteps came towards me.

“I got the burner you asked for,” Nadya said while she came into the room looking for me. She tossed the plastic packaging on the bed and rifled through the paper bag in her hand, “I also got you an extra pair of clothes.”

A pinch of guilt formed in my gut at Nadya spending more money and resources on me than I asked for, but I nodded in approval when she showed me the outfit she purchased. “Thank you.”

Nadya shrugged, fiddling with the handles on the bag after she placed the clothes on the bed, “I kinda guessed your style.”

“I don’t really have one, I don’t think.” I replied with a small laugh.

Having a style hasn’t been something I put too much thought into since I was a kid, but the fact that Nadya picked these clothes out for me already made me like them more than anything I’ve picked out for myself. It was simple, which I was grateful for. Grey t-shirt, jeans that had stylized rips in them, a black knit beanie, and an army green utility jacket with many pockets. I won’t stand out in this outfit and it was practical. It made me smile.

It was such a childish thing to take pleasure in that I shook my head at myself and reached for the burner phone. I ripped through the packaging with ease while Nadya took the liberty of removing the tags from the clothes and putting them in the pack. I glanced up as I was entering a number into the contacts and smirked at the care she took in folding them.

The phone flipped closed a little louder than I intended, making her startle slightly. I offered an apologetic wince and I held it out to Nadya, “Here.”

She frowned at it, “What?”

“This is for you.” I explained, “With everything that you’ve done for me, this is the best way I can repay you. If something happens when I leave, you call the number in there and destroy the phone. I promise I will come.” Such a long moment passed with Nadya staring at the phone in my hand in confusion that I urged it toward her, “It will protect you.”

I will protect you.

Nadya finally reached for it. Her fingers brushed against mine, making my skin tingle where she made contact. The tingle spread to the rest of my hand and up my arm. I had to hold back a shiver. “Thank you.” she said quietly.

“Only use it for an emergency.” I told her, backing away to stifle the feeling. Even though it panicked me, I missed the sensation as soon as it was gone.

“Of course.” she agreed, clutching the phone close to her chest.

I put on the jacket she got for me and grabbed the packed bag, throwing a strap over my shoulder, but my legs wouldn’t take me towards the front door just yet.

Nadya looked me up and down, finally realizing what I was intending, “You’re leaving now?”

A halfhearted shrug lifted one of my shoulders, “I should’ve left days ago.”

“You don’t want to wait until the morning?” Nadya tried hopefully, pocketing the burner phone. “It’s dark out.”

I almost told her that I wanted to. “I can’t.”

Nadya opened her mouth, then hesitated and shut it. Clearly wanting to argue my decision, but knowing better than to push it. A part of me wanted her to. I knew deep down that if she tried to convince me to stay, I would end up convincing myself.

“Okay.” she finally relented, letting out a sigh.

Not really trusting myself to say anything else, I turned and moved to leave the room. My eyes scanned her wall of pictures one last time and I paused to try and remember them. There was one in particular that always caught my eye when I studied her collection. It was a polaroid of a stream somewhere in the woods and the sunlight was shining down on it through the trees, illuminating the crystal clear water and the smooth stones that lay just beneath its glittering surface. The picture was vivid enough that I could almost hear the trickle of water and the buzzing sounds of nature.

“Never give this up.” I uttered, remembering the hobbies I loved before my life went to shit and couldn’t even think about now without feeling a deep pain in my chest. “Always keep it close to your heart and don’t ever let it go.”

“I won’t.” Nadya promised softly, coming up to stand beside me and admire her wall.

I pointed at the picture of the stream, “This one is my favorite.”

Nadya smiled at the photo for a moment, then reached to take it off the wall. “Here,” she held it out to me.

“Oh, no,” I shook my head, “I can’t take your picture.”

“I got hiking here all the time.” Nadya explained plainly with a shrug, “I can take another one.”

“Yeah, but they’re your pictures. Your art.”

Nadya gave me a wry grin and walked over to her desk. I frowned as she uncapped a pen and scribbled something down. Once she was finished, she came back over to me. My breathing stopped completely when she grabbed my wrist, lifting my hand up and setting the small polaroid in the palm of my hand.

“Now you have to take it.” she told me, releasing my wrist and allowing oxygen to enter my lungs freely again.

I looked down at the picture, flipping it over to read what she wrote on the back in silver ink.

Thanks for not being a terrorist.

-N

The note made me snort with laughter. I shook my head in amusement and carefully pocketed the gift in my new jacket. “You’re welcome.”

Knowing that the real goodbye was coming, Nadya’s grin only lasted a few short moments. Too short. “Be careful out there.”

“I’ll try.”

“I mean it.” She said seriously, “I don’t want to see you in my hospital again.”

The corner of my mouth twitched up briefly, “You won’t.”

Nadya took a deep breath, her shoulders lifting with the inhale and slumping with the exhale. She hovered slightly for a moment, like she was unsure of what else to say or do. After an awkward second, she settled on holding out a hand for me to shake.

I could see that she was already regretting the formal action, her warm brown eyes looking pained like she was silently reprimanding herself. Though I held back a chuckle, my crooked grin remained. I gratefully accepted her outstretched hand and allowed myself to briefly indulge in how comforting her touch was.

“Thank you, Nadya.” I told her, knowing that it was far less than what she really deserved. It was all I could offer her right now. It was likely that I’d never see her again, but I made a silent vow to myself that I would figure out a way to make it up to her someday.

“Anytime, Jayde.” She replied in a voice soft enough to soothe my conflicted mind.

Reluctantly, I released her hand, casting one last quick look at her wall of pictures, then to her. Nadya gave me one more sad smile to take with me. I wanted to remember it and I was sure it would be impossible to forget. Just like she was.

The walk towards her front door was harder than I expected it to be. I kept having to remind myself not to look back. It would only make it worse. Why it was so difficult in the first place was a mystery to me. None of this should be difficult. But I felt her eyes on my back and it tugged at my impulses, making it extremely hard not to steal one more glance in her direction. Somehow I managed not to, though I hovered at her door once it was shut behind me, hand holding the doorknob like I was trying to rationalize opening it back up.

My hearing picked up her footsteps coming towards the door. They stopped just before it, mirroring where I was standing on the outside. I wondered if she was going through the same internal battle that I was. Wishing that I would come back, or trying to convince herself to open the door too. One thing is for sure… I couldn’t let either of us give in to the urge.

I released the knob, forcing myself to walk away. It wasn’t until I got down to the street that I realized I couldn’t hold it back anymore. My eyes drifted up to her window on the second floor to find Nadya already looking out of it. Our eyes locked one last time and I couldn’t muster the strength to regret it. Not when she smiled at me so warmly. It gave me the courage and confidence to keep going. I stood up straighter and moved forward.

A couple hours passed before I found a payphone far enough away from Nadya’s apartment. I shoved the change needed to make a call in the slot and waited. Droning rings echoed in my ear while quiet splashes of a few droplets of rain pattered against the window of the phone booth to signal another coming shower.

“Jayde?” My sister’s voice picked up, sounding panicked.

“Yeah, it’s me.” I answered.

“Jesus Christ!” Skye exclaimed, “Where the hell have you been? We haven’t heard from you in like a week and a half!”

“I was lying low. Tried to take on some hunter assholes and it… didn’t really go my way. I got fucked up pretty bad, but I’m alright.”

Skye sighed in relief, “Well that’s good to hear. I was beginning to think you left again. Or got taken…”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” I told her curtly.

“Well, where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

My head shook, “No, I just need you to bring me a few things.”

Skye sighed again, but this time it was in exasperation. “What do you need?”

“Weapons. Money. A car…” I replied, feeling a little stupid. “Basically all of my shit got confiscated.”

“What the fuck did you do?” Skye chuckled.

“Long story.” I said flatly.

“You want your shit, then start talkin’.” Skye’s voice became high and confident as she held my supplies ransom for details.

I growled, “Bring me my shit and I’ll tell you, how about that?”

“Fine, fine,” Skye relented in amusement. “Tell me where you are, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

I waited in the rain for as long as I could before the beckoning warmth of the diner across the street was too tempting to resist. My rationality was the beanie Nadya had given me. Surely that would offer a sufficient disguise. All I wanted was to not be soaked to the bone. And some damn coffee.

The dark clouded sky was turning gray with the oncoming sunrise when I finally spotted a familiar pickup truck pulling into the parking lot. There was something bulky in the bed that was covered in a tarp to shield whatever it was from the weather.

My younger sister, Skye, stepped out of the truck once it was parked. She was shorter than me, with mossy green eyes instead of dark blue ones like mine, but besides that, we looked fairly similar. Definitely unmistakable as siblings. But where we were similar in appearance, we differed in personality. Skye walked lightly, almost with a skip in her step, to mirror her bubbly attitude, and she almost always had a small, arrogant smirk on her face like she understood a joke that everybody else didn’t. Most of the time she did.

She wore that smirk now as she slid into the booth across from me. “So, spill.”

“I got my ass beat, alright?” I recalled in annoyance. “Wound up on lockdown in the local hospital and I escaped.”

“On your own…?” Skye clearly sensed that I was leaving out important information.

I sighed. I wasn’t exactly sure why I didn’t want her to know about Nadya. Maybe because I knew she would make fun of me for it. “No, I had help.”

A waitress came by to offer my sister some coffee, which she eagerly accepted. Once the waitress left, a moment of silence lingered between us until Skye held up her hands, “Well? Don’t leave me hanging.”

“There was a nurse.” I complied hesitantly, “I convinced her to help me and she took me in while I recovered.”

“There it is!” Skye said with a massive grin and I rolled my eyes, “Is that whose scent is all over you? She smells nice, was she pretty too?”

“None of your business.” my eyes fixed her with a warning glare. “Now, can I have my shit?”

“Geez, you’re no fun.” she complained.

“Skye, I have had a long couple of weeks.” I told her in a scolding tone. “All I want is enough supplies to be on my way.”

“And where is that this time?” my little sister retorted with a sudden seriousness, “Am I gonna get another call in a month asking for more ammo? Or bail you out of the slammer? Or how about a mental hospital? You haven’t got yourself fucked in one of those yet.”

I was in no mood to have this argument with Skye for the tenth time. Nothing I said could make her understand my need to keep moving, to keep fighting. It was the only thing that made me feel grounded anymore. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself without it.

“For your information,” I started, a snarl nearly escaping my throat, “I’m gonna linger around here for a little while longer.”

Her eyes went wide with shock, “Really. You? The Lodge isn’t good enough, but this place is?”

“It’s not like that, I have to.” I told her, my irritation growing.

“Why?” Skye prodded, “I would think you’d want to put as much distance between yourself and here as soon as you can.”

I took a deep breath, knowing that Skye wouldn’t let me deflect. She would also know if I was lying and become even more pushy for an explanation. “I have to make sure the nurse that helped me won’t be in any danger once I’m gone. She broke me out of the hospital and saved my life when everyone was calling me a terrorist. And she did it to save lives so it’s not gonna sit well with me if something happens to her.”

“She broke you out?” Skye marveled in bewilderment, clearly impressed.

“Yes.” I nodded, remembering how I could barely believe it myself. “And she let me stay at her place for the past week.”

“Damn, she’s ballsy.” Skye chuckled, “Or just really stupid.”

“That’s what I thought.” I agreed with a small smile. “Trust me, it’s the former.”

“How are you gonna know if she’s safe or not?”

“I gave her a burner phone to call me if she needs me. That’s why I have to stay in the area until this blows over, I don’t want to be too late to save her. Which reminds me, I need your phone.” I held out my hand.

She scowled at me suspiciously, “Why mine?”

“‘Cause yours is the number I put in hers.” I motioned for her to give it up. “You haven’t gotten any other calls besides me, right?”

“Why’d you give her my number?” Skye asked incredulously.

“Because mine’s gone, genius.”

“Then buy a new one, dumbass.”

I sighed in exasperation. “It was easier to give her your number, now cough it up.”

Skye groaned dramatically and fished her phone out of one of her pockets. “Here.”

I caught it when she suddenly tossed it at me and snickered at her disappointed look since she was aiming for my head. When I looked down and saw the Hello Kitty sticker she stuck on the back, I rolled my eyes. “Really?”

She shrugged, “I went to a couple hospitals looking for you and they don’t necessarily keep the kids stickers on lockdown.”

I made a noise of displeasure, “I would’ve preferred a Finding Nemo one.”

“Well, get your own damn burner and steal whatever sticker you want the next time you end up in a hospital.” Skye bit back.

“I owe you. Happy?”

“My favorite words to hear.” she replied with a bright smile and took a sip of coffee. “So what did you tell her?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, with everything the nurse did for you, she must’ve been curious about you. What did you come up with as a cover?”

This was another explanation I was dreading. Might as well get it over with. “I told her the truth.”

Another charged moment of silence fell over us as Skye completely froze with the mug to her lips and stared at me blankly. She then shook her head like she was coming out of a trance, “I’m sorry, you told her the truth about what?”

“About me. What I am.” I admitted with a cringe.

She continued to blink at me in confusion, slowly setting the mug down. “I know you mean you told her you’re bisexual and not that you’re a werewolf, right? Because admitting that you’d be down to clown with a hot nurse is way more believable. Telling a random human that you’re a werewolf is a new level of crazy that you wouldn’t even dream of. Right?”

“She deserved to know.” was all I could think to say as a defense.

“So it is the mental hospital for you next.”

“Skye-”

“You are the last person I expected to be that stupid, Jayde.”

I leaned up in my seat, poking the surface of the table to get my point across. “I did not make that choice lightly. Nadya put her entire life on the line for me without any thought for repayment. It was only natural that she had questions and she was too smart for my shitty excuses. She would’ve figured it out herself if I hadn’t told her.”

Skye didn’t look convinced. “And how do you know she won’t tell anyone?”

“She’s not like that.” I insisted.

“You’re willing to bet everything on that.” My sister stated more than asked.

I patted a couple of my jacket pockets before I remembered the one that the polaroid was in and pulled it out, dropping it on the table in front of Skye. She picked it up and studied it with disinterest like she didn’t understand the importance until she flipped it around and saw the note Nadya wrote on the back. After reading it, Skye glanced up at me curiously.

“She’s a photographer.” I explained, “When I told her I liked that picture, she gave it to me.”

Skye sat in silent contemplation for about a minute, staring at the photo in her hands. Eventually she nodded and I was relieved that she finally accepted what I was certain of. Her eyes met mine and brightened with that mischievous smirk again. “It’s not just the picture you like, is it?”

My eyebrows raised, “Excuse me?”

“Hot nurse saves your life, offers you a roof, gives you a gift before you go,” she held up the polaroid, flipping it between her fingers, “And you tell her the truth, give her a phone to call you, and stay in the city you almost got gunned down in to make sure she’s safe. Sounds like you have a crush.”

At first, I was offended by her assumption. Then my face flushed in embarrassment. My first thought was, Is it that obvious? Which threw me for a loop because I hadn’t even admitted it to myself yet. But just like always, my sister knew me too well.

“Even if you were right, it doesn’t matter.” I shrugged in an effort to seem nonchalant, “I’ll never see her again.”

Skye wagged an eyebrow at me. “Or maybe she’ll call you.”

I rolled my eyes at her, “I didn’t give her the phone to keep in touch. It’s for an emergency only and she knows that.”

“Maybe an ‘emergency’ will happen.” My whole body tensed as I sensed one of her bits coming. Skye continued, using a high-pitched voice, “‘Oh, Jayde, some trenchcoated goons have been looming around my house trying to sell me a new vacuum cleaner! Please, save me! You’re my only hope!’”

I scowled at her. “You think you’re so funny.”

“Come on!” Skye urged, “There’s gotta be some small part of you that’s hoping she’ll call.”

“No.” I said firmly, though she was partially right. A huge part of me was hoping that I would see Nadya again one day, just not under dire circumstances. But another part of me knew that was the only way I’d get to see her again.

“Fine.” Skye said, clearly not convinced and handed the photo back to me.

I took a few moments to stare at the photo fondly, flipping it over to look at the note on the back and running my fingers over the letters Nadya wrote. Then I carefully returned it to the pocket it was originally in. “You want some breakfast?” I asked Skye, ignoring the knowing grin on her face.

By the time we finished eating, the sun had risen and it’s rays broke through the splits in the clouds once the rain dissipated. I followed Skye to the truck and watched as she grabbed the tarp and pulled it off, revealing my motorcycle secured to the bed. A massive smile appeared on my face like I was reuniting with an old friend.

“Figured you’d want the bike.” Skye said while she walked over to the passenger door and pulled out a duffle bag. “I put some supplies in here for you. Clothes, money, first-aid, et cetera…”

“What about weapons?” I asked, taking the bag when she held it out to me.

“There’s a thirty-eight in there.” Her hands shot up to placate my surprised look, “Before you get pissed, it’s because you need to lay low. Pack light. Once you’re done babysitting your human, you can come for more firepower.”

While doing a quick rummage through the duffle bag, I was pleased to find a new switchblade as well. I pocketed that and subtly stuck the small revolver in the waistband of my pants. Then I helped Skye unload my motorcycle with another large grin that wasn’t easy to dampen. I left my bike at the Lodge the last time I was there in favor of a car that could hold more supplies, but maybe that’s where I went wrong. A bike was more versatile and Skye was right, I needed to pack light right now.

Once my bike was unloaded, I strapped my duffle bag to the back. I almost transferred the contents I had in the backpack Nadya gave me to the new duffle bag, that would be simpler and I would have less to lug around, but I couldn’t bring myself to give up her backpack. Instead, I pulled a map of the city out of the front pouch and slung it back over my shoulder. My plan was to keep to the outskirts of the county, moving every couple of days until I circled the entire border. Maybe after doing that a couple of times, I would be satisfied with Nadya’s safety and be able to move on.

Skye cleared her throat as I was marking my path for the first few days and I looked up to see her holding my helmet out to me. The only reason I had that thing was because Toby bought it for me. I scoffed and went back to tracing my pen along a route, “That’s funny.”

My younger sister sighed heavily, “Have you even tried wearing it?”

“I don’t need it.”

Skye let out an exaggerated groan, dropping her arm and gazing up at the clouds while dramatically stomping back to the truck to fling my helmet in the bed. She’s been doing crap like that since she was little and I was a fool to believe she’d ever grow out of it.

“Oh, give me a break.” I complained.

“Give me a break.” Skye replied, “I’m so over your brooding badass bullshit. No one’s too cool for a helmet when their head is cracked open like a watermelon on the asphalt.”

“That’s not gonna be my head. I’m too good of a driver.”

“Uh-huh,” She grumbled.

I could sense my sister’s agitation towards me. It was more than just sibling banter and I realized it wasn’t only about my helmet. Skye was becoming increasingly sick of my habits, and if the small disappointed frown on her face told me anything else… it was that she missed me. Guilt wracked my heart because I missed her too. I missed Toby. I missed our small pack and even the Lodge despite how trapped it made me feel. A part of me wanted to stop and go back with her, but I was more afraid of the quiet.

“Look,” I began, knowing that I had to repay Skye in some way. A promise would do. “When this all blows over, I’ll come back for a little while.”

Her eyes snapped in my direction in disbelief. “You will?”

I gave her a nod, “Yeah, maybe I could use a break.”

The way my little sister’s expression brightened made it worth it.

Skye wrapped me in a tight hug, “I think you could use one, Jayde.”

I hugged her back, letting myself enjoy familial contact for a few moments. Skye’s scent was very similar to our mother’s. She reminded me of her and I think our mom would be proud of Skye. Me on the other hand… well, I wasn’t so sure my parents would be happy with the way I turned out. Which was why it was so hard to be close to Skye. My little sister was a painful reminder of the disappointment I’ve become, how I not only failed my parents in a lot of ways, but also how I’ve failed her. And trying to make up for it just seemed to put me in more pain.

“I should get going.” I said, carefully disentangling myself.

“Yeah,” Skye nodded and backed away, “Try to stay out of trouble.”

“Same to you.” I slung the other strap of Nadya’s backpack over my shoulder and mounted the bike, “Say hi to Toby for me.”

She gave me a thumbs up, “Punch him on the shoulder, got it.”

I threw her a crooked grin, pleased that I didn’t need to translate. “See you guys soon.”

Skye leaned against the truck as I started the motorcycle. I took a minute to feel the rumbling engine of my bike, its growl oddly comforting and it felt like I was coming home in a way. I could still feel a part of its previous owner still lived within every treasured part that was placed like a perfectly fit puzzle piece by hand. It wasn’t just a well educated mind that kept this thing running, but a love and dedication that still held it together to this day. After revving the engine a couple times, I smiled up at Skye and gave her one last nod in thanks for returning the motorcycle to me. She smiled back and waved goodbye. At that, I put both feet on the pedals and took off towards my first destination.

#ocs #original characters #original writing #original story #My writing #my ocs #Jayde being like 'yeah ill only stay around here for like 2 weeks' *ends up staying for like two months*#also I really love writing Jayde and Skye #hop back onto the pre relationship train #what im gathering from my own writing is that time isn't linear #one day ill organize all this shit so its like an actual chronological book #but rn I just wanna have fun with it #Jayde #Nadya #Skye #Jayde pov

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