Treasure

Jade tugs me out of the pub and I follow her in a daze, what the hell just happened? Jade kissed me and it was a really good fucking kiss. We made out in front of my ex. I know Melissa is fucking livid. I feel triumphantly and a bit turned on. I shake my head to rid of the memory of her lips on mine. That's going to be permanently seared into my thoughts forever.

Jade is still tugging me along, "Jade where are we going?" I finally speak up.

"I don't know." She continues to pull me down the street, she seems a little upset. I stop and tug her arm, making her turn around. "Are you okay?" I ask taking in her face, searching her eyes to get a grasp on what's going on but she seems to be having a hard time looking at me.

"I'm not sure." She sighs and puts her hands upon her hips, "I cannot believe you were married to that woman."

"Yeah, me either." I agree, "Guess sometimes you really don't know a person like you thought you did."

She glances around us, realizing that we've walked a block away from where we're most likely both parked. Her eyes finally come back to me. "I'm sorry... again."

"Sorry for what?"

"For putting myself in your business. I shouldn't have done that."

"Well, I for one really enjoyed that you did that."

This makes her laugh, and I'm glad. I have no idea what's gonna happen with Melissa, will she for once and all sign the papers and leave me alone? I can only hope but for right now, I rather enjoy my free time with Jade.

"Want to get me some ice cream?" I ask her, knowing Ice Cream World is literally a storefront away from where we stand. Her eyebrow quirks up at my question. "You owe me a date miss."

She purses her lips at me, "Fine."

We make our way over to the ice cream shop and both get twists in a cone. I can feel Jade's uncomfort, it's something I haven't ever seen her express. She's always been confident and sassy. She's fidgeting. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, "C'mon, let's go for a walk."

I lead her towards a park across the street, there's a large pond in the middle, a playground at one end and a walking path around the whole park. Jade has become one of my closest friends, and her obvious protection of me means the world. I guide her onto the walking path.

"Jade what am I going to do with you now?"

"What do you mean?"

"That was the worst kiss I've ever received." I joke, trying to lighten her mood, get her out of her thoughts and anxiety. Her head snaps to look up at me, her eyes narrowed but relaxes when she sees the massive smile on my face. She shakes her head, "oh my gosh, I can't even believe I did that."

"That was epic!" I assure Jade but she scoffs, "I'm serious! Her face was pure fury, this may just be the final nail in her attempt at reconciling."

"I would do anything for my friends."

I squeeze her shoulder, "You kiss Zara like that?"

"I would." she nods.

"I'd pay to see that."

"You would." she acts disgusted, "Men." but I can see her lips pulled into a smile.

"Thank you for caring."

She sighs, "I hope this doesn't make things worse for you. I swear, I'm done with intervening in this."

I laugh, "I'll owe you if she finally signs the papers."

We continue eating our ice cream and walk together. Jade has relaxed, my arm still around her shoulder as we stroll along peacefully. It also just occurs to me that she happened to be at the same pub as us, at the exact same time? Hmmm... That can't be a coincidence.

"Jade..."

She hums.

"Did you know I was meeting Melissa?"

She hesitates for a second, licks her ice cream then answers, "Nope."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Nope."

I chuckle, "Alright then."

A loud sigh comes from her, "I saw her text and after witnessing the damage she did to you... hell no. I wasn't gonna let her put you back in that place."

"You're a treasure Jade." I squeeze her, like my heart is tightening right now. This woman.

"I know." She responds and it makes me chuckle.

"What are your plans for the rest of the day? Crashing any other lunches?"

"Hardy Har Har. Nope but the day is still young." She pops the bottom of the cone into her mouth and I hum as an idea comes to mind.

"You wanna go for a drive?"

"Drive where?"

"Anywhere." I shrug.

"A drive to anywhere. Sounds mysterious, I'm in."

"Of course you are." I laugh, I steer us back to the pub and to my car. Opening the passenger door for her, closing it when she's comfortably tucked inside then head around to the drivers side to let myself in.

We drive in a peaceful silence, the music at a happy medium, the windows down and Jade puts her hair up into a messy knot atop her head. She is stunning and for the millionth time I wish I would have gotten to know her first, dated her first. I don't think I'm at the point to date anyone, and I don't want to lose Jade as a friend. I wasn't kidding when I called her a treasure. She's an absolute package and I can't help wonder why she's still single. There's a small pang in my chest at the thought of her with someone else.

"You alright over there Stud?"

I glance in her direction, confused by her question. "Yeah, why?"

"Your grip on the steering wheel is a little alarming."

My gaze moves to my white knuckles, I loosen my fingers allowing them to get blood flow again.

"Don't let that bitch invade your thoughts. We all make awful mistakes."

"You're right." I allow her to believe that's what has me wanting to rip this steering wheel off. God I'm such a mess. "Is that why you're still single?"

"Of course I am. I'm always right." she jokes. "And partly, sure. I haven't met anyone worthy of anything more than a night."

I cringe.

"What's that face?"

"What face?"

"That face you just made." she twists to face me.

"I didn't make a face." I deny and keep my focus on the road.

"You so did!" she throws her hands up, "Unbelievable."

"What?"

"You! You're unbelievable!" she mumbles something under her breath that I can't make out, "Please tell me you're not a sexist idiot. I'm gonna have to terminate this friendship."

"What? No?" I feel my brows scrunch in confusion.

"Because friend, you and your brothers are quite the sluts and that's whatever...you guys do you but don't you dare make a face about me having a one night stand."

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize I made a face. You're right, you can have as many one night stands as you want." I just don't have to like it.

"Thank you!" she says with exasperation. "But it's been a while. The last time he had whiskey dick and I was left so disappointed."

I try not to cringe or make a face at that tidbit and man what I would do to this woman given the chance. I like her too much to make that move. I need to keep her in my life.

"Poor guy!" I chuckle.

"Poor guy? Poor ME! Ugh!"

"You're right. Poor you."

"Thank you!" she sighs, "Where are we going anyway?"

We've been driving for maybe a half hour now. There's this abandoned historic park with a few large parking lots that is ideal for this. Sure, I could've taken us to the local school or something but a drive sounded nice.

"Gonna teach you how to drive manual!"

Her eyes widen, and she shouts, "Really?"

"Yeah, I told you I would."

She dances in her seat, her excitement palpable. I make a right into the entrance and in the distance the large structures stand tall. "What is this place?" she inquires as we move further down the road. There's eleven of them.

"It's considered a historic park. Me and Vin randomly found this place one day. Most people don't realize they're even here."

"What are they?" Her focus remains on the ninety foot tall brick towers as we pass by them.

"Kilns."

"Kilns? What?"

"Yeah, I looked it up. I thought they were old light houses or something. But they're kilns, they once made cement for all kinds of structures."

"Wow."

"Yeah, pretty neat right? We'll check em out then."

The kilns are behind us now as I drive towards the second lot. It's always empty which is perfect for this. A lot of people come out here to take photographs and use the pathways for jogging. I pull into the lot and begin the lesson.

"Okay. First gear is the trickiest. Once you have that down, the rest becomes a piece of cake."

"Alright!" she claps her hands, her body is turned in her seat fully facing me. She's all pumped up. My car isn't very big since it's a two seater so I try to keep my arms out of the way so she can see my legs and feet.

" I have the car in neutral." I wiggle the shifter back and forth to show her. "To put the car in gear, you have to push the clutch in. Watch my left foot." I instruct and push down the clutch. "Now you can put the car into first gear." I grab the shifter and it goes into first smoothly. "Now if you release the clutch too soon, you'll stall." I release the clutch and the car jerks then shuts off. I restart it again, keeping my foot down on the clutch so the car doesn't stall out again. Jade's watching intently, her head nodding as I'm giving instructions.

"The car is still in first gear." I point to the shifter, "Now to drive, you slowly release the clutch and with your right foot put pressure on the gas pedal. Not too much though or you'll do a burnout."

"Really?" she smiles mischievously, making me laugh.

"We'll save that for another day turbo."

Getting back to the lesson, I do as I just explained and the car begins to move forward, "When the RPM-" I point at the dash, "rises you'll hear the car begin to whine out, you'll shift into second gear. Push the clutch down and shift." I've driven us to the other end of the lot and turn us around. "When you want to slow down, you do it all backwards." I downshift back into first, "But make sure you keep your foot down on the clutch if you're under a certain speed, or you'll stall." I remind her. "Some remove the shifter into neutral and break normally, it's just like any other car in neutral except if you press on the gas you won't go anywhere." I put it in neutral and stop the car, pulling up the e-break. I look to Jade, "You ready?"

"Hell yeah!" She shouts already climbing out and rounding the car. She's hopping foot to foot at my door. I shake my head in laughter. "C'mon slow poke." she calls out. I move exaggeratingly slow, while opening my door and as I get out. She pulls me out of the way and scrambles into the seat behind me.

"Damn! I knew you were tall but hell...how do I adjust the seat." I laugh and take in her dilemma, her legs wiggle up and down, the distance between her feet and the pedals a good foot away.

"In front under the seat." While she adjusts the seat, I move to the passenger side and clamber in. We both get comfortable and Jade starts talking to herself, "Clutch down. Gear in. Gas." As she says this outloud she follows through the motions and the car whines up real loud then stalls. "Oh shit!" she laughs. I love that she's not embarrassed or afraid to fail. V was the same way when I taught her how to drive a manual. My ex didn't care to learn. She tries again and actually gets the car to move but stalls.

"AH! I got it to go!" she yells out. "Okay...okay...one more time! I got this." she restarts the car and gets right into it. She does it. She's driving in first, the car whines out.

"Okay, you hear how it's whining? Put it into second." I advise her. She does just as I instructed and soon we're making circles in the parking lot!

"Oh my gosh! I did it!" She's smiling so hard and laughing.

"You did it!" I agree, my heart swells at the sight of her excitement. "Drive out and into the next parking lot."

"Oh! Okay!" She maneuvers the car smoothly down the street and into the parking lot closer to the kilns. She parks into a spot with ease, and I'm so impressed with how well she did!

"Jade, you did so awesome!"

"Can I drive home?" she asks her gaze and voice full of hope.

"Maybe when we get close to home."

"Really?"

"Yeah, how else are you gonna get experience?"

She dances in her seat then leans her head onto the rest to look at me, a wide smile on her beautiful face, "Thanks Vic."

I mimic her, "You're welcome."

We have a moment of silence, looking at each other and if I was in a better head space and a confidence in knowing I wouldn't lose her as my best friend. I'd kiss her. I take in a deep breath and look away, "Let's go check out the kilns."

Thank you for your patience and understanding. I know what it's like to wait for a chapter from a writer. This chapter held me up, not quite sure what or why but it did. Imagine how frustrating that is for a writer? On top of daily living and working.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Enjoy their moments that bring them closer together.

Please don't forget to vote and I love hearing from you! Leave me your thoughts!

Next chapter is going to have a bit of drama ::dun, dun, dun::