Coming of Age

Pain & Regret

"Jade! Are you ready to go?" Roy hollers from the bedroom.
"Ugh! I hate curling irons!"
"Then don't use it." Roy walks in seeing Jade's hair barely curled, dressed in a mini skirt and crop top.
"Well, you can't curl, but you look hot."
"I'm not sure about this skirt."
"It looks good from here. Don't change. I like it." Roy walks closer, kissing Jade's forehead.
"I'm sure you do. Well, I guess I'm ready. So much for these curls."
"You're hair looks good. Don't fix it. Man, Jade! You look good enough to eat."
"You think so?" Jade blushes.
"I think we can be late." Roy picks Jade up and tosses her on their bed.
"Roy!" Jade laughs, being quickly interrupted by Roy kissing her aggressively.
"Mm....Roy..."Jade sinks herself into the bed as Roy fervently kisses her neck.

(Meanwhile at Kori's place.)

"Hey Richard?! Weren't Roy and Jade gonna come?!" Wally hollers over the loud music.
"Yeah! I'll give him a call!"
"Riiinnnnnnggggg, Riiiiinnnnngggg!!!"
"Baby....your phone."
"Mmmgh...I hear it. Hello?" Roy answers.
"Yo! Dude, where are you?!"
"Uuuhh...kinda busy right now."
"Oh! Sorry. Did I interrupt?"
"Yes. We'll be there in a bit."
"No problem, dude. Take your time. I'll see ya soon."
"Uh...Yeah. Bye." Roy hangs up.
"Sigh, every time." Roy grumbles.
"Mute your phone."
"Good idea, but then we may never leave."
"I'm ok with that."
"Me too. But I promised Richard I'd come."
"I guess they can't have a party without the party animal."
"That's right."

(Later that night at the party.)

"Turn up the music, Dick!" Roy yells.
"Got it, Bro!"
"Roy, let's go home. I'm exhausted." Jade yawns as she pulls his hand to get up.
"Nah. I want to stay. Go on ahead. I won't be long."
"That's right. I'll keep an eye on him for you." Kori sways over to Roy, sitting down close to him.
"I don't think so, Kori. Go waste Richard's time." Jade growls in disgust.
"Cool it, Jade. She's not hurting anyone." Roy puts his arm around Kori.
"She may not be, but I will if you don't get your hand off of her.
"Calm down, Jade."
"Roy, are you coming or not? I'm not asking you again."
"I think Roy wants to stay a bit longer." Kori smiles at him.
"Roy?" Jade glares.
"You heard her. Get some sleep, baby. I'm not tired yet. I'll see you later."
"Just forget it." Jade walks away, feeling her heart race in anger.

(The next morning, Roy had come home without waking Jade.)

"Beep, beep! Beep, beep!"
"Uggghh...eight o'clock." Jade mumbles before looking over to see Roy crashed out next to her.
"Jerk." Jade sits up.
"Ohhhh...my head. I need food."

(Slowly Jade gets up and starts making bacon and eggs.)

"Mmm. I'm gonna enjoy you." Jade smiles at her food.
"Morning." Roy grabs a piece of Jade's bacon, stuffing it in his mouth.
"Hey!"
"Mm...that's good."
"Make your own."
"Sorry. Sheesh."
"Have fun last night?" Jade hisses.
"Are you still mad that I stayed with Kori."
"She seemed more than happy to...entertain you."
"Calm down. We just talked. Nothing else."
"You know, it's funny that I really don't believe you."
"Jade, I promise we didn't do anything."
"Then why did you seem so intrigued by her?"
"We used to be good friends when I was part of the teen titans. But that blew over fast."
"It sure looked like more."
"We don't like each other like that."
"Did you ever?"
"I thought she was hot, but she never really gave me the time of day. It was always either Richard or Jason. A constant battle for the longest time."
"Did you ever kiss her?"
"No."
"Promise."
"Jade, look at me. I give you my word. Had I know you would've been so bothered by it, I wouldn't have stayed."
"You couldn't tell that I was mad last night?!"
"I thought you we're tired and temperamental."
"It doesn't matter, Roy. What you did was wrong."
"I'm sorry, alright. It won't happen again." Roy says as he slowly intertwines their fingers.
"It better not or I'll leave you. I'm not kidding, Roy."
"Ok. Hey, you look a little pale. You feeling alright?" Roy puts his hand on her forehead, feeling her warmth.
"I've felt a little sick all morning."
"Hmmm...there was only soda at the party."
"I think I'm gonna throw up." Jade says before running to the bathroom.
"Shoot." Roy whispers.

(After vomiting a couple times, Jade manages to clean herself up.)

"You feeling better?" Roy asks, leaning against the doorway.
"Yeah."
"Have you by chance taken a pregnancy test recently?"
"No. Honestly, I haven't thought about it."
"How do you not think about it, Jade?"
"I don't know. Every time I went to check, I got interrupted. I did buy some though."
"We've been doing this for over two weeks Jade! How could you forget?!"
"What was I gonna do?! I can't just buy birth control off the shelf! I'm sorry! But I don't see how this is only my fault! You weren't exactly responsible either!"
Sigh...well check." Roy stomps out of the bathroom, slamming the door.

(A few minutes later.)

"What does it say?" Roy opens the door.
"I'm pregnant." Jade lowers her head.
"That's just...great."
"Are you mad?"
"I don't know, Jade."
"Roy, talk to me."
"What do you want me to say?"
"Anything."
"Get in the car. I'm driving you home."
"What?!"
"I can't be a father. Not right now."
"But...!"
"Grab your stuff."
"Roy?!"
"Do it, Jade!" Roy yells.

(A little bit later, Roy and Jade pull up to the old apartment building.)

"Bye Jade."
"Roy?"
"What?"
"Did you even care or was it all just a lie?"
"Sigh...I do care, Jade. That's why I'm not gonna take care of you until things are stable for me."
"Roy, if you leave now, don't bother coming back."
"Jade."
"I don't ever want to see you again. Ever." Jade says with tears falling before walking away.
"Sigh....You did it again, Roy. You really don't deserve her."