80 years later: Present

      Jade woke up this morning without a hitch, and this is quite rare for her, and while she scurries to get ready, it dawns on her that she is finally doing something right.

      "Hurmph." She says with her toothbrush in her mouth, meeting her own eyes in the mirror, thinking on the subject of punctuality. Jade's eyes travel from her eyes to her hair, back to her face, and finally, her scraggly pajamas. 'Jee, I look terrible.' She hurries to scrape her tongue, thanking whoever is up above that she isn't getting lost in everyday tasks and forgetting what world she's in; it happens more than Jade would care to admit.

      Checking her phone, she sees she still has plenty of time, and Jade tells herself she's just anxious. Today isn't a fancy day or one that requires copious amounts of effort. Knowing this, Jade unties her ponytail and travels to her closet. While she sings to her music that blares from her computer, she throws a pair of jeans on, nearly falling and busting her head open on the closet door frame in the process. Jade didn't put much thought into what t-shirt she was going to wear, she knows she likes all of them, and every color goes with the color of denim. 'Is denim a color?' She wonders while she puts her sandals on.

      In the full body mirror on the outside of her closet door, Jade once again looks at herself, she doesn't like to do this for very long, but she isn't going to let herself leave without checking once more that she was presentable. Her tawny brown hair is now in a pullback, her blunt bob haircut framing her face. Her glinting green eyes now framed with mascara. Her gracile and hippy figure is hugged by the skinny jeans and well fitting t-shirt. To protect her porcelain skin, Jade throws on a thin cardigan, and she's always cold anyway. Before Jade gets lost in thought, she pulls herself away from the mirror and grabs her bag, checking for everything that needs to be there and if all the lights in her apartment are off, the kitchen light isn't. Finally, she makes her way toward her door to leave.

      The bus ride seems endless to Jade, but that's just because she's impatient. At least bus rides put her mind at ease more than driving ever will. With the help of a mobile phone game, she soon reaches her destination: a small shopping center in town. Outside of the bus waiting for Jade on the sidewalk, stands her best friend, Ellen.

      When the bus slows to a stop, Jade carefully steps off the stairs of the bus and gives her friend a silly smile.

      The two young women walk together toward their bookstore spot, which excites Jade since she could get to picking up her books and being social on the same day. Perhaps she should try getting out more instead of sitting in the dark.

      "Jade?" Ellen tries to get her attention, nudging Jade with her hip, and bringing Jade back from her head.

      "To be honest, if you were saying anything before now I didn't hear it." Jade let out a humorous chuckle as if to say, 'sorry, I can't help it' while seeing Ellen facepalm.

      "Sometimes, you're a bit ridonculous."

      "But you love me, don't you? You know you do." Jade sticks her tongue out towards Ellen while wriggling her eyebrows as they sit at their usual table in the bookstore cafe.

      "I suppose I do." Ellen gave her friend a playful, pensive look, "So, as I was saying, this is your summer before med school. Are you going to do everything you can before you slave away to studying and can't do anything fun?"

      "I mean, I'll try, but I have to work to pay rent and prepare best I can for the next decade of my life." Jade shrugs. Ellen wouldn't understand; she still lives with her parents and went to beauty school instead of college.

      Not that it's a thing Jade doesn't respect, being a beautician suited Ellen well, that was evident to see; plus, Ellen can do her hair for free, which is a bonus. Looking at Ellen now, with her honey and highlighted hair that seems to sparkle in the sun; and how Jade could get a glimpse of her almost perfect set of freckles; it's evident her destiny is the world of beauty. Even in middle school, she kept her looks pristine. Ellen's beauty made Jade feel like she paled in comparison every now and again, but that's with almost anyone she's around.

      And if Jade could've lived with her parents through school, she would've jumped at the opportunity, but that isn't the way her life went. Jade had to go the harder route and chose an expensive and timely profession of helping people. That path isn't for everyone, and she's happy to be where she is.

      "Boring." Ellen said, almost giving Jade a pouty look.

      "Hey, it's not like we're just going to stop having fun anymore or anything like that. I'm just not planning to go on some extended vacation and stop caring about what lies ahead, that's all.

      "Well, as long as that's the case, I will let you be a little bit boring," Ellen gives a wink to Jade. "So, how're things going with Kage?"

      Jade flinched inside her head; she knew Jade would pull this, "It's going fine."

      "Rant away." Ellen said, arching a brow, much to Jade's discomfort.

      "Something feels...off about him. That's all." Jade sighed, leaning back in the small, French-style iron chair.

      "Off?"

      "Yes, Elle. Off."

      "You say that about every guy. I think you should give him a chance; he seems nice."

      "No, I say I don't like the guys, I tell you they did something to put me off, but nothing like this. There's something off about him; like he gives me the creeps. Like, when I first met him, we were doing alright, but I wasn't really feeling anything strong, but now I'm totally turned off." Jade presses Ellen on this topic, trying to portray it so that Ellen could catch her sincerity.

      "Well, what did he do? Spill it!" At the point, Ellen is leaning forward, resting her arms on the table, ready for any gossip.

      "Nothing! That's exactly my point. He hasn't done anything to put me off, he just...exists. He gives me bad feelings."

      "Well, I'm always a believer you should stick to your gut, if you think he's some serial killer, dump him."

      Jade sighed with some relief; Ellen was finally siding with her.

      "Buuut, if it's you being non-committal and just finding an excuse to ditch him, get over it. You deserve love, Jade.

      "Love is not everything, Elle." Jade rolled her eyes, of course, Ellen, the one with the one in a million guy, would say that. Jade felt a little jealous of Ellen, she still has her parents, she's beautiful, and she has a love like the movies; anyone would be a bit jealous. Of course, it doesn't alter their friendship; Jade wouldn't be the same without Ellen's friendship. Jade doesn't want to be Ellen, and Jade's jealousy isn't extreme, it doesn't cause her to be angry or lash out at Ellen; it's just there every now and again.

      "You're absolutely right; love isn't everything at all. Love is something magical between people. You're not supposed to let your life revolve around someone or anything like that, but it feels good to have that person by your side; someone you trust and can count on-"

      "Your soulmate, right? I know, and I get it. But in this city, and right now, no guy is catching my eye, and I'm not in any rush to find the perfect guy or anything." Jade has tried dating many guys, but it just doesn't feel right, there's no spark, and at times it can get a little frustrating. At this point, Jade feels like giving up, and abandoned the idea that there was someone for her; she must have picky standards or something.

      "So, have you dumped Kage yet, then?" Ellen presses, squinting her eyes at Jade.

      Jade feels like she's some kindergartener being scolded for something during recess, "You know, this is none of your business."

      "I'll take that as a N-O."

      "You're right, and so what? What of it, Elle?"

      "Do you want me to dump him for you? Gimme your phone; it'll be one text, and then boom," Ellen leans in closer and whispers for dramatic effect, "Freedom."

      "I have some books at the front to pick up; I'll be one quick second."

      "You're such a little coward!" Ellen protests with her mouth agape as Jade hurriedly makes her way to the front register.

      The sigh of relief from Jade made the tension leave her shoulders; hopefully, Ellen will forget, and the subject will change when she gets back. Jade put on a polite smile to the cashier; the nametag read 'Shelby.' Jade takes time to admire her blue, kinky hair; there were some grayish silver streaks here and there. "I made an order for some books a while ago. Is there anything for Jade Matthews?"

      Shelby smiled, "Let me look down here real quick." She told Jade in a chipper voice before disappearing behind the counter. Jade felt oddly cheery as well seeing her smile.

      The cashier popped back up with three books in her hands, "Funny. I wouldn't peg you for the romance type."

      "They're almost all I read recreationally. You don't need to bag those, by the way." Jade said, smiling at Shelby's relief while paying with her card for the books and making her way back to the cafe table with them in hand.

      However, before she could reach her and Ellen's spot, Jade bumps into a rock hard chest.