Summary: Once a simple university student whose love for parties was her past time, Jade must now put everything else aside for the sake of her brothers and sisters when a tragic accident happens.

The Start of Something New

Standing adjacent from the wire-framed mirror in the back room of ‘Clover Bar’ stood Jade. At twenty years of age, she had fully pledged into a mature young woman the past four months. Then again after everything that Jade had endured these past months, it was no surprise that she had matured beyond her years.

She adjusted the waistband of her black pants along with white shoulder top – her standard work outfit – and headed into the muggy air of the club. She made her way through the already large crowd to the bar where she slipped behind the counter and gave a small smile to her work mate Anna. Facing the back wall, she pinned her chocolate brown hair up into a high ponytail leaving a few wisps of hair out allowing them to fall around her face.

“Hey! What are you doing here tonight? Isn’t Sunday your night off?” Anna asked Jade wide-eyed as she filled a glass with beer.

“Yeah,” Jade scanned the crowd that had formed around the bar. “But then our sour boss called to ask if I could come and fill in tonight. If I didn’t come in, I’d be out of the job and since this job helps to support not only me but my brothers and sister, I didn’t really have a choice.”

“I don’t get it,” Anna shook her head. “Why don’t you just tell him your situation? I’m sure he’ll see you with leeway.”

Jade turned her head to the end of the bar where there was a fair-haired guy sitting, gaining her attention to be served. “Please! This is the one place where sympathy doesn’t follow me. That’s the way I want it to stay.”

She turned on her heel towards the guy waiting to be served and smiled.

“Hey! What can I get you?”

The guy looked her up and down, flirtatiously as he took in her sexy outfit. “Hey, baby. How about a date?”

Jade laughed. “No seriously. What can I get you?”

The guy’s cheeky smile dropped into a slight smirk. “Oh, I see we’re playing hard-to-get. I’ll take two mugs of beer please sexy.”

Jade nodded and grabbed two glasses from the shelf below the counter. She placed a glass at the beer nozzle and filled it then did the same to the second one. Once they were done, she slid them towards the guy who in return handed her a ten dollar note. She punched the numbers in at the register and the cash tray spat out at her.

“Keep the change,” he winked at her and stood up from his stool.

A tall muscular guy with fairy dark hair and tanned skin wandered up to his apparent friend and muttered something to him while Jade watched on observantly. The fair haired guy grabbed his beer and stumbled away while his friend briefly looked up in Jade's direction flashing her a grin that made her blush rather noticeably. He picked up his beer and turned into the crowd, leaving Jade to shake off her slight embarrassment and return her attention to an impatient customer.

x0x0

No later than 11pm that night, Jade had clocked off her shift. With her beige overcoat buttoned over her work clothes, she headed outside into the cold August night air.

“Hey! You’re leaving already?” called a deep voice from behind her. She turned around, surprised to see the dark-haired guy she had seen earlier in the night.

To be precise Jade, he’s the guy who had made you blush, she thought to herself.

“Yeah, I’m finished for the night,” she spoke softly, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her coat.

“Oh,” he paused, unsure of what to say next. “So I didn’t get your name before.”

“It’s Jade.”

She began digging her hands deeper into her pockets. Was it the fact that it was cold tonight or was she beginning to feel uncomfortable, she couldn’t distinguish the difference. One thing she did know – she wanted to run and be rid of this awkwardness she was all of a sudden feeling.

It wasn’t like her to feel obligated around a guy. She’d normally have no trouble striking up a conversation – she’d be the girl of everyone’s envy, the centre of the universe. Now it seemed to have faded away – the day she received the terrible news that her parents had tragically died in a car accident and she was now legally responsible for her three brothers and sister. Her fun-loving social life merely appeared as a distant memory pictured in her head.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Jade. I’m Drew.”

She smiled and stared down at the ground where she began to scuff her heeled shoe as a way of contentment.

“So, I don’t do this very often but…”

“I find that hard to believe,” Jade cut in, raising her eyebrows slightly.

He’s at a bar for Christ’s sake and he’s telling me he doesn’t ask women out. Geez, I must have made a good impression on him.

“I was wondering if you’d like to join me for a drink.”

“Actually I’ve got somewhere else I have to be…” Jade saw the look of disappointment in his eyes. Damn, I would have loved to get to know you better too.

“Another time then,” he said with a glimmer of hope.

Jade nodded and then they both exchanged their good byes and headed into different directions.

When she made it to her car, she unlocked her door and got in. Sitting in the car, she sighed heavily and rested her head on the back of the pink seat cover, looking out to the lightly dimmed street ahead through the wind shield of the car. It had been a long time since she’d seen affection from a guy. Too long and she’d forgotten how much fun it could be. Especially when the guy had picked her of all people and it was flattering to think that he found her attractive.

Don’t think about it, she told herself. There are other people to consider. Like your brothers and sister. So get him out of your head Jade. She shook off her dreary thoughts because she had no intention of beginning a relationship – none at all.

x0x0

The following Monday afternoon, Jade had embarked on a shopping trip – supermarket style accompanied by her sixteen year old sister Sasha and five year old brother Jayden. Their shopping was complete and had decided to each get an ice-cream for their efforts. Paying for their ice-cream, they sat down at a table with an umbrella.

“Mmmm,” Jade said, swallowing a mouthful of ice-cream. “This is good.”

Both Sasha and Jayden nodded in agreement, with ice-cream covering Jayden’s face that made Isabella and Sasha cackle to themselves.

Jayden gazed towards the park where there were children playing ball games. He looked back to Jade with an intent look on his face like he was inching to get to that park. She nodded in response to him and he hurriedly finished his ice-cream so he’d get to the park to play leaving Jade and Sasha to eat their ice-cream.

“Hey! Are you stalking me now?” called Drew from behind Jade.

She turned around and was surprised to see Jade dressed as a police officer.

“It is a surprise but I should be saying that line to you Constable,” she laughed.

Drew raised his eyebrows and sighed. “Constable Drew Holtz – that I am an Officer.”

Sasha studied them both, intrigued and curious to know where they knew one another from. As if on cue, Jade turned to Sasha and introduced her to Drew as she did the same with Drew to Sasha. Both greeted one another in the usual way while Sasha continued to study Drew's actions towards Jade. It had occurred to her from the moment he appeared that Drewwas interested in her sister.

She was also well aware that Jade was into him although she knew her sister all too well to know that she was holding back her true emotions for the sake of her existent family dilemma. And for that, Sasha knew that she may have to assist her sister in letting her know that it’s okay for her to act on her pre-existent feelings and invest in a relationship with Drew. She had to give credit to her sister – Drew was handsomely gorgeous.

Jayden ran back towards Jade and Sasha where he stood close to Jade, grasping her hand with his and giving Drew a look of wariness. He gripped Jade's hand with an urge of cautiousness. Jayden was the youngest of five and since their ordeal; he had developed an increasing case of security and stayed extremely close to Jade whenever he could.

Drew crouched down to his eye level. “Hello, what is your name?”

Jayden looked to Jade who encouraged him to speak and then peered back to Drew.

“I’m Jayden.”

“Well Jayden, it’s nice to meet you,” he said smiling.

Jayden loosened his grip of Jade's hand. “You’re a police man. I’ve got a toy police car that I like to play with.”

Drew's eyes beamed. He was genuinely interested by Jayden and seemed to love children. “Really, well I’ll have to take you for a drive in my police car. Would you like that?” Jayden eagerly nodded enthusiastically.

“Jayden, what would you say if I were to ask your mum out on a date?”

Jade rolled her eyes. “Please! He’s my little brother and he’s five years old. I’m twenty. That would have made me fifteen when I had him – I’m not like that.”

“I think that would be okay,” Jayden shrugged. He was increasingly keen on the idea of being in a real police car to worry about a potential date for his sister. Besides, he was too young to understand the concept of dating.

“Thank you Jayden. You’ve been very helpful,” he stood up and eye-balled Jade. “Your brother says yes. So what do you say?”

“Are you always this persistent?” Jade questioned him with intensity as she tried to stall for as long as she possibly could in hope that Drew would disappear.

“Only when what I want plays stubborn which enriches me to try harder,” he paused. “Besides, I’m a police officer – it’s my job to serve and protect the community – so sue me.”

Jade laughed. At least an advantage was his sense of humor – that counted for something. But she wasn’t convinced she should say yes.

He wants me, that’s a plus, she thought to herself.

“I don’t know...” Jade started.

Sasha stood up from her chair and walked to stand beside Jade where she pulled her up to her feet and nudged her with arm as if to say don’t be daft – we’ll all be right. Go for it!

“My sister says yes,” Sasha cut in sounding all too perky for Jade's liking. Jade gave her an irritated sisterly look which prompted Sasha to add. “Pick her up at seven o’clock tonight. She’ll be ready – I’ll make sure of it. In the meantime, you just worry about where you’re taking my sister,” Sasha wrapped her arm around Jade's shoulders grinning from ear to ear. “It better be good.”

Jade took hold of Jayden’s hand as Sasha scribbled their address down and handed it to Drew.

“See you tonight, I’ll be waiting,” she smiled, this time feeling more energetic about her date tonight.

“Okay, I’ll see you tonight.”

Before she turned, she saw Drew break into a wide grin and she herself was beginning to smile again too. She hadn’t realized it before but Drew was extremely good looking. He hadn’t been wrong to keep pursuing her.

There, she thought, that wasn’t so hard. Sure, her blood pressure had risen and her palms were sweating already at the thought of dating Drew but overall, moving on was beginning to feel right. She was beginning to feel better than she had in a long time – it was the start of something new.