The project is only the cover, story is below. It will be separated into parts: Part 1: (Here) (Jade and Aubrey made on Picrew)
Aubrey was gone. Jade woke up with that in mind today. Today, November 22nd, Aubrey's birthday. Aubrey Jane had disappeared two months ago. Jade and Aubrey had been shopping for back to school items with Ms. Jane, Aubrey's mom. Aubrey had gone to use the bathroom while Jade and Ms. Jane were looking for backpacks in the next row. Five minuets had passed. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty. Thirty. Finally, Ms. Jane had gone in, looking for Aubrey. Jade went back to inspecting the black backpack she'd wanted. Ms. Jane emerged, worried. Aubrey wasn't in the bathroom. But that was impossible. Jade had seen her go in. Jade wasn't anywhere in the store. Ms. Jane was spoken for her on the intercom. She wasn't there. Maybe she was kidnapped. Maybe she ran away. She just... wasn't there. The whole thing spooked Jade. She could imagine Aubrey right next to her, flipping her long, blonde hair, giggling at Jade's messy black's. Jade wished her imagination could be life. She wished Aubrey was right there, celebrating her own birthday, and bugging Jade to tell her what her gift was. Jade wished with all her heart that when she bought a heart necklace yesterday, she would be giving it to Aubrey instead of her tombstone. Jade wished for many things that didn't come true. Jade skipped breakfast. She tied her hair in loose, messy braids and changed into a gymnastics top and blue jeans. A purple cap pulled on top of her head and heeled beige boots with loose laces on her white socks. Jade grabbed her black bike and pedaled as fast as she could, letting her grief behind as she whizzed to the cemetery. Jade knew this path by heart. The security guard let her pass, and she headed right. Another right. Straight. Left. Right. And... there. Halfway there, was a gray tombstone with a name carved in. Aubrey Jane. 2010-2022. Daughter, granddaughter, niece, friend, beloved. May she rest in peace. That last sentence angered Jade. Why did Aubrey get to 'rest in peace' while Jade was stuck here, wondering and wishing and devastated? Jade cleared the angry thoughts and for the first time, let in the sad ones. She placed the leather box in front of Aubrey's tombstone, letting the tears fall. "Aubrey," Jade rasped. "Hi. It's your birthday today." Jade imagined her best friend, floating in the clouds with a depressed voice in her head, suddenly crying. She cleared her throat and wiped her tears. "It's me," Jade smiled awkwardly. "Jade. You best friend. I-I got you a present. A necklace." Jade paused, taking a deep breath. "Do you remember, about a week before-before the... store, we went to the mall with my mom? An-and she took us to a gem store, where you wanted a necklace laced with rubies? I-I got that for you." Jade swallowed back tears. "Here." Jade looped the chain around the stone so the heart lay under the - in 2010-2022. "Aubrey-" Jade's voice cracked. "I-Imissyou." Jade stood there, wind brushing her skin and swaying her hair. Then she left. She left the box there, open under the necklace, and rode off. "Bye Aubrey," Jade whispered. The next day, Jade was mad. So, very mad. For the first time, she grabbed her bike and pedaled to the store. THE STORE. Jade pushed the door open, fire illuminated in her eyes and sight. People leaned back as Jade stomped through, hot lava coursing through her veins. She ran to the bathroom, stopping inches away from the door. She sighed, fire dimming and being stomped out. "Aubrey," she whispered dulfully. "Please." Jade didn't know what she was begging for. She slowly walked away from the door, when something caught her eye. A white door, labeled ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONELL. Jade knew that would have caught Aubrey's eyes. Jade didn't know what she was hoping for. Certainly not Aubrey, turning. Aubrey? Aubrey. Aubrey! Aubrey was... alive?
