Chapter 801 Tone It Down
Candace who was getting ready to take a quick nap after they just got home that morning, glanced at the door when Andy knocked.
"Can I come in?" Andy asked, knowing that Candace was alone in the bedroom since she had seen Matt and Lucy going downstairs a short while ago.
Being the best friends of the couple, they were both working together to ensure that everything went perfectly, so they were going to oversee what the event planners were doing.
"There goes my nap," Candace muttered to herself before calling out to Andy to come in.
"I thought we agreed on taking a quick nap?" Candace asked and Andy sighed deeply.
"How can I go to sleep when Jade chose to talk to Harry? I mean we all spent the night together and he just dropped us off, yet she is talking to him over the phone like she hasn't seen him in forever," Andy complained, and Candace laughed softly.
"She is quite clingy."
"Clingy? I think that's an understatement. I would be irritated if I was Harry. I honestly don't know how he can be so patient. Take last night for instance, her behaviour made me cringe," Andy said and Candace sighed.
"Do you want to talk to her about it?" Candace asked and Andy narrowed her eyes.
"The question is, why haven't you talked to her about it? I'm sure you've noticed it before now," Andy said and Candace shrugged.
"I try to tell her jokingly. Also I figured it's just her person, and maybe I don't understand that because I was not raised or given the princess treatment like she was. Besides, Harry isn't complaining. You see how he dotes on her," she said and Andy shook her head.
"I get that she is crazily in love with him and Harry is not complaining right now, but if we don't advice her to tone it down, she is just going to get worse until Harry can't stand it again. You saw how Harry asked to speak with Mia in private and she wanted to join them, and she went on and on about how she feels like Mia is hiding something. You also heard her talk about how annoyed she was that her own brother was spending time with Harry. I don't know, I think someone needs to ask her to tone it down," Andy said and Candace sighed.
"You can give it a shot then," Candace said and Andy nodded.
"Sure. I will. By the way, I kissed Tyler last night," Andy announced as she lay face up on the bed.
"You kissed who?" Candace asked, her disbelief hanging heavily in the air.
"Why are you acting so shocked like you didn't know I was capable of that? Stop overreacting," Andy retorted, her tone laced with a hint of defensiveness as she rolled her eyes at Candace's incredulity.
Candace's concern deepened as she struggled to comprehend Andy's impulsive actions. "I just didn't expect you to do something like that. Why did you kiss him? Do you have a thing for him?" she questioned, her brows furrowing in confusion.
Andy's expression turned incredulous at the suggestion. "Of course, not! Why would I have a thing for him? He was hitting on me, I wasn't interested but I did want to see if I would at least enjoy kissing him, so I kissed him, and I didn't feel a thing," she explained nonchalantly.
Candace's initial shock transformed into a mixture of frustration and concern as she struggled to find the right words to express her thoughts. "What kind of idiot goes about kissing people to..."
"Idiots called, Andy. Satisfied?" Andy interjected with a wry smile, the tension momentarily broken as Candace's lips twitched in reluctant amusement.
But Candace's amusement quickly faded, replaced by a somber reminder of the life they had left behind. "Quit acting recklessly, Andy. We are not the same people we were," she urged softly, her words a gentle yet firm reminder of the stakes involved in their new life.
Andy's gaze bore into Candace's, a sudden vulnerability shining through her usually confident facade. "Let me ask you something, Candace. Do I embarrass you?" she questioned, catching Candace off guard with the unexpected inquiry.
"What? What do you mean by that?" Candace asked, her confusion evident as she struggled to make sense of Andy's words.
"You heard me right."
As the weight of Andy's question hung in the air, Candace's mind raced, searching for the right words to reassure her sister. She could see the vulnerability in Andy's eyes, a vulnerability she rarely showed, and it tugged at her heartstrings.
"Candace, answer me," Andy pressed, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Candace took a moment to gather her thoughts, realizing the significance of Andy's question. "Andy, of course you don't embarrass me. Why would you even think something like that? You're my sister, and I love you. Nothing could ever change that," she replied earnestly, reaching out to gently grasp Andy's hand.
"Are you sure about that? You've been acting differently lately. Ever since you found your biological family and met all these wonderful people, it's like you're always trying to change me into someone I'm not. This is me, Candace. I'm not you. I'm not like any one of those outstanding ladies we now have in our lives. I love every one of them and admire what they made of themselves, but I'm not going to try to be either of them. You can do that, but don't try to make me into someone I'm not. It makes me uncomfortable. I understand that I'm a stark reminder of your past which you are so desperately trying to live behind…."
Candace's heart clenched at the raw honesty in Andy's words, realizing the impact of her own actions on her sister.
"Can you please, shut up and let me talk?" Candace cut in, tears gleaming in her eyes.
Andy blinked away the tears which were already pooling in her eyes as she stopped talking.
"Andy, I'm so sorry if it's seemed that way. It's not because I feel embarrassed or ashamed. I just want us to fit in. Maybe a part of me still feels like we are undergoing a test or something, and if we make any mistakes we might lose all of these. It's not about you. It's me. I'm sorry," Candace said, her voice filled with sincerity.
"I don't want to fit in. I don't care about fitting in. I know it's important to you, but honestly, that's not my thing. I love being myself. I don't want to lose my individuality. If you think I'm going to make things awkward for you here, I could leave. I really want you to be happy," Andy said, her voice softening as she met Candace's gaze.
Candace shook her head, "No. Not at all. I love you the way you are. I love having you here. I would rather give up all of these than lose you. You're more family to me than anyone else here. I'm sorry. I really am," Candace said and a wave of relief washed over Andy's features, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly at Candace's words.
Andy nodded, a flicker of understanding passing between them. "You're my family too. And we are not giving up anything or anyone. I want all of it. Aaron, Harry, and all of these. We're in this together, Candace. We always have been, and we always will be," Andy said, and Candace squeezed Andy's hand reassuringly, a silent promise passing between them.
"You're right, Andy. We're stronger together. No matter what challenges come our way, we'll face them together, as sisters," she affirmed, a newfound determination shining in her eyes.
"No. No more challenges. I'm tired of facing challenges, all I want to face now is money and handsome men," Andy said with a grin, and Candace giggled.
"What are you both laughing about," Jade asked from behind the closed door as she knocked on it.
"Are you done with your phone call with Harry?" Andy asked, since she had excused Jade in the bedroom when she was talking to Harry.
"Yeah. I like spending time with the Jonas. So, when I'm not talking with my man, I like to be with his sisters," Jade said as she walked into the bedroom and joined them on the bed.
"Jade, can I talk to you about something?" Andy asked and Jade nodded.
"Sure. Anything."
Andy exchanged a quick glance with Candace before speaking. "We've noticed some things lately, and we think it's important to talk about them."
Jade furrowed her brows, a hint of concern crossing her features. "What things?"
Andy glanced at Candace again, and Candace gave her a nod to go ahead.
"It's about your behavior, Jade. We've noticed that sometimes you come across as a bit... well, spoiled."
Jade's eyes widened in surprise, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice. "What do you mean by that?"
Candace jumped in, her tone reassuring yet honest. "What she means is that sometimes you can be a bit too clingy and excessively jealous when it comes to Harry."
"Well, that and the fact that you act childish sometimes. Take last night for example. You really didn't have to act that way. If you thought Lucy's statement was directed at you, you could have brought it up with her later. You didn't have to act that way at the party and make things awkward. You almost ruined the atmosphere of the party," Andy said bluntly.
Jade's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized the gravity of their words. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was that bad."
"It was. What you did was cringeworthy," Andy said and Candace winced.
"What did you mean by I'm too clingy and excessively jealous? Did Harry say something to you?" Jade asked Candace, wondering where that was coming from.
Candace shook her head immediately. "No, he didn't. We both know Harry wouldn't discuss something like that with anyone but you. It's just that we've been observing you. We know you care about him, Jade. And that's wonderful. But sometimes, being too clingy or jealous can put strain on a relationship. It's important to trust each other and give each other space. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about," Candace said, thinking about how clingy and jealous Jero had been too.
Andy added, "Harry might be willing to put up with it now, but it could become tiring for him later on. We just want what's best for both of you. I hope you understand that I am not saying this to offend you. I'm only telling you this because I care about you. I think you're a wonderful person, but you just need to tone down your clinginess and jealousy a bit," Andy said, sensing that Jade's feelings were hurt.
Jade's shoulders sagged with the weight of their words, "Can you give me instances? Like tell me when you observed these so I can better understand what you mean?" She asked, and seeing the sad look on her face, Candace felt slightly guilty.
"You don't have to feel so bad, Jade. We are not trying to hurt your feelings. We just want your relationship to be better. I'm sorry if we overstepped," Candace said and Jade shook her head.
"No. It's alright. I appreciate it. I-I just didn't realize I was doing too much. And the last thing I want is for Harry to get tired of me. So, tell me all you observed so I can know what areas I need to tone it down and give Harry more space," she said and Andy told her all she had observed from Sogal till now.
Jade took a deep breath when Andy was done, "How can I help it? Do you have any suggestions?" She asked, looking from Andy to Candace.
"Let Harry have a life outside you. Everything he does shouldn't revolve around you. Give him space to do his own stuff and let him be the one to decide if he wants you to be involved in them. Do the same for yourself. And about your conduct outside Harry, we can work on it together. I'd rather Candace or the others don't shut you up in the presence of others like they did yesterday in front of Lucas and Tyler," Andy said and Jade nodded.
"Thank you, Andy. I've heard all you said. I will do my best to work on it," Jade said as she rose and Candace raised a brow.
"Where are you going?"
"To my room. I need to do something," Jade said and they watched as she walked away.
"I think we hurt her feelings," Candace said with a concerned frown.
"She will be fine. It's for her own good," Andy said and Candace sighed deeply not liking the thought that Jade was probably going to her bedroom to sulk.
"Don't you think it's her individuality and we are trying to change her like you accused me of doing to you?" Candace asked and Andy shook her head.
"That is different from what you were trying to do with me. I'm not trying to change her. I'm advising her to tone it down so it doesn't affect her relationship. Even though Harry is our brother, we knew Jade before him, and that means we have to look out for her, and them both. If she was dating someone else and not Harry, I will advise her the same," Andy said simply and then yawned.
"I guess you're right," Candace said with a thoughtful nod.
"Of course, I am. Since she is done with the phone call, I should go back to the room to nap now and maybe cheer her up too. If you wake up before me, wake me up so we can get ready in time for the wedding," Andy said as she rose to leave.
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