When Tori opened her front door, it definitely wasn't Jade she was expecting to see.
"Uh, hi Jade," Tori said uncertainly.
"I'm coming in." Jade sauntered into Tori's house as if this was something she did every day.
"What are you doing here?" asked Tori, a suspicious look on her face and a flutter in her heart.
Jade tilted her head, her gaze steady. "Why do you think?"
"Uhh…."
"Look Vega, don't play games with me. I'm sure by now you heard I got kicked out of Hollywood Arts."
"Yeah, so?"
"You're a perfect girl who's always on her best behavior; tell me how to get back in!" Jade sank down onto Tori's neon orange couch, her head in her hands. Tori was shocked—the last time she had seen Jade show this much emotion was when she asked Tori for help getting Beck back. Oh, how Tori regretted helping.
"I really, really messed up this time," Jade said, holding back tears. "I-I don't know how to fix this!"
Tori cautiously sat down next to Jade. "Well, maybe you shouldn't have thrown scissors at Festus…"
"It's not my fault!" Jade exclaimed, snapping her head up. There was fire in her eyes. "He was asking for it! I paid for my lunch, I expected to get my lunch, and he didn't give it to me! Then he called me an impatient little gank…" she abruptly stood up and folded her arms. "I mean, he had it coming."
Tori stood up too. "What did Lane say?"
Jade shot her a look. "Why?"
"Well, if you want me to help you I have to know—"
"Fine, fine. He said throwing scissors is not an appropriate way to express my anger. I cut Festus up—he can't work for months. I'm expelled. I can't go back. I can't graduate from Hollywood Arts. I…I'm going to miss so many people…"
Tori's face fell. Of course. Jade was going to miss Beck the most.
Jade grabbed Tori's arms and shook her. "You need to help me, come up with something! There has to be something I can do to get back in!"
"But why do you want me to help you?"
Suddenly, Jade closed the gap between them and pressed her mouth against Tori's. Tori froze, shocked, but then kissed back. Jade wrapped her arms around Tori.
When they broke apart, the girls simply stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Finally Jade said with a hint of a smile, "I can't leave you. I can't bear missing you, not seeing you every day…"
Tori smiled back and pulled Jade in again.
