Disclaimer: I own nothing of Victorious because if I did, I'd pour all this Raderade all over the show.
It was all a game, one that had been going on as long as he could remember. He said something stupid in an attempt to be funny, she followed with some witty retort that made everyone laugh.
Then, when no one was looking she would smile at him, in that way that sent his heart racing. A way that he knew inexplicably, that smile was reserved for him, and him alone. Of course no-one ever seemed to notice it besides him and he didn't dare draw attention to it, lest he should lose the small bit of affection he got. Over time, the game became less of a distraction and more of a goal, he began to take every opportunity to see that smile, and she began to relish their time together, alone in a crowd of people who didn't even seem to notice their ever growing attraction, but as all good things must, it had to end sometime.
"Gosh Jade, you're a total jank" Tori Vega sighed biting off a piece of her french-fries as she stared across the lunch table at her off and on friend. Jade simply raised a single eyebrow, smirking wickedly as she replied " My oh my, Jade you are such an uncouth lady, I would never dream of behaving in such a fashion" Jade drawled in her best southern-bell accent, hoping to get a rise out of Tori, she was rewarded when Tori shouted an aggravated. "I do not talk like that". She paused and after a moment stared around her friends "I don't, do I?" She asked.
Beck, Andre, and Cat all began to mimic Jade's impression of Tori much to the Latina's annoyance. " That doesn't change the fact that your a total gank to Robbie. Your always hitting him and insulting him." Tori said glaring at her frenime.
Jade, however, didn't seem to notice, as she calmly continued to eat her lunch. "It's almost like Jade is a little girl with a crush" Cat giggled, causing all eyes on the table to land on her with a question look, or in Jade's case, a glare meant to set the faux red-head on fire.
"Cat, what are you talking about" Tori asked slowly, her voiced a mixture of patience, patronization, and confusion. Cat looked around at the rest of the table noticing the looks she was getting and shrugged nonchalantly. "My brother had this girl who used to beat him up all the time. She'd hit him, trip him, make fun of him, she was constantly terrorizing my brother. Kinda like Jade and Robbie, anyway, on the last day of school. She found out it would be her last year at the school, so when the class went to recess. She cornered, my brother where no one could see, and she kissed him". Tori awed loudly, causing everyone to stare at her. She shrunk back slowly "Ruined the moment, keep going Cat". All eyes lingered on Tori for a moment longer before turning back to Cat.
Cat shrugged again "To this day my brother says that was his first love" Cat giggled as she began to eat her lunch again. There was a moment of silence as the group looked at the steadily darkening Jade and the oddly quiet Robbie. "Jade, do you by chance have a crush on Robbie" Beck asked slowly. Jade glared at him for a moment. "Are you kidding me, Jade hates me" Robbie broke in causing Beck to look at him. The boy was shaking from what Beck could only guess was barely contained rage.
"She hits me, makes fun of me, some days I don't even want to get out of bed because I don't have the strength to deal with her, and you guys are sitting here trying to make it sound like some grade-school crush!" Robbie yelled. "Robbie" Tori muttered reaching out a calming hand, that Robbie deftly slid away from.
"No, I'm done here" with that Robbie rose as stormed away. The others all stared at Robbie's retreating form helplessly. "Well, I'm done" Jade announced standing with her now empty tray, " Since you guys broke Shapiro for the day, I think I'll call it an early day and head home" Jade announced as she turned and made her way out of the lunchroom, ignoring the mutters of protest as she left.
Robbie made it all the way to the Janitor's closet before he began to breakdown. He heaved deep gasps for air as he processed what had just occurred, he had just lied, outright lied to his friends.
"I can't believe you just did that" Rex looked at Robbie with wide eyes, staring up at the hyperventilating ventriloquist. "What was I supposed to do Rex, let them figure out what was going on between me and Jade? " Robbie shot back in breathless annoyance. "Somebody should, there might not even be anything to figure out, you ask me man your head is whacked, and you're just imagining this whole thing with Jade". The puppet shot back, shaking his head at Robbie's antics. " Think about it man, so she smiles at you, only after she's made you miserable first, maybe the girls just happy that your sad." Rex laughed at the thought either not noticing or not caring about Robbie's darkening scowl. "What are you saying Rex" Robbie asked not liking where the conversation was heading.
"I'm saying that maybe Jade really does hate you, if she really did have feelings for you, why not ever show them, why be with Beck when your so readily available. Face it man, the girl just loves to hate you" Rex spoke gently reaching out with wooden fingers and lightly tapping his friend on the hand.
Robbie's anxiety drained away with a sigh as he realized the implications of Rex's comment. " I've been imagining that the hottest girl in school has been flirting with me for who knows how long." Robbie sagged against the wall as he realized what that meant, he had been dreaming of winning Jade's affection for years, he had been so desperate for her that he had imagined that her daily derision and humiliation had been some sort of screwed up flirting.
"Oh man, I really am pathetic" Robbie sighed. "That's right, now slide down the wall slowly in despair" Rex chuckled as Robbie did just that.
"Are you always this moody, or is it only when I'm involved?" Jade questioned as she stood in the doorway of the janitor's closet. "He's always moody, but whenever you're involved he's like a manic depressive with a sugar rush" Rex chuckled manically, turning to look at the morose form of Robbie. "In fact, one time he-mphh" Rex was cut off as Jade's hand wrapped around his mouth. With a violent tug, Jade jerked Rex from Robbie and with a maniacal laugh of her own, turned and threw the Rex out of the closet. " Dag girl !" Rex shouted as he slid down the hallway before slamming into some nearby lockers with a loud bang.
Robbie looked up, watching as Jade shut and locked the door before turning back to him. "Look if you're here to make fun of me, just get it over with" Robbie sighed as his head drooped to touch his chin. "Why would I be here to make fun of you Shapiro?" Jade asked her hands on her hips as she continued to stare down at him. "Isn't it obvious, because you hate me. I mean, I know you hate everything, but you have some sort of special hate-on going for me." Robbie laughed bitterly. Jade's responding laugh was anything but bitter as she moved next to Robbie and slid down next to him. "Robbie, you think I hate you, really?" Jade laughed, causing Robbie's head to rise only to stare up at the ceiling in exasperation.
"What else could it be, I mean your always hitting me, and insulting me, you never do anything nice and" Robbie's rant was cut off as lightning crashed behind his eyes. The feeling was so alien, yet so familiar, it was like when he has stage kissed Trina, or Cat, only a thousand times more intense. It was if he had swallowed joy in it's purest form, and it radiated through him so much that it felt he would burst if he didn't stand up and scream his happiness. The moment passed, and the softness of Jade's lips pulled away from his own.
Robbie stared at Jade blankly, as she pulled back, she smiled at him, a mixture of joy and hesitance, and behind it, all Robbie could swear he saw a brief glimpse of fragility, she blinked and it was gone replaced by a devilish smirk that sent Robbie's heart racing. " What the hell just happened' Robbie muttered blankly as he continued to stare at Jade as she simply shrugged, a light chuckle passing through her pillow soft lips. " Something I've been wanting to do for years, to be honest I kinda thought it would never happen." Jade laughed at the stupefied look on Robbie's face.
"Wanted, for years" Robbie asked slowly still not fully understanding or believing what had just happened, though the tingle of his lips seemed quite real." Well duh puppet-boy, that was what started the game" Jade laughed leaning over she rested her head on his shoulder marveling at how comfortable it felt.
That jolted Robbie's brain back into order, he turned to look Jade in the eye as best he could. "The game, you mean I wasn't imaging it" Robbie asked trying to contain his raging excitement. Jade snorted at Robbie's transparency. " Jeez Shapiro, and here I was about to give you credit for being smooth enough to lie to all our friends, but to answer your question, no you didn't imagine it." Jade smirked.
It was as if he had just been told Santa was real, Jade West had actually been flirting, with him ! He felt himself relax into Jade the tension of the past few moments draining away. Jade noticed as well, and with a small nod of satisfaction, she moved to stand. She had only risen a few inches when Robbie's hand wrapped around her wrist pulling her back down and flopping into the boy's lap. It took every bit of willpower for Jade not to blush, but she managed if only barely to mask her embarrassment with indignation. "What the hell Robbie!' Jade growled, trying to rise again but finding her arm locked in a gentle but firm grip.
"Nu-uh, your not getting off that easy Jade, I want some answers" Robbie ordered, the flush spreading across his cheeks ruining his commanding demeanor. Jade took in his stern blushing face, and shrugged, settling herself in his lap as best she could, which required quite a bit of rubbing and grinding that let her feel Robbie's excitement, Jade chuckled at Robbie's flustered look, wrapping her arms around his neck she smiled wickedly.
"What kind of answers, lover-boy" Jade giggled enjoying the steadily deepening blush on Robbie's face as he tried his best to remain stoic. " Why do you do this Jade, your all mean and cynical around everyone else but your sweet and personable when it's just you and I ". Robbie asked letting his fingers trace small circles across Jade's back.
Jade frowned for a moment, her face becoming serious as she looked at Robbie. "With girls like Vega, when she smiles at you, it really doesn't mean much because she's always smiling. Same with Cat or any of those other happy-go- lucky girls who eat rainbows for breakfast. What do you feel when I smile at you, Robbie?" Jade asked, her voice still serious as she stared at the boy beneath her.
"Honestly, it makes me feel special, you always scowl, sometimes you even smirk but when you actually smile. It's the best part of my day." Robbie said simply, enjoying the blush that crept up Jade's face as he spoke. " Exactly, I'm not all sugar around everyone else because I don't do fake happy, off stage anyway. Besides, your the only one who makes me feel like this." Jade blushed deeply as she said it burying her face in Robbie's shirt to hide her steadily rising blush.
"So, what now, I mean. Do we seriously just try to go back to the way things were." Robbie asked, lifting Jade's chin to look her in the eyes. Without a word, Jade leaned in and kissed him, the feeling of her lips against his was no less electric yet somehow it was bittersweet. Jade rose to her feet without a word and made her way to the door. When she turned back to face him, Robbie could see the barest hint of tears in her eyes, though Jade showed no sign of it as she smiled at him.
"For now, sweet puppet-boy, we play the game" Jade's smile, broke Robbie's heart for his sake and her's. He stood on wooden legs placing a smile on his face he hoped mirrored Jade's. " What happens when the game ends Jade ?" He asked withholding his own tears with no small amount of difficulty.
The smile Jade gave him this time was one of those he knew was meant for him alone. Without a word, Jade turned and walked out the door leaving Robbie standing in the Janitor's closet. Slowly the tears receded and he was left smiling warmly as the memory of that smile lingered in his mind. She hadn't said a word but Robbie understood what she had meant. Perhaps Jade's affections weren't so far out of his reach after all.
END
R+R people, after all nothing get's you that fan-fic fix faster.
