Chapter one

"I'm not sure what I wanna do for this next project coming up," Andre told Jade as he nervously bit his pencil. "I mean, I know you don't always like the style I go with."

"Just please, let me be your partner on this one and next time you have writer's block, I'll write your entire song for you," Jade pleaded.

"Why you so against working with Tori anyway?" he asked. Jade removed his pencil from his mouth forcing his attention onto her.

"Andre, lemme paint a picture for you: Tori is an attractive female. We will be working side-by-side in an intimate setting doing intimate things. Now, I have a girlfriend so that means…"

"Nah, nah, keep painting for me. This is starting to get good." Jade hit his shoulder. "Look, you know I'm not like that…except on Tuesday nights when my grandma's gone and I have the computer to myself and…"

"Andre! Focus! Be my partner!"

"Jade, you know I would. It's just that I promised Devin I'd be his partner for this one because we kinda wanna take this in a jazzy direction."

"I can be jazz. Hell, I can be the jazziest…yeah I can't do this." Jade turned around frantically for anyone else who wasn't Tori to be her partner.

"Jade, you pair up with Tori," the teacher said before she could grab anyone else. Jade sighed and made her way over to the smaller girl who was sitting quietly reading.

"Eh-Hem!" she coughed announcing her presence. Tori help up a finger, her eyes moved about the page with intention.

"And….you can talk to me now." She closed the book and gave Jade her full and undivided attention.

"Look, I know we have had disagreements in the past, Vega. But, this is for a grade and I really hate relying on other people for my scholarly well-being so…"

"I hear ya, Jade. You don't always have to put on a front when working with other people. I want a good grade just as much as you do it's just that I don't want you or me doing all the work. I still don't see why he pairs us up."

"It's probably because he knows some people aren't as inclined when it comes to writing music as opposed to lyrics."

"It's the downfall of music: everyone wants to be a poet but no one wants to be a composer." Maybe working with Tori wasn't going to be all that bad. "So, how about we meet up at my house for the recoding sessions?"

"Um, sure, when?"

"Are you and Cat doing anything tonight?"

"Yeah, we have dinner plans but I can open up my schedule tomorrow night."

"Alright, there we go." Tori went back to reading.

"What are you reading?" Jade asked genuinely curious now. Tori flipped over the book as if she'd forgotten what she was reading in the first place. Jade rolled her eyes. It annoyed the hell out of her when people did that.

"It's Atonement by…"

"Yeah, yeah I know of the book. The movie swept the Oscars years ago. I meant, what is it about? I haven't read the book or seen the movie."

"Um, perception. How we can sometimes trick our minds into thinking things are happening…I guess innocence of a child should be in there somewhere as well…I'm not sure. I guess I'll just have to tell you when I'm done reading it."

"That you will." The bell rang.

"Tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow night."