-Jade-

I open the doors to enter Hollywood Arts and my ears are instantly filled with music. That's what I like about this school, it never irritates me to walk into school every morning like I'm sure most schools would. Everyone is always carrying around some instrument or humming to themselves and tapping out beats on the stair rails. It's a nice harmony to my ears, and I don't mind it much at all. Which I suppose is odd for me, since almost anything will send me bursting into flames. Then again, I'd never be caught dead saying any of these things aloud. I have a reputation to uphold. Letting people know your secrets, even stupid ones, makes you weak and scrawny. Weak and scrawny like-

"Good morning, Jade!"

I turn from my thoughts to face a slim, tan girl with brown, wavy locks falling to the sides of her perky, beaming face.

Weak and scrawny like Tori Vega.

I groan internally. Too much sunshine for the indoors, that girl. I gather myself. "What do you want, Vega?" I throw at her in my usual, sharp tone.

She seems genuinely upset by my response, to my pleasure, because her face does a flip-flop into an almost sulking expression. She could never have any secrets, her face gives everything away. I chuckle silently to myself. "What?! I can't say good morning now?!" She pouts and spreads her arms out for emphasis like she always does. So predictable.

"No. Now take your cheery sunshine and direct it towards someone who cares." I wave her off but she stays put. I groan loudly and roll my eyes at her. "My God, Vega, if you want something, please, out with it! Sometime before I die!"

Tori shuffles her feet uncomfortably, becoming interestingly nervous. I wait impatiently. I have much better things to do than sit here and watch Tori squirm when she's not even experiencing pain. At least none that I could see. "Well, um, after school we all were gonna go hang out at Nozu...and, well, I was just wondering if you wanted to come." She tumbles out, her eyes cast to the floor. I wonder why she is so nervous all of a sudden. Then it hits me.

"Who's 'we'?" I say finally, trying to come off like I didn't really care who was going, even though I did. It's been two weeks since Beck and I broke up, but it seems like yesterday. Yet, at the same time, it feels like an eternity since I was in his arms. I swallow hard. The breakup has been rough, to be completely honest. Especially because it was Beck who broke up with me this time. I hadn't taken it too seriously in the beginning, but when I woke up the next morning, I was hit with the terrible idea that it might really be the end this time. And that's when it started hurting. I may have a cold soul, but I wouldn't have a soul at all if it wasn't for Beck. He's been my everything for as long as I can - or want- to remember. Beck was- is my other half. Each day living with the thought that this could be the end feels like someone scratching out my insides. It's not something I like to admit, even to myself, but I miss him. A lot.

"Um...uh...Cat, Andre, Robbie and-"

"Beck." I interrupt her before she has a chance to say it. His name burns my mouth.

Tori looks shocked for a moment, but she quickly brushes it off and rubs her shoulder shyly, like his name made her almost as uncomfortable as it made me. "Yeah. Beck."

I stare at her for a moment, watching her bite her lip nervously, waiting for my response.

She inhales deeply and runs her hands down her hips. "Look, you don't have to come, I just thought I'd ask because I don't want you to feel left ou-"

"It's fine." I stop her. "I'll go to Nozu with you guys." I suddenly remember that I have coffee in my hand so I take advantage of it's warmth, sipping slowly out of the steaming travel mug. I feel it warming my organs except for my heart, which still feels heavy and cold. I feel like a sickly being. I wouldn't be surprised if I am.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable.." Tori says softly, and I wonder why she cares so much about how I feel. That girl, I swear, she's too fluffy and full of emotion. She cares too much about everyone else and shes always sticking her nose into other people's business. Most times, it makes me want to puke, but for some reason, right now, I don't mind her caring, soft attitude. It makes me feel a little better, even though I hate that it does. This can't be good, too much mush for one day, even if it is all in my head.

I shake my thoughts away. "Vega, get your nose out of everyone's business. I'm fine. Beck and I...we're fine." My sentence slowly dies at the end as I choke on my words. I clench my jaw and turn my head away from her to hide any unnecessary emotion that might be slipping through.

She sighs deeply and clings to her book bag strap, shifting from one foot to the other. "Okay." she says softly. "See you in class."

"Yeah." I reply, then I take another sip of my coffee as I watch her walk off to Sikowitz' classroom. I turn and walk over to my locker and open it up, revealing the scissor blades that I stabbed through the locker door. I run my finger over one of the blades and sigh softly. My mind can't help but try and search for what went wrong, how it all fell apart, and how I came to feel like this, like someone stabbed my heart out with a pair of scissors.