Part 1

From Crimson to Dark

Part 1

Since the day they sang at the Karaokie Dokie, Caterina "Cat" Valentine and Jade West developed a strong sisterly bond, Jade being the big sister keeping Cat out of harmful situations, specially after noticing how naive she was. Beck, Jade's boyfriend, did notice.

-You care a lot for Cat now, don't you? -he said while driving Jade home after seeing a movie.

-She's... nice... and too naive... last friday we went to a party and some idiot tried to spike her drink.

-What? Are you sure?

-I saw him. Cat went to the bathroom and the bastard put something in the drink Cat left there.

-How did Cat took it?

-She doesn't know. I dragged him out and told him that if I ever saw him do that again to anybody I was going to kill him... for real. So he ran away. I told Cat that he had to go check on someone.

Beck didn't asked, he knew that Jade was a girl to reckon with if you messed up with her. And since they were in front of the West residence, he kissed her goodbye and saw as his girlfriend got in her home. In her room, as she undressed she thought about Cat. A scar in her thigh reminded her of the real reason why she wanted to protect her, an event that not even her boyfriend knew, the event that turned her into the black-dressed bossy girl he and everyone else knew at Hollywood Arts, nothing, absolutely nothing compared to the girl Jadelyn West used to be. The following morning she, along with Tori, Robbie, Beck, Cat and Andre, were having lunch in the patio of the school, nothing out of the ordinary, until a vehicle with several 20-something guys broke the peace with their bullhorn.

-HEY CATY! -one of the yelled

-HI BOBY!

Cat ran to them to the more than obvious disgust of Jade who glared intently as the red-haired girl went to them. After a few moments of chat, she ran back to her friends visually excited. As usual, she continued with her lunch without saying word amid everyone glaring at her. Jade broke the silence.

-WELL?

-What? - Cat innocently replied.

-Who where they? What did they wanted? - Jade asked

-Oh, I met them the other day when we went to the beach, they're from the Alpha Beta fraternity in UCLA, they invited me to a party this friday.

-WHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY?

-Jade calm down -Tori said

-SHUT UP VEGA! THAT'S A FRAT PARTY! YOU CAN'T GO!

Noticeably upset, Cat got up and yelled back.

-WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?

-MEANS THAT I FORBID YOU TO GO!

-YOU'RE NOT MY MOTHER!

Crying Cat ran back into the school, realizing what she had done, Jade followed her.

-Cat wait!

After a few minutes of search, Jade remembered that there was one and only one place where she could find Cat, the backstage room of the school auditorium. As she entered, she could hear Cat sobbing.

-Cat...

-Why are you so mean to me?

Jade sat beside her.

-Look... I'm sorry... I... I shouldn't have yelled OK? I just want to protect you... you're 17 you shouldn't go to that party...

-OK... I won't go...

Jade, in something very unusual, hugged her. Later that day, Tori, who was curious about Jade's reaction, managed to find her alone in Sikowitz classroom.

-What's up with you and Cat?

-Nothing.

-Look... just don't hurt her OK? -Tori said

In all the time she had known Jade, Tori had never seen a look so fierce in her face.

-Listen to me Vega, the last thing I'm going to do is hurt Cat, and if anyone tries to hurt her, not even the devil will save them. GOT... IT?

Friday came, Cat was in her room doing her hair after taking a bath when her cell phone rang. It was Boby.

-Hey hey Caty, you ready for the party?

-No... sorry, I can't go. -Cat replied

-Why not? It'll be fun, you're not a little baby are you?

Those words hit her like a hammer, and against good judgement, she changed her mind.

-OK, pick me up in ten minutes. -she replied

Jade was in her room reading a magazine, something made her feel uneasy so she decided to call Cat. She was surprised when she heard the noise of a car in the background.

-Cat where are you? -she inquired.

-I... uh... I'm on my way to Tori's, we're going to see movies and stuff - she lied

-OK...

Jade hanged up. Something didn't add up, but she continued reading her magazine, meanwhile, Cat was dancing around with several guys in the frat house, one of them brought her a glass of soda with alcohol in it.

-What's on this soda? It tastes funny -she said

-Oh nothing nothing, it's our own recipe - he lied.

-It's not that bad... thank you.

-Then have some more - he said giving her another glass.

In about fifteen minutes Cat was completely out of herself, not even caring that time and time again several guys here pulling at her skirt. Meanwhile, at the Vega residence, Tori, who fell asleep while reading a book in her living room couch, woke up startled when someone knocked at her door. Sleepy she opened the door only to feel the icy surface of an ice cream pint being shoved against her with a bag of chips on top.

-Ice cream and chips, so, what movie are we watching? -Jade asked

-Excuse me? Why are you here? -Tori asked

-Where's Cat? -Jade inquired

-OK, what's going on and why should I know where Cat is?

Jade felt her heart sink.

-She's not here?

-No... what's going on?

-She said she was coming here to see movies with you.

-What? I'm grounded remember? For failing chemistry class?

Jade began to feel more and more nervous. At the frat house, Cat was pressed against a wall while one guy kissed her and pulled her skirt up, touching her in ways nobody had ever touched her before.

-Hey... stop it... -she tried to say

-It's OK... relax...

-I want to go home...

-Come on, let me take you upstairs...

Meanwhile Jade was trying figure out where Cat was while Tori tried to help her.

-Where is she... where is she...

-Look, maybe she went on a date and is watching a movie -Tori said

-No, she would have told me, just like... OH MY GOD...

-What? What is it? -Tori asked

-SHE WENT TO THE FRAT PARTY! I have to go.

-Wait! I'll go with you.

Jade drove as fast as she could, she knew how those parties where and the extreme danger Cat would be by going on her own. She couldn't be more right, as, at that precise moment, at the frat house, two other guys joined the one who was taking advantage of Cat.

-Hey man, let's take her upstairs, I want to do this chick.

-Sure man. Come on little red, let's go have a private party upstairs.

-I...want...to go... home... - Cat weakly said

-Sure... you'll go home...

Moments later her body was thrown in a bed, her skirt, as a direct consequence of the careless way she was placed there, revealed more than it should to them.

-Well... let's get this party going -one of the guys said taking his shirt off

To be continued...