Title: Thankful That Hearts Always Mend (Three Shot)
A/N: I'm getting into this habit of not being able to finish stories that I start for whatever reason. However, this thing has taken on a life of its own. I sat down and entirely outlined it upon the inspiration striking me, which is something I never do. I proofed as best as I could but do claim any mistakes. I've never written a Jori before, but I do love this couple. Part of the plot is Jade's growth and so please don't yell at me for any OOC moments. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Trust me if I did this SO would have happened on the show.
ACT I
May- Two days before graduation
There's always a moment when things change. A metamorphosis. A moment suspended in time like an icicle. Sometimes the change is grand. Seen and felt. Others happen quietly. Like a whisper in a movie theater or a soft touch in the dark between lovers.
People often said Jade and Tori resembled the effect you get when pouring oil into a pan of water. Adverse. All negative and no benefits. However the two always had a connection. A gravitational pull of sorts that couldn't be broken no matter how many insults flew between them.
Their metamorphosis started two days before their high school graduation ceremony. It was a Wednesday morning and all the seniors had to attend a mandatory assembly in The Blackbox. Jade happened to sit down next to Tori with an empty chair between them.
"You look like the cat I ran over last night," Jade remarked as she sat down next to a troubled looking Tori.
The Latina didn't even shrug. Jade was sure that'd get a rise out of her. "Is Sikowitz threatening to fail you? Because he did to me and..."
Tori sighed worriedly, cutting Jade off, "My mom's pregnant."
"Oh!" Jade's tone changed from uninterested to rascally, "Mazel Tov! Bet it creeps you out to know your parents are still doing it..." She quirked a studded eyebrow as Tori gave her an incredulous look.
"She's high-risk. Being over 40 and having a baby don't really mix." Tori explained and Jade's expression softened as worry wrinkled Tori's features.
"It's none of my business, but she planning on having it?"
"Yeah, she is. Despite this being a total surprise my parents are thrilled," Tori smiled at Jade then. "They tried to have more after me for about 8 years. Trina thinks it's kinda gross, but I'm actually excited to be a big sister..."
Jade shared Tori's grin as she listened, "Well, I'm not big on procreation, but I am happy for your parents. Congrats Vega."
"Thanks Jade," just then the empty seats in their row were filled by their friends, "Oh and can you keep this between us for now? My parents don't want to make an announcement until after my mom has some test in a few weeks." Tori asked Jade hushed as Robbie begins telling some story about how Rex stole his underwear.
"Of course," Jade nodded just as Beck sat down between the two girls.
It was Sunday, two days after graduation, when Jade showed up at Tori's house. There was a graduation party in fill swing with the modestly sized Vega house filled to the brim. Jade recognized a lot of the guests from pictures on the Vega house walls or from Tori's Friend List on The Slap. There were a few she didn't know, assuming they were Trina's friends or acquaintances of Tori's parents.
"Jade!" Holly Vega called over the crowd from where she stood in the kitchen.
Jade smiled politely and met Holly half-way across the living room, "Hey Mrs. V, is Tori around?"
"Yes," Holly smiled as she scanned the room to locate her daughter. "Over by the piano," She gestured to her far right and Jade nodded before heading in that direction.
"Hey Vega!" Jade greeted Tori as she approached her and Andre.
Tori turned around to face Jade, "You came! Thanks!" Tori smiled and gave Jade a wide smile.
"Andre, mind if I borrow Tori for a second?" The dark haired girl turned to the boy to Tori's left.
Andre smiled between the two girls looking for an okay from Tori who gave a gentle smile in return, "Nah, I was gonna hit up the buffet again. She's all yours."
Once Andre walked off, Jade grabbed Tori by the wrist, "Come on," she called tugging Tori towards the stairs.
Jade pulled Tori into her bedroom, closing the door behind them to muffle the excitement downstairs. Tori flipped on the overhead light as she gave Jade a concerned look, "Are you planning on assassinating me?"
"Would I give you a gift and then kill you?" Jade asked as she handed Tori a navy blue gift bag.
Tori took the bag in her hands, "I wouldn't put it past you…"
Jade narrowed her eyes as she fought the urge to roll them, "Just open it."
"If this is a vibrator like you got Cat for her last birthday I'm going to…"
"Think of me every time you use it?" Jade replied in a sultry tone as a slight blush tinted Tori's cheeks.
Tori sighed and then reached into the bag, pulling out a small bundle loosely wrapped in white tissue paper. She unwrapped the package gingerly, just in case a wild animal was hiding in there, as Jade chuckled with amusement. Much to Tori's surprise there was a soft, white baby onesie wrapped neatly inside. She gave Jade a questioning look who just shrugged and grinned like a sly fox.
Tori held up the onesie and examined the writing on the front. A big smile broke out across her face as she read the message aloud, "'If you think I'm cute, you should see my Big Sister', aww, Jade. Thank you!"
"That applies to you and not Trina, by the way." Jade quipped and Tori giggled as she walked towards her.
"If I hug you will you try to strangle me?"
"Eh, I might."
The two girls embraced friendly. A tingle pinging through the both of them, but the rational side of things chalked it up to the close interaction. It was weird, but comforting.
"Tori!" The voice of Tori's dad, David, could be heard bellowing up the stairs.
The girls broke their hug and Tori turned to respond, "Coming dad!"
"Sounds like we better get back to the party," Jade stepped aside to open the door for Tori.
Tori smiled awkwardly at Jade's gesture, "Yeah." She stopped just outside her room, "Thank you, Jade. Again."
The darker haired girl just smirked in return.
The following weekend brings yet another party to celebrate graduation. This one's a little different though. Cat requested that just the gang get together and have a little fun. She offered up her house since her parents had to take Caleb, Cat's brother, out of town to see yet another "special doctor", well that's how Cat explained it anyway.
Tori arrived shortly after 6:00pm, when the festivities were scheduled to begin, to find Andre in the kitchen making Pina Coladas as Cat and Robbie were setting up the karaoke machine.
"So, since we're now high school graduates we're going to start drinking like 40-year-olds on an island vacation?" Tori joked with Andre as he handed her a high-ball glass of the paper umbrella-topped drink.
"They're Cat's favorite. She requested them as tonight's specialty drink… don't worry, I put extra rum in it." Andre replied as he began prepping another glass.
"Oh my, God. Dude! We're going to be falling over each other before it's even 8 o'clock!" Tori remarked as she took a sip and tasted just how strong it was.
Andre took a sip from Tori's straw, "Yeah, I'll give that one to Jade. She can handle it." He took the glass back and proceeded to make the remaining drinks weaker.
"Can I do anything?" Tori inquired looking around the kitchen as Andre finished up another drink.
"Yeah," the boy pointed towards the fridge with a lime-green straw, "You can cube up the cheese. Cat was gonna do it but Rob needed her help with the karaoke machine."
Tori was cubing up the cheese when Beck and Jade arrived. They entered the kitchen carrying grocery bags. Beck pulled a bottle of vodka and tequila out of his bag as Jade produced various chips, salsa, and crackers from hers.
"You get the limes?" Andre asked Beck as he tasted one of the former's drinks.
Beck looked at Jade who stole a cube of cheese off the cutting board Tori was using, "I wasn't told to get limes," she mumbled around a piece of Swiss cheese.
"Looks like I'm going back to the store," Beck remarked defeated as he placed his glass down on the kitchen island.
As Beck exited the kitchen Andre turned towards Jade, "You can help Tori… if she doesn't care… because, ya know, knives."
Tori did her best to stifle the giggle-snort she let out at Andre's comment, "I'll just stab her if she acts up." Wow, was the rum getting to her already?
"You know I keep scissors in my boot…" Jade retorted as Tori handed her a knife and a block of cheese.
The two girls shared the medium sized cutting board throwing the cubed cheese into a compartmented serving dish. The challenged proved to be not that difficult, only because neither girl seemed to mind the close proximity. Their hips bumped on occasion as did their elbows, but again, they didn't seem to mind. Soon their task was finished and music began to play from the living room accompanied by Cat's melodic voice.
"Sounds like they got the karaoke machine fixed!" Tori smiled as she reached for the strong drink. "Here! Andre made this for you!" She handed the glass to Jade who took it with a kinked brow.
"Thanks?" Jade accepted the drink with caution just as Beck entered the kitchen with the requested limes.
For the first part of the evening the kids drank, ate, and talked. Andre confirmed he was headed off to Berkeley, just as Robbie and Cat had announced they were going to UCLA together. Beck had gotten into NYU and would thus be the one going the furthest away. Jade and Tori were the only two not heading off to higher education. Jade wanted to take a year or two off and try to figure out exactly what she wanted to major in, that is if she even wanted to go to college. Tori, on the other hand, was perfectly content working at Skyline Records by day and writing music by night. After Trina failed miserably out of college and ended up in cosmetology school, their parents encouraged Tori to follow her heart and not do what she thought they wanted her to do post-high school.
Once the alcohol had taken full effect on the group, it was time for some karaoke. Somehow, in the heat of battle, Tori got elected to start things off. She insisted she didn't know what to sing and so Jade volunteered to pick a song for her; which prompted Tori to insist that Jade sing with her.
Jade smiled devilishly at Tori, "Challenge accepted!"
Soon the opening riff of Robert Palmer's 'Addicted To Love' flowed out of the speakers as Jade claimed the mic to Tori's left. "You better know this one, Vega!"
"Be real, West!" Tori jabbed back earning a laugh from their friends.
Your lights are on, but you're not home
Your mind is not your own
Your heart sweats, your body shakes
Another kiss is what it takes
Tori's voice rung out with perfect tone and pitch; she was such a natural, "Go Tori!" Andre pumped his fist as everyone cheers.
You can't sleep, you can't eat
There's no doubt, you're in deep
Your throat is tight, you can't breathe
Another kiss is all you need
Jade sings effortlessly and Tori just smiles at her in pure delight. Beck and Cat threw out praises to the darker haired girl as she swung her hips around.
You like to think that you're immune to the stuff
It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough
You know you're gonna have to face it
You're addicted to love
Their voices blended seamlessly as they sang the chorus in perfect harmony. It was one of those rare moments that were becoming not-so rare anymore. A moment in which they were civil, actually friendly, and having fun together. Both seemed to silently welcome the change of pace happily.
Once everyone seemed to have a couple turns behind the karaoke mic, Cat suggested they play a game. Looking back, no one was sure who suggested they play Truth or Dare. They were all drunk, sitting in a circle on the floor, and not in the proper headspace to create concrete memories. But really, it wouldn't be the most memorable thing that was about to happen that night.
Cat had called on Robbie first who was dared to eat an orange, which he hated. Then Andre selected truth and admitted to impersonating his grandma on the telephone when someone called that he didn't want to speak with. Cat picked Tori next…
"Dare!" Tori responded as Beck and Jade chanted "TRUTH!" from where they sat semi-cuddling to her right.
Cat giggled as she twirled a strand of hair around her fingers, "Okay Tori, I dare you to…" the red headed girl paused to glance playfully at Beck and Jade. "Kiss Beck!"
The group fell silent, all looking to Jade, who sat between Beck and Tori, and then back at Tori. No one knew about that incident which took place before The Platinum Music Awards, well expect for Beck, Tori, and Jade; but even then Beck was unaware that Jade knew and had told Tori of her knowledge. Cat giggled as Tori kept her eyes focused on Beck, avoiding the daggers Jade was definitely shooting her.
"Cat, I-"
Jade spoke up then, "No, do it, Tori." The young Latina turned to face the girl whose hand was on Beck's thigh and dangerously close to his groin.
Tori watched Jade's hand, as if the girl was taunting or challenging her, before bringing her eyes up to meet Jade's. There was a glint of something in them, but Tori couldn't quite put a finger on what it was. Of course it could have been the alcohol which was adding a glassy sheen to the usually blue/green orbs Tori was currently staring into.
"I dare you." Came Jade's voice which had an outline of flirtation to the spite that fleshed it out.
Tori exhaled breaking her stare with Jade and whipping her head back around to Cat, "Can I kiss Andre instead?"
And with that the tension in the room shifted back to a comfortable level. Cat giggled and agreed to let Tori kiss Andre. It was merely a peck, but at least it didn't cause her bodily harm, or even worse, death.
Later that night, when Tori went outside to get some air, she found Jade sitting on the front steps. "You can sit. I won't bite."
"Thanks…" Tori sighed as she slipped down next to Jade.
The darker haired girl drew in a breath, "Why didn't you do it?" her eyes were trained on the ground in front of them.
Tori shrugged, "I stand by my policy… I don't kiss my friends boyfriends."
"You're making it increasingly hard to dislike you, Vega."
June-2 weeks after Cat's party
It was a typical Monday for Tori when Jade walked into Skyline Records. She sat a Jet Brew coffee cup down in front of Tori at the register and she eyed it questioningly.
"I didn't poison it. It's a peace offering." Jade offered and Tori accepted the explanation.
"Thank you, Jade. Why are you here? I don't ever remember telling you I worked here and it's not on my Slap…"
"It's on your Facebook page, my dear," Jade replied as she began browsing a rack of vinyl albums.
Tori took a sip of her coffee, "And how'd you know my coffee order?"
Jade paused for a moment to glance oddly at Tori, "Dude, we went to high school together for 3 years and how many times did Beck and I pick up a coffee for you?"
"Oh."
"Yep, good detective work there, Vega."
Jade continued to browse as Tori waited on a few customers. Tori had lost track of where Jade had disappeared off to as she was helping a customer find something. It wasn't like she was afraid of Jade, well not anymore; she just didn't trust the girl entirely.
"Hey!" called Jade's voice as the last customer Tori was waiting on left.
Tori craned her neck over the racks to try and spot where the voice came from, "Jade? Where are you?"
"Blues…" Jade replied and Tori made her way over to the appropriate section.
Tori turned down the aisle to find Jade sitting on a stool with her feet propped up on a crate, an album in her hands. "Can I help you?" the Latina giggled at the sight in front of her.
Jade smiled up at her, "Yeah, you allowed to play whatever you want?" she nodded her head in the direction of the sound system at the back of the store.
"Yes… got a request?"
"I do!" Jade hopped to her feet and walked towards the store stereo with Tori following.
Tori watched as Jade switched off the satellite radio and flipped on the turntable with a slight crackle erupting over the speakers. Jade slipped the black disc from its sleeve and placed it onto the player, gently dropping the needle along the edge.
Soon the unmistakable voice of Etta James filled the small record store. Jade immediately began singing along and swaying with the rhythm.
I don't want you to be no slave
I don't want you to work all day
But I want you to be true
And I just wanna make love to you
Tori watched as Jade seemed to get lost in the song. This was the Jade that Tori liked best. The one who let herself go and let the music take over. The confident Jade who didn't second guess anything or anyone. This Jade who could make the whole room fall in love with her by just being there. This was Tori's favorite Jade.
Tori was brought out of her thoughts as the phone rang from the front of the store. She left Jade and dashed to the front to answer it. "Skyline Records, this is Tori."
Jade made her way up front after turning the volume down as to not disturb Tori. "Yep, that's no problem. Okay Carl. Thanks for calling." Tori finished the call as Jade claimed the stool which sat behind the register.
"Who was that?" Jade asked as Tori began rummaging through a drawer marked "Help Wanted/Applications".
Tori produced a "Help Wanted" sign from the drawer, "My boss. We've had three people all quit this week because they're going off to college." She replied taping the sign up on the front door.
"You know, I should probably get a job…" Jade started and Tori looked at her with a surprised expression.
Tori reached back into the drawer she was just searching to pull out a job application, "Don't put me as a reference," she sighed handing the application to Jade.
"Wasn't planning on it!" Jade chuckled as she began to fill out the application.
Later that night as a tipsy Beck and Jade lie making out on the bed in his RV a conversation began with Tori as the main topic.
"You didn't apply at Skyline just to annoy Tori? Because if you did and they offer you a job, you probably shouldn't take it," Beck inhaled sharply as Jade was peppering his bare chest with wet kisses.
"No, I need a job and since I'm not going off to college anytime soon it just seemed like a good choice," Jade replied as she fiddled with the button on Beck's jeans. "Also, you're not my boss. If I get the job I'm taking it."
Beck watched with hooded eyes as Jade undid the button she was previously playing with, "And I wouldn't stop you from taking it… or anything else you want to do," his voice became dry with desire as Jade pulled down his jeans and underwear, causing his arousal to spring free.
"Beck?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut up…" Jade husked out before her mouth encased Beck's manhood causing both to moan out in pleasure.
About two weeks later Jade got called into Skyline Records for an interview. Even though she wouldn't admit it, Tori did put in a good word for her. Jade was offered a job on the spot and she gladly accepted. Carl, store owner, decided that since Jade and Tori knew each other, and that the latter was his best employee, he'd schedule them to work together. He also volunteered Tori to train Jade, which she was pretty sure was partly Jade's idea.
"Did you mention to Carl about the time you took me out to Shadow Creek with the intention of murdering me?" Tori questioned as she and Jade were in the stock room taking inventory.
Jade laughed as she put away the crate Tori had just checked, "No. He probably wouldn't have hired me if I had."
"And that is why I'm glad our place of work has security cameras!"
Jade's only response was to laugh at the fear she knew Tori was feigning.
July-1 week after Jade gets job
It's a bright Saturday morning when Jade checks The Slap to see a super excited post from Tori announcing good news.
"Big news hailing from the Vega house this morning! There is going to be another Vega Girl! My mom's expecting a baby! We are super excited. :D"
Jade smiled as she read the post and Liked it. She then was curious as to how they found out the baby's gender so soon and decided to send a text to Tori.
Jade: "How'd you find out it was a girl so soon? Congrats, btw."
Tori: "My mom had a Chorionic Villus Sampling test and it gave us the gender. My mom's so excited, but I think dad really wanted a boy. Either way they're both happy she's healthy. No Down Syndrome or any other chromosome illnesses :)"
Jade: "Oh cool. Glad everything's okay. See you at work."
Later that afternoon at Skyline Records Jade is stocking the racks with Tori when she gets an idea.
"So, is the new baby's name going to start with a T?"
"What?" Tori giggled.
Jade turned to face her, "Well, they've got a Trina and a Tori, so is the new Vega girl also going to have a name that starts with T? Like, Tiffany or Truly?"
"I actually am not wishing for that," Tori shook her head as she went back to her task.
"Or they could name her Jade…"
Tori gave her a disbelieving look, "Don't even go there."
"Will you help me plan a surprise baby shower for my mom?" Tori asked as she and Jade were locking up the store.
Jade switched off the stereo, "Why are you asking me of all people?"
Tori locked the stock room door, "Trina doesn't want to help and the only other person willing to is my Aunt Sonya," Jade made her way towards the register with Tori following.
"Yeah," Jade sighed heavily. "I'll help. But don't expect me to do any of that ridiculous cutesy shower crap."
"Yay!" Tori exclaimed before engulfing Jade in a hug. "Thank you, Jade."
"Yeah, yeah. Now get your hands off me, Vega."
The following morning Tori work up to find texts from Andre, Robbie, and Cat all saying to check out Beck and Jade's Slap profiles.
Tori saw the notice bold and clear top of the page when she logged on, "Beck and Jade are no longer in a relationship."
Tori picked up her phone and typed out a text to Jade, a response came a few seconds later.
Jade: "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
Tori: "Wanna come over and hang out?"
Jade: "Sure. As long as you let me bring The Scissoring."
Tori: "Fine. But not the Director's Cut. Please. I couldn't sleep for 3 days after you made me watch that!"
Jade: "Great! Be there in 15."
Jade ended up bringing the Director's Cut and Tori didn't sleep for the next three days.
A/N: Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is an actual testing procedure that doctors use.
Songs mentioned: 'Addicted To Love' by Robert Palmer and 'I Just Want To Make Love To You' by Etta James.