Jade hates the hospital; the sterile air, the too-clean hallways, the false cheerfulness and optimism of the staff. Jade hates a lot of things, the majority of which come with a list of valid reasons as long as her arm, but right now she just really hates hospitals.
Jade hates hospitals but more than anything she hates how helpless this one is making her feel. She stands, she watches, she waits and it kills her to know there's nothing she can do.
Sitting alone in the hospital bed with tubes everywhere Cat looks so small. She hasn't moved in what feels like days. Jade knows. She's been watching, waiting for the other girl to wake up, to smile like she always does and bounce off happily like she normally would in search of food. Cat doesn't move though. She doesn't smile. She lies still and breathes slowly and Jade watches her and waits for a sign that things are going to be ok.
The sterile white walls and clean white sheets are a stark contrast to the bright red of Cat's hair. She looks fragile and the fire of her hair emphasizes the color that isn't in her cheeks. It makes the scene all the more difficult to look at but Jade can't look away.
It isn't until Jade reaches up to brush a fiery red streak of her own hair out of her eyes that she notices the tears that have been falling steadily down her face. She doesn't know when they started. It doesn't matter. Cat won't wake up and nothing else seems important.
The unexpected appearance of Tori Vega interrupts Jade's silent vigil. Her presence is unwelcome, her voice more so, but Jade knows she's not Cat's only friend and can't find it in herself to be cruel.
"Are you crying?" Tori asks; her surprise so evident it kills all of Jade's sympathy, "I didn't think you were capable."
Jade's voice is cold and hollow when she responds, "Can we not do this right now?"
"I'm sorry. I just didn't think you cared about people."
Jade gives her an icy glare, "Cat's my best friend, Tori. Of course I care."
Tori sighs, "Look, I'm sorry Jade. I know this isn't exactly easy for any of us. I just… I didn't expect to see you crying. Expected you to be off brooding somewhere."
Jade turns back to look at Cat through the window, "Because you know me so well after all. Please Tori, just go away. I can't deal with you right now."
Tori looks slightly offended, "You know, Jade, you aren't Cat's only friend. I care about her too. We all do."
Jade doesn't move at all as she responds, "That's great, Tori. Good for you. Now leave, please. This is all your fault anyway. If you hadn't… If you'd never come to Hollywood arts things never would have gotten to this point. Cat would've… she wouldn't have been in that car tonight. She would have stayed at my house and none of this would have happened."
She stares at Cat's unconscious form silently for a moment before continuing, "If you had never come here things between Beck and I would be just like they used to be. Things with Cat would never have gotten so…"
Jade trails off into silence. Tori breaks it after a moment, "I'm sorry for the way things happened when I came to Hollywood Arts, but I can't be sorry for the way things are. You can't blame this on me anymore than you can yourself. Accidents happen, Jade."
"That's reassuring, Tori. I'm sure Cat would appreciate it. I'll be sure to tell her if she wakes up."
Tori sighs, "Alright, I'll leave you to your brooding then. Cat's going to be ok, Jade."
Jade doesn't watch as Tori leaves. She watches the slow rise and fall of Cat's chest and raises her hand up to press it against the glass. She'd better be, Jade thinks as another tear makes its way silently down her cheek.