Never written a Rated M story before. This may or may not crash and burn. But I'm crazy, and what would life be if I didn't spread my crazy around a bit?

Enjoy!

"There's nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons."
―Stephen Chbosky

It was raining when we met.

It was also a Thursday, about a month before the end of summer. I was seventeen years-old, and ever since I could remember I hated Thursdays. It always seemed like something bad happened on Thursdays. I can remember my rabbit dying on a Thursday when I was a young girl. It was a Thursday in sixth grade when some mean boys put a bunch of glue in my hair and I was forced to cut it. My mom left me and my older sister sister and father on a Thursday when I turned thirteen. It was a Thursday when my father got drunk for the first time and hit me. It was a Thursday when I was fifteen that I had lost my virginity to a guy and was dumped right afterward. It was last Thursday that my year long relationship with my boyfriend ended. And it was this particular Thursday I had taken some jelly shots at a party, gotten ditched by my friends, and now I had missed the last bus of the night, and I was now stranded in the rain.

Yeah, Thursdays hadn't had a good track record for me.

It wasn't too late. It was only bout 8:30. I after having some shots and some hookah, everyone wanted to move to a new location. I honestly hadn't been up for anymore partying. I hadn't really been up for a party tonight anyway. But, for the sake of trying to move on, I decided to go out tonight. But my mood had just declined over the past two hours. All I could think of was my ex-boyfriend Dave. And my friends didn't want a Debby Downer around. So i decided to head home by myself. But of course, why would I get a break? Especially on a Thursday.

Fuck Thursdays.

I sighed heavily. I stood there at the bus stop on the corner of Andrew and Main, wondering what I was going to do. I knew I was about a thirty minute walk from home and the rain was getting worse. And even better, all she had on was a t-shirt and shorts and I was already soaked through. My side had been killing me all day. I brought my hand up to my side and felt the bruise. Memories of my argument that morning with that sorry excuse for a 'Dad' that had led to him hitting me in my side started a spark in my already irritated state.

I let out an annoyed grunt and plopped down by the bus stop sign. I couldn't even feel the wet concrete under me. I pulled my knees up to my chest. My hair was completely soaked, my clothes were soaked, and my insides felt soaked. And I couldn't even feel the tears running down my face. I wondered if I could drown in the rain…

I sat and watched the cars pass by, headlight after headlight, trying not to focus on the ache in my side. Why was my life such a mess? Why couldn't it be unpretentious ad stress-free? Those girls on TV that had entirety of their happiness; loving parents, amazing boyfriend… and right now I felt like I had nothing. As if I was nothing. Just some empty, unwanted shell of a person taking up space. Maybe it would be better if I just wasn't around anymore…

"Hey! Why are you on the ground?"

A voice in the rain snapped me out of her self-loathing. What I saw i wasn't exactly expecting. A little girl, clad in a black hoodie and dark red pants hovered over me. Even in the rain I could make out the girl's long wavy brown hair and the soft, pudginess of her cheeks. She stood there, arms crossed, her hood up, staring down judgingly at me like I needed more scrutinizing.

"Hey, are you listening to me?" The girl said when I didn't respond. "Are you stupid or something?"

Yeah, I thought, I am stupid. Stupid for thinking my boyfriend loved me. Stupid for thinking that something good could happen to me. Stupid for coming out on a fucking Thursday and think everything would be fine.

Just fucking stupid.

I just shrugged and turned my head. I had to choke down a sob but the tears kept coming. I couldn't help it. My life was a fucking train wreck that just kept piling up. My heart felt heavy and the rest of my body felt empty. Why even try anymore?

"You're going to get a cold sitting out here." The girl had leaned in closer now, judging my embarrassing state more closely. "And you already look sick."

I faced the little girl again. Now, in close proximity, under the dim street light, I caught my first real look into the girl's eyes. They were absolutely stunning. An ocean blue, deep and cold. They almost had me star struck.

The little's girl face scrunched up in curiosity. "Are you crying?"

I had forgotten I had been crying this whole time. i turned my head and cleared my throat, trying to play it off like I hadn't been sobbing like a baby on a curb.

"No." I was a bad liar.

I expected to hear something else from the little girl but instead, I felt her small, delicate fingers wrap roughly around my wrist and pull me up.

"What are you-?'

"Get up," the little girl said. "We aren't doing anything here but getting wet."

I stood and the little girl pulled her across the street and down the sidewalk. I had no idea why I was following this little girl. I had a notion that this wasn't a good idea. Like, this choice was going to come back and bite me in the butt. But hadn't that been my life all the way up to this point? A whole bunch of bad decisions that turned around and ended me in the gutter? What's one more trip?

And the two of us walked. Five minutes later, we turned into a neighborhood that ascended upward. A large, brick wall lit by black spotlights in the bushes. The words clearly read:

HIGHPOINT.

I knew a bit about Highpoint. It was one of the richest neighborhoods on this side of Hollywood. It wasn't much of a place for celebrities, but it was known for being a place where lawyers and government officials resided.

Who was this girl?

The little girl didn't slow down though. She continued to tug me in the rain and through the neighborhood. I followed her religiously, curiosity taking me over now. A few blocks in, the little girl stopped.

I had to take a moment to take in the sight. A large gate wrapped around what I could guess was at least a six acre estate. A stone path curved in a slither like fashion up to the front of a nicely lit home. Not home… a mansion. It looked to be maybe three floors, not including a possible basement.

For the first time since we had left the curb, the little girl let go of my wrist. She reached up on her tippy toes and unlatched the gate, pushing it open with a loud squeak.

"Come on," she said. I didn't respond but followed the youth up the path. My gaze was focused on the house in front of me. So many windows, each one of them brightly lit. How many people lived in this house?

The front patio of the house resembled a gazebo. An elongated white overhead with long white pillars decorated with bright, old fashioned lanterns. The flooring was complete stone, gray and white. It all almost looked too expensive to even walk on.

The little girl continued to the front door and took the covering off what looked like keypad. She pushed a few buttons and Tori heard a loud buzz. The little girl replaced the covering and opened the door, disappearing inside.

I had the feeling I should just leave. But, once again, my inane curiosity egged me forward. I followed the young child into the house and was immediately in awe.

The first thing I noticed was how big the house was. No, just how big the sitting room was. The doorway opened into what she pictured the main room of the White House looked like. White linoleum floors dropped a step down into carpet and an extravagant sitting room. Two caramel colored couches and an armchair sat in the center. The room also consisted of a bar, a humungous fireplaces, and three overhanging chandeliers.

"Wow." What else was I supposed to say? What could I say? I never seen anything like this in person. Only in movies was this an actual reality.

"Take off your shoes." I turned my head to the little girl. She had already kicked off her shoes and set them on a fancy shoe wrack hanging a foot off the floor.

"Oh, okay." I slipped off my sneakers and heard a squish sound as my feet touched the floor and I decided to take my socks off too and leave them in my Vans.

"Let's go to the kitchen."

"Why the kitchen?' I asked.

The little girl rolled her eyes. "So you don't get water on the carpet, Stupid."

I huffed a bit. Geez, this girl has a bite to her.

The girl led me down the hallway to the right. The walls were covered in expensive paintings and antiques that hung there fashionably. Fancy side tables held expensive looking vases and plants. I was scared that I might knock something over and moved cautiously behind Jade. I know for a fact couldn't afford to pay for some million dollar antique if I bumped it onto the floor.

The kitchen was beautiful. Silver and white counters with dark, honey wood cupboards and one of those expensive ass smart fridges. The middle of the kitchen and a large, granite island surrounded by barstools.

"Sit down and I'll get you a towel." With a wave of her hand she disappeared into the hallway.

I slowly made my way to the island and sat on one of the black bar stools. The house smelt of vanilla and a hint of apples.

I couldn't make out the view from the window over the sink because of the heavy rain. I never would have thought in a thousand years I, Tori Vega, would end up in a place like this. Why had I even come here in the first place? Well, it certainly beat sitting in the rain, and at least my so called 'father' wasn't here. But of course, a reminder of that asshole was consistently jabbing me in the side, reminding me I eventually had to go back and face his wrath another day…

"Here."

I turned my head and saw the young girl standing a few feet away. She had changed from her hoodie into a black t-shirt and her hair was in a ponytail. Jade walled up to her and shoved a towel and white t-shirt into my hands.

"Dry yourself off. I brought you one of my mom's shirts."

I nodded a thanks. "Are… uh, your parents home? Or anyone else?"

The little girl just shook her head. Her response made me feel a little uncomfortable. Why was the little girl here by herself?

I let myself glance back at the girl. Those icy blue eyes were boring holes into skin. I could feel every inch of her was being scrutinized. My uncomfortableness grew tenfold.

"Hurry up." The girl tapped her foot impatiently.

I refrained from rolling my eyes and turned slightly. I took off my shirt and began to dry off. I let myself revel in the feeling of warmth. I squeeze my hair out with the towel then reach for the shirt, only to be stopped when I feel someone near me.

I knew it was the little girl, but I was still stunned when my eyes landed on her only inches away from me. She was silent, fast, and her face gave away her inquisitive nature. Her eyes are on me- no, on my stomach. I already know what she's looking at.

"I fell." Was that believable?

Her eyes don't leave the bruise on my side. "I can get you some ice."

I shrug and quickly cover myself with the shirt. I can't handle her stare for too much longer. It's throwing me off balance.

The little girl moves away and to the fridge. In a second, she's back at my side with a blue ice pack.

I sit down and she sits down next to me and motions me to pull my shit up. When I do, I can see why this might raise some concern. The bruise that had just been red a few hours earlier was now full blown black and blue. I wince as she presses the cold pack into my side.

The girl is completely silent as she does this, leaning toward me and focusing on my side. I keep my focus on her, this little mystery, this young anomaly. Who was she even?

"What's your name?" I don't recognize my voice here. It's too quiet, but it's too barbaric. It wasn't made for this house, this setting.

She blinks slowly. "What's yours?"

"I asked first."

"I don't care." She pushes the ice pack a little harder against my skin. I can't tell if it's on purpose or not.

"Well my name's Tori. Tori Vega."

"Tori…" The named rolled off her tongue slowly, as if she was taking it for test drive. "That's… a stupid name."

"Thanks," I replied with a flat tone. "Your name is…?"

"Jade West."

I smiled. "At least one of us has a nice name."

"I guess." She didn't say it with much emotion but I could see the twinge of a smile at the end of her lips. I guess she like compliments.

"Why were you sitting out in the rain?" Her eyes were on my face now. They were killing me.

"Why were you out in the rain?"

"I asked you first!" Jade huffed at me.

My grinned widened at the annoyed look on her face. "I don't care." Two can play that game.

I don't think I've ever seen a little kid smirk, but that's actually what she did. If it didn't fit her personality, I would've found it unnerving.

"I was just out walking."

"In the rain?"

She rolled her eyes. "It wasn't raining when I left." I feel like she was refraining from calling me stupid again. "So why were you outside in the raining?"

I hesitated for a moment. I don't know why I was worried about sounding pathetic. This was a little girl. No reason to look good.

"I was out with some friends and I wanted to go home but I missed the bus."

"You don't have a car?"

I shook my head. "No. I have my license but I don't have a car yet. My sister lets me borrows hers when she is in a good mood. But she hasn't been in one in a good while."

"Why not?'

"Cuz she's a bi-" I had to stop myself, remembering who I was talking too. I coughed to cover up my stumble. "She's… uh, bitter, and mean."

"What about your parents?"

What is this, twenty questions?

"I live with my dad and he's… mean too. Besides we had an argument this morning and even if I called and asked him to pick me up he wouldn't have." And now I'm thinking about him, and how I'm only like this because of him. This is all his fault.

"This morning?" She says. "Is that when you fell?"

I blink, confused for a second. "Fell? Why do you say I fe-?" And then I have to catch myself again. But it's too late this time. I'm caught. That smirk is back on her face, wide and satisfied. I can tell this girl has played these games before, and she doesn't lose.

"Fine, you caught me." I adjusted myself and took the ice pack from her and placed it on the counter. "My dad and I got into a fight this morning and he, well, did this." I motion to the gradually improving bruise on my side.

Jade's face scrunched up again, the look in her eyes harder than it was earlier. "Did you hit him back?"

I almost laughed. "No. It's not even worth it."

"Well if he hit me I would hit him back."

I raised my eyebrow at her. "Oh, really?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Let me meet him. I'll hit him for you. And trust me he'll think twice about hitting you again when I'm done with him."

I laughed at the thought of Jade fighting a six foot-two police officer. Actually laughed. The feeling was so foreign. It'd been so long since I smiled a real smile. I couldn't even remembered the last time I smiled like this. You have to be happy to smile like this. And happiness evaded me some twisted Tom and Jerry episode on rerun.

"Don't laugh, I'm serious!" She said. "Let me meet him!"

I stopped laughing but the smile was still stitched on my face. My sides hurt from laughing now, the pain from my bruise forgotten. "Sorry, I just don't think an eight year old is going to be able to-"

"I'm not eight," she interrupts. "I'm almost ten."

I smiled, the determination set in those ice caps was admirable. "Oh, okay. Well, in that case maybe you can teach him a lesson."

"I will," she smiled. Jade turned and stared out the window. "I think the rain stopped."

I glance out the window. The rain has stopped and the sky was clearing a bit and the dark LA sky started to peep through the clouds. Just one overcast replacing another.

"You're right. I should get going." Even as I say the words I can feel the protest in my chest. The objection gets worse as we stand and I follow Jade to the front door.

I don't want to leave. Any other time, I'd blame it on my father not only because he makes home life a living hell, but it's easy to blame him. It's always been easy to blame him. But this time it's not all about him. That's kind of scary.

I slip on my shoes and stop at the door to look at Jade one more time.

"Thanks for… everything."

Jade just stands there and nods. Her face, those eyes, completely unreadable.

"Don't be stupid and get lost."

I smiled and nodded, exiting the house. This girl was a true mystery. I hadn't smiled in months, yet this girl had me doing it since I entered her home. I've had one of the worst days ever and she got me to laugh. I'm in pain on the inside and out and yet, she made me feel something… positive. I shouldn't be stuck on something so small, because good things are fleeting. They're practically non-existent. But this… it almost felt real. Can you blame me for wanting to hold on to it?

I reach the end of the street and stop at the curb. A car speeds by and sprays my recently dried clothes with water.

I hate Thursdays.

Review and Let me know what you think?

~Love, Fruity