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Chapter 1 – Out of the cold?

Here is a new story, full of honest to goodness Jori Drama. I do hope you enjoy it.

Note: chapter 1 takes place, 3 years after the gang graduated Hollywood Arts.

Jade's POV

Ask anyone who lives in a northern climate what they hate, the most about winter, they probably won't tell you it's the snow.

They'll say it's the cold.

We're all cold from time to time, we get cold, we experience cold weather, that sort of thing. But as I walk along the nearly deserted New York City street, I'm more than cold.

I'm slowly freezing to death. Looking up, I see the sign of a bank that only serves to remind me just how cold I am.

02 degrees. The innocuous sign flashes, along with the time of 9:17 PM.

What makes me shiver, is the icy wind. It's a fierce wind that seems to rip right through me, chilling me to the bone. My leather Jacket, which looks rather cool normally, isn't keeping me warm at all.

According to my phone, the actual temperature, with the wind chill is -16 degrees. I look up and down the avenue and save for a few cars I see no one. That's because no one is foolish enough to go out on one of the coldest nights of the year.

It's an unrelenting, bone chilling cold, that unlike God, will not forgive you. If you get too cold, too tired and sit down, you'll simply freeze to death. I'll freeze to death, unless I find shelter.

If it were just the cold, I would just gripe about it as most New Yorkers do and go about my business. But I have other problems. My back hurts from the weight of this old army duffle bag on it. My shoulder hurts from the overstuffed backpack that I'm also carrying. These two bags, plus my purse, carry pretty much my entire life.

Earlier this evening, I had packed in a hurry and fled my warm abode, into the deadly cold night.

Making my misery complete is the fact that my left eye is nearly swollen shut and the wind only makes the other bruises on my face, hurt that much more. It feels like little icy daggers being repeatedly stuck in my face. I had been walking more than an hour and I was more and more tired and cold. Each step I took, seemed to be harder to take, than the last. I wasn't going to last long.

Standing on a street corner, I pulled out a slip of paper. On it was a hastily scrawled address.

478 E. 89th street. Apartment 2c

Other than a homeless shelter and I had no idea where the nearest one was, this was my only refuge. I knew full well, that its sole inhabitant, probably, wouldn't even let me in the front door.

Considering how badly I burned that same person 3 years ago, I would have to be a fool to blame them. But it was my only hope.

Just as I lost the feeling in my fingers, even with gloves on, I reached the mundane brick apartment building. But for once, luck was in my favor.

As I walked up to the building, I could see a cab waiting just in front of the building. Moments later I spotted a heavily bundled up couple, hurry out. They appeared to be a couple in their late 30's. Taking a chance, I hurried to the door and caught it just before it closed.

The couple themselves were too busy getting to the cab, before they froze, to even notice me. Entering the building, I closed the door dropped my bags and for a moment let the heat wash over me. It was a wonderful feeling.

After taking a few minutes to throw off the chill, I gathered my courage, my bags and headed up the stairs. As I reached the apartment door, I had this sinking feeling that in a few short minutes, I would once again be out on the street.

I paused a moment, dropped my bags, took a deep breath and then knocked on the door. After the knock there was a long pause, no sound no anything. I knew they were home, as I could see a bit of light from under the door.

Then I could see the tiny light in the door's peephole suddenly darken and stay dark for several seconds. It was as if the figure inside was scrutinizing me and my appearance closely. After another moment the figure behind the door stepped away from the peephole.

Nothing happened.

For a full 30 seconds nothing happened. I guessed that the figure behind the door was thinking, pondering, if the should even speak with me. Once before they tried to help me and how did I pay back that kindness; I threw it in their face and humiliated them in the process.

I was stupid for coming, that door was never going to open. In a way, I was the one that shut it in the first place. Maybe I deserve to freeze to death or just go back to that place I once called home and suffer the consequences. I've been ignoring his calls and texts since I left. He will neither be sober nor happy and I know that that means. The sad part is, that part of me wants to go back and yet another part of me felt like I deserved what was waiting for me there. I felt that pull, it was a familiar pull. I hated it. Just go back, things will be alright, things will be better.

I think I'll just freeze.

Just as I picked up my bags and was about to step away, I heard the unexpected sound of chain being pulled back, followed by the dull clicking of a door being unlocked.

The door soon opened a crack and for the first time in 3 years I was face to face with Tori Vega. She was wearing sweats, looked tired and had messed up hair. But it was the stony faced expression she wore, that made me feel like a total shit.

"I've finally left Beck. I called Andre in Florida and he gave me your address. Don't be mad at him. I've got nowhere else to go. Please." I rapidly blurted out; never sounding more desperate in my life.

I then waited as Tori stood there in the doorway like a statue, silently staring at me. Her uncharacteristic expression not changing once the entire time I waited.

I sighed, as I could feel a lump forming in my throat. "Please, I know you don't believe me that it's for good this ti…"

Tori quickly cut me off with a darkly cynical tone of voice. It was one I'd never heard her speak before. "Would honestly you expect me too Jade?"

I lowered my head in shame. "No."

Feeling dejected, I began to turn to leave. Much to my surprise, Tori without saying another word, opened the door and stepped to the side.

I nodded and quietly walked in the warm apartment. It was a cramped affair with a small living room, kitchen bathroom and bedroom. I dropped my bags a few feet in the door as I heard Tori close and lock the door behind me.

Feeling very humbled, I turned to my former friend. "Tori I can't thank you enough for this."

She quickly put up her hand to stop me. "Don't thank me; I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear what happened either. Don't say anything in fact."

She then pointed to a slightly worn, forest green couch with a blanket over the back. You can sleep on the couch. The blanket on the back is very warm so you can use that. I get in the bathroom at 6 am and I'm usually out by 6:45. That is my bathroom time. You can use it before or after but don't go into my bathroom time. I leave for work at 7:15. I'm home usually at about 6 pm. Until you get some food, you can use mine. I'll make space in the cupboard and fridge for you. I want 150 dollars a month to cover expenses. If you break it, you owe me, if you make a mess clean it up. You will as part of your household chores clean the kitchen once a week. Don't touch my computer and my room, is strictly off limits. After 10, keep the TV volume down and no loud music. Do you understand, yes or no?"

It was the way Tori said it all, that I fond disturbing. It was as if she was talking to a total stranger. Her voice, her whole demeanor, even the look in her eyes was cold and distant. Offhand I'd say she actually looked colder than it was outside.

"Yes." I said softly. It was her place, it was her rules. I had to abide by them.

"Good, one last thing."

"What?"

I didn't realize it could, but her face grew even colder still. Suddenly I felt that chill creep back into my bones again. "If you tell him you're staying with me, tell him where I live or have him here in my place. I will toss your ass out in a heartbeat. Freezing winter or not. I don't care if it's a fucking coldest day of the century. You are out! But you're just going to crawl back to him tomorrow anyway, so none of this really matters doesn't it. Regardless, do you understand?"

At this moment. I felt lower that I had ever felt before in my life.

"I understand."

"Good night then." Tori said icily, before walking in her room and closing the door.

I went to bed late normally, but in this case, I was tired and still a bit cold. I was also a guest in Tori's apartment and thought it best not press my luck."

So I quickly readied myself for bed and in a few minutes I was laying in under a warm blanket on a semi-comfortable couch.

It took me awhile to get asleep. For a time, I listened in an attempt to try and figure out just what Tori was doing in her room. All could hear however, was the unearthly howling, of the icy wind outside.

But mostly my mind tried to make sense of it all. I burn her 3 years ago, show up on her doorstep out of the blue and she helps me without hesitation. Yet the entire time she's icy cold to me.

I found her behavior unsettling, but considering what happened, what should I expect. I shouldn't expect to be sleeping on a couch in her apartment, but here I am.

It was a contradiction that I found myself wrestling with, until sleep finally claimed me.

We're left with lots of questions to think over.

What happened with Beck and Jade?

What did jade do to Tori some 3 years ago?

Why is Tori so utterly bitter and cold?

I hope everyone likes this story, I'm taking the unusual step of sort of starting it in the middle of the story, but I think that makes good drama and adds to the suspense. Please review.

Thanks to Invader Johnny.