Oct. 18th, 17
Do read the author's note at the end, it is really important... Other than that, hope you enjoy!
:)
It was only a winter's tale,
Just another winter's tale...
And why should the world take notice,
Of one more love that's failed?
No One's Perspective-
Cross-legged on her bed, Jade West hummed softly to a tune she hadn't heard before. That, or perhaps she had heard of it in passing. As the norm of her room, she sat alone (like she slept alone, studied alone and dressed alone in her quarters). Once her mellow thrum continued, a short, abrupt sneeze halted it in its tracks and then a followed sniff. She groaned quietly; what she would do to not be sick on New Year's Eve. Perhaps Jade should go to bed, the weight of the evening resting heavily on her shoulders. As her mind recalled for her - much to her bitter approval - there was a lot of snot, tissues and bed. With her gaze on her sheets, she grimaced, knowing that they'd ought to be cleaned immediately after she was better.
Even with her yawn and tired eyes, midnight struck and she was at her phone, its white light setting a stark contrast against the dim lamp's one.
'Resolution,' splayed across her skull, nailing itself to the sides with seven inch nails each - seven inch metaphorical nails each. She sorrowfully recollected just the prior Friday's events, the idea of a party shattering in her mind as she coughed her way to the news. She would've joked to not shoot the messenger if she a) remembered to have Tori tell the others - her memory, she swore, was dreadful compared to when she wasn't a puddle of mucus and sweat - and b) if the reaction rippled with an honest sympathy other than the false, collected smiles that were given. Not that they weren't happy, no, just not sympathetic or even empathetic. Her bitter, dismal tune came back to her mind, resembling the words, 'Oh how those felt relief to know that the big bad Jade would be cursed with the cold.' She stopped, furrowing her brows at her door; it could have been a flu with the temperature swings...if she'd check them.
The loss of a small square of illumination jolted her from the strange, instantaneous thoughts - any bug would force her mind to wonder as her feet didn't - her thumb smacking against the screen. It woke from its brief slumber, Jade sighing mutely in what could have been despair. It might have been disappointment, mind you, though she didn't exactly know the difference as her head ached terribly.
The only one, as she stared at the screen, who'd surely answer based on the Friday exchange was Tori - ironic, she thought it was. And, even she had managed to out-act Beck - who's taken at least a dozen classes - with her down expression, slack in frame and an internal decision to just walk away from the table, avoiding the other gazes along with Jade's.
Though, as Jade reimagined Monty Python and the Holy Grail - a film which she'd recommended to anyone who was sick - her glorious deed would solve the small issue. Her palm found her forehead, teeth hissing several obscenities pertaining how stupid she was sounding. Though as the next horrid sneeze reminded her, she was sick and doomed to her wondering mind. Things, by any means, were going to change. Right then. Right there. Right with her new resolution that she had sent - her eyes glanced to her clock - thirty minutes ago.
Her thumb pressed on the screen once again, her sleeve collecting anything dribbling from her nose; she didn't want to think about it.
Jade- Happy New Year.
Of course, she hadn't done much, it was only a text. Five different texts, but the same nevertheless. It wasn't baking cookies or not laughing at Trina's awful attempt at talent, just a simple, three letter text. 'But multiplied by five and that'd be fifteen...' she mindlessly calculated, bored out of her mind. Shaking the petty thoughts away, Jade dwelled on the idea of being friendlier. Not less sarcastic or gruesome with her ideas, but just more approachable. Bitch, gank and cunt shouldn't be a part of her description any longer.
Though as the time ticked by, she assumed that there'd be additions to that, a sudden fury blazing through her chest. And, of course, her sniffle quickly extinguished that.
Maybe she should've put more of an exclamation to it, or added a couple of funny faces, or even hearts. That would've been more of a start, as she sorely thought. Though, with one glance around her room, clad with neutral to dark colors with rather eccentric objects, it wasn't a mystery as of why she hadn't. Even so, her own message was a start of sorts, seeing as wishing a happy new year was pointless. And, it still was - out of her habits - to do so. On the other hand, she began to understand that socializing like this was what people needed. Not wanted, otherwise it'd be a gift. It was a necessity expected as it was engraved in social norm; these were the little things that piled to the ceiling, rocking back and forth as one would hesitantly add on to the tower. Of course, after a while, it would collapse on its own, suffocating the victim with their own mess that could've been avoided if they had looked after the little things.
She tapped the phone once again, keen on not having ridiculous thoughts sway her attention span.
12:36 stared blankly back at her, the wallpaper in the background giving nothing else but a relatively nice pair of scissors. Nothing. Nothing whatsoever had enlightened her device with the knowledge that someone was there, and that someone actually cared for her small forward notion on being nice. Not even Beck, which should have been out of habit since, as she recalled, they've been a couple for two years. But no, there was nothing.
And so she started the cycle once again - aside from her impetuous ideas drowning her intentions - of tapping the screen every thirty seconds. 'Right so...thirty-four minutes times two...sixty-eight and then minus two- three and that'd be sixty-five,' she calculated again, growling as she pushed against the black screen.
Maybe they were too far into the crowd, bobbing their heads to the blasting music with whatever - she didn't know what to expect out of Hollywood Arts' parties even after going to most - running through their system. Perhaps Cat was passed out drunk on the couch, not coherent enough to notice the buzzing device in her pocket. It was possible that Robbie was trailing behind Beck who often danced in the crowd, flashing his signature, easy-going smile. Andre with some chick as he was a hopeless romantic, she knew, and then Tori...would be doing something. Drinking, dancing or going after some guy no doubt. Jade frowned at the thought, a little piece of herself hoping that she was just drunk and not with some guy that would torment her weeks on end about wanting another round.
Nevertheless on what they were doing, her small, tiny gesture was lost at their fingertips, only to be thanked in many hours later.
Or perhaps they were having fun without her because they were without her.
That was a strong possibility.
Might be it...
'God damn it,' she internally swore - accompanied by a heavy sniff - reaching for her lamp before a dull vibration sounded from...wherever she left her phone. The lamp was switched off by the twist of her fingers, eyes to her bed. 'Great job looking for that in the dark,' her mind persisted maliciously. Her head spun to find her sheets pushed during her efforts to turn off the lamp. Her hand shuffled around, brows set firmly across her forehead before relaxing once her hand brushed over the case. At least Beck answered. Drunken moment of guilt perhaps, though she'd take it all the same.
Tori- Happy New Year x.
And it wasn't Beck, though one she'd bet on to answer anyway. The girl was persistent on their friendship. She cared enough to reply, which planted a small grin across her lips. Even with all of the fighting they've endured, she still wanted to show her affections. Affections which has never been answered to well. As Jade mulled over the revelation, she should've known - Tori was a damn bop bag; punch her to the ground and she would come right back up.
As another minute swept by, Jade startled, watching the perfect opportunity of polishing her resolution drain away.
Jade- How's the party?
There was a moment before answering, as expected from one who needed to ignore the thumping music and multitude of people. The three dots at the corner of her screen, as she felt her attitude lift, was enough.
Tori- It was okay. We missed you.
A hoarse laugh escaped Jade's mouth; of course Tori would lie to spare feelings. With the only light in front of her, she sniffed, blinking at the screen. Her jaw tightened as watery drops came from her stinging eyes, dripping to the phone. This was definitely a flu; colds never made her cry.
Jade- Where are you now?
Tori- I'm outside.
Jade stopped short, eyebrows together. 'What was she doing outside? Taxi?' her mind managed. She briefly contemplated on scraping herself from her deathbed and taking her home. After all, she'd promise to be nicer, follow the golden rule and all that. And perhaps this would be a chance to not have her throat scratched by the time their usual arguing was taken too far (since, at times, they had).
Jade- Outside where?
There was only a short pause, the goth tapping her fingers against the sides of her device.
Tori- Your house.
Nine letters danced along the screen, unable to wedge themselves in her skull. 'Whose house?' she blinked, 'My house? Why would she be...'
With a quick, unnerving passion to reach the stairs before her phone had hit the bed, Jade bolted through the kitchen, very nearly ramming herself into the side of the fridge. Giving the time to spew a vigorous obscenity, she swerved around the corner to the door. As the heavy door was unlatched and yanked open, pale eyes fluttered as a heavy cloud of exhaled air steamed from the shivering half-Latina. Tori smiled, unfazed as Jade sputtered, "What the hell?"
"Oh, hi," the other greeted, oddly out of place as it was just over twelve-thirty in the morning, standing in a small bundle of a jacket, cap and scarf with Jade sniffing at her own snot. "I was just-" she began gasping as a firm grip pulled her from the elbow.
Shaking her head, Jade growled, "Get in here. You'll catch your death out there." Tori only raised a brow, folding her arms as she watched the goth scratch her nose.
"Thanks," Tori mumbled slowly, trotting further in the house hold, "It's only Los Angeles."
Ignoring the coy comment, Jade asked, "Did you walk here?"
"Only from the party," Tori shrugged, "It's not that far."
The thespian shivered gently, realizing that her own clothing was far thinner than that of the girl before her. "But why, for God's sake?"
Weighing her options, Tori answered, "You texted me."
"Only to wish you a happy new year," Jade deadpanned, adding, "I didn't mean for you to drop everything and come over." The exciting party of her own was gestured towards the dark shadows lining the walls, lights yet to be lit.
"Do you want me to go?" the singer began to maneuver towards the door teasingly, Jade quick to act.
"What? No, of course not," she snapped, exasperated, "I'm just surprised, that's all. I didn't think..."
As the silence droned on for far too long for her liking, Tori prodded, "Didn't think what?"
"No one else even replied to my text," mumbled Jade, finding herself more choked up about the matter than she'd like to admit. 'Fucking flu,' her thoughts rummaged.
Being sincerely apologetic, as the thespian saw, Tori replied, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Jade hummed. Attempting to be more optimistic about things - with her newly made goal and all - she added, "Maybe they never got it." Doe eyes shifted nervously to the ground, an aura of guilt shrouding the goth's newly found pleasant attitude. "They did, didn't they," she interrogated, Tori giving a slow nod. "They all got it. Right, that's it," Jade grumbled flatly, "Forget this damn resolution - first day back to school, they're dead meat."
Quirking a brow, Tori asked with a small chuckle at Jade's mutterings, "What resolution?"
With flashing images of grotesque splatters in each of their lockers, mind humming soulfully at the idea of impaling her scissors through Beck's clean locker, Jade was lost to her imagination. "I'm so gonna..." she began morbidly, blinking as the half-Latina stared, waiting for an answer. "What?" she replied dumbly.
"I said," Tori repeated softly, "'What resolution?'"
"Oh. It was nothing," Jade muttered. "I was just-" she found the words sticking to her throat, and coughed, "I was just going to try being nicer to people, that's all."
Tilting her head to the side with curiosity that would rival a fellow feline that she'd spotted on her way over, Tori asked, "Really?"
"Yeah," came a bitter spit, "Well, they've had that. If no one wants to know, then screw 'em."
"I want to know," the half-Latina murmured truthfully. The brisk chill from the doorway - which was still open even with the minutes passing, Jade's shoulder to the cold air as it snaked down her spine - sent Jade in a short blur of puzzlement.
"I..." She felt like a fish gaping through the glass, not exactly knowing what to say. Doe eyes glimmered oddly, pale ones narrowing. "What?" Jade snapped.
"Are you crying?"
Warmth dripped to her cheeks, her sleeve - which she ever so pleasantly reminded herself that she'd done the same with her nose beforehand - brushing them away. The thespian stubbornly hissed, "No... It's just this stupid bug I've got."
"Right," a small smile ghosted Tori's lips, her tone laced with playful suspicion.
Both registered one another in the silence settling between them. Jade narrowed her eyes at the door, wondering if Tori left it wide open, frame tense even with the calm voice. "So, did you bring chicken soup?" she murmured carefully.
"What?" Tori jerked, almost tearing herself from her nagging thoughts.
Rolling her eyes, Jade muttered, "Chicken soup." The singer only remained quiet, waiting for anything else than a simple, warm food. "It's what people usually bring when they're trying to make you feel better," she finished.
"No, I didn't bring chicken soup?" Tori murmured quietly, anticipation at her hint of a question resting on her shoulders. Tori began to play with her fingers behind her back as she rocked to and fro in her stance.
The goth sighed. "Oh," she hummed, "Well, that's good. Because I hate chicken soup."
Doe eyes rested on the teen before her, glinting as she imagined a cat batting around with its favorite toy. A bop bag which would always come right back up. "I know," she smirked gingerly, the expression on the thespian's face softening.
She observed Tori, noting that, for one, she hadn't made any efforts to get comfortable in her home - a home which, admittedly, wasn't exactly the most welcoming. Though the other had ventured passed the living room to the kitchen, being ushered up the stairs with Jade's determination for a good grade on the partner-projects. Clearing her throat, she recalled her small goal, eyes wavering towards the tiled floors just feet from her person. "Do you want a drink or something?" she asked, "I can put on some coffee, or-"
"Jade?" Tori interrupted, snapping the jaw of the goth closed instantly.
When she didn't continue, Jade drawled, "Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?" The hesitance wafted from the question, dark eyes glancing up to find the all too familiar expression planted on Jade's face: brows set firm across her forehead with the studded piercing blinking in the porch light, lips with no smile twitching, eyes set out as they almost glared in front of her.
Tori bit her lip, mentally chiding her for the weak voice expelled from her mouth. Even so, she stood, understanding Jade's calculating stare. "Sure," came a blunt answer, the stillness of the room resting on each of their shoulders.
"Do you hate me?"
Eyebrows slanted by few degrees, lips pursing with eyes flashing in a quick bitter guilt. She shook as a morbid chill raced up her spine, having nothing to do with the open door this time around. "No, of course I don't hate you," she answered honestly. After all, there was a long list of reasons to be friendly: resolution and pleading doe eyes. "Why would you think that?" Jade cocked her head to the side. No comment was formed though there hadn't been a reason for one. Clearing her throat, Jade quickly added to save face, "Look, I know I can be a gank at times... But that's just us, isn't it? Me and you. You know, high-jinks, laughs. We butt heads, we face off. But I don't really mean it. I don't hate you. If anything, I...kind of like you." Her finish was lame though it brought the message across. Habits were half-tempted to breach the calm atmosphere, to put down any value in what she had stated.
'Happy New Year,' her conscious blared across her skull, keeping her trap shut.
Tori bobbed her head slowly, eyes to the carpeted floor. "Good," she murmured quietly to herself, Jade just barely managing to hear, "That's good."
Both felt the minute tick on by before Jade lost her patience, guilt running through her words. "Please tell me you didn't come all the way over here just to ask me that," she asked hoarsely, Tori snapping her gaze towards the pitiful statement.
"No," she felt a knot form at the base of her throat, "I didn't."
"So..."
"So?"
Jade stepped forward, confronting the situation with a more intimate distance and her sniveling nose. "So why did you come over?" she asked in a hushed voice.
. . .
The beat pulsed through her skull, sloshing any coherent thought blooming. Though, with each burning sip, Tori found it an easier task to drown the noise than anything. Her phone rested in her palm as she duck her head back, draining the last of...whatever it was. As she smacked her lips lightly, it wasn't all bad than the canned beers smuggled into the party. Any shred of guilt that had bubbled in the beginning of the party was plummeted to the ground, however, once she brought the drink to her lips. The drink that was before the last one...which was before the one she put down. Standing, she found herself still relatively balanced, almost proudly noting how she wasn't a lightweight as Jade had bet for five-hundred.
Her sluggish smile dropped immediately to her lips, an invisible hand guiding her back to her seat.
Jade and her snarky bites hadn't been taunting her to the dance floor or keeping her chugging in a vain attempt that Tori - also relatively known as Sweet Sally Peaches - could, in fact, drink and not pass out drunk. She thought about how this party, even if it wasn't the last, would've been a great chance to find a foot hold in what relationship was founded. The idea of glancing back at a yearbook and finding a familiar, though dated, smirk flashing at her gave her the sullen expression she'd been wearing the past hour.
Of course, she blamed the flu, even if the circumstance had been foreshadowed with Jade's light sniffles and outbursts about how she wasn't going to fall ill. Tori blamed the bug that Jade had caught for ruining her chances of building something - anything at this point - which would last. Last until she was celebrating her graduation with a tasseled cap and a bright, cheery smile whilst the crowd roared cheerfully - if she went to college anyway. Or perhaps it could last until they could formulate some big hit on a tune that would replay over and over with a push of a button as people groaned, cursing at the rush hour.
And, as the half-Latina wearily leaned into her palm, that was just a dream - a silly, little wish. She'd once asked for a pony - one with green and purple spots named Gerald - and passing her driver's license. And with that, she'd drive off in the sunset with Gerald in a trailer, awaiting their new home. That dream, alike her hope to reach out for Jade's attention, was child-like. It was innocent.
It was also bullshit, as she concluded.
There was a strong possibility, with the way things were going, that Jade wouldn't give a flying anything if they lost contact. Maybe she's the only one worrying over the fact, pining on the inevitable.
All pessimistic thoughts, however, drained away with one single vibration at her grasp. Quickly, her eyes flashed down to her hand, the white light bathing her face, creating sharp, exaggerated shadows.
Jade- Happy New Year.
Her attention lifted, finding her friends mulling about, distracted with their activities; aside from Robbie and Cat who vanished during the first twenty minutes of the gang's time at the party. Beck, body slowing its pace as he bobbed his head to the bass, hand traveling to his pocket. He briefly scanned over his screen before pocketing the device, glancing towards Andre over some chick's shoulder. Both shared a grin, the girl in the musician's arms oblivious with her rocking movements.
A bundle of fury formed at Tori's chest, eyes narrowing distastefully at the two. Beck more so than Andre. The Canadian stood with his nearly boastful smile hidden underneath gentle eyes, his confidence of Jade crawling back to him clear to the half-Latina's loathing. Loathing which was most definitely altered with what her stomach was gurgling.
However long she sat there, glaring at the two with her own ideas blinking to reality, hadn't mattered. She stood from her table, glancing at the bottle as it had gifted her the sudden credence.
She left the brown glass bottle - the oil - with the text burning in her mind - the match.
Whatever shall spark that night was in her hands.
. . .
With a breath of finality, Tori twisted around, shutting the door as the clock clicked to twelve-fifty. "You want to know why I came?" Her stomach felt queasy as it dropped to the floor, her expression one of confidence - or an attempt at confidence - either way. She raised her index finger as Jade nearly opened her mouth to confirm, pressing it against soft, cold lips.
"Because I made a resolution too."
For those lookin' at this and thinking it looks familiar... Well, that's because it should. This is not, NOT, my story but SevReed's story. We've gone back and forth and I found that Sev didn't really know where to take it and the story would've been unfinished because of it, so I'm doing the favor of finishing it for him/her... Apparently when I promised that there would be no unfinished stories, I included others...huh. (Please, for the love of God, don't start PMing me to finish your stories. This one caught my eye and I have a mountain of stories to do. :P)
Anyway, for those who've come over from SevReed's telling of this tale, I do hope it shall suffice for you; our styles are quite a bit different and the mood may have a different flare to it than Sev does. And for those first visiting here, please do read the original; it's one of my top three all time favorites of Jori. There's a simplicity to it; a simplicity that I'm not able to grasp but only admire. That, and this will be updated periodically and it won't be super-duper long.
But I hope you enjoyed "my version," I guess, of this...
:)