Tumblr Request: Tori leaves Hollywood Arts and Jade is reflecting on how her absence changed everyone, and how it changed her?
I took some liberties with this request and I am overall happy about how this turned out.
I was late to school that day. I remember, I woke up at seven-forty because my alarm didn't go off. I took a five minute shower and skipped breakfast but I still ended up arriving at Hollywood Arts at eight-thirty-seven. I guess I really shouldn't have stopped to get coffee on the way.
"You need to get here on time, Jade." Lane told me as he held out a slip of paper.
"Yeah, whatever, it's not like I got here late on purpose." I grabbed the detention and stuffed it into my pocket.
"It's still first period!" He shouted as I walked out.
"I know." I grumbled and kicked the door behind me. I glanced at my locker before deciding I didn't need anything from it and I headed straight to Sikowitz's class. I slid into my usual seat at the back of the room, the one beside Beck. He raised an eyebrow at me and I shook my head. I didn't want to answer his questions. Because I was late, class ended a few minutes later and I bounded out of the room as fast as I could. It wasn't that I didn't want to talk to Beck, per se; I just didn't have anything to say to him.
That day wasn't very eventful until lunch. When I sat down at the table we always sit at, Andre and Cat were already there and they were having a very heated discussion about carrots. Beck showed up a few minutes later, sat down on my hip and kissed my cheek. I slid to the very edge of the bench and tried to ignore him. Robbie was arguing with his stupid puppet when he sat down across from me at the table. I stabbed at my lettuce for a little before noticing that Miss I've-Got-Rays-of-Sunshine-Coming-Out-of-my-Ass wasn't at our table.
"Where's Vega?" I asked. Beck leaned back and turned his head to look behind him.
"Over there, flirting with Holden." He pointed towards Trina.
"Ugh, who cares, I meant Tori." I clarified rolling my eyes. Beck faced me again and eyed me with confusion.
"Jade, Tori's last day was last week." He said reaching out and picking up a fry. My plastic fork froze on its way to my mouth and I dropped it back into my salad.
"What?" I snapped.
"Yeah, she's going to some school for singing in New York." Cat joined into our conversation.
"She was going to a perfectly fine school for singing right here at HA." I responded.
"Jeez, I, for one, thought you would be happy to know that you didn't have to see her again. She's leaving for New York in two days." Andre reached out for a fry as well.
"Hey! Those are mine!" Robbie snatched his tray away from thieving hands.
"Yeah, I am glad she's gone." I tried to sound convincing but I know my voice fell flat.
Tori's been a constant light in our group for about three years now. She blew into our lives a whirlwind of smiles and happiness. She pulled our mismatched group of friends even closer together. We all liked her. In fact, I think we all loved her.
I loved her. Even if I didn't tell her. Even if I made it seem like I hated her.
I stood up and dumped what was left of my lank lettuce into the garbage and stalked off back into the school. I went straight to my locker to change my books and that was when I realize that Tori's locker was bare. The 'Make it Shine' locker door was gone and it had been replaced with a grey one. I stared at it from my locker. She was gone? How did I not know? Why didn't she tell me?
I slammed my locker shut and angrily walked out the front doors of Hollywood Arts. I was planning on driving to blow off steam, but unsurprisingly, I ended up at the Vega's residence. I figured I might as well confront her while I was there so I stomped up to her front door and pounded on the heavy wood. It took her a few minutes to open the door and by the time she did, I was fuming.
"Jade?" She sounded frightened. Good.
"No." I pushed past her and turned around to face her. I crossed my arms over my chest and pulled them against my ribs to keep myself from exploding.
"No!" I repeated more firmly.
"What?" She closed the door and leaned against it.
"You can't leave." I told her.
"Jade, I was going to tell you."
"That what? You were leaving me? You were leaving all of us? I just start getting close to you; I start falling for you, and you leave." I glared. "You're just like everyone else. You like to think you're not. But you are." I hissed. Her arms fluttered as if she were going to reach for me and I stepped back, even though I was already far from arms reach from her.
"I'm sorry." Her head hung forward and it felt fake.
"No you're not." I growled. She looked up and met my eyes with defiance.
"You're right. I'm not sorry that this wonderful opportunity came up for me. I'm not sorry that I have a great chance in life." She sighed.
"However, I am sorry that I have to leave. I love you, Jade, but you had to keep me a secret. I don't want to be ashamed about who I love." She glowered at me, I staggered backwards and my legs hit her couch. I collapsed onto the cushion and it felt as if it was swallowing me.
"I'm not ashamed. I'm afraid." I whispered.
"There was no reason to be." She told me. She walked over until she stood directly in front of me and she grabbed my hand in hers.
"Don't leave me." I pleaded.
She shook her head and I knew it was goodbye.
