A/N - I am aware that this story is similar to many others that you may read. It is difficult to come up with an original story but leave me to it and i'll add twists and turns :)

~JADE AND TORIS FREE PERIOD – AT STARBUCKS ACROSS THE STREET~

JADES POV -
All these thoughts about Tori and the assignment, it never crossed my mind that I have Ethan to consider. Don't think it's because I don't care, it's because I am still getting used to the whole 'looking after a child full time' thing.
Maybe it won't be so bad telling Tori, I mean Robbie mentioned something last week about Tori volunteering to help out the first grade classes at his school so they'll meet eventually. And contrary to popular belief, I do trust Vega I just don't want people to believe I've gone soft or that I actually care about her.

However I do care, I have been sitting in Starbucks for *checks phone* 8 and ½ minutes waiting for the younger Vega to grace me with her presence. I even bought her her usual Vanilla Latte with a blueberry muffin, now I wouldn't do that for just anyone.

I like having a free period 6th on my timetable for two awesome reasons: 1. it's the longest period (60 minutes) and 2. It's only me and Vega who are free which is my excuse to spend this time with her.

After checking my phone a second time, I look up to the door and see one beautiful Victoria Vega talking to the new waitress… Hold on, did Tori just wink at her? Okay, she is totally flirting and the waitress is reciprocating the flirting. Writing a number on a napkin… Can this new girl get anymore cliché? No… but Vega apparently wants to walk over here smiling like a Cheshire cat and act like that interaction never occurred. No no no no no, I want details.

"Nice of you to join me Vega." I think I said that pretty harshly as she sat down, but that's probably what she expects.
"Sorry Jade, Andre wanted to talk to me then I got abit um distracted" Tori says glancing over to the waitress who is currently leaning over cleaning a table, giving us both a clear shot at her ass. Tori being too busy staring to notice I am also staring.
*cough* "So Vega, want to tell me about her or am I going to have to threaten you... hm?" I ask with the trademark West smirk.
"Um, she is just a girl I knew from my old school and she wanted to catch up is all. I believe a part of this crazy task is to not cheat so I am not going to…" She gets more confident as she spoke, why do I have a feeling she's up to something?
"Oh yeah the assignment, well Beck has decided to stay out of the way so he doesn't "tempt me to cheat"… His words not mine. You are staying at my apartment because I have no intention of staying under the same roof as Trina for a month and be expected to not kill her!" Yes I am cutting to the chase.
"HEY! Trina isn't that…. Yeah okay that sounds fair. Jade, won't your parents mind me just staying at your house for a month?"
"Well Tori… You see the thing is urm I don't know how to say this but my parents passed away um 8 months ago so I live in an apartment they left for us…" Yeah that sums it up, wait I said "us". SHIT! Tori will pick that up.
"Oh Jade, I am so sorry, why didn't you tell anyone? Wait, us?" Yep, she caught my slip up
"I told Beck but he thought that since my parents didn't care about me why should I care about them so I never bothered bringing it up with anyone else. But he was wrong… *wipes a runaway tear away* they did care, they called me every night to see how my day was and apologised profusely for never being around and if I really needed them they'd be on the next plane home. And 'us' is me and my younger brother, Ethan…" damn it why does talking to Tori always bring out the emotions in me?!
"Wow, Jade, I never knew how strong you are! *gently grabs Jades hand and doesn't let go* I don't mean to sound insensitive but that explains a lot about your behaviour and life over the past year or so."

TORIS POV –

When I got to Starbucks fully aware of the time, I ran into my ex-girlfriend Courtney. I was really shocked but happy I guess, we ended on good terms and she still keeps in touch from time to time but she recently got a new number and I left my cell in Andres locker so she had to write the number on a napkin… I feel classy ;). I see Jade staring so I feel it necessary to say my goodbye and join her…she is looking at me but she looks like she's in deep thought. Should I interrupt? I think I should…

After her little emotional statement I can't believe Jade has been through that and Beck didn't have the decency to comfort his girlfriend… What a jackass! But I can believe Jade felt it necessary to not tell anyone else, we couldn't comfort her… we wouldn't know how. But Ethan West, why does that ring a bell?

During this argument in my head, I forgot I was still holding Jades hand on the table; I'm surprised she hasn't cut it off with a pair of scissors. I better move it. With that movement, Jade looks up, slightly saddened of the loss of contact.

A couple of minutes of silence goes by and then Jade begins again.
"What do you mean by that Tori?" She's looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and something I can't quite explain
"What I meant is that you have been distant, we never see you on weekends and a couple of months ago Beck was in a funk because he wasn't getting any off you…" why did I say that so bluntly, greeaaattt….
"WAIT BECK WAS WHAT!? HE KNEW I WHY I WASN'T GIVING HIM ANY. And frankly he didn't deserve it." She's getting angry, swell.
"Im sorry Jade I shouldn't have said anything, just forget I said anything, he's seemed tonnes happier lately I'm presuming you're putting out again…"
"That's the problem Tori, I haven't. The last time we, yano was after our fake date. I went over to Becks after dropping you off and I guess I had fun with you and I was happy. I mean I was smiling and I hadn't done that in a looong time and he just took advantage of that I guess." I can see Jades brain processing everything she just said, I don't think she actually meant to say half of it out loud.
"Jade, our fake date was 3 months ago nearly, do you think he could be?" I can't say it, she'll kill me.
"Could be WHAT Vega? Spit it out, don't be shy!" Yep, I'm going to die.
"Cheating on you?" Why do I have a feeling that's my final spoken sentence, she looks pissed.
"I know he is, I found some frilly yellow panties in his boxer drawer… and believe me I don't like bright underwear so I know they weren't mine. And last week there were another pair with them. Its over between us and it has been for so long, I'm just afraid to be alone Tori."

After about 15 minutes of silence, I realised both our cups were empty so I go over to Courtney for refills, and being the top ex she is, gave me them for free after overhearing some of our intense conversation. When I sat down Jade began smiling which I know is never a good sign for me.

"I think I need to dump Beck." She's still smiling?
"Wait, what?!"
"I was thinking then when you were flirting with miss fake boobs. I know he's cheating and that as much as that's hurting me I've known we were over for months, we are just pretending and I still love him as I probably always will but I'm not in love with him, wow how original is that? Anyway, he's probably thinking the same thing as me and he probably knows I like someone else…" Okay, she didn't mean to say that last sentence aloud
"Who?! Jade c'mon you can't leave a girl with half the information, you know I won't tell anyone?"
"Let's just say she is my version of perfection…" she whispers. I'm shocked! *Jade leans over to close my mouth*
"C'mon Vega, last period starts in 5!" Jade so casually gets up to get a final refill for us both while I stay in the booth frozen to the seat.
"WAIT WHAT… SHE!"

JADES GAY?