Disclaimer: Victorious and its characters are the property of Schneider's Bakery and Nickelodeon. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. No profit is intended or wanted for this story.

Summary: A major turning point for Tori and Jade.

Note: Partial spoiler for Joss Whedon's great horror movie Cabin In The Woods.

Something weird happened in Jade's brain. Something snapped into or out of place as her brain's neurons must've misfired. At least that was how she explained it later. She couldn't admit that maybe she actually liked the irritating stick figure of a person. Well, she's not really a stick… Dammit, Jade! she railed to herself even as she looked at Tori.

"C'mon Vega. We're getting real food."

Without waiting for a reply, Jade headed towards her car. As she unlocked the driver's side door, she saw Tori, still holding her lunch-truck burrito, coming across the parking lot towards her. Why did I ask her to come with me to get lunch?

"Ditch the burrito, Vega."

Meanwhile, standing next to Jade's car…

Even as she tossed the partially eaten burrito in the trash, Tori thought, Why is Jade asking me to go to lunch? And why am I going?

"Relax Vega. We're not going anywhere near Shadow Creek Park."

"Where are we going?"

"I dunno. There's a new Thai place on Vine."

"Ooo, I love Thai food!"

Jade just shook her head. At least it's not a whine…

In minutes, thanks to light traffic in Hollywood, they were at The King And Thai.

"Dad told me about this place. Said the food was really good," Tori enthused.

"And it's not too expensive either, Vega. You can afford our lunches."

"Me?! You asked me to lunch," Tori whined.

"It's not a date, Vega. And stop whining!"

Tori blushed and Jade smiled inwardly. She does look cute when she blushes. Whoa! What?

Jade ordered the Khee Mao as Tori ordered the Vietnamese Shrimp Rolls.

"Jade, you do know that's kind of spicy?"

"Your point, Vega?"

"Well, it's kinda hot."

"So? You're half-Latina. Hot shouldn't bother you." And why should you care, you're not eating it.

"It doesn't. But your family's from England. You guys don't eat spicy…"

"Whoa, Silver! Easy, big fella! Stereotype much, Vega?

"Anyway, I love spicy food. Oh, and my family is Irish, not British! I have ancestors that would probably cut your tongue out for such slander."

"Sorry, Jade," Tori replied. Then, in a small voice, she asked, "Would they really do that?"

"Well, I had a great-uncle who enlisted in the Army during the Second World War right after Pearl Harbor. His uncle, my great-great uncle, was a first generation immigrant from County Clare. When he found out the boy was fighting alongside the British, he threatened to disown him. My great-great-whatever uncle only changed his mind when the true evil of the Nazis was finally revealed."

Then feeling unusually bad for her guest, Jade said, "Anyway, it's okay, Vega. To be honest, my old man, his bimbo new wife and even my moms can't take anything spicier than Hormel canned chili. The mild variety. With mild cheddar cheese."

Tori giggled and Jade laughed, leading Tori to laugh.

Then amazingly, to both girls, they started to talk. Actually talk to each other. After a while, they realized they had spent several hours there.

"Oh my God, Jade! We missed our afternoon classes!" Tori's moan turned into a whine as they left the restaurant,.

"Stop whining!" Jade said, "And don't sweat it, Vega. I know your schedule and it's no worse than mine. We can talk our way out of any problems."

"You know my schedule?"

Jade forced herself not to blush but her eyes dropped as she admitted, "Yeah…" Then she said, "Know your enemy. That was Sun Tzu."

"Ja-ade…" There's that whine again!

"Toreee…" Jade imitated, using her Tori-mocking voice even as she unlocked the passenger side door and pulled it open. What the hell am I doing?

"I'm not your enemy, Jade."

"I…know. I…um… didn't mean…" Jade quickly shut up before she pulled out of the parking lot into the pre-rush hour traffic on Vine, heading back to the Hollywood Hills. She refused to meet Tori's gaze.

God, she's so nervous. And Jade's so cute when she's nervous. Aloud Tori said, "It's okay Jade. Don't worry about it."

"Um, Tori, can I tell you something?"

"Of course!"

"And it doesn't go any further?"

"I'm not Cat. I can keep a secret."

I can't believe I'm saying this. Jade took a deep breath, "I… I don't hate you Vega. Maybe at first but… I guess, at times, you're…you're okay. Well, except when you whine…"

Beaming, Tori ignored the whining jibe and responded, "You're okay too, Jade."

Jade pulled up to the Vega house. "Well, here you are…"

"Do you want to…ummm… Do you want to come in for a while?"

About to refuse the invitation, Jade surprised herself again, "Sure. Why not? But no whining!"

Soon, the pair were settling in Tori's room. Jade sat at the desk chair backwards as Tori brought up some drinks and a big bag of Lay's Ripple Potato Chips with some French onion dip. Tori asked, "Do you want to watch a movie?"

"Sure, depending on what you have."

"My DVDs and Blu-Rays are in the cabinet next to the TV."

Jade got up from the desk chair and looked through Tori's library, expecting the worst. "Hey! You have the original Halloween! And Carpenter's The Thing. Saw, Cabin Fever, the Evil Dead trilogy. Dead Snow… Hey! Cabin in the Woods! We'll watch that. I haven't seen it in a few months.

"Vega, I didn't know you liked horror movies! After the way you reacted to The Scissoring last Christmas…"

"I was reacting to you and your shiny new, very sharp looking scissors, not the movie. I love horror movies."

They resumed talking as the movie played out. "I love how Whedon touched on just about every horror theme there is."

"I know, right?" Tori agreed. "Although I don't know where the killer unicorn came from."

"I read somewhere it's from Supernatural but I don't remember that episode. Maybe the horny horse was just pissed about being locked up in that weird cage system…"

"Horny horse!" Tori laughed.

"Hey, no pun intended," Jade countered even as she started to laugh. She was really enjoying this new side of Tori Vega, a girl who could handle some pretty gory movies. I'm amazed she's a fan of Eli Roth's work…

"You know, I really hoped Amy Acker would survive but like Angel…"

"Whedon always kills off popular characters, Vega. If Buffy had stayed on for another season, I bet he would've killed Dawn, just to spice things up."

"That would've sucked."

"Not all the Buffy fanbase would agree with you," Jade commented. Even as she thought, Amy Acker? Why her over any of the kids in the cabin?

Jade said, "That ending is a great nod to the old Lovecraft mythos. Even if the Old One had a fist instead of a giant taloned claw. Or a tentacle… Or feeler…"

Nodding, Tori asked, "You want to watch another one? Or do you have to go?"

Jade thought about it for a moment. Do I really want to go? I'm seeing a new side to Vega. And I kinda like it. Aloud she said, "Sure. I can stay. What's The Woman In Black about?"

"It's a ghost story with the Harry Potter kid – Daniel Radcliffe. And he and the movie are pretty good too. Hammer released it. There's no gore or anything though."

"I'm not just about gore. Put it in and turn out the lights."

This time, they were sitting next to each other on the bed as the movie played. Very little was said as they both got wrapped up in the story. Jade actually jumped a couple of times during the movie. To her credit, Tori did too. And she's seen this, Jade thought.

By the end of the movie, they were both comfortably laying back against Tori's pillows. With enough of a gap between them so they weren't touching – consciously on Jade's part.

"Wow, that was really good. Nice and creepy. I love movies that have atmosphere like that. I don't even remember hearing about it before."

Tor turned her head with a look of surprise on her face. "Jade West didn't know about a horror movie? A Hammer Films horror movie?"

"It happens, Vega. Probably came out while we were working on some production."

Nothing else was said as they lay there gazing at each other. Without a thought, Jade moved closer and pressed her lips to Tori's. Tori returned the pressure. With just lips, they kissed for several seconds.

Pulling back, Jade looked into Tori's eyes. She didn't want to say anything and ruin the moment. When Tori didn't speak or pull back, she realized the brunette was feeling it too.

Leaning in again, Jade saw Tori move towards her. Their lips met and slowly parted at the same time, deepening the kiss as their tongues began that subtle, thrilling dance.

The kiss went on and on. Neither wanted to end it.

Then the front door slammed and both girls jerked back. Even Tori winced at sound of Trina shouting, "TORI! I NEED YOUR HELP. I BOUGHT A LOT OF STUFF!"

"Umm… I'm sorry Jade…"

Jade smiled, a real smile, and said, "There's nothing to be sorry about. Except being your sister's slave…

"I'm not her slave," Tori said in that irritating, whiny pitch,

Jade took a moment then added, "Yeah, I should go."

Seeing the look on Tori's face, she asked, "I liked our kissing." God, can I sound any lamer? "Uh, you want to come over after school tomorrow? Maybe stay over?"

Oh God! Did I just ask Vega to sleep with me?! Shit…

Still reeling from the kiss, Tori quickly replied, "Sure!"

Tori walked downstairs with Jade, a big smile on her face. Jade's face was impassive but inwardly she was beaming just as much as the brunette.

At the front door, again surprising herself, Jade gave Tori one more quick kiss and walked out the front door, leaving a gaping Trina, and a smiling Tori, in her wake.

Did Jade just ask me to sleep with her?

Note: The story about Jade's great uncle really happened to my father & his favorite uncle. Things were smoothed over by the time Dad returned from England. Matter of fact, I would've been named for my great uncle except the family dog already had that name. And no "We

named the dog Indiana." jokes please. LOL!