A/N: Thank you so much for the feed back. It certainly motivates me to keep doing what I am doing. And I am really thinking about using a few suggestions that I received. If one of them come into play don't worry I will give the credit to those who suggested it.

Chapter Two: Realize

Didn't I tell you, but I can't spell it out for you.

No it's never going to be that simple

No I can't spell it out for you,

Days come and go, pass by with no meaning, often forgotten even when you're called to remember such things like times or a place. Sometimes you'll even forget the people that you were with, or that ones that you came across that day. Some things were forgettable. That would not be the case when Jade remembered the night that she finally admitted that Tori could be her friend. No – that she could be a friend to the other girl. It had always been up to her, and the day that her father asked her to lie, the day some wall that she was unaware had some many cracks broke, the day she found herself seated at a small Starbucks drinking cold coffee as she watched the smiling girl across from her smiling. This would be a day she would remember, something was changing; change was memorable.

They were still seated inside the coffee shop, on their second cups that had ran cold long ago, as the two girls laughed, talked, and smiled about nothing, pouted over the serious topics that came up in the conversation.

To anyone watching the encounter it would easily seem as though two close friends were doing what came naturally to them, laughing and joking like they always had, when in reality this was all brand new, and almost a foreign feeling lying just beneath the surface of each girl. Easy and hard, all while laughing over cups of coffee.

Jade broke out into a laugh as she listened to Tori go on and on about anything that she wanted to talk about, it was coming as a welcomed distraction. Right now she was talking about her old school and the differences she liked and didn't like about Hollywood Arts, though it seemed like she was far more attached to her new school. Of course, other schools paled in comparison to Hollywood Arts in most cases. She was surprised at her own attentiveness to the conversation. It was not often that she could sit for extended amounts of time and hold a conversation that had no point, no predetermined ending.

"Oh!"

Tori's voice had risen a little higher than she'd wanted it to, and she looked a round with a sheepish smile resting on her lips, ready to apologize to the other customers that she may have interrupted only to find that nearly everyone that had been in there when she'd arrived, and even after, had already left. She fished in her pockets for her phone.

Jade watched the realization cross Tori's face and readied herself to say good bye once Tori realized what time it was, and that they had been here nearly two and a half hours already, but when the phone was placed face down on the table and Tori settled back into her seat she relaxed a little, and took an odd comfort in the fact that she would not be left alone to her thoughts just yet.

"You don't have to stay, Tori. I've already kept you for the better part of three hours."

Tori raised an eyebrow, she would be lying if she said that she wasn't still apprehensive, this was one of the very few times that she could remember Jade being nice to her. When did that stop and the defensive, sharp tongued Jade come back.

"Well I am getting hungry and the food here would only last about half an hour, so I should go home before my stomach packs its bags and moves out from neglect."

Jade's face fell.

"But... I'm not ready to let this conversation of random end. You could come with me?"

Tori stood and shoved her phone in her pocket out of habit, waiting for Jade to stand as well. When she didn't Tori slowly sat back down and smiled lightly.

"Or you could go home, or stay here. Or - " She paused. "I'm sorry, it's up to you, but I wouldn't mind having you there."

She wanted to explain further, to tell her that she was not ready to let go of this side of Jade. One that she assumed anyone else hardly ever saw peeking through the rough exterior. This was new and exciting and she was scared to see what would happen after this ended; would this be the only chance that she would have to see her like this? Somehow she didn't think that would be the case, but knowing how guarded Jade could be, this experience only proving that observation further, she would still back away. Treading lightly seemed to be the best thing to do with her.

Jade's arms crossed over one another, her lips pursed, and she held Tori's eyes for a few very long seconds Not sure of what she should say. Yes jumped to the front of her mind, but just as quickly uncertainty joined it there.

"Uh, it's getting kind of late, I am sure that your parents wouldn't want you having company."

Why she couldn't just tell Tori that she was unsure of going to her house, she didn't know. They were not that close. But, that fact did nothing to take away from her wanting to say yes.

"Okay."

Tori's eyes snapped from the table top up to meet Jade's green ones for the hundredth time that night, and she beamed a smile.

"Okay?"

"God Vega!" She laughed, "Yes I will go to your stupid house."

Tori's face lit up and she shrugged her purse onto her shoulder and standing up. Jade stood first and she stood right after, rocking with a huge grin on her face. Jade only stared back at her with a half amused, half annoyed look on her face. Not that she was annoyed with her, but she was not going to let Tori know how much her company was enjoyable.

"So did you walk here, or drive?"

"I walked. Less chance of my father figuring out where I went."

Tori's brow rose in question, and Jade's eyes screwed shut as she turned her head slightly, like she regretted letting that slip. Though depending on what Tori had heard earlier in the day when her father had called her, she might have already ascertained the general details of what might be wrong with her.

"Well I guess that means we're taking my car."

She knew not to question any further and the look of relief on the other girl's face let her know she'd been right in thinking so. Jade nodded and they started out towards the door, and then to Tori's car.

The drive was only a few minutes, so the silence settling between them was really nothing to worry about. Jade stole a few glances at Tori as they drove, and nearly every time she did so the other girl would turn to look at her, smiling.

"Are you sure your parents won't mind?"

"Jade, it's only 9:30 and once they realize that it's you and not a boy they won't be concerned with how long you stay."

They were already pulling into the drive way and Jade's hands were shaking. She'd attribute it to the fact that she'd had a trying day, but she knew that it had something to do with Tori. Was she scared to tell her about her own problems at home? She didn't have time to think about what it could be any longer because Tori was touching her arm.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Jade smiled.

"Yeah, let's go inside."

Tori said nothing, only exited the car and started towards her front door, Jade not far behind her. When they walked into the house it was empty as far as they could tell. Tori assumed that Trina was upstairs somewhere, and her parents were probably out doing whatever they pleased. She was almost relived.

Setting her purse on the couch she turned and looked to see if Jade had moved. She was still standing by the door looking around with a look on her face that could not have a name put to it.

"Okay, my house will not kill you. You can come in and sit down. I'll throw in a pizza."

To her surprise Jade did as she was told without a word against it. She placed herself on the couch and Tori just watched her for a moment. She grabbed the remote and handed it to her.

"Pick whatever you want."

Tori walked into the living room and plopped herself down on the couch next to Jade and looked to the television to see Jade still flicking through movies to watch. She waited a moment to see if she'd pick the last one she paused on. Another click of the remote and Jade moved onto the next description.

Tori took a moment to let her eyes turn on Jade discreetly. This whole situation was pulling at her, nagging until she knew why it was Jade West was seated in her living room. A need to ask pushed to her lips, but when they fell open no words came out.

"Sorry. I just don't know what to pick."

Tori smiled and nodded, letting her hand fall over the remote she took hold of it. Pointing it in the direction of the television she scrolled through a few, considering what Jade might like. Finding a newer horror film she clicked on that and leaned to put the remote back on the table in front of them.

"Cabin in the woods, seems like it might be something you will like."

"Probably."

Tori smiled. "Pizza should be done soon."

"Okay."

Tori's brow furrowed. No snappy comment about stating the obvious or anything sarcastic. She almost missed it, missed any sort of reaction what so ever from her. This was not going to be easy whatever was to come, there was a feeling of weariness clumping in the pit of her and she knew that things were going to get worse for Jade before they got better.

"What's with the sad puppy look Tori?"

"Oh, uh nothing. Forget about it."

There was a silence that followed at the opening scenes began to play. Jade kept her eyes on a constant swivel between the screen and the girl beside her. Taking time, that she had before not cared to, to look at her. She was beautiful, Jade had always known that, but still she'd never noticed the small things before.

"Why are you staring at me?"

Tori said through a smile without even looking away from the screen. She slowly turned to look at her, still smiling.

"I don't know... I guess I was just thinking. Thank you for offering this escape."

What a funny word to use, not help, not even comfort – which is what she was offering when it came down to it. Of all the words that Jade could have chosen, she picked escape. What was so bad that an escape was needed?

"Is everything okay Jade?"

Her eyes flicked to the floor and then back before she could think of something to say. She felt caught, like an animal in a trap, and what do animals do when they feel threatened? They react in a way to protect themselves.

"Tori... Leave it alone. I am fine."

She paused and took a breath, trying to calm herself. The last thing that she needed was to push Tori away because she felt the overwhelming need to protect herself and push everything away.

"Sure things are pretty shitty, some things anyways, but I don't want to talk about it right now."

Tori's face showed nothing for a moment, but then lifted into a small smile. She knew better than to push anyone on a matter that that did not want to talk about. Jade being one she knew not to push.

"Okay, I am here when you do need someone to talk to."

Looking at the time Tori got up and walked to the kitchen. Jade looked after her. What about this girl made her so helpful, and what in the world would make her want to help Jade of all people. Her eyes traced the way Tori moved in the kitchen, grabbing plates and cutting the pizza into slices. She liked this despite the confusion of the whole situation. Her mind was occupied and, not that she'd expected to, she was having a good time.

Not long after she was paying attention to the movie and Tori came into the room carrying two cans of coke, and a plate of pizza with a handful of napkins.

"Unhealthy food at its best."

Jade smiled at the sight and smell of it, and groaned a little. Smelling it seemed to trigger just how hungry she was. She waited until the plate was sat on the table and Tori was seated beside her to reach for a piece.

The movie was half over and they each were working their last piece, all worry was had drifted away from Jade for the time being, the wisps of her problems pushed back in the parts of her mind that she always dealt with later.

She was looking at the screen with a confused look on her face as she took a bite. She had not been expecting such a different horror film. The title suggested something deriving from the classic horror drama, but this was nowhere near classic. She loved it. Her attention was taken from the screen when a laugh bubbled up from beside her. It took the shake of Tori's shoulder to make her realize just how close they were. She turned to Tori with a questioning look.

"What on earth about that scene do you find funny?"

She shook her head at the question.

"No, not the movie... you've just got some uh -"

Jade still looked confused. So instead of continuing Tori just reached up and swiped at Jade's lower lip. Her fingers rested against the soft skin covering her jaw as wiped away the sauce that laid there. On the second swipe their eyes locked and the touch changed, Tori wasn't sure how but it was different.

Jade didn't move and didn't say anything.

Pulling her hand back to her chest in a loose fist Tori feigned a smile she should have been feeling. Maybe tomorrow would but the world back in order, shift away from whatever was going on these last few hours.

"There was pizza on your face."

"No I figured you just wanted to touch my lips."

Jade was smiling and turning back to the movie, but when there was no reaction from Tori she looked back at her to find her looking down at nothing. She jumped through a few different thoughts as to what could have changed her demeanour from her usual smile to seemingly deep in thought.

"Hey, you okay?"

Shaking her head her face again shifted into a smile. She curled into the couch a little, moving away from Jade a little.

"Yeah, spaced out there for a minute." She paused "How do you like the movie?"

Squinting a little her face displayed question, but said nothing. She knew Tori was lying, but why would she feel the need to; what could she want to keep from her? She shrugged it off. Not like they were friends or anything, why the hell should she be worried that Tori felt the need to keep something from her. Then again, her being her put a damper on that last thought. Were they on their way to being friends, Should she have given this a chance before now? Wait – Did this mean that she was thinking about being something more with her. Jade's mind was swimming and she couldn't focus.

"Oh yeah... it's great actually."

Might as well enjoy this and thinking about the details later when she was home and not directly beside the girl.

"Great."

The rest of the movie passed in silence mainly. The occasional comment about what was playing out on the screen, a laugh here and there, or a jump from Tori the only form on conversation that happened. Even though there had been a moment of awkwardness, or something close to the sort, things were comfortable.

The credits rolled and Jade nodded.

"That was a good pick Tor'."

Tori was going to make a comment on the ending but was interrupted by Jade's phone ringing from the table. Flashes of that morning played behind her eyes and she shut them. Hoping that whoever was calling was not her father.

Jade reached for the phone and sighed at the name on the screen. Leave it to her father to ruin her day further. She pressed decline and let the phone fall to her lap.

"Not in the mood to deal with his ass right now."

Jade stood when Tori seemed not to know what to say.

"Be right back."

Tori settled on flicking through Netflix trying to find something to watch, while Jade was gone, but after reading through quite a few titles Jade was still not back. Looking to where the phone had been on the table she realized that it was not there now and that she must have went to the bathroom to make the call or answer his next one.

When a few more minutes had passed with no sigh of her returning from upstairs Tori sighed and pushed herself up from the couch. She didn't know if she would find her upset or angry, and hoped for neither, though she doubted greatly that she would be anything but one of the two. She took the steps as quietly as she could as she made her way up stairs. Soon she could see the bathroom door was open, a yellow light spilling out into the hallway.

"Whatever, Dad. Bye."

She heard Jade dropped her phone onto what she assumed was the bathroom counter and made her way to the door. Leaning on the frame her face showed nothing but concern. Jade seemed to have things worse than anyone might suspect. Worse than she had ever expected that was for sure. She knew her dad was an ass from the time she'd helped with her play, but his effect on his daughter seemed to be more horrible than she could have seen from that short encounter.

Jade had yet to notice her in the door so she took a moment to watch her. She was leaning with both hands on the sink, head down and breathing a little irregular. Definitely not fine, Tori concluded. Something told her to hug the girl, but knowing Jade and touching, she opted against that reaction.

"Everything okay?"

Internally she panicked, how much of that conversation had Tori heard? Oh fuck. She straightened herself and looked away from her a moment later, picking her phone up. There were tears stinting her eyes and that was the last thing that Tori needed to see. Correction: the last thing that she wanted her to see.

"How long have you been standing there?"

Her tone was cold, and all too familiar, the Jade that Tori was used to.

"I came up the hall as you were saying good bye."

She explained calmly. Anything but calm and she feared the break down Jade might have in their iffy friendship. She knew then that she would be treading lightly with this for some time to come. She watched as the other body in the room relaxed slightly, her shoulders fell from being ridged to slumped a little, like she was tired of hiding or being strong. Tori was afraid of how long she'd been putting on a facade of being strong, when she was obviously a little broken.

"Good."

"Why does he upset you so much?"

Jade didn't answer at first only sighed loudly. She wanted to tell her, wanted to tell someone that wasn't Beck, but she couldn't force the words to come to her lips.

"Leave it alone."

"I would if I could, but you – you're so upset and it's not in me to just leave someone to be upset and, oh I dunno."

She was pacing back and forth in front of the bathroom door. Jade stepped into it after shoving her phone into her pocket. A small smile cracked her lips as she watch the shorter girl's hair fly out with each turn she made as she talked. Placing her hands on her shoulders and stopped her from moving any further.

"You need to calm down. I am fine, I always am."

Her hands fall away from her shoulders but Tori catches them before they fall away completely. Without thinking she lifted Jade's arms and slipped her own underneath them, circling them around her waist and pulled her into a hug.

Jade watched Tori's hands wrap around her own and the next thing she knew she was being hugged tightly. Her arms hung loosely around Tori's neck while her face buried into Jade's long hair. After a moment she gave in and hugged her back. One arm fell around Tori's arm and then to her back. The instant she let it happen, the girl in her arms squeezed just a little tighter.

"You shouldn't have to be just fine Jade."

Talking about not being fine she realized that she herself was anything but fine. Being this close to Jade was disorienting, she was confused and compelled to comfort her just like she would be with any of their friends, but this was different. Hugging Cat, or Andre never elicited such a reaction in her chest. Her skin never broke out in a chill at the touch of anyone else. What in the hell was happening?

Jade pulled away from Tori slowly once she felt her breathing hitch. That was an odd reaction – one that given the situation should have been from Jade and not Tori.

"Life isn't always easy Tor'."

Her tone was calm and one that told the other girl this was what she was used to.

"Okay."

Tori stepped away from her almost too quickly; trying to get her head on straight and figure out what had just passed between them that she was sure only she felt.

Jade gave her a questioning look at the sudden change in her behaviour. She wouldn't look her in the eyes and her body language had changed completely in a matter of seconds. She was almost turning away from Jade, as if trying to protect herself. Her arms were folded over one another and she was still looking at the ground.

"I think I am gonna head home. Dad left."

This was more a means of testing her reaction. Before she had come up stairs she knew that Tori would have offered her to stay the night instead of going home, to keep her mind off of things and to give her company. She guessed now that had changed.

"If you're sure."

At least it wasn't a flat out okay or good bye. Wait why did she care if Vega still wanted to have her around and since when did she notice a change in her body language. What in the hell was the matter with her.

"So, I'll uh… see you at school."

"Yeah, see ya then."

Tori smiled after she spoke but something was still nagging at her. But the question was what in the world was it?The next few hours would offer not form or comfort no matter how long she questioned the events of today.