Chapter 3: A secret?
Tori brought the book everywhere she went, just incase she actually had the time to read the book. She was busy with auditions, studying, and even spending time with her friends.
After school though, she had lots of time to spare. She currently is with Andre in the Blackbox Theater. They had to work on a song project together.
"Alright, I think that should be good for the chorus. Let's take a break, okay? We've been here for like an hour and a half." Andre mentioned, playing a short little melody before turning the piano off.
"Yeah." Tori pulled out the book from her bag. Andre looked over and chuckled, "Ah, you got your hands on Jade's new book? How is it?"
"Well, I haven't read much yet. I'm literally on page nine. I've been so busy lately that I never had the time to read!" The brunette opened up the book from the place she is at with her bookmark.
"But so far, it is pretty good. As far as Jade with being talented in the theatre. I gotta say, I'm proud of her." Tori smiled warmly.
Andre stood up from the chair. "That's great! Well, I'm gonna head to the vending machines, you want anything Tori?" Tori thought about it, then shook her head. "No, I'm fine! But thanks for offering! I'll be here reading Jade's book. Hidden love. I swear, such a basic title." She giggled to herself.
Andre exited the Blackbox Theater. Now Tori can read more of Jade's book. She got very curious after what happened the first eight pages. It did seem similar, but then again she couldn't point it out.
After reading for some time, she finally reached chapter four. Things still didn't quite point out to Tori that this book is clearly about Jade and her feelings towards her.
[ Page 34: Right. Okay. Maybe the third times the charm of trying to think of a new idea for Paige's story? Still the constant pressing of the 'a' button, making the file filled with that letter. If you ask me, that's nowhere near an actual story. She couldn't even understand why her mind all of a sudden just went blank. Normally she would come up with ideas just like that. ]
[ Page 35: This really got to the senior. "Ugh, why is coming up with ideas so ha-" Before she could even continue, her phone beeped with a notification. It came from a group chat Paige is currently in with her whole gang of friends. Rob, Pat, Dandre, Seck, and even Corrie. Pat was the first to pop up in the chat, 'Hey, Hey :)' and then Rob. 'Pat, what's up?' But then suddenly, a message came from Corrie. 'Hey Paige, mind taking this to a separate chat? I have to ask you something.' Paige raised her pierced eyebrow at the text before responding with an 'Ok.' ]
[ Page 36: She created a separate chat just for her and Corrie, she wrote just this 'What?' Before Paige got kind of impatient to wait for a text. As she placed her phone down, she got a new text from Corrie. 'Look. Before you start saying anything rude, I want you to know that I asked everyone else. They're busy. So Paige, would you like to come over for a movie night tomorrow? Usually this would be me and Lina's Movie Friday but she totally forgot about it and planned something else. It's okay if you don't want to. I just don't want to spend this Friday alone.' ]
[ Page 37: Wait, what? Paige blinked a couple of times to process this all. So, Corrie wanted to hang out with her? The two of them alone? Paige so wanted to freak out, but she stopped herself from doing so. Keep your chill. Breathe Paige.. ]
Tori quickly slid her bookmark into the book, instantly closing it. She raised her eyebrow with such confusion. "Wait, why does the text Paige received from Corrie sound oddly familiar?" Tori spoke softly to herself.
The Latina grabbed her phone to bring up the text messages.
Once she scrolled to the right part, she opened the book again just to go through it. "Hey, Hey.. hey, Cat what's up? Pat.. Mind taking this to a-" Word per word in the text. They were an accurate match.
Well, except for the names of course. So, Jade wrote this story about her life? This all confused her. Really, it did. Maybe it could be just an odd coincidence?
So, she went to the page she was on; continued to read. She was so curious, more curious than before now. Finishing the page she was just on.
[ Page 38: On that specific night, Paige drove into Corrie's driveway. She parked; headed right to the front door, ringing the doorbell. The door soon opened by the brunette, to see Paige right there in front of her. "Hey Paige, you actually made it." Keep it together, Paige. Don't let your heart mess with you. "Don't think this is special Veg, I told you that I had nothing to do tonight. So here I am standing right in front of you, can I come in now?" Paige's heart? If you could literally hear how much it was beating. It's crazy. ]
Okay, she closed the book again. This time, harder. This had to be the night where she invited Jade over for a movie night cause Trina had to all of a sudden forget and make plans.
She wanted to know more, so she opened it and continued. Almost at the end of the chapter now.
[ Page 43: Paige used her side eye to look at Corrie watching the movie. Every scary part, jump scare, it made Corrie flinch; sometimes even scream. She wanted to hold her so bad. To tell her that it was only just a movie. It just sucks that she has to hold all of this in.. ]
At this moment, Tori widened her eyes. She slid the bookmark into the book; pushed it away from her. Could you even blame her? The brunette, had no words. What to say.
She chuckled to herself, "I-It's just a coincidence. It's just a coincidence, Tori!" Standing up, walking back and forth across the theater at a fast pace from panic.
"There's no way that this could be about you or her, right? Right?! There's no way in hell that Jade feels like that about you? N-No, she hates you!" From five minutes of rambling to herself, she grabbed her bag; even grabbed the book before heading out.
'Hey Andre, sorry. I'm gonna head home. I'm not in the right mind as of now. So sorry. We can finish our song tomorrow, I promise! I hope you can understand.' Tori sent the text to Andre.
When she got home, Trina came downstairs from her room. "Hey Tori, you missed Jade's interview on the Kellen Show!" Tori sighed, "Yeah, so? It's not like I should care."
"Well, maybe you should." Trina crossed her arms. She had this smirk on her face as if something had happened.
"And why should I? Her interviews are always the same. It's not like there's something new about this one!" Sisters. Always like this.
Trina walked over to her younger sister; grabbed her hand. "Tori, just watch the interview. If you're asking me. I'm still shocked and surprised by the words that I heard from Jade. Before you actually watch it though, I suggest not to look on The Slap."
The older Vega made her way upstairs again, "Cause that'll just ruin everything that the interview stated! Just watch the interview!"
"I'm not gonna listen to you Trina, you're not even the boss of me!" Tori crossed her arms now, but stayed still for a good minute. She did want to know what Jade was gonna say about the book. Maybe she'll actually get answers.
It has to be a coincidence, right? Right?
She went upstairs to her room. Locked it for privacy. Grabbing her laptop. Tori opened it, immediately looking for Jade's recent interview.
There's just no way.