"…Tori? Tori?!"
The brunette blinked quickly, finally noticing Trina's annoyed face just in front of hers.
"Trina? What are you doing?" She quickly took a step back from her sister's suspicious sight.
"What am I doing?" The older Vega looked at her with exasperation. "What are YOU doing, blocking the door as a statue? I had to call your name four times." She crossed her arms.
"I…" Tori looked around distracted like she just saw her own house for the first time ever. She was stuck were Jade had left her few minutes ago too stunned to notice that her sister parked her car and approached her. "Sorry. I just have a lot on my mind" She murmured and stepped away.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Trina opened the door, walked inside and waited for Tori to join her.
"Yeah. It's fine." The brunette answered tiredly, her words sounding absolutely unconvincingly even for her.
"Great." Trina shrugged happily, not really paying attention. "Then you can make us dinner." She threw herself on the couch. "And find me a remote." She added after few seconds of ineffective looking around.
"You kicked it under the coffee table when we were leaving." Tori sighed deeply, passing her sister and opening the fridge. Their parents left for the evening, but thankfully there was plenty of food left for the two of them.
Trina tried to make her take out the remote, but after a few failed attempts she got it herself. She turned on some stupid soap opera and began babbling about how she had chased the visiting band's car trying to give them her number. Tori just shook her head lightly and tuned her out. Trina was irritating as always, but this time it was kind of soothing too. After that crazy evening with Jade, it made Tori feel like not everything just took a 180 degree turn.
Even a little mention of the Goth was making her shudder. Why on Earth someone who claimed to hate her had kissed her? Was it another part of some twisted, dangerous plot against her life (or at least against her career)? Maybe it all was just a dream? Maybe Tori had gotten some serious brain damage after she had hit her head this afternoon... Maybe it was just an illusion or hallucination.
She stole a glance at Trina that was in the middle of describing how she had tried to kiss main vocalist and nearly had jumped into his car through the window. No, she couldn't imagine or dream that conversation. She wasn't enough of the masochist.
So it had happened indeed. But… why? They had been on a date. It's a normal thing that happens on dates. Maybe Jade had just saw it like that. BUT WHY?! Was she actually okay with dating Tori?
It didn't make sense at all and only produced more problems that Tori didn't want to think about. She was supposed to go to school tomorrow, say something along a line 'look I was on a date with Jade West and still have all of my vital organs' and move on. There wasn't even a place for a kiss in that plan… or for the best date she has ever had. Her plan turned out to be too successful for her own good.
"Auu!" She hissed suddenly, looking disbelieving at her cut, bleeding finger. She put down the kitchen knife and walked to the bathroom, murmuring to herself.
"You know, I prefer ketchup on my sandwiches instead of your blood." She heard Trina's voice while looking around for a mini first aid kit.
"I'll keep it in mind, thanks for your concern!" She shout back with irritation. She spent few minutes trying to clean her middle finger. The cut wasn't deep or dangerous, but it was bleeding badly. Finally she found a plaster and sealed the finger safely. She was about to leave the bathroom when she heard soft steps approaching her. Trina stuck her head inside, quickly taking in the surrounding and her sister's state.
"You look distracted." She judged finally. Tori could only roll her eyes at Trina's perceptivity.
"Because I am distracted." She tried to contain her irony.
"You put the bread into the oven." Trina was getting more and more interested in her sister's wellbeing (and probably mostly their dinner's wellbeing).
"I did?" That remark quite surprised Tori. She really didn't remember doing that, but to be honest she didn't remember anything for her time in the kitchen except silently freaking out.
"Yes. Can you explain me what is going on?" The older Vega's suspicions and curiosity was picked up and it was obvious that she was waiting for some kind of hot gossip.
"I'm… just… distracted." Tori repeated tiredly. She wouldn't denied a chance to talk to someone about all of this, but definitively not Trina. And not now. She had to sort it out in her head first and stop freaking out whenever the thought of that kiss enter her mind. "I think I'll lay down earlier. You can finish making dinner… or whatever it is that I left in the kitchen. I'm not hungry."
She didn't wait for Trina replay or her complains. But surprisingly her sister didn't try to order her around, just quietly left her alone. Maybe she really was more concerned about her wellbeing then the dinner. The perfectly uncommon end to the most insane day ever.
"So… Once again to make it all clear."
"Andre…" Tori sighed deeply. "I've told you the whole story trice already. There is no way to make it clearer. We went out. She didn't kill me. We talked an awful lot, laughed even more and generally had fun. Then she walked me home, kissed me at the doorstep, accepted the fact I didn't kiss her back and promised we will repeat this." She couldn't not notice that the short version of that story really sounded like a recipe for a perfect date.
Andre just shook his head disbelievingly, but his shock was finally calming down. He managed the faint, but playful smile.
"Just tell me who is she. I wanna meet that perfect girl." He cracked a joke.
"Andre." Tori lost counts how many times she had to call his name during that conversation and she knew the worst was only coming: the jokes, the mocking and the 'I told you it was a bad idea.'.
"No, seriously. Who is she and what the hell did she do to Jade West? What is going on in here?" Andre was still smiling, but his question was completely serious.
"I would like to know myself, but I'm not wiser. I feel like I'm missing something." She went in her head through all possible scenarios she had analyzed yesterday, laying in bed and staring at the ceiling. Obviously her going to bed earlier hadn't changed the fact that her restless thoughts hadn't calmed down till the morning hours.
"Maybe you just went out with a wrong girl." And there was another joke. Tori gritted her teeth in irritation. She deserved a little mocking, but she was too tired and confused to deal with it.
"Or aliens kidnapped and brainwashed her." She rubbed her temples. "Really Andre, I spent nearly whole night thinking it all over. There is no simple, logical explanation to this. And definitely none of them promising me any good."
"And you are surprised by this? She's certainly planning something special for you. Whatever it is just remember to never let your guard down. Jade can't be trusted." The boy looked lost in thoughts, considering everything Tori had told him. Luckily he didn't notice as she gulped and squirmed nervously.
'Jade can't be trusted'. It hit her really hard. What an irony. Yes, maybe Jade indeed was planning something against them, but for now she had only showed sincerity and trust toward Tori, who instead actually was the one with the PLAN since the beginning. The feeling of guilt was now a constant guest in her mind. At least she had tried to keep her promise to Jade. The only thing she had told Andre about their game was that they had talked about stuff and got to know each other a little. She had been afraid that her best friend would have tried to find out what she'd meant by the stuff, but thankfully the kiss and 'next time' took all his attention.
"We're in no position to judge her." She murmured to herself. Andre didn't catch her words, poking his lunch absentmindedly.
Tori didn't try to stop him. She glared at her own food, but her appetite was still successfully suppressed by her growing anxiety. She forced herself to eat one of her french fries.
The two of them were sitting at their usual table at Asphalt Café. Luckily nobody else from their gang had showed up yet, so Tori had plenty of time to tell Andre everything and then repeated the story as many times as he needed to believe it. She had been nearly dying the whole morning to talk to him and he was just as impatient. It'd turned out he had been trying to call her yesterday few times, but she'd completely forgotten to take out her phone from her jacket and hadn't heard it.
"What are you gonna do about all of this?" The young musician asked finally, looking like he just realized they still didn't discuss the most important part. "You know, it can't carry on. You've already created quite a mess." He looked at her with suspicion in his eyes.
"Relax Andre." She raised her hands in surrender and acceptance. "I'm soooo not going to ask her out again. But what if she proposed it to me?" Andre just snorted at that, so she fixated him with a solemn glare. "It sounds crazy, but after everything that has already happened we can't say it's impossible."
"I thought you love miracles." A smirk crept upon Andre's face. "You will have to live through another one and reject Jade West."
"What will I say to her?" Tori ignored his irony. Her eyes grow and hands began to shake just at the imagine of that scene.
"Maybe the truth? That you're not interested in her that way." Andre's gaze sobered for a moment. It remained hard like steel.
"And what if she'll ask why I wanted to go out with her in the first place if I knew it was a case?" Why did this just sound like a break up? How did all of this even turn into something like that?
"As I said, telling the truth is always an option." Andre didn't back down. Tori suspected he got his own stings of remorse. After all Jade was his friend too and he had actively taken part in a massive lie she had been told. "Or you can just tell her that you don't know. You're just retarded like that, Jade thinks that about you anyway, so it won't come as a surprise." He added a little softer seeing as she leaned on the table looking truly miserable.
"Can you stop making fun of me finally?" She pushed her plate away, certain she wasn't going to force anymore food into herself.
"I haven't even truly begun yet, still haven't asked you how it feels to kiss the psycho…"
"TORI! I'm so happy for you!" The conversation was cut short, when shouting Cat appeared running towards them with her lunch. Tori only caught a blur of red hair when a body collided with her in an attempt to hug nearly pushing her off the bench. "For both of you. It's just amazing!"
"Cat? Stop it!" Tori tried to disentangle herself from redhead's arms too impatient today for her antics. "What are you talking about?" She sent a questioning glare at Andre, but he only shrugged signaling her that he also didn't know what was going on.
"I couldn't find Jade anywhere at the Full Moon Jam yesterday, so I called her this morning to ask what she's been up to." Cat was practically bouncing on the bench, beaming with happiness. "And she told me you two went there together. On a DATE!" She clapped her hands.
"What?! She told you… Did she say anything else?" Tori changed her position nervously, barely containing her hands from shaking Cat anxiously.
"No… She hanged up on me when I began telling her how great it is." Cat lost her enthusiasm for a second.
"At least she didn't change completely." Andre used a few moments of silence and murmured to Tori with a smile.
"But it's really, really amazing. Two girls that are always fighting, falling in love. Like in a movie or a book." Cat resumed her babbling. "I've always thought you have a great chemistry…"
"Love…? Chemistry…?" Tori repeated after her dumbfounded. "Cat, wait a sec. It's not…" She cut herself. Cat wasn't the one to keep a secret. Whatever the brunette told her would reach Jade without a doubt, like her opposite date with Beck. She had to be careful with her words. "I wouldn't be so… sure and serious about anything. It was just one date. I can't promise you it will work out." She stated uneasy, feeling Andre's heavy stare on her.
"Nonsense. You've always made things happened when you worked together." For once Cat was too cheerful to become offensive with someone else's rational thinking. Andre snorted again at that, despite Tori's glare.
"But…" The brunette was trying to think of anything that would stop Cat's daydreaming, but her already tired brain couldn't come up with a safe answer. Suddenly Robbie's appearance in Asphalt Café saved her.
"Oh no!" Cat's hands raised to cover her mouth in horror as she looked around in hurry and finally jumped under the table. Tori and Andre exchanged puzzled looks, none of them understanding redhead's behavior and bowed down toward her.
"What are you doing?" The brunette decided to ask her herself, because Andre didn't look like he really wanted to know and get involved in the process.
"Hiding away from Robbie." Cat answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Why?" Tori signed silently, thankful that at least for the moment they left the topic of her and Jade alone.
"He told me he wanted to talk with me about 'Cow Wow'." Cat lowered her gaze and abruptly became miserable. "He's going to ask me to go with him!"
"So?" Small smile lifted corners of Tori's lips. Nearly everyone had realized by now that Robbie had a serious crush on Cat. The redhead was kind of leading him on, but Tori honestly wished them the best. They would make quite a good match.
"It's Robbie!" Cat looked at her with disbelief. "I'm not going to date him."
"Can't you just tell him that instead of hiding?" Andre rolled his eyes and crossed arms. "What is wrong with you girls and saying 'no'?" Tori shushed him, despise partly agreeing with what he'd said.
"It's Robbie." Cat repeated as it supposed to clear everything. "And we have enough new couples to talk about. You know Beck's going with Meredith?" She was back in a gossip mode.
"Beck and Meredith!" Tori finally managed to smile. After all she achieved something. Even Andre's grimace didn't spoil her feeling of accomplishment. But Cat's next words wiped her smile without hesitation.
"You're going with Jade, right? It's so cool both of them move on and are happy now. It makes me wish to fall in love too." Cat sighed dreamily.
Tori coughed a little to buy herself more time before answering that question. To be completely honest, Tori didn't even remember about the oncoming school dance. Full Moon Jam wasn't as big event as Cow Wow, but everybody had been living the preparation for that and no one really thought about what was coming next. Now, with only two weeks away, the dance probably was going to become the hot topic.
The brunette knew only that she was supposed to perform a new song with Andre, but she didn't plan on going with anyone yet. Actually she usually had been going to school's events alone, too preoccupied with their preparation to make it into a date. Cat's question and her behavior in general made her a little overwhelmed, but luckily Robbie saved her once again.
"Hey guys. Why are we seating under the table today?" His smiling head appeared next to Andre's.
"Aaaaa!" Cat shouted like she just saw something truly frightening, jumped out and ran away, before anyone could even react. Tori and Andre blinked at that with astonishment. Robbie stood up quickly, nearly hitting his head on the table.
"Cat, wait!" He tried to shouted after her, but she was long gone. "Sorry guys, I have to…" He sighed deeply and made a strange gesture with his hands, pointing at the direction where Cat had disappeared. His friends could only nod their heads before he left them too.
"That was… sad." Tori watched his retreating back for few seconds, before she turned back to Andre. "Maybe we could help…"
"NO WAY!" The boy stopped her firmly. "Didn't you learn your lesson yet? No more playing matchmaker for you."
"Yeah, you're right." She shook her head, trying to get Robbie and Cat out of it and concentrate on her personal mess. "You think Jade's expecting us to go to Cow Wow together?"
"Maybe." Andre shrugged. "Cat's probably gonna put that idea into her head anyway."
"What am I going to do?" Tori wondered aloud, but her words were more for herself than her best friend.
"Say no?" Andre answered nonetheless.
"But you heard Cat. Beck's going with Meredith. If I reject Jade she will end up as a very angry and lonely wallflower while watching her ex-boyfriend having fun." That thought left Tori feeling strangely uneasy. She did everything to avoid just that. It sounded as such a waste to let it happen now. She kind of promised herself to not only get Beck's back in this, but ensure Jade's happiness too.
"I begin to think we took a wrong perspective in my hamster plan. The one that definitely needs a pet is you." Andre looked at her like he was seriously thinking she has becoming mad. "You did realize we're talking about Jade West not a lost puppy, right? You can't exactly adopt her because no one else is insane enough to want a deadly psycho."
"Andre, can you stop with that, please?" His words also left her with strange uneasiness and unexpected protectiveness. "I got into this mess to show everybody she's not THAT bad and I succeeded so can you do me a favor and at least acknowledge that?"
"Okay, so maybe she's not a monster." He sighed deeply and looked her in the eyes. "But there are still quite a few reasons why Cat's beautiful love story can't come true. Firstly there is no love to begin with. Jade's probably just plotting something terrible and you don't even like girls that way. Whatever it is that's happening between you two is fake and can't end good. Going along with that won't help anybody in a long run."
"I know, Andre. I really do." Her eyes run away from his accusing glare. His rational thinking was really helpful, but sometimes she wished it wasn't that brutal. "I'm not gonna ask her out myself, but if she comes to me… I just don't know how to deal with it. And don't you dare telling me rejections are easy. I remember those times when you were stuck with a terrible girlfriend because you didn't know how to break up. It's extra hard for me. We're talking about Jade here. If I say no to her, I will likely go to Cow Wow with her scissors in my heart instead." She poked her ribcage with her finger to empathies her words.
"Can I say 'I told you it was a bad idea' now?" Andre answered her with a faint smile, making her growl in a process.
"Can we omit that part and concentrate on finding solution?"
"You can always borrow Cat's strategy and run away." The boy spread his arms in a half defeat, compensating his lack of ideas with jokes.
"That's exactly the last thing I should do. I still do want to befriend her. Even more after I finally got a chance to talk with her like a normal human being. I know this mess can easily end bad, but I have to try to work it out somehow. Avoiding Jade's not gonna help with that. It'll only make her angry or hurt or both. I can't do that."
It'd turned out she'd done exactly that. It wasn't like she'd intentionally decided to avoid her, just the sight of Jade was making her anxious and paralyzed. She knew she wasn't ready for confrontation. She still didn't figure out what she was supposed to tell Jade and after their baffling date she was expecting anything to happen. Nothing seemed too impossible at this point.
But if Tori had to be completely honest with herself, fear of angry Jade wasn't the only feeling accompanying her that day. The big irony wasn't lost on her. The longer she thought about it the surer she was that it was her best date. Even compared to Steven before he had turned out to be a cheater. She would have never ever connect this word with Jade West, but in some way she'd managed to make her feel… comfortable and safe. It had been the little things that Jade clearly had been trying to cover up with her snarky remarks. She had opened up to her, slightly reassured her nervousness, walked her home and accepted Tori's rejection to her kiss. She had given her space when Tori'd needed it and pushed forward when Tori was to anxious to. Actually she was main reason why it hadn't turn into a disaster. And that was the most touching thing. Not that the date had turned out alright after all, but that the frightening Jade West had tried to make it that way. Mind blowing and strangely warming.
Tori still didn't trust her intention (it's not like she would want to date Tori or something), but she couldn't stop a little smile that was forming on her lips whenever she thought about it. Extra points for Jade West for making a straight girl enjoy the date with her. Funny that nearly whole school was too terrified to even look at her.
By avoiding Jade, she had actually lost track of all of her friend in the process. The day was just turning more insane with every passing hour. Cat was running away from Robbie and clearly looking for Jade or Tori to discuss further their changing relationship. Robbie was chasing Cat and because of that facing Tori at every corner, who was trying really hard not to run into Jade and stay away from redhead's embarrassing questions. Instead she was looking for Beck to learn a little more about his plans towards Meredith, but her friend suddenly disappeared somewhere. After few failed attempts she had to accept that he was probably avoiding her. She wasn't quite sure why, but Andre just laughed at her, telling her that after she had gone out with his ex-girlfriend without even a warning after rejecting him, she should have excepted their relationship to become a little awkward. As for Andre himself he was the only one that didn't have to avoid anyone or didn't suffer being avoided. He just shook his head and laughed quietly every few minutes. The Cow Wow, became the main background for all of this. Because of their little fuss, by the end of the day everyone was talking about the oncoming school dance.
Tori wasn't proud of herself, but it didn't stop her from feeling relief when she basically run away from her classroom after the end of classes and got to her locker. Now she just needed to get her things and left, before…
"Vega!" Well-known voice startled her, making her drop her books.
"Jade. Hi!" She sent a force smile at her, before kneeling down to gather her book. Her hands were shaking clumsily, while she tried to avoid looking at the approaching Goth. Jade's steps were light and stable, just as predator sneaking up towards its prey. She was completely silent until Tori raised to her feet and met her gaze preparing for the worst.
"We're going to the Cow Wow." She stated flatly, making Tori blink in surprise.
"You mean…" She stuttered. "Are you asking me out?" She looked at the Goth a little closely, but nothing betrayed her intention. Her expression was unreadable and her arms were defensively crossed.
"Of course no, I hate you" She hissed quickly, but then shuffled her legs uneasily. "But if you ask me out, maybe I'll say yes." Tori blinked again at that. What?
"But… I… You…" She shook her head slightly like she was hoping to get a better grasp of situation. "That doesn't even make sense!"
Jade ignored her confusion and outburst, watching her narrowly with the same stone face.
"Are you avoiding me?" Her voice was so calm, to the point of being truly scary. Tori shuddered involuntarily. Ready or not it was the time to face the music.
"No, of course no. Why would I? It just… this day is so crazy. You see Cat and Robbie, right? They're making quite a mess chasing each other around." She tried to laugh, but Jade was watching her like a statue, totally freaking her out. She evidently didn't buy it, but didn't interrupt Tori either so the brunette quickly decided to change the subject. "And about that dance…" She began, but still couldn't come up with the right words. That was the right time to reject her, even if she wasn't sure there was any question for her to answer in a first place. "I…" She coughed, her throat suddenly becoming dry. She had to be direct, but gentle. Oh God… Jade's gonna be so mad. Even if all of this was just a mystification for her too, no one's taking rejection well. And she would end up completely alone at The Cow Wow, watching Beck and Meredith and maybe Cat and Robbie. That was just… They could have fun together, just like at Full Moon Jam. But the second DATE was a really bad idea and Jade would be expecting kissing and…
"Vega!" Quiet, but stern voice stopped her train of thoughts.
"Hmm?" She nervously found Jade's gaze.
"You're hyperventilating." The Goth sighed deeply and uncrossed her arms. Her posture relaxed slightly calming Tori in a process too. "Listen… Do you know Chase and Dylan? They're from advance drama class."
"Umm… Yeah" Tori nodded carefully, taken aback by strange change of topic. Was she missing on something or was Jade completely not making sense today?
"Amber and Chloe for our music class? Or Tony and Jack? You have English with them." Jade continued her counting, making Tori more and more lost.
"Yes, I know all of them, but…" Suddenly Tori's eyes widened when she realized what they have in common, but it still didn't exactly explain where Jade was going with this.
"It's not like we're gonna be the only same-sex pair at the dance. It's an art school. No one's gonna care. If you're still not at ease with all of that…" Jade made a circle gesture with her hand and shrugged. She looked indifferent, but Tori knew she was doing it again. She was trying to make her feel comfortable. The brunette felt something warm spreading through her chest.
"No, I'm not concerned about anyone's thoughts." I'd actually wanted all of them to witness this in a first place. "But I think it's still quite shocking, because you know… you and me?" She laughed timidly. She should have been trying to turn this conversation around and stop this madness, but couldn't even concentrate on anything, when Jade softly smiled back at her. It was so new, so… special. Almost too tempting to keep. Then her eyes landed on Jade's lips, making her own tingle in a process. She had been so freaked out with just occurrence of their kiss that she hadn't even spent one thought on how it was. And now, when she was supposed to reverse this mess, the only thought that accidently popped out in her mind was 'her lips are so soft and taste like mint'.
"Yeah, strange, but your idea? Maybe it wasn't THAT bad." The Goth smirked deviously, coming a little closer towards Tori, invading her personal space.
"My-my-my idea?" Tori swallowed hardly, hitting her back into her locker and maneuvering her books that they created a barrier between Jade and her. They weren't that close, but it was enough for Tori to smell Jade's weak, fresh scent and became even more nervous.
"For us to spent a little more time together. Maybe once in a while you actually are right." Jade smirk grew bigger.
"I-I-I guess…"
"But don't feel too safe because of that. I still have my scissors with me. It's gonna be a public event, don't you dare making too much of loser out of yourself. Am I clear?" The typical, cruel sparkle was back in her eyes.
"But…"
"No 'buts' in this, Vega! When you going out with someone as hot as me, you should at least look half decent yourself." Jade crossed her arms and took a step back, lost in her thoughts. "Our outfits should kinda match. Are you going to wear a dress?" Finally the Goth gave Tori a chance to say something. Her eyes were strangely nervous for such a trivial question.
"I… But… Jade…" Tori could only stare at her helplessly. What had just happened here? Jade had basically manipulated her to go out with her and even presented the whole thing as Tori's own idea. But why? And more importantly how could she get out of this?
"Seriously Vega, can you fucking stop making me repeat myself? I said I will go to the stupid dance with you. Get over one of those idiotic breakdowns of yours and concentrate on more important things." Jade growled. She was tense and visibly angry, but she couldn't hide all signs of her nervousness. Tori once again hit her locker with her back, taken aback by both fear and confusion.
"Ok..." She murmured dumbfounded, before her brain had registered what her mouth just did. Jade relaxed. Corners of her lips raised slightly, despise her still angry glare. She was about to say something when the loud, wild shout interrupted their conversation. If Jade wasn't standing in front of her, Tori would think that it was her. The shout was frightening enough to made her drop her books once again, but thankfully Jade caught them this time before they could hit a floor.
Cat appeared around the cornered literally fuming. She took few quick steps and stopped in front of Tori and Jade.
"GABRIELLA!" She roared and stomped away.
"What was that about?" Tori watched her leave with wide eyes. Thanks to Cat she managed to hit her back on her locker for the third time. She began to feel a bruise forming there. First her scratched face, next her cut finger and now her aching back. Dating Jade's definitely gonna kill her, even indirectly.
"I have no idea, but it was impressive." Jade answered her with a smile, a little paler then she was before. "Who knows our small kitten's hiding a tiger inside."
"We should probably check on her." The brunette blurted out quickly, sensing her chance to get away from her earlier conversation with Jade. She didn't wait for the respond, but caught sight of the Goth shaking her head with irritation, nevertheless following her anyway.
"This is completely beyond me. How on earth did you manage to accidently agree to go out with someone? And don't try to give me that 'it just happened' excuse again." Andre was watching her closely from the couch as she was pouring them drinks in the kitchen.
"It's even better." Tori laughed humorlessly. "Officially I'm the one that asked. She just agreed graciously."
"You're killing me here, but it actually sounds a lot like Jade." Andre took his drink from her as she joined him on the couch in her living room.
"But there is one good news after all, I did a little damage control." Honestly she still wasn't quite sure if this was a damage control indeed or just another problem she'd gotten herself involved with. "Cat's going with us. She took really bad the news about Robbie going with some else and doesn't want to go with any of the other guys. There is no one to drive her there, so we're taking her."
"What about her brother? She said once that he got his license back?" Andre frowned a little.
"Umm… She said his friend made him a pretty, new one." Tori sent him a pointed look, feeling a little disturbed as always when Cat's brother was mentioned. "Never mind, she will have to spend some time with us, so I hope that this whole date won't look so serious."
"Tori, it's still a date. Even if it turns out to be fake for both sides, Jade at least likes girls this way."
"It's not that hard to pretend." She really tried to sound smooth, but thoughts of kissing Jade were nagging her at the back of the mind. This time she can't run away from it and the Goth had kind of promised her that. "I'm an actress. I played a few love interests, even with people I dislike. It's like one of Sikowitz's exercises."
"Jade would so kill you for calling her that." Andre shook his head at her, making her constant feeling of guilt rise drastically.
"And she has every right to do it!" She threw her hands in the air dramatically and then fell deeper into the couch. Such a mess. But there was no way to get out of it now without causing a lot of damages. Maybe she should just go with the flow and see what were Jade's intentions after all? "Can we please stop talking about this now? It was a crazy day and I'm completely emotionally and intellectually drained. Let just watch TV as we were planning to." She pointed at her TV with a gesture, while rubbing her forehead. She was beginning to develop a headache from all this stress.
"As you wish." Andre grabbed a remote and sent her a skeptical glare. "Maybe they have some documentary like 'Assertiveness for dummies' or 'The secret art of saying no'.
AN: I'm not planning to continue with every episodes as they go, but this one actually makes sense for the story, so I decided to keep it. You probably notice there is a lot of Andre in this story for now as he kind of became Tori's partner in crime. I quite enjoy writing him, so I hope you don't mind. I can promise a lot of Jori to come. Thanks for reviews and generally being so nice to me, you are great, guys.