Pariah of the Town

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

A/N:

Chapter 4 (Public Enemy Number One)

Jade didn't go home at first, knowing she didn't want to deal with further abuse from her mother and ignorance from her father. How could she gain emotional support from either of them? Granted, she wasn't sure she needed emotional support. She opted to stay away from Hollywood Arts, because she was almost certain anyone that went by there would kill her the second they found out what she did.

She found herself walking to a Mrs. Lee's sushi bar, having forgotten about the trucks she saw. On one hand she didn't think the woman had anything to do with them. A crime ring like this would disguise themselves as any legit business, everyone knew that about crime organizations.

She took her seat on one of the stools and watched Mrs. Lee bark orders to her employees. Was this woman lonely like her? Surely no one made the mistakes she made in life. "How long am I going to feel this way for?" She put her head to her folded arms on the table and clenched her eyes shut. Ying Lee walked over, handing her a menu. "Mrs. Lee…have you ever-have you ever had everyone you know go from liking you to hating you in a single instant?" The woman stammered and gave her a confused look as Jade raised her head. "Just seeing all your friends looking at you with friendly eyes and then seeing them burn so red that they all look like they want to kill you…"

"What did you do? Are you going to order?" The woman's sharp voice startled her, but it was somewhat comforting to hear after all the screaming that went on. "If you're not going to order, then why are you here?"

"I'm thinking. I just…I screwed up. I might have gotten a friend's sister in a lot of trouble."

"Oh I'm so sorry for you." Ying pushed the menu forward, smiling from ear to ear. "Here, order some sushi. It's not on the house." Jade rolled her eyes and picked up the menu. As she scanned the menu items, she heard the television sound out the theme for 'breaking news'. Her body tensed and her eyes flew to the screen. The first words she saw were 'Deputy Chief's daughter abducted'.

On the screen, a blonde reporter stood in front of the Vega household. Holly was crying on David's shoulder while he stood tall with his arms crossed. Sinjin was behind them and Tori was in front, glaring at the camera with the most virulent and enraged look.

Strange, Tori had been the last person Jade expected to ever turn on her, but the fire in her eyes told her everything. Jade was about to become a public menace, and Tori wasn't going to regret it for a second.

"I'm standing here with the family of Katrina Vega, a student of the University of California in Las Angeles and former star athlete of Hollywood Arts. Daughter to Los Angeles's own Deputy Chief of Police."

"Chad, turn that up!' Ying instructed. Jade sank in her seat and hid her face behind the menu, attempting to cover up the tears threatening her eyes. She listened to the reporter, resisting the urge to run.

"Last night Katrina was out with an acquaintance when she ran into Jesse Klein, who was recently released after spending three years in prison for human trafficking. She did not return home and the acquaintance informed the family just this afternoon."

"She wasn't an acquaintance," Tori spouted off. "Her name is Jade West. She used to be one of my best friends!" Jade flinched and felt Mrs. Lee's eyes on her. "She's hated my sister for years and has no respect for my family. She said she had no knowledge of this man's past and just wanted to use him to piss off Trina's boyfriend! It's her fault my sister's gone!" Tori pointed to the camera, screaming angrily as the tears streamed down her face. "You hear that Jade? It's your fault!" Jade dropped her head to the counter, weeping silently as her heart shattered into a million pieces. "Yours! I never want to see you again!"

The reporter turned to the camera as Sinjin and David pulled Tori back. An image of Jesse appeared on the screen beside Trina's picture. "If any of you see either person please notify the police immediately." With that, Jade recalled the trucks and sat up quickly, staring at Mrs. Lee with wide eyes. The woman raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

"You sent a woman into a trafficking ring?" Jade cringed and slowly got up from the stool. She started to back up as Mrs. Lee narrowed her eyes. "I guess that means you're not going to eat here."

"M-Mrs. Lee…"

"What?"

"There were two trucks…supply trucks…with your name and logo on them." The woman's eyes widened as Jade started to back up. "Do you…do you know anything about that? I don't suppose you would tell me."

"Two of my trucks went missing last week. Are you accusing me?"

"No." She put her hand to her chest and breathed out a sigh of relief. Her stomach growled and she moved her hand over her belly. "But I am hungry, so maybe I can eat something…"

"No, I'm not going to serve you." Mrs. Ling turned away and Jade whimpered. "You're in a lot of trouble, people aren't going to be too happy knowing you sent away one of the children of LA's highly respected officers. I'm not going to be caught serving the woman that did that. It would be business suicide! I think you'll find not many places are going to serve someone who may very well have killed our Deputy's daughter." Mrs. Lee reached for the telephone and cleared her throat. "I have to call the police now, let them know my stolen trucks were there. You mind staying around?"

"Actually…I kind of do…I didn't do anything."

"I know."

"I just want to eat."

"Then go elsewhere!" The harshness in the woman's tone angered her, but rather than lash out in response, she left the establishment. There was no use in fighting when the woman was clearly right. It was unfair to deny her service, but it made sense.

Mr. Vega had always been a respected member of the community, he worked hard to get where he was, everyone knew that. He started out as a simple patrol officer trying to make ends meet. Yes it was true, he had to send his children to live with Holly's father because there was a time they were all homeless. He started working hard and bringing in the biggest criminals, winning respect and promotions, and now his family was one of the wealthiest in LA.

They earned their keep and were far more deserving than Jade actually realized. What she'd done all these years of disrespect was piss on their progress because of her envy.

After several attempts of finding a place to eat, she was shocked with how many people recognized her and were so quick to judge her and refuse service, she was forced to return home. Her mother was waiting for her, arms crossed and face twisted into fierce smirk. "There's my little public enemy and disgrace to the family!" Morgan West shouted. Jade flinched as her mom moved over to her and placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. "I heard you got our Deputy's daughter kidnapped."

"I didn't know the guy was a bad man, mama. Honest I didn't."

"I'm not sure that matters. I always knew I should have aborted you."

"What?!" Her heart collapsed as her mom walked away from her. "How can you say that, mama?"

"Your father's the one that wanted a child and he doesn't even spend time with you. You go around disrespecting our highest law officers and treating people like shit, I get calls from your schools saying you've done some random act or something menacing, and now you've just crushed the lives of one of LA's top families. Congratulations Jade West! You're now hated by all of society! You've achieved your greatest dream."

Her tears poured down her cheeks as her mother continued her ranting. She never wanted to be hated, just loved and appreciated. How could she be so stupid? How could her own mother make her feel so worthless? So far, Tori's punch in the face seemed like a gentle caress compared to the virulent and poisonous words spewing from the mouth of the dragon.

"I hate you mom! I hate you! I never wanted all this! I never wanted any of this!"

"What did you just say to me?" Jade winced as her mother grabbed her by the hair and yanked her forward, scowling down at her daughter. "I know I didn't hear those words come out of your mouth. How dare you talk to me in such a tone! I don't know where you get your manners from!"

"Leave me alone!" She screamed as her mother pulled her to the kitchen. Her hair felt as though it would split from her head, tearing the skin away. "Mama please!" She pushed at her mom's arm, digging her nails into the woman's flesh in attempt to cause enough pain to make her release her. "Mama!"

"I'm going to teach you to talk to your mother in such a way!"

"No stop!"

"No wonder you are so hated, with such a mouth on her. I can't believe you don't know why people hate you, Jade!" In a sudden realization, she knew her mother was right. The way she treated people was exactly how her mom treated her All these years, tormenting the Vega sisters, tormenting the people at school, she thought it was the only way to force people to stay close to her.

Her body grew numb as her mom threw her head into the sink, jabbing her back against the countertop. This was where Jade would normally struggle and cry, screaming for her mom to stop, screaming for her dad to help, but not today. Today, she deserved everything she got.

"I want to die…Go ahead mom…kill me, I know you want to. I won't struggle this time mama, I promise. Drown me, wash my mouth with soap, whatever you want, I'll let you…"

"What do you think you're doing, Morgan?!" Screamed a deep voice. The front door had slammed shut and Henry West was now in the kitchen. Jade's vision was blurred by her tears to the point she didn't see her father when he yanked her mother away. "How many times have I said you do not do this to our daughter?!"

"She is not my daughter, and you know it!" Jade flinched as Henry held Morgan tight, struggling to keep her from attacking her further.

"Regardless, this is not how you treat her!" He tossed the woman angrily to the side and she struck the wall. "Now you fucking sober up and take some pills before you put your hands on her."

Since when did he care? Or had he always cared and she was just too blind to see? Her mother fell to her knees and began crying to him, blaming her for everything and saying how much Jade disgraced the family and disrespected her. She said it was the only way to punish her daughter for her sins, to cleanse her of her 'impurities'.

"Maybe I should be in a mental hospital…if I'm so impure and malicious."

She wasn't these things, and she knew she wasn't. She covered her eyes, sobbing as the image of Jesse and his goons attacking Trina remained in her mind. She watched them tie Trina's wrists and ankles after she was unconscious, watched them throw her in the back of the truck.

Jade was even sure Jesse saw her watching, smirking as he knew she would be deeply affected by this.

Begrudgingly, she returned to her room and sat down at her laptop. As she wiped her eyes, she watched the friends count on Facebook dwindle. There were people writing on Trina's wall, however, all saying how much they missed her and hoped she'd be found soon. That they were sorry for Jade handing her over.

What hurt the most, however, was seeing the comments on Trina's wall made by her own friends. "I'm sorry I was ever a part of any of that," Cat posted, "I know I should have just said something instead of being kept silent. I knew she was dangerous, but I didn't know she'd ever go this far."

"I'm truly sorry," Robbie posted, "If we ever meet again, I want you to know it's okay if you hate me. I never should have caused you to go to the hospital, I never should have participated in the things that hurt you or your sister, or even your parents. I…I really am sorry. Please, be safe, and keep fighting."

Andre even posted a comment, "I don't know what to say. Vega, you were a good person caught in a world of people that just didn't care. I know I was a part of that world, I guess I should have seen something like this coming, maybe I could have stopped it. I'm sorry. I hope you keep fighting, don't ever forget how you beat up Beck, Robbie, and myself that one time…I know I won't…"

"You're a strong woman," Beck replied, "I know your family misses you. I hope you're found safe and alive."

These comments in particular were somewhat disgusting to Jade, only because she knew these people didn't care. They never cared! Now that Trina was gone, all of a sudden they gave a shit? It made her sick to her stomach. She was curious if it made Trina's family sick to their stomachs as well.

The final comment was made by Trina's profile, but it was clearly Sinjin. "Thank you for kind words. Trina's family and I are going to be turning off messaging and posting on her account, however. Out of respect for hers and our privacy. Thank you again-Sinjin."

Jade hit the refresh button and waited for Trina's screen to pop up again. When it did, she found herself looking at the profile as though she were on the 'restricted list' of Facebook's privacy options.

"I guess it's pretty final." She closed her eyes and felt a sickening rush inside of her."I'm the monster that destroyed a prominent family. Great." Was there any way to fix this? Probably not. Trina couldn't be far, and she knew where to find Jesse. Or at least, she thought she did. She knew where his house was because she followed him when she first spotted him, wondering if he'd be a good candidate for her 'plan'.

On the way, he stopped to meet some people in this shady looking building. Oddly enough she thought nothing of it, she was blinded for her own lust and jealousy. She didn't even see the signs that pointed to his criminal activities!

"How the fuck could I have been so blind?!"

She screwed this up, she sent Trina away, now she had to fix it. She knew exactly what she had to do, and if it failed, would anyone miss her? Apparently not, since she was, after all, public enemy number one now.

Jade opened Beck's Facebook and started to send him a message, debating what she was going to say. After a few seconds, she nodded her head and took a deep breath. Yes, she knew exactly what to tell him.

Her fingers worked swiftly on the keyboard and her eyes studied the words on the screen for a second before she pressed enter.

"I'm going to find Trina, it's my problem now. Don't try to stop me. If something goes wrong, I doubt anyone will miss me anyway…my mom certainly won't. Goodbye Beck, I love you. I know it doesn't make a difference, but tell the Vegas, tell Sinjin…I'm sorry, I'm going to do everything I can to find Trina. I know it's suicide, but I have to do something. Goodbye."

Yes, because how bad can Jesse truly be? Well there's a reason that out of all the antagonists I've written, he's in my top 5 favorites. Maybe the top 2. Looks like Jade figures the right thing is to find Trina. She's not exactly prepared, but she'll do what it takes to redeem herself, at least in her mind. Tell me your thoughts.