A/N: I've been so tired lately. Today is my birthday so if you could leave some reviews; that would make me so happy :-)


Jade, Beck, Andre and Cat all converged upon the Vega household, or as Beck appropriately called it: Ground zero.

They headed right over after school and figured they had about 2-3 hours tops to clear out Tori's things, box them up and load them into Beck's trailer which was serving today as the proverbial moving van.

Andre remembered about the spare key under the potted plant outside and the gang let themselves in.

"Okay," Jade cleared her throat. "Let's make this quick and easy. This can take all day if you let it."

"What makes you say that?" Andre asked.

"Let's just say I've been in Vega's room. She has a lot of...things...in there."

Beck walked in with a stack of boxes of different sizes and set them down, "Ready, boss."

"Jadey, we need to label them" whined Cat, who pulled out Sharpies for everyone to mark the boxes.

"Cat," Jade rolled her eyes. "We don't have time for that. Besides, its only stuff from Tori's room. I think we can remember what's in the boxes."

The redhead pouted, "But I brought one for each of us..."

"CAT!"

Instinctively, not missing a beat, Beck massaged Jade's shoulders and she started to control her breathing. Jade put her hands together, making a clapping sound.

"If you want Cat, you can worry about marking the boxes that are fragile."

"Which ones are they?" she asked in all seriousness.

Jade blinked and calmly replied, "The ones with fragile things inside."

"Oh, kay kay!" and the redhead ran to get started.

Jade then turned her attention to Beck and Andre.

"Chico, Harpo; let's get cracking."

As the brunette stomped away, Andre picked up a box with a sigh and said to Beck "Guess that makes her Groucho, am I right?" He then chuckled.

The Canadian ducked at the oncoming empty cardboard box that smacked Andre in the head. All the musician saw was Jade staring daggers at him.

Two and a half hours later, Jade was getting anxious as she checked the time on her phone on the way back into the house for more boxes.

"Shit," she swore. "This is taking too long."

"It's okay," Beck reassured. "We're almost done."

Jade's was on her way to grab the next full box when she saw that her path was blocked by Tori's older sibling.

"Out of my way," Jade growled.

"What are you all doing here?" Trina asked, arms crossed.

She looked at Beck and Andre, who were holding boxes and also noticed some open boxes still on the floor.

"What are you guys doing with Tori's stuff?"

"What's it look like, genius?" Jade spat. "We're here for Tori's stuff because she's not living here anymore."

"Oh?" Trina now had her hands on her hips. "And let me guess: she's shacking up with her little lover?"

Trina was already in the high rankings on Jade West's shit list as it is. But that comment pushed her over the edge and before the older sister realized what she had started, the Goth was in her face almost touching noses.

"You listen to me, Trina Vega...and you listen good...when Tori and I started dating, I took all of your shit and stupidity with a smile for her sake. Now, that's over because the game has changed. You renounced your own sister..."

"I never..."

"I AM NOT DONE!" Jade yelled, making Trina think twice about interrupting again. "What you and your parents did to Tori was the lowest thing imaginable and I have a high tolerance for the sadistic."

Andre gazed at Beck for confirmation and the long haired boy nodded.

"And because you no longer value her as family, that little invisible barrier can no longer save you." Jade then charged and slammed Trina against the wall. "I will allow you to live because L.A. is a small town and we do attend the same school. But one more word in my direction, and I will break your arm."

Jade released Trina and proceeded to pick up a small box full of books and marched to the front door.

"You started this, you know" Trina said. "You did it!"

Andre and Beck were already running to restrain Jade even before the sound of her box hitting the floor.

"What the fuck did you say to me?" Jade asked through gritted teeth.

"You know what you did; breaking up this family. Tori was just...maybe she was at least bi or something, but not gay."

Jade's eyes were ablaze. "You think I made Tori gay? You think I pushed her or tricked her?"

"I don't know what you did," Trina shot back. "But that girl has been following you like a little lost puppy ever since she went to Hollywood Arts. Almost every day I had to hear about how she sought your approval; first as a friend and now...this."

"You ever stop to think she might have been confused when she was seeing creeps like Ryder Daniels or that guy the Carly chick was also dating? Don't you think it's odd that someone as beautiful and smart and warm as Tori couldn't hold down a steady boyfriend?"

"Oh please!" Trina huffed. "By your logic, that would make Andre gay."

"Could I stay out of this, please?" Andre protested.

Jade struggled free of her handlers and looked squarely at Trina.

"Tori is who she is. I can accept her, why can't you?"

Trina looked at her feet and to the side, anything not to make eye contact with Jade.

"It's not something you can catch," Jade told her. "You either always had these feelings or not. Face it; Tori is hardwired toward girls like you are hardwired toward boys. It's no goddamn different! If I did anything for her, I made her comfortable for who she really was. I was lucky; my father was there for me. Tori; hers just threw her out into the cold..."

"Jade," Beck spoke. "This is the last of it; we can go now."

Jade breathed deeply and let it go.

"Good, let's get the hell out of here."

The trio went outside and loaded the last few boxes inside the trailer. Cat was warming up the car. She got out and saw Trina but made no form of greeting in her direction.

"Wait!"

Jade reluctantly turned back to Trina.

"What do you want?" she asked in measured tones.

"I've been trying to talk to Tori but she hadn't been answering her phone."

"Fancy that!" Jade said, crossing her arms. "It's turned off. But don't worry because she has a new phone." She then jumped into Beck's truck and lowered the passenger window. "And a new number."

"Can I just ask you something and then I'll leave you alone."

"You have ten seconds, Vega" Jade threatened.

"Is she alright? I mean...is she...?"

Jade made a face like she was deeply thinking about the question.

"Like her heart's been ripped out of her chest and buried alive."

Jade could see in Trina's face how much that had stung. She wasn't disappointed that she wasn't coldhearted about it. Quite the contrary; Jade really hopes that what had happened to her baby sister lays heavily on her conscience. Wordlessly, Jade rolled up the window as Beck drove away with the trailer in tow.