Decided to update this a bit, since I might be heading out to Ohio...
Night Changes
Her eyes are locked on the couple standing in front of the lite up locker. Eyebrows knitted in concentration—Hoping that if her glare is fierce enough the roses would burst into flames, and burn the handlers hands to the point where he could never use them again. Even more so when the group of people surrounding him sent him winks of encouragement, the grip on her locker tightens when the all too familiar laughter bounces throughout the halls. Echoing inside her mind to the point she has to growl in order to rid the innocence of the sound. There's a glance casted her way by the darkest male of the group and he is visibly shaken by the hard stare. Even if it isn't him the look is being directed at. He nudges the fluffy haired boy besides him, and soon there's two people too uncomfortable of the situation. Instead of warning the rest of the teenagers, they simply bid goodbye with a sorry excuse. A red head and ventriloquist follow after the boys without any look thrown in her direction.
On their way moving past her Beck sends her a look of warning.
Daring her to interrupt the remaining pair.
She can hear the conversation switching topics now that the group has been narrowed down to only two members. She knows this is childish of her, and really she should have known this would eventually happen. She just wasn't prepared for the boy walking away from the brunette hands empty of the previous roses, and a grin replicating one of someone who had been granted the secrets of how to become a millionaire. He passes her by and she wants nothing more than to relieve her freshman year and trip him with the tip of her boot. She glares at his unknowing figure until he is out of her line of sight, but still.
She waits a few minutes until after he's left to continue staring at the now vacant path he occupied. With an incredible amount of effort she lets her gaze retrace his steps and land on the brunette digging through the locker in mild frustration. She knows what the girl is looking for and forces herself to rip the textbook out of her bag and her legs move accordingly.
Does she care that even with her making sure she places her steps to make as much noise as she can, the girl still doesn't notice her arrival. Yes. It makes her feel even worse for what she's about to do.
"Not a lot of people openly display their desperation by accepting the first invitation to the winter fallout mixer."
Her stomach drops with anticipation, and her palms begin to gain enough moisture that makes the guilt rise tenfold. There's a tension that rises in the girl's shoulders that makes her realizes she may have startled her, but then she wants to hurt herself for the look of confusion that overshadows the girl's features. Though she also notices the hint of a hurtful frown creeping up on the confusion all too quickly for her liking. Noting the small twist of the brunettes jaw she watches and despises the low sigh meeting her ears.
"I'm really not in the mood for this right now Jade, and I don't have the time either."
The voice expresses a lack of energy, and still she doesn't stop. Her head is far from logic right now, her emotions seem to be on the same wavelength as well, because she's taking a sharp step into the girls personal space.
"Piece of advice. Shove your thongs back into your pants, flaunting them for every guy to see doesn't help you with your terrible dating history. Some girls actually take pride in not whoring around the school."
There's silence.
There isn't any movement and she barely registers the lack of noise in the hall. She doesn't care of the few that has stopped and watching them with clear astonishment at her word choice.
It's a fact: Hurt Tori Vega and you're the devil walking on legs. No one has had the audacity to even spare the girl a crude comment, she's too innocent, too pure to be tainted.
It's odd. To have nearly the entire school deem one girl too kind to harm verbally or physically.
Yet this school has to be one of the most accepting, non discriminating in the entire country, and she had just done the unimaginable. She had taken her level of snark, and rudeness and set it in entirely different faction. Not even two years ago would she have uttered the sentence to the brunette. It was simply put to evil. It's a true fresh scare that she has created. One different from the rest she had marked, no this. This would be a scar that she isn't so sure that the gentle teen would be able to forgive.
Her breath catches in her throat at the devastation written sorely across the features of the brunette. She can feel her fingers start to twitch towards the hand of the unblinking teen, but she doesn't let herself touch the girl. She doesn't get to. Being able to enjoy and dissolve the worries of the day with the touch that's so gentle, and sweet so full of warmth. She doesn't deserve it at the moment and from now on she doesn't think she should be able to either. Throat tightened painfully, head pounding to the point she's sure it'd burst at any given moment, her heart feels as though it was continuously stopping all circulation and starting with every silent second from the brunette. She didn't care that ribcage was suffering from the constantly being hammered on. In this case she couldn't care any less of her mental or physical health. She cared for the brown eyes swimming with so much hurt, and disappointment.
She's without a doubt evil.
"D—did you really say that to me?"
The conclusion she has is painful, because as of now her anger is fueling her mouth.
"Honestly you couldn't save yourself one year? Every time it's the same with you. You pick some asshole to date, only to have your feelings shitted on. I'm done Vega, I can't protect you from everything. You're on your own. Why can't you see that everyone you date is only trying to get into your pants. I will never know. I don't care. Don't come to me in tears because he broke your heart. I mean it Vega. I'm done."
She's seething by the end of her rant.
In all truth the look of pain etched into the brunettes face, as if her words are causing the girl physical pain makes her want to endure every possible death. To make herself fall victim to anything that can cause one harm. She has to turn her head away from the girl, because she's panting. Panting at how she can't fathom why the look is causing her physical pain to the point where she feels as though she is being hammered in by a three ton mallet. It makes it twice a worse, when a small smile is plastered on the girl's lips.
"You're right. You are an asshole, but I can't find it in me to completely disregard the fact that you're you...and that alone makes it that much harder to force myself not to forgive you."
Her voice is calm—Delicate even.
She thinks it's the mounting stress of worrying for the girl so much that has her worked up to the boiling point. She's angry, so frustrated that there is nothing she can possibly do or say that will deter her away. As much as she has hurt the brunette there has not been one occasion where she hasn't been forgiven. Maybe that's what she needs; To be banished away from the girl, to keep pushing the boundaries until one day she's pushed too hard. To the point that they cannot act like they can forgive and forget. Maybe, there's a possibility that the key is exactly forcing the line—
"That's not the answer and you know it. It would only result in permanent damage."
It doesn't come as much of a shock that the brunette is keen on objecting to something she had thought. Tori is staring at her with kind eyes of forgiveness. She nods feeling the numbness creep in. There is nothing like having something you know you don't deserve. Her gaze is now averted and her mind is stilled. Five. Four. Three...She doesn't get to two, because the bell has rung and the few that has decided to watch them have dispersed. She hasn't moved and doesn't make any indication that she will, but Tori does.
"I'm sorry."
It's barley a whisper, but Tori hears it and she nods reaching out to gently squeeze her hand with firm assurance.
For the first time the brunettes gaze shifts to the textbook being held in a death clutch. Mechanically she lifts the item out towards the brunette whose shutting her locker with an air of comfort surrounding her. The brunette isn't inclined to send her a grateful smile, but of course Tori does just that, and more. There's a lingering feeling of a fire being showered upon her with a force so ferocious she feels as though she could drown in any hot inferno imaginable. Her fingers trace over the spec of skin dangerously close to her lips where she can still manage to connect the light stomach, and reeling mind from the effects of the lips that were gingerly placed on her cheek a few moments prior.
...
She's leaning on an unidentified locker when the thunderous footsteps approach her. Taking a sip of her coffee that is ripped from her grasp the second it leaves her lips. She exhales dutifully.
"You've gone too far. I swear if you don't do something, anything to make this better I swear—" Andre demands with a furious scowl.
"Andre calm down."
Beck intrudes. It has her raising an eyebrow towards the Canadian deciding to come to her defence; One she has no denial in debating that she does not deserve. He sends her a penetrating frown and grabs one of the still fuming, dark skinned companion, forearms.
"Fix it Jade."
...
The note is short—too short. Yet it's her, and completely understating her guilt; If anyone would understand it would be Tori. She's merely pleading she has not overstepped their emotional boundaries she has not in the past.
I was a dick-Scratch that I'm an asshole, and you probably know that by now...Or maybe you've always known. Either way the things—the words I said yesterday were completely shitty. I'm sorry.
Features creased with a deliberate concentration in gauging the reaction from the distance between their lockers, Jade clutches the fresh cup with a vice grip. Her posture tense with the anticipation she had not ever predicted to have, she intakes an enormous amount of oxygen when those brown eyes connect with her own. She watches the leisure smile that's tentative with a valid reason send her a response. Legs carrying her and the second coffee towards the spirited teen—Jade winces when the black rose is waved into the air with a generous amusement.
"How much money?"
The brunette teases with an enthralling entertainment; averting her stare to the tile, Jade squares her shoulders and forces her chest to protrude with courage, confidence, not a bit of shame in her stance.
"Forty: Two cans of spray paint, an overpriced red rose, and ten white roses. Including the hazelnut coffee with an amount of cream and sugar that would put the organs of Cat to shame."
There's a breathy laughter that echoes a delicate melody in the crowded hall—her shoulders fall a bit due to the deathly heat crawling up her neck. Even then her mouth twitches with the intention to indulge the brunette.
Harmony had been the absolute drive that steered the absurd—mini convoy. An everlasting foundation that has been set into place the freshman that they once were. It had been the obscenity that had lead them into the grace of the other. A rare occasion that had been tampered with fate; Or at least a person that the unintentional influence that had bonded the pair of six teens together. It did not seem to be an impact rather than the out right odd moment that had been the defining feature. Instead it had most to do with the obnoxious tendencies of a well-known student that appeared preferably out of thin air. One that had been at the time and present boisterous with an air of misplaced confidence. It had never occurred to either of them that the truth as to why they had even met was due to the inconsiderate older Vega.
While it hadn't been the miniscule points of their parents having made each of them late, because there was a valid reason as to why each of them had made it a purpose to muscle their way through the wave of free period upperclassmen—Point was that it seemed that Trina Vega had made it her sole responsibility to lead each of them into the graces of the one another. It had been the utter stroke of fate that seemed to to deem the sister of the unofficial reason as to why the group came to be had been able to have a reserved place for herself. Even with the two years of establishing a bond and forming a systematic harmony that had become a natural instinct when dealing with the tribulations to becoming a sheltered group it seemed that the brunette had done what they had accomplished in far less time. She had a knack for exterminating each of there suspicion with nothing more than unknowingly flaunting her kind smile. One that had reassured each of them that while she was of foreign lands, there was no need to tread hesitantly.
Infectious had become an extreme wonder despite the clash of personalities, a sort of mantra that had bounded around the circle until it reached it's finale verdict. Infuriating; there would be an unspoken law that had become of them. If there were to ever be a force that had tempted to decimate their harmony, it would prove to be the problem of everyone until the issue that had threatened their balance was no more. Her steps are tentative, slow and deliberate. Attentive as the familiar figure was, did nothing to indicate she had heard of the arrival.
"A divorce."
Her companion spares her a nod scorned with confirmation.
In preparation she grasp the textbook with a vice hold that alerts the red head and earns her a creased forehead. Their trek across the hall lands them a particular spot that seems to aid them in their quest to render the brunette of an escape route. Andre holds the teen with a loose arm around her shoulders meant for comfort, and Jade has the ability to notice the brunette seems to be albeit anxious. Scanning the circle she lets out a heavy breath as she takes in Beck to the left of the Tori and Robbie standing to the front of her with a wave of awkwardness that forces her to clamp her jaw shut. No one offers a greeting to their arrival, and it's a silence that is so profoundly rare among them even her own feet have shuffled while her fingers tap an insistent beat on the strap of her messenger bag.
"Zip up your pants Shapiro."
It's an attempt to ease the suffocating environment. With the beat of wandering minds, she hears a resounding laughter filling her ears, and a faint moan of embarrassment. She doesn't quench her success until she catches a distant smile twitching the edges of the half-Latina, but she does let the smirk come forth with satisfaction. It's far from bordering their 'normal', but it eases the stiffened postures. Robbie blinks with flushed cheeks, but seems content the air has cleared a bit even at his expense.
"It's fine Robbie, my brother has his down all the time. He says it helps him get the digits..."
Cat pauses for a moment, as if contemplating the oddness of the statement, quoted fingers hovering in the air.
"Though he doesn't get girls numbers as much as he wants to."
She has learned to never subject to the eerie tales and dwell on the uneasy twitch in her stomach. Letting his mouth open to form a response that is not quite insensitive, Beck clamps his lips shut and declines the opportunity to quell his weary wonderment. Andre does let a low whistle escape into existence, before he's nodding his head in vain to cease the awkward mute.
"Yeah...So, Beck was telling me and Tori all about this hockey team with eagles or something. Apparently they're playing the S—Skaters? Stars, yeah, yeah tonight and he scored some tickets. So I'm gonna tag along. Anyone else care to share their plans for this fine evening?"
Her smirk widens upon taking notice to the irritation mounting in the way Beck runs a firm hand through his thick tresses.
"Seriously? I said the Blackhawks lost to the Bruins yesterday, and I got us tickets to the Kings and Stars tonight. Taking offence that you guy's never pay attention when I talk about hockey seems completely absurd now."
Andre offers him nothing more than an indifferent raise of his shoulders.
"Well I found how to make modifications to a Pear Pad, and make it have a better functioning search engine, and—"
"Oh! Sam and I are gonna check out the new teen club that opened near the apartment."
Suspecting the deflating excitement at being sentenced to his plans having been disregarded, weren't too much of a concern as the curly haired teen spares a hopeful glance to the silent brunette, she stretches her arm enough to grasp the thin fabric of a purple blouse. It garners the attention of the distant senior, and leaves a staining crease in her brow as Jade wrenches the brunette until their shoulders are touching.
Circumstances set into the previous year, she would have received a bout of curious stares if she had been caught winding an arm around the slim waist pulling the brunette intently near. Yet the action does nothing but obtain her the releasing approval of her peers.
"While you losers do whatever freaks do. I'm having a day filled with homework. Something you people never seem to do much of, and I'm letting Tori assist me with AP Physics, since she seems to love ranting on and on about the course so much."
The body leaning into her frame seeps into her cloths until there's a slim chance she would ever recover from the token of appreciation. It's rather the way in which there's an opportunity to relieve the rounded corners of a wrinkled forehead, instead of the hiss of excitement replenishing previous hesitancy.
"As in a study date?"
An admiration for the implicated hitch of a dark eyebrow swirls within her, and though an odd sense of pride for the boy to even have the courage to muster the scorching tease doesn't overthrow her scowl. She doesn't respond, and either the pointed stares she's receiving from the group or the expectant expression from the brunette by her side had her stomach aching with a detected flutter. Her mouth parts, and her tounge swipes over her lips, and even with the brunette wrapped in an one armed embrace she cannot find the confidence to deny nor confirm the inquiry. Her peripheral vision catches the clenched jawline, and strained lips attempting to force a smile. The breath that escapes her throat is fuelled with discomfort, and she cast her eyes to the tiled floor.
"Whatever you want to call it," Jade let's the familiar smirk edge onto her lips. "But you and Beck can enjoy your disgusting bromance, while Cat is hanging out with her aggressive roommate, and Robbie's plans are still irrelevant, and leave Tori to me."
It's spoken with a sarcastic tone, that still bares a peak of sincerity—Still it's an invoiced promise that she would indeed attempt to have the brunettes spirit lift even, just a bit. The beaming grins she ends up receiving has her eyes rolling with mild irritation. Tori shifts slightly, before retracting herself from the goth's sife, and Jade blinks. Waiting for the teen to make the obvious fib to escape the group.
"I should head to class. Mrs. Osborne practically hovers over the door and waits for my arrival. I swear that lady is planning my murder, and all thanks to Robbie of course."
The male in accusation opens his mouth to object, but decides not to. It had been a topic for the group for an entire week, after they had found out that the boy not only made Tori late to the creative writing class, but had the misfortune of his biology project run amongst the class room. Story short, the live beetles he had practically guilt tripped the brunette into placing into her bag as a sort of insurance that the container wouldn't break, had escaped the un-closed lid and interrupted the class. Resulting in a months worth of detention for the brunette, and the middle aged teacher waiting for the brunette with a blunt scowl, and obvious disdain that had anything to do with Tori. Still the attempted joke had been spoken without much humour, and Jade frowned.
"I can walk you." She mutters.
"It's fine I can manage on my own."
Eyes flicking to the brunette without hitch. She nearly concedes to the dismissive tone when she spots the defiance in the brown irises. Yet instead she lets the stare down continue for a moment, and nods.
"I don't remember it being a question."
Tori merely stares for a lingering beat, before shifting her attention to the other four watching them with mild discomfort. Sending them a genuine smile, that while lacks any excitement, it brings them a sort of assurance that the situation isn't too bad as originally thought. Though they do grimace when she sends them a farewell and walks away without a single glance towards the goth. Jade lets a heavy breath leave her lips, and starts to trail after the brunette with a leisure back peddle.
"I'll...I'll, handle her. See you losers later."
"Take care of her okay, Jade?"
Beck calls after her, and if it weren't for the mutual care for the brunette, she would have found offence to the request.
"Don't worry Beckett. None of you should. She'll be fine. She's...Vega."
...
"I'm fine."
Is the words she hears once she is within distance of the brunette.
"You're not fine."
Her words are caught inside the between their feet slapping onto the tile. They're mixed into a hall that bares a few stragglers that seem to have an off period, or some students that have decided to forego classes. Scowl in place due to the half-latina is not wavering in pace.
"Then I'm okay." Tori responds.
"Vega," Easing a sharp breath through her teeth, she manages to steal the flippant wrist attached to the moving arm—Unexpecting the veracity in which the brunette would whip around. Her eyelashes flutter against her cheek and then narrow in order to make true of the sight.
With the fresh liquid daring to fall from the brown orbs staring into her own, Jade cannot halt her features twisting into concern. Her hand limply releases the teens wrist and without consciously allowing herself; her feet take a mute step forward.
"Tori—"
"Jade...Just—I'm trying to make sense of this. Not like I actually can," A tiny sigh and a hand pushing the dishevelled strands of hair away. "I'll be fine. Okay?"
Eyebrows furrowing at the unvoiced request. She inclines her head.
"You promised to help me study tonight. Don't screw me over."
Offering a hesitant smile; Receiving one that is far too weary to be thrown into existence by Tori—It's a smile none the less.
...
"I hate her."
The blunt statement halts her hands from continuing it's intention to finish the essay. Her eyes search around the dimly lit room, across the various items that litter the shelves that demand attention, and settle on the figure nestled around numerous text books. If she squinted hard enough to scrutinize the laptop, she would without a doubt find the entire document blank. Even if wanted the intentions to stand to be muted it would have been foiled by the ominous creak of her desk chair.
It's a fantastic thing that it hadn't even been a consideration.
Stepping over the two carelessly thrown bags discarded on the floor, she pads over to the bed tentatively. Lowering herself onto her knees in order to be able be at perspective with the angry girl. At first her attempts to make eye contact with the brunette are futile. It's only when her fingers brush away the stray hairs from the lazy bun, behind tiny ears. Her hands rest on the heated cheeks whose warmth indicates a massive breakdown in the near future. Sighing softly, Jade shakes her head in objection despite the girls eyes casted away.
"No you don't, you're hurt, disappointed, and frustrated. She's your mom." Pausing with hesitation. "You love her."
"She cheated." Tori chokes out a handful. "She. Cheated on him Jade."
It's expected; the hands clutching her shirt, the fluid liquid seeping into the fabric. It's an uncomfortable position so she gently and precisely lifts herself onto the bed. Jade lets the tears continue to flow while the quiet sobs juts into her chest with a firm slice.
The inference to the affair was too delectable to pass on. Jade is in a stage where she has to figure some important things out...So Yeah she'll be out of character. If not a little, then...Yeah well alright.
PS: I'll let you guys try to figure out why I had Tori forgive Jade so easily.
Write Ya Later ;)