It wasn't long until Tori and Jade found themselves spending increasing amounts of time in the company of one another, just for the sake of being together. Not to say that they had exhausted their appetites for the occasional sordid encounter in the janitor's closet, but now things were somehow different…they were good...they were better. True, their relationship was becoming less and less of a dirty little secret, but even Jade thought she could learn to live with that. It was starting to become more about the little things, like the way Tori would completely relax, and even sometimes fall asleep if Jade played with her hair, or how Jade would smile nervously before taking Tori's hand, needing to receive a squeeze of reassurance.

"I always knew you liked Tori," Cat whispered to Jade at lunch one day, after tugging on her sleeve and motioning for her to lean in, she candidly admitted, "I just wanted you to be the one to tell her." She put her hands over her mouth and giggled. Jade couldn't help smiling too. It was one thing for her to be happy, but another more wonderful thing for someone else to be happy for her.

Andre sat down with them shortly after, with Tori trailing behind. She grinned and seated herself next to Jade, and the two exchanged meaningful glances.

"Mhmm, I see that," Andre smiled and shook his head, somewhat impressed.

"See what?" Robbie asked, toting his ventriloquist puppet Rex. He sat down to join them, seeming positively oblivious.

"Hey, let me clue you in," Rex piped up, and Robbie leaned down to let the puppet talk into his ear.

"Tori…" he said as he listened, "and Jade…are" he looked at the pair of them impishly, "…oh they are?"

Jade narrowed her eyes. "I think a puppet wants to die today."

"Whoa," Robbie said defensively, "chill out, he didn't say anything bad. In fact we both think it's great that you two are finally getting along."

"You could call it that." Rex guffawed.

Tori glared at the puppet. "We could call you dismembered." She pulled a pair of scissors from the side pocket of her bag.

Jade positively beamed at her, looking proud, and more than ready to kiss her on the mouth in full view of everyone, while Robbie looked confused and more than a little affronted.

"I'm cool, I'm cool." Rex moaned, keeping his head down.

Andre flagged down Beck to sit with them, and the conversation then turned to other things.

The night was clear and warm. Tori stood at the edge of the sidewalk alone, listening to the music that was pumping from the Asphalt Café. She wrung her hands nervously in front of her sky blue dress.

"Hey," Jade strolled up from behind her, "I told you, you really didn't need to wait for me. We're already late – as usual." she smiled and reached out to touch the streak of emerald green that she herself had put into Tori's brunette locks.

"Well I didn't want to walk into prom alone." Tori said earnestly. Jade bit the corner of her own painted lower lip and nodded in agreement.

They stood side by side, taking in the calm before the mad chaotic storm that was sure to be the Hollywood Arts senior prom. Trying to be encouraging, Tori nudged Jade with her elbow.

"Well, we have to go see if they've got Sikowitz dancing yet, don't we?" she cracked.

Jade laughed, her eyes dancing, "Yeah. Let's get in there. Together."

The skirt of Jade's green dress swished lightly and her blue streaked curls bounced as they walked the short distance up to the main area of the festivities. As they were about to cross over the threshold into the party, they paused for a moment.

"Oh Jesus…" Jade muttered, as her stomach seemed to do acrobatic flips inside of her.

It felt like they were coming out all over again, under the gaze of every single one of their classmates.

Instantly Tori grabbed her hand and squeezed in a silent gesture, holding their hands up between them and looking Jade in the eye. By the miracle of knowing someone so well that they don't have to speak to be heard, Jade knew that in that single act, Tori was telling her that this was nothing to worry about. Tonight they were on top of the world, and anything else was irrelevant.

(The End.)