Author's Note: Hello everyone, I hope you've had a good week. New episode of Victorious this Saturday and of course it will be major Bade. I'll be watching of course even if I'm obviously not a huge Bade fan.

Fanfic-Reader-88: Thanks for reviewing and summing up the points I was hitting in the story. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Twilight Warrior 627: I'm glad you're intrigued and still reading. Mason? Let the story tell itself.

Jeremy Shane: Here you go, thanks for reviewing.

PD31: Yeah, she's gone oh paranoid and hopefully more will become clear as present Jade finds out more. Whether I will go in deeper for Sam/Cat, is hard to say. I don't want to give Dan any ideas on how to justify his new show :P

We'll get to Freddie at some point.

No real warnings for this chapter, but of course for future ones. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 7

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Jade blew out a breath with her head slightly tilted to her right side as she rested her right hand on top of the steering wheel and her left elbow braced against the top of the door while waiting for the light to change.

She really didn't have any other stop for the day other than checking on her mother. André was on tour and so was Robbie, so she couldn't speak to them and she didn't know where Freddie lived. She thought about somehow contacting Carly, but her irritation with Sam blinded her into not simply asking if she had a way to contact Freddie's ex.

Her mind drifted back to her mother and as wrong as it might have sounded, she hoped that her mother was still in her alcohol induced sleep and wouldn't have to worry about explaining the situation to her since she assumed the woman might completely freak out about the news of a time traveling daughter. She would have actually completely skipped thinking about going back if it wasn't for the fact that she worried that her mother would wake up and realize that her phone and computer along with of course the Charger were gone then have enough cohesion to report that her car was stolen. She figured that they could probably just track her either through the computer or phone.

She mulled over that possible headache, but another part of her mind quickly thought of a way to put that off for a few more hours by going back to see Tori and Beck to find out their side of the story and make sure she hadn't missed anything with just Cat's recollection of what happened.

However before she could internally debate the matter, she glanced over and noticed that passed the intersection and on her left was the theater that she put on 'Well Wishes' about a year ago. Her brow furled in surprise as she read the sign: 'An Angel on My Shoulder' Written and Directed by Ava Cohen.

Once the light changed, she passed through the intersection and found a parking spot on the opposite side of the street to the theater. She continued to wear a curious expression as she parked the car and turned off the ignition. She exited the vehicle and locked the door before shutting it behind her then looked both ways before quickly crossing the street to theater.

Jade hesitantly approached the entrance and took a moment to find that the door was slightly wedge open at the bottom to prevent it from closing all the way. She opened the glass door and slipped inside, but saw no one around, but could hear voices further into the building. She cautiously made her way through the lobby and towards the theater. She made her way down the dark hallway and to the left side of the theater.

She slipped through the left entrance and immediately noticed a group of high schoolers being directed by a short, dark brunette young woman in her late teens to early twenties. It took her a moment for the girl to turn enough for Jade to catch at least her profile and realize that she was Ava, the quiet student that was in several of Sikowitz's class with her over the years and was never called on because she was one of the background students that the eccentric teacher never really paid attention and Sinjin's girlfriend. Her hair was darker than when it was in high school and seemed to be in good cheer as she directed the teenagers in their various positions.

Jade quietly walked up the side of the auditorium and walked up to have a seat in the back row (which she failed to remember was the same seat the Josh Peck had sat when he saw her opening performance). She watched as Ava patiently directed the mid-to-late teenagers into their positions in what looked like a very early rehearsal.

The group practiced their scenes with the other teenagers having seats in the first two rows watching and some taking notes for about fifteen to twenty minutes until Ava finally noticed Jade sitting in the top row.

The shorter girl laughed out as she pointed out, "I think you'd learn something sitting with the rest of the class."

Jade's mouth dropped open and hesitated for a moment to come up with an answer to the older girl. She finally muttered out, "Oh, I'm not part of the class; I was just watching."

Ava slightly frowned then walked up the steps to get a closer look at the girl then sucked in a sharp breath at getting a good look at Jade. "Wow…"

Jade glanced down at herself as for a few minutes she forgot the kind of reaction she should have expected.

The shorter young woman laughed out apologetically, "I'm sorry, you look just like an old friend of mine."

The younger girl cracked a smile and answered with an upbeat tone, "Oh, I'm Jade's cousin… Jessica."

She raised her eyebrows and a corner of her mouth as she asked, "Oh?"

Jade slightly tilted her head to the side and answered, "Yeah, that's why we look so much alike."

Ava slightly bowed her head then softly laughed out, "Okay, but you really look like her when we went to Hollywood Arts together."

Jade smirked and shrugged her left shoulder. "I guess she kind of inspired me."

She put on a soft smile and gave her an accepting nod. "Well you got the look down… about the rest…" Ava trailed off as she glanced away from the teenager. She looked over her shoulder to the class and instructed them, "Okay, keep up the rehearsals; I need a few minutes."

The students accepted her instruction and turned back to mill about to practice their parts.

Ava turned back to Jade then scooted passed her and had a seat on Jade's right side. She smiled to the teenager and asked, "So what are you doing here?"

The dark brunette teenager cracked an even smile as she casually answered, "I was driving by and saw the sign. I recognized the name… from her yearbook, so I thought I'd stop by. I was surprised that anyone was here."

The fellow dark brunette softly shook her head and commented with a sympathetic tone, "Well, they need a lot of practice."

The pale girl motioned to the stage. "So you got your own play?"

The shorter young woman proudly smiled as she answered, "Yeah, kind of. It's something I'm doing with Hollywood Arts High School. It's the school me and your cousin went to. I'm having the kids that are usually overlooked for parts get a chance to act. I was always looked over for parts, but your cousin gave me a chance to really shine and let people see that I could act. I want to give that same chance to all the kids that are overlooked."

Jade softly laughed, "Yeah, but there's a reason why they're overlooked: most of them can't act, you while could steal a show."

Ava let out a soft laugh as she answered, "Some of them can't act that's true, but some just need the practice and the chance to shine. I mean back in high school even Jade was overlooked for Tori—she's a successful actress now, and no one doubted Jade's acting ability, but she had to take a backseat to Tori."

Jade slightly frowned from the girl pointing out the obvious favoritism she had to endure from the teachers for Tori.

"…so I think they need a chance without always being pushed aside."

Jade gave a soft smile as she pushed down her annoyance at how the faculty treated her in comparison to Tori.

"So Jessica, are you interested in acting? I'm guessing it wasn't just that you happen to recognize a name and you said that your cousin inspired you which make me think…"

"Oh? Ah… a little, but I enjoy writing too."

"So you really are taking after your cousin?"

She shrugged her left leather jacket covered shoulder. "I guess I do."

Ava asked with mild curiosity, "Have you seen her? I heard that she's back in town after her tour."

"Yeah she is… actually I'm visiting her for the next few days since she got back."

Ava smirked as she commented, "That's nice. I haven't seen Jade in a while—other than on TV and online I mean." Her voice dropped to a sad tone, "We haven't talked in a while."

Jade smiled as an idea came to her mind. "Would you like to see her?"

She was surprised that Ava smiled so brightly as she answered, "Yes I would. I'd like to see how she's really doing and not what the rags are saying about her."

"Okay. You know that she's going to have a performance on Tuesday? It's actually the last show of her tour. Would you like to come?"

Ava slightly dropped her mouth open and took a moment to process what the teenager had asked. She finally found her voice and answered with a slight nod and laugh, "Yeah, it's at the Boomerang Theater?"

Jade nodded in acknowledgement.

Ava continued with a soft laugh. "I remember that night she performed the first night. She was fantastic… she looked ridiculous with that pink hair and funny metal thing on her head and like a Lady Gaga rip-off, but blew everyone away."

An awkward smile formed on the girl's face at the comment as she had no idea what the older girl meant by being a Lady Gaga rip-off since she had not seen the performance.

Ava smiled brighter as she continued, "Hey, I just thought of something; I'll be done with them in about twenty minutes and you're welcome to stay and watch, so do you want to go out for a late lunch? If you don't mind, I'd like to know how Jade's been doing." Her happy expression fell more into an awkward one as she continued, "We didn't exactly leave off on the best of terms."

"Okay…" Jade smirked as she teased, "…but you'll have to fill me in on some things she won't tell me about her time in Hollywood Arts and you pay for my coffee since I've already ate."

Ava let out a soft giggle. "Deal… and you sound just like your cousin. She had to have her coffee." She glanced back to the stage and see that some of the teenagers were getting restless and listless. "If you'll excuse me, I need to whip some of them back on task."

Jade noticed that some of the teenager guys were larger than the young woman then commented, "You think some of those guys are going to listen to you? You're not exactly the most intimidating thing."

Ava smirked as she answered, "Maybe not, but they know they'll have to deal with my boyfriend if they try anything stupid."

Jade's brow instantly knotted and was about to ask about Sinjin in how he could be intimidating to anyone, but the older girl was already out of her seat and walking passed her to head down to the stage.

The out of time West sat patiently and watched as Ava was able to 'whip' them back on task with their rehearsals. She was quite impressed with Ava's skills of managing some of the students' egos and others being kind of shy and nervous about performing as the teenagers rehearsed. She thought that her schoolmate's future self could teach the teachers at HA a few things and wondered if she had gone to college and majored in theater.

Ava finally wrapped up the day's rehearsals and the teenagers quickly made their way out and planning to meet after school at Hollywood Arts for the next rehearsal. Jade walked down to the steps to the floor to meet up with Ava as the last student exited the house and into the lobby. The shorter girl led Jade out into the lobby then out to the sidewalk.

Jade was on Ava's right side as she turned to the shorter girl and curiously asked, "Do you want me to follow you or are you driving?"

The nearly equally dark brunette softly laughed, "Oh, I didn't drive. I'm waiting for my bo—"

Ava suddenly stopped and grinned as she looked over Jade's right shoulder. She walked past the teenager as a black 1967 Chevrolet Impala pulled up to the curb. Jade wore a curious expression as the vehicle stopped then the driver's side door opened and saw the familiar face of one Southern teenager in his hooded leather jacket, navy Henley and medium shade blue jeans who was now in his early twenties step out onto the sidewalk.

Ava wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and pulled him slightly down to give him a quick kiss. He wrapped his arms around to the small of her back and slightly lifted the girl off of her feet as he returned the kiss then set her back on her feet. Ava slightly pulled back and remained in his left arm with his right hand resting on her left hip as she turned to look to Jade with a smile. She motioned her head to him and patted his chest with her left hand as she commented, "This is my boyfriend Dustin."

Jade blinked and shifted her focus between them several times. She cleared her voice after several seconds of processing that Ava and Dusty were a couple and commented, "Hi."

Dusty looked back at her with a mixture of surprise and confusion. He asked in tone that Jade immediately noticed that his Southern accent was far less noticeable than her time Dusty, "Jade?"

Ava laughed and answered, "I thought the same thing, but it's not her. She's Jade's cousin, Jessica."

He answered with a shy and awkward tone as he kept his focus on the dark brunette, "Ah… sweetie, she's Jade."

Jade suddenly felt a sense of overwhelming worry at Dusty not believing the cover story despite the fact on how willing she was willing to tell the rest.

Dusty pulled away from her to take another step closer to Jade. He blinked as he looked the pale brunette up and down. "You're you, but not now you."

Ava's brow furled as she looked to her boyfriend with a confused expression.

Jade slightly dropped her mouth slightly open as she met his eyes. After several attempts to vocalize some kind of excuse, she finally admitted with a tired voice as she met his piercing stare, "I'm Jade."

The Southern young man slightly narrowed his eyes on her as he asked, "When are you from?"

She didn't even think for the moment on how he could know such a thing by looking at her and just answered, "Two thousand twelve."

Dusty slightly frowned as he questioned with a concerned voice, "How did you get here?"

"I don't know, but I have an idea. Do you remember five years ago when I told Carly about an angel that helped Fre—"

Ava's brow knotted then looked to Dusty to asked with evident confusion filling her voice as she interrupted, "Wait a second and let me catch up. She's really Jade?"

Dusty cleared his throat then over his right shoulder to meet Ava's eyes and patiently answered, "Yes sweetie she's Jade, past Jade."

Ava took a step forward to stand beside Dusty so she could look to Jade then back to her boyfriend. "She's Jade… from the past?"

The taller young adult nodded his head and reiterated, "Yes, she's Jade from the past."

Ava blinked a few times as her boyfriend gave her a comforting smile. She snorted out a sharp breath through her nose then back to Jade. "Okay… you're Jade. Why didn't you tell me?"

Jade blew out a breath through her nose and tilted her head slightly to her right then muttered out, "How can I tell you that? I somehow traveled through time to get here. I'm still trying to wrap my head around everyone else believing me."

Ava looked to her with an almost lost expression as she asked, "Everyone else?"

"I've seen Tori and Beck and I just came from seeing Cat and Sam." She looked to the Southern young man and continued with a slightly annoyed tone, "Why would you let Cat live with Sam anyway?"

Dusty immediately frowned and was about to answer when Ava raised a hand and interrupted by speaking to Jade, "No, don't get him started or he won't stop. Cat made her choice and there isn't a thing we can do to change her mind. Her brother wanted her to live with him, but she didn't want to burden him or Dustin and she says she's happy with Sam when I offered her to be my roommate."

Dusty slightly frowned and looked away as Jade turned her attention to the former Carolinian. The teenager shook her head then asked, "How did you know I wasn't… today's Jade or I wasn't just some impersonator?"

Ava glanced to her boyfriend and directing an unspoken question towards him with her eyes and shifting brow. He raised his hand in defense as he quickly answered, "Whoa, don't look at me, I didn't do it. I told you, time travel is more trouble than it's worth."

Jade shook her head in confusion then looked to Ava and asked with an obvious disbelief and rapidly patient losing voice, "Wait, why would you think he did it? How could he do it?"

The male of the three slightly parted his mouth to hesitantly respond then paused to purse his lips. He finally asked, "When in twenty twelve are you from?"

Jade slightly frowned at the Southern teenager was apparently dodging her question, but ignored it for the moment to answer, "January, actually five years to the day. After the earthquake when we were at Mister Gibbon's house, I left and checked on my stepbrother then I went home and I fell asleep watching a movie with Freddie. I woke up a few hours ago in my bed here."

Ava blew out a soft breath and looked to her boyfriend with sympathetic expression. "So she wouldn't know yet."

Dusty shook his head. "Nope… she wouldn't."

"Know what?" Jade interrupted the couple with a sharp tone.

The couple looked back to the pale teenager with mutual caught expressions.

Jade crossed her arms in front of her and frowned deeper. "Dusty, know what?"

"Okay, but I'm not telling you on an open street."

Jade threw her head back and blew out an irritated breath. "Fine…" She dropped her head to meet Dusty's eyes and continued, "Ava was taking me to lunch, so you can explain it to me then, right?"

Dusty gave an acknowledging nod as he answered, "Sounds good… if you believe me." He motioned to the Impala and offered, "Ladies, your chariot awaits."

Jade smirked as she answered with a teasing voice, "I have my own ride." She pointed across the street.

Dusty and Ava followed her finger to the black Charger parked on the other side of the street. The young man let out a soft chuckle, "I haven't seen that in a long time."

Jade raised her right eyebrow and dryly commented, "Figures, I found it under a tarp in the garage and it gave me some trouble in starting, but it's running fine."

"That's one good thing I suppose: she's still in one piece and not sold off."

"Yeah." Jade curiously asked while looking at the Impala, "Speaking of cars, what happened to your Mustang?"

Dusty wrapped his left arm around Ava's shoulders as he answered with a soft smile, "Oh? My dad gave me the Impala as a graduation present and I let him have the Mustang. It was a nice little trade."

Ava softly patted Dusty on his abdomen and commented, "How about lunch now? I'm starving."

Author's Note: Okay, it looks like the ones never really cared that could succeed and did anyone see that pair coming? I hope you enjoyed and review at your convenience. I hit only about 38,000 words so far for this Nano, but with all the other writing, that went past 60,000 words, I feel accomplished.