Another chapter. And the first part is right after the last, kind of, so yay! And I'm thinking of making this one all Jade, you know, since one of the last few was all Tori.

Enjoy, hopefully. :)


Jade POV-

The heavy oak door slams behind me as I charge up the stairs, my mind whirling like a storm. It's chaotic, I can't seem to control anything at all. Nothing except the one phrase that speeds through my mind; "What the hell did I just do?" My bedroom door flings open, and I brush past it, set on a path in this dead end. I can't hold anything back anymore, which is hard to believe that I was frankly, since I might have broken my truck door.

My steps begin to pace around the room, glares penetrating any corner they could. A sudden surge takes hold of me and I send a hard fist at the wall with a low growl. I feel as my right knuckle grinds against the hard surface, all of my weight pushing while the wall does the same angrily. I let out a small whimper as I kick back, feeling as my hand shakes in my left's grasp, the knuckles an ugly shade of red and purple.

The door swings open slowly before I vaguely see a blurred figure through my tears. "Fuck Newton, honestly," I snarl as I felt warm hands grasp my shoulders, guiding me away from the wall as I wipe my tears with my left sleeve. God, this is the second fucking time I'm crying today. And both times is because of Tori one way or another. Once my vision is cleared, Jared, crosses his legs before me and gestures slowly, "You want something for that?"

I shake my head stubbornly, my brother sighing reluctantly as his hands move once again. "Then what's wrong?"

"I punched my wall and now my hand is this- God damn it! I have a fucking essay to write tomorrow!" I curse, remembering that my right is my dominant. The right that is now trembling with a mind of its own.

"But why did you punch your wall?"

My left arm folds over my right as I wince slightly, my knuckles grazing over a somewhat rough patch of my jeans. "Because..."

"Jade, what happened? You were gone for like twenty minutes."

"I-I..." I can't form the proper words, the livid lashes now whipping across my back angrily.

"Jade," Jared's pale hand caps my knee, the other working slowly, "What is your problem?"

"Tori... It's always been Tori, why can't she just leave me alone? Why'd she just have to walk into Hollywood Arts with no trouble while I was one of the ones put on hold for them to think about letting in?" I snap, taking both of us by surprise. "Why can't she just see that I am with Beck and he can just not have his hands all over her? Why can't I just have no complications with my life?"

"But Jade..." he gestures again as I blink with a low hiss, "That's not why you punched your wall tonight, that's why you torn up dad's curtains a year ago. So why tonight?"

"We fought, I was in the car and I started yelling at her and she just got fed up..." my voice shakes, rattling through my throat before clipping the air pathetically, "Just like Beck she got tired of me and yelled back. Sh-she never does that... I-I don't know why I just want her to leave me but I want her to stay! Why the fuck can't I make up my damn mind?"

Jared sits, listening as his eyes search through my words, picking up the puzzle pieces through the scattered sentences. "Do you not care for her?"

"Why would I? She stole everything from me! Beck, roles, top grades, attention, my God she took everything," I hiss, "But why the fuck do I? Why can't I just send her to hell in one snap? Why does she want to be my friend so much. We can't be! She-she..."

"She cares for you Jade..." he calmly gestures as I run out of repetitive rambles.

"Then why did she say she should give up? Why did she agree with me, we can't be friends... We can't- She called me a coward..."

"Really? Doubt she would call you a coward of all things."

"Not out right," I growl half heartedly, "But... she did."

"What else is there?" bright blue eyes squint at me, an new idea shining through.

"Nothing, just- nothing..."

"She's the reason you can't be with Beck, isn't she?"

"What are you fucking talking about?" I bark, my right hand making a tight fist. I grimace as I growl, "I love Beck! He is the one for me and me alone. Tori isn't even my friend, she will never be my friend and that is that... I love Beck, not Tori."

"Who do you really love Jade? Who can't you stay away from?" his brows are set in a stern line, unmoving until he has his internal questions answered.

"Beck, how many times do I have to say it? Beck!" I pound my fist regrettably down on the carpet, eugh, and feel my lungs burning. "I've been with him longer than I've known her!"

"But who do you want? Give me the damn answer that is boiling under those eyes Jade!" his hands shake impatiently, "Who do you truly want? To risk everything for?"

"MY GOD TORI! I'VE FUCKING WANTED HER FOR AGES GOD DAMN IT!" I bellow, immediately going hoarse. My left hand covers my mouth as my eyes widen, gazing at Jared's startled gaze. His blue eyes sweep by mine, filled to the brim with shock and knowledge at the same time.

"Do you want something for that? Really Jade, it's going to itch and get worse." I nod slightly, watching as Jared scampers off to get -uh- something.

The words sink in slowly, my mind rattling against my skull, thumping with the muscle against my ribs. That's why I can't stop thinking of those eyes, or that smile, or even her smart ass retorts that piss me off. But how well would I melt into her hands? How would we be compatible? Could we even work if we tried? I can't help but feel the small voice nod, flashing the multiple times I've found myself laying on her lap as I curled on her couch.

My brother hands me some ointment to put on, although I say I will do it later, when I'm bothered. He nods and heads down the hall after a quick 'goodnight', leaving me alone with my thoughts. I lay under my covers, my right hand throbbing, and glare off to space. None of the streams interest me for some time before one cracks a wicked smile on my lips. "What if..." I mumble to myself, "What if I have her prove what 'risks' are, since she knows them so well..." I lightly cackle my way to sleep, only to wake up in the morning with my knuckles purple. I don't bother to use the ointment.

-0-

I grasp the strap of my bag tightly with my left as my right hand is tucked away in my black sweatshirt. This isn't my favorite one; the Mickey Mouse on the back really puts a damper on my style but hell, the inside is soft enough to not irritate my knuckles. God do they hurt, not because of the actual injury itself but damn, never hand I known that I fidgeted so much. Seriously, at the strangest of times I would let out a harsh gasp because I was tapping against my steering wheel or drumming along with the beat. Enough said, I didn't apply the ointment, and for the first time I'm kind of regretting it. Not that it would help much with the bruising but maybe with the dry skin around it.

"Hey," a calm voice leisure's behind me. I turn around and give a small sigh.

"Hey," I mutter to my boyfriend. Beck's eyes stare with concern.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I feel my knuckles fidget once again.

"Come on, when have you ever worn that when you're happy? You and your morbid Mickey," he smirks, attempting to cheer me up as he gazes at the insane mouse. "Jade? What-"

"Hey!" Cat skips, giggling. "Guess what I just got? A pink elephant!" I roll my eyes as she answers, pulling out a pink elephant from her bag. My lockers slams shut, my eyes glaring at the wobbling scissors. Her chocolate brown eyes switch between Beck and I before she pouts at him, "What's up? Are you two fighting again?"

"No..." he shakes his head, "Just trying to see what's wrong with her."

"Thanks a lot," I hiss, venom dripping my voice icily as I try to pull away, my sneer baring at the wobbling Ikea scissors. "Better not you fucking-" I begin to warn as Cat lets out a startled 'peep'. "What?"

"Language..."

"Okay, here's something better... Better not you dumbass fucking bitch before I slam your shit back to hell!" I growl, my stare flickering with the slight sway. "That better?"

"No... Something is wrong with her," Cat whines.

"Jade, what is-"

"Nothing," I snarl as the scissors wobble just to test me. "Now just leave me alone!"

"Jade, really. Come on-" Beck starts, reaching for my arm.

I felt my right twitch as the yellow scissors tested even further before I snarl, "I said nothing!" My right arm lashes out, gripping the handles as the metal sunk further, meeting the metal of the locker through the padding since I was told to 'not poke holes through the locker.' My right hand unlatches itself from the iron grip, trembling as I brought it back to my other hand's light grip as I let out a low hiss. "Fucking scissors," I breath below my breath.

"How did you- What happened?" Beck asks, concern dripping from his voice.

My eyes search his, and I can feel the lost expression clouding them. "You-you don't need to know..."

"Well, yeah I do Jade. I care about you, come on!" he prods hesitantly.

"No you don't," I hiss this time 'round.

"Jade..."

"Why do you? It's my hand I can do whatever the fuck I want with it!"

"Jade... Did you do this to yourself?"

"Why would it matter if I did or didn't?"

"You know what?" the Canadian sighs, "Don't tell me why you did this then-"

"Good."

"But," his eyes gleam warningly, "Why aren't you telling me?"

"You don't need to know Beck," my teeth grit, guilt plaguing my words.

"Does it hurt?" he mumbles, his hand reaching closer as I pull mine away.

"Yes it does so don't touch me!" I growl, wincing as the hand snakes back into the sweatshirt harshly.

"I'm only trying to look out for you!" his hands fly up to the air. I feel a knot in my throat, knowing it's true. But still, how can I say that I punched the wall improperly, I'm assuming anyway, and it was all because I was eye-fucking Tori?

"I don't care; you don't need to know everything about me!"

"I get that-"

"Then leave it!" I cut him off.

"But I still need to know what's wrong so I can help you!" I watch closely as he grows steadily impatient, his eyes flaring boldly. There was a time when it rarely happened, though now it was common.

"I don't want you to help me!" I step back.

"Why not Jade? I'm your boyfriend, I care about you!"

"You're not the only one in my life Beck!"

"Then what's wrong? Why can't I be important enough for you to tell me things?"

"Because you- Are you trying to break up with me?" I snarl, the habit flashing through my eyes.

"Did I say that?" he frowns, though I can practically see the agreement in his eyes. "Why would we? We're talking about your knuckles!"

"Because you keep looking at others Beck!" I sneer, ignoring Cat's whimpering beside me.

"That isn't my fault! How can I stop from the other girls from-"

"I'm not talking abut that!" I snarl viscously, recalling the several grins and hair ruffles given generously to Vega. My blood boils, my grip on the inside of the jacket tightening to what seems to be no end.

"Then what are you talking about?" Beck asks, bemused while his eyes stare suspiciously.

My nose flares as I flash my canines, eyes glaring at my boyfriend once he takes an uncomfortable step back. It doesn't matter how far in the relationship we are, beyond two years I'd imagine. Funny isn't it how I could have said the exact number of days easily months ago but now they're just estimates, coffee brown eyes hazing the date and number. "Jade... At least yours isn't as bad as Tori's..."

"I'll tell you who-" I begin before the small voice sunk in, her name ringing clearly in my ears. "What was that Cat?" I almost spat as I whip around, ignoring the brushing glance across my shoulders.

"Tori's knuckles, they aren't as bad as yours," the redhead eyed the bulging pocket where my fist twitches uncomfortably. "Can I?" her hand reaches out, rust brown eyes staring gingerly. After I shift away, Cat only pouts before Beck steps to her side.

"Knuckles? Like, both of them?" he asks, concern drowning his voice far more than his for me. She nods slowly. "Come on Jade," he glances back, "We're going to see Tori."

"No," I rasp, my eyes staring boldly at his back.

"Suit yourself Jade," he mutters before Cat pulls a quick smile and trots behind him, giggling about seeing her friend twice in the morning. My eyebrows knit together as I adjust the strap on my bag before striding slowly towards history. As I cross the hall, needing to pass the three, I give a quick gaze and see only Tori's fists shoved in her light jacket which she's been wearing as the weather grows cooler. My head ducks through the crowd not before she allows her eyes to flicker, meeting mine subtly as Beck questions her about her apparent injury.

Just as I reach around the corner, I hear, "...fine, just fell down the stairs and landed on both of them on a rough part of the wood..." from the explanation she gave him and undoubtedly Cat for the second time as the red hair bobs up and down excitedly.

Within the few minutes of striding through the halls, not as difficult as one would imagine since several saw me coming and made sure to avoid treading on my toes. The cold air of the classroom immediately sends shivers down my spine, my left tugging the fabric closer as I sit in my seat. Not even five minutes later and Vega is sitting in her assigned seat, which just so happens to be next to mine.

Carefully, once the scratching lead against paper fills the entire room just like the short essay prompt about Paul Revere or some shit like that, I glance over at Tori. My eyes can't tear away. Sure she is still writing, her eyebrows in a fine line as she concentrates on the essay, obviously glad wishing she hadn't forgotten her notes. It was hard for me to comprehend how Vega could write; her knuckles were a deep scarlet, purple outlining the gashes in the tight hold on the pencil. Every so often she would pause, the left equally injured hand skimming over the paper, and it would tremble ever so slightly.

After a few minutes, Tori halts in the middle of her sentence, her coffee brown eyes sliding up towards mine. I gesture towards her hands without much thought, my conscious not fast enough. To my surprise, she gives a small, pitiful grin before her left holds her index finger up, pressing them against her lips.

My eyes flicker back down to my paper, her hard, heated gaze still prickling the back of my neck.

It only took a few seconds before the wicked grin curls the corners of my mouth once again, a devious thought sweeping the small voice up off it's feet once again.

"Prove to me Tori what risks are..."


And there's another chapter. May be a bit shorter, by a hundred words or so, than what I'd originally planned but I did say the latest would be Wednesday. Anyway, hope you enjoyed.

:)