Chapter 8

Jade stood cemented to the ground. What is Trina talking about? A lesbian? Me? Why would she be in love with me? She is very pretty. Why didn't she just tell me? Does she want to date me? Could I date a girl? Do I love Tori? Why have I been pushing her away? Why? I …. I ….want Tori…. I want to help Tori.

Tori drove home and locked herself in her room. She didn't want to see anyone including her family. So when Trina was outside her door pounding and calling her name she just put on her headphones and turned up Duffy. She needed to wallow in the sadness of her voice and lyrics. It was when the song changed that she heard the second voice at her door. A voice that she didn't want to face again. It was Jade.

She got up and locked the door so that they could not coming in uninvited. Jade heard the click and that made her angrier. She was not going to take this from anyone including Vega. She reached in her backpack and pulled out a small vinyl folder. Then from the folder she pulled out two small metal tools.

Tori felt pretty good about herself locking them out that was until Jade popped the door open and was putting away her lock picking kit.

"You have no right to break into my room! My dad is a cop. I could have you arrested for break and enter or shot or something!" Tori was in shock to be facing the girl she had a major thing for while in her bedroom.

"I only entered. I didn't break anything. I used a pick." Jade stood there with her trade mark smirk.

"I don't care! I don't want you here." Tori shouted as Jade came to her on the bed.

The tears flowed down Tori's face again. She was trying to stop, but she could not. Jade did something without thinking about what she was doing. She reached out and pulled Tori to her in a hug. A hug that drew Tori into her. Not just pulled her body to her but her soul as well.

Jade had no idea how long they stayed in each other's arms laying on Tori's bed. It had to be a couple of hours. Jade could hear Tori's breathing smooth out and decided that she must have fallen asleep. Jade quietly and carefully removed herself from the bed.

Jade made her way to the door and then turned back to looked at Tori. Could she love this beautiful girl? She closed the door behind her and made her way down the stairs. When she reached the bottom of the stairs she encountered Trina watching television.

Trina turned off the TV and turned to Jade. "How is Tori?"

"She is sleeping. What happened to her? Why is she like this?" Jade sat down and was looking at Trina with eyes that showed her concern for Tori rather than the regular distain she normally gave Tori.

"I have no idea. I was hoping that you knew. I assumed that you did something to break her heart. I am sorry for jumping to a conclusion, but you kind of have a reputation. I know it doesn't always look like it, but she is my sister and I love her and would protect her like any other older sister would." Trina looked away so she didn't have to meet Jade's eyes.

"I know Trina. I would fight for her too. I don't know why I said that. I have never thought of myself as gay. I am not gay! I dated Beck for two years. But when I look in Tori's eyes I lose all my control. I do feel something for her, but at this point I don't know what I feel. I just want her to not be sad." Jade spilled her guts to the most unlikely person that she knew.

Trina sat there for a moment just staring at Jade without saying anything. Then she nodded and quietly said, "I believe you Jade. Now why can't the two of you tell each other that? We will figure out what is bothering her and help her."

Jade nodded slowly understanding that even though they had never gotten along in the past, they both agreed on this. With that Jade's phone buzzed with a text message.

"Where R U?"

It was from Beck. She totally forgot that she told him that she would come over and work on class project with him. She didn't want to leave Tori, but knowing that Trina was there made her feel better about leaving.

She explained to Trina that she had to go, but gave Trina her phone number so if she needed to get in contact with her. "I want to check on her one more time before I leave." Jade said while getting up from the couch.

She quietly climbed the stairs and slipped into Tori's room. She made her way to the side of the bed and bent down to gently kiss her forehead while she slept. Who has made you so sad? I want to hurt them so bad! They will pay. I promise you that baby.

With that Jade untied the leather bracelet from her wrist. It was one she made it had three beads; one grey, one dark green and the last a very dark blue. She chose them because they reminded her of the ocean in a storm. She took the piece of jewelry and put it in Tori's hand and closed her fingers around it. Jade hoped it would give Tori some strength knowing that Jade was there for her.

Then reluctantly she got up and left the Vega house to go find Beck.

The next morning Jade got to school early hoping to talk to Tori. She had sent her a number of texts during the evening, but Tori never texted her back. She had a very sleepless night so this was a coffee intensive morning.

She waited by her locker for as long as she could without being late for Sikowitz's class. Tori was always on time. That was when Jade saw Cat come out of the girl's washroom.

"Cat! Have you seen Tori?" Jade asked trying not show too much concern.

"No No I have not Jade. Look the lights on the door of her locker are not even turned on. What does that mean Jade? Why would she not shine?" Cat said with a look of worry on her face.

Jade didn't want to worry Cat. Cat was a special kind of person. She was innocent and childlike. She didn't handle the darker parts of life well. So Jade always tries to protect and shield her from things. "Maybe she is just sick today and not here. Then she wouldn't be here to turn on the lights on her locker." Jade tried to sound convincing but even she didn't buy it as she looked over to the locker door with the lights that spelled out Make It Shine the title of the song Tori and Andre performed that gave Tori entrance to Hollywood Arts School.

Jade grabbed her books and headed to class with Cat in tow. When she arrived at the classroom. The others in her group were there and taking their seats. That was when she laid eyes on Tori. For a moment she stopped stunned staring at the girl's beauty. Why was she feeling this way about Tori? What kind of hold did this girl have on her?

Tori was slouched against in a seat near the far wall. She glanced towards Jade and then looked away like she had been burned by the icy girl's eyes. Jade took a step towards her and Tori covered the back of her neck with her hand and pulled closer to the wall. There was no way Tori wanted to deal with Jade today. She didn't want her grief and the last thing she wanted was Jade's pity.

Before she could make her way over to Tori their teacher climbed in the window and stood at the front of the room with a coconut in his hand. "Jade please have a seat so we might get started." Sikowitz was now drinking from the straw in the coconut. "Oh Toro why are you sitting in the suburbs?"

Tori slouched a little further down in her seat trying to make herself disappear. This was not like the Tori that everyone was used too. She was usually bubbly and talkative but today she was closed down and was pushing the world away from her. Her pain was overwhelming. She was in a very dark place and found herself falling more and more into the abyss.

Sikowitz was setting up a scene and called on Beck, Cat and Tori. The look Tori gave him glued him to the ground. He was used to the death stares that Jade often gave him, but Tori never turned him down when he asked her to the stage. Sikowitz actually backed up on the little stage as if he was shoved. He turned away and called on another girl named Melissa.

Tori spent the rest of the class huddled against the wall barely glancing up every now and at the stage to see what was going on. Even in her deepest despair she was still an honor student and couldn't help but try to follow the class. Try as she might though not much was going in.

When the bell rang to end the class Tori actually jumped in her seat. For others it was just a signal that the first class was over, but to Tori it was like the tolling of a death knell. Her next class was math with Mr. Wyatt. The HA teacher of the year.

AN: Thanks for the reviews. It is always nice to know that people are reading what you have written. I will try to post another chapter soon. I worked though some of the plot points today so I know where I am going now. I am so glad that people are liking this. I was worried that there were no more people to follow Jori seen as I kind of came late to the site. Thanks again.