A/N: Here's the next chapter. Sorry it's a little late. I've been having an issue with one of the members on here being a major arsehole and interrupted me whenever I tried. He's been blocked now so I should be able to focus.
Anyway, this chapter is from Jade's POV to explain who Anela is and how the date came to be. Also, a very important Jori conversation about what's playing a major factor in the future of their relationship. R&R!
Onward and enjoy!
Jade POV
I just made it home from my date with Anela and I'm staring at my phone trying to decide whether or not I'm actually going to call Tori. I know I said I would, but what is there really left to say?
Sighing, I put my phone down and thought back to this morning when I thought I could go an entire day without thinking about her.
This morning...
I woke up to my phone ringing. I turned over to look at the alarm and saw that it was just after 9.
Unplugging my phone, I picked up, "Hello?"
"Hi, Jade." the voice said back.
Pulling my phone away from my ear, I looked at the screen and saw that it was Anela. I'd known her for a few weeks, but never really gotten around to talking to her because I wanted to see where my feelings for Tori would take me. Guess I don't have to worry about that anymore.
"Hey, Anela. How've you been?" I ask as I sit up in bed.
"I've been pretty good, Jay. You never called so I figured I'd see if maybe I could convince you to go out with me later on today." she counters in her usual perky voice.
"As a matter of fact, I'm free today. What did you have in mind?"
"Awesome. I was thinking maybe we could go see a movie and maybe have lunch."
"Sounds cool. Anything in particular you wanted to see?"
"Yeah. That new movie about the little boy from the garden that changes the lives of the people he interacts with. Do you know what I'm talking about?"
"Yeah, I do. The Odd Life of Timothy Green."
"That's the one. So how about it?"
"Sure. It seems like a good movie. Why don't you check the showtimes and give me a call back. We can meet up earlier and either hang out and grab a bite before it starts or walk around until it starts and grab a bite after."
"Okay. Perfect. I'll check and give you a call back soon."
"Can't wait. See you soon, Anela."
"Alright. Bye, Jade."
Hanging up, I genuinely smiled for the first time in weeks and it had nothing to do with Vega. Maybe I could do this. Setting my phone back down, I got out of bed and started my normal routine of getting ready.
When I was done, I went downstairs to find my mom sitting in the breakfast nook on the phone using her headset. I smiled as I passed her on my way to get my first cup of the day. I didn't really feel like cooking and mom was clearly busy, so I figured I'd go to Mel's Diner for breakfast.
Writing a note, I put it in front of my mom, who in turn nodded in acknowledgement and handed me some money. I grabbed my phone and keys and headed out.
Halfway through my breakfast, I got a call from Tori, but I really didn't want to talk to her so I sent it to voicemail. Trying to be friends first is exactly what Sydney said. Turns out she wasn't really interested in dating me, but someone who she really shouldn't. The betrayal of that is something I have to live with everyday because it still hurts.
Shaking my head, I looked at the caller I.D. on my phone because it rang again. It was Anela. After deciding for on a plan for the day, I paid and left. As I was driving, I couldn't help but compare Anela to Tori. I knew it was horrible to do because they were so different, but I couldn't get over the similarities. They both had perky and upbeat personalities. They were both brunettes and drop dead gorgeous. The major differences between them were one: Anela actually wanted to date me now and two: I'd never been a gank to her like I was with Tori.
I pulled into the parking lot of the bookstore where I was meeting up with Anela so that we could hang out before grabbing an early lunch in a couple of hours. Walking in, I spotted her immediately. It's been awhile since I saw her, so it was like breathing fresh air when she hugged me.
"Hey!" Anela said cheerfully. "I'm really glad you agreed to go out with me today. I thought you weren't interested or something."
"Hi. I am too. It wasn't that I was uninterested. There was just something I needed to sort out before I could even think about the possibility of anything with us." I replied as we walked towards the coffee cart.
"Oh. I take your agreeing today to mean that you sorted it out."
"Yes, I did."
"Well, I'm glad. I don't know what it is, but I'm glad to have the chance to go out with you."
"Yeah. You seem like an awesome girl, so we'll see how today works out for us."
"I'm cool with that. You know, I've never actually been to this bookstore before."
"Really? I come here all the time. It's a cool place to just hang out and the coffee rocks."
She laughed and stepped up to place her order. After getting our coffee, we went and talked in one of the little corners. Anela was a great person to just spend time with. She listened and was interesting to talk to. I've been on dates with girls who bored me to the point where I'd have preferred to be watching paint dry. I was glad she wasn't one of them.
As the afternoon drew closer, we got into a debate over the Hunger Games versus Artemis Fowl. I kept trying to explain to her that they weren't even really the same type of book, but she was stuck on the fact that they were both fantasy books and hadn't bothered to read the Hunger Games.
It was when I got up to find the book and force her to correct her grievous over categorization of literature that I ran into Tori. It was the first time I'd thought about her since I got to the bookstore and honest, my entire mood dropped after seeing her.
After some mistake about notes and an awkward introduction of Anela to Tori, I wanted to get as far away from the girl as possible. Even after leaving, my good mood didn't genuinely return and Anela picked up on that.
We were sitting in front of her house after we watched the movie and not much conversation had been made. I'd be the first to admit that it was my fault. I couldn't shake my Tori thoughts and I didn't know if I truthfully wanted to.
"You want to tell me what that was about?" Anela asked stopping my thoughts.
"What do you mean?" I countered.
"At the bookstore. With your friend, Tori. Would you like to talk about what that was?" She repeated.
I sighed and turned to face her before I answered, "She's what I needed to sort out. I've had a crush on her for a really long time and she basically told me recently that she just wanted to be friends. Now every time we're around each other, it's like today."
"Hmm … You know she's in love with you, right?" Anela asked as she looked out of her window.
"No, she isn't. I've never been particularly nice to her and now that I am, she wants to just leave it like it is or something. I get it. I don't by any means like it, but I get it."
"No. She's in love with you. She looked like she wanted to kill me today when you introduced us."
I opened my mouth to refute what she said, but got cut off by her continuing.
"Look, I get it. Honestly. I've been there, but I don't want to be there again. As fun as the first part of our date was, I don't think we should have another until you and Tori sort everything out completely. Think about it, okay? If you do and you still want to go out, give me a call. If not, well then I'll always think of you when I read the Hunger Games."
I smiled and replied, "You really are an awesome girl, Anela. I don't think there's anything to work out, but I'll think about what you said."
She returned my smile and gave me a hug over the center console before she got out of the car and walked to her front door. I waited until she was inside safely before I drove home.
That's how I ended up laying here playing with my phone trying to get the nerve to actually call Tori and see what she wanted. Ugh! Forget it! Scrolling through my contacts, I clicked on her name and waited for her to answer.
"Jade?" Her voice came off as uncertain.
"Yeah. You said you needed to talk." I answered in my normal nonchalant voice.
"Yes! I mean, yeah, I do." she exclaimed excitedly.
"O-kay. So what's up?" I asked.
"Um. I wanted to clarify a couple things." Tori answered.
"Like?" I asked when she paused.
Taking a deep breath, she spoke again, "I don't want to be your friend."
"Okay. I mean, that's disappointing because I thought we could move past everything, but if that's what you want, then I'll leave you alone. Have a good night, Vega." I said and moved to hang up.
"Wait! No! That's not what I meant! Damnit! Jade?"
"Yes, Vega?"
"I meant that I don't want to be just friends."
"Really? Because that wasn't what you said to me a few days ago."
"I didn't say I wanted to be just friends then either."
"No, you said the same thing she said to me and then I got screwed over. Not going to let that happen again."
"That's the second time you've mentioned something not happening again. I don't know what happened the first time, but I'm not looking to repeat it."
"Yeah. Well, I don't exactly believe you, Vega."
"Why not? Just tell me whatever she did and I'll promise not to do it."
"Kind of already know you won't do it. I only have one dad."
"What?"
"Ugh. Nothing."
"No! Tell me what the hell you're talking about."
"You want to know what I'm talking about? Really?"
"Yes!"
"Fine. About three years ago, I had a crush on one of my good friends, Sydney. She'd always spend the night and hang out with me after school so I started to think maybe she liked me too. When I brought it up to her, she said that she thought I was really pretty, but maybe we should stay friends for a little while longer now that we knew how we felt for each other. I was all for it. I thought, 'damn! Maybe I'll have my first serious girlfriend.' Little did I know, I wasn't the only West she had eyes for."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, that all the times where she was spending the night, she was only staying to get closer to my dad. When she came over after school, she'd only be coming so that she could see him and be around him."
"Oh my God!"
"Yeah. So, I'm not exactly looking forward to sticking around so that you can screw me over the way she did."
"Jade, I am not, Sydney. You have to know that I'd never do anything to intentionally hurt you. I just wanted us to get to know each other better as friends before we got together. This past week is the most time we've ever spent together without you being snarky and mean to me, I wanted to know it wasn't a joke to you. I'm sorry if you thought that it was just some kind of ploy, but now I get why."
"I know you aren't Sydney, Vega. It's just, you're the first girl I've seriously wanted to be with since her and when you said that, I thought it was about to happen again."
"I know. It's fine."
I looked over at the clock and realized that between me debating whether or not to call and actually talking to her, five hours had passed and it was now a little after eleven.
"Well, I'm glad we got that cleared up. It's getting late and from what I remember, you have a big day coming up tomorrow. Get some sleep, Vega. I'll see you around."
"Sure thing, Jade. Can I ask you to do just one thing for me though?"
"Sure. Why not? What's up?"
"Stop calling me, Vega."
I laughed and shook my head.
"No problem, Perky. Good luck tomorrow."
"Good Lord, that isn't any better. Just go back to calling me Tori and thanks. Night, Jade."
"Goodnight, Tori."
I hung up the phone and settled into my pillows getting comfortable. Maybe we'd get somewhere. I couldn't help but think about Sydney, but Tori's right. Her and Sydney are two totally different people. If I keep that in mind, I might be able to let the rest of the walls down with Tori and let her in.
Only time will tell. Sighing, I turned the light out and wrapped myself up in my duvet before drifting off to sleep.