Wow, ten chapters for this story already. Huh, and I still have a lot more to go too. Yay. :)

The halls were clearer the next day, I remember that much of the morning. For some reason, my mind can't pull out all of the details and... I feel like I need to, just for the sake of thinking. None of the details were important I am assuming, probably lost in the haze of Halloween which hadn't had many plans that year.

Getting to first our, to say the least, was easier. To second, well, not as much. The crowd of people swarmed in front of me and as I stepped out to join a wave towards my next class, a groan escaped me as my foot was stepped on. "HEY! Whose the wise ass that nearly scuffed my boots?" I hissed, startling the oblivious senior, or 'fellow' junior, half to death.

"I'm sorry... I didn't see-"

"Who doesn't ever see me? Grab a pair of glasses and GET LOST!" To my pleasure, she heeds my advice and scrambles away. My feet make their way into the crowd (eventually) and I make my way to the main hall. Before I could start the other half of the trip, my gaze halts near a line of familiar lockers and widen slightly.

Vega looked back, and our eyes lock in place. I could tell we turned our heads at the same time, just by the way her hair adjusted itself for a fraction of a second. After a few seconds, my conscious races back to my, uh, 'activities' yesterday and I feel warmth on my cheeks as my head dips down.

Huh, I might have lied when I said I didn't remember much about the morning.

Anyway, my feet sort of shuffled as I strutted away to my next class. Immediately, as I stepped through the door, I feel heavy eyes on me and sigh, knowing Beck's weak, yet suddenly constant, glares. 'What has Elizabeth been shoving down you throat while you're in hers?' I think to myself, blood suddenly boiling.

-o0o-

The bell finally bids the students to the weekend and I shot out of my chair, just wanting to leave. I was nearly excited until I recalled me walking out of class, earning myself a Saturday's detention. Unlike the last four I had, Tori wasn't there because we kept talking, which included apologies for talking.

As me locker was slammed closed and my car switched on a few minutes later, I recalled those few days together with Tori.

The first didn't have much to offer, mainly because I was annoyed to be alone with her. So some books were thrown which turned into a competition to see who can throw a book the farthest. Vega won, by a long shot. I had grinned cockily when my green textbook landed some five feet away, only to turn to see a red one almost triple that.

"How the hell did it go all the way over there Vega?" I asked, my eyebrow raised, slightly curious and jealous.

"Had practice, I can pretty much throw anything well." I watched as she shrugged, like it wasn't a big deal. My brows had furrowed, getting a bright idea.

"Bet you can't throw my keys higher than the ledge," my finger pointed at the ledge about fifteen feet from where we stood. She rolled her eyes at my smirk, and muttered for the keys.

"First, what happens if I don't manage to make it up there?"

"You'll do whatever I want you to do next week."

"Will it be safe?"

"It'll be fun. Now if you do get it up there, you'll have to join me while I have some fun." Her grin matches my devious one, eyes sparking with a sudden urge for rebellion.

"Fine," Tori muttered as the keys went flying, hitting the ceiling before landing mockingly on he ledge, the silver house key waving at us. "Do you have a water bottle?"

"Vega, my keys..."

"Do you or do you not have a water bottle Jade?" she snapped, "That is, if you want your keys back."

"I swear Vega, I will kick your ass up to the ledge if you get my water bottle stuck up their." The plastic container was shoved into her hands and she lined up the shot. Before I could give a nasty remark, the water went slightly to the right of the keys, hitting the wall behind the ledge before sending the keys over to an open hand. My eyes widened as I gawked at Vega who slid on the table, catching the bottle before it hit the ground.

"Well... Shit Vega, how did you do that?" I asked, every ounce of amazement filling the sentence to the brim.

The second week was much more exciting as we pulled up in my car. As our phones were reluctantly snatched away, my eyes narrowed at the half-Latina as closed her eyes. "Well Vega?"

"You want to hang out in the break room for a while," she finally smirked, receiving a matching one in return. Tori led me through the trap door to the janitor's closet and as we made our way to the teacher's infamous break room, I began to feel slightly anxious. "Won't he be in the break room?"

"Not if I have his keys," Vega jingled the metal in my face, "Besides, I don't think he ever goes in there."

"How come?" I ask as the door is unlocked and open as we stepped through.

"Because he's always patrolling the halls like a cop wannabe. Seriously, he gets paid like, what, five bucks an hour just to walk around school?" We both snickered as our gaze slides across the room.

"All I see are free snacks, a printer and a couch."

"Yay... We get to eat food then copy them so we can remember the cheap flavor," Tori rolled her eyes.

"Eh, there's Oreos and- OH MY GOD THERE'S TWIX!" I yelled as my fist clutched three bars, startling the half-Latina. She chuckled slightly as I wolfed down the treat before cursing. After a few moments of listening with strained ears, she hissed at me to 'move my ass and take the box'. We ended up finding ourselves back at the library, rich with Twix, which was nicely hidden when he checked on us (the innocent angels).

My brow furrowed as I found myself at my house, not remembering my car on the road. "God, I hope I didn't run any red lights," I mutter under my breath before shutting my door and marching towards, ultimately, my room. From reliving those few precious moments alone with Tori out of a box of a couple more, I found myself back on the roof, guiltily with a cigarette at hand.

"Jade?"

"Yeah?"

"Why don't you stop smoking? What's playing with your mind?" My gaze turned to Peggy as I put out the stick, climbing back inside. I gulped slightly before an answer that fled out.

"...Tori."

"The same?" My nod answers her curiosity. "Well, why don't you go off. It's five and Halloween Jade. Go-go scare all of the children," she suggested hesitantly, not completely comfortable with my idea of fun.

"Alright... I will," I smile slightly, just to erase the pitied look on Peggy's. After a few minutes, I walk out the doors, deciding just to look at the decorations this year instead of sending children running.

-o0o-

For the life of me I can't remember how I had gotten there. Even then I didn't know, perhaps my feet wandered, following a familiar path, while I was engulfed in my raw emotions. I blinked as I heard sirens go off by a nearby police car and I gasped, horrified as I found myself at the bad part of Los Angeles once again. What was worse was that it was the last place I needed to be. A list went off screaming in my stream of conscious; it's dark out, it's Halloween, a gang here hates me and... I'm a girl alone. "Best. Situation. Ever. Fucking moron Jade," spat at myself, under my breath.

A rattle of cans spooked me, spinning my heels around. I lunged in a silent fury at the black cat who was the culprit of the noise. As my harden stare followed the bolting animal, I felt my neck prickle against my black hoodie; someone was watching me. It's just one of those surreal feelings you have and you just instinctively know.

My head shook anxiously, steps carrying me to the opposite street, trying to find my way home. For the next thirty minutes, I paced around the few streets, somehow lost as I constantly tried to shake the unnerving feeling. I knew that the person, if it was a person, was stalking in the shadows, just waiting for something. I debated whether or not it was bad since it could have attacked me before.

For the second time, I jumped at the sound of something crashing in the distance. "Well, well. What do I see on my street?" a gut wrenching familiar voice sunk heavily in my stomach. "I believe you're the bitch who broke my car and two of my members! GET HER, AND I WANT HER ALIVE!" the red haired leader shouted, sending angry steps after me.

My eyes widened as I turned around and bolted the opposite way; there was no absolute way I could get into a fight with four huge, burly men. Men who also had weapons while I had my trusty scissors which could have totally cut through a five inch blade.

Hastened steps fled down the streets, followed by multiple stamps and a car. My head swivels around for half a second as I saw the same mustang the two men had tried (and obviously succeeded) to steal. My heart skipped a beat as I saw the bar and parking lot from my first trip in these recent months until I felt a an exploding pain on my leg. I gasp as my hands clutched the cut as my back met the ground next to an alleyway.

"Fuck," I muttered hoarsely before chucking the jagged can that was aimed at me. Once I managed to hit someone I was already behind a dumpster, crouching. My ears listened carefully as they made their way towards me, and I whimpered slightly, getting up to dart in the other direction.

I would have managed to escape if the car hadn't blocked my path. My lungs felt like they would collapse and my heart fail from the amount of stress put on them. "You aren't getting away little girl... You're paying your dues," the leader murmured as my breathes quickened.

Within a minute, I was surrounded, nowhere to go. They all smirked as the stared down at me and, unlike my school history, I felt very small and vulnerable. The leader pulled out a rusted and scratched stopwatch before clicking on it. My eyes widened as he snarled, "You have ten minutes. Go."

Suddenly, I felt another explosion of pain in my side. As I clutched my right ribs, my knees buckled as I felt a rock hurl at my stomach. I threw up some the instant I was on my knees, feeling the men kick my sides. My vision started to get blurry from water as I heard a belt unbuckle a few feet away. With no hope, I just let them continue to crowd me until I hear a crash and one of the gang members drop unconscious.

I see a haze of red after the left side of my face stung. Past the blood, however, I was able to make out the men scattering as a quick figure darted between them. "What did I say to you Rocky? What the fuck did I say? This is my alleyway which, oh by the way, is in the middle of my group of streets," a cold voice slices into my ears. I pick my head up, and eyes gaze with a spark of amazement as I see Vega pin the leader to his car.

"And what are you going to do about it?" he spat in her face. For a moment, she does nothing before a red pocket knife flips out from her sleeve. It trails up and down his shirt before cutting through the cotton.

"Next time, it will actually go deeper and match the one on your back. Next time I see you around here that is, so fuck off." He nodded frantically before bolting down the end of the street. I sniffed slightly, feeling some warmth run over my lips. I wiped them dry, pleased to know that my nose didn't seem to bleed anymore.

"Tori? How-how did you know I was here?" I asked in a whimper. Her head turns as she strode over towards me. Vega's arms wrapped around me momentarily as she hauled me back up. I clasped her shoulder, slightly surprised that she wasn't wearing her leather jacket but a grey tank top that was tucked in her black jeans.

"Get in the car," she hissed quietly. Instead of asking questions that I wanted answers to, I just made my way into the passenger seat with a lot of effort. After a few steps, I nearly fell again, the cut on my leg not able to support my weight. She caught me with a quick reflex, and guided my steps towards the seat. I buckled myself in as she slid into the drivers seat.

"Do you have a license?" I blurt out before I could stop it.

"Before it was taken away yeah. This isn't my first time taking a car you know," Tori answered.

"What? When and how?" I cursed myself mentally as I cringed at my slight outburst.

I winced slightly as she snarled at me, "Don't ask questions. I'm going to drive you to your house and that's it. Got it West? I don't need you to walk into my nightly work." I just nod and remained deathly silent as we made our way to the gravel driveway. I groan slightly as I pushed myself through the car door, my hands catching my fall on the pebbles.

Hands grip my shoulders and hoist me up to my feet. Vega guides me once again to the front door, "Do you want me to help you to your room," her voice husks.

"The bathroom next to it, I have a med kit in there..." I whimper as my injured leg stumbles on the doorframe. Eventually, we make our way to the bathroom, Peggy seemingly off to get groceries or something. No one had to be handing out treats at this hour, which was about ten or eleven. Tori sets me down on the toilet, seat closed, and she goes through the cabinets for the kit. "The bottom left," I mumble as I fumble around for bandages that were on the sink.

She looked at me and I felt my unconscious stare soften, until my eyes shut in a grimace once Tori started to clean the cut on my face. It wasn't a big one, though it was fairly deep. Once I got used to the alcohol stinging the open flesh, my brows furrowed at Vega's left shoulder.

"You're hurt..." I whispered. A towel from the rack over the sink began to dry the cut and after a few moments it dropped as the half-Latina thumbed over the injury.

"I'm fine," she murmured without any emotion, any hint of pain as she licked some of the red off her thumb. "You have more than I do..." Our eyes lock for the second time that day, and I cocked my head, confused at the soft facial expression yet hardened, bottomless brown eyes that met mine.

I didn't realize my hand cupped hers while hers clutched my side bruise gingerly. I didn't notice her leaning towards me and turning my head to fit with hers. We closed our eyes and our breathes mingled with each others, mine of Twix while hers of Red vine or something.

Steps bounded towards the bathroom and Tori rips away from me, facing the mirror. I could have sworn that I saw an almost gentle creature in her eyes before it went back to sleep. Peggy stood in the doorway, frozen.

"Jade, what the fuck happened to-to both of you?" she whispered, horrified at the sight of a red stained rag on the floor, my cuts and Tori's.

"I'll be leaving now," Vega murmured before brushing past Peggy, whose gaze followed.

"What happened?"

"She-she saved me... And cleaned this," I answered weakly as I pointed to my cheek. The maid nodded and ended up cleaning the other ones. By the time I had gone to bed, tears dampened my pillow a bit. I had those eyes before they were gone once again... I felt as my heart cracked under the strain, under the circumstances. Under the boiling anger towards Elizabeth who just had to be responsible.

She just had to.

Another chapter done and, to be honest, I didn't know that it would end like this. Well, there's now a new part to the story now. Hope you enjoyed it. :)