A/N: I know this took a while, I am sorry if theres anyone out there at all who was waiting around (though I doubt that, ha). Lots of things going on at the moment and writing time has been hacked down to a little stump for the time being- hopefully the next chapter will come sooner ^^
Tori's POV
By the time they reached the concert, it was already crowded with over excited people. With great difficulty, they had managed to get some of the last places and gained entry into the building. Andre was almost giddy with excitement at seeing whatever band it was, though neither Jade nor Tori had even bothered to find out who it was yet.
Jade...
Tori glanced at her. They had gotten ready just in time to be picked up by Andre, Cat, Robbie and to Jades huge annoyance, Beck. They'd stopped by quickly at Jade's house on the way to the concert for Jade to change her clothes, since nothing Tori had was going to fit Jades chest as Jade had taken great delight in pointing out. Jades house was cold looking. Tori couldn't put her finger on why, but it was. Jade had reappeared surprisingly quickly in a white tank top and black skinny jeans. It was simple enough, but it wasn't that that caught Tori's eye. Jades hair was up. Tori had never really seen it up before. It was in a bun, held together with what actually looked like two black chopsticks which crossed diagonally each way through the buns center and miraculously- though Tori couldn't see how- was keeping it in place. A few black strands fell down to frame her face and in doing so attracted attention to her pale, exposed shoulders which were surprisingly delicate looking. It made her look slightly older, Tori decided.
It makes her look even more beautiful.
Jade had gotten back into the car, resuming her place next to Tori, and the group had continued on to their destination.
Now they were finally inside the concert hall and it was nearly time for it to start. Tori had promptly gotten lost in the crowds. For a few minutes wove her way through the deafening crowds craning her neck, desperately searching for a familiar face, but she saw none. She was at the disadvantage of being shorter than most of the people there, meaning she couldn't see much apart from things directly around of her.
Don't worry.. They're here somewhere...
But Tori couldn't help herself. She had gotten lost in an airport when she was small, and ever since she had feared being lost on her own in crowded places. Just as she was beginning to panic, two arms looped around her waist from behind and a familiar, rather amused voice reached her.
"There's no escaping that way, Miss Vega."
Tori felt relief flood her. She turned her face to look up at Jade.
"I wasn't trying to escape!" she defended "You guys all ditched me!"
Jade smirked "We went to get drinks, we were two meters away from where you started out. You randomly wondered off and I was sent to come and find you."
Tori frowned. Jade West didn't get 'sent' to do anything. "Sent?"
Jade gave in. "Okay, so I volunteered, big deal, come on they're waiting for us." The goth let go of her, much to Tori's silent inner protest and motioned for Tori to follow as she started back through the mob of people.
"Jade!" Tori shouted over the racket, not wanting to get lost again. Jade turned to look at her. Tori blundered over to her, and then clung to her arm in case Jade disappeared or something equally likely in Tori's paranoid mind.
"Really, Vega?" Said Jade.
Tori could feel herself blushing a little. "I can't help it.."
Jade rolled her eyes theatrically. "Sure you can't." she reached over and grabbed Tori's hand, pulling her through the crowds until they reached the group. They found the others in a corner with drinks, casually dancing along to the music. Tori was overly aware Jade was still holding on to her hand, but she didn't want to say anything lest she take it away.
"Hey Tori!" Cat chirped, waving madly.
"Hey Cat" Tori said with a smile.
"Why are you holding Jades hand?" The red head asked, confusion clouding her eyes. The whole group turned to look. Tori had not yet devised an excuse for that. Instead, she looked dumbly at Jade. Jade looked around at them slowly, as if dazed. Realization flashed through her eyes and she quickly let go of Tori's hand. "I was guiding." She said, in a voice which challenged each of them to question her statement. Of course, no one did, and they all held their hands up in surrender, resuming their dancing. To Tori, Jade had sounded more defensive. She pushed it aside. It more than likely was just what Jade had said, nothing more, nothing less. She wasn't going to over think it. They spent the next few hours dancing and laughing, enjoying the atmosphere and the music. Tori stayed close to Jade, unable to stop the nagging feeling that made her want Jade to hug her again. It had felt nice. She didn't know what to do about them. She liked Jade. A lot. And she now knew Jade liked her too. But she didn't know where to go from there. She didn't know where Jade wanted to go from there. But she knew she didn't want to stay lingering in the middle. She noticed Jade disappearing through a door and, on impulse, followed her. As she pushed through the door, Jade looked over her shoulder at her.
"Jeez, Vega, you're following me to the toilets now?"
"Well I didn't know where you were going, did I?" Tori defended.
Jade raised an eyebrow "So you're just following me?"
"No, I.." Tori gave in. "Oh who am I kidding? Yeah, I guess I was."
Jade pushed the door open to the toilets and Tori followed her in. They stood quietly for a second.
"Well, here we are again," Said Jade, gesturing to their surroundings. "Why do we always end up following each other into toilets?"
Tori smiled "Better than a giant cupcake."
Jade frowned at the memory. "True."
Tori crossed over to the mirrors to check her hair. Since their meeting in the toilets in Karaoke-dokie, Tori felt a lot more relaxed around Jade. She was still nervous, but she no longer felt like her life was in danger which calmed her down a lot. Plus, Jade was so different towards her now, it was like a new person and though Tori missed the old Jade sometimes, she was keen to explore this new side she'd been presented with. It felt like she was being given a chance, and she'd be damned if she wasn't going to take it. Jade stood around meter away, leaned against the sinks staring at something she was obviously finding fascinating about her nails.
"Do you think people hate me?" She said quietly.
Tori stopped and looked at Jade in the mirror. "What? No.. Scared a little maybe, but I don't think people hate you. Why do you ask?"
Jade shook her head "Doesn't matter."
Tori walked over to stand in front of the goth. "It does matter. It matters to me." She said softly. Jade stayed quiet, now biting on her glossy black nails. Tori sighed and glanced over to the door, wandering if the others had noticed them gone. Probably not. She turned back around and veered her head backwards in surprise, finding Jade had moved to all but two inches away from her face. She was staring at Tori, her pale eyes searching as if there was something hidden within Tori's expression.
"Wha..." Tori trailed off. Jade leaned in, almost casually and pressed her lips softly against Tori's. Tori's brain blanked as to who she was and why she was as she desperately tried to get it together enough to kiss her back. It took another moment before normality clicked into it's place and Tori kissed back.
Is Jade kissing me? Is she really really kissing me? Tori's thoughts reached not further than that as she discarded all thoughts of anything but how soft Jades lips were against her own. She took a chance and placed her arms around Jades waist, pulling her sightly closer. To her slight relief, Jade didn't protest and did the same. When they finally pulled away, Tori's heart was beating so hard she was sure Jade would be able to feel or even hear it. Neither of them let go of the other as Tori scrambled for words. Eventually she gave up hope of becoming literate any time soon and settled into the surprisingly comfortable silence. She wondered if Jade felt as overwhelmed. Deep down, she hoped so. A few minutes passed and as much as Tori could have stayed there forever held against Jade in an equal state of speechlessness, Jade apparently regained her linguistic skills just that bit faster than Tori, and spoke.
"Are you okay?"
Tori put all her effort into remembering English. "Y-yeah... Are you?"
Jade nodded "The others will be wandering where we are.."
Tori smiled weakly "I'm not sure I can walk." The second the words were out she realised what it sounded like she was implying and wished the ground would swallow her up.
"I-I didn't mean..." She could feel herself blushing.
"I know what you mean." Said Jade, smiling. "Come on.."
The two slowly made their way out of the toilets and back to the group.
We kissed... Will they be able to tell? What if its written all over my face? Act, Tori, act. You're an actress, act. Tori thought. She did the best she could to become a neutral character.
Cat's bright voice broke her trail of thoughts. "Hey Tori, the concert ends in half an hour, and we're all going back to mine for the night to watch more films cause my parents have taken my brother to his special hospital for the night, do you wanna come?"
Tori thought about it. Her parents would be back by now and she really wasn't in the mood to sit alone in her room to over think things.
"Jadey's coming." Cat added. Tori mentally frowned. Why would Cat mention that? She brushed it aside as coincidence. However, it did make her mind up for her.
"Yeah, sure, sounds good. The- the films, that is, not- not Jade.. Uh.. Andre do you want to go now?" she stuttered, mentally chastising herself. She caught Jade smirking. Andre shrugged, always one to diffuse an awkward situation for her and nodded. "Yeah, might as well head out before everyone else does, save the hassle." He said cooly. The group collected there things and finished their drinks before following the wall to the exit. Jade sidled up beside Tori as the group spilled out into the parking lot, a smug look on her face.
"So, I sound good, do I?" She asked innocently. Tori rolled her eyes, feeling calmer in the fresh air.
"I honestly don't know what you mean Jade." Tori replied with equal innocence. But Tori did know what Jade meant. And Jade most certainly did sound good.