ToriVega: Hey. I was wondering… Has Jade spoken to you yet?
GotBeck: Kind of. I explained to her that I was just trying to look out for her, and she sort of got it. We're still shaky, but that'll just take a little time.
ToriVega: No such luck with me, haha. I kind of miss her.
GotBeck: Tell her that.
ToriVega: She'll laugh in my face.
GotBeck: I highly doubt it.
ToriVega: I don't know. To be honest, it bothers me.
GotBeck: That she'll supposedly laugh at you?
ToriVega: No, how much I miss that creepy weirdo.
GotBeck: I think that half the time, too. But hey, I get the added bonus that she's an amazing kisser, so that's one more thing I miss when she's mad at me. You probably don't… I hope? LOL.
ToriVega: Haha, no, not at all. Anyway, the science fair is on Friday. Do you know if Jade still wants Bugs?
GotBeck: Definitely.
ToriVega: Then I'll talk to her when she comes pick him up.
(THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE COULD BE VERY TRIGGERING. IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED BY VERY EXPLICIT MENTIONS OF RAPE, VICTIM BLAMING, AND SLUT SHAMING, SCROLL DOWN UNTIL THE PART WHERE IT SAYS 'SAFE POINT'.)
Jade was just getting home from the pet store, satisfied with the loot in the trunk of her car – bowls, bedding, bunny toys and a large cage, all hand-picked for little Bugs. It was a very warm afternoon; she'd excused herself with the teachers and her project partner and gotten out of staying in the science fair until the end. To them she said it was because she was sick. In reality, she couldn't handle being around him for so long.
It was already bad enough to see him every day, wandering the halls, shooting her disgusting little winks and smiles. The presence of him in her life was already nearly enough to make her sick, let alone staying in the same crowded, noisy room for hours. It was much better to just bail on the science fair and go buy the things for Bugs – whom her parents had accepted as long as he only stayed in her bedroom.
As soon as Jade hopped out of her car, the umbrella safely in her hand, she did her usual routine of checking all of the surroundings. The bushes around the driveway, the back of the house, everything. You can never be too careful, she told herself for the millionth time. Only after her thorough inspection was over did Jade open the trunk, drop the umbrella, and quickly gather the bags from Petsmart, only to drop them onto the floor as she was taken from behind by a pair of strong arms, making her freeze in panic.
"I don't even have to tell you to shut up, do I, Jade?" It was him. His sickly voice in her ear. Her heart began to race wildly, limbs completely uncooperative with shock, even as he pressed her to the wall with surprising force.
"Look at that. The icy princess is stunned by little old me. My, how things have changed..." He laughed, eyes locked on her wide pair, savoring the fear in them.
Come on, West. Say something. Do something! Stop shaking! Open your mouth and scream! Your father's home! Why can't I move? Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!
Her top was already torn down the middle, her wrists helplessly pinned to the wall and legs unable to move by the time she finally managed to say something. Through shaky lips, Jade was able to whisper:
"M-my father's home…"
"You're damn right, I am!" She heard the powerful roar of her dad's voice, music to her ears right now. Immediately, the boy let go and sprinted off to the street, leaving a wobbly mess of a girl still pressed to the wall in shock.
"What did I say about making out with boys in here, Jade? And he's not even your boyfriend? Do you have any shame left? Look at your blouse! Come inside. Now!" He snarled. As much as Jade wanted to move, she couldn't. Her legs wouldn't cooperate. Even her mouth was apparently stuck, but after a moment, she managed to let out a murmur.
"He wasn't- I wasn't- Dad! He… He…" She couldn't say the word. Her father only came closer, glaring at her.
"He what?"
"HE RAPED ME!" The girl screamed, at the same time as the strength came back to her legs, making her run back into the house. Her father slammed the door shut behind them both in just a few seconds.
"What do you mean, he raped you? That adorable boy who lives down the street?" At his daughter's fierce nod, he crossed his arms, arching a brow at her. "Well, of course he did. Look at the clothes you wear. Look at your makeup! Poor boy couldn't keep it in his pants."
Jade couldn't believe her ears. The whole scene was just so surreal, there was no way she could even comprehend it.
The only thing she could think of doing was storm out of the house, grab her car keys, slam the trunk shut and drive as fast as she could without causing any accidents.
(SAFE POINT! Bottom line: Jade was attacked by her rapist again, but this time her father interrupted them before he went all the way with her. Jade's dad then basically said it was all her fault.)
By the end of the science fair, Tori couldn't hide the frown on her face. The teachers had loved her and Andre's project, sure. She was happy about it. Babbity had been returned to Lane's nephew, who was very happy about it. But Tori still felt terrible, because, as she threw her backpack over her shoulder and hopped out of Andre's car, she was still carrying Bugs with her. Jade hadn't even come to see the bunny – or Tori, for that matter.
When she saw the girl huddled on her driveway, however, Tori was torn between smiling and feeling her heart drop. Jade's shirt was, again, torn, and this time she was actually sobbing, with her face hidden in her hands.
Setting the cage and her backpack on the floor with a loud thud, the latina hurried over to where Jade was, not even thinking before sitting by the girl's side and wrapping her arms protectively around her.
"I don't know what happened, but it'll be okay." Was all she could say as Jade hugged her back, face hidden in Tori's shoulder. Unable to conjure up any words of her own, but needing to offer some comfort other than the warmth and safety of an embrace, the latina began to sing softly.
"There is no upper hand, I'm giving you mine
It doesn't have to end, I'm wasting your time
There's things that I could say, but here in my way
I wanna let you know that it's all okay…"
It was still a long time before the tears subsided and Jade was calm enough to talk, to walk into her friend's – yes, friend's – house, sit with her on the couch, and tell her what had happened. There were still more tears that day, and then silence, the kind of comfortable, easy silence that only companions can share. Later that day, there were laughs. There was a pizza shared with the Vega family, and thirty-four calls from Mr. West, the last of which Trina picked up to tell him his daughter was there, safe and sound, and wasn't leaving too soon.
Jade was surprisingly alright with it.
A/N: I didn't post anything yesterday, so I'll compensate with a long feel-y chapter! Yay. Here you have it. Thanks for the reviews and the love! If any of you have a Tumblr account and would like to message me on timetofacethechange, or my Jori rp blog, askvictoriavega, I'll be extra happy. And no, the rp blog has absolutely NOTHING to do with this fanfic. Nothing. At all. Promise. No spoilers here or there.