11

Tori

Joanne is a fierce task master. Everyday she had something for me to do. So much so that I didn't notice when Jade began to work on her animation movie. We never really saw each other anymore. My libido seemed to be under control. I mean I didn't have time to think about sex. Maybe I really didn't want her after all. Maybe it was all my stupid hormones.

I had a rare night off, as Jade dropped into bed next to me. She reached out and held me closer to her. "You're nineteen right?" Jade asked sleepily. I stiffened and she woke up all the way and sat up. she looked at me, "Tori…"

"Why?" I asked

"They keep saying you are 18." she said, "but we got married and then you had a birthday."

"My paperwork says I'm nineteen. Leave it at that." I answered. Jade sat up and looked at me.

"If they find out Tori…"

"They won't!"

"your mom is telling everyone you are eighteen!" Jade screamed and stood up to pace the room. "That means that legally…"

"Jade, legally I was 18. My papers were real they weren't falsified. The age was wrong, but it was the only way I was going to make it across the border on my own." I sat up and watched her pace. "Whatever the date on the paper I'm 18 now. It's legal now, and no one will believe her because she abandoned me. never thought about me again, so what the hell does she know how old I am."

Jade sat next to me and looked at me. "I'm a cradle robber."

I laughed. "Oh yeah Jade you're so old."

"I'm going to be twenty in a few months Tori…" She mumbled.

I leaned forward and kissed her jawline. "You are my old lady." I whispered. she turned her head and I kissed her lips. "It's been a while." My voice was husky and I had not realized I wanted her so much.

"The animators are starting to think that they should have casted me as the evil witch instead of the princess." she mumbled and closed her eyes as her head fell back. I nipped and nibbled at her neck. We fell into old rhythms, old habits. and bliss. I missed her body pressed against mine, though now I was more uncomfortable than before. Either way Jade pleased me more than anything I had ever experienced. Not that I had ever experienced much. Only Danny.

The next morning, Jade was gone. I suppose her call time was super early as she had to tape the TV show this day. I sighed and got up to shower not bothering to cover myself on the way. why should I, it was only Jade and I here. Joanne never came without calling first, she didn't like catching us in the process of anything.

I walked into the bathroom and screamed as I grabbed for a towel to cover myself. George, Jade's brother was in there fixing the shower head. He was shirt less and dripping in sweat and water. "I'm so sorry! Oh my god, Jade asked me to look at the shower head, I didn't want to wake you so …"

I ran out of the room my face red. "It's fine!" I said cutting him off. I looked away from his muscular chest. "I'll just go put on some clothes."

"Uh, Right… I'll Just…" He said and went off into the bathroom.

"Hello!" Joanne called from the other room. I groaned and went out in my towel to greet her. Her eyes widened. "I thought Jade left"

"She is gone." I answered "I just got out of bed."

"ah…" she said and then George stepped out of our bedroom shirt in hand. Joanne stiffened and looked between him and I. I blushed George grinned sheepishly, just like his sister.

"NO! don't you dare smile like that." I stated angrily. "I didn't appreciate walking in on you doing whatever you were doing to my shower head. you should have woken me up when you walked in."

"Well excuse me… If my sister didn't bother to wake you before she left I thought that maybe you wouldn't appreciate me waking you up just to fix a shower head."

"What happened to the Shower head?" Joanne finally asked when the situation was finally clarified enough for her not to be horrified.

Then George laughed… and I realized why. Jade and I had broken it one mornings we had gotten a bit carried away. We had been forced to take baths instead, which aren't as much fun when alone. I reddened some more. "Is it fixed now? I need to shower."

"Yes it's fixed, don't break it." he said and I rushed into the bathroom to shower. I let the water run over me. I started to think about Jade, then George. he was incredibly hot. Like Daniel. seriously my type.I should be feeling something, anything. I mean I saw him half naked. I smiled at myself. I didn't find him attractive. Jade… my smile faded. I had seen her naked. I imagined her then in the shower the way she had been that day we broke the shower head, and I felt just the same. there was no thrill not the way I felt when she was there with me. Maybe I didn't feel anything for George because he wasn't there with me.

I sighed and got out of the shower. I wrapped myself in my robe and as I stepped into the bedroom, Joanne sat on the bed. "If you just wanted to stay in the country, why not just marry my son instead."

I blinked, "Excuse me?"

"My daughter is going through hell because of you and youre here making googoo eyes at George."

"Joanne…" I said shocked. she knew what my deal was why was she acting so ignorant now?

"We both know you are straight." she snapped. "When you have what you want, you better disappear from my daughters life. go away and don't look back."

"How can you…" I started.

"Can you honestly tell me you love her? Do you LOVE her like she loves you?" she asked. I couldn't reply. she knew I didn't, and I knew I didn't. Jade loves me so intensely that… "You are going to break her. You and your brat." I didn't know what to say. Joanne has been managing me for a month and she has never said anything this scathing to me. I guess she is tired. Tired of pretending. "You are leaving for New York in Three days. she said. Star Records, the label that Andre was signed to has signed you off of the Demo. I suggest you don't tell your wife you are leaving. Just disappear. Needless to say, I resign as your manager. believe me getting you out of my daughter's hair is my pleasure and I hope I never have to see you again. You don't even have to pay me my cut you leaving is prize enough."

I stood there shocked. I didn't know what to say. Maybe she is right, maybe leaving Jade is what is best for her. If I leave jade, they will deport me. I do have my work permit now, but… "I can't not tell her."

"Do what you want, just make sure you're gone for good." Joanne said dropping the contract on our bed and walking out of the room.

Jade

I got off late that night. It had been a long day, all I wanted to do was go home and cuddle with my babies. Tori was having a little girl and during break that afternoon, I'd gone out and bought her the cutest little outfit. I was excited to be a mom. More excited that I didn't have to give birth to her myself. I walked into the pool house and saw some bags packed at the door. I frowned. "babe?" I called out.

Tori peeked out from the bedroom. she seemed to be thinking about what to say. she smiled nervously and ran toward me. she kissed me hungrily and of course that was just what I wanted. Did I really want to know why she was packed? This just made me think she wasn't coming back. I had always wondered if this was how she would say goodbye. One great big fuck of gratitude and leave me forever. "Jade." she whispered

"You're leaving me?" I choked on the words.

She stopped kissing me. She looked so conflicted. "No… I." she sighed and sat on the couch and pulled me down with her. "I got a record deal, and… I have to go."

I sighed, "you're not coming back are you…"

"I've been thinking… That it isn't fair to you to always wonder if I loved you or if I was afraid of getting deported. Thanks to you I won't be, and I know we have to stay married for at least a year now. I want you to have a girl that will love you as intensely as I feel you love me."

I can't even be mad at her. I knew it was coming and I told myself that I wouldn't be angry. but this hurt. I feel used, I moved away from her and walked into our room. She didn't love me. or she would never even have taken the job. Sure she cares about me but I can't look at her as my friend right now because Victoria Vega is mine.

I lay on my bed and hug her pillow. I inhale deeply and smell her arousal there. I weep I feel her hand on my shoulder. "Jade…" her whisper like a song that plucked painfully at my heart ripped a deep guttural groan from my lips. She kissed the shoulder she'd just touched. 'I do love you… but what if it's not enough?"

"Just go…" I begged. I couldn't listen to her anymore.

"I'll call you when I get there. te quiero mucho" She said softly and walked out of my life.

A splash of cold water woke me days later. "What the fuck MOM!" I yelled.

"I told you so." was all she said. and yes, she did but she didn't have to rub it in. "Get up you have work. I can't keep pushing call times for you anymore."

"Then don't," I mumbled and rolled back onto my wet bed. It still smelled like her, grant it it had only been three days but her scent lingered there.

"you can't stay here. you have to move on." Mom said. I knew this. I love my job, but I loved Tori more. she isn't going to stop me from succeeding but hell let me mourn. "you are stronger than this."

"She didn't want to leave." I said "I could feel it."

"Of course not, she had a n ice cushy place to live," Mom scoffed. "I hope she rots, her and that little brat."

"Shut up," I growled and rolled out of bed finally. I went into the bathroom as much to get away from her as to cleanse the three days of sobbing from my body.

" she left you and I bet she didn't even tell you before she left."

"She told me, she told me everything." I said and she got a look on her face that I had come to know as her guilty face. why would… nah, mom was probably mad because a client just dumped her like trash. Tori was totally gonna give her a whole lot of money. "It doesn't matter is better that way. Because she was right, i'd always wonder why she had been with me. at least now I know that she didn't want to make me feel like… what?"

I sighed and turned away. I needed to focus on work,. That should make my mother happy. If I worked she'd get paid. Mom talked and criticised and commented and kept going. To make me see things her way I think. but I couldn't let that inside me. I was morose enough without her words. what did she want? did she want me to hang myself? Did she not understand that what I had with Tori, at least for me, was not just some childish phase?

So I worked and focused all of that emotion I felt into it. Honestly I had to thank Tori for leaving because I excelled. One afternoon mom and I sat at the pool house and she handed me a contract. "Looks like you got the part for Shae's debut screenplay."

I smiled, remembering how mom had tried to appeal to Tori's jealousy. "Is the sex scene still in the script."

"Yes…" mom said with a scowl

"I think, I need to fire you." I said suddenly.

Mom looked at me horrified. "Jade…"

"No, listen. I just want a mom… you know? I need you to be able to be that for me and not feel compelled to agree with me because you are afraid i'd fire you. so now you're fired. You can be my mom."

"Don't be stupid!" mom said

I smirked. "There you go mother, tet loose now."

"Jade, after every thing-"

"Mother, thank you for everything. you were a good manager. Just BE my mother." I said

She sighed and shook her head. "Fine, you are an adult." She grunted. "Already about to get a divorce. I suppose I could be your mom."

I nodded. "I'm moving out as soon as possible."

"Why?" she asked she still didn't believe I had fired her. I could tell.

"Because, I can't stay here anymore." I said. "And This movie films in New York mostly, so…"

"But you don't have to move there."

"Why not mother? What are you afraid of?" I asked. "Are you afraid of Tori? because clearly she made her choice. These few months without her I've had time to think and maybe you are right. Maybe she did use me." but I know she didn't and I am going to get her back. The last I said in my head. "And if she didn't, would it be so bad to see her?"

Mom didn't say anything, just stood and walked into the main house leaving me by the pool alone. I sighed, and headed to my bedroom. I had been packing things little by little. I'd finish soon and she would have noticed anyway. I knew I had gotten the part because it had been offered to me and I had accepted it the same day mother and I had been arguing about it.

I had been planning my escape out from under mother's thumb for months before Tori had come into my life but I knew, Mom would blame Tori for everything. because Jade couldn't possibly have thought of it on her own. I missed Tori terribly and If she were here with me this would have been a hell of a lot easier. But she bailed on me, and now, I have to do this alone.

I got a Text from Andre as I reached for a bag. I had forgotten it. It was tho outfit I had bought the baby. I traced my fingers over the frilly ruffles on a bloomer as I fished my phone out of my pocket.

Text Message:

Andre: Just thought you'd like to know Tori is in Labor. She needs you Jade.

I looked at it and there was no doubt in my mind I was going, because Tori wasn't due for another four weeks.

I hesitated. What would I tell mom? Should I tell her at all? I looked at the time it was Four in the afternoon. The redeye would probably be too late, Maybe I can catch an 8 o'clock flight. I packed an overnight bag and was out of the door in less than 20 minutes. I said nothing to anyone, I'm a big girl now I had to do what I had to do.