Tori was waiting in front of her house, glancing at her watch every now and then. Jade was already five minutes late, but she was used to that. After another five, Jade finally drove into her driveway. Tori got in the passenger seat.
"Hi. Sorry I'm late." Jade apologized, although half heartedly.
"Yeah, sure you are." Tori said in a sarcastic manner, chuckling at the end. They drove to Nozu's listening to music. They got in and sat down on their usual table. After taking their order, Tori looked back at Jade.
"How come you got the week off? Wasn't falling behind the schedule the issue?" Tori asked, wanting to hear the story straight from her friend.
"Well, when I called you I already had forgotten about it. What I did to Cat was the only thing on my mind."
"I can imagine."
"The next morning, I was for nothing. Hell, I couldn't even say cut on time to finish the shot. Jacob, the producer I told you about, saw that something was wrong."
"Did you tell him about the argument?" Tori asked. Jade only shook her head no.
"The moment I came in the studio that morning, he approached me with a wide smile, telling me that we would get more time, as much as we needed to be accurate. He said that his bosses liked my work so far and that I have nothing to worry about. When my expression didn't change, I guess that was what gave me off." Jade explained. "After only an hour or two of shooting, I told them I didn't feel well and left. I guess then Andrew, the guy who plays the murderer, told Jacob that he thought I was simply homesick. Jacob agreed, bought me the ticket and here I am."
"Wow. Your boss is awesome."
"He really is. I guess anyone else would have told me to get my shit together or something. Not him though. I guess it's because he really enjoys what he is doing. If he hadn't done that, I would have probably quit by now. I really wasn't able to focus on anything else."
"Look, about Cat. I talked to her. I tried to explain your situation to her. I told her not to take it personally and that you didn't mean it. But she didn't listen. I spent the night there, just to make sure she doesn't do something stupid. I'm sorry I couldn't help." Tori apologized. Jade shook her head again, looking at her friend. She reached across the table and put her hand on Tori's.
"You helped me more than you could ever imagine. Thank you for being there whenever I screw up." Jade said, gently squeezing Tori's hand.
"Awww." Tori said, making Jade chuckle. "That's the first time you said something like this to me."
"I know… I should have thanked you a long time ago." Jade said as she leaned back on her chair and sighed. "I should have told Cat a long time ago."
"What happened?" Tori asked, raising an eyebrow. Jade told her about her conversation yesterday with Cat. She told Tori everything Cat had told her.
"I just wish I had dropped this tough girl façade in front of you guys. In the end, it was you who had to pay for every misery that happened in my life. I never imagined she had taken those things to heart as much as she did. I hope I didn't hurt you as much." Jade finished, looking back up at her friend. Tori smiled sympathetically, showing she understood.
"It was frustrating." Tori said honestly." But I always knew there was more to it that it seemed the eye. I knew that you had a reason for acting the way you did. After a while, I understood. You never had it easy. Your parents divorced, your father did what he did. Your stepmother was a cunt. I don't think anyone else would make it through this unscarred. But even after all this, you still managed to show loyalty to your friends. And in some rare moments, you actually opened up to some people. You came to me more than once to pour your heart out. I can only imagine how often someone like Cat had seen you like this.
"I can't continue to use my past as an excuse anymore. Those things were a long time ago. Things changed, and I should too. I had a lot of time to think about everything. Trust me, not one day passed without me thinking about one of you."
"And what do you plan to do?" Tori asked, wondering where this is going.
"I want to make up for my mistakes. I want to show you guys how much I appreciate everything you did for me. And I'm about to start from now. So my idea is that this Friday, after you guys are done with school, I take you out to dinner at that restaurant we always go to during our "ping pong tournament". It's on me." Jade said, waiting to hear Tori's response.
"Jade, that's so nice of you, but that place is expensive. You don't have to…"
"Money is not a problem. Trust me; I've made enough in the past three months. So, taking out that part, what do you think? Do you like that idea?"
"I love it. The others are going to love it too." Tori said with a smile. Her smile faded when she saw a worried expression on Jade's face. "What's wrong?"
"I… I just wondered if Cat is going to come too. I mean…" Jade said, but just sighed, not wanting to tear up again. Tori looked at her friend and smiled sympathetically. This time she was the one to reach for Jade's hand.
"She is. Jade, I know you are worried about your friendship. But trust me, it won't just end. A friendship like this never simply ends."
"How can you all be so sure?"
"Because we all know Cat. Can you guess who talked the most about you while you were gone?" Tori asked with a smile.
"I… I just hope you are right." Jade sighed.
"Come on, let's go for a walk." Tori said as she got up and reached for her purse.
"No, I'll get that." Jade said, taking the check and calling the waiter.
"Thanks, but you don't have to."
"I want to." Jade said and gave Tori a warm smile. They both got up and walked trough Hollywood, ending up sitting down on a bench in the park. The night sky was clear. They both sat there for a while, simply looking at the beauty that nature had given that night. Jade interrupted that silence after a while.
"One question."
"Yeah?"
"What happened that night before you dragged me to Beck and cussed our asses off?" Jade asked, looking over at the girl sitting next to her.
"You don't remember?" Tori raised a brow.
"No. I only remember how I began to drink and the next thing I know I'm in your bed." Jade explained.
"Well, you came to my place, completely wasted. You simply stormed into my house, sat down on my couch and began to cry. After you told me between ten and twenty times that we are not friends, you began talking about Beck and how you miss him and all that. Then you told me how you saw him with another girl and that that was the reason you got drunk. After that you mumbled again about how you are tired of crying about him and having to avoid him, and right then you ran outside and puked in my rose garden." Tori explained, grinning at the expression her friend had after hearing that part.
"What? No, I…"
"Right in the white ones. And after I was done holding your hair and letting you finish, I carried your drunken ass up, changed you into some pajamas I had and laid you down in my bed, taking the couch myself. You remember the rest." Tori finished,
"Oh god… I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I'm kinda glad you did come to me that evening. That was the first time you and I had a honest conversation."
"I never thanked you for that." Jade said, looking down.
"You actually did. Just as I laid you down, you pulled me in a hug and thanked me."
"Oh. Well, I'm glad I did. There are a lot of things I need to thank you for."
"You don't. That's what friends are for."
"Then thank you for being my friend." Jade said as she looked back at Tori, watching her smile grow.
"You're welcome." Tori said as she gave Jade a small nudge. "But I have one question myself."
"What is it?"
"Why didn't you go to Cat that time?"
"I… I didn't want her to see me in that shape. I know she would have worried sick forever after that." Jade explained,
"And simply for those small things you do when it's about her, those small changes you think others can't see, your friendship will probably last forever." Tori said confidently.
"I hope you are right." Jade said.
"Come on, let's go get your car and go home. It's late. And I have school tomorrow." Tori said as she got up and extended her hand to help Jade up. Jade took it, and as she got up, pulled Tori in a hug.
"Thank you." She told her. Tori hugged her back, happy that Jade finally took her mask off after all those years. They made their way towards Jade's car. Jade dropped Tori off at her house and drove back home. She laid down on her bed, thinking about Tori's words. She hoped that Tori was right. She hoped that she hasn't ruined it all. She was ready to do everything she could to make things right. She only wanted one more chance, and she would fight for it. Tomorrow, she would tell the others about her plans for Friday night, and she already had an idea for Saturday too. The karaoke bar they had gone to before had a new owner, so there was a big reopening. Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone. She checked the message she got. It was from Cat.
"I can't sleep. I miss you."
