Chapter 10

After our fun at the concert ( and in the car) we decided to join up with our friends and Tori's family again at the concert. The saying 'The walk of shame' came out full force. While we kept things PG-13, our hair and make-up was a complete mess and having the friends that we do we were shown no mercy. We didn't let their jokes and teasing get to us however. We had a great day and we planned to finish up the night with a small movie night with the others at Tori's house.

To say that the night went well is an understatement. It must have been the best night of my life. The old gank Jade was gone and I was nothing but laughs and smiles. I got a little jealous that everyone was getting to play with little Sammy but didn't have the heart to tear him away from his fun. Once he was put to sleep we decided to watch some bad movies just for the laughs making a game out of making bad puns. We all put five bucks in and who ever made the worst pun of the night would win. Tori's dad won even though he only saw one part of a movie when he came out to get a glass of milk. He didn't even wait for the movie to end and just took his winnings.

It was about 11 at night when everyone packed up and we went to get ready for bed. Sam had a big night and must have been exhausted because he was still sound asleep. After a quick shower we laid in bed as I laid my arm around her stomach and gave her a kiss on her temple both falling asleep with smiles on our faces.

Xxx

We are awoken by my cell phone ringing beside the bed. "Jade answer your damn phone so I can go back to sleep." Tori mumbled with her eyes still closed.

I answer the phone in a groggy voice "Hello?"

"Is this Jadelyn West?" A male voice responded.

"Yeah. Who is this?"

"My name is Mr. Brenster, I am a lawyer for the Hollywood Arts school you attend. Due to urgent matters we will need you and a parent to come in today as soon as possible."

"I don't have any parents." I stated coldly.

"Ms. West if you choose not to call a parent than I will be forced to call the numbers we have on file for your parents."

"Go for it. But if my dad shows up there I hope you have security to stop him from hurting all of us. He is a loose cannon and as soon as you look him in the eye it is like showing something red to a bull." I hang up the phone and drag myself out of bed. Tori must have heard the conversation because she is looking at me with worried eyes.

"Don't worry babe. Let's just go get some breakfast and then I will head off to school." I say leaning down to kiss her on the top of her head. I walk over to Sammy's crib to find out that the phone call must have woken him up as well.

When we walk down the stairs we see both of Tori's parents in the kitchen fully dressed with the same worried look that Tori was giving me. "What is going on?" Tori asked.

"We just received a phone call from a lawyer for your school. We were told to come in right away. I was just about to wake you up." Her mom replied.

"Do you know what this is about?" I questioned and everyone shook their head no.

"It must be about the concert. I am not entirely sure what we did was fully legal Jade." Tori spoke up.

I face palmed myself. Of course Beck didn't want people to know he was beaten up by a girl like Tori had done. But we embarrassed him in front of the entire school and their families. He had nothing else to lose now that we had destroyed his ego. I silently cursed myself for my stupidity.

Tori made a bottle for Sammy and gave him to her mom to watch while we went to the school with her dad. We both decided to skip breakfast since we both felt like we were about to vomit. The drive was silent and filled with tension. When we get there we headed straight for the office and find Beck and his parents sitting in the room with a very professional looking man. He must be a lawyer, my father always dressed like that when he was meeting a client to try and intimidate people.

There is someone else in the office with them waiting patiently. It is an older female with long curly brown hair. I can't see any more features as she was facing away from us. The principal and school's lawyer greet us outside the room everyone else is seated in and tell us what is going on.

"I hate to inform you but Mr. Oliver wants to press charges against both Jadelyn and Victoria. He claims that they both had a large part in the assault that happened at the schools concert yesterday evening. If you wouldn't mind joining us in my office we can try and settle this without needing to go to court." The school's lawyer explained. We all nod and head into the office.

As I get closer the unknown woman stands to greet us as well. As she turns to face us I am met with a face I had not seen in a very long time. "Mom?"

"Hello Jadelyn." She greeted politely with a warm smile and tears in her eyes.

"What are you doing here? How did they even get ahold of you?"

"Ms. West who do you think has been paying your tuition to come to school here." Our principal spoke.

Everyone in the room was silent and my brain was going a mile a minute. I couldn't understand anything going on in my head other than "I need some air." I said and quickly left the room.

I hear footsteps behind me as I exit the school. I can't believe she is here or what our principal meant by her paying my tuition. She left me for years and didn't want anything to do with me. Now I find out she is the only reason I am able to pursue my dreams. I want cry. I want to scream. I turn around to flip out on whoever has been following me. When I turn around I come face to face with my mother.

"Jade please let me explain." She says as she holds back her tears.

"What how you abandoned us? How you left me with a power hungry abusive asshole for the last thirteen years? Or that now I am eighteen years old and you decide to come back." I growled at her.

"I didn't want you to be like me. I was a horrible influence to have around when you were a child and I didn't want you to end up like me." She cried.

"Like what?" I screamed.

"A druggy. A cheater. An alcoholic. A whore. All of the above. When I lived with your father I was miserable. I went out most nights and would get wasted and sleep with a new guy every night. I didn't want you to end up that way. I knew you were starting to realize what was going on around you and I just wanted to give you the chance of happiness. I didn't know your father would turn out to be a monster or I would have never left you with him I swear."

"So why come back now? Why pay for my schooling?"

"Your father called me when you were accepted into this school and told me that if I wanted you happy so much that I would leave you then I could find a way to pay for this school. I did everything I could to keep the fact that I was paying it a secret from you because I knew you would resent me and decide not to come here just to spite me. I grew up Jade I stopped what I was doing and I am trying to become a better person. A better mother." She stated no longer able to hold back her tears.

"And what miraculous event made you grow up mother?" I hissed making sure to put as much venom in 'mother' as possible.

"I found out I am dying."