Okay, so completely random question... How many people read the stories with the default version, I suppose, or with the letters white and the screen grey/black? I'm just curious because I read with the letters white and the screen dark and I can't imagine myself reading it the other way anymore...
Whatever, here's another chapter so, yay. And... It's mustache April. Why? Because it's in the middle of March and May, that's why.
:{)
Tori's POV-
My eyes blink open slowly before a small smile spreads across my face. Well, before I gave a cough anyway. I twist my body around before I gaze to my side; I didn't really expect her to be there. Why would she? Only said for some time. But, at the very least, I was able to sleep some. Climbing out of bed, I wearily gaze over at my alarm clock before pressing a few buttons, cancelling the wake-up call that was due in a few minutes anyway. My feet touch the floor before I slip out of the bed slowly, my skin prickling as I recalled that I didn't sleep with a top on. Blinking a few times more, I trudge over to the closet before slipping out of what pajamas I do have on before jeans and a sweatshirt are pulled over my head. Well, pants with the legs and the sweatshirt over my-you get the idea.
After a few minutes of just staring at the door, I seat myself on the bed. As I sigh, my head turns over towards the window before I'm back off the bed. An index card slips in between my fingers as I hold it in front of me, eyes peering down at it. I smirk slightly, my eyes darting left and right.
Tori,
I changed my mind about saying you should be sick more often. I don't
care if your voice is sexy, fucking work on your loud-ass snoring. See
you at school if you don't go deaf. I swear Vega, you would just prove
my point.
~You know who the fuck wrote this at five in
the God-damned early morning w/out
coffee.
I snicker a bit before setting the card beside Reggie, who remains to be staring off into space with his coal black eyes. "And now you're holding that," I complete the thought as I patted his stuffed head. I chuckle a bit more before snatching a towel from the wall, and walking through the door. After a quick shower, I soon came back in with a towel over my shoulders for my hair with random thoughts flowing through my skull. I shuffle around mindlessly for clothes before stepping into the mirror. My reflection wears a casual shirt with pants as it shrugs back, gazing unimpressed yet not enough to go actually change. Taking my bag in my hands, I walk out the door and then down the stairs.
As my mind catch up to reality, I find myself with a bowl of cereal in front of me, a spoon in my mouth. "You don't look sick, you better dear?"
"Yeah..." I frown before shaking my head and going back to my apparent meal.
"You'll have to leave in a few, by the way," my mom adds, going back to her own breakfast which was a plate of eggs and avocado.
"Why?"
"Trina said so, think for a part-"
"TORI! HURRY UP, WE HAVE TO GO!"
"NOW?" I bellow back, facing towards the top of the stairs. After hearing a loud 'yes,' I roll my eyes before bolting up the stairs, forgetting about my cereal. After a quick rinse and brush, I'm back down the stairs to find a door open and Trina bolting towards the car. "Well this morning is the slowest ever," I grumble, snatching my bag before closing the door behind me.
My eyes close after I slip into the car, buckling myself in. However, they flash open once the car jerks in Trina's sudden excitement to get to school. "Why the hell are you going so fast?" I snap, my hands clasping at the glove department.
"There's a play and I need to be in it," she answers simply.
"Oh, only a play..." I mutter sheepishly, cursing under my breath as my mouth waters, thinking about the cereal left behind. God I'm hungry, and leaving my cereal isn't doing shit. Within a few minutes later -it's very hard to believe only ten to twenty minutes ago I was eating my now soggy breakfast- we're at school, Trina rushing off to the blackbox theatre. Rolling my eyes, I lumber behind, growling before opening the main doors.
My locker door swings open after I had dragged myself there, my hands shuffling through the binders. My gaze slides to the side briefly as I stare at my door in wonder. 'Dude-a-licious? Really? What the fuck were you thinking Tori?' my thoughts hammer as I stare at it blankly before shaking my head. I'll leave it there because I don't feel like taking it down... What else would I put up there? 'Chick-a-licious?' I mean come on, that sounds like some fast food gimmick. That and it sounds like -well, both of them do- some cannibalistic fetish.
I shudder as the thought flows through my brain before hearing familiar steps behind me. My head turns to the side as I glance out, finding Andre turning away briskly. Frowning towards the ground, I heave a deep breath; of course he wouldn't be fine with it, after all, his best friend did have sex with his long-time crush over the weekend... Even though I had her as mine for about the same time...
"Vega!" tears me from my glare, snapping my attention towards pale eyes which look at me with concern. "Uh, yeah, hi, you've been staring at the ground for a minute- and you're taking me to the closet," she mutters as I snatch her wrist, pulling her away from the locker. As she stumbles inside, I vaguely hear her let out a word or two before I shut the door, my back sliding against it soon after. "Tori?" she turns her head to the side, "What are you... What's wrong?" She crouches down as I pull my knees closer, my arms wrapping around them.
"Yeah, tell her what's wrong," I hear a deep voice. We both look up at the janitor, who shrugs and mumbles, "What, I'm here early. Some kid with his puppet threw up in the library after eating an expired coconut."
"Then why aren't you getting Robbie cleaned up?" Jade speaks slowly, her studded eyebrow arching in confusion.
"Oh... Right. Hey, what do you two do in here?" he asks, opening the door as I stand up.
"Talk," I answer quickly, which is kind of the truth. I mean, we have done just that for the past year but, for a few months, maybe a tad bit more... Now of course we haven't had sex in here or whatever, which wouldn't be too comfortable, so...yeah.
"I thought girls talked in the bathroom..."
"Just clean Robbie up!" Jade snaps, eyes flashing dangerously at the janitor.
"Jade, calm down," I hiss as the janitor mumbles something like 'I think that's why the go in pairs.' After he left, the door closing while the outside hall's noises muffle, I sigh.
"Now Tori," Jade starts again, "What's wrong?"
"It's Andre..." I mutter, "He found out we're dating."
"Oh... Why does that-"
"He's had a little thing for you."
"That explains some things," she mutters, "Not that I'm surprised... Tori, look, either way he'll have to get over it."
"Yeah," I look up at her, feeling her arms around my torso.
She nods before murmuring quietly, "One because I have you and not him because I want you... And two, you're good buds so, that counts for a point right?"
"Yeah," I say again, my hands snaking behind her neck.
"I'll always be here if you need me, alright?" she adds on.
"Okay," I put simply, leaning in.
"You just want to-"
"Uh huh," I nod before my lips are on hers. She chuckles through the kiss, pulling me closer. For a while, that was it; just me, Jade and the closet. That is, until the bell rang and the janitor would soon follow.
"Do you want to go to class?" she husks, pulling away.
"Nah..." I giggle, feeling my thoughts from earlier that morning cloud reality once again.
"Blackbox theatre it is then," she grins mischeviously.
"How about the bathroom?"
"Why the bathroom?"
"Because the always go in pairs," I grin, adjusting the strap of my bag as I feel fingers lace with mine. "According to the janitor anyway."
-0-
Andre, after that, had done the same and wouldn't give me any eye contact or anything else. Constantly I would try to bring up something to his interest, though the attempt would fall onto deaf ears. Cat, Beck and Jade (Robbie was sick, which wasn't news) had made their own attempts to get him to speak, but to no avail. Cat, since she didn't know the whole story, had brought up more stories about her brother while Beck had talked to him about other things between them. Jade, well, just left him alone actually. Not that I was too surprised... I guess he was a bit upset with her two.
This rolls through my mind over and over again as I stroll into Jade's room after a session with homework for Sikowitz. My phone buzzes as I sit down at the desk chair, Jade on the other side of the room. Reaching over for the phone, I read the caller -or messenger- and see that it's my mom. As my eyes scan over the text, I sigh, standing up. "Got to go, mom wants me for dinner tonight," I announce.
"Alright," Jade mutters, "You want me to drive?"
"Nah, I'll be good, need some fresh air anyway."
"Okay," she nods before crossing the room, her arms soon wrapping around me, "Don't worry about Andre, he's just a bit butt-hurt."
"Thanks," I grin before feeling her lips against my cheek. My brows furrow as I add, "It's just- We've been best friends for a while and I just...dunno, not want this to happen?"
"Makes sense," Jade mutters at my oddly phrased question, "But he'll be fine, I mean, it's not like you fucked me on his couch."
"Jade," I laugh as she strides over to my bag in the corner. She hands me the bag with a small grin before we shuffle out of her bedroom, the door closing behind us. I hear a faint growl, however, once I reach the top of the stairs, my head turning to see her glare over my shoulder.
"Why is she here now?" My eyes follow her path, looking down at what I assume to be her mother. I frown slightly as she mutters something to a bigger man with muscles of some boxers I used to watch in a suit. On the other side of the room stood Mr. West and Jared who looks as if he had just come from the kitchen.
I gingerly step down the stairs, following Jade, making my way towards the door. "Who is she?" I hear behind me, halting my movements with it's gravely -but otherwise, monotone- voice.
"Why do you care," Jade snaps, turning around with a fiery gleam in her eyes.
"Answer my question Jade..."
"My girlfriend," she mutters, "You happy?"
"Girlfriend..." she murmurs, halting the scene entirely. Mr. West looks over at Jade and me with a bland expression while the other man gazes at me, frowning slightly. He moves his lips, speaking to himself when Jade's mother whips around.
"What was that?"
"She just reminded me of someone..."
"And who's that?"
"Dawn Marx, used to watch her matches," he shrugs uncomfortably. I feel my cheeks redden as I feel more eyes on me, watching my movements closely.
"Now, Mary, enough with dodging this," Mr. West clears his throat, "We need to talk now."
"Talk about what?" she growls before turning back to me.
"No, Mary, you have to tell me where all of the money in my bank account went!"
"Shut it James!" she snaps, switching over towards her husband who looks as if he want's to explode.
And he does just that, "Look, I go on my trip and come back this afternoon and ALL OF THE MONEY IS GONE!"
"THEN MAYBE AS THAT WHORE!" she points at Jade who growls.
"Don't call her a whore!" I snarl, glaring as Mrs. West stare back in shock.
"What?" she ignores her husband's attempts to get her attention, "Why you dyke..."
"DON'T YOU EVER FUCKING CALL HER A DYKE!" Jade booms beside me, her eyes blazing at her mother, flames erupting from a cold fire. As the words fills the house, the walls seem to echo in our hysteria, bellowing back in discomfort, not used to the noise. Jade's white canines flash dramatically as I watch her father do the same, the resemblance between the two becoming uncanny. As everything becomes blurring slurs, I suddenly hear Mrs. West's shrill shoot right at me.
"ARE YOU DAWN MARX?" it sounds, accompanied by a cat's eye, a twitching tail behind her back as she watches intently. I wince at the words being tossed about, the sounds becoming too much until I hear a strained bellow.
"STAAHP!"
Jade's POV-
The room became silent as our heads turned to the corner, watching with wide eyes as Jared rubs his throat with an uncomfortable grimace. He looks up meekly and doesn't speak again. It isn't the first time he's done this, speak I mean. His distorted verbiage had said only one word before, however-Jade. My gaze follows as Tori clears her throat, standing straighter as her glare beams right at my mother. "And so what I'm Dawn Marx?"
"You fight," my mother husks with a greedy sliver shining through her eyes, something that has become a trademark of hers.
"How so?" the half Latina murmurs quietly.
"How so?" my mother mocks, cocking her head to the side, "You fight, and you fight to win, right? What if I tell you that you'll have to fight in order to win this?" Dark brown eyes flash angrily, her stance growing tense though her jaw only twitches intently.
"Fight who?" she finally croaks out, crossing her arms.
"Him," my mother points to the man in the back. His broad shoulders before had only tightened the suit, his neck fitting the collar without much room for another finger other than his pinkie while his hands gripped the chair firmly. Now it looks as if his shoulders want to rip out of the clothing, neck wishing to break the strain while his hands remain firm and tense as it had before. All that noted, his eyes remained just as calm, if not, even more so as they doused in worry.
"You can't be serious," he musters through the small silence, his gravely voice bringing my mother's attention.
"I am so," she waves off, "Unless she backs down."
"Miss Marx, I wouldn't want to... You fight with flyweights while I-"
"Quiet Lucas!" the woman snaps, "It isn't up to you... Now, Tori," she flashes a sinister grin, "How about you fight him at a match."
Vega shifts her stance, "And when will that be?"
"I'll give you a months," my mother murmurs quietly, "For him to train in all; he is a bit rusty you know." As I watch Tori's eyes glance down at the ground in thought, I give a sigh, stepping closer.
"You don't have to, you know that right?"
"I know," her lips form a quiet smirk before glancing up at me, "But I want to." She turns over towards my wicked mother before nodding, "I'll do it."
"How pleasant..." she drawls simply before grinning ear to ear, stepping through the front door. The silence rests on our shoulders as the man, Lucas, nods politely before following my mother outside. As Jared whisks off to his room with a side glance, my dad going over to the kitchen, Tori looks down at her bag in the corner.
"Think my mom'll want me home," she murmurs quietly.
"You sure you want to do this?" I ask quietly, sliding my hand over hers as she twists around.
Vega only nods before planting a kiss on my lips, her free hand snaking behind my back for a deeper one as I pull her waist closer. "Yeah, I'll do it... But I'll have to train really hard, see you later Jade." I smile as she heads out the door, waving behind her as she strolls towards the sidewalk. I sigh, grinning slightly before looking down at my hand, feeling her warmth.
-0-
After Tori had left the house, it grew uncomfortably quiet, even for my liking. My eyes follow the fan's blades dully as it swings around and around, the chain to switch the light whisking with the current. I breathe slowly as I frown, vaguely hearing a voice downstairs. After a few seconds I don't hear anything more, shifting to my side, before I hear my dad again. "Jade!" he calls louder this time.
With a small grumble I push myself up before meandering out of my room and down the stairs. "What?"
"Could we talk?"
"Now?"
"Please," he nods at his recliner. I seat myself on the couch, folding my arms before gazing at him with a bland expression. "Jade..."
"Dad..." I mimic, "What is this about?"
"I've been thinking," he starts after clearing his throat, "After today that maybe you should reconsider some things." I feel my glare sharpen as I sit back, my eyes widening just slightly in expectation.
"Like what?"
"Well, just this whole thing," my dad sighs before spitting out, "I think you should stop seeing Tori for now, until all of this is over."
My lungs falter as I stare at him meekly, unable to form the words at the tip of my tongue. He looks back with his usual stare though I can almost smell the uncertainty coming off of him. I don't even realize I had stood up until my eyes glare down at him as his hands intertwine with the other, his lips pursed expectantly. "Why now?" I finally spit.
He scratches his head, his gaze dropping down for a moment before looking back up, "There will be too much going on."
"Like you fucking care about that," I growl.
"I do, Jade, it's just I need to see if your relationship isn't a-"
"A what?" I hiss, making room as he stands up to accommodate for the level of eye contact.
"A rebound," he murmurs quietly, "You and your mother are alike in some ways Jade, and I'm glad to say in more of the style than philosophy. But," he adds grimly, "I'm not all that sure about relationships."
The room grew silent as I stare at him in disbelief. 'Rebound?' I hiss to myself internally, 'I would never...' I feel my blood start to boil as I take a step back, snarling, "You only want to get me away from her 'for now' because she's a girl, isn't it?"
"No Jade, I just need to-"
"To what? See if she cares enough for me? She fucking does and more than you have shown with in just these past months. May I remind you that she was the one who helped-set-up-that-play," I snap impatiently, my voice rising as his eyes flash in defense.
"Jade West you are not going to see her-"
"Fucking hell am I going to do that!"
"Jade-"
"No," I grit my teeth.
"JADE!" he finally bellows, "You are going to not see that Vega until this is all over!"
"Why?" I croak, the world around me beginning to blur.
"Because she has to prove herself!" he spat.
"She already has!"
"NOT TO ME!" he snaps, his firm hands pointing to his chest. I back away as my dad stands straighter, fixing his tie before clearing his throat. "Jade -listen now- you are not permitted to see her until the match. You can't talk to her, or be near her until December. Got it?"
My voice slides out in a shaky croak, "She doesn't have to prove herself to you..."
"Yes she does," he murmurs, "To this family."
"Why?"
"Jade... She has to prove that she won't just hide from your mother, I'm just protecting your relationship-"
"By separating us?"
"It's for the best Jade, she needs to be tested for my sake," he finishes, seating himself in the recliner. His words slowly seep into my ears as I stare at the ground, glaring at it as I have times before.
Alright, so a lot of stuff in this chapter. Yay for drama? Yay for drama... Do tell me of any serious typos, I mean I will go over this but I'm not gonna right now because I'm lazy but... Whatever.
Hope you enjoyed to say the least.
:{)
Right, so this you don't have to read, I'm just venting here. But if you'll read this just because, whatever, I'm putting this on the internet so just...whatever. To explain a little, my school basically does duel enrollment with a college, so not only do I have high school work, I also have college (which hopefully explains my lack of updating recently, I really do want to write). Anyway, in agriculture science, we were made to build mousetrap cars. If you didn't know, well, you wouldn't I suppose, I love to tinker, build, design, draw and write stuff, hence this account. Well, after staying up several nights working on the car, it was a fucking failure... It really was. How do I know? It didn't move. So now I'll have a C on that project at most... But I doubt it will seriously hurt my straight 'As,' I mean, come on, one B wouldn't hurt much.
'So what are you going to do about that Volt?' you may be asking.
To answer your possible question, I have already dismantled the car very furiously with a cut right index and a burned left index. Yes, I cut myself by accident with the metal part of a pencil and burned myself constantly with a hot glue gun. Who knew that you shouldn't touch the metal of a hot glue gun? BUT, I'm going to build another one. Why? Just to prove to myself, and my teacher possibly, that I can build a mousetrap car that can actually fucking move.
At least I can look forward for the horse facility blueprints in Equine... Anyway, enough said about me, my rant's done.
;)